38 h. ago Farage, Trump, Musk: your boy Javier Milei just took one hell of a beating. Why so quiet?

The wild politics and chainsaw made Argentina’s president an economic hero for the right. And now, with his nation’s finances in chaos: silenceSo you really want to know how Prime Minister Farage would pan out? Well, speculate no longer. An excellent test case is unfolding right now, in a country that just so happens to be run by one of Nigel’s heroes. Javier Milei is “amazing”, said the CEO of the private company he calls Reform. “Cutting and slashing doing all the things he’s done that’s leadership.”You may know some of this story, about how a political outsider took power in Argentina. You’ve seen photos of El Loco, the self-styled madman, in a black leather jacket, with sideburns like hedges and wielding a giant red chainsaw – all the better to slash the public sector with. Taking over Latin America’s second-largest country made Milei the poster boy of the international hard right. Elon Musk: “I love Javier Milei.” Kemi Badenoch: “Javier Milei is the template.” Donald Trump: “My...

Politics

38 h. ago Farage, Trump, Musk: your boy Javier Milei just took one hell of a beating. Why so quiet? | Aditya Chakrabortty

The wild politics and chainsaw made Argentina’s president an economic hero for the right. And now, with his nation’s finances in chaos: silenceSo you really want to know how Prime Minister Farage would pan out? Well, speculate no longer. An excellent test case is unfolding right now, in a country that just so happens to be run by one of Nigel’s heroes. Javier Milei is “amazing”, said the CEO of the private company he calls Reform. “Cutting and slashing doing all the things he’s done that’s leadership.”You may know some of this story, about how a political outsider took power in Argentina. You’ve seen photos of El Loco, the self-styled madman, in a black leather jacket, with sideburns like hedges and wielding a giant red chainsaw – all the better to slash the public sector with. Taking over Latin America’s second-largest country made Milei the poster boy of the international hard right. Elon Musk: “I love Javier Milei.” Kemi Badenoch: “Javier Milei is the template.” Donald Trump: “My...

Politics

8 d. ago Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison in Libya campaign

Sarkozy found guilty of criminal conspiracy for receiving millions of euros from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi Here is a bit more on that from Reuters:Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, was accused of making a deal with Gaddafi in 2005, when he was France’s interior minister, to obtain campaign financing in exchange for supporting the then-isolated Libyan government on the international stage. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Former French president found guilty but acquitted of some charges in criminal case linked to Gaddafi regime – Europe live

Sarkozy innocent of passive corruption and illegal campaign financing but guilty of criminal conspiracy in case tied to favours for late Libyan dicatorHere is a bit more on that from Reuters:Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, was accused of making a deal with Gaddafi in 2005, when he was France’s interior minister, to obtain campaign financing in exchange for supporting the then-isolated Libyan government on the international stage. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Scotland’s hidden history: Book a tour to discover how a rural village minister changed our financial future

The pioneering parish minister and the piggy bank discover Scotland’s hidden story which charts how one man changed the face of banking forever.

Politics

2 w. ago If Labour admitted there is a genocide in Gaza, it would have to admit its own hand in it | Owen Jones

From publicly shunning British Palestinians, to supplying parts for fighter jets, Labour looks increasingly out of step with international opinionOn Tuesday, a UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Its conclusion is unsurprising, with few states in history having been so brazen about their intentions. To take just two examples: in May, the Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed”; a week later, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted that Israel is “destroying more and more houses [in Gaza, and Palestinians accordingly] have nowhere to return”.At the beginning of this month, Labour’s deputy prime minister and former foreign secretary, David Lammy, wrote a letter to the chair of the international development committee, Sarah Champion, declaring that “the government has carefully considered the risk of genocide”, and has not concluded that Israel is acting with genocidal intent. How can two bodie...

Politics

2 w. ago Ministers hail US financial services deals ahead of Trump state visit to UK

Keir Starmer hopes to move on from recent scandals and regain political initiative

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer urged to sack Mandelson amid Epstein business deal revelations

PM says he has confidence in ambassador when questioned in the Commons by Lib Dem and Tory leadersKeir Starmer has been urged to sack Peter Mandelson as the UK’s US ambassador after more details emerged of his close friendship and business dealings with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.The prime minister was pressed on whether he knew that Mandelson, when business secretary in 2010, had reportedly allowed Epstein to help broker the sale of a UK government-owned business to a US bank – months after the financier had been released from jail in relation to his conviction for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves admits high taxes ARE hitting economy as she urges Cabinet to rein in spending to help fill '£50bn' hole in public finances at Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the burden 'does impact growth' - arguing that expanding UK plc is the only way to improve the public finances.

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves begs ministers to rein in spending to help fill '£50bn' hole in public finances at Budget

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has written to colleagues warning that they will not be bailed out by the Treasury if they fail to control costs.

Economics

3 w. ago Executive discussions around Casement Park to take place ‘in due course’

Finance Minister John O’Dowd was pressed on when the GAA ground will be build at the Assembly on Tuesday.

Politics

3 w. ago Nepal's PM quits and flees as his house is burned down by protesters who also chase finance minister through streets and attack him following outcry over social media ban

Young Nepalis are leading angry protests across the country, with violence spreading in the capital and other cities.

Events

3 w. ago France to get third PM in a year as Bayrou resigns after confidence vote

Prime minister hands in resignation after thousands of protesters gather to celebrate ousting and plan day of actionThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, has handed in his resignation 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. ago French government collapses as MPs vote to oust prime minister

France plunged into a fresh political crisis as MPs vote to oust the prime minister Francois Bayrou

Politics

3 w. ago Indonesian leader fires the ministers of finance and security after deadly protests

Indonesia's president has announced a Cabinet reshuffle, replacing key economic and security ministers after deadly protests erupted across the country

Events

3 w. ago French PM François Bayrou expected to be ousted in confidence vote

Opposition parties planning to remove centrist and bring down minority government after just nine monthsThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, is expected to be ousted in a confidence vote on Monday afternoon, plunging the eurozone’s second biggest economy into political crisis.Opposition parties from the left to the far right have made clear they will vote against the 74-year-old centrist, meaning he and his minority government would fall after only nine months in office. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The French government is on the brink – and Le Pen is the only winner | Paul Taylor

Saddled with a financial crisis and unpopular reforms, the prime minister, François Bayrou, seems doomed. Will he take Macron with him?François Bayrou may have thought it was a smart pre-emptive move to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his minority government ahead of a planned national protest day on 10 September and the start of a fraught parliamentary budget season.Determined not to meet the same fate as his predecessor who was toppled by parliament last December, the French prime minister appears to have chosen political hara-kiri instead. His near-certain ejection by a hung parliament on Monday (8 September) is set to turn a smouldering political deadlock into a blazing crise de régime. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Budget compromise needed if PM ousted, says French finance minister

Éric Lombard says he hopes François Bayrou will survive vote and dismisses talk of looming debt crisisThe French finance minister, Éric Lombard, has said the government would have to compromise on plans to cut the budget deficit if the prime minister, François Bayrou, is toppled in a confidence vote next week.Lombard told the Financial Times that fresh negotiations would require the government to make concessions to the left to reduce the size of the fiscal package if the government falls. Continue reading...

Politics