76 m. ago Europe was promised a new golden age of the night train. Why are we still waiting? | Jon Worth

Romance, excitement and sustainability – continent-crossing sleeper trains should be a hit. It’s time for the EU to catch onAs Europeans woke up to the joy of travel post-lockdown, it looked as though we were in store for a resurgence of continent-crossing night trains. Sleeper train fans hailed a “night train renaissance” and a “rail revolution”, combining some of the nostalgia for an old way of travelling with modern climate and sustainable transport concerns.The long-distance European train journey might be slower than a short-haul flight, but it is surely better in terms of the environment and the traveller experience. For those on a budget, the prospect of saving on a night in a hotel appeals too. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Drought fears in Europe amid reports May was world’s second hottest ever

Copernicus data shows month was 1.4C above estimated 1850-1900 average used to define pre-industrial levelIt has been an exceptionally dry spring in north-western Europe and the second warmest May ever globally, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).Countries across Europe, including the UK, have been hit by drought conditions in recent months, with water shortages feared unless significant rain comes this summer, and crop failures beginning to be reported by farmers. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Ange Postecoglou’s triumphant sacking holds the key to modern football | Jonathan Liew

The Australian’s fluctuating fortunes at Spurs expose how much the game has become an act of persuasionEnjoy your launch. And for Ange Postecoglou, who always bristled at the idea that his wealth of coaching experience had somehow been earned in inferior competitions, perhaps his departure from Tottenham really can be a kind of springboard: to one of these prestigious, equally demanding leagues he keeps talking about. Maybe the struggling Gamba Osaka. Perth Glory could well have a vacancy soon. Motherwell are still looking. A step down? That’s just your old-world, Eurocentric, Prem-brained snobbery showing right through there, mate.And so to Postecoglou’s many rhetorical elisions can be added another: the triumphant sacking. Perhaps it was only in this universe – the post-truth universe – that such a feat was even conceivable. Along with the Europa League trophy he so stunningly spirited to north London, this may turn out to be the defining legacy of the Postecoglou interregnum. The...

Politics

17 h. ago Ten people dead in attack at school in city of Graz in Austria, says mayor – Europe live

Elke Kahr, mayor of Graz, says seven students, one adult and attacker among dead after attack at schoolThe Austrian interior ministry has confirmed that several people have been killed in the attack on the school in Graz in the south of the country, without specifing the exact number, AP reported.Austria’s Kronen Zeitung noted that the incident took place close to the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Graz attack “which many Graz residents still remember today” in which three people died, and 36 were injured. Continue reading...

Events

18 h. ago Nine people dead in attack at school in city of Graz in Austria, says mayor – Europe live

Elke Kahr, mayor of Graz, says seven students and one adult among dead after attack at school, with ninth person dead understood to be the attackerThe Austrian interior ministry has confirmed that several people have been killed in the attack on the school in Graz in the south of the country, without specifing the exact number, AP reported.Austria’s Kronen Zeitung noted that the incident took place close to the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Graz attack “which many Graz residents still remember today” in which three people died, and 36 were injured. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago Nottingham Forest complain to Uefa over Crystal Palace’s European place

Palace said to be in breach of multi-club ownership rulesForest would directly replace Palace in Europa LeagueNottingham Forest have written to Uefa to raise concerns about Crystal Palace’s planned partaking in the Europa League next season, arguing their Premier League rivals could be in breach of multi-club ownership rules.Forest stand to gain if Palace are not permitted to play in Europe next season because they would take Palace’s place in the Europa League. There is scope for a legal battle given Forest believe they have grounds to play in the competition. The Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Greek champions Olympiakos, placed his shares into a blind trust to comply with Uefa rules in the event Forest qualified for the Champions League. Continue reading...

Politics

19 h. ago Several people dead in attack at school in city of Graz in Austria, say officials – Europe live

Austrian interior ministry says several people have been killed after reports of gunshots at school in cityThe Austrian interior ministry has confirmed that several people have been killed in the attack on the school in Graz in the south of the country, without specifing the exact number, AP reported.Austria’s Kronen Zeitung noted that the incident took place close to the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Graz attack “which many Graz residents still remember today” in which three people died, and 36 were injured. Continue reading...

Events

41 h. ago Macron must lead the EU push to end Israel’s war on Gaza | Jo

The Israeli government is assailing the French president – but visible economic and political action is the only hope for peaceEmmanuel Macron has become enemy No 1 for the Netanyahu government. That’s because the French president aims to create momentum for a Palestinian state beside Israel encompassing the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Gaza Strip, reviving what is fast becoming an out-of-reach possibility – a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.That’s why Macron has earned the fury of an increasingly unhinged Israeli prime minister. France is expected to co-chair an organizing conference at the United Nations in New York in mid-June, taking advantage of heads of state already in North America for the Canadian-based G7 summit a few days earlier. He hopes this conference will include the all-important Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Could an alliance of eight small countries turn out to be Europe’s anchor? | Paul Taylor

Amid geopolitical storms and the rise of populism, the ‘Nordic-Baltic eight’ is gaining clout as a bulwark of western resolveWith Europe’s political kaleidoscope spinning wildly in the populist winds, a group of northern countries is gaining weight as a geopolitical anchor. Known as the Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8 in diplomatic jargon), it brings together small northern European states that, individually, might have little clout in international security and politics. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they have wielded growing influence as a pressure group for western resolve, offering an attractive blend of democratic security, defence integration and societal resilience.Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden established their regional cooperation format in 1992, after the end of the cold war, with regular meetings of prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign and defence ministers and senior government officials. It beg...

Politics

63 h. ago Trump tariffs could ‘wipe out’ European steel sector, senior industry figure says

ThyssenKrupp executive warns of ‘collateral damage’ to supply chains and urges protective action on energy pricingEurope’s steel industry faces being “wiped out” in the face of Donald Trump’s prohibitive 50% tariffs, high energy costs and a mountain of cheaper Chinese steel, one of Germany’s biggest industrial groups has warned.Ilse Henne, a board member at the steel, engineering and chemicals group ThyssenKrupp, said the industry faced an existential crisis after the US president’s decision last week to double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Bilbao was a glorious blip for Spurs – and that’s why Levy had to sack Postecoglou | Jonathan Wilson

Tottenham chair was not blinded by silverware and decided finishing fourth-bottom of the Premier League was not enoughIn football, there is always a lot of light and noise. There is always a lot of emotion. That is both its appeal and why it is so difficult for those in the game to make decisions. Ange Postecoglou gave Tottenham one of the great nights in the club’s history when they won the Europa League in Bilbao.A first trophy in 17 years. A first European trophy in 41. It’s easy to understand why the instinct is gratitude, to hope that somehow victory can be self-replicating, that silverware begets silverware and something fundamental in Tottenham’s being was transformed at San Mamés. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou as head coach despite Europa League glory

Victory in Bilbao fails to save Australian’s jobThomas Frank among candidates to take overAnge Postecoglou has been sacked by Tottenham despite winning the Europa League. That European trophy, a first for 41 years, could not prevent him from being removed after a Premier League campaign in which Spurs lost 22 of their 38 games and finished 17th.Postecoglou departs after exactly two seasons in charge, leaving his successor with the benefit of Champions League football next season. Daniel Levy, the club chair and a minority owner, will now seek to appoint a 14th permanent manager in 24 years at the boardroom helm. The club have met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank. Continue reading...

Sport

4 d. ago Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou and weigh up move for £10m Thomas Frank

Europa League triumph fails to save manager’s jobSpurs say it was one of their ‘toughest decisions’Analysis: Levy wanted more than one-punch knockoutTottenham have sacked Ange ­Postecoglou as their manager, describing it as “one of the toughest decisions we have had to make”, and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause.Postecoglou led Spurs to Europa League glory on 21 May, beating ­Manchester United in the final in ­Bilbao to end a 17-year trophy drought. It sparked delirium among fans, an outpouring of relief and the feeling among some of them that he deserved the chance to continue in the role. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Europe's 'best value city' is stag and hen do hotspot with £22 Ryanair flights

Europe's best value cities have been revealed for 2025 and there's one that you'll definitely want on your radar for a city break packed with culture, great food and bargain prices

Economics

5 d. ago Crystal Palace’s Europa League place in doubt after Uefa rejects owners’ blind trust move

Club co-owner John Textor is also majority owner of LyonPalace may drop out of Europa League or Europe entirelyUefa has rejected offers from Crystal Palace shareholders John Textor and David Blitzer to put their shares in a blind trust to ensure the club can compete in Europe next season.Palace’s participation in the Europa League has been cast into doubt as the club’s largest shareholder Textor is also the majority owner of Lyon, who have also qualified for the second tier competition. And to compound matters, Blitzer’s Danish club Brøndby have qualified for the Conference League, so the prospect of the FA Cup winners dropping into that competition is also not an option due to the European governing body’s multi-club rules. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago Donald Trump says he and Friedrich Merz are ‘unhappy’ about Russian invasion of Ukraine at White House meeting – Europe live

US president says ‘I think we’re going to be successful at stopping bloodshed’ as he meets German chancellor in Oval OfficeUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago ECB cuts interest rates to 2% in effort to bolster flagging eurozone growth

European Central Bank makes eighth quarter-point cut in a year as bloc reels from impact of Trump’s trade warsBusiness live – latest updatesThe European Central Bank has cut interest rates to 2% in an effort to boost flagging economic growth across the eurozone.The ECB, making its eighth quarter-point cut in a year, said the 20-member currency bloc needed a reduction in the cost of borrowing as it reeled from the damage caused by Donald Trump’s trade wars. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump is strongarming companies elsewhere into cutting DEI. Those that cave in now will regret it later | Miriam González Durántez

Spinelessly going along with the US’s perverse programme is not just a moral failure – it directly contravenes EU and British lawOrganising a women’s networking event in the US has become an act of defiance. Companies with equality-driven agendas risk losing government contracts. Some are receiving McCarthy-like letters asking them to confirm that they have no diversity policies. Activities designed to support women, including healthcare research, are being threatened, and companies are backtracking on former commitments. Women’s networking events, the gathering of diversity data and targeted training are being questioned. And some companies are requesting that charities focused on women and girls consider changes to their programmes in order to navigate the current climate. The one I founded, Inspiring Girls, has already been asked to “include men as role models”.This anti-diversity wave isn’t just a social backlash to the many excesses of wokeness – it is politically orchestrated ...

Politics

5 d. ago Companies that spinelessly follow Trump's cuts to DEI will pay a heavy price | Miriam González Durántez

Going along with the US’s perverse programme is not just a moral failure – it directly contravenes EU and British lawOrganising a women’s networking event in the US has become an act of defiance. Companies with equality-driven agendas risk losing government contracts. Some are receiving McCarthy-like letters asking them to confirm that they have no diversity policies. Activities designed to support women, including healthcare research, are being threatened, and companies are backtracking on former commitments. Women’s networking events, the gathering of diversity data and targeted training are being questioned. And some companies are requesting that charities focused on women and girls consider changes to their programmes in order to navigate the current climate. The one I founded, Inspiring Girls, has already been asked to “include men as role models”.This anti-diversity wave isn’t just a social backlash to the many excesses of wokeness – it is politically orchestrated and driven. ...

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer to meet Nato’s Rutte amid US pressure to spend 5% of GDP on defence – Europe live

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth says there is ‘near consensus’ on funding commitment for Nato member statesUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events