Author: staff
West requires the support of 81 MPs, representing 20 percent of the PLP, to kickstart a contest. She said she wants to “give a deadline” of Tuesday morning to avoid the challenge going “on and on,” because “sometimes these things fizzle out.” West’s challenge would be a blow to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s leadership ambitions as he does not sit in the House of Commons and would not be able to be a candidate in an immediate contest. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, both sitting MPs, are also expected to stand if a…
Published on 11/05/2026 – 10:31 GMT+2•Updated 11:10 EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday rejected the possibility of appointing former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as the bloc’s negotiator in potential peace talks on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Saturday that Schröder act as a European mediator in future negotiations, claiming the conflict was “heading towards an end”. However, Kallas dismissed the suggestion while speaking to journalists ahead of an EU foreign affairs ministers’ meeting in Brussels. “First, if we give Russia the right to appoint a negotiator on our behalf, that would not be very wise. Second,…
Crowds gathered Friday along the shoreline and viewing areas to watch the parade as ships sailed through the harbour, with some spraying large jets of water into the air. The annual event, known as “Hafengeburtstag” or Harbour Birthday, honours Hamburg’s centuries-old maritime history and its role as one of Europe’s major trading hubs. The celebrations commemorate a charter issued in 1189 by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa granting customs-free trade rights along the Elbe River, an event regarded as the founding of Hamburg’s port.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, reported a 25% rise in first-quarter profit on Sunday, posting net income of $32.5bn (€27.6bn) for the three months up to 31 March, beating market estimates. The company said the increase was mainly driven by higher revenue and sales-related income, as well as lower operating costs. Its board also approved a quarterly dividend of $21.9bn (€18.6bn). Revenue rose partly because of higher crude oil and fuel prices, although this was partly offset by lower sales volumes of crude oil and refined and chemical products. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded above $103 a…
“I expect political agreement on the sanctions of violent settlers,” Kallas said ahead of the meeting. “I really do hope that we have a political agreement regarding the violent settler sanctions that has been on the table for quite some time.” “There are proposals put forward by the member states,” she added. “Let’s see whether member states are willing to move there.” Kallas acknowledged that broader measures against Israel still lack support inside the bloc. “Currently, when we tested this on Friday with the ambassadors, it seems that we do not have the necessary majority to pass these measures,” she…
The next MFF has sparked a high-stakes tug-of-war between the European Commission, which proposed an initial €1.8 trillion plan, the European Parliament, insisting on an additional €200 billion, and “frugal” member states determined to slash spending.
A speech which could define the Keir Starmer premiership – but can he reset or will it be another underwhelming relaunch? With Labour MPs on edge, leadership contenders circling and worries over what stalking horse Catherine West will do next, Sam and Anne look at how quickly it all could spiral out of control if the prime minister fails to land his message. But could a quick contest potentially backfire on some of the rivals hoping to storm Number 10? The duo discuss why a delay in any leadership election might end up suiting the likes of Andy Burnham. Plus,…
Published on 11/05/2026 – 9:27 GMT+2 Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds resigned on Sunday following a recent incursion by two Ukrainian drones into the Baltic country’s territory. Latvia’s Prime Minister, Evika Silina, had called for Spruds’s resignation, writing on X that he had “lost (her) trust and that of the public.” Silina said anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter Thursday’s incursion. “The drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country,” Silina wrote. “That is an enormous…
Visitors to the Venice Biennale encountered a series of visually striking performances and installations addressing conflict, coexistence and the future of humanity. At the Austrian Pavilion, a naked performer acted as a human bell clapper in Florentina Holzinger’s “Seaworld Venice.” In the Japanese Pavilion, visitors carried and cared for lifelike baby dolls as part of Ei Arakawa-Nash’s work focused on caregiving. Meanwhile, Moldova’s pavilion featured drone-powered flying carpets suspended inside a church space, transforming symbols of war into imagined tools of escape and peace. Crowds also explored surreal installations inside the Nordic Pavilion examining coexistence and environmental anxiety.
By Tokunbo Salako with AP Published on 11/05/2026 – 8:30 GMT+2 A new pop-up store in New York is reimagining the traditional bookshop without a single printed book on the shelves. Inside Audible Story House, every story is experienced through sound. Designed as a cultural clubhouse for listening, the Big Apple audio space gives visitors the chance to listen to hundreds of their favorite titles through headphones or relax in dedicated listening lounges. Audible says the space aims to reflect the rapidly increasing popularity of the format as well as the “shift toward offline experiences and real-world connection.” James Finn, Audible’s Global Head…