Author: staff

French voters were a little less stark in their view, but still 43 percent thought Trump’s victory was more significant, against 25 percent who believed Macron’s election had a bigger impact on France. In Canada, however, respondents were split. Mark Carney’s victory in April, on the back of a campaign promise to stand up to Trump, was viewed by 40 percent as more significant than Trump’s return to power. Only slightly more — 45 percent — said Trump’s win was more significant for Canada than Carney’s. Transparency trumps strength In his interview with POLITICO, Trump denounced European leaders as “weak,”…

Updated: 11/12/2025 – 10:24 GMT+1 Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) footage shows a skydiver dragged off the plane at 4,500 metres after his reserve parachute snagged on a wing flap and deployed mid-exit. He struck the tail and cut himself free before landing safely with minor leg injuries. … More

Almost 30,000 live animals have been seized following a global operation against the illegal trafficking of wild fauna and flora. Following months of preparation, law enforcement agencies, including police, border security, and wildlife authorities from 134 countries, shared intelligence to identify and disrupt “sophisticated” criminal networks. Known as Operation Thunder, and coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the collective effort saw a record-breaking 4,460 seizures from 15 September to 15 October. This includes tens of thousands of protected animals and plants and tens of thousands of cubic metres of illegally logged timber, as well as more than…

As UK-EU reconnection talks continue in Brussels and London, are more deals in the offing, what does it mean and when will the public see the difference? Anne has been speaking to the minister for European relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, to see if any progress has been made and whether Britons can avoid the queues at immigration over the festive period. Back in Westminster, with a week until the Christmas break, there’s plenty of business for the government to get through, but it’s not all plain sailing.

Portugal is experiencing a 24-hour general strike, the country’s first in 12 years. The action, called by the CGTP and later joined by the UGT union, began overnight with participation from urban hygiene services and metro workers in Lisbon. The strike is affecting public transport, airports, schools and hospitals, with disruptions reported across multiple regions. It follows the government’s announcement of a new labour package, which has prompted nationwide industrial action.

Published on 11/12/2025 – 9:07 GMT+1 Could Portugal’s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest be at risk? Following the news that Iceland has joined Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia in dropping out of Eurovision 2026, 17 Portuguese artists and performers in the country’s song selection contest, Festival da Canção, have announced they are refusing to represent Portugal if they win. The entrants in the internal contest to elect a representative put forward a statement, protesting Israel’s controversial participation in the contest. The signatories include Cristina Branco, Bateu Matou, Rita Dias, DjoDje, Beatriz Bronze (Evaya), Francisco Fontes, Gonçalo Gomes,…

Upon its first reading in the National Assembly, this budget was rejected by 404 votes to one. And the French leader will be hard-pressed to find concessions for the moderate left, appease his coalition and keep his promise to reduce the deficit. As France’s third prime minister in the last 12 months, Lecornu has no majority in a National Assembly that’s currently split into 11 groups. In order to avoid a censure motion, he has also promised not to use his government’s special constitutional powers (Article 49.3) to impose legislation without a parliamentary vote, and has so far rejected pressure…

A combination of stricter rules for asylum, easier deportations of irregular migrants, and sanctions towards smugglers all marked a renewed push by the European Union against illegal migration this week. In recent days, EU countries have agreed on three controversial laws aiming at speeding up asylum procedures and increasing returns, while the European Commission has announced a new sanctions regime against people-smugglers. These moves reflect the bolder stance the EU has taken on the issue in recent years, including by breaking taboos and aligning its policies with stances once taken only by far-right parties. “Bankrupt smugglers’ business” On Wednesday, Commission…

Tens of thousands of people protested across major Bulgarian cities on Wednesday, accusing the government of widespread corruption. The demonstrations, initially sparked by budget plans for higher taxes and increased social contributions, have grown into calls for Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s resignation. Protesters in Sofia gathered near key government buildings, with estimates suggesting over 100,000 participants. The unrest coincides with a no-confidence vote scheduled for Thursday.

Published on 10/12/2025 – 20:15 GMT+1 •Updated 11/12/2025 – 7:25 GMT+1 The US Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate for the third time in a row on Wednesday but signalled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months, a move that could attract anger from President Donald Trump, who has demanded steep reductions to borrowing costs. Wednesday’s cut reduced the rate to about 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years. Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also…