No progress at all, Trump says after phone call with Putin
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no progress in ending the war in...
Portugal will hold an early parliamentary election - its third in just over three years - on May 18, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Thursday, two days after the centre-right minority government lost a parliamentary confidence vote.
The president made the widely-expected decision to disband parliament and call the national ballot after consulting the main political parties and his advisory Council of State, which includes representatives of the main political parties and which he said unanimously opted for the need of a snap election.
The government has assumed a caretaker role until a new parliament is formed.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro presented the confidence motion last week after the opposition threatened to establish a parliamentary inquiry into his family's data protection consultancy, arguing that its contracts with private companies have benefited Montenegro as premier.
Montenegro has denied any conflict of interest or ethical shortfalls. Prosecutors are studying some allegations, but there is no active investigation underway.
Rebelo de Sousa said the election was something "most likely no one expected or wanted", lamenting that the crisis around Montenegro's company and how it unfolded will inevitably feature in the electoral campaign and calling for a "clear, direct, but calm, dignified electoral debate".
Montenegro's Social Democratic Party has rallied around him and said he will lead them in the election, pinning the blame for the crisis on the opposition, although many political analysts say another early election is Montenegro's fault, and some opinion polls indicate he may have lost most voters' trust.
Surveys in the past week show the main opposition Socialists taking a slight lead over the alliance led by Montenegro, but most show them neck-and-neck at around 30%, which would mean little change from last year's election. This has raised concerns that a national ballot would only perpetuate political instability.
The far-right Chega is steadily polling third, but somewhat below last year's result of 18%, which analysts attribute to scandals involving several senior party members.
Despite the political upheaval of the past four years, Portugal has shown stronger economic growth than most EU states, posting budget surpluses and reducing its debt under the centre-right and centre-left governments, and economists see few immediate risks to its performance from another election.
With voters frustrated at politicians who force them into successive elections but fail to ensure government stability, analysts expect abstention to increase this time.
Last March, a record 6.47 million people went to the polls, an increase of around 900,000 voters from 2022 which benefitted the anti-establishment Chega, according to analysts.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Hamas is seeking firm assurances that a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal will ultimately bring the Gaza conflict to an end, a source close to the group said on Thursday, as Israeli airstrikes continued across the territory, killing at least 59 people, according to local health officials.
Russia launched an overnight drone assault on Kyiv, injuring at least 14 people and causing fires and damage across the capital, Ukrainian officials said early Friday. Twelve of the injured were taken to hospital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his phone call earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by MP Qaya Məmmədov, took part in the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held from 28 June to 3 July in Porto, Portugal.
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