Macron to begin three-day state visit to the UK
Flight restrictions and road closures will be in place around Windsor Castle, where Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will be staying until Thursday.
It is the first state visit afforded by the UK to a French President since 2008, when Nicolas Sarkozy was invited by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Relations between both countries had soured during Brexit but British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to improve the UK-France relationship since coming to power just over a year ago.
Both countries have led European efforts to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, should a peace deal be brokered. The effort has been described by the British side as a "coalition of the willing".
A meeting of the coalition is due to take place later this week, while Mr Macron is in London.
Mr Starmer has also stressed the importance of working closely with France as his government tries to reduce illegal boat crossings.
It is hoped progress on this issue can be made during the state visit, with both countries understood to be discussing a "one in, one out" policy which would see deportation of illegal immigrants to France in return for people who have the right to be in the UK.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that France will be introducing new tactics to stop boats that are already in the water.
Today, Mr Macron will address both the House of Commons and Lords at Westminster.
There will also be a focus on royal events today, which will include a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle and state banquet.
The three-day visit will culminate in a UK-France Summit on Thursday.
Mr Macron's state visit comes before that of US President Donald Trump, which is not scheduled to happen until later this year.
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RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Macron to begin three-day state visit to the UK
French President Emmanuel Macron is due to address both houses of the British parliament later today, as he begins a three-day state visit to the UK. Flight restrictions and road closures will be in place around Windsor Castle, where Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte will be staying until Thursday. It is the first state visit afforded by the UK to a French President since 2008, when Nicolas Sarkozy was invited by the late Queen Elizabeth. Relations between both countries had soured during Brexit but British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to improve the UK-France relationship since coming to power just over a year ago. Both countries have led European efforts to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, should a peace deal be brokered. The effort has been described by the British side as a "coalition of the willing". A meeting of the coalition is due to take place later this week, while Mr Macron is in London. Mr Starmer has also stressed the importance of working closely with France as his government tries to reduce illegal boat crossings. It is hoped progress on this issue can be made during the state visit, with both countries understood to be discussing a "one in, one out" policy which would see deportation of illegal immigrants to France in return for people who have the right to be in the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that France will be introducing new tactics to stop boats that are already in the water. Today, Mr Macron will address both the House of Commons and Lords at Westminster. There will also be a focus on royal events today, which will include a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle and state banquet. The three-day visit will culminate in a UK-France Summit on Thursday. Mr Macron's state visit comes before that of US President Donald Trump, which is not scheduled to happen until later this year.
The Journal
5 hours ago
- The Journal
Dublin city councillors set to increase property tax for first time
DUBLIN CITY COUNCILLORS are set to vote next week to stop applying a 15% discount on property tax for the first time in more than 10 years. The change, for 2026, comes at the same time that the government is also applying increases to property tax to reflect the significant rise in house prices, although tax bands have been tweaked to moderate the impact. It's understood councillors' decision will cost less than €65 per year for homeowners whose houses are worth up to €525,000, with exact costs on a sliding scale based on the value of the property. For a €450,000 house, for example, the annual charge will be €428 in total. For the owners of the capital's most expensive houses, councillors' decision will cost more, with homes worth between €1m and €2m likely to pay €150-460 more than they would have with the discount. A house worth €1.2m must pay €1,094 in property tax in total each year from 2026 onwards. Property tax was introduced in 2013 at the behest of the Troika , with a view to broadening the tax base and funding local authorities without taxing employment. Dublin City Council management has long argued that the vast majority of Dublin homeowners would not be hit with substantial additional charges if councillors agreed to reduce the discount applied, while the city would benefit. The council's ruling group, comprising Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and the Green Party, agreed after last year's local elections to apply the baseline rate with no discount this year for the first time. The decision, which will be taken at a meeting on 18 July, is expected to bring in more than €15m in extra funding for the city. It's understood councillors are considering targeting the additional revenue at improving the council's housing stock, as well as improvements to footpaths, although no final decisions have been taken yet. Advertisement Labour and the Green Party, which pushed for the discount to be scrapped, argue that property tax is progressive and will provide crucial funding for improving the city. Councillors Feljin Jose of the Green Party and Darragh Moriarty of Labour characterised property tax as the closest thing Ireland has to a wealth tax, given most of the country's wealth is held in property. 'A lot of our [council] housing stock is very bad, and we need to maintain and repair and urgently increase the energy efficiency of those buildings,' said Jose of the Green Party. Darragh Moriarty of Labour said: 'In the vast majority of instances, these are very modest property taxes, by European comparisons. The 15% will be modest as well.' He noted that the decision would mean an extra €60m could be invested in improving the city over the lifetime of the council. Councillor Deirdre Heney of Fianna Fáil said she hoped additional funding would be allocated to footpath repairs and tree maintenance, issues that are raised with her frequently by residents, as well as to building more playgrounds. Property tax for 2026 is owed on 1 November. The government changed property tax bands earlier this year to moderate the increase in the amount of tax payable as a result of increasing house prices. A possible left-leaning ruling coalition on Dublin City council last year including Sinn Féin fell apart over the question of property tax . Sinn Féin wanted to continue to apply the 15% property tax discount. Separately, the government said last week that this year it will allow Dublin city, which takes in by far the most property tax of any council, to keep an additional €19m of the revenue it raises this year. The government wants this extra funding spent on implementing the recommendations of its Dublin city taskforce. Each year, a proportion of council tax from larger local authorities is redistributed to those with a lower property tax base. 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
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Elon Musk blasts FBI after axing Epstein probe — raging ‘It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again'
DONALD Trump's ex-pal Elon Musk lashed out yesterday after a leaked memo said the FBI was ready to end its Jeffrey Epstein probe — with the Tesla tycoon declaring: 'It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again.' The document showed federal investigators and the US Justice Department found no evidence the paedophile financier had a client list or blackmailed powerful figures. 6 Elon Musk made his claims about Donald Trump being in the Epstein files when they fell out after the Tesla boss left government Credit: Getty 6 Talking about the FBI preparing to axe its Epstein probe, Musk blasted 'It's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again' Credit: AP 6 Mr Trump had said he was 'not a fan of Epstein' and had not spoken to him in years Credit: AP And CCTV footage taken outside his cell — finally released six years after his death — proved he was not murdered, officials claimed. Many within the US President's Make America Great Again movement — including FBI chief Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino — repeatedly called for all Epstein files to be publicly released and other abusers to be brought to justice. Critics accused the US government of a new cover-up, weeks after Musk claimed the President was 'in the Epstein files'. Billionaire Musk led the attacks yesterday, posting on X: 'What's the time? Oh look, it's no-one-has-been-arrested-o'clock again...', above a meme of 'The Official READ MORE ON EPSTEIN SCANDAL He added: 'Man, this is heavy', and referring to Epstein's British socialite madam, serving 20 years for sex trafficking, said: ' Maxwell was pictured with Prince Andrew and his One of the main claims by conspiracy theorists was that In the run-up to yesterday's revelations, US government officials suggested shocking revelations. Most read in The Sun When asked if Epstein's client list would be released, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February: 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review .' She had also said the FBI was reviewing 'tens of thousands of videos' of Epstein 'with children or child porn'. I came face-to-face with Epstein - paedo would flip to dark side like a switch... I'm convinced he DIDN'T kill himself Trump supporter Alina Habba, the acting US Attorney for the District of New Jersey , had said: 'It is incredibly disturbing. We have flight logs, we have information, names that will come out. 'I don't see how it's not shocking there were so many individuals that were hidden and kept secret and not been held accountable.' Epstein watchers keenly anticipated a string of powerful people being outed as clients, with up to 1,000 FBI agents on the case. But there was anger when a two-page DoJ/FBI memo revealed investigators had found no evidence of a cover-up. 6 Prince Andrew with his sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, centre, and Ghislaine Maxwell - who is currently in prison for her part in the Epstein scandal Credit: AFP 6 It's claimed new CCTV of Epstein in jail, circled, proves the convicted paedophile was not murdered in his cell It was published by US news website Axios and picked up by ABC News. The US government made no official comment. The memo said there was 'no incriminating 'client list'', 'no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals,' and 'no evidence could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties'. The memo said Epstein harmed 'over one thousand victims' and 'each suffered unique trauma'. It said 'sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout materials' it reviewed, but warned: 'Much of the material is subject to court-ordered sealing. 'Only a fraction would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial, as the seal served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of wrongdoing.' Investigators checked the original film from cameras near Epstein's cell, as well as an enhanced version from 10.40pm the night before he died to around 6.30am, when he was found. No one else enters that area of the prison, officials said. The memo states: 'After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell.' Protest group Republicans Against Trump said: 'Hey Donald, if you've got nothing to hide, release all the Epstein files just like you promised. What are you afraid of?' Mr Musk made his claims about Trump being in the Epstein files when they fell out after the Tesla boss left government. The world's richest man later said he 'went too far' — but posted repeatedly about the case yesterday. The President earlier hit back at the claims saying: 'That's called 'old news.' Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.' Trump and Epstein attended the same parties in the 1990s and in 2017 Epstein claimed he was 'Donald Trump's closest friend'. Trump had said he was 'not a fan of Epstein' and had not spoken to him in years. 6 Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein go for a stroll together through New York's Central Park Credit: Jae Donnelly
