PhilippaB

Macron reappoints Sébastien Lecornu as French prime minister.
I am confused.

I think that has happened quite a lot. I agree with the verdict, FWIW, but also with you that implying that 'threats of violence' are 'opinion' is not cool as a blanket statement.

Suppose it would depend if it was "set to a catchy beat"...

Email from Dad:
"Gruaniad BIRTHDAYS has PJHarvey at 56 today, in case you dont have it tatooed anywhere."
At least he's improved from getting the Sisters of Mercy and Shakespeare's Sister mixed up.

L'AS Monaco se sépare de son entraîneur Adi Hütter Comme annoncé ces derniers jours par « L'Équipe », l'AS Monaco s'est séparée de son entraîneur Adi Hütter ce jeudi. L'Autrichien était en poste depuis l'été 2023.

Adi Hütter fired...

www.lequipe.fr/Football/Act...

Monaco had a couple of similar situations when they got the money in. It was tough to work out who actually owned a player. And their tax rates are basically nothing for overseas players.
BlueCo is now similar, in terms of ownership.

Paris FC managed to throw away a 2-goal lead to draw against Louvain - the lowest-ranked team in a difficult league. Not a great start.

Screenshot of the ForzaFibres Etsy shopfront

I’ve *finally* set up a ForzaFibres Etsy shop.

Come take a look: etsy.com/de-en/shop/ForzaFibres

Macron keeps appointing prime ministers the way tech startups appoint interim CEOs before liquidation. Bayrou, Barnier, Lecornu…Each sold as the “stabilizing force.” Each lasted less than a fiscal quarter.

Did the left fragment? They got a group together in about two weeks (LFI/PS/Greens/Communists) and I'm guessing Macron called that snap election because he thought they couldn't do that.
The rest I clearly agree with. Although I'm not sure any of us saw the Republican disintegration coming.
Keys?

𝐔𝐖𝐂𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟔: League Phase Fixture Difficulty 🗓

The 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off tonight with a new format, as an 18-team league phase replaces the group stage.

Which teams have the hardest fixtures and who has been dealt the easiest draw?

Civil liberty groups express concern over plan for more anti-protest powers Home secretary says police can consider ‘cumulative impact’ of demonstrations as Palestine Action ban opponents vow ‘escalation’

Seriously, watch this video.
"Er, this chap in the wheelchair"

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

My guess would be that the Republicans would collapse, and the PS would gain seats on the grounds that they are lead by neither the woman under house arrest, nor Melenchon. So Macron will have the same problem as before. Welp.

Toulouse's Emerson celebrates with Restes after his late brace made it a 2-1 win away at Lyon.

New pod is on Spotify!

Kris, Phil Tom and Jez are all on board after a good week in Europe and an interesting weekend in the league.

You can find Jez and his French Football snippets on Instagram at www.instagram.com/smithjez77

open.spotify.com/episode/2phl...

Includes several of us trying not to mention our own teams, but crossing our fingers for a title race.

Thanks to the people who gave family friend J shelter and support when she was released from police custody at 1.30am on Sunday after participating in the peaceful protest in Trafalgar Square. She is now home safe.

OK even by French politics' usual standards, this is just getting weird now.

In that case, gotta be Cat.

If you show up in full kit, yes. 🙃

Christine Sinclair in a facemask after breaking her nose. Possibly from the euros in Germany where she came back on and scored. Legend.

Please let it be this one

Well, as Lady Gaga said, "I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me"...

Jack Grealish celebrating on the Man City bus

Brandi Chastain celebrates

Megan Rapinoe celebrates

Other 'Dave Gahan' photos would include this, and obvz Brandi Chastain and Megan Rapinoe.

Angel di Maria celebrates

Montpellier fans watching on a big screen in town when the 2012 trophy was confirmed

Zidane walks past the World Cup after being sent off

Seems like they might also have a problem with gay people.

Tawny owl

Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.

After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵

Saturday in Ligue 1 kicks off with Metz v OM. On a good run of form, including a 4-0 win over Ajax midweek, you have to think that unless OM do something really stupid (early red card, hilarious own goal), this is a gimme for them.
#Footy-live

Short thread...

This week ICE fascists:
•Attacked & detained Black U.S. Citizen children in Chicago.
•In a Chicago hospital ER, arrested Alderman Jessie Fuentes for demanding they show a judicial warrant before arresting someone.
•In Broadview, IL, arrested US Veterans peacefully protesting.

1/3

Not sure it's an 'upbeat pop song', but Take On Me by Aha might work.
Also probably anything from the Thermals' album 'the Body the Blood the Machine'.

In memoriam...

Keeping Up Appearances actor Patricia Routledge dies aged 96 The actor was best known for her role as the pretentious housewife Hyacinth Bucket, and for the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Patricia Routledge, the stage and screen actor best known for starring as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and Henrietta “Hetty” Wainthropp in the television series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, has died at the age of 96. Routledge was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1929 and attended the University of Liverpool and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She began her career in theatre and musical theatre in 1952, later making her Broadway debut in 1966 in How’s the World Treating You. Routledge would go on to win a Tony award and an Olivier for her stage work, and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for several years, appearing in productions including Richard III, alongside Antony Sher. Continue reading...

Keeping Up Appearances actor Patricia Routledge dies aged 96