5 h. ago Two days less holiday? France is up in arms but my sympathy is limited

This small cutback is hardly a draconian austerity purge for a country that is broke. But the howls of outrage show a rational debate is unlikelyFrance is skint, but the French are in denial. To judge by the howls of outrage from the left and the hard right of the French political spectrum, you would think the prime minister, François Bayrou, had just taken a Javier Milei-style chainsaw to public services, announced Doge-style mass layoffs or imposed swingeing pay cuts.But it was Bayrou’s suggestion that the French should give up two of their 11 cherished public holidays – Easter Monday and 8 May, the anniversary of the end of the second world war in Europe – and work instead to increase economic output and hence government revenue that provoked the anger.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Japan’s PM accepts ‘harsh’ election result after losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffs Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s future was unclear on Monday after his coalition lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba faces uncertain future after losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffsJapanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s future was unclear on Monday after his coalition lost its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba vows to stay on despite losing upper house majority

Ballot heaps pressure on Ishiba’s minority government just as it attempts to negotiate deal to avert Trump tariffsJapanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s has vowed to stay on despite his coalition losing its upper house majority in elections that saw strong gains by a rightwing populist party.While the ballot does not directly determine whether Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October and who has never been popular within his own party. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Fake Or Fortune guest speechless as 'painting by Sir Winston Churchill' worth huge sum

A man who paid a fraction of that could make a life-changing amount if the picture of Clemintine Churchill is proved to have been painted by the revered wartime Prime Minister

Politics

12 h. ago Netanyahu's appearance in court is delayed as PM has food poisoning, his office says

On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister's office announced the 75-year-old is recovering at home after being diagnosed with intestinal inflammation caused by spoiled food.

Society

15 h. ago Japan's Prime Minister vows not to quit despite 'harsh result' on polls

According to media projections after elections, Ishiba's coalition was projected to have lost its majority in the upper house, a result that might push him to resign.

Politics

16 h. ago Japan’s PM Ishiba signals intent to stay on despite election blow

Prime minister says he will still take ‘responsibility for national issues’ despite exit poll suggesting setback for LDP

Politics

17 h. ago The Guardian view on Europe’s failing economic orthodoxy: social contracts cannot be renewed through cuts | Editorial

The French prime minister, François Bayrou, has become the latest leader to target the less well-off in order to balance the booksAs European politicians begin to pack their suitcases and head to the beach, they do so against a domestic backdrop that begins to look distinctly ominous. In Britain and France, nationalist populist parties consistently lead in the polls. In Germany, the particularly extreme Alternative für Deutschland is neck and neck with the conservative CDU. Specific dynamics might vary but the unsettling pattern is the same – large swaths of voters increasingly identify with authoritarian and often xenophobic political forces.Prolonged post-industrial malaise, wage stagnation and austerity have precipitated this wave of disaffection with the mainstream, especially among the less well-off. Yet in London, Paris and Berlin, governments of the centre-left and centre-right seem intent on alienating disillusioned electorates still further. During his visit to London last ...

Economics

17 h. ago Japan’s PM accepts ‘harsh’ election result as loss of upper house predicted

Ballot heaps pressure on Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government after it lost control of lower house in October Japan’s shaky ruling coalition is likely to lose control of the upper house, exit polls showed after Sunday’s election, potentially heralding political turmoil as a tariff deadline with the US looms.While the ballot does not directly determine whether prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s minority government falls, it heaps pressure on the embattled leader, who also lost control of the more powerful lower house in October. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Japan’s PM Ishiba signals intent to stay on despite forecast election blow

Prime minister says he will still take ‘responsibility for national issues’ despite exit poll suggesting setback for LDP

Politics

29 h. ago France’s fiscal watchdog says plan to scrap holidays ‘remains to be proven’

Pierre Moscovici commends efforts to cut deficit as prime minister’s proposal comes under fire from opposition groups

Politics

30 h. ago John Swinney calls on Sir Keir Starmer to help Scotland evacuate injured Gazan kids

The First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister.

Events

32 h. ago Middle class families could be hit with soaring water bills under Labour's new plan to subside the costs for Britain's poorest households

The proposed national social tariff is due to be presented to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a review of the water industry on Monday.

Society

33 h. ago Aides urge the Prime Minister to axe 'meddling' law chief in autumn reshuffle because he is a 'liability' to the government

Lord Hermer (pictured) - parachuted into his job as the country's most senior law officer at the insistence of his friend Sir Keir Starmer - has infuriated the Prime Minister's officials with his 'meddling'.

Politics

34 h. ago GLEN OWEN: Blair's 'Dodgy Dossier' diplomat and a quiet coup in Downing Street

While the majority of Mr Blair's inner circle fell away over the ensuing 12 years, Jonathan Powell stayed firmly by the Prime Minister's side until they both left Downing Street in 2007.

Politics

36 h. ago Aides urge the Prime Minister to axe 'meddling' law chief in autumn reshuffle

Lord Hermer (pictured) - parachuted into his job as the country's most senior law officer at the insistence of his friend Sir Keir Starmer - has infuriated the Prime Minister's officials with his 'meddling'.

Politics

47 h. ago First Nations leaders walk out of Mark Carney meeting on Building Canada Act

Concerns raised that legislation to ensure economy is less dependent on US was pushed through without consultationSeveral First Nations leaders have walked out of a meeting with Mark Carney , as an event the Canadian prime minister hoped would assuage their concerns over his Building Canada Act instead left many with growing concern that it would violate their rights.Carney has spent recent weeks promoting the act, which passed last month as part of Bill C-5 and which he says is a key part of his campaign promise to ensure Canada’s economy is less dependent on the US under Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened huge tariffs. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago Slightly radioactive Fukushima soil is used at Japanese prime minister's office to prove safety

Decontaminated but slightly radioactive soil from Fukushima has been delivered to the Japanese prime minister’s office to be reused in an effort to showcase its safety

Politics

56 h. ago City council REFUSES proposal to build a memorial statue to the late former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in his hometown

A proposed memorial statue of former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in his adopted home city of Hull has been rejected.

Politics