85 m. ago France has survived revolutions and wars: its crisis now is deep, but not terminal | David A Bell

From the raid on the Louvre to the spectacle of Sarkozy in jail, it is tempting to think France is on a downward spiral. But history tells the tale of its resilienceIn the classic dinner-party scene in the film Notting Hill, Tim McInnerney’s character promises a brownie to “the saddest act here”. In response, the guests (including the glamorous movie star played by Julia Roberts) try to outdo each other with tales of their painful suffering and pathetic failures.In our gloomy autumn of 2025, western democracies could play quite a convincing version of this game. There is the depressed United Kingdom, where Keir Starmer’s approval ratings have fallen to record lows and Reform leads in the polls. There is the deeply broken United States, where a supine opposition seems incapable of preventing Donald Trump from chopping away one guardrail after another of our constitutional order. There is Spain, where this summer a Socialist party scandal threatened to topple the fragile minority gove...

Events

7 h. ago The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her

The CEO of the nonprofit managing the Alamo has resigned after a powerful Republican state official criticized her and suggested she has views that are not compatible with the Texas shrine's history

Politics

7 h. ago Trump administration tells Colorado wolves must come from U.S. Rockies states, not Canada

The Trump administration is telling the state of Colorado it can no longer import wolves from Canada

Politics

7 h. ago Truck driver in fatal Florida crash repeatedly failed driving tests, official says. What to know

A commercial truck driver who is charged with killing three people in a deadly crash in Florida in August had failed a commercial driver’s license repeatedly

Events

8 h. ago Is Trump using the rubble from the East Wing to improve a DC golf course?

The White House’s East Wing is being demolished this week to make room for President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom

Politics

8 h. ago 7 charged in 2024 Pennsylvania voter registration fraud that prosecutors say was motivated by money

A yearlong investigation into suspected fraudulent voter registration forms in Pennsylvania has led to criminal charges against six street canvassers and their leader

Politics

8 h. ago Trump’s new $300 million ballroom likely to bear a familiar name

Officials are reportedly already calling it ‘The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom’

Politics

9 h. ago Pentagon accepts $130 million donation to help pay the military during the government shutdown

The Pentagon has confirmed it's accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown

Events

10 h. ago Donald Trump unveils shameless name for new ballroom amid outrage over East Wing demolition

A bombshell new report unveils the name for Trump's new grandiose ballroom.

Politics

10 h. ago Judge halts death penalty case in New Mexico due to federal shutdown

A judge in New Mexico halted legal proceedings in a federal death penalty case because the U.S. government shutdown is impeding the defendant’s right to legal representation

Events

10 h. ago Ronald Reagan’s daughter rips ‘heartbreaking’ teardown of White House’s East Wing

The White House’s East Wing was demolished this week to make room for President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom

Events

10 h. ago US says it now plans to deport Abrego Garcia to Liberia as soon as Oct. 31

The U.S. government now plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia

Politics

11 h. ago Trump declares ‘we’re just going to kill people’ as Hegseth blows up another ‘drug boat’

Donald Trump declared “we’re just going to kill people” the day before Pete Hegseth announced six more “narco-terrorists” died in a strike on another “drug boat”.

Events

11 h. ago South Carolina's state utility says private firm set to restart abandoned $9 billion nuclear project

South Carolina's state-owned utility is negotiating with Brookfield Asset Management to revive a nuclear power project abandoned eight years ago

Economics

11 h. ago Ukraine wants US to stay involved, says Zelenskyy after meeting western allies

Ukrainian leader joined ‘coalition of the willing’ to discuss how to ramp up pressure on RussiaVolodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine wants the US to stay involved in efforts to end the war after a meeting of western allies in London that took place without president Donald Trump.The Ukrainian leader chose not to overtly lobby for the supply of US Tomahawk cruise missiles at a meeting of more than 20 mainly European leaders from the “coalition of the willing” but instead emphasised the need for the west to work together. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Arab states push back on Tony Blair role in overseeing postwar Gaza

Some countries voiced concerns over Donald Trump’s decision to name former UK prime minister to ‘board of peace’

Events

12 h. ago Schumer says Democrats will force vote to overturn Canada tariffs as Carney says nation ‘stands ready’ to continue US trade talks – live

Democratic leader calls Canada tariffs ‘damaging’ and vows effort to overturn them; Canadian prime minister says he wants to see progress on trade negotiationsUS and Canada spar over anti-Trump tariff ad that suspended trade talksThe US secretary of state has confirmed Donald Trump’s announcement that all trade negotiations with Canada have been suspended.Marco Rubio spoke during a visit to a civil-military coordination centre in southern Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago MIKEY SMITH: 11 unhinged Donald Trump moments as he brands 7 million Americans 'garbage'

They say a week's a long time in politics - but at the beginning of this week, the White House had an east and a west wing. Here's everything you need to know from the last 24 hours

Politics

13 h. ago East Wing of White House reduced to rubble as part of Trump’s ballroom construction

Despite president’s promise to preserve it, the eastern section of the building is now completely destroyedThe East Wing of the White House has now been completely destroyed to pave way for Donald Trump’s $300m planned gilded ballroom, just days after the administration announced it would happen and contradicting Trump’s earlier promise that the existing building would not be touched.Satellite images on Friday showed the historic building’s eastern section reduced to rubble, to the outrage of historians, former White House officials and much of the public. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Letitia James pleads not guilty in Virginia mortgage fraud case

New York attorney general appears in court in Virginia in case brought after Trump called for her prosecutionThe New York state attorney general, Letitia James, pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of bank fraud and false statements brought after Donald Trump publicly called for her to be prosecuted in a move widely seen as political retribution.“Not guilty judge to both counts,” James told the judge as she made her first appearance in federal district court in Virginia. The case has been assigned to Judge Jamar Walker, who was nominated by Joe Biden. Continue reading...

Politics