Author: DW

French opinion polls suggest the far-right National Rally will likely win a majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, as voters go to the ballot box in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. The party came out on top in the European Parliament elections in early June, with almost twice as many votes as the centrist Renaissance party headed by President Emmanuel Macron — a crushing loss that prompted Macron to call the snap legislative elections. If the latest polls prove true, what would this shift in power mean for Macron’s ability to govern in Paris? DW answers the most pressing questions…

<a href='https://www.skysports.com/football/switzerland-vs-italy/live/500417'>Euro 2024: Switzerland vs Italy</a> Source link

Tens of billions of euros will be needed to modernize Germany’s rail network in the coming years, prompting Finance Minister Christian Lindner to reignite the debate about raising the price of the Deutschlandticket. “At some point, politicians will have to decide whether we want to invest more in the railways or whether the price should remain at €49 (roughly $52.50),” the leader of the liberal FDP told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. The price of the ticket launched in 2023 has been controversial for some time. It allows unlimited travel nationwide for a month, but not on high-speed, long-distance trains.…

Voters on the French northern Atlantic archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon began voting in France’s snap legislative elections on Saturday, a day before the mainland. The local public broadcaster La1ere said over 5,000 eligible voters were called to the polls from 8 a.m. local time (10:00 UTC/GMT) to choose their deputy from five candidates, including from the main national political blocs, to sit in the National Assembly. Macron’s risky bet French President Emmanuel Macron took a major political gamble by calling the legislative election after his centrist party was trounced by the far-right National Rally (RN) party of Marine Le Pen in the European…

A bid to cross the Atlantic for the first time in an open basket hydrogen balloon has been scuppered by the weather seven hours after launch.British explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, 67, set off from Presque Isle, Maine, with American balloon manufacturer Bert Padelt, 62, and Swiss scientist and entrepreneur Dr Frederik Paulsen, 72. The three aeronauts lifted off in the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer Balloon to cheers from supporters at around 10.30pm on Friday local time or 3.30am UK time on Saturday. Image: The weather had ‘cleared up perfectly’ for take-off. Pic: Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer/PA Image: Pic: Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer/PA Their…

A crossbow attacker has been killed after shooting a police officer in the neck while he guarded the Israeli embassy in Serbia, authorities have said.Interior minister Ivica Dacic said the assailant, who has not been identified, fired a bolt at the officer, who “used a weapon in self-defence to shoot the attacker”. The policeman was conscious when he was transported to the main emergency hospital in the capital Belgrade, where medics will operate to remove the bolt.He is in a life-threatening condition, according to Serbian news agency Tanjug.”This is a terrorist attack against Serbia,” Mr Dacic said in the statement…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Saturday a €42 billion ($45 billion) investment by European companies in Egypt as well as cash from Brussels to help the country’s troubled economy. Von der Leyen told the Egypt-EU Investment Conference in Cairo that the firms had signed more than 20 new deals or memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the Middle East country. The European Union has promised Egypt €7.4 billion in financial support for its economic reforms. On Saturday, the two sides signed an agreement for the first €1 billion. European officials say they want to help Egypt — which has suffered repeated economic shocks from the…

A defiant Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump at a rally a day after the president’s “shocking” performance in a head-to-head debate.His showing in the debate against Trump on Thursday night was described as an “unmitigated disaster” by some in his own party after he paused and stumbled his way through, prompting calls for him to step down. Adding to those calls, The New York Times urged the president to quit the race to give another candidate a better chance at defeating Trump.”Mr Biden has been an admirable president,” the newspaper said in a piece by its editorial board.”But the…

Mauritanians headed to the polls Saturday to decide whether President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani should stay in his post. Ghazouni is facing six challengers in the general election but is widely expected to win. The president has vowed, if reelected, to bring in more investments to the West African nation, where many people live in poverty. The country possesses mineral wealth and is set to become a gas producer soon. Ghazouani has promised a gas-fired power plant from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyin (GTA) offshore gas project, which is expected to start production by the end of this year. He also promised to invest in renewable…

On the pier in California’s Manhattan Beach, 21-year-old Stella and her friends are crowded round a phone watching videos of two old men rowing about their golf handicap.It’s not the level of discourse they, or anyone else, hoped for from the presidential debate. “It sounds like a drunk, blackout conversation they’re having at 3am,” one young woman says.”I think Joe Biden is cognitively declining,” says another. “I think he was never fit to be president, and I don’t think he is now. I think there’s a clear, obvious answer to who is fit and that is Trump 2024.” Image: Stella…