Europe
POST-POLLS FRANCE / Left-wing parties struggle to unite
France’s left-wing parties still plan to form a joint government after they emerged as the strongest bloc in parliament in a snap election, but any pact is unlikely to come this week, the head of the Socialist Party (PS) said yesterday.
Russia downs 22 Ukrainian drones
Russia downed 22 Ukrainian drones overnight in the west of the country and over Crimea, Moscow’s defence ministry said yesterday.
UK WAR MEMORIAL / Pro-Gaza activists held after protest
UK police yesterday arrested two pro-Palestinian demonstrators after a protest at Britain’s Cenotaph war memorial in central London.
Russia blames Biden admin for attack
The Kremlin yesterday said it did not believe the US administration was responsible for Saturday’s assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump, but that it had created an atmosphere that provoked the attack.
‘US missiles in Germany’ / Russia threatens targeting Europe
The Kremlin on Saturday warned that the deployment of US missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets for Russian missiles in a repeat of Cold War-style confrontation.
Post-polls France / PM vows to ‘guard against’ extremes
France’s political parties yesterday scrambled to break a parliamentary deadlock brought on by an inconclusive snap election, as the outgoing Prime Minister vowed to prevent any government with far-right or hard-left members.
Angela Merkel detective series set to air in Italy
Italian viewers appeared to be abuzz with anticipation — and some surprise — ahead of the broadcast of a two-part television series that portrays Angela Merkel as an Agatha Christie-style sleuth
POST-POLLS FRANCE / Left-wingers blast Macron
French left-wingers attacked President Emmanuel Macron yesterday after he called for a broad coalition government, demanding that their movement alone should propose a prime minister.
Bosnian Muslims commemorate Srebrenica genocide
Thousands crowded into the Bosnian town of Srebrenica yesterday to remember the 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslims, families of victims in tears, some burying loved ones whose remains were only recently discovered.
French mayor issues bylaw against summer rain
A French mayor exasperated by summer downpours has ordered the sun to come out, and encouraged clergy to start “top-priority communication with heaven” to help end an unusual bout of wet weather engulfing his village.
Ready to help restore peace in Ukraine
India stands ready to give all possible support to restoring peace to war-torn Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday in Vienna after a Kremlin visit criticised by Kyiv.
Russia outlaws The Moscow Times news outlet
Russia yesterday named The Moscow Times news outlet an “undesirable organisation”, outlawing its activities inside Russia and leaving anybody who cooperates with them open to criminal prosecution.
UK appoints Tulip as City Minister
Tulip Siddiq has been appointed Britain’s City Minister, the minister responsible for overseeing the financial services sector, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.
‘War cannot solve problems’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday told President Vladimir Putin that “war cannot solve problems” and urged peace on a trip to Moscow over two years into the Ukraine offensive.
France faces coalition puzzle
French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday asked his prime minister to stay in the role for now, pending what will be difficult negotiations to form a new government after a surprise left-wing surge in elections that delivered a hung parliament.
Napoleon’s pistols sold for 1.69m euros
Two pistols that Napoleon Bonaparte once intended to use to kill himself were sold in France on Sunday for 1.69 million euros ($1.8 million), the auction house said, with the government insisting that they stay in the country as national treasures.
Le Pen’s and Orban’s far-right groups unite
Marine Le Pen’s far-right party was yesterday poised to strike an alliance with that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the EU parliament, a day after being dealt a surprise defeat in French elections.
Modi lands in Russia for first visit since Ukraine offensive
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Russia on Monday, as the Indian leader treaded a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties
