Le Journal

Cost of living likely to dominate the agenda ahead of 7 November poll as centre-right National party battles to retain power The prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has announced New Zealand’s next general election will be held on 7 November, kickstarting a campaign cycle that could become one of the country’s most contested in years.On Wednesday, Luxon told reporters the National party would continue its agenda to “fix the basics and build the future”. Continue reading...

The number of small venues shrank by just nine in 2025, but more than half of them reported making no profit, while employment in the sector dropped almost 22%The number of grassroots music venues (GMV) in the UK shrank in effect by just nine in 2025, the lowest rate of annual decline since 2018.Thirty venues closed permanently between July 2024 and 2025 and 48 ceased functioning as GMVs, citing financial viability, change in ownership and eviction or redevelopment. However, 69 spaces that had previously ceased operating as GMVs returned to the sector. Continue reading...

Actor says it is ‘more important than ever’ to safeguard city’s parks as report finds more than 50 are at riskDame Judi Dench has called for greater protections for London’s parks and green spaces, as research finds more than 50 of the city’s parks are at risk from development.The Oscar-winning actor has long loved trees, and in 2017 fronted a BBC documentary about her love for them. She plants a tree every time a close friend or relative dies, including for her late husband, Michael Williams, who died in 2001, and the actor Natasha Richardson, who was killed in a skiing accident in 2009, and one for her brother Jeffery Dench, who died in 2014. Continue reading...

Ellis: ‘Careful not to throw stones in glass houses’Ex-USWNT coach criticises anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in USQatar said to be in talks to stage 2028 Women’s Club World CupFifa’s chief football officer and former USWNT coach Jill Ellis has criticised anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States and spoken of not wanting to “throw stones in glass houses” when discussing the prospect of Qatar hosting the 2028 Women’s Club World Cup.The Guardian revealed earlier this month that the world’s governing body is in discussions about Qatar potentially staging the new tournament, which will be held from 5 to 30 January 2028. While Ellis said she had not heard of any such talks personally, she appeared to be open to the tournament being played in the Middle East. Continue reading...