3 h. ago UN needs to cut $500m from 2026 budget and lose 20% of staff after US funding reductions

Job losses and global reorganisation expected amid Trump administration’s slashing of funding and ‘UN80’ reviewThe UN will need to cut $500m (about £370m) from next year’s budget and lose 20% of its staff as it struggles to cope with a massive reduction in funding by the Trump administration.The plan, in gestation since Donald Trump started cutting his foreign aid budget, is likely to involve an initial minimum 3,000 job cuts out of a 35,000-strong main workforce. The overall UN core or regular budget would be cut from $3.7bn to about $3.2bn next year. It means reductions of 15.1% in resources and 18.8% in posts in the regular budget compared with the 2025 budget. Continue reading...

Economics

3 h. ago UN faces $500m budget cut and 20% job losses after big drop in US funding

Core budget to fall to $3.2bn next year and initial minimum 3,000 job cuts expected amid streamlining processThe UN will need to cut $500m (about £370m) from next year’s budget and lose 20% of its staff as it struggles to cope with a massive reduction in funding by the Trump administration.The plan, in gestation since Donald Trump started cutting his foreign aid budget, is likely to involve an initial minimum 3,000 job cuts out of a 35,000-strong main workforce. The overall UN core or regular budget would be cut from $3.7bn to about $3.2bn next year. It means reductions of 15.1% in resources and 18.8% in posts in the regular budget compared with the 2025 budget. Continue reading...

Economics

3 h. ago Strike action across France as hundreds of thousands march to demand PM rethinks budget cuts

Sébastien Lecornu, who has recently taken office, faces pressure to act on wages, pensions and public services as disruption is caused across the countryHundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested pricing policies. Around one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Strike action across France as hundreds of thousands join protests

Disruption seen across country as PM Sébastien Lecornu urged to rethink budget cutsHundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested against pricing policies. About one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Strikes and marches against budget cuts cause disruption across France, with 141 arrests – Europe live

At least 476 separate demonstrations are taking place over public services and wages, a week after the appointment of new PM Sébastien LecornuPeople in France: share your views on the strikeFull report: France’s biggest strike in years under way amid political crisisI am keeping an eye on the EU’s midday briefing just now, but there is no substantial update from the EU on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia.The European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, Olof Gill, repeated that “we expect to present [them] soon”, as he asked journalists to “please bear with us on that”, without offering more detail. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Strikes and marches against budget cuts cause disruption across France, with 94 arrests – Europe live

Up to 800,000 people are expected to protest over public services and wages, a week after the appointment of prime minister Sébastien LecornuPeople in France: share your views on the strikeFull report: France’s biggest strike in years under way amid political crisisI am keeping an eye on the EU’s midday briefing just now, but there is no substantial update from the EU on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia.The European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, Olof Gill, repeated that “we expect to present [them] soon”, as he asked journalists to “please bear with us on that”, without offering more detail. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago New French PM under pressure as strikes disrupt schools and transport across country – Europe live

Up to 800,000 people are expected to march over budget cuts, public services and wages a week after Sébastien Lecornu’s appointmentPeople in France: share your views on the strikeFull report: France’s biggest strike in years under way amid political crisisI am keeping an eye on the EU’s midday briefing just now, but there is no substantial update from the EU on the 19th package of sanctions against Russia.The European Commission’s deputy chief spokesperson, Olof Gill, repeated that “we expect to present [them] soon”, as he asked journalists to “please bear with us on that”, without offering more detail. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago France hit by huge strike as up to 800,000 protest looming budget cuts

In Paris, many metro lines were set to be suspended for most of the day except for morning and afternoon rush hour

Events

11 h. ago People in France: share your views of Thursday’s nationwide strike

We’d like to hear from people across France about how they view Thursday’s strikesAround 800,000 people are expected to join marches across France on Thursday.French trade unions across many sectors from schools to transport have called for the nationwide strike to oppose unpopular budget plans. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago France faces day of strikes as disruption to hit travel, hospitals and schools

Unions continue to denounce Macron’s pension reform that raised the minimum retirement age from 62

Events

31 h. ago EU’s proposed trade suspension with Israel ‘appropriate and proportionate’ given crisis in Gaza, Šefčovič says – Europe live

EU trade commissioner says proposed partial trade suspension is ‘carefully considered response’ to humanitarian crisis in GazaNordic correspondentDenmark is for the first time to buy long-range precision weapons such as missiles and drones, Mette Frederiksen has abruptly announced, as she warned “Russia is testing us”.There is no doubt that Russia will be a threat to Denmark and Europe for many years to come. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago New tests show Alexei Navalny was poisoned in Russian jail, says his widow – Europe live

Yulia Navalnaya says that two separate tests show that Russian opposition figure was poisoned in jail as she blames Putin for his deathYulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has just claimed that two laboratory tests, conducted independently of each other, show her husband was poisoned before death.In a YouTube video, she recalled in detail the last letter from her husband, a day before his death in a penal colony in Russia, and his last days in custody, detailing the authorities’ lack of reaction to his first reports of being unwell. Continue reading...

Events

53 h. ago Trump says Russian oil purchases by EU and Nato countries must ‘stop immediately’ — Europe live

US president adds that ‘Zelenskyy will have to make a deal’ and that Ukraine ‘is in serious trouble’ as he departs for UK state visitEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago Spain says it will withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago DWP 178 health conditions that now entitle people to PIP ahead of Labour cuts

Rachel Reeves is currently preparing her Autumn Budget with many concerned about cuts ahead

Politics

56 h. ago Lorraine, Loose Women and This Morning to share new studio space at former private members' club amid ITV budget cuts

ITV's big-hitting daytime shows will soon be moving to a new shared studio space. 

Economics

56 h. ago Spain votes to withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Zelenskyy says 3,500 drones launched at Ukraine this month as he calls for Trump to take ‘clear position’ on Russia — Europe live

Sanctions and security guarantees for Ukraine are among the ‘missing pieces’ the Ukrainian president asks for in overnight interview ahead of US president’s state visit to UK As I mentioned earlier, the EU’s von der Leyen is speaking now in Brussels on “one year after the Draghi report.”Painting a rather rosy picture, she argues that Europe “is not only a challenger, but a leader in many fields that will define that race” on innovation, including computing power and AI adoption.“Now is the time to implement the joint protection of our European skies with a multi-layered air defense system. All the technologies for this are already in place. What is needed are investments and determination – strong action.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago This Morning, Loose Women and Lorraine forced to share new studio amid ITV cuts

ITV Daytime staples Lorraine, Loose Women, and This Morning will move to a 'private members' club' as they prepare to broadcast from a new space amid ITV budget cuts

Politics

3 d. ago Lorraine, Loose Women and This Morning to share new studio space at London private members' club amid ITV budget cuts

ITV's big-hitting daytime shows will soon be moving to a new shared studio space. 

Economics