France's government survives two no-confidence votes over Mercosur deal

The French government successfully survived two no-confidence votes aimed at protesting the European Union's trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc, which has sparked significant controversy and unrest among various stakeholders.

For the first time since the end of World War II, France has reported more deaths than births, with 651,000 deaths compared to 645,000 births in 2025, indicating a significant demographic shift. This trend suggests that France's historical demographic advantage within the EU is diminishing as the nation grapples with an ageing population and declining birth rates.

The European Union has committed to providing Ukraine with a substantial $105 billion loan, aimed primarily at enabling the country to purchase weapons and military platforms from European manufacturers, reinforcing its defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict.

Ukraine is set to gain access to a €90 billion EU loan, enabling the purchase of military equipment from non-European suppliers, as outlined by the European Commission. This financial support is contingent on Russia paying reparations, with discussions about utilizing frozen Russian assets still ongoing.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2025 has been recorded as the third hottest year, following 2024, with no significant cooling anticipated. The report highlights that the last 11 years have been the warmest on record, underscoring the ongoing climate crisis. In India, the national meteorological department noted that 2025 experienced the warmest winter in over a century.

British vets have been compelled to chase lorries on the motorway to Dover due to the overwhelming paperwork required by inspectors in Calais, a situation described as “pure hell” by Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport. He characterized the post-Brexit logistics as a nightmare and expressed hope for a reset with the EU that could provide relief.