1 hour ago Pope offers to hold talks with Russia after meeting Zelenskyy – Europe live

Vatican statement said the pair ‘discussed the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a just and lasting peace’Following a similar decision by Germany yesterday, the European Union has also summoned the Chinese ambassador following an incident in which China’s military allegedly targeted a German aircraft with a laser during an EU security mission in the Red Sea, Reuters reported.“The Chinese military’s use of a laser to target a German aircraft patrolling with EU Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea is dangerous and unacceptable,” said Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy.This act put personnel at risk and compromised the aircraft’s mission. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Bank of England says UK banks can increase riskier mortgage lending – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as BoE recommends banks can issue more high loan-to-income level loansCopper prices in US hit record high after Trump announces 50% tariffTrump threatens to escalate trade war amid confusion over new tariff ratesCarsten Menke, Head of Next Generation Research at Julius Baer, says the copper tariffs will be inflationary domestically in the US and deflationary internationally – which matches the price action we’ve seen since last night.Menke also points out that the jump in US copper prices (13% yesterday) is less than the 50% tariff, implying traders expect some imports will be exempt, saying:President Trump announced the imposition of 50% import tariffs at a cabinet meeting yesterday. While US-traded futures jumped on the news, the price differential is well below the tariff level, pointing to expectations of exemptions for key suppliers or expectations of different demand dynamics.As already mentioned, we remain of the con...

Economics

6 h. ago Russia launches major attack on Ukraine after Trump’s criticism of Putin – Europe live

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia attempted to strike 741 targets with 728 drones and 13 missilesVon der Leyen also spoke about the prospects for the EU-US tariff deal after last night’s comments by Trump that a US proposal should be ready within the next two days.She said the US imposed tariffs were “unprecedented,” and insisted the bloc preferred “a negotiated solution” to avoid them in the future. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Europe should reduce US and China ‘dual dependencies’, Macron warns

French president also spoke of empowered ‘wider Europe’ on first day of state visit to UKEuropean countries need to reduce their “dual dependencies” on the US and China, Emmanuel Macron has warned, as he sketched out his vision of an empowered “wider Europe” on the first day of a historic state visit.The French president addressed several hundred MPs and guests at the start of a three-day state trip – the first state visit of a European leader since Brexit. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago Macron warns against Europe’s excessive dependency on US, China – Europe live

French president Emmanuel Macron is in the UK for a state visitDanish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is now giving a major speech in the European parliament, outlining Denmark’s priorities for the EU as it takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.Opening, she warns that “Europe is facing the greatest challenges since the 1940s,” as she lists a growing lists of urgent issues, with Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, migration, the Middle East, trade, and terrorism.“The threats may be many, and they are indeed serious, but I have trust in Europe.Trust that we can move our continent forward, build a more secure Europe, a greener and more competitive Europe, a new Europe of tomorrow with possibilities and welfare for our citizens, but only if we remember what we are capable of, what our societies are built upon, and who we really are as Europeans.” Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Marseille airport cancels all flights as wildfire encroaches on city

Authorities urge residents to stay indoors and say 720 firefighters battling blaze Europe live – latest updatesA fast-moving wildfire fanned by gale-force winds has forced Marseille airport to cancel all flights and was encroaching on France’s second-largest city, officials said, as firefighters around the Mediterranean battled blazes sparked by an intense heatwave.The prefecture of the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region issued an alert on Tuesday urging inhabitants of Marseille’s 16th arrondissement to stay indoors, close doors and shutters and hang wet laundry around openings to avoid the risk of smoke inhalation. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Marseille airport suspends flights due to wildfire as residents warned to clear the streets – Europe live

Local authorities warned residents to stay inside and leave streets clear as they said the wildfire was moving towards the cityDanish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is now giving a major speech in the European parliament, outlining Denmark’s priorities for the EU as it takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.Opening, she warns that “Europe is facing the greatest challenges since the 1940s,” as she lists a growing lists of urgent issues, with Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, migration, the Middle East, trade, and terrorism.“The threats may be many, and they are indeed serious, but I have trust in Europe.Trust that we can move our continent forward, build a more secure Europe, a greener and more competitive Europe, a new Europe of tomorrow with possibilities and welfare for our citizens, but only if we remember what we are capable of, what our societies are built upon, and who we really are as Europeans.” Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago Macron says state visit to UK ‘significant for Europe’ as he meets royals – Europe live

State visit will involve events with pageantry but is also scheduled to include an Anglo-French summit and other meetings with Keir StarmerDanish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is now giving a major speech in the European parliament, outlining Denmark’s priorities for the EU as it takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.Opening, she warns that “Europe is facing the greatest challenges since the 1940s,” as she lists a growing lists of urgent issues, with Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, migration, the Middle East, trade, and terrorism.“The threats may be many, and they are indeed serious, but I have trust in Europe.Trust that we can move our continent forward, build a more secure Europe, a greener and more competitive Europe, a new Europe of tomorrow with possibilities and welfare for our citizens, but only if we remember what we are capable of, what our societies are built upon, and who we really are as Europeans.” Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Berlin summons Chinese ambassador over military use of laser targeting German aircraft – Europe live

‘The endangerment of German personnel and disruption of the operation are completely unacceptable,’ foreign ministry saidDanish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is now giving a major speech in the European parliament, outlining Denmark’s priorities for the EU as it takes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.Opening, she warns that “Europe is facing the greatest challenges since the 1940s,” as she lists a growing lists of urgent issues, with Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, migration, the Middle East, trade, and terrorism.“The threats may be many, and they are indeed serious, but I have trust in Europe.Trust that we can move our continent forward, build a more secure Europe, a greener and more competitive Europe, a new Europe of tomorrow with possibilities and welfare for our citizens, but only if we remember what we are capable of, what our societies are built upon, and who we really are as Europeans.” Continue reading...

Events

47 h. ago Zelenskyy says ‘coalition of the willing’ should meet ‘in a few days’, after call with Starmer – Europe live

Ukrainian president says he and UK prime minister also discussed additional funding for drone productionThe commission also addressed the reintroduction of Polish border controls with Germany and Lithuania, confirming at its midday media briefing that it had received a formal notification from Poland on Friday.EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that “reintroducing temporary internal border controls is possible subject to certain conditions, as set out in EU legislation, and in particular in the Schengen borders code.” Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Russia claims to have foothold in new Ukraine region as Zelenskyy pleads for more air defences – Europe live

Russia says it has captured a village in the Dnipropetrovsk region as Ukraine president calls for allies to fulfil commitments on defenceThe commission also addressed the reintroduction of Polish border controls with Germany and Lithuania, confirming at its midday media briefing that it had received a formal notification from Poland on Friday.EU spokesperson Markus Lammert confirmed that “reintroducing temporary internal border controls is possible subject to certain conditions, as set out in EU legislation, and in particular in the Schengen borders code.” Continue reading...

Society

53 h. ago Ukraine says four killed and more than 30 injured in another round of Russian strikes – Europe live

US ceasefire proposal, pursued by Trump, appears to be failing to make any further progressThe Greek island of Zakynthos was hit by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake overnight, Kathimerini reported.No injuries or significant damage were reported, it added. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago US and Ukraine to work on strengthening air defences, Zelenskyy says, after call Trump says was ‘meaningful’ – Europe live

All-night attack on Kyiv followed conversation between US president and PutinRussian drone attack on KyivKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would continue its war on Ukraine as it was unable to achieve its goals through “diplomatic means.”“We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Peskov said, as reported by AFP.“But until that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Zelenskyy has ‘important, meaningful’ call with Trump after huge Russian attack on Kyiv – Europe live

All-night attack on Kyiv as US president says he was ‘disappointed’ over his call with PutinRussian drone attack on KyivKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would continue its war on Ukraine as it was unable to achieve its goals through “diplomatic means.”“We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Peskov said, as reported by AFP.“But until that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Russia launches hundreds of drones at Ukraine just hours after Putin

All-night attack on Kyiv injured at least 23 people, damaging railway infrastructure and setting buildings and cars on fire throughout the cityPolish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski told US president Donald Trump in a social media post that Russia’s Vladimir Putin was “mocking your peace efforts” as he urged him to “restore supplies of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine and impose tough new sanctions on the aggressor.”Sikorski added that the massive Russian attack last night has caused “fires and much damage, including to the Polish consulate in Kyiv.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. 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

5 d. 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

5 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

6 d. ago Crete wildfire latest: Tourists and homeowners forced to evacuate as flames rage across Greek island

Greek fire department warns that risk of further wildfires remains high after more than 1,500 evacuated

Society

6 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