28 h. ago ‘Like working in a volcano’: stories from six countries in Europe on a day of extreme heat

How chefs, street performers and cheesemongers struggled to get their jobs done in record-busting temperaturesHundreds of millions of people across Europe suffered an extreme heatwave this week, with temperatures smashing records as the continent sweltered.With the human-caused climate emergency pushing the mercury ever higher, early in the summer Europe is experiencing troubling temperatures. Continue reading...

Politics

46 h. ago Ships forced to leave cargo behind as heatwave hits one of Europe’s longest rivers

Temperatures peaked at 35 degrees in Budapest this week as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave

Events

47 h. ago ‘A war of the truth’: Europe’s heatwaves are failing to spur support for climate action

Voters may feel hotter summers are ‘too much’ but they appear to tolerate roll-back of policies to stop global heating“It’s just too much, isn’t it?” says Julie, a retiree in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, about the 42C (107.6F) heat that her brother had seen scorch Spain last week. The former local government worker has felt summers get hotter over her lifetime and says she “couldn’t stand” such high heat herself.But like many who experienced Europe’s first heatwave of the summer, Julie does not sound overly alarmed. She worries about climate breakdown for young people, but is not concerned about herself. She thinks more climate action would be nice, but does not know what can be done about it. She does not have much faith in the government. Continue reading...

Events

62 h. ago Two dead in Turkey after wildfires ripped through villages and saw 50,000 evacuated as blazes flared in Crete amid Europe's heatwave hell

One elderly victim died in a fire near Odemis, around 60 miles east of Izmir, in one of three villages evacuated in the area, lawmaker Salih Uzun told Halk TV.

Events

65 h. ago Crete wildfire forces 5,000 to evacuate as Europe heatwave continues

Fire on island being fanned by gale-force winds, with blazes also raging on mainland Greece and in other parts of EuropeA wildfire fanned by gale-force winds has forced the evacuation of about 5,000 people on the Greek island of Crete, authorities and hotel association officials have said, as large swathes of continental Europe baked in a punishing early summer heatwave linked to at least nine deaths.About 230 firefighters, along with 46 fire service vehicles and helicopters, were battling the blaze on Thursday after it broke out 24 hours earlier near Ierapetra, on the south-east coast of the island – the country’s largest – threatening to engulf houses and hotels. Continue reading...

Events

69 h. ago Putin insisted Russia ‘will not step back from goals’ in Ukraine in hour

Russian and US leaders spoke about need for ‘negotiated solution’ in Ukraine, Kremlin saysin ItalyDue to the climate emergency, Italian seas have reached temperatures above 20C even at depths of 40 metres, according to a report released on Wednesday by Greenpeace. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Deadly 'early summer’ heatwave moves across Europe as climate scientists ring alarm bells

Fire evacuations in Greece and Turkey while temperatures in Spain and Portugal hit 46C

Events

2 d. ago Water restrictions across Europe as intense heatwave hits region

Rivers across the region are almost dry due to insufficient rainfall throughout the preceding winter and spring months

Events

2 d. ago Sweltering European heatwave to send UK temperatures on 34C on these exact dates

Although fresher air is now hitting the UK Europe continues to struggle in soaring temperatures with signs that another heatwave could affect the UK in the middle of July

Politics

2 d. ago Trump confirms Putin call to take place today as Zelenskyy says they don’t ‘have a lot of common ideas’ to discuss – Europe live

Call comes as US president is also due to speak to Ukraine’s Zelenskyy this weekin ItalyDue to the climate emergency, Italian seas have reached temperatures above 20C even at depths of 40 metres, according to a report released on Wednesday by Greenpeace. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Crete wildfire forces 1,500 to evacuate as Europe heatwave continues

Fire on island being fanned by gale-force winds as blazes also rage on mainland Greece and in GermanyA wildfire fanned by gale-force winds has forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people on the Greek island of Crete, officials have said, as large swathes of continental Europe baked in a punishing early summer heatwave linked to at least nine deaths.About 230 firefighters, along with 46 vehicles and helicopters, were battling the blaze on Thursday after it broke out 24 hours earlier near Ierapetra on the south-east coast of the country’s largest island, threatening to engulf houses and hotels. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago EU ready for deal with US but prepared for possibility of no agreement, von der Leyen says – Europe live

Europe will defend its interests in negotiations with US over trade, European Commission president says in ItalyDue to the climate emergency, Italian seas have reached temperatures above 20C even at depths of 40 metres, according to a report released on Wednesday by Greenpeace. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago More than 1,500 people evacuated in Crete as wildfires rage across Europe – live

Wildfires have been reported in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Germany as Europe’s heatwave continuesSeparately, two wildfires that began overnight near the western Turkish resort of Izmir were raging out of control on Thursday, fuelled by high winds, officials said, in comments reported by AFP.“Strong winds are making firefighting efforts difficult in Izmir,” Turkey’s forestry directorate said on X as aerial firefighting planes and helicopters resumed their sorties at sunrise. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Europe’s heatwave moves east as row erupts in France over air conditioning

French far-right leader’s ‘grand plan’ to expand AC comes under attack, while Germany braces for possible record heatThe European heatwave has moved east, threatening record temperatures in Germany, as a political row broke out in France over air conditioning.The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen seized a canvassing opportunity before the 2027 presidential election, announcing she would launch a “grand plan for air conditioning” for the nation if she won power. Continue reading...

Society

4 d. ago Spanish police investigate Catalan wildfire deaths as extreme temperatures grip Europe – live updates

Two victims believed to be farm workers who were trapped by the flames as they tried to reach their vehiclesPolitical cowardice hindering Europe’s climate effortsIn other high stake talks, EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič will be in Washington today in another attempt to strike a tariff deal with the US before the 9 July deadline next week.Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin takes a look at the EU’s longest-serving commissioner, who has built up a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy fixer. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Mapped: The hottest locations in Europe’s 46C heatwave after two die in Catalonia wildfire

Europe has faced an "exceptional" heatwave, prompting heat alerts throughout the region

Events

4 d. ago Three die in Spain as extreme temperatures grip Europe – live updates

Two people killed in Catalan wildfires and a child reportedly succumbs to heatstroke in a car in the regionPolitical cowardice hindering Europe’s climate effortsIn other high stake talks, EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič will be in Washington today in another attempt to strike a tariff deal with the US before the 9 July deadline next week.Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin takes a look at the EU’s longest-serving commissioner, who has built up a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy fixer. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Paris' Eiffel Tower closed to tourists 'for everyone's safety'

It comes as a European heatwave saw temperatures of 40C and higher

Politics

4 d. ago Two killed in Spain wildfires as severe heatwave engulfs Europe

Storms are now expected across Europe

Events

4 d. ago Europe heatwave latest: Two killed in Spanish wildfire as extreme temperatures sweep the continent

At least two people have died in Italy while thousands of schools have been shut in France

Events