Author: staff

The downgrade comes as France is going through a political crisis and is struggling to cut its massive public debt. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister after his predecessor, François Bayrou, was toppled a day earlier in a confidence vote over the €43.8 billion budget squeeze he proposed for next year. “We expect the run-up to the presidential election in 2027 will further limit the scope for fiscal consolidation in the near term and see a high likelihood that the political deadlock continues beyond the election,” the agency said. If Fitch’s downgrade is followed…

Published on 13/09/2025 – 7:00 GMT+2 Germany’s Oktoberfest is a celebrated historic event that draws more than six million visitors each year.  The 2025 edition of the beer festival will take place from 22 September to 5 October in cities throughout the country.  Munich’s Oktoberfest remains the more traditional version, with large beer tents, events like the Costume and Hunters Parade, Bavarian music and beer served from six breweries in the city.  Berlin’s Oktoberfest offers much of the same festive atmosphere but on a smaller scale, with outdoor beer gardens in locations like Zentraler Festplatz and Alexanderplatz, live brass bands,…

Published on 13/09/2025 – 7:00 GMT+2 Did you watch the speech? Striking an alarmist tone, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke for over an hour in the European Parliament this Wednesday. From a drone alliance with Ukraine to a European Affordable Housing Plan, she expressed her ‘wish list’ for Europe opening with the phrase – “Europe is in a fight”. Andrea Wechsler, the German conservative MEP, Barry Andrews, the Irish liberal and Robert Biedron the Polish socialist followed the speech from inside the hemicycle and felt the substance was right but must be followed with concrete steps. “I…

Pauline von Pezold spricht mit WELT-Journalist und Autor Frederik Schindler über dessen neues Buch, in dem er die Entwicklung von Björn Höcke vom Lehrer mit eindeutig rechten Ansichten zum radikalsten aller AfD-Politiker nachzeichnet. Das Buch zeigt, wie Höcke nicht sich, sondern die Partei radikalisiert hat. Es geht darum, welche Verbindungen der Thüringer AfD-Chef zu Alice Weidel und Alexander Gauland pflegt, aber auch wie ihm parteiinterne Kritiker, wie z.B. Frauke Petry oder Jörg Meuthen, unterlagen.  Schindler enthüllt das doppelte Spiel von Alice Weidel, die einst vorgeblich Höckes Parteiausschluss unterstützte und ihn heute aus Machtkalkül gewähren lässt.  Das Buch “Höcke – Ein…

The drone incursion into Poland must serve as a wake-up call. Crucially, NATO — or, more likely, a coalition of select allies — should consider extending its air defense air umbrella into western Ukraine to help Kyiv’s forces shoot down Russian drones and missiles. This move might draw on the plans of the British- and French-led “coalition of the willing,” which has promised postwar security guarantees for Ukraine. Though complex to execute, this would demonstrate seriousness to the Kremlin. America’s role will be key here. And during its ongoing force posture review, the Pentagon should think twice before reducing U.S.…

The decision comes after France and Germany joined Poland and Italy in demanding that the vote be postponed until national leaders can have a say on the target, creating a blocking minority. A ministerial discussion will still be held on Thursday to prepare for a debate at leaders’ level. A spokesperson for European Council President António Costa said that leaders would hold a “strategic discussion” at their Oct. 23 summit “on what the best economic strategy is to achieve Europe’s climate targets.” In total, 11 of 27 countries asked for a delay during a preparatory meeting on Friday, three diplomats…

Cette décision intervient après que la France et l’Allemagne se sont joints à la Pologne et l’Italie pour demander que le vote soit reporté jusqu’a ce que les dirigeants nationaux puissent s’exprimer sur l’objectif, créant ainsi une minorité de blocage. La Commission européenne a proposé de réduire les émissions de l’UE de 90% par rapport aux niveaux de 1990 d’ici à 2040, mais de nombreux pays ont demandé une marge de manœuvre supplémentaire pour l’atteindre. Certains gouvernements souhaitent également l’affaiblir considérablement. Ce retard risque également de fragiliser la définition d’un objectif intermédiaire pour 2035 requis dans le cadre de l’Accord…

Eastern Sentry, which starts Friday, will be modeled after Baltic Sentry, where frigates, aircraft and drones monitor the Baltic Sea. NATO allies will also experiment with new technologies such as counter-drones, sensors and weapons in Eastern Sentry, said Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. The mission — described as an “entire new defense design” — will also integrate current “individual air policing actions and individual ground based air defenses.” Denmark, France, the U.K. and Germany have already offered contributions including fighter jets, ships and ground-based air defense systems. Grynkewich hailed Wednesday’s operation in Polish airspace as a success, but…

“At our meeting in October, a lot will depend on the parameters of fiscal policy that will be ultimately proposed,” Governor Elvira Nabiullina told a press conference. In its statement, the CBR also noted a recent sharp rise in gasoline prices across Russia, caused by a succession of drone attacks by Ukraine on the country’s oil refineries. However, it expects the current price spike to pass. Before Friday’s meeting, some observers expected the CBR to cut by two full points, but Nabiullina said that hadn’t even been considered. She said the only proposals presented were for a one-point cut or…

The EU already scrapped its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in September 2022 after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making the application process more expensive and arduous. But visas remain the responsibility of individual member countries, meaning the Commission executive cannot impose a sweeping ban on Russians entering the bloc. As a result, national policies vary widely, with some countries, such as Poland, Czechia, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania blocking or severely limiting visa applications from Russians except in specific cases; while others, including Hungary, France, Spain and Italy, continue to grant them more liberally. In 2024, more…