49 minutes ago France has the highest cannabis consumption in Europe. It’s high time to tax it | Alexander Hurst

With the nation’s finances in a parlous state, decriminalisation could raise millions of euros – as well as cut crimeFrance might not be broke, but the state of its public finances is, well, definitely not good. Total debt stands at €3.2tn – 112% of GDP. Interest payments on that debt are the second largest public expenditure after education (which includes everything from crêche, or preschool, to universities) and are higher than the amount spent on defence. And this year’s budget deficit is projected to be 6%, three points above the EU’s 3% limit.If it weren’t for the euro, France might very well be in the throes of a fiscal crisis – as it is, interest rates on some French debt are higher than for Portugal or Spain. Continue reading...

Politics

50 minutes ago Rare coin with millions out there could be worth dozens more than face value

Check your rare coin collection for this piece which apparently has millions out there. According to one TikTok user, it can be worth a few more than face value which is pretty decent...

Politics

73 minutes ago Who are the 2 million people demanding a general election? Crunching the numbers behind the viral petition

Starmer insists he’s ‘not surprised’ by election petition with two million signatures as he rules out another vote

Politics

2 hours ago Trump promised mass deportations. Educators worry fear will keep immigrants' kids from school

Regardless of whether President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to deport millions of immigrants, educators around the U.S. are bracing for upheaval

Events

2 hours ago Massachusetts man who spent decades in prison for a murder he didn't commit is awarded $13 million

A Massachusetts man who spent 27 years in jail for a murder he claims that he didn't commit has been awarded $13 million by a jury

Events

2 hours ago Millions will eat cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. But where do those cranberries come from?

Weeks before Thanksgiving, some of the cranberries that will be on dinner plates Thursday are floating on a bog in Massachusetts

Politics

2 hours ago Plan to cut Berlin arts budget will ‘destroy’ city’s culture, directors warn

Leading theatre figures warn ‘drastic’ reduction in funding will cause bankruptcy and harm city’s tourism appealPlans to slash Berlin’s culture budget by tens of millions of Euros have led to a huge backlash, with leading venues saying they have been forced to cut performances and others warning they will be pushed into bankruptcy.About 450 institutes that are reliant at least in part on state subsidies, from theatres and opera houses to nightclubs and galleries, have formed an alliance in an attempt to force a rethink over the €130m (£108.6m) cuts. At around 12 to 13% of the current annual budget, they have been described even by those proposing them as “brutal”. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago China’s market targets are ‘just psychological’, says former regulator

Frank remarks by onetime securities commission chief give rare insight into Beijing financial policymaking

Events

3 hours ago Angry parents slam Scots Winterfest ride dubbed "new Willy Wonka experience"

Mums and dads don't believe that the fees for the attractions are not worth the money.

Politics