Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning Annie Hall star, dies at 79

Diane Keaton, the Oscar-winning actor whose wit, warmth and individuality made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved figures, died Saturday in California.

The Annie Hall star was 79.

“There are no further details available at this time, and her family has asked for privacy in this moment of great sadness,” a spokesperson told People magazine.

The Independent has contacted Keaton’s representatives for comment.

While Keaton had not made any public appearances for some time, her death was still highly unexpected, as there had been no prior reports of her being sick.

Keaton was known for her prolific film and television career that spanned more than five decades. She rose to fame in Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia epic The Godfather (1972), and returned for the director’s second and third sequels.

Her other major acting credits included leading roles in comedies like Father of the Bride (1991), The First Wives Club (1996), Something’s Gotta Give (2003) and Book Club (2018).

Born January 5, 1946, as Diane Hall, the Hollywood legend got her first break in the original 1968 Broadway production of Hair.

She returned to Broadway the following year in Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam. Her performance alongside Allen in his comedic show landed her a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

The stage production kicked off a decades-long collaboration between the two, as well as a brief relationship. Allen later adapted his play into a film, with Keaton reprising her role. They worked together on an additional seven films, including Love and Death (1975), Annie Hall (1977), Interiors (1978), Manhattan (1979), Radio Days (1987), and Wild Man Blues (1997).

Her performance as the titular nightclub singer in Allen’s romcom Annie Hall landed her an Academy Award. She went on to receive several other Best Actress nominations for Reds (1981), Marvin’s Room (1996) and Something’s Gotta Give (2003).

Keaton’s on-screen debut was in the 1970 romcom Lovers and Other Strangers. That same year, she made her first TV appearance in an episode of the three-season romance Love, American Style.

In addition to her numerous Oscar accolades, she also earned an Emmy nod for her leading role in the 1995 TV movie Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight.

She made her directorial debut in 1987 with her affecting documentary Heaven, which illustrated numerous beliefs about the afterlife. She made her way back to the director’s chair in 1995 with Unstrung Heroes, a family comedy featuring Andie MacDowell and John Turturro, and again in 2000 with the comedy-drama Hanging Up, in which she also starred.

Her latest acting credit is Castille Landon’s 2024 comedy Summer Camp, starring alongside Nickelodeon’s Josh Peck, Kathy Bates, Eugene Levy and Alfre Woodard.

Aside from acting, Keaton was a dedicated animal welfare activist and a big promoter of pet adoption. Her love for animals even inspired her to make changes to her diet.

“I don’t eat meat, I’m a vegetarian and I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years and I’ve stopped even eating fish,” she told The Sydney Morning Herald in 2020. “I stopped five years ago. I don’t want to eat something that was an animal.”

Numerous Hollywood heavyweights have paid tribute to Keaton, with Ben Stiller calling her “one of the greatest film actors ever.”

Her First Wives Club co-star Bette Midler hailed her as “brilliant, beautiful, extraordinary,” saying she was “unbearably sad” by Keaton’s passing.

“She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!” Midler wrote on Instagram.

Mary Steenbergurgen, who starred with Keaton in 2018’s Book Club, reacted to the news, telling People in a statement: “Diane was magic. There was no one, nor will there ever be, anyone like her. I loved her and felt blessed to be her friend. My love to her family. What a wonder she was!!!”

“I am very sad to hear of Diane’s passing. I was very fond of her and the news of her leaving us has taken me totally by surprise. I was not expecting her to leave us. She will be missed. May she rest in peace,” Robert de Niro said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comedy icon Steve Martin, who played her on-screen husband in the Father of the Bride film series, shared a snippet from an old 2021 Interview magazine interview in which Martin Short asks Keaton, “Who’s sexier, me or Steve Martin?” who replies, “I mean, you’re both idiots.” Martin said that the interaction “sums up our delightful relationship with Diane.”

“Diane Keaton was one of a kind. Brilliant, funny, and unapologetically herself,” Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred with her in Marvin’s Room. wrote in an Instagram Story, alongside an old photo of himself and Keaton. “A legend, an icon, and a truly kind human being. I had the honor of working with her at 18. She will be deeply missed.”

Keaton is survived by her two children, daughter Dexter, 29, and son Duke, 25.

Joe Biden undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Joe Biden has entered a new phase of treatment, following the announcement that the former president had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” a spokesperson for Biden said in a statement Saturday.

Biden, 82, revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in May, which had also spread to his bones. At the time his office said that it could be managed with hormone treatment.

The former president had already been taking a hormone pill, and the new radiation treatment is expected to span five weeks, a source close to the matter told NBC News.

The Independent has reached out Biden’s office for further information.

It marks the latest stage in Biden’s health struggles, having undergone surgery last month to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead.

His diagnosis came while he was still eyeing another term in the White House. Doctors found a prostate nodule after he was seen about urinary symptoms, his office said at the time.

Biden was subsequently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, which had metastasized and was given a Gleason score of nine.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” his office said on May 18.

Multiple oncologists told NBC at the time that it was possible that Biden’s cancer had gone undiagnosed for years.

A day after the diagnosis was revealed publicly, the former president said in an online statement: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.”

The Biden family has faced cancer repeatedly over the years. Biden’s son Beau died of a brain tumor in 2015, and the former First Lady has had two cancerous lesions removed previously.

‘An extraordinary tragicomedy’: Inside Macron’s political crisis and a French farce

France latest fresh political crisis turned into farce this week after prime minister Sebastien Lecornu unexpectedly announced his resignation on Monday, only to be reappointed by Friday.

Lecornu’s initial decision to quit set the tone for another chaotic week in French politics. He threw in the towel less than four weeks after taking office and just 14 hours after he unveiled his minority government.

But within days he was back in the job, reappointed by president Emmanuel Macron and tasked with forming a new cabinet and putting forward a budget next week.

Lecornu said in a statement he accepted the new job offer out of “duty” and had been given a mission “to do everything to give France a budget by the end of the year and respond to the daily problems of our compatriots”.

His 27 days in office were even shorter than Liz Truss’s disastrous turn in No 10 and made him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history.

So how did France get to this point, and what happens now?

The political deadlock stems from Macron’s shock decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly. The snap elections produced a hung parliament, with no bloc able to command a majority in the 577-seat chamber.

The gridlock has unnerved investors, infuriated voters, and stalled efforts to curb France’s spiralling deficit and public debt.

Without stable support, Macron’s governments have stumbled from one crisis to the next, collapsing as they sought backing for unpopular spending cuts.

At the end of the first quarter of 2025, France’s public debt stood at €3.346 trillion (£2.91 trillion), or 114 per cent of gross domestic product.

France’s poverty rate also reached 15.4 per cent in 2023, its highest level since records began in 1996, according to the latest data available from the national statistics institute.

One of Macron’s signature policies has been an extremely unpopular pension reform. Forced through parliament without a vote in 2023 despite mass protests, it will gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Forming a government remains a daunting challenge within the obstinacy of an increasingly polarised National Assembly.

Lecornu, a close ally of President Macron, had sought to mend the rift through diplomacy, meeting with political opponents and promising a “rupture” from the patterns of old.

Promises of change offered little tangible reassurance. Lecornu’s new government largely resembled the old one, and fringes on both the left and right were incensed by the decision to keep on Bruno Le Maire, this time as defence minister.

Opposition parties threatened to call a vote of no confidence before Lecornu, cornered, backed down.

Macron’s decision to reappoint Lecornu has enraged some of his fiercest opponents, who have argued the only way out of France’s worst political crisis in decades is for the president to call fresh legislative elections or resign.

Even allies have now started to turn on Macron. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron’s Renaissance party, said on Monday he “no longer understands” the president’s decisions. Another former prime minister, Edouard Philippe, one of Macron’s most important allies, called on the president to resign and for new presidential elections.

Lecornu’s resignation also panicked the markets. By 8am the same day, the Paris Stock Exchange had fallen by two per cent. The euro slumped 0.6 per cent on the dollar.

The Elysee Palace snuffed out speculation that France was heading for fresh elections when it stated on Wednesday that Macron would name a new prime minister within 48 hours. Instead, he reappointed Lecornu.

Macron’s choices at the start of the week were to either appoint a new prime minister, to resign himself or to dissolve parliament and call fresh parliamentary elections.

Emile Chabal, a specialist on contemporary French politics at the University of Edinburgh, told The Independent that resigning would be the “nuclear option” and would lead to “extraordinary and volatile realignment of different political groups”.

Elections are no safe bet, either. There is no guarantee a new parliament would be any more stable than the last, and it could invite a far-right majority.

Last summer, Macron took his allies by surprise when he dissolved the National Assembly in response to his coalition’s heavy defeat in the EU elections. The New Popular Front alliance, a left-wing coalition, came out on top, Macron’s centrist alliance came second and the far-right National Rally (RN) placed third. No party secured a majority.

Fringes on the left and right both fancied their chances in a re-run, demanding Macron call another election as soon as Lecornu’s resignation was made public.

Dr Pierre Purseigle, Reader in Modern European History at the University of Warwick, described the situation as just “another extraordinary instalment in the tragicomedy that French politics degenerated into over the last year and a half”.

The longer it goes on, the longer France lingers in limbo without fixing its ballooning financial crisis. This can only hurt Macron’s reputation, and voters are already apathetic.

“Much of the electorate remain animated by a desire to kick Macron, his government and indeed most politicians out of office,” Dr Purseigle explained.

Ousting Macron is no guarantee of fixing inertia, either. Elections “may simply lead France to sink deeper into the paralysing mire it’s been in for over a year”, Dr Purseigle said. “Meanwhile, none of the severe economic, social and international challenges the country faces will be addressed as they surely must be.”

Prince Harry makes new UK security request amid ‘stalker’ incidents

The Duke of Sussex has formally requested a re-evaluation of his security arrangements for visits to the UK, following reports that a “known stalker” came “within feet” of Prince Harry on two separate occasions during his last visit to the UK.

A source close to the duke confirmed Prince Harry wrote to home secretary Shabana Mahmood shortly after her appointment and submitted a formal request for a risk assessment to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which operates under the Home Office.

According to The Telegraph, the “known stalker” breached a “secure zone” at a central London hotel where the duke attended the WellChild Awards on 9 September.

She was subsequently spotted near him two days later at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in west London and is said to have come “within feet” of the Duke of Sussex.

The duke’s appeal against the dismissal of his High Court claim concerning the level of taxpayer-funded protection he receives in the country was rejected in May.

The source clarified that the letter to Ms Mahmood was dispatched prior to these two security incidents occurring in September.

After losing the Court of Appeal challenge, the duke said in a TV interview he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”.

The 41-year-old told the BBC he would ask then home secretary Yvette Cooper to “look at this very, very carefully”, and warned that the royal family’s power over security means it “can be used to control” family members.

He also said he would ask prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to “step in”.

The legal challenge came after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex left the UK and first moved to Canada, and then California, after announcing they wanted to step back as senior royals.

In a summary of the ruling, judge Sir Geoffrey Vos said Ravec’s decision was “understandable and perhaps predictable”.

The duke said the Court of Appeal decision meant it is now “impossible” for him to bring Meghan and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to the UK safely.

A government spokesperson said: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.

“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”

Why Lewis Cope is the Strictly partner Katya Jones deserves

Lewis Cope has become the first Strictly Come Dancing 2025 star to land a 10 – but the person I’m most happy for is his professional partner Katya Jones.

It’s fair to say the Russian dancer hasn’t always had it easy on the programme. Jones – together with then-husband Neil – made her debut as a Strictly professional in 2016. While her other half was immediately placed on the subs bench, Jones found herself catapulted into the spotlight when she was paired with Ed Balls.

What the Labour politician lacked in dance ability, he more than compensated for in commitment – and it was Jones who brought him out of his shell, choreographing routines including their legendary “Gangnam Style” performance.

The following year, Jones was with Joe McFadden and the pair embarked on an extraordinary Strictly journey that saw the Holby City actor go from lesser-known outsider to lifting the Glitterball trophy.

It was in 2018 that things started to fall apart, though. A promising start with comedian Seann Walsh ultimately ended in controversy when the pair were caught kissing outside a London pub (on Walsh’s then-girlfriend’s birthday, no less). Their promising Strictly story was hastily rewritten after the controversy and they limped out of the competition just a few weeks later.

In the years that followed, it certainly seemed as though Jones either wasn’t being paired with celebs who stood a chance of winning, suffered bad luck, or both. In the 2020 run, she was one half of the show’s first ever same-sex couple, dancing with Nicola Adams. Unfortunately, they were forced to withdraw early when the boxer contracted Covid-19.

The bad luck continued in 2022 and 2023, when Jones’s celebrity partners Nigel Harman and Tony Adams pulled out due to injuries. Last year, there was the infamous Wynne-gate, which ultimately cast a cloud over not just Jones and Wynne Evans’s stint on the programme but the whole series itself.

Through it all, Jones has proven herself to be one of the best choreographers Strictly has to offer, thriving in turning non-dancers into something special. It’s easily forgotten but the Walsh drama came just after a truly mind-blowing Matrix-themed routine. And years later, when Jones had drummed some steps into Tony Adams, the judges labelled him “unrecognisable”.

Fast forward then, to the current run, which on Saturday night saw Lewis Cope become the first Class of 2025 star to land a 10 thanks to a drama-filled paso doble. The performance cemented him as one of the stars to beat this year – and for me, raised an important question: could Katya Jones finally have another shot at winning?

In the Emmerdale actor, Jones (at last) has another partner who could go all the way. The 30-year-old has some previous dance training, having appeared in the West End production of Billy Elliot as a child, but not so much experience that fans are fixated on it (a la Amber Davies). There are no signs of nerves and his acting skills are shining through in his routines, whether it’s in Saturday’s tension-filled paso or last week’s romantic Viennese Waltz. He’s athletic and physically fit, capable of taking on whatever ambitious moves Jones throws at him.

For the professional dancer, this partnership must be a dream. And if you ask me, it’s long overdue.

Norwegian nature: Enjoy wild, wonderful adventures on a safari-at-sea

Norway’s rugged coast is chock-full of natural beauty, dotted with steep fjords where the mountains meet the sea and teeming with all kinds of curious wildlife, from orcas, humpbacks, and over 80 species of seabirds to red foxes, reindeer, and otters. Norwegians are famous for their deep love of the outdoors, which even has its own word: friluftsliv. It helps that it is home to more than 150,000 lakes and is known for its dramatic fjord-fringed landscapes and shimmering glaciers. It’s also one of the best places to catch the technicolour magic of the Aurora Borealis.

What’s more, if you explore this breathtaking region on a Hurtigruten cruise, you’ll do so alongside the expert local Expedition Team, who have spent years traversing Norway’s rugged coastline. They are always on hand to provide engaging insights into the nature, wildlife, and culture you’ll encounter on every voyage. They go above and beyond to ensure you experience more than just the tourist hot spots. Each team member has their own area of expertise and hosts regular lectures for those who want to delve deeper into a specific interest. They also encourage you to join them on their hand-picked hikes and activities, which are at an additional cost and subject to availability but offer the chance to explore with those who know the area best.

Drawing on over 130 years of travel experience, Original and Signature Hurtigruten Voyages lead passengers along Norway’s dramatic Arctic coastline, showcasing its remarkable natural beauty in all its glory, with options to stop off in various locations along the way. As you sail between destinations, keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that frequents the area. The coastline is a popular haunt for mammals like giant humpbacks, frolicking seals and playful porpoises.

During time spent on land, depending on your route, you might also come face-to-face with reindeer in the north or the elusive lynx, not to mention the flora that decorates the landscape in various seasons. Some routes stop at Mehamn, a traditional fishing town with only 800 inhabitants. From here, you can embark on an excursion to learn about the Sámi, an indigenous people from Europe’s northernmost region, known for reindeer herding, traditional handicrafts, and a deep connection to nature. Get to know the family, hear their stories and joik chanting, and try dried reindeer meat around a fire in a lavvo tent.

There are many different journeys you can take, depending on what you want to get out of your cruise. Trace the historic Coastal Express route on one of their Original Voyages, Hurtigruten’s first and most iconic route, established in 1893 and often hailed as the world’s most beautiful voyage. You’ll cover 2,500 nautical miles and visit 34 ports, starting in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, where you can hop on a funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen and soak up the incredible views of the city, the nearby fjords, and the surrounding mountains.

The North Cape Line Winter route is another popular cruise for nature lovers. This Signature Voyage adventure starts and finishes in Norway’s Capital, Oslo. The Signature Voyages take things up a notch, offering unmatched views of Norway’s best bits with more time to explore each stop. They’re also a hit with foodies, thanks to the all-inclusive option featuring award-winning restaurants and seasonal produce from Norway’s bountiful coastline.

Åndalsnes is also a favourite stop on the route, home to soaring mountains overlooking the surrounding town. It’s the ultimate hotspot for hikers, climbers and skiers thanks to its abundant accessible natural beauty. The Troll Wall is a highlight for adrenaline seekers here; this 1,000-metre vertical cliff in the Romsdalen valley boasts some of the most epic views from atop, including 360-degree vistas of Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre, and the Rauma River.

This route also takes you to The City of Northern Lights, Alta, where you can stand at the northernmost point in Europe, Cape Point in Honningsvåg – the perfect vantage point for those trying to catch this incredible natural phenomenon. Hurtigruten is so confident you’ll see the lights that they even offer a ‘Northern Lights Promise’: a free cruise if you don’t see them during the season (valid on 11-day plus voyages from 20th September to 31st March).

Many of the routes stop at Lofoten, an archipelago with immense peaks and fishing villages sandwiched between slopes. It’s not hard to see why this chain of islands is referred to as one of Norway’s most beautiful locations. Hiking opportunities abound here, and most trails lead to spectacular vistas, or if you prefer to stay on the water, you can hop in a kayak and enjoy a leisurely paddle.

Lofoten isn’t the only archipelago you’ll see on specific routes — keep an eye out for the Vega archipelago, a collection of around 6,500 islands, skerries, and islets. On Gardsøy Island, you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with dedicated huts for local eider ducks to build their nests.

Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, many of the routes also take you past some of the country’s most famous fjords, including Hardangerfjord, measuring a whopping 179 kilometres in length, making it the second longest fjord in the country and fifth longest in the world. Get your cameras ready, as you’ll be treated to panoramic mountain vistas from every direction, with snow-capped peaks peeking over the fjord reflected on mirror-like water.

Hurtigruten cruises stop at Torsken on the southbound leg of the Svalbard Line, one of their premium, all-inclusive Signature Voyages that sails from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago and back. The secluded fishing village of Torsken is perfect for outdoors enthusiasts, tucked away in Torskenfjorden on the rugged west coast of Senja Island. It’s home to just a handful of houses, workshops, and small piers sprinkled with fishing boats and is the ideal base for exploring Norway’s second-largest island, Senja.

Senja’s stunning coastline has been rightly nicknamed the ‘Caribbean of the North’ thanks to its white-sand beaches and towering mountain peaks. It’s best to take an excursion and explore by small boat to spot white-tailed eagles, seals, seabirds like cormorants, and maybe even a golden eagle. Whether exploring Senja or simply soaking up sea views from onboard, a Hurtigruten cruise offers a chance to connect with nature, wildlife, and Norway’s stunning landscapes, with countless routes to choose from.

Book your Norwegian adventure for less, with up to 30% off, plus 10% off excursions on selected Coastal Express and North Cape Line voyages. For offers, routes and excursion info, visit Hurtigruten.

If Trump’s Gaza peace holds, then he will deserve a Nobel prize

Go to Kosovo today, and among men in their mid-twenties you will find a disproportionate number of them named Tonibler. It isn’t a traditional Slavic name, but after the vital role that Tony Blair played in prosecuting the war against the Yugoslav leader, Slobodan Milosevic, in 1999, a new generation was called “Tonibler”.

What chance is there that a new generation of children born in Gaza and Israel in the next few months and years will bear that most un-Levantine name, “Donald”?

I can think of one person who would feel the warmest of warm glows if that were to come to pass. And let’s give Donald Trump his due: his unconventional methods of diplomacy, his force of personality, his brow-beating of Bibi Netanyahu have got us to the point where we are today – where, please God, the last remaining hostages so cruelly taken by Hamas on October 7 are released, and the merciless bombardment of Gaza ceases.

Donald Trump is having a lovely, warm, soapy bask in the narrative that he is the peacemaker and deal-maker extraordinaire. Speaking to the media on Thursday, he was heaping praise on the journalists who had spent the day heaping praise on this breakthrough – that must have been very destabilising for the reporters in the room, who are much more used to hearing from him that they are creating fake news and are enemies of the people.

Fair enough; he should be revelling in this moment. But the importance of timing in politics can’t be overestimated. If you look at the deal that Trump has strong-armed Israel into signing up to, it is not so different from the one that Joe Biden put on the table a year ago. Why has Trump succeeded where Biden failed? Yes, his personality. But also timing. A year ago, Netanyahu thought he didn’t need a deal. But after the haemorrhaging of support following the grotesque attempts to starve the Palestinian people into submission, and then the imbecilic missile attack on the Hamas mission in Qatar, Israel had never looked more isolated. That gave Trump the opening he sought, the leverage only he could apply.

About 15 years ago, I went to Israel to interview Tony Blair who, as leader of the Quartet Group, had been tasked with trying to find peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We travelled around the West Bank together, and he was clear-sighted that a two-state solution was achievable. Everyone knew what the shape of an agreement looked like; the problem was you needed the stars to align, for the two sides to be willing to take a chance, to roll the dice.

Netanyahu nodded about a two-state solution, but then did everything to scupper it. Back when he was president, Bill Clinton thought he had a deal, but then the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, backed away, fearful that he wouldn’t be able to sell it.

Look at Northern Ireland, where Tony Blair succeeded with the Good Friday Agreement. Yes, it was painstaking, yes there were moments when it would seem like there would be failure. And yes, there were issues that were fudged – like the decommissioning of IRA weapons. But there was a will on all sides to give it a go. The constellation of stars were in alignment that Easter.

That brings us to the other point. If the hostages come out on Monday, that is not the end; that is just the beginning. The pile of unanswered questions is long. Will Hamas disarm? Will Israel leave the security of the Gaza Strip to this technocratic body? Who is going to appoint these technocrats to run Gaza? How do you keep the militants out? Who is going to pay for the reconstruction? How long will it take and how much will it cost? Remember, the peace plan has 20 points to it.

If you cast your mind back to those historic events in Northern Ireland in 1998, the signing of the Good Friday Agreement was the first step. The RUC would have to become the PSNI, the weapons would have to be decommissioned, and there was the painful process of releasing political prisoners. And then power sharing in Stormont. Today, 27 years on, there are still tensions. But the peace has – largely – held because the politicians kept working at it.

No one can doubt the force of Trump’s personality and determination to bring this conflict to an end. But if he gets the hostages out, there is a question over whether he has the political bandwidth and attention span to continue to make that 20-point plan a reality; to bring the peace for an eternity as he has promised? The president can zoom in on a subject with enormous intensity – but get bored with it equally quickly. We all feel we have attention deficit disorder with the Trump presidency, as one subject after another gains our undivided attention, only to be replaced by another, hours later.

This is undoubtedly the best chance for peace – and I salute Donald Trump unequivocally for getting this far. But the harder – perhaps less headline-grabbing – grunt work begins now. And Donald Trump, we all know, is an inveterate headline chaser.

I hope I’m wrong. All politicians love to think about legacy. If a durable, just and lasting peace is what Donald Trump bequeaths the world, then give him the Nobel Peace Prize, and make it the biggest, shiniest, most beautiful 24-karat gold medal those Norwegians have ever made. He will have earned it.

Emmanuel Macron’s political turmoil isn’t just bad news for France

The temptation may be to mock Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to appoint a prime minister, but it is one that should be resisted. Pointing out that Sebastien Lecornu lasted barely half a Liz Truss only draws attention to our own recent problems of high prime ministerial turnover, after all.

The Italians, too, might observe with some satisfaction that their reputation for frequent changes of government and fiscal profligacy has been transferred to their neighbour. Giorgia Meloni has now been in office for three years and Italy’s budget deficit is much lower than France’s. But they should put the smugness on hold.

It is self-evident that it is not a good sign for France that the best solution to Mr Lecornu’s resignation after 27 days of trying to form a government is to ask him to come back and try again.

But it is not good for the rest of Europe either. Mr Macron is one of the leaders, alongside Sir Keir Starmer, who has been most resolute in support of the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Mr Macron’s principal opponents in France, of left and right, are soft on Mr Putin and soft on the causes of the war in Ukraine.

However much some British politicians may have thought that our exit from the European Union would cut us off from the problems of the continent, it also remains in our narrow interest to have a strong and effective government in France. Whether it is the small boats in the Channel or the new EU entry-exit system, we need the cooperation of the French government. Nigel Farage’s Brexit daydream of a free-floating United Kingdom, not needing to rely on its nearest neighbours, never reflected the reality of our interdependent world.

Mr Macron’s gamble last year of calling a snap National Assembly election failed to pay off when the extremes of right and left both gained seats. But the French president’s fundamental challenge is that he was elected eight years ago promising to tackle France’s deep-seated economic problems, and he has largely failed to do so.

Above all, he has yet to gain control of the public finances. The attempt to raise fuel taxes was defeated by the gilets jaunes protests, and the bill to raise the retirement age from 62 was passed only with great difficulty after months of strikes and demonstrations two years ago – and it then raised the retirement age only to 64 by 2032.

As a result, France’s national debt is now 116 per cent of national income, with no credible plan to prevent it rising further. If we British think we are living beyond our means, then the French, with their significantly more generous welfare system, are living well beyond theirs. Their political system seems even less able than ours – or the Italians’ – to face up to economic reality.

Indeed, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is expected to proclaim the virtues of British stability when she speaks at the International Monetary Fund in Washington on Wednesday. Many in her audience will have France in mind as a contrasting example.

Some may think that a fiscal crisis in France is an opportunity for other countries, or that it is a problem only for members of the eurozone. That would be complacent. A meltdown in France would hurt its neighbours and embolden the Kremlin.

So the whole of Europe, whether in the EU or, in the cases of the UK and Ukraine, outside it, should wish the French people well in coming to terms with the underlying causes of their political instability.