Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

News

Hard Numbers: French far-right surge, Pakistan-Taliban truce, Mexican bad optics, Duterte succession

Hard Numbers: French far-right surge, Pakistan-Taliban-truce, Mexican bad optics, Duterte succession

Eric Zemmour poster pasted sticks on a wall, with the text Zemmour President, in Hautes Alpes, Briancon.

Thibaut Durand / Hans Lucas
Make us preferred on Google

19: French far-right provocateur Éric Zemmour is now polling at 19 percent in presidential polls, only four points behind incumbent Emmanuel Macron. Zemmour, who has been convicted of inciting racial hatred, continues to soar ahead of his right-wing challenger Marine Le Pen.


1: Pakistan's government and its longtime enemy, the Pakistani Taliban, have agreed to a one-month cease-fire while they try to negotiate an end to years of violence. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Afghan Taliban — who've been involved in peace talks next door — is set to visit Pakistan this week.

35,000: The head of Mexico's anti-money laundering unit has been forced to step down after $35,000 in cash was found on a private plane carrying VIPs to his wedding in Guatemala. Although the money was later found to be properly accounted for, the optics were simply too bad for AMLO, a famously frugal, anti-corruption president.

6: The daughter of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte dropped out of the race for mayor of her hometown just six days before the final deadline to run for president. If Sara Duterte throws her hat in the ring to succeed her dad, it'll upend an already crowded field for the presidential election in May 2022.

More For You

​Noam Bettan from Israel with the song "Michelle" during rehearsals for the first Eurovision semi-final on May 12, 2026. in the Stadthalle.

Noam Bettan from Israel with the song "Michelle" are on stage at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) during rehearsals for the first semi-final on May 12, 2026, in the Stadthalle.

Jens Büttner/dpa via Reuters Connect
Even Eurovision cannot escape geopoliticsThe world's most-watched live music event kicks off today in Vienna under the theme “United by Music.” Yet the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is facing the largest boycott in its history over Israel's participation. Five countries said they wouldn’t compete, citing Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, while [...]
Hard Number: Is Russia stuck in the mud?
More than four years into its war with Ukraine, the Russian military appears to be stuck in the mud. With the loss of access to Starlink satellites, which were previously used to help guide their drones, the Russians have turned to deploying small teams of soldiers in attempts to break through the front lines, with little success. This sluggish [...]
​French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenya's President William Ruto at the Taifa Hall of the University of Nairobi, in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 11, 2026.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenya's President William Ruto shake hands during the "Africa Forward Summit 2026" at the Taifa Hall of the University of Nairobi, in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 11, 2026.

REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi
When French President Emmanuel Macron took to the stage at the Africa Forward summit yesterday, the audience may not have expected a scolding.“Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m sorry guys, but it’s impossible to … have people … coming here making a speech with such a noise,” he said. “This is a total lack of respect.”Macron’s harsh words directed at the crowd, [...]
China puts Taiwan on an island
When US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on Thursday, Taiwan will be top of Xi’s mind.But it’s not an invasion that he seeks, according to Ian Bremmer, at least not yet. What Xi wants, Ian explained in a recent episode of “ask ian,” is “for the Americans to change the status quo.” In other words, the Chinese [...]