15 h. ago ‘The rainbow of colours reminded me of my childhood’: Guillaume Lavrut’s best phone picture

On holiday in his home town of Aurillac, the photographer was drawn to a pretty puddle of reflected umbrellasGuillaume Lavrut was visiting the small French town of Aurillac with his wife and three children when he took this photo. The family were looking for souvenirs together and exploring the streets when they happened on a canopy of umbrellas. Aurillac is home to one of the world’s oldest umbrella factories and is regarded by many as the umbrella capital of Europe. For Lavrut, however, a visit to Aurillac is about returning home.“My family are from there, so we go every summer. It’s so difficult to reach that we need at least a day to get there, but it’s worth it,” Lavrut says. Its peaceful, relaxed atmosphere offers something different from their homes in Paris and Nantes. “The capital is constantly bustling, and Nantes can be busy at times, too, but Aurillac is lost in the mountains, and nature is omnipresent.” Continue reading...

Science

51 h. ago Rapist fireman said it was 'worth the trip' to 'unreported rape capital of Europe'

Firefighter Terence Crosbie, who is due to be sentenced today for raping a woman in March 2024, made a number of misogynistic posts on his social media.

Events

63 h. ago Rapist fireman claimed popular holiday destination was 'rape capital of Europe'

Irish firefighter Terence Crosbie, who is due to be sentenced today for raping a woman in Boston in March 2024, made a number of misogynistic posts on his account on X

Events

63 h. ago Firefighter's sick tweet about 'rape capital of Europe' as he's convicted of the crime

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: The sickening social media post from rapist Terence Crosbie, who has now been jailed for 15 years, can be revealed for the first time after his conviction

Events

8 d. ago Major European capital's airport cancels hundreds of flights due to Storm Benjamin

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport was forced to ground more than 200 flights as winds reached speeds of up to 75mph.

Events

9 d. ago A train tour of Europe’s cool northern capitals: from London to Vilnius, via Berlin and Warsaw | Rail travel

A train tour of Europe’s cool northern capitals: from London to Vilnius, via Berlin and Warsaw | Rail travel  The Guardian

Events

9 d. ago A train tour of Europe’s cool northern capitals: from London to Vilnius, via Berlin and Warsaw

My epic rail journey to some of the continent’s most creative and edgy cities mimics a cruise – I hop on and off, eat too much and soak up the cultureThe people queueing for the Eurostar at London St Pancras station, rushing in from the rain in hoodies, look noticeably less enthusiastic than the usual holiday crowds. But then, we aren’t heading to the usual hot, heady holiday destinations of Spain or the south of France, but boarding a train to north-east Europe. For me, it will be a journey of more than 1,000 miles – via Amsterdam, Berlin and Warsaw to Vilnius – visiting some of the coolest capitals in the north. At least in terms of temperature.As England sweltered this summer, and Spain reached a hellish 46C, it made sense to head away from the heat on what is now fashionably being called a “coolcation”. I left in August, with a suitcase full of jumpers. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Driverless taxis from Waymo will be on London’s roads next year, US firm announces

Cars with human safety drivers will appear in coming weeks as permissions are sought for fully autonomous ridesDriverless taxis from Waymo will be available for hire on London’s roads next year, the US company has announced.The UK capital will become the first European city to have an autonomous taxi service of the kind now familiar in San Francisco and four other US cities using Waymo’s technology. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Unity is desperately needed, but the EU prefers turf wars to facing down Russia | Paul Taylor

Failure to agree a common defence strategy risks emboldening Vladimir Putin. The squabbles have to stopThe closer Russia’s hybrid war comes to European capitals, the less EU leaders seem able to agree on how to respond. That, at least, was the worrying impression left by a dissonant EU summit in Copenhagen. Summoned last week to build consensus on the top priorities for European rearmament, the meeting was an embarrassing display of the turf wars, political squabbles and hidden agendas that are plaguing attempts to build a coherent European defence. Leaders quarrelled not only about who should be in charge of Europe’s military buildup but also about how to fund Ukraine’s continued resistance against Russian aggression, and how to advance Kyiv’s bid for EU membership.They voiced alarm at repeated breaches of their airspace by drones buzzing European airports and military bases, and Russian fighter jets violating their borders but appeared unsure how to react. Shoot them down? Escort ...

Events

3 w. ago Badenoch accuses SNP and Labour of 'running Scotland down' with ruinous green policies

Kemi Badenoch has accused the SNP and Labour of 'running Scotland down' and warned that 'Europe's oil capital' is 'dying' because of their policies on oil and gas.

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