Jean-Luc Mélenchon announces his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France insoumise and a prominent figure in the French radical left, officially declared his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election on Sunday in an interview with TF1. He stated that he is “the most prepared” within his party “to face the situation that is unfolding.” Mélenchon expressed concerns about the current global situation, including the threat of war, climate change, and economic and social crises. Recent polls give Mélenchon 10.5% to 13% of the votes and suggest he could potentially reach the second round against the far right, “depending on the other candidates who will present themselves.” However, he is currently seen as “the weakest option to prevent” the National Rally (far-right party) from gaining power, due to his low popularity, as noted by Politico Europe.
London considers joining EU’s aid package for Ukraine as a sign of closer ties with the European Union (EU), according to BBC. Downing Street announced on Sunday that the UK is planning to engage in discussions to contribute to the 90 billion euro aid package agreed upon by EU countries for Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce this intention at a European political community summit in Yerevan, Armenia, showing support for Ukraine in obtaining essential military equipment. In addition, the UK will impose severe sanctions on Russian businesses to disrupt military supply chains, following the EU’s approval of the aid package last month.
GameStop launches a $55.5 billion buyout offer for eBay. The global gaming distribution leader announced on Sunday that it has been gradually acquiring eBay shares since February 4th, holding about 5% of the company’s capital, which is four times its market capitalization. GameStop aims to turn eBay into a “true competitor” to Amazon, in what Bloomberg describes as a bold move by GameStop’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, to take control of a historic online commerce giant. Founded in Silicon Valley in 1995, eBay became a major player in the sector in the 2000s but faced strong competition from Amazon.
Three deaths linked to a possible hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a case of hantavirus infection, which can cause severe respiratory illness, on a cruise ship called MV Hondius. The ship was sailing from southern Argentina to West Africa and was located near the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through infected rodents, such as mice or rats, and can result from bites, contact with rodents or their excrements, or inhaling contaminated dust. WHO is conducting virus sequencing and an epidemiological investigation to determine how the virus entered the ship.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani hospitalized. Giuliani’s spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the 81-year-old former mayor is in critical but stable condition, without disclosing specifics about his health issues. Giuliani had mentioned a weakened voice during his show America’s Mayor Live on X, indicating he could not speak as loudly as usual. Giuliani rose to fame for his tough stance against the New York mafia and his leadership after the September 11th attacks. However, his reputation declined in 2023 when he was ordered to pay $148 million in defamation damages related to electoral fraud allegations during the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani played a key role in the campaign to challenge the election results, won by Democrat Joe Biden.
