Good evening. The King’s state visit to France has been postponed amid widespread rioting. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has warned of “death and destruction” if he is charged by New York prosecutors.
The King and Queen’s state visit to France postponed
The French and British governments have taken the decision to postpone The King’s state visit to France as the country woke up this morning from a night of chaos. Rioting and arson was reported across France amid protests that began after the French government pushed through legislation to raise the retirement age by two years to 64. Macron’s aides feared that the King’s visit may ‘scratch the revolutionary itch’, with graffiti in Paris during yesterday’s protests reading: “Charles III do you know the guillotine?”. Henry Samuel asks why it is that the French seemingly cannot stop protesting. Plus, if you are planning a trip to the French capital in the coming weeks, Emma Beaumont gives you everything you need to know regarding safety. Meanwhile, Sam Brodbeck questions why protests over pension reform are rarely seen on this side of the Channel.
Deutsche Bank slumps amid fresh banking crisis fears
Deutsche Bank shares have plunged helping to send the FTSE 100 tumbling amid concerns about the European banking sector. Shares in the German bank have fallen as much as 14 percent, as it found itself at the centre of a selloff in the continent’s financial industry. It follows a sharp jump in its credit default swaps, which reflect the cost of insuring debt against the risk of default. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will convene an unscheduled meeting of the heads of America’s financial regulators later today. The fall in Deutsche Bank shares sent the FTSE 100 falling as much as 2.1 percent, with banking stock across the FTSE 350 down as much as 4.5 percent. In London, Barclays fell as much as 6.2 percent, NatWest dropped 5.7 percent and HSBC dropped 4.1 percent. Wall Street’s main indexes fell after the opening bell, with the S&P 500 Banks Index falling 2 percent to its lowest level since November 2020. You can follow all the updates on our live blog here.
Donald Trump warns of ‘death and destruction’
In the early hours of this morning, the former president warned of “potential death and destruction” if he is charged by New York prosecutors in a hush-money case. The post on social media platform Truth Social was Mr Trump’s most explicit allusion yet to violence that could follow an indictment stemming from an investigation led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump called a “degenerate psychopath”. Mr Trump suggested in a separate post that there could be “years of hatred, chaos, and turmoil” if he is arrested as part of an investigation into alleged payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 election. A grand jury in New York is expected to reconvene next week to decide whether to bring an indictment. Mr Trump had called for supporters to take to the streets in protest nearly a week ago, although few have heeded his call. Our US correspondent Josie Ensor has the full report.
Evening Briefing: Today’s essential headlines
Ukraine | Russia has targeted a humanitarian support point in an overnight missile strike. The point was located in the city of Kostiantynivka and was one of many such shelters created by authorities across Ukraine to provide access to electricity, heating, water and other basic services. Authorities said the victims included “three internally displaced women from Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar and Opytne” – nearby towns at the centre of the conflict. Meanwhile, the US has claimed that Ukraine may not be able to retake Crimea by force.
- BBC | Singers saved as corporation U-turns on scrapping choir
- UK | Britain’s top lawyers will refuse to prosecute climate activists
- World | Tourist survives bungee jump after rope snaps mid-flight
- UK | Northern Lights across Britain lift the March gloom
- US | Gwyneth Paltrow barred from bringing ‘treats’ into court
Comment and analysis
- Ross Clark | South Africa must arrest Vladimir Putin
- Arlene Foster | Rishi Sunak can still bring the DUP round
- Tom Harris | Keir Starmer is falling into a disastrous tax trap
- Kate Andrews | The state pension is almost bust
- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | The era of Swiss exceptionalism is over
World news: Kim Jong-un’s daughter wears £1,500 Dior coat
The daughter of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has been spotted wearing what appears to be a stylish Christian Dior jacket, amid reports of poverty and starvation across North Korea. Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to be the 10-year-old second child of the North Korean leader, was pictured standing behind her smiling father as they watched the launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month. Ms Kim’s increasingly high profile has given rise to suggestions that she is being groomed to eventually become the fourth generation of the Kim family to assume control of the isolated state.
Interview of the day
Tom Athron: ‘Covid gave us the space to think about what direction we want to take Fortnums in more broadly’
Fortnum & Mason chief executive Tom Athron lays out his plans for the revamp of the famed retailer’s flagship Piccadilly store.
Business news: World’s richest man tightens grip on French media
Journalists at a French newspaper have accused its billionaire owner Bernard Arnault of ousting the editor and threatening its independence. Reporters at Les Echos have mounted a revolt over the departure of Nicolas Barré, who is leaving his role at the helm of the business daily after 10 years. The Society of Journalists described Mr Barré’s departure as a “brutal eviction by the shareholder that is inconsistent with independence guarantees”. Staff are also understood to have been alarmed by Mr Arnault’s reported editorial interventions in multiple stories deemed sensitive to him.
Editor’s choice
Science | Do some noises make you angry? You may have Misophonia
World | Inside China’s ‘Red Zone’ where North Korean women are sold as slaves
Health | Are artificial sweeteners really any better than sugar?
Sport news: Rory McIlroy hits “one of the best drives in golf history”
The former world number one hit a 374-yard tee shot to within three feet at the Dell WGC Match Play yesterday – just as his opponent Denny McCarthy thought he could level the match on the 18th. Mentor Brad Faxon hailed the attempt as “one of the best drives in the history of the game”. In one swing, the Northern Irishman obliterated concerns about the state of his driving game ahead of the Masters in two weeks’ time. Our golf correspondent James Corrigan said “the strike verged on the ludicrous but also the ironic and, indeed, the cruel”. He has the full story, with a video included. Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to seek talks with Julian Nagelsmann – who once owned a Spurs shirt.
Today’s Matt cartoon
The unexpected rise in inflation inspired Matt‘s cartoon today. Click here to see more from Matt.
And you can find today’s political cartoon here.
Three things for you
- Food | The overlooked UK culinary capital
- TV | Succession: the masterminds behind TV’s most brutal comedy
- Money | Six easy (and completely legal) ways to avoid inheritance tax
And finally… for this evening’s downtime
The perfect Friday-night wines | Susy Atkins give you the best options for takeaways and television on the sofa
Source: telegraph.co.uk