
-
Sean Combs's ex Cassie says he 'controlled' her life
-
Carney forms new Canada govt to reshape US ties
-
Everton to preserve Goodison Park for women's team
-
Stocks mixed after cool US inflation and as rally tapers
-
Thomas confident at PGA having won a major at Quail Hollow
-
Trump slashed US cancer research by 31 percent: Senate report
-
US inflation cooled in April as Trump rolled out tariffs
-
Dutch climate group launches new case against Shell
-
Dutch rider van Uden springs surprise to win Giro sprint
-
Tour de France to pass through historic Montmartre
-
'Apprentice' star Jeremy Strong says 'truth under assault'
-
India kills 3 suspected militants in Kashmir as Pakistan ceasefire holds
-
Cannes Festival opens under pressure to take stance on Gaza war
-
Rahm says no need to play perfect to win majors, just have faith
-
US consumer inflation cooled in April as Trump rolled out tariffs
-
Kurds see ball in Ankara's court after PKK says disbanding
-
Zelensky urges Trump to make Putin meeting happen
-
UN agency finds Russia responsible for 2014 downing of airliner over Ukraine
-
Halle Berry trips up on Cannes festival's new dress code
-
NFL sets first regular-season games in Dublin, Berlin, Madrid
-
Stocks mostly higher on cool US inflation
-
Former England scrum-half Care to retire
-
Spieth's career Slam hopes at PGA boosted by McIlroy Masters win
-
Test final must trump IPL, says South Africa coach
-
'I thought I was going to die,' Kardashian tells Paris robbery trial
-
S.Africa's vast radio telescope draws new generation to the cosmos
-
US consumer inflation cooled in April to lowest level since 2021
-
Europe's biggest 'green' methanol plant opens in Denmark
-
Depardieu convicted of sexually assaulting two women
-
Trump boasts Saudi business deals as he basks in royal welcome
-
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex Cassie expected to testify
-
Buttler one of five IPL players in England squad despite fixture clash
-
'I thought I was going to die,' Kardashian tells in Paris robbery trial
-
Cycling great Wiggins admits cocaine addiction after retiring
-
Princess Catherine says nature her 'sanctuary' amid cancer recovery
-
Rabada leads South African pace attack for World Test final
-
Alcaraz battles into Italian Open quarter-finals
-
Departing Ancelotti has 'no problem' with Real Madrid
-
Murray and Djokovic end coaching partnership after six months
-
Stand-off leaves Kosovo unable again to elect speaker
-
Forest striker Awoniyi has surgery after post collision
-
Rights groups take UK govt to court over Israel arms sales
-
Cannes Festival under pressure to take stance on Gaza war
-
European stocks, dollar steady after China-US truce rally
-
Putin skipping talks would signal Moscow not seeking peace: Kyiv
-
Trump basks in Saudi welcome on business-focused state visit
-
French court convicts Depardieu of sexual assault
-
Customer data stolen in Marks & Spencer cyberattack
-
German investors cheered by tariff talks, new government
-
India kills three suspected militants in Kashmir as Pakistan ceasefire holds
CMSD | -0.18% | 22.26 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.27% | 63.81 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.09% | 22.06 | $ | |
AZN | -2.22% | 67.45 | $ | |
SCS | -0.7% | 10.745 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.67% | 10.45 | $ | |
GSK | -3.22% | 36.205 | $ | |
RIO | 1.62% | 62.42 | $ | |
NGG | -0.42% | 67.25 | $ | |
BCC | 1.53% | 94.55 | $ | |
VOD | 0.06% | 9.075 | $ | |
BP | 1.63% | 30.69 | $ | |
BTI | -1.27% | 40.465 | $ | |
JRI | -0.93% | 12.89 | $ | |
RELX | 1.05% | 52.38 | $ | |
BCE | -1.55% | 22.215 | $ |

Stand-off leaves Kosovo unable again to elect speaker
Lawmakers in Kosovo on Tuesday again failed to elect a new parliamentary speaker, after 14 previous unsuccessful attempts that have plunged Europe's youngest state into unprecedented political deadlock.
Political life has been at a standstill since February 9 elections, in which Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Self-Determination (VV) party win only 48 out of 120 seats -- not enough to form a majority government.
Opposition parties have, since mid-April, refused to vote for VV's candidate for the post of speaker, former justice minister Albulena Haxhiu.
Her appointment had been expected to be a formality but it has now turned into an impasse, with repeated votes -- and failures -- on the issue.
Several political leaders are now hinting at the possibility of fresh elections.
According to parliamentary rules, the parliament cannot be considered inaugurated without a speaker, and without its inauguration a new government cannot be formed.
- 'Hostage' -
Several opposition parties now accuse VV of deliberately blocking progress by refusing to propose an alternative candidate.
"VV is keeping Kosovo in an institutional crisis at all costs," said Memli Krasniqi, president of the right-wing Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose party came second with 20.95 percent of the vote.
Krasniqi on Tuesday suggested that the VV consider another candidate, pointing to the last US election when the Democratic Party ditched then president Joe Biden for Kamala Harris.
"That wasn't considered anything extraordinary," he added.
The centre-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which finished third on 18.27 percent, said the current crisis was down to the "failure of the party that came first in the vote to create political partnerships for a new majority".
For Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), a potential solution could involve the intervention of President Vjosa Osmani.
She is seen as more pragmatic and diplomatic than her prime minister and could turn to the judiciary for an interpretation of the constitution.
Osmani's office on Tuesday said she was launching "a series of consultations" with political parties from Thursday.
University of Pristina sociology professor Fadil Maloku said he believed that the "crisis is the result of shameful hostilities between leaders".
"Kosovo has been their hostage for three months," he added.
Political analyst Arben Qirezi, writing for the online newspaper Koha Ditore, said the young country lacks a "culture of political compromise".
He believes that this is essential for maintaining the political system's stability, legitimacy, and democratic representation of the citizens.
- Economic consequences -
The current deadlock could be costly for Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo's independence.
The parliamentary stand-off has delayed the ratification of agreements under the European Union's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, depriving the country of access to 882.6 million euros ($981.5 million) in loans and grants.
"If ratification does not occur by June it could end into delays in fund disbursement and potentially a redistribution of funds," to other countries, warned Besar Gergi, from the Group for Legal and Political Studies, a Pristina-based think-tank.
Even if parties agree to new elections, the current legislature must still vote to ratify the Growth Plan agreement, added Blerina Istrefi, a researcher at the same think-tank.
The parliamentary session that began on April 15 can only be concluded with the election of a president, three vice-presidents and the formation of parliamentary groups.
However, the Constitution does not specify a strict deadline for this process, meaning it could, in theory, continue indefinitely.
"The parties have locked themselves into their camps... the political schizophrenia continues," said Maloku.
As for Kurti, asked by a journalist about a possible solution to the crisis, he replied: "I am the prime minister, let's move on."
P.Costa--AMWN