UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation
via Business News4 min read
Less than two years after taking office, Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, stating he will remain in his position until a successor is chosen to lead the Labour Party. He cited his decision was to prioritize the country, and that he had informed His Majesty the King. Starmer's position became untenable following the election of his rival, Andy Burnham, to Parliament on Thursday, positioning Burnham to contend for the leadership of the Labour Party and Downing Street. Starmer has requested the Labour Party's National Executive Committee to set a timeline for nominations, with applications opening on July 9 and closing by September 1, ensuring a new leader is in place before Parliament resumes in September. Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, called for new general elections, though Labour holds a large parliamentary majority and elections are not scheduled until 2029. Starmer's resignation comes after his party's significant victory in July 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. He highlighted his achievements in the economy, healthcare access, and support for Ukraine, but acknowledged his party's message regarding his leadership for the next general elections. Andy Burnham, the popular Mayor of Greater Manchester, is the favorite to succeed him and will be officially sworn in as a Member of Parliament on Monday. Starmer had initially vowed to fight to remain in power, but pressure mounted over the weekend, w
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Must ReadRiadh Jaidane, a member of parliament and president of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Tunisians Abroad, and Migration, stated on June 22, 2026, that the increasing emigration of highly skilled professionals, including doctors and engineers, poses a national security threat to Tunisia. Speaking on Jawhara FM's Sbeh El Ward, Jaidane highlighted that this "hemorrhage of skills" weakens strategic sectors and jeopardizes the country's development prospects. He emphasized that the brain drain is not merely a migratory phenomenon but a significant loss for national development, affecting sensitive sectors. Jaidane noted that Tunisia is losing its elite, trained at public expense, who then contribute their expertise to other economies, particularly in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Gulf countries. He cited that approximately 7,000 engineers leave Tunisia annually, with the state spending around 650 million dinars on their training. This aligns with alerts from the Order of Engineers, which reported 46,000 engineers left in ten years, with 6,700 departures in 2022 alone. In the medical sector, about 4,000 doctors emigrated between 2022 and 2026, adding to the 6,000 who left between 2017 and 2024, according to the Order of Physicians. These departures are attributed to insufficient public sector recruitment, blocked career prospects, deteriorating working conditions, and the private sector's inability to absorb new graduates. Jaidan
Must ReadThe General Federation of Banks, Financial Institutions, and Insurance Companies, affiliated with the UGTT, issued a call for mobilization on Monday, June 22, 2026, ahead of a three-day general strike in the banking sector. The strike is scheduled for June 23, 24, and 25. The federation urged all employees to adhere to union directives and participate massively. The strike will involve a complete absence of employees from their workplaces across all banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies in the country, including head offices, central directorates, agencies, branches, and other sector-related workplaces. The federation called on employees and executives to actively contribute to the success of this mobilization, which it presents as a defense of union rights and employees' professional and social demands. Employees in Greater Tunis are invited to gather on Tuesday, June 23, at 9 AM in front of the UGTT headquarters, while employees in other regions are asked to join regional unions. The federation emphasized the need for responsibility, union discipline, and solidarity to ensure the movement's success. This call follows the confirmation on Friday, June 19, that the general strike would proceed. The federation had denounced the continued blockage of social dialogue and alleged pressures exerted on some employees as the movement approached. According to the federation, employers continue to refuse any salary increase for 2025 and the application of certain provi
Must ReadEurope is experiencing one of its most intense heatwaves in recent years, with nearly three billion people worldwide exposed to temperatures 9 to 13°C above seasonal norms. Major European cities like London, Paris, and Berlin are forecast to reach 39°C, 41°C, and 38°C respectively, significantly exceeding usual averages. Environmental engineer and climate expert Hamdi Hached stated on June 22, 2026, that these events are no longer exceptional, introducing the "FLIP" phenomenon, which describes heatwaves that are more frequent, longer, and earlier. This trend is linked to global warming, with an increase in days exceeding 35°C, a critical threshold for human health, raising risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and cardiovascular complications, especially for the elderly and vulnerable. Several countries have activated emergency measures; France has placed over 60 departments on heightened alert, while parts of Germany and the Netherlands have restricted movement for vulnerable individuals. Spain has seen temperatures near 40°C for over a week. Scientists are also concerned about "tropical nights," where temperatures remain high, preventing the human body from recovering. Hached cited Mumbai, India, which recently recorded nighttime temperatures of 30.6°C, leading to increased air conditioning demand and power outages, highlighting "cooling precarity." Experts advocate for rapid urban adaptation, including increased urban greening, which Hached estimates can reduce local temp