Marine Le Pen's political future hangs in the balance after prosecutors at her trial for alleged embezzlement of EU funds demanded she face a five-year ban on running for public office, in addition to jail time and a fine.

The far-right leader, who denies the charges, "promptly denounced the prosecutors' motion as excessive, branding it an 'outrage'", said Le Monde. "I think the prosecutors' wish is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for who they want," she said.

What charges does Le Pen face?
Le Pen's National Rally, formerly the National Front, is accused of using EU funds to pay "parliamentary assistants" who worked exclusively for the party, in an alleged fake jobs scheme between 2004 and 2016 that the French parliament has estimated cost taxpayers millions of euros. 

The criminal trial against Le Pen, the party and other officials and employees began in September. She has so far given "general answers, or said she could not remember" when questioned about how she selected her parliamentary aides and what their tasks were, said The Guardian.

What could a guilty verdict mean?
Her populist, nationalist party is currently the largest group in the National Assembly, and her team are optimistic they could clinch the presidency in 2027. But if Le Pen is found guilty, she may be unable to fulfil her plans for a fourth run for the top job.

Jordan Bardella, the current party head, "would be likely to take her place if she was ruled out of the race". But Bardella "could face competition" from 34-year-old Marion Maréchal, Le Pen's niece, said The Times.

What has the response been?
Le Pen and her co-defendants have denied all of the accusations brought against them. "Drawing a page from United States President-elect Donald Trump’s playbook", Le Pen has consistently characterised the trial as "politically motivated and accused the lead judge of 'biased' conduct", said Politico. In a post on X, Bardella called prosecutors' latest demands "an assault on democracy".

The defence will have the opportunity to present its case before the trial ends on 27 November. A verdict is expected by early next year.

Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended over a leaked video that appears to show him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and the club's former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited red-carded Coote with immediate effect while it investigates the now-viral video, which is "also attracting the attention" of the Football Association (FA), said the BBC. One of Coote's alleged comments "cites Klopp's German nationality", which could constitute an "aggravated breach" of FA rules.

'Bang to rights'
This could be a "watershed moment" for the game, said Sky Sports, as football is forced to reckon with the private opinions and potential bias of officials.

Coote appears to have been caught "bang to rights" and "can never referee again", said former Liverpool striker John Aldridge in the Liverpool Echo. There were already "question marks" over some of his decision-making in Liverpool games, and his "authority and neutrality" could be "seriously damaged" now.

It has previously been "easy to dismiss cries of bias and imagined agendas as blinkered paranoia", said The Telegraph's Thom Gibbs. But this video encourages conspiracy theories against referees from embittered fans, and the "lingering stench" of an official who "blew the illusion of neutrality" will be hard to clear.

'He had a point'
"Who among us has not said very bad words about someone at work?" asked The Guardian's Barney Ronay. The comments apparently made by Coote and a companion are "unacceptable, low rent, and ultimately harmful", but we should not "overplay the offence".

While Coote "can be banished in a finger snap", it is more challenging to admit that "he had a point", said The Times' Martin Samuel. Klopp's behaviour on the touchline as Liverpool boss was "often very wrong". With his "guard down and unthinking about the ramifications", Coote seemingly seized an opportunity to say "what he really thinks" about the former manager. "Can you blame him?" Such comments speak to the wider football culture where referees "feel unprotected, bullied and increasingly resentful". That, ultimately, "must end".

Twinkling lights, mulled wine, gifts and crafts… Embrace the festive spirit with a visit to one of these winter wonderland venues.

Bath Christmas Market
The city's market "bottles the spirit of Christmas", said Natalie Wilson in The Independent. The "festive fairytale" sprawls across Bath's historic cobbled streets and features "the best of South West produce", from gin to jewellery. After shopping, check out No. 1 Royal Crescent's immersive tour "12 tales of a Georgian Christmas". 28 November to 15 December

Leadenhall Market
London's "most stunning" market "never looks better" than when it's adorned with glittering lights and decked with a tree, said Meadhbh McGrath in Lonely Planet. The walkways are "packed" with 90 stalls selling carefully crafted gifts, and this year's holiday highlights include free candle-decorating workshops and a Vintage Furniture Flea. 16 and 24 November, 7 December

Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham
The UK's biggest authentic German-style market sees Birmingham's Victoria Square and New Street lined with stalls offering handcrafted decorations. As well as being "the place for bratwurst, stollen, and gluhwein", said Wilson in The Independent, it is great for gift shopping while listening to holiday tunes from the bandstand. 1 November to 24 December

Manchester Christmas Market
The Manchester Christmas Market is back and "better than ever", said Good Housekeeping. One of the biggest in the UK, it features 300 stalls at 10 sites across the city to "ring in the Christmas season". Look out for announcements about the can't-miss Christmas Parade, Festive Sundays and "iconic" Christmas lights trail. 11 November to 21 December

Is there any red line that Israel will be held to? Biden has just confirmed the answer is no
Owen Jones in The Guardian
No matter "how depraved the atrocity, or overwhelming the evidence, or confessed-to the crime", the West's support for Israel "will not crumble", says Owen Jones. The US sent a letter to Israel threatening "undefined action" if progress wasn't made on unblocking aid to Gaza, but the deadline passed and Washington "did nothing". Israel "appears to be able to do anything" – even "starvation, butchering children, ethnic cleansing" and "violently erasing a healthcare system" – without the "fortress" of Western support falling.

Rogue cosmetic surgeons have continued for too long – but there is a simple solution'
The Mirror editorial board
"Lives have been lost and hundreds of others have been left maimed or scarred after botched beauty procedures," says The Mirror. Wes Streeting is "right to describe the situation as the Wild West". It is "imperative" that the health secretary honours his "pledge to regulate the sector", and the "best way is to set up a licensing scheme". Responsible practitioners would "have nothing to fear" and "rogue" practitioners would be "driven out of business".

How Asia can strengthen its trade, manufacturing as Trump returns
Janet Pau in the South China Morning Post
With the prospect of a "more isolationist" US, Asian economies must "pivot" to "remain at the forefront of global trade" and "sharpen their tools to not just survive but thrive", writes Janet Pau, executive director of the Asia Business Council. Asia should prepare for "economic-logic-defying policies" from Donald Trump, but the region can "navigate a more unpredictable global economic landscape" through "flexibility", building "workforce capacity and resilience" and "strengthening trade capabilities to counteract protectionism".