11 h. ago Defending Europe's eastern flank is an 'immediate priority' with Russia 'a threat today, tomorrow and the foreseeable future', EU leaders declare

Defending Europe's eastern flank is an 'immediate' priority for the European Union in the face of the threat posed by Russia, eight EU leaders meeting in Helsinki said today.

Politics

42 h. ago Popular Ayrshire garden centre burns down after being engulfed in huge blaze

"We regret to inform you that we will be CLOSED for the foreseeable future - the Garden Centre & Cafe have burned down."

Events

7 d. ago Starmer urges Europe’s leaders to curb ECHR to halt rise of far right

Exclusive: PM calls for members of European convention on human rights to allow tougher action to protect bordersWe must protect our borders to defend our democracies – here’s howKeir Starmer has called on European leaders to urgently curb joint human rights laws so that member states can take tougher action to protect their borders and see off the rise of the populist right across the continent.Before a crucial European summit on Wednesday, the prime minister urged fellow members to “go further” in modernising the interpretation of the European convention on human rights (ECHR) to prevent asylum seekers using it to avoid deportation. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump’s new doctrine confirms it. Ready or not, Europe is on its own | Georg Riekeles and Varg Folkman

We can move from defensive crouch to position of strength but only if we use the economic cards we have against US coercionEurope is on a trajectory towards nothing less than “civilisational erasure”, the Trump administration claims in its extraordinary new National Security Strategy, a document that blames European integration and “activities of the European Union that undermine political liberty and sovereignty” for some of the continent’s deepest problems.Everybody should have seen it coming after Washington’s humiliating 28-point plan for Ukraine. JD Vance’s shocking Munich speech in February, in which he suggested that Europe’s democracies were not worth defending was an early red flag. But the new words still land as a shock. The security document is the clearest signal yet of how brutally and transactionally Washington wants to engage with the continent. It marks another phase in Trump’s attempt to reshape Europe in his ideological image while at the same time abandoning it m...

Politics

9 d. ago 'Unpredictable' Donald Trump could walk away from Ukraine peace deal, warns son

Donald Trump Jr said the war between Ukraine and Russia is not a priority for Americans as gangs bringing illegal drugs into the US are a 'far greater clear and present danger'

Events

9 d. ago Benin Army officer seizes TV station and declares himself president in coup

Lieutenant Pascal Tigri has reportedly attacked the residence of Beninese President Talon and seized national television station where he has declared himself leader in a coup

Politics

1 week ago Putin is ready to fight but Britain is not, as shock figures show stark reality of our ‘hollowed out’ Armed Forces

BRITAIN’S “hollowed out” Armed Forces are not ready for war with Russia, defence chiefs have warned. We need more soldiers, warships and combat aircraft if we ever have to help Nato defeat tyrant president Vladimir Putin. The disclosure comes after the Russian leader declared he was prepared to go to war with Europe if peace...

Events

1 week ago Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon? | Alexander Hurst

It borders Brazil, but French Guiana is now a remote outpost of the EU. It is home to Europe’s only spaceport, some of the most biodiverse forest on the planet and a military mission that is testing the limits of western powerAbove me, a ceiling of rough wooden branches and tarp. To my right, an officer in the French Foreign Legion types up the daily situation report. In front of me a French gendarme named David is standing in front of a table full of large assault rifles, pointing out locations on a paper map. A generator hums. All around us, splotches of forest dot the hundreds of islands that make up the archipelago of Petit-Saut, a watery ecosystem three times the size of Paris.Except Paris is 7,000 kilometres away from where I am, in Guyane, or French Guiana, a department of France in South America, just north of the equator. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Antisemitism allegations against the teenage Farage matter – look at what he went on to do | Jonathan Freedland

Farage has cosied up to US figures who espoused conspiracy theories about Jews. That kind of talk is becoming alarmingly mainstream on the Maga right Nigel Farage could have strangled this story at birth. Confronted with the testimony of more than 20 former schoolmates, who shared with the Guardian their memories of a young Farage taunting Jews and other minorities in the most appalling terms – telling a Jewish pupil that “Hitler was right”, singing “Gas ’em all” and making a hissing sound to simulate lethal gas – he could have said: “I have no memory of what’s been described, but such behaviour would of course have been atrocious and if I was involved in any way, I am genuinely sorry.”Sure, it would have been more of an “ifpology” than an apology, its admission of guilt wholly conditional, but it would surely have closed the story down. Reassured that the Reform UK leader had declared racist and antisemitic abuse unacceptable, most observers would have allowed that these events too...

Politics

2 w. ago Major British 90s dance duo to play last show ‘for foreseeable future’ in old IKEA

Major British 90s dance duo to play last show ‘for foreseeable future’ in old IKEA  Wimbledon Guardian

Culture

2 w. ago As France prepares military expansion, how is Europe beefing up its armies?

European nations are rushing to bolster their defences amid Russia threat and uncertainty of US supportFrance will this week become the latest EU country to set out plans to expand its army, with Emmanuel Macron expected to announce on Thursday that military service will be restored – albeit on a voluntary basis – nearly 30 years after the end of conscription.In the face of Russia’s military threat and uncertainty over the US’s commitment to defending its transatlantic allies, Europe is rushing to bolster its defence industry and its deployment capability after radically cutting them back since the cold war. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago England have no plans to extend Borthwick’s contract despite winning streak

Head coach’s current deal runs until 2027RFU annual report shows net loss of £1.9mThe Rugby Football Union has no plans to begin talks with Steve ­Borthwick over extending his ­contract beyond 2027 “for the ­foreseeable future” despite England’s 11-match winning streak and autumn clean sweep.Borthwick’s contract runs until the end of 2027 but with England halfway through the current World Cup cycle and currently third in the world ­rankings, the RFU chief ­executive, Bill Sweeney, has no immediate intention of discussing an extension in a sea change from the union’s ­previous approach. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago England have no plans to reward Borthwick with new deal despite winning run

Head coach’s current deal runs until 2027RFU annual report shows net loss of £1.9mThe Rugby Football Union has no plans to begin talks with Steve ­Borthwick over extending his ­contract beyond 2027 “for the ­foreseeable future” despite England’s 11-match winning streak and autumn clean sweep.Borthwick’s contract runs until the end of 2027 but with England halfway through the current World Cup cycle and currently third in the world ­rankings, the RFU chief ­executive, Bill Sweeney, has no immediate intention of discussing an extension in a sea change from the union’s ­previous approach. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Danny Rohl admits Rangers left with MAJOR injury crisis as new hero could be out until New Year

RANGERS boss Danny Rohl admits international week has left Rangers in the throes of a MAJOR injury crisis - which could last right through until the New Year. We told you earlier in the week how John Souttar and Derek Cornelius' exertions with Scotland and Denmark respectively had left them sidelined for the foreseeable future....

Events

3 w. ago TNT that Europe needs to defend itself is being used on Gaza, Polish MP claims

Maciej Konieczny claims Europe’s sole supplier, in Poland, sends much of its production to US, which exports it for use by IsraelEurope cannot supply enough TNT to defend either itself or Ukraine largely because its monopoly supplier of the explosive is contracted to send much of its production to the US which then exports it for use by Israel in Gaza, a Polish MP has claimed.Maciej Konieczny, a member of the leftwing Razem party said the Polish company Nitro-Chem, owned by the Polish Armaments Group, cannot keep up with demand partly because it has signed successive contracts to supply TNT to the US where it is used in bombs supplied to Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Bukayo Saka shows where power lies as Arsenal star prepares to sign new contract

Bukayo Saka is poised to sign a new deal which will tie him down for the foreseeable future following months of talks with Arsenal - where he will become one of the top earners

Politics

4 w. ago 'One last hurrah!' Ariana Grande reveals her upcoming arena tour will be her last as she hopes to prioritise other passions

Ariana Grande has revealed that her upcoming Eternal Sunshine arena tour, kicking off next year, will be her last for the foreseeable future. 

Politics

4 w. ago Venezuela’s top opposition leader claims ‘new era’ is coming despite lack of clear plan

María Corina Machado pens a ‘freedom manifesto’ as plan to force Nicolás Maduro from power remains unclearVenezuela’s top opposition leader, the Nobel laureate María Corina Machado, has declared her country “at the edge of a new era” as Donald Trump refused to rule out a ground invasion to topple its authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, but also signalled he was open to talks.Machado, who has lived in hiding since her movement’s candidate was widely believed to have beaten Maduro in last year’s presidential election, made her claim in a “freedom manifesto” that was published on Tuesday as uncertainty continued to shroud the South American country’s future. Continue reading...

Politics