48 h. ago To halt the far right, Europe’s progressive parties must fix its housing crisis. Our research shows how | Tarik Abou

The mantra of ‘build, build, build’ misses something crucial: that few can afford these new homesHousing costs across Europe have become a growing burden for many households, both for those trying to buy and those trying to rent. Over the past decade, property prices have surged faster than incomes in many European countries. The same is true for rents, which have increased exponentially in large cities but have also increased substantially in suburban areas and smaller university towns.Given how much housing costs affect Europeans’ quality of life, it is comparatively absent from the agenda of progressive political parties. When politicians do emphasise housing, the focus is usually solely on building more houses. Former German chancellor Olaf Scholz, for example, promised to build 400,000 new homes in Germany every year – a goal his government failed to reach by some distance. At the same time, far-right parties such as the Freedom party (PVV) in the Netherlands or Chega in Portug...

Events

48 h. ago Europe’s housing crisis is fuelling the rise of the far right. Our research shows how to address it | Tarik Abou

The mantra of ‘build, build, build’ misses something crucial: that few can afford these new homesReport: European progressives must tackle housing crisis to beat far right, say researchersHousing costs across Europe have become a growing burden for many households, both for those trying to buy and those trying to rent. Over the past decade, property prices have surged faster than incomes in many European countries. The same is true for rents, which have increased exponentially in large cities but have also increased substantially in suburban areas and smaller university towns.Given how much housing costs affect Europeans’ quality of life, it is comparatively absent from the agenda of progressive political parties. When politicians do emphasise housing, the focus is usually solely on building more houses. Former German chancellor Olaf Scholz, for example, promised to build 400,000 new homes in Germany every year – a goal his government failed to reach by some distance. At the same ti...

Events

53 h. ago London travel news LIVE: Piccadilly line hit by partial closure

Piccadilly line suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge all day to avoid wheel damage from heavy leaf fall

Events

54 h. ago Cuddling capybaras and ogling otters: the problem with animal cafes in Asia

A boom in places offering petting sessions is linked to a rise in the illegal movement of exotic and endangered species, say expertsThe second floor of an unassuming office building in central Bangkok is a strange place to encounter the world’s largest rodent. Yet here, inside a small enclosure with a shallow pool, three capybaras are at the disposal of dozens of paying customers – all clamouring for a selfie. As people eagerly thrust leafy snacks toward the nonchalant-looking animals, few seem to consider the underlying peculiarity: how, exactly, did this South American rodent end up more than 10,000 miles from home, in a bustling Asian metropolis?Capybara cafes have been cropping up across the continent in recent years, driven by the animal’s growing internet fame. The semi-aquatic animals feature in more than 600,000 TikTok posts. In Bangkok, cafe customers pay 400 baht (£9.40) for a 30-minute petting session with them, along with a few meerkats and Chinese bamboo rats. Doors are...

Politics

3 d. ago Martin Lewis issues urgent warning for workers on minimum wage

Almost 400,000 people on minimum wage should check that they are not being underpaid, Martin Lewis has explained.

Events

3 d. ago Martin Lewis urges almost 400,000 minimum wage workers to check if they’re being underpaid

Almost 400,000 people on minimum wage should check that they are not being underpaid, Martin Lewis has explained.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump’s ambassador to Israel is hawking a sleeping aid on cable TV as a side gig: ‘Ambassadors need to sleep, too’

Mike Huckabee was paid more than $400,000 by the company that makes the sleep supplement, Relaxium

Politics

4 d. ago Amazon app fault causes 'carnage' traffic as delivery drivers form huge queue

'I had a two-and-a-half hour limit to deliver my parcels so after waiting for 50 minutes to collect them, I left'

Transport

4 d. ago Billionaire friend of Malaysian PM has £400,000 Richard Mille watch stolen in Battersea attack: Tycoon reveals 'lioness' wife fought back as he was assaulted by thieves on Lime bikes

EXCLUSIVE: Vinod Sekhar, 57, described being rushed by two men as he left his car near his daughter's home in Battersea, south-west London.

Economics

5 d. ago London travel news LIVE: Stansted Airport hit by signalling fault causing chaos

A signalling fault at Stansted Airport has been fixed, but passengers face ongoing delays and cancellations across major routes as operators work to restore normal service

Events

8 d. ago Ryanair AXES summer holiday routes that carry 400,000 passengers

The budget airline revealed yesterday the latest route to go from the carrier's schedule, after it scrapped 24 routes to and from Germany over 'exorbitant' taxes last month.

Politics

8 d. ago London travel news LIVE: Waterloo trains hit by signalling fault causing rush

A signalling fault in south west London has also caused problems for commuters trying to reach Waterloo station

Events

8 d. ago London travel news LIVE: Northern line part suspended causing rush

A signalling fault in south west London has also caused problems for commuters trying to reach Waterloo station

Politics

9 d. ago I'm A Celebrity's Ruby Wax causes stir after huge mistake 'it's my fault'

I'm A Celebrity star Ruby Wax sparked tension in camp on Wednesday night

Politics

9 d. ago Third major car recall in weeks as Ford warns 200,000 vehicle owners of display issue

Ford’s recall announcement comes a day after Honda recalled 256,000 cars

Events

9 d. ago ‘An impossibility made possible’: how tiny Curaçao made World Cup history

Caribbean island team are the smallest to reach tournament after appointing wily coach and drawing on diasporaThe delay in Dick Advocaat becoming Curaçao’s head coach might have been ominous but instead was the foundation for glory. Frustrated by the national federation’s financial problems, he deferred starting until January 2024, when the issues were resolved and players paid, paving the way for a historic World Cup qualifying campaign.Curaçao will be the smallest nation – by land area and population – to play at the 2026 World Cup after their 0-0 draw in Jamaica on Wednesday. The Caribbean island has a population of 156,000, sinking the previous record holders Iceland, which has about 400,000 inhabitants. Last month Cape Verde were confirmed as surprise tournament debutants but the African nation is almost 10 times bigger by area than the former Dutch colony, indicating the level of achievement by Advocaat and his squad. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Honda recalls 256K cars over ‘error’ that can lead to a crash

Honda said ‘improper software programming by a supplier’ caused the error

Events

1 week ago Huge plan for Cardiff promising tens of thousands of homes to take another step forward

The aim is to deliver 32,000 jobs and 26,400 new homes, 6,000 of which will be "affordable" by 2036, according to Cardiff Council

Events

1 week ago The horrific murders of Hannah Clarke and her children stunned Australia. Could they have been saved?

Exclusive: A two-year Guardian investigation reveals new details about the critical final weeks of Clarke’s life, casting doubt on the coroner’s finding that nothing more could have been done to prevent her deathPolice made potentially critical mistakes in Hannah Clarke murders, new evidence revealsRead more from the Broken trust investigation hereWitnesses recall seeing a woman and two children crying out “no, stop”. A man carrying a small girl to his car. Her head banging into the door as he bundled her into a seat. No time to fasten her seatbelt.“You have caused all of this, it’s your fault,” Rowan Baxter said to his estranged wife, Hannah Clarke, as he drove off with their daughter, Laianah, on Boxing Day 2019. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Mum reveals how she saved £6,600 on a family holiday to Lapland

Karen Armstrong, 51, shared how she paid just £1,400 for an £8,000 holiday to Lapland - saving over £6,000 by snapping up return flights for just £50 and booking everything 'individually.' 

Economics