Germany: early election after no-confidence vote
19 Dec 2024
The chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has lost a vote of no confidence in the German parliament, resulting in an early election which will take place on 23 February. Although he expected the loss, Scholz saw this as…
US intelligence suggests Russia may launch its experimental Oreshnik hypersonic missile against Ukraine within days. First used in an attack on Dnipro in November, the missile displayed astonishing speed and precision, striking a military facility with…
French-Cameroonian author Charles Onana has been found guilty of downplaying the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people in 1994. He was fined €8,400, and his publisher was fined €5,000. The two…
Prime minister Michel Barnier has been ousted in a historic no-confidence vote, leading to the collapse of his government. The motion follows his controversial use of special powers to pass a budget without parliamentary approval. The…
France: Notre Dame reopens after restoration
05 Dec 2024
Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen on 7 December, after a five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. Ceremonies will blend tradition and modernity, including a symbolic door-striking ritual led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich and…
The landmark trial in Avignon, involving the systematic drugging and rape of Gisèle Pelicot by 49 men orchestrated by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, has gripped the nation. The prosecution has sought a twenty-year sentence for Pelicot,…