Author: staff
As the European Commission prepares to publish on Wednesday its proposal for the next seven-year EU budget, political groups in the European Parliament are preparing to fight tooth and nail to defend their funding priorities.Since the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has required the regulatory consent of the European Parliament in addition to the unanimous consent of the EU member states.This means that a majority of Members of Parliament must approve the final text, giving the largest political groups some leverage to push for their demands to be included.The European Social Fund: a red line for SocialistsThe Socialists…
Published on 15/07/2025 – 11:03 GMT+2•Updated 11:19Indian audiences watching the latest Superman film were left confused when the action abruptly skipped ahead – not once, but twice – just as the Man of Steel (David Corenswet) leaned in to kiss Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had cut the kissing scenes, including a cinematic mid-air floating kiss in the film’s final moments, branding them “overly sensual” and unfit for Indian cinemas.The decision has reignited debate around censorship, hypocrisy, and outdated moral codes in the country. Critics have slammed the CBFC for routinely allowing films filled with…
Trump was not granted a joint address of parliament during his first state visit in 2019, unlike Barack Obama in 2011. Some Londoners took to the streets to protest his trip, and a giant balloon of him looking like a baby was flown near parliament. British allies include Reform UK’s Nigel Farage and senior Tory MP Suella Braverman have insisted parliament should be recalled to hear from the president this time around. The U.S. president instead said his aim during the September 17-19 trip was to “have a good time and respect King Charles, because he’s a great gentleman.” Trump…
“The regional dimension is not completely lost” from the draft budget, said an EU official who, like others quoted in this article, was granted anonymity to speak freely. Von der Leyen’s decision is a climbdown from her initial plan to significantly increase the power of central governments in managing the EU’s regional funds that are currently worth €400 billion and make up one-third of the bloc’s total spending. The idea was that empowering national capitals would act as an incentive to complete reforms and reduce red tape. However, critics said that it would have just reinforced existing disparities within…
Published on 15/07/2025 – 9:34 GMT+2A severe heatwave is gripping Gaza, compounding the humanitarian crisis for more than 1.7 million displaced Palestinians already facing acute shortages of medical care, food and basic supplies after months of the Israel-Hamas war. Medical workers say soaring temperatures are worsening the condition of patients sheltering in overcrowded tent camps, where access to treatment is limited and many lack relief from the heat. The situation is particularly dire for thousands of people requiring ongoing care for burns and other serious injuries. Mohammed al-Mamlouka, who was injured earlier in the conflict, says each treatment session becomes a painful ordeal…
With the Chancellor set to make a keynote speech to the City at Mansion House – are her fiscal rules as iron clad as we thought? Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy explore what options are on the table for Rachel Reeves to fill the large black hole in the public finances. Across the pond, Donald Trump says he “likes” Sir Keir Starmer even though “he’s a liberal”, as he puts pressure on Vladimir Putin to sign a ceasefire agreement. Plus, the government pushes a new scheme to promote the purchase of electric cars, but will it make…
Asked whether he was done with Vladimir Putin, the American president said: “I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him.” Listen AI generated Text-to-speech Share
By AP with Eleanor Butler Published on 15/07/2025 – 7:31 GMT+2•Updated 7:32China’s economy slowed in the last quarter as President Donald Trump’s trade war escalated, but it still expanded at a robust 5.2% pace, the government said Tuesday.That compares with 5.4% annual growth in January to March. The government said Tuesday that in quarterly terms, the world’s second largest economy expanded by 1.1%.In the first half of the year, the Chinese economy grew at a 5.3% annual pace, the official data shows. However, some analysts said actual growth may have been significantly slower.Zichun Huang of Capital Economics noted that investments in…
Questions have also been raised, notably by Mediobanca, over the role played by the billionaire Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone and Delfin, the holding company of late billionaire Leonardo del Vecchio. Both hold shares in MPS and Mediobanca and have long tried to influence the investment bank. MPS formally launched its public exchange offer on Monday, and Mediobanca will have until September to decide. “We are witnessing a dirigiste administration that, in a manner reminiscent of Soviet-style governance, applies one set of rules to its allies and another to those who operate independently of political influence,” Pedullà told POLITICO. “The contrasting treatment…
The US is pitching the creation of a new advisory body for the Digital Markets Act (DMA) involving those companies subject to enforcement of the regulation a voice, in the context of negotiations over an EU-US trade deal, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The EU will never accept the idea however according to two of the sources.On Saturday, Trump posted a new set of letters to his social media platform Truth Social, declaring 30% tariffs on the EU and Mexico starting 1 August, a move that could cause massive upheaval between the United States and two of its biggest…