Author: staff

He took a stroll, then a boat trip on the Seine, when he resigned as economy minister in 2016 to launch his presidential bid. On the night of his election in 2017, he took a three-minute victory lap around the Louvre Museum, again in the dark overcoat preferred for moments of high-drama. After Lecornu’s resignation mere hours after his government was appointed, Macron has his back against the wall, as the crisis in the eurozone’s No. 2 economy is sapping confidence in both French markets and the euro. The appointment last month of a close ally as prime minister was…

Published on 06/10/2025 – 15:43 GMT+2 Japan’s markets have just crowned a new favourite — and it’s not a company, it’s a woman. Stocks hit record highs on Monday after conservative Sanae Takaichi took the helm of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, setting her up to be Japan’s first female prime minister. The Nikkei 225 surged nearly 5%, surpassing 47,000 for the first time in its history, as investors expect Takaichi to double down on the “Abenomics” playbook. Created by former prime minister Shinzo Abe, the pro-business vision favours generous economic stimulus and low interest rates. Takaichi has also made…

The data lands as the European Commission pledges to take a harder line against tobacco and vape products, with the EU health and tax commissioners pushing to hike taxes on both to curb related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, said tobacco control efforts prevent millions of people from smoking. But, “the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people,” he said, urging governments to act “faster and stronger” in implementing proven tobacco control policies. Taking the lead Globally, in 2024, there were an estimated 1.2 billion…

However, the prime minister’s spokesman denied the account when quizzed Monday. “There was no role for any government, minister or member of the government in this decision-making process,” the spokesman said. They subsequently clarified that this included officials. The Sunday Times claimed that Jonathan Powell, the prime minister’s national security adviser, had chaired a meeting in Whitehall last month where he told officials the government’s evidence would rely on the recently published National Security Strategy. The strategy does not refer to China as an “enemy” state, calling it a “geo-strategic challenge” instead. Cash and Berry were suspected of breaching the…

Published on 06/10/2025 – 12:59 GMT+2 British author Jilly Cooper, best known for many bestselling raunchy novels including ‘Rivals’ and ‘Riders’, has died aged 88. In a statement, her family said that “Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds, and her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.” She is reported to have died on Sunday morning after suffering a fall. Cooper’s agent, Felicity Blunt added: “The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago.” “Jilly…

Of course, France is no stranger to short political careers. The previous shortest-lived prime minister of the Fifth Republic was Michel Barnier, who lasted a whopping 90 days in 2024. However, the all-time champ for shortest tenure as France’s head of government remains the Duke de Mortemart, who served for a matter of hours before Charles X’s absolutist regime was overthrown in the Revolution of 1830. Other brief tenures include Alexandre Ribot, who was in office for four days before resigning just ahead of the outbreak of World War I, and Édouard Daladier, who governed for a little over a…

Thousands of people dressed in red marched through Amsterdam on Sunday, urging the Dutch government to take more decisive action against Israel and help end the nearly two-year war in Gaza. The demonstration, held less than a month before national elections, follows two major rallies earlier this year in The Hague that drew tens of thousands. The Amsterdam march coincided with a weekend of international demonstrations, as hundreds of thousands protested in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid on Saturday, denouncing Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Smaller rallies were also held in Paris, Lisbon, Athens, Skopje, London and Manchester, reflecting growing…

Published on 06/10/2025 – 12:19 GMT+2 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is considering boycotting next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is excluded.  When asked in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Sunday whether Germany should voluntarily withdraw from participation in the world’s largest live music event next year if Israel is excluded, Merz said: “I would support this. I think it’s a scandal that this is even being discussed. Israel has a place there.”  Germany is one of Eurovision’s “Big Five” alongside France, Italy, Spain and the UK – the countries whose broadcasters are the contest’s biggest financial contributors.  …

The remarks are largely considered Tsipras’ first step toward forming a new party that aspires to lead the Greek center left and left. Tsipras was 34 years old when he became Syriza leader 17 years ago and oversaw its electoral leap from 4.6 percent in 2009 to 36.3 percent in 2015. He served as Greece’s prime minister from 2015 to 2019, during some of the most turbulent years of the country’s financial crisis. In summer 2023, Tsipras resigned from the party’s leadership after a crushing defeat in national elections by the ruling center-right New Democracy party. Since then Syriza has…

The fleet of 42 boats, carrying around 450 activists, aimed to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver symbolic aid to Gaza, where famine has worsened amid ongoing conflict. Most of those detained between Wednesday and Friday were taken to Israel, with many still being held in custody. At Madrid International Airport, dozens of family members and supporters gathered to welcome the returning activists. Spanish journalist Nestor Prieto alleged that Israeli officers “pointed their weapon lasers at our vital parts” and used sleep deprivation tactics on detainees. Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as “brazen lies,” saying that those who remain…