8 h. ago François Bayrou leaves Élysée after resigning as France’s PM – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron to name successor ‘within days’ as political crisis grips FranceFrance to get third PM in a yearLithuania has also said it will strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia during the Zapad military exercise, the country’s border guard said today.The authorities said they would carry “even more active border monitoring, patrols, and other border control measures,” looking for any potential border violations and provocations against Lithuania. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Bayrou heads to Élysée to hand in resignation as France’s PM – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron to name successor ‘within days’ as political crisis grips FranceFrance to get third PM in a yearLithuania has also said it will strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia during the Zapad military exercise, the country’s border guard said today.The authorities said they would carry “even more active border monitoring, patrols, and other border control measures,” looking for any potential border violations and provocations against Lithuania. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago France to get third PM in a year as Bayrou to resign after confidence vote

Prime minister to hand in resignation after thousands of protesters gather to celebrate ousting and plan day of actionBayrou to resign – latest updatesThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, will hand in his resignation on Tuesday after losing a confidence vote that has plunged France into government collapse and political crisis.Emmanuel Macron has said he will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, who would then have to form a new government. This will be the third French prime minister in a year, whose first task will be the major challenge of agreeing a budget among a divided parliament. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago François Bayrou ousted as French PM after losing confidence vote

Government collapses after Emmanuel Macron’s ally wins support of just 194 MPs with 364 againstFrançois Bayrou has been ousted in a confidence vote after only nine months as prime minister, collapsing his minority government and plunging France into a political crisis.Bayrou, 74, will hand his resignation to Emmanuel Macron, his longterm centrist ally, on Tuesday morning. The French president now faces the challenge of appointing his third prime minister in only one year, and the fifth since he began his second term of office in 2022. His office said he would make the decision “in the coming days”. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Europe live: French PM loses confidence vote and will tender resignation amid political crisis

More than 350 French lawmakers voted against François BayrouAnd over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Europe live: Macron labelled ‘a defeated president’ as his PM faces no

Socialist Boris Vallaud launched blistering attack on Macron and says Bayrou’s decision to call a no-confidence vote is ‘a cop-out’And over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago Europe live: François Bayrou says lawmakers face ‘not a political, but historical question’ on France’s future, ahead of confidence vote

Bayrou would be third prime minister to lose the post in a year, leaving Macron in a difficult political position and an impossible vacancy to fillAnd over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Putin says western troops in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’ as European countries pledge security support – Europe live

Macron says 26 nations have offered security guarantees for Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets Slovakia’s Fico amid tension over Russian energy suppliesMacron says 26 countries ready to supply postwar military backing for UkraineHere is the full quote from the Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, via Reuters.“I have no doubt that if the presidents consider it necessary, their meeting can be organised very quickly. Just as the meeting in Alaska was quickly organised,” Peskov told the Russian news outlet Argumenty i Fakty, referring to last month’s Trump-Putin summit. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago American music star quietly cancels European tour dates including huge Manchester Co

A major Co-op Live act has suddenly cancelled his shows in Europe with fans informed over email

Politics

5 d. ago Lisbon funicular crash: Portugal’s PM vows swift and thorough investigation

Luís Montenegro describes accident, in which 16 people died, as ‘one of the biggest tragedies in our recent history’Explainer: what is Lisbon’s Elevador da Glória and how does it work?Europe live – latest updatesPortugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, has promised a swift and thorough investigation to determine the causes of the funicular railway crash that killed 16 people and injured 21 others in Lisbon, describing the accident as “one of the biggest tragedies in our recent history”.Public prosecutors are already looking into the crash, which happened on the Portuguese capital’s famous Glória funicular just after 6pm on Wednesday. The city’s mayor has also asked Carris, the municipal public transport company that operates the service, to investigate the accident. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Macron says ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will finalise ‘robust’ Ukrainian security guarantees – Europe live

Leaders who are gathered in Paris are expected to speak to Donald Trump this afternoonThe Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof is next.Belgium’s Bart de Wever, Finland’s Alexander Stubb, and the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa are the first leaders arriving at the Élysée Palace, welcomed by Macron on the doorstep. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Leaders gather for ‘Coalition of the Willing’ talks on Ukraine security guarantees – Europe live

Emmanuel Macron says Europe ready to provide such guarantees at meeting in Paris todayRutte gets also asked about his views on Russia’s opposition to the deployment of any Nato troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees.He says:“But why are we interested in what Russia thinks about troops in Ukraine? It’s a sovereign country. It’s not for them to decide. Russia has nothing to do with this. Ukraine is a sovereign nation. If Ukraine wants to have security guarantee forces in Ukraine to support the peace deal, it’s up to them. Nobody else can decide about it. “Do you really think if he would not have been elected president united states, that Italy, Canada, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg would have committed to do 2% this year? Do you really think that the whole of Nato would have committed to 5% committed to 5% including 3.5% core defence spending at the Nato Summit in The Hague?”“He took that leadership role, and it is not easy to solve this, but he is absolutely commi...

Politics

5 d. ago Death toll rises to 15 with many injured after Lisbon’s Gloria funicular derails: Latest updates

Images of the crash show the yellow-and-white street car lying on its side near the Avenida da Liberdade as emergency services respond

Events

6 d. ago Death toll rises to 15 with many more injured after Lisbon’s Gloria funicular derails: Latest updates

Images of the crash show the yellow-and-white street car lying on its side near the Avenida da Liberdade as emergency services respond

Events

6 d. ago Trump says ‘you’ll see things happen’ if US is unhappy with Putin’s decisions – Europe live

Trump makes comments while meeting Polish president Karol Nawrocki after Putin warns Russia will use ‘military means’ to achieve objectives if diplomacy failsPutin was also asked about the prospect of more EU sanctions against Russia or its allies, including China and India.He said the leaders did not discuss this during their recent conversations.“I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We will see.Otherwise, we will be forced to resolve all our objective objectives through military means.” Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Let him come to Moscow,’ Putin says about peace talks with Zelenskyy – Europe live

Russian president questions legitimacy of Ukrainian government as Zelenskyy ramps up diplomatic efforts in Denmark and Polish president prepares to meet Donald TrumpPutin was also asked about the prospect of more EU sanctions against Russia or its allies, including China and India.He said the leaders did not discuss this during their recent conversations.“I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We will see.Otherwise, we will be forced to resolve all our objective objectives through military means.” Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Europe live: Putin claims he never opposed EU membership for Ukraine but draws line at Nato

Russian leader, continuing China visit, is joined by Slovakia’s Robert FicoOver in Beijing, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has met with Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, with the pair giving brief statements to the media in the last few minutes.In his remarks, Putin said that that Moscow had never opposed Ukraine’s potential membership of the European Union, and dismissed claims that Moscow was somehow planning to attack Europe. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Europe live: US treasury secretary indicates growing frustration with Putin over Ukraine

Scott Bessent says ‘all options on the table’ and condemns ‘despicable’ increase in attacks as Russian leader receives warm welcome in Chinain BrusselsBelgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly, adding to the growing number of countries seeking to put pressure on Israel and keep alive a two-state solution to end the conflict.“In view of the humanitarian tragedy playing out in Palestine and particularly in Gaza, and in the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and the Hamas terrorists.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago ‘Coalition of the willing’ to meet on Thursday, Élysée confirms – Europe live

Meeting, co-chaired by France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK’s Keir Starmer, will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine and response to Russia’s refusal to end warEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:“Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.“We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.”“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Russian interference suspected after Von der Leyen’s plane hit by GPS jamming over weekend – Europe live

Plane landed safely in Bulgaria but authorities suspect jamming due to ‘blatant interference from Russia’, says European Commission spokespersonEU transport spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen also offered a bit more detail on the issue of GPS jamming and its impact on operations.She said:“Generally, we have been seeing a quite a lot of such jamming and spoofing activities, notably in the eastern flank of Europe.Europe is the most concerned region in the or most affected region globally, on this.“We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations that are [a] regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour.Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.”“This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the President is carrying out in the frontline member states.” Continue reading...

Events