14 h. ago Macron must lead the EU push to end Israel’s war on Gaza | Jo

The Israeli government is assailing the French president – but visible economic and political action is the only hope for peaceEmmanuel Macron has become enemy No 1 for the Netanyahu government. That’s because the French president aims to create momentum for a Palestinian state beside Israel encompassing the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Gaza Strip, reviving what is fast becoming an out-of-reach possibility – a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.That’s why Macron has earned the fury of an increasingly unhinged Israeli prime minister. France is expected to co-chair an organizing conference at the United Nations in New York in mid-June, taking advantage of heads of state already in North America for the Canadian-based G7 summit a few days earlier. He hopes this conference will include the all-important Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago Could an alliance of eight small countries turn out to be Europe’s anchor? | Paul Taylor

Amid geopolitical storms and the rise of populism, the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ is gaining clout as a bulwark of western resolveWith Europe’s political kaleidoscope spinning wildly in the populist winds, a group of northern countries is gaining weight as a geopolitical anchor. Known as the Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8 in diplomatic jargon), it brings together small northern European states that, individually, might have little clout in international security and politics. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they have wielded growing influence as a pressure group for western resolve, offering an attractive blend of democratic security, defence integration and societal resilience.Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden established their regional cooperation format in 1992, after the end of the cold war, with regular meetings of prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign and defence ministers and senior government officials. It beg...

Politics

35 h. ago Trump tariffs could ‘wipe out’ European steel sector, senior industry figure says

ThyssenKrupp executive warns of ‘collateral damage’ to supply chains and urges protective action on energy pricingEurope’s steel industry faces being “wiped out” in the face of Donald Trump’s prohibitive 50% tariffs, high energy costs and a mountain of cheaper Chinese steel, one of Germany’s biggest industrial groups has warned.Ilse Henne, a board member at the steel, engineering and chemicals group ThyssenKrupp, said the industry faced an existential crisis after the US president’s decision last week to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Bilbao was a glorious blip for Spurs – and that’s why Levy had to sack Postecoglou | Jonathan Wilson

Tottenham chair was not blinded by silverware and decided finishing fourth-bottom of the Premier League was not enoughIn football, there is always a lot of light and noise. There is always a lot of emotion. That is both its appeal and why it is so difficult for those in the game to make decisions. Ange Postecoglou gave Tottenham one of the great nights in the club’s history when they won the Europa League in Bilbao.A first trophy in 17 years. A first European trophy in 41. It’s easy to understand why the instinct is gratitude, to hope that somehow victory can be self-replicating, that silverware begets silverware and something fundamental in Tottenham’s being was transformed at San Mamés. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou as head coach despite Europa League glory

Victory in Bilbao fails to save Australian’s jobThomas Frank among candidates to take overAnge Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham despite winning the Europa League. That European trophy, a first for 41 years, could not prevent him from being removed after a Premier League campaign in which Spurs lost 22 of their 38 games and finished 17th.Postecoglou departs after exactly two seasons in charge, leaving his successor with the benefit of Champions League football next season. Daniel Levy, the club chair and a minority owner, will now seek to appoint a 14th permanent manager in 24 years at the boardroom helm. The club have met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou and weigh up move for £10m Thomas Frank

Europa League triumph fails to save manager’s jobSpurs say it was one of their ‘toughest decisions’Analysis: Levy wanted more than one-punch knockoutTottenham have sacked Ange ­Postecoglou as their manager, describing it as “one of the toughest decisions we have had to make”, and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause.Postecoglou led Spurs to Europa League glory on 21 May, beating ­Manchester United in the final in ­Bilbao to end a 17-year trophy drought. It sparked delirium among fans, an outpouring of relief and the feeling among some of them that he deserved the chance to continue in the role. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago Europe's 'best value city' is stag and hen do hotspot with £22 Ryanair flights

Europe's best value cities have been revealed for 2025 and there's one that you'll definitely want on your radar for a city break packed with culture, great food and bargain prices

Economics

4 d. ago Crystal Palace’s Europa League place in doubt after Uefa rejects owners’ blind trust move

Club co-owner John Textor is also majority owner of LyonPalace may drop out of Europa League or Europe entirelyUefa has rejected offers from Crystal Palace shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure the club can compete in Europe next season.Palace’s participation in the Europa League has been cast into doubt as the club’s largest shareholder Textor is also the majority owner of Lyon, who have also qualified for the second tier competition. And to compound matters, Blitzer’s Danish club Brøndby have qualified for the Conference League, so the prospect of the FA Cup winners dropping into that competition is also not an option due to the European governing body’s multi-club rules. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago Donald Trump says he and Friedrich Merz are ‘unhappy’ about Russian invasion of Ukraine at White House meeting – Europe live

US president says ‘I think we’re going to be successful at stopping bloodshed’ as he meets German chancellor in Oval OfficeUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago ECB cuts interest rates to 2% in effort to bolster flagging eurozone growth

European Central Bank makes eighth quarter-point cut in a year as bloc reels from impact of Trump’s trade warsBusiness live – latest updatesThe European Central Bank has cut interest rates to 2% in an effort to boost flagging economic growth across the eurozone.The ECB, making its eighth quarter-point cut in a year, said the 20-member currency bloc needed a reduction in the cost of borrowing as it reeled from the damage caused by Donald Trump’s trade wars. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump is strongarming companies elsewhere into cutting DEI. Those that cave in now will regret it later | Miriam González Durántez

Spinelessly going along with the US’s perverse programme is not just a moral failure – it directly contravenes EU and British lawOrganising a women’s networking event in the US has become an act of defiance. Companies with equality-driven agendas risk losing government contracts. Some are receiving McCarthy-like letters asking them to confirm that they have no diversity policies. Activities designed to support women, including healthcare research, are being threatened, and companies are backtracking on former commitments. Women’s networking events, the gathering of diversity data and targeted training are being questioned. And some companies are requesting that charities focused on women and girls consider changes to their programmes in order to navigate the current climate. The one I founded, Inspiring Girls, has already been asked to “include men as role models”.This anti-diversity wave isn’t just a social backlash to the many excesses of wokeness – it is politically orchestrated ...

Politics

4 d. ago Companies that spinelessly follow Trump's cuts to DEI will pay a heavy price | Miriam González Durántez

Going along with the US’s perverse programme is not just a moral failure – it directly contravenes EU and British lawOrganising a women’s networking event in the US has become an act of defiance. Companies with equality-driven agendas risk losing government contracts. Some are receiving McCarthy-like letters asking them to confirm that they have no diversity policies. Activities designed to support women, including healthcare research, are being threatened, and companies are backtracking on former commitments. Women’s networking events, the gathering of diversity data and targeted training are being questioned. And some companies are requesting that charities focused on women and girls consider changes to their programmes in order to navigate the current climate. The one I founded, Inspiring Girls, has already been asked to “include men as role models”.This anti-diversity wave isn’t just a social backlash to the many excesses of wokeness – it is politically orchestrated and driven. ...

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer to meet Nato’s Rutte amid US pressure to spend 5% of GDP on defence – Europe live

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth says there is ‘near consensus’ on funding commitment for Nato member statesUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Eurozone interest rate cut expected; Tesla’s UK sales fall by a third – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsStock exchange dealt another blow as £12bn fintech ditches main London listingUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO, including changes to the much criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.Reynolds told the European Policy Centre security conference in Brussels:“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow.“Our eyes are fixed on greater flexibility in decision making, greater openness in the east of plurilaterals and building a fully functioning dispute settlement system,”“the trees that survive the storms aren’t the tallest. They’re the ones whose roots are intertwined with their lives.“Just in the past two days, during the OECD trade ministerial [summit] the message was clear a...

Economics

4 d. ago Sydney Sweeney shows off FIVE different looks in one day including chic suits and a dramatic gown during incredibly stylish press tour for her new film Echo Valley

Especially in recent years, actresses and actors have used fashion to complement their promotional tours and draw attention to the upcoming release.

Society

4 d. ago Eurozone interest rate cut expected; Tesla’s UK sales drop by a third – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe UK car market has returned to growth, new data shows, but sales of Teslas have fallen by a third.Overall car registrations rose by 1.6% in May, to 150,070 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That’s the strongest May for new car sales since 2021, but 18% below pre-Covid levels. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago What time do tickets go on general sale for Drake UK and Europe 2025 tour including Co

Drake is set to visit Manchester Co-Op Live in July as part of 2025 Europe and UK tour

Politics

4 d. ago Eurozone interest rate cut expected; fintech Wise delivers blow to London stock market – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsMay was the busiest month for UK house sales since March 2022, new data from Rightmove this morning shows.Across Great Britain, the number of sales agreed is now 6% ahead of the same period last year, Rightmove reports. But London is lagging, with sales just 1% higher than a year ago. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago UK defence secretary confirms plans for drone deliveries as Ukraine military aid meeting opens – Europe live

John Healey says Europe needs to continue supporting Ukraine ‘for our security today, tomorrow and for future generations’Opening, Nato’s Rutte reiterates the aim of achieving a “durable and lasting peace” in Ukraine as he praises president Trump’s “effort to get there."“Let’s pray that we will get there as soon as possible, but in the meantime, [it’s about] making sure that you have what you need to stay in the fight and to make sure that whenever it ends, Putin will know that he should never, ever again, try to attack Ukraine so again,” he said. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago 'Absolute robbery': Drake fans fume at '£500' tickets for Manchester and Birmingham shows

Drake will play two nights in Birmingham Utilita Arena before heading to Manchester Co-Op Live on July 25 and 26

Sport