Author: staff

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier used the controversial Article 49.3 of the French Consitution to force the adoption of next year’s social security budget plan. In retaliation, opposition parties from the left and far right are threatening his government with a no-confidence vote. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government is hanging on by a thread. On Monday, Barnier, who lacks a majority in the National Assembly — the lower house of the French parliament — activated the controversial Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass his social security plan for next year without a vote. This, in turn, allows…

Many travellers now want to avoid contributing to problems of overtourism and are looking for alternative destinations where they still bring benefits. Overtourism has been plaguing European destinations since travel rebounded post-pandemic, exacerbated by low-cost flights and a surging cruise industry. Once hailed as a golden opportunity, the popularity of digital nomad visas has also turned sour as foreign workers price out local residents, drive gentrification and put a strain onlocal services. This year has seen a slew of new regulations to mitigate the effects of out-of-control visitor numbers, from tourist taxes to selfie bans. Some places that once welcomed digital nomads have…

Avant cela, Michel Barnier et Marine Le Pen s’étaient entretenus dans la matinée par téléphone. A l’issue de ce rendez-vous, le gouvernement s’est engagé à ce qu’il n’y ait pas de mesure de déremboursement des médicaments inscrite dans le PLFSS. Une nouvelle concession au Rassemblement national, qui avait déjà obtenu un recul du gouvernement sur la hausse des taxes sur l’électricité. En revanche, à ce stade, le gouvernement n’a pas accédé aux demandes de la cheffe de file des députés RN qui réclamait l’indexation des retraites sur l’inflation. Marine Le Pen a d’ailleurs déposé un amendement sur ce sujet, “à…

The world’s top 100 arms producing companies recorded profits of almost 600 billion last year, benefiting from wars in Gaza and Ukraine and a generally tense geopolitical situation. Companies producing arms and military services increased their profits across the world by 4.2% reaching profits of €598 billion in 2023, according to an analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI).In Europe, arms companies profits increased by 0.2%, a relatively smaller regional increase that doesn’t accurately reflect an increase in orders and demand, according to the study.The top arms companies that held their spot in the top 100 are pan-European company…

Although manufacturing growth in Spain rose at a slower rate in November because of flooding, it was still above the key 50 level. Turkish manufacturing demand inched up but German and French figures failed to offer seasonal cheer. Spain’s manufacturing figures showed a slight fall in November, according to the HCOB manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), coming in at 53.1 and down from 54.5 in October. That was less than analyst forecasts of 53.5.Output and news orders were lower, partly due to the heavy flooding in the eastern region of Valencia which caused widespread disruption across parts of Spain from…

PARIS — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to announce Monday that he will not submit his social security budget to a vote, media reported — opening the door for opposition parties to attempt to topple his government, probably on Wednesday. Under the French constitution, the government can pass legislation without parliamentary approval. However, lawmakers can challenge this through a motion of no confidence, which, if successful, rejects the legislation and forces the government’s resignation. A motion of no confidence will likely happen on Wednesday which means Barnier could be toppled before the end of the week. The government…

The new law in Belgium, which came into force over the weekend, grants sex workers formal employment contracts and legal protections similar to other workers. In a legal breakthrough some are calling a revolution, sex workers in Belgium can now sign formal employment contracts and gain labour rights equal to those in other professions.The new law also grants sex workers fundamental rights, including the ability to refuse clients, choose their practices, and stop an act at any time.Belgian lawmakers voted on the law in May, which has come into effect on Sunday. It follows Belgium’s 2022 decision to decriminalise sex…

Wormald had the most experience running government departments of any of the candidates, having been in charge of the Department of Health since 2016.  His appointment follows the resignation on health grounds of Simon Case, who was appointed in September 2020 and served through one of the most tumultuous periods of recent British history.  Case’s tenure, which began under Boris Johnson, spanned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the market meltdown induced by Liz Truss’s mini-budget and her subsequent resignation, the appointment of a new prime minister in Rishi Sunak, the outbreak of wars in Ukraine and the Middle East,…

The two-hour stoppages included the company’s base plant at Wolfsburg, where workers protested against a cost-cutting drive by the car maker’s management which includes the threat of plant closures in Germany. Volkswagen workers have been holding rolling two-hour strikes at nine plants across Germany in protest at planned pay cuts and factory closures that the company says are necessary to cope with a slowing European car market.The stoppages included the company’s base plant at Wolfsburg, where workers have been protesting against a cost-cutting drive by VW management which includes the possibility of the car maker’s first plant closures in Germany.…

The Chinese foreign ministry accused Lithuania of undermining its sovereignty and warned of potential countermeasures. China on Monday criticised Lithuania’s decision to expel three Chinese diplomats, with a foreign ministry spokesman labelling the move as “wanton and provocative” as relations between the two countries deteriorate further. The spokesperson for Beijing accused Lithuania of expelling the diplomats and declaring them persona non grata “without any reason,” according to a foreign ministry statement.The diplomatic row coincides with an investigation into the suspected involvement of a Chinese vessel in severing two undersea data cables in the Baltic Sea, including one linking Lithuania and Sweden.…