14 h. ago EU’s proposed 2040 emissions target signals its retreat as leader on climate action

Proposal faces the surprising opposition of France – despite most Europeans being firmly in favour of climate measuresEurope live – latest updatesFor most of the past 30 years, the EU has led the world on climate action. The bloc had the deepest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto protocol; the first climate laws came from EU member states; the first emissions trading scheme, in 2005; and the Paris agreement in 2015.At times when other major countries – the US, Japan, Canada, China and India at various points – have stepped back, the EU has often stepped forward. There would be no Paris accord had the bloc not won a key battle at the Durban climate summit in 2011 that paved the way. Continue reading...

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17 h. ago Spanish police investigate Catalan wildfire deaths as extreme temperatures grip Europe – live updates

Two victims believed to be farm workers who were trapped by the flames as they tried to reach their vehiclesPolitical cowardice hindering Europe’s climate effortsIn other high stake talks, EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič will be in Washington today in another attempt to strike a tariff deal with the US before the 9 July deadline next week.Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin takes a look at the EU’s longest-serving commissioner, who has built up a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy fixer. Continue reading...

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18 h. ago Three die in Spain as extreme temperatures grip Europe – live updates

Two people killed in Catalan wildfires and a child reportedly succumbs to heatstroke in a car in the regionPolitical cowardice hindering Europe’s climate effortsIn other high stake talks, EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič will be in Washington today in another attempt to strike a tariff deal with the US before the 9 July deadline next week.Our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin takes a look at the EU’s longest-serving commissioner, who has built up a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy fixer. Continue reading...

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40 h. ago Temperature records shatter as heatwave grips Europe and UK records hottest day of year

Public health warnings as heatwave raises concerns about impact of climate changeWhat you need to know about heatwavesThe French prime minister François Bayrou, who attended a government crisis meeting over the heatwave, was asked about the great difficulty of French schools to handle the heatwave.More than 1,350 schools across France were fully or partially closed on Tuesday as classrooms proved dangerously hot for children and teachers, amid anger from teaching unions. Continue reading...

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43 h. ago Paris on red alert as Europe faces extreme heat with weather warnings across the continent

Public health warnings as heatwave raises concerns about impact of climate changeWhat you need to know about heatwavesThe French prime minister François Bayrou, who attended a government crisis meeting over the heatwave, was asked about the great difficulty of French schools to handle the heatwave.More than 1,350 schools across France were fully or partially closed on Tuesday as classrooms proved dangerously hot for children and teachers, amid anger from teaching unions. Continue reading...

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44 h. ago Paris on red alert as Europe faces extreme heat with weather warnings in place across continent

Public health warnings as heatwave raises concerns about impact of climate change It’s not only Europe: Japan experienced its hottest June on record, the weather agency said Tuesday, as climate change prompts sweltering heat waves across the globe, AFP reported.“Japan’s monthly average temperature in June was the highest for the month since statistics began in 1898,” said the Japan Meteorological Agency. Continue reading...

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64 h. ago Europe heatwave grips Italy, Spain and France as wildfires rage in Turkey – latest updates

Second day of blazes in Izmir with strong winds fanning the flames and some areas evacuatedHow are you being affected by the heatwave in southern Europe?in BerlinGermany is bracing for its own heatwave this week, with temperatures threatening to reach 40 degrees in some areas by Wednesday. The northern region from Hanover to Brunswick could be hardest hit, forecasters said. Continue reading...

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64 h. ago Spain records highs of 46C and France under alert as Europe swelters in heatwave

Extreme heat ‘the new normal’, says UN chief, as authorities across the continent issue health warningsEurope live – latest updatesA vicious heatwave has engulfed southern Europe, with punishing temperatures that have reached highs of 46C (114.8F) in Spain and placed almost the entirety of mainland France under alert.Extreme heat, made stronger by fossil fuel pollution, has for several days scorched Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece as southern Europe endures its first major heatwave of the summer. Continue reading...

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7 d. ago Trump praises Nato states as summit prepares to lift defence spending target

‘Nato’s going to become very strong with us,’ says US president, as secretary general calls him ‘daddy’Europe live – latest updatesDonald Trump praised Nato countries for being willing to lift defence spending to 5% in his first public remarks at the military alliance’s annual summit, and said that he expected the US to be fully in support.The president was speaking at a preliminary press conference in The Hague that was dominated by his rejection of overnight reports that Iran’s nuclear sites were not destroyed in US bombing, and where he was also praised by the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, for being the “daddy”. Continue reading...

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9 d. ago Tens of millions swelter as heatwave blankets the central and eastern US

Several cities are under extreme heat warnings as high temperatures and humidity grip parts of the countryThe National Weather Service (NWS) has issued several extreme heat warnings and advisories as a dangerous and prolonged wave of high temperatures and humidity blankets much of the central and eastern US, with the worst conditions expected to persist into the middle of this week.Several locations recorded their hottest temperatures of the year over the weekend: Salt Lake City, Utah, hit 104F (40C) on Thursday, its first triple-digit reading of 2025, and on Saturday the city of Mitchell in South Dakota also reached 104F, surpassing its previous daily record of 101F (38.3C). Daily high records were broken in parts of Minnesota, Wyoming and Michigan. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Eastern half of U.S. braces for more long days of dangerous heat

Cities across the eastern and central United States are bracing for more days of extreme temperatures as a unusual June heat wave continues to grip that portion of the country

Politics

1 week ago Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – Europe live

Pedro Sánchez reportedly says move would be ‘counterproductive’ and harm Spanish economy Earlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

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1 week ago Hungarian police say Budapest Pride march banned, but mayor insists it will go ahead – Europe live

The Hungarian ban on the Budapest Pride march comes a day after a debate on the march was held at the European parliamentEarlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

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1 week ago Putin says he would only meet Zelenskyy in ‘final phase’ of talks – Europe live

Putin’s comments come as fighting continues and Ukraine says Russia avoiding peace talksFor what it’s worth, Russia’s Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he was ready to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy but only during a “final phase” of negotiations “so as not to sit there and divide things up endlessly, but to put an end to it”.But his broader comments were not really conciliatory, and will do little to raise hopes of a negotiated settlement.“The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Death toll from Russian attack on Kyiv rises to 28 – Europe live

More than 130 were injured in Tuesday’s attack on Ukrainian capitalAnd speaking of Russia’s impact on its neighbours, let’s quickly go to Miranda Bryant in the Nordics and see how the region monitors the global threat of war, terror and piracy on seas from its Maritime Cyber Resilience Centre.The European Commission has insisted there will be no return to Russian gas, as it published plans to phase out fossil fuel imports from its eastern neighbour by 2028. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Europeans may as well start learning Russian if Ukraine does not get more support, Kaja Kallas warns – Europe live

EU foreign policy chief says Russia is a direct threat to Europe and has plan for long term aggressionMeanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin is set to take questions from international journalists on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Associated Press reported.Putin scheduled a roundtable session with senior news leaders of international news agencies, including the Associated Press.On Ukraine, the European Union is doing its part here too, not least because Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defence. We know that Russia responds to strength and nothing else.We have to do more for Ukraine, for our own security too.To quote my friend Nato secretary general Mark Rutte: if we don’t help Ukraine further, we should all start learning Russian. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Ukraine and Europe in limbo after Trump sidelines Zelenskyy at G7 – Europe live

Frustration after US president refuses to make Ukraine a priority at G7 despite appearance of Zelenskyy in CanadaEU’s Kallas continues:On Ukraine, the European Union is doing its part here too, not least because Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defence. We know that Russia responds to strength and nothing else.We have to do more for Ukraine, for our own security too.To quote my friend Nato secretary general Mark Rutte: if we don’t help Ukraine further, we should all start learning Russian.We are living in very dangerous tough times.Russia is already a direct threat to the European Union. Europe’s collective economic might is unmatched. I don’t believe that there is any threat that we can’t overcome if we act together and with our Nato allies. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Russia’s ‘unrelenting’ attacks on Ukraine show Putin not interested in peace, EU says, after at least 15 die in Kyiv strike – Europe live

Kaja Kallas says strike in Kyiv one of ‘most devastating’ of war as Zelenskyy accuses world leaders of ‘turning a blind eye’According to the Spanish government, we should soon get a decent idea of what caused the massive and unprecedented blackout that hit the Iberian peninsula at the end of April.The findings of a special committee convened to investigate the episode are due to be made public at a press conference addressed by Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, at 1 pm Madrid time. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago At least 15 die in Russian strikes on Kyiv in ‘one of most horrific attacks’ of Ukraine war – Europe live

Zelenskyy hits out at Putin and says world leaders ‘turn a blind eye’ after attack in which more than 100 people were woundedRussian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 14US president Donald Trump has repeated his threat to impose pharmaceutical tariffs saying they were “coming very soon” and criticised the EU for not offering a fair deal on trade.His comments, reported by Reuters, come from his brief chat with reporters on board Air Force One, on the way back from the G7 summit in Canada. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Girl dies and three others hospitalised after electric shock on theme park ride

A two-year-old girl has died and three other children have been injured at a fun fair in Spain. Spanish police have launched an investigation into the incident

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