France’s National Assembly has voted to abolish low-emission zones, a key measure introduced during President Emmanuel Macron’s first term to reduce city pollution. So-called ZFEs (zones à faibles émissions) have been criticised for hitting those who cannot afford less-polluting vehicles the hardest. A handful of MPs from Macron’s party joined opposition parties from the right…
WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee advanced President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax bill late Wednesday after 21-hours of debate and amendments, sending the legislation to the floor where it was expected to receive a final vote early Thursday morning. The 8-4 vote to proceed out of committee was a victory for Republican leaders, who…
Germany’s conservative leader has unexpectedly fallen short of the numbers needed to form a majority in parliament to become chancellor. Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but only secured 310, in a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, two and a half months after winning Germany’s federal elections. His coalition with…
Romanians will try again to elect a new president today, six months after the first attempt ended in scandal and confusion. A radical outsider with mystical leanings, Calin Georgescu, came first on 24 November, but that result was annulled over allegations of campaign fraud and Russian interference. In February, US Vice President JD Vance sharply…
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of the People’s Action Party (PAP) waves to supporters as he celebrates at the party’s gathering centre during the general election results, in Singapore on May 3, 2025. Singapore’s ruling party headed for a crushing victory at general elections on May 3, sample counts showed, with voters giving Prime Minister…
People are heading to the polls to pick the next president of Gabon, where for the first time in decades a Bongo family member is not on the ballot. Former President Ali Bongo was forced from power 19 months ago by coup mastermind Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, who in turn has changed the constitution to…
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) attends the first day of a no-confidence debate, at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok on March 24, 2025. Chanakarn Laosarakham | Afp | Getty Images Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra survived a no-confidence vote today, after the country’s main opposition reportedly accused her of being unqualified and allowing her…
The Reichstag building in the early morning. Paul Zinken/dpa | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Germany’s Bundestag is set to vote on a major fiscal package later on Tuesday, which includes changes to long-standing debt policies to enable higher defense spend and a 500 billion euro ($548 billion) infrastructure and climate fund. More than two…
Sarah Rainsford & Laura Gozzi In Bucharest and London EPA People waited for the ruling outside Romania’s Constitutional Court Romanian far-right populist Calin Georgescu has lost his appeal against a ruling barring him from participating in May’s presidential election. The Constitutional Court issued the final ruling on Tuesday afternoon after deliberating for two hours. A…
The government of Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro is expected to lose a vote of confidence on Tuesday, pitching the country into its third general election in barely three years. A majority of MPs are expected to vote against him, toppling his right-of-centre minority government. While Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is not obliged…
