8 h. ago Russia is accused of ramping up its use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine as tyrant Putin continues his onslaught against Kyiv

The use of banned hazardous compounds by the Russian military has become 'standardised and commonplace' in Ukraine, according to several European countries' intelligence services.

Events

12 h. ago Europe is scrambling to form a united front and regain relevance in the Iran crisis

Tehran now places little faith in the European countries who played a key role in brokering the Iranian nuclear dealExposed as divided and marginalised during the Iran crisis, European nations are scrambling to retrieve a place at the Middle East negotiating table, fearing an impulsive Donald Trump has diminishing interest in stabilising Iran or the wider region now he believes he has achieved his key objective of wiping out Tehran’s nuclear programme.On Tuesday the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, was the latest senior European figure to phone the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, offering to be a facilitator and urging Tehran not to leave the crisis in a dangerous limbo by keeping UN weapons inspectors out of Iran. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Golden Visas: the four European countries where you can still get citizenship by buying property

Several countries have closed their offer of visas to homebuyers but there are four in Europe still welcoming international investors. Here’s how to buy in, the pros and cons

Economics

3 d. ago The Guardian view on Europe’s heatwave: leaders should remind the public why ambitious targets matter | Editorial

With net zero targets under attack from the populist right, dangerously high temperatures should refocus mindsAt times like now, with dangerously high temperatures in several European countries, the urgent need for adaptation to an increasingly unstable climate is clearer than ever. From the French government’s decision to close schools to the bans in most of Italy on outdoor work at the hottest time of day, the immediate priority is to protect people from extreme heat – and to recognise that a heatwave can take a higher toll than a violent storm.People who are already vulnerable, due to age or illness or poor housing, face the greatest risks from heatwaves. As well as changes to rules and routines, public health warnings are vital, especially where records are being broken and people are unfamiliar with the conditions. In the scorching European summer of 2022, an estimated 68,000 people died due to heat. Health, welfare and emergency systems must respond to those nee...

Politics

3 d. ago Full list of European countries under heatwave alerts as mercury soars to 46C

Dozens of heat warnings are in place across tourist hotspots including France, Spain and Italy

Events

3 d. ago EU may allow carbon credits from developing countries to count towards climate goals

Exclusive: Green groups furious at plans to let member states buy controversial carbon offsets from abroadEuropean member states may be allowed to count controversial carbon credits from developing countries towards their climate targets, the European climate commissioner has said as states meet for a crucial decision on the issue.The EU will discuss on Wednesday its target for slashing carbon dioxide by 2040, with an expected cut of 90% compared with 1990 levels, in line with the bloc’s overarching target of reaching net zero by mid-century. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Extreme heatwave hits Europe as temperatures soar above 40C in holiday hotspots

Multiple European countries are bracing for a heatwave this weekend, with highs of 44C predicted as alerts have been issued.

Events

9 d. ago Irish deputy premier to include services from Israeli settlements in trade ban

Simon Harris also said he wants to put pressure on the other 26 European countries to consider banning trade with occupied Palestinian territories.

Politics

9 d. ago Stunning landscapes, exceptional quality of life and golden visas... this is why thousands of Brits are flocking to New Zealand

New Zealand's stunning scenery makes it one huge outdoor playground, while for others the slower pace and healthy work-life balance is as much a draw.

Politics

1 week ago How Lisbon put itself on the map for real estate investment and tourism – and became the least affordable city in Europe | Agustín Cocola

Tourists stay in short-term rentals and foreigners buy second homes, while residents of the city rent rooms, not apartmentsIn this series, writers discuss the causes of – and solutions to – the housing crisis in key European citiesOver the past decade, Lisbon has undergone a dramatic transformation – from one of the most affordable capitals in Europe to the most unaffordable.Between 2014 and 2024, house prices in the city rose by 176%, and by more than 200% in its central historic districts. The home price to income ratio, a key indicator of housing affordability, reflects this shift with stark clarity: today, Lisbon tops Europe’s housing unaffordability rankings. This trend extends to the national level. In 2015, Portugal ranked 22nd out of 27 EU countries for housing unaffordability. Today, it ranks first. In a country where 60% of taxpayers earn less than €1,000 a month, finding a rental below that price in the Portuguese capital is only possible if you’re willing to live in 20 s...

Politics

1 week ago How Lisbon put itself on the map for real estate and tourism – and became Europe’s least affordable city | Agustín Cocola

Tourists stay in short-term rentals and foreigners buy second homes, while residents of the city rent rooms, not apartmentsIn this series, writers discuss the causes of – and solutions to – the housing crisis in key European citiesOver the past decade, Lisbon has undergone a dramatic transformation – from one of the most affordable capitals in Europe to the most unaffordable.Between 2014 and 2024, house prices in the city rose by 176%, and by more than 200% in its central historic districts. The home price to income ratio, a key indicator of housing affordability, reflects this shift with stark clarity: today, Lisbon tops Europe’s housing unaffordability rankings. This trend extends to the national level. In 2015, Portugal ranked 22nd out of 27 EU countries for housing unaffordability. Today, it ranks first. In a country where 60% of taxpayers earn less than €1,000 a month, finding a rental below that price in the Portuguese capital is only possible if you’re willing to live in 20 s...

Politics

1 week ago Rich Americans flock to apply for New Zealand’s ‘golden visas’ after rules relaxed

Coalition government loosened requirements for its Active Investor Plus visa in bid to boost flagging economyWealthy Americans are leading the charge in applications for New Zealand’s “golden visas” after rules on applying were relaxed.New Zealand’s coalition government in February loosened the requirements for its Active Investor Plus visa – commonly known as the golden visa – offering residency to wealthy foreigners in a bid to boost the flagging economy. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Europeans back higher defence spending amid Russia threat, poll finds

Majorities in some countries back mandatory military service, and poll shows public sharply divided over TrumpFaced with an unpredictable Donald Trump and an aggressive Russia, Europeans favour increased spending on defence and, in some countries, compulsory military service.A survey of 12 countries for the European Council on Foreign Relations showed majorities for increased defence spending in Poland (70%), Denmark (70%) and the UK (57%). Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Revealed: These are the top European countries to retire to in 2025

New rankings published by Funeral Guide unveiled 10 European nations that stand out as ideal destinations, based on three key factors: cost of living, crime rate, and the quality of healthcare.

Politics

2 w. ago Ryanair blasts 5 countries including UK over major 'scandal' causing delays

Budget airline Ryanair has scathed a cluster of European countries in what it describes as a 'scandal' of understaffing and mismanagement responsible for thousands of delayed flights

Politics

3 w. ago New train to connect five European countries for less than £50 a ticket

An exciting new sleeper train route is set to connect five European countries in a journey spanning more than 700 miles.

Economics

3 w. ago Attack dogs: how Europe supplies Israel with brutal canine weapons

Military dogs involved in attacks on Palestinian civilians – including children – are likely to have been exported from European countries, investigation findsWarning: readers may find some of the details in this piece distressingIt was only seconds after soldiers entered the Hashash family’s home in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank that the dog attack began. As military raids rolled out across her neighbourhood one morning in February 2023, Amani Hashash says she took her four children into a bedroom. When she heard Israeli military coming into their home she called out that they were inside and posed no threat.Moments later the bedroom door was opened and a large, unmuzzled dog launched itself into the room, plunging its teeth into her three-year-old son, Ibrahim, who was asleep in her lap. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tiny European airport where planes bizarrely 'land in 3 countries' at once

This unique airport, that welcomed almost nine million passengers last year, has been branded the 'strangest' hub in the world due to being located in a 'trinational Eurodistrict'

Politics

3 w. ago Londoners will soon be able to reach two new European countries by direct train

Londoners will soon be able to reach two new European countries by direct train  Time Out

Politics

3 w. ago Once again, British politicians want to ‘ban the burqa’. But this time, I’ve never felt so afraid | Nadeine Asbali

Since the riots last summer British Muslims have felt a deep unease in our own countryHere we are again, debating the right of Muslim women to wear what they want. Last week, the Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin asked the prime minister, Keir Starmer, if he planned to follow other European countries and prohibit burqas.Then the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, called for bosses to be able to ban the burqa in the workplace. Following the example of the former Labour minister Jack Straw, who in 2006 sparked the first burqa debate by asking constituents at his surgeries to remove their face coverings, she stated that she does not see constituents at her surgeries if they have their faces covered, “whether it’s a burqa or a balaclava”.Nadeine Asbali is a secondary school teacher in London and the author of Veiled Threat: On Being Visibly Muslim in Britain Continue reading...

Politics