15 m. ago France’s Macron facing critical dilemma after second PM ousted in a year

The challenge French President Emmanuel Macron faces in choosing his fifth prime minister in under two years lays bare the depth of a political crisis that in many ways is of his own making, and one with no clear path out. Francois Bayrou was set to tender his resignation as prime minister on Tuesday, a day after the parliament voted to bring down the government over its plans for taming the budget deficit. Bayrou’s predecessor, Michel Barnier, had suffered the same fate over his fiscal plans...

Politics

32 m. ago ‘Prosperity for generations’: Malaysia urges Hong Kong to tap Asean ‘as a bloc’

Business leaders and governments should think of Asean as a bloc with nearly 700 million people and an emerging middle class instead of individual countries when considering the vast trade potential of the region, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on Tuesday. While Hong Kong was essential to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as an international financial hub that promoted technological innovation with a well-regarded legal system, the bloc could also offer great...

Politics

1 hour ago South Korea overhauls flawed prosecution office accused of selective justice

South Korea’s powerful prosecution service, long accused of wielding justice selectively, is to be dismantled under a sweeping reform plan that government officials and ruling party lawmakers say is necessary to curb abuse of authority. But critics warn the move may create constitutional disputes and deepen political fault lines. President Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which holds a majority in the National Assembly, joined forces with the Presidential Office and the cabinet...

Society

1 hour ago Trump administration launches immigration crackdown in Chicago

US President Donald Trump has started his immigration crackdown in Chicago, with federal agents stepping up enforcement in an escalating campaign against Democratic-run cities that the White House said were suffering from rampant crime and disorder. Operation Midway Blitz has begun in the city and other parts of Illinois targeting “criminal illegal aliens”, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on Monday. DHS blamed Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat and potential...

Politics

11 h. ago Could the US government be helping fund the rise of China's military?

Could the US government be helping fund the rise of China's military?  KATU

Events

13 h. ago French PM Bayrou loses confidence vote, toppling his government

France’s parliament voted on Monday to bring down the government over its plans to tame the ballooning national debt, deepening a political crisis and handing President Emmanuel Macron the task of finding a fifth prime minister in less than two years. Francois Bayrou, 74, took office as prime minister only nine months ago. He will tender his resignation on Tuesday, his office said, leaving Macron to face a narrowing set of options, with financial markets signalling worry at France’s political...

Politics

13 h. ago Macron scrambles to find new French PM after Bayrou is ousted

President Emmanuel Macron will accept the resignation of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Tuesday after his government was ejected in a confidence vote, with the French leader rushing to find a successor and stave off a new political crisis. On Monday, Bayrou suffered a crushing loss in a confidence vote he had himself called, plunging France into fresh uncertainty. The French presidency said in a statement that Macron “took note” of the outcome and said Macron would name a new premier “in the...

Politics

13 h. ago Macron scrambles to find new French PM after government is ousted

President Emmanuel Macron will accept the resignation of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Tuesday after his government was ejected in a confidence vote, with the French leader rushing to find a successor and stave off a new political crisis. On Monday, Bayrou suffered a crushing loss in a confidence vote he had himself called, plunging France into fresh uncertainty. The French presidency said in a statement that Macron “took note” of the outcome and said Macron would name a new premier “in the...

Politics

14 h. ago Trump loses appeal, must pay E. Jean Carroll US$83.3 million in defamation case

A federal appeal court on Monday upheld a civil jury’s finding that US President Donald Trump must pay US $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks against the long-time agony aunt after she accused him of sexual assault. A three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal of the defamation award, finding that the “jury’s damages awards are fair and reasonable”. Trump had argued the damages were unreasonably excessive and pushed for a...

Economics

15 h. ago Hong Kong officials ‘could have provided better guidance to failed balloon event’

Hong Kong authorities could have provided better guidance to the organiser of a HK$30 million (US$3.85 million) botched hot-air balloon festival, lawmakers have said, even as the government stressed it had already offered professional advice. Lawmakers Doreen Kong Yuk-foon and Michael Tien Puk-sun said on Monday that the government should be more proactive when dealing with high-risk or special events and could conduct reviews for activities held in public venues. “I hope the government can...

Politics

16 h. ago China and Russia increasingly working ‘in tandem’ to undermine faith in governance, top Finnish official claims

China and Russia increasingly working ‘in tandem’ to undermine faith in governance, top Finnish official claims  The Guardian

Politics

17 h. ago Spain, Israel ties hit new low after Madrid moves ‘to stop Gaza genocide’

Israel on Monday accused Spain of antisemitism and barred two government ministers from entry after Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez announced measures aimed at stopping what he called “the genocide in Gaza”. The spat marks a new low in relations over the devastating Israeli offensive in the Palestinian territory, launched after an unprecedented Hamas attack in Israel in 2023. Sanchez, one of the most virulent critics of Israel’s military campaign, said the nine measures aimed to “stop the genocide...

Politics

18 h. ago Hong Kong schools required to give reasons for opting out of flu jab scheme

Hong Kong authorities aim to boost the flu vaccine coverage rate for the coming year by requiring schools to provide reasons for formally opting out of an outreach programme and procure jabs for some family doctors to ensure a steady supply. The Department of Health on Monday unveiled the government’s plan to encourage more people to get flu jabs, with the latest seasonal vaccination programme to start on September 25. Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, noted...

Politics

24 h. ago France’s political turmoil deepens as parliament prepares to oust PM

France’s parliament is expected to oust Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday after just nine months in office, plunging the key EU member into new political uncertainty and creating a painful dilemma for President Emmanuel Macron. Bayrou blindsided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a months-long standoff over his austerity budget, which foresees almost €44 billion (US$52 billion) of cost savings to reduce France’s debt pile. Opposition parties across the board have made it...

Politics

24 h. ago Tokyo maps out new disaster plan for an ‘inevitable’ Mount Fuji eruption

As Mount Fuji looms tranquilly over Tokyo’s skyline, city officials are racing to prepare for a disaster that has not struck in more than three centuries – but could happen “at any time”. For the first time, authorities in Japan’s capital have mapped out exactly how they would evacuate millions if the dormant volcano awakens, in an overhaul of the city’s disaster playbook. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s new volcano disaster prevention plan outlines which roads will be cleared first and...

Events

25 h. ago GLOBALink | French vlogger discovers smart dining with robots in Beijing!

GLOBALink | French vlogger discovers smart dining with robots in Beijing!  Xinhua

Politics

26 h. ago ‘Drowning in money’: Filipinos seethe over ‘stolen’ flood control funds

Mud splattered across gates. Walls daubed with “thief” and “corrupt”. In the Philippines, anger over the misuse of funds set aside for flood control projects has found its target: the properties of contractors accused of siphoning off billions and the offices of government agencies. After rallying outside the Department of Public Works and Highways and pelting it with waste water-filled balloons and rotten fruit on Thursday, protesters descended on the House of Representatives the day afterwards...

Events

32 h. ago Israel is not giving Palestinian prisoners enough food, Supreme Court rules

Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday ruled that the government has failed to provide Palestinian security prisoners with adequate food for basic subsistence and ordered authorities to improve their nutrition. The decision was a rare case in which the country’s highest court ruled against the government’s conduct during the nearly two-year war. Since the war began, Israel has seized thousands of people in Gaza that it suspects of links to Hamas. Thousands have also been released without charge, often...

Events

32 h. ago Israeli court says government not giving Palestinian prisoners enough food

In a highly rare exercise of wartime legal restraint, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on Sunday that the Israeli government has deprived Palestinian detainees of even a minimum subsistence diet and ordered authorities to increase the amount and improve the quality of food served to deprived Palestinian inmates. Although it is the job of the Supreme Court to advise the government of the legality of its policies, the Israeli judiciary has seldom taken issue with its actions in the 23-month war...

Events

37 h. ago US investigating malware email targeting trade talks with China: reports

US authorities are investigating a bogus email from a Republican lawmaker that contained malware apparently aimed at giving China insights into the Trump administration’s trade talks with Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The malware in the email purportedly sent by congressman John Moolenaar in July to US trade groups, law firms and government agencies was traced by cyber analysts to a hacker group - APT41 - believed to be working for Chinese intelligence, the newspaper...

Events