John Downing: Emmanuel Macron's small-town pub crawl is a desperate act
I have often found that French bars and cafes are not as convivial as those in other places, but if you are looking for company in France over a sociable drink, your best chance is a PMU bar, and if it has a tobacconist counter included, well, better again.
The Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU) is for our purposes a betting shop, often attached to a pub. The French never shared the British Victorian impulsion to rigidly block off alcohol and gambling in separate buildings – in a PMU, chatter about the horses and such can often expand into other areas of discourse.
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Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
UK and Germany sign treaty to deepen defence alliance
On his first trip to London as chancellor, Mr Merz described the Kensington treaty as historic, the first major bilateral agreement between the UK and Germany to deepen defence co-operation and to try to boost economic growth in both nations. Mr Merz's day trip follows a three-day state visit to Britain by French president Emmanuel Macron, signalling greater co-operation between Europe's top three powers at a time of threats to the continent and uncertainty about their US ally. 'We see the scale of the challenges our continent faces today, and we intend to meet them head on,' Mr Starmer told a press conference after the two leaders signed the treaty in the Victoria and Albert Museum, co-founded by the UK's Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, of German origin. 'The Kensington treaty ... is an expression of our shared aims and values. But more than that, it's a practical work plan setting out 17 major projects where we will come together to deliver real results which will improve people's lives.' We are jointly determined to shape this new era with new leadership opportunities Standing next to Mr Starmer at an Airbus plant, Mr Merz again lamented the UK's departure from the EU, but said the agreement would cement ties between the two nations and complement an agreement London struck with France. 'We are jointly determined to shape this new era with new leadership opportunities – the United Kingdom and Germany side by side,' Mr Merz said. Europe has been confronted with new US tariffs since Donald Trump returned to the White House as well as questions about the US commitment to defend its European allies, including Ukraine against Russia's invasion. The two leaders said they had discussed in detail plans to send more weaponry to Ukraine after Mr Trump signalled he would sell weapons to Nato countries, including Patriot air defence missiles Kyiv has urgently sought. Mr Merz said the two had discussed Ukraine's need for long-range strike systems.
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Irish sovereign wealth fund stops investing in two more companies linked to Israeli settlements
IRELAND'S SOVEREIGN WEALTH fund has quietly divested shareholdings worth over €1 million from two accommodation companies linked to activities in occupied Palestinian territory. However, the fund has also seen the value of its direct shareholdings in four other companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements – Airbnb, Alstom, Booking Holdings and Motorola Solutions – increase from €2.1 million in 2023 to €5.3 million last year. The latest annual report from the National Treasury Management Agency shows that the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) no longer invested in Expedia Group and Tripadvisor in 2024, as it did the previous year. The two companies are listed on a United Nations database that names businesses and parent companies that enable the continued existence of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Both are US-owned accommodation booking platforms which The Journal Investigates found had featured dozens of listings based in settlements in the West Bank, parts of occupied East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The NTMA's 2023 report showed that the ISIF's direct shareholdings in the two companies were worth over €1.3 million. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe revealed in a Parliamentary Question response in April that the State also indirectly invested around €985,000 in Expedia Group the same year. The 2024 NTMA report shows the fund no longer directly invests in either Expedia Group or Tripadvisor, though it is not yet clear whether indirect investments in either company are held. Advertisement Last year, the government publicly announced that it had divested €2.95 million worth of shares from six other Israeli companies, whose names likewise do not feature in the 2024 NTMA report. They include five Israeli banks – Bank Hapoalim BM; Bank Leumi-le Israel BM; Israel Discount Bank; Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd; First International Bank – and an Israeli chain store, Rami Levi CN Stores. The NTMA report also showed that the State continued to directly invest in four companies that are named on the UN watchlist in 2024, increasing the value of its shares in each of them compared to 2023. They include accommodation platform Airbnb, whose listings also include properties that are based in settlements in the West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Last year, the value of the ISIF's direct shares in the company were worth €440,000, up from €310,000 in 2023. Airbnb has previously said it donates all profits from listings in the occupied West Bank to 'non-profit organisations dedicated to humanitarian aid that serve people in different parts of the world'. The ISIF also continued to invest in French rail multinational Alstom, whose subsidiary Bombardier Transportation supplied vehicles on the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem train line, which passes through parts of the occupied West Bank . Direct holdings in the company rose to €1.53 million in 2024, an increase on the €210,000 shareholding it held in 2023. A spokesperson for Alstom told previously The Journal that the company does not have any activity within or related to occupied Palestinian territories, and that the company has requested removal from the UN database when it is next updated. Meanwhile, the ISIF retained shares in another accommodation company, Booking Holdings, in 2024. Related Reads Irish sovereign wealth fund pumped millions into companies contracted by Israel Defence Forces Who are the 8 companies that Ireland invests in that have links to illegal Israeli settlements? The company is named on the UN list because lists hundreds of rooms for hotels and guesthouses in settlements in the West Bank, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. The ISIF's direct shares in the company were worth €1.04 million last year, up from €920,000 in 2023. And direct shareholdings in Motorola Solutions Inc, whose Israeli subsidiary has been criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups for its treatment of Palestinians in illegal settlements, also rose last year. The ISIF's direct holding in the company rose to €2.35 million in 2024, an increase on the €700,000 worth of direct investments it held in the company 2023. The nature of the fund's investments previously made headlines this week when it emerged that the ISIF also held €3.6 million in Israeli state bonds. Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan claimed it was 'utterly outrageous' that the fund held the bonds and it was claimed the investment was being used to help Israel's 'genocidal campaign' in Gaza. Paschal Donohoe subsequently confirmed that the ISIF had since divested itself of all Israeli bonds in the last number of weeks. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Newcastle's Saudi owners REFUSING to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool even if striker is tempted by transfer
NEWCASTLE'S Saudi owners will refuse to sell Alexander Isak - even if he wants to talk to Liverpool. The 7 Newcastle are refusing to sell Alexander Isak to Liverpool Credit: Reuters 7 Arne Slot's side made an approach for the Swede this week Credit: Getty 7 Toon chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is backing Eddie Howe in his fight to keep Isak Credit: Reuters Isak's camp are still upset over the lack of a new deal to keep him at St James' Park which has given Amid the stand-off, Arne Slot's Reds have The Bundesliga club rejected a £70m bid from Newcastle on Tuesday but Liverpool are now in talks and believe a fee closer to £80m will help them land the French ace, who has already agreed a six-year contract deal. Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is backing boss Eddie Howe by refusing to cash in for a British record fee. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Isak's camp were left disappointed 12 months ago when a promise of a pay rise from his current £130,000-a-week made by the Magpies' former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi failed to happen. Former sporting director Paul Mitchell put those negotiations on ice as he felt the ace was already handsomely paid in his deal until 2028. Despite Mitchell's departure, there has still been no progress and it remains unclear whether Isak is willing to commit his long-term future to the club. Newcastle are willing to smash their pay ceiling and make him the best-paid player in their history with a package worth over £200,000 a week. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Isak is currently in Austria with the rest of Newcastle's squad at a pre-season training camp. It remains to be seen if he plays in their friendly against Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday. Where Liverpool's Ekitike talks leave Isak and Newcastle | Transfers Exposed 7 7 Liverpool are now closing in on a move for Toon target Hugo Ekitike Credit: Getty 7 Newcastle are ready to battle Spurs for Brentford's Yoane Wissa instead Credit: Getty Meanwhile, Howe is ready to battle it out with Tottenham and Nottingham Forest for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, 28. The Bees want around £40m for the Congo striker, who only has a year left on his contract, and have already rejected a £25m offer from Nottingham Forest. Sun Sport understands that a fee of around £30m could be enough for Toon to land the Brentford ace, who scored 19 goals last term. 7 TYNE TO GO? ALEXANDER ISAK is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Newcastle and Liverpool. But what is the best option for the striker? SunSport makes a case for both sides - whether he should lead the Toon into the Champions League or become Britain's most-expensive player and join Arne Slot's Reds. Read our
