- 4d ago
Jordan Bardella and Nigel Farage sign Channel migrant pact as Reform UK faces donation scandal
Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella joined Reform UK in Birmingham on 4 September to sign a migrant return agreement, while two senior Reform officials resigned over an undercover funding investigation.
- Aug 31
Marine Le Pen proposes referendum to ban and fine Islamic veil in French public spaces
National Rally lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy and party leader Marine Le Pen announced plans to fine women wearing headscarves in public spaces through a national referendum if elected in 2027, drawing widespread criticism from rivals.
- Aug 30
Édouard Philippe proposes centre-right confederation as Gérald Darmanin endorses presidential bid
At a political gathering in Tourcoing on 30 August 2026, former prime minister Édouard Philippe and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin called for a unified centre-right front, proposing joint constituency candidates for the next legislative elections.
- Aug 29
Robbie Williams headlines MEO Kalorama opening night in Lisbon with Dolly Parton tribute
The British singer took the stage past 01:00 at Parque da Bela Vista, performing hits from his solo career and dedicating a medley segment to Dolly Parton.
- Aug 26
Seven French presidential candidates clash over wages, debt and pensions at MEDEF debate
Seven contenders for the 2027 French presidential election debated wages, public debt and pensions before 6,000 business leaders at Roland-Garros on Thursday.
- Aug 26
France's CFDT union refuses 2027 presidential talks with far-right National Rally
CFDT leader Marylise Léon announced the union will maintain a cordon sanitaire and boycott Marine Le Pen ahead of the 2027 French presidential race, while proposing an inheritance tax from the first euro.
- Aug 24
Édouard Philippe proposes 20% teacher pay raise and parental fines for 2027 presidential bid
Horizons party presidential candidate Édouard Philippe outlined his education platform in an interview published on 24 August 2026, pledging a 20% average pay rise for teachers alongside new parental fines and school calendar autonomy.
- Aug 24
Poll shows Mélenchon contending for 2027 French runoff as Le Pen dominates
A Harris Interactive-Toluna survey shows Jean-Luc Mélenchon reaching the presidential second round in three of five scenarios, though Marine Le Pen wins every runoff matchup.
- Aug 23
Bruno Le Maire publishes 60-page manifesto outlining proposals for 2027 presidential election
Former French economy minister Bruno Le Maire has released a 60-page platform proposing state spending cuts, pension de-indexation, and a six-nation European federation ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
- Aug 22
Édouard Philippe proposes right-centre alliance by February for 2027 presidential race
Horizons party leader Édouard Philippe called for uniting French centre and right candidates between November and February, while unveiling hardline immigration proposals during a campaign tour in Mayotte.
- Aug 22
French Greens debate 2027 presidential unity at Grenoble summer gathering
Around 1,000 members of Les Écologistes gathered in Grenoble to debate their 2027 presidential strategy, balancing party leader Marine Tondelier's candidacy against calls for left-wing alliance.
- Aug 20
Two-time world cycling champion Julian Alaphilippe retires at 34 after 13 seasons and 45 pro victories
The two-time world road race champion has confirmed his immediate retirement from professional cycling, ending his career following the 2026 Tour de France and foregoing the final year of his Tudor contract.
- Aug 19
Prince Laurent recognizes 26-year-old son, granting him Belgian royal title
Prince Laurent of Belgium has legally recognized 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son, granting the former car salesman the title of Prince of Belgium without succession rights or state funding.
- Aug 18
Paris prosecutors open investigation into Russian disinformation targeting 2027 presidential candidates
The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation on its own initiative into Russian disinformation operations targeting Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, and Raphaël Glucksmann ahead of the 2027 election.
- Aug 17
Gérald Darmanin rules out 2027 presidential bid and endorses Édouard Philippe
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced he will not run in the 2027 presidential election, endorsing former prime minister Édouard Philippe to prevent divisions across the political center and right.
- Aug 15
Belgium battles 3,000-hectare High Fens wildfire with European air support
Firefighters and international air crews continue operations in the High Fens nature reserve after a fire burned roughly 3,000 hectares along the Belgian-German border.
- Aug 14
Firefighter killed and three seriously injured in gas explosions near Brussels Central Station
A firefighter died and three people were seriously injured when two gas explosions hit a building housing the EU's Single Resolution Board in central Brussels on Friday afternoon.
- Aug 10
Bayrou's call for broad 2027 primary from PS to Gaullists rejected across French political spectrum
Former Prime Minister François Bayrou proposed a primary spanning the Socialist Party to the Gaullist right to pick a single candidate for the 2027 presidential election, but parties across the spectrum dismissed the idea.
- Aug 4
Attal files complaint over Russian disinformation as three French presidential candidates targeted by deepfakes
Former French prime minister Gabriel Attal filed a legal complaint in Paris on Friday evening alleging foreign interference from Russian networks, after deepfakes and fabricated media content targeted him and two other prospective presidential candidates eight months before France's 2027 election.
- Jul 14
Six bodies recovered from elevator shaft after fire engulfs Brussels renovation site OXY Tower
A morning fire at the OXY Tower renovation site in central Brussels killed at least six workers on Tuesday, with all victims found inside the building's elevator shaft after flames blocked escape routes.
