Author: staff
Now, however, rumblings are growing louder that Lecornu has made a strategic error depriving him of a key tool needed to avert budgetary chaos — even if at the time it helped ensured his survival. Conservative leader Bruno Retailleau, a former minister who served in previous minority governments during Macron’s second term, urged Lecornu in a radio interview to go back on his word and trigger the constitutional clause, Article 49.3, to pass “a budget aligned with our nation’s interest.” Such a move would be risky too, as lawmakers are allowed to respond to the triggering of Article 49.3 by…
The coffin of the Italian tennis legend — who died on Monday, 1 December, at the age of 92 — arrived at the Foro Italico court named in his honour. A public viewing was held on Wednesday, 3 December, from 9:00 to 12:00, before a private funeral took place in the afternoon at the Gran Madre di Dio church in Ponte Milvio. Numerous personalities from the worlds of sport, politics and entertainment attended the service, paying their final respects to one of Italy’s most celebrated tennis figures.
Published on 28/11/2025 – 12:43 GMT+1 •Updated 13:25 Sally Rooney, the celebrated Irish author, is back in the news – this time for telling the UK High Court that she is “almost certain” that she would not be able to publish any new books in the UK as long as Palestine Action was banned under current terrorism laws. The author, who has supported Palestine Action and other similar protest groups for the last few years also said that she may have to remove her current books from the UK due to the ban. Back in July, Palestine Action was banned,…
Neuhoff told POLITICO that his trip had been called off due to Ukraine’s objections. He said Kyiv had first notified the office of Parliament President Roberta Metsola of their concerns and their intention to deny him entry, with Metsola’s office then relaying the information to the SEDE secretary, who in turn informed him. The German MEP has traveled to Russia several times in recent years, including to Sochi last month. He has previously argued that any peace plan between Moscow and Kyiv should address “the root causes that led to the Russian invasion” and that Ukraine should be prevented from…
Moscow has replaced a cosmonaut assigned to an upcoming SpaceX mission after he allegedly took photos of restricted materials at the company’s training facility in California, according to Russian media. Oleg Artemyev was pulled from the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station following allegations he violated US regulations by photographing SpaceX engines and other sensitive documentation, investigative outlet The Insider reported. Georgy Trishkin, a space industry analyst, told The Insider that sources confirmed an interagency investigation had been launched into the incident. The alleged violations took place during training at SpaceX’s facility in Hawthorne, where Artemyev reportedly used his…
By Theo Farrant & AP Published on 28/11/2025 – 14:39 GMT+1 A glittering treasure, covered in diamonds and commissioned for a dying dynasty, is about to return to the spotlight. The Winter Egg, crafted by legendary jeweller Fabergé, was gifted by Russia’s last Emperor Nicholas II to his mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, on Easter Day 1913. While the imperial family met a grisly end, executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918, some of their famous eggs survived – including this exceptional example, which is set to go under the hammer next week. “The Winter Egg is made of rock crystal. It would have…
In an email sent to colleagues announcing his imminent retirement, first reported by Euractiv, Sannino said “under these circumstances, I do not consider it appropriate to continue in my present position.” He added that he was “confident in the work of the magistrates and confident that everything will be clarified.” The deputy director general of DG MENA, Michael Karnitschnig, will take over Sannino’s job until a replacement is appointed. The Commission spokesperson said “we must all respect the assumption of innocence until judicial proceedings are completed.” Sannino, as well as the EU’s former top diplomat Federica Mogherini, who was also…
Published on 03/12/2025 – 18:55 GMT+1 The European Union issued updated guidance for asylum applications by Syrian nationals on Wednesday that reflects new conditions in Syria a year after the fall of former long-time leader, Bashar al-Assad. The changes may influence the result of asylum requests of some 110,000 Syrians who were still awaiting an asylum decision at the end of September. The European Union Agency for Asylum said opponents of al-Assad and military service evaders “are no longer at risk of persecution.” But the agency said other groups may be considered at risk in the post-Assad Syria, including people…
Published on 28/11/2025 – 16:44 GMT+1 We’re nearing the end of the year, which means streaming platforms are just getting started with their annual batch (read: Yuletide assault) of schmaltzy Christmas films, starring absolutely no one you’ve ever heard of. Nothing new here, but one such saccharine rom-com has emerged as an early seasonal success story. Starring Minka Kelly and Tom Wozniczka, Champagne Problems landed on Netflix earlier this month. It follows American Junior manager and workaholic Sydney Price, who jets off to Paris to acquire the prestigious champagne label Château Cassell just before Christmas. On a rare night off,…
The Left’s leaders said they were acting not to help the coalition, but rather to protect pensioners from cuts. Conservatives “have been playing power games at the expense of millions of pensioners across the country,” The Left’s parliamentary group leader Heidi Reichinnek said in a statement. “It is absolutely disgraceful that the conservative bloc does not even allow pensioners to have butter on their bread.” The Left’s decision to abstain bails Merz out of an immediate political mess that casted doubt on the ability of his coalition — an ideologically divergent alliance between Merz’s conservatives and the center-left Social Democratic…