7 h. ago The week Europe realised it stands alone against Russian expansionism

Washington’s Putin-appeasing plan for peace in Ukraine has failed, but many heard death knell sounded for European reliance on US protectionKaja Kallas, the European Union foreign policy chief, asked her officials this week to dig up the number of times Russia had – in its various guises – invaded other states in the 20th and 21st centuries. The answer that came back was 19 states, on 33 occasions. Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, was not just indulging in some form of historical mathematics. She was seeking to make a point that lies at the heart of the dispute between the US and Europe over Ukraine’s future, a dispute that has again revealed the chasm across the Atlantic about the true nature of the Russian regime.Kallas reads history books as a leisure activity and – drawing on her own country’s history of Soviet occupation – has long maintained that the Soviet Union fell, but its imperialism never did. “Russia has never truly had to come to terms with its brutal past o...

Politics

25 h. ago Weather tracker: Snowfall cuts power in Poland and flooding devastates Sri Lanka

Temperatures dip to -8.5C in Poland and 250mm of rain falls in 24-hour period across Sri Lanka Temperatures plummeted this week across the eastern half of Europe, with the Alps dipping as low as -20C and to -8.5°C in the Polish town of Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains.Heavy snow also affected other parts of Poland with 15-20cm (about 6-8in) of snow falling in much of the central swathe of the country and more than 40cm in the south towards the mountains. Continue reading...

Events

47 h. ago Europa League week five permutations as Premier League teams look to advance

Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest return to Europa League duties on Thursday, while Celtic and Rangers are also hoping to climb into qualifying contention

Politics

64 h. ago Scotland's European light flickering as Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and coefficient face crunch time

Do-or-die week for Scottish clubs’ hopes of progressing in Europe

Politics

7 d. ago Ruben Amorim's strict training decision shows his plans for Man Utd future

Manchester United are still operating with a heavy training regime under Ruben Amorim despite their lack of European football giving them scope to have more rest during the week

Politics

7 d. ago Inseparable, sensuous and confident, the Kessler twins were pioneers of variety show culture

Alice and Ellen Kessler, who died by joint assisted suicide this week, entertained – and occasionally scandalised – Europe with their glitzy and subversive pop music and classically informed dance• The Kessler twins die together aged 89 – newsWhen Dean Martin announced the Kessler sisters’ appearance on his show in 1966, he remarked that he had been desperate to book them not just because the German-born dancer-singers were “so pretty and so talented”, but “also because they’re twins, that means there are two of them”. “They’re a double,” he added with a nod to his half-drunk crooner persona, “and there’s nothing I like more than a double”.The two sisters, who died by joint assisted suicide earlier this week, also performed with Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte and Fred Astaire, but the American market never impressed them much. In 1964 they turned down a role in Elvis’s Viva Las Vegas for fear of being pigeonholed in American musical comedies. Continue reading...

Culture

9 d. ago Ryanair is BANNED from flying to major European airport in ‘unprecedented’ move

RYANAIR has been banned from landing some flight routes at a European airport at certain times of the week. The Airport Coordination Netherlands [ACNL], which apportions landings Eindhoven Airport, made the decision following a slew of late arrivals on Monday and Thursday evenings. Flights hitting the runway from Sofia, Bulgaria and Pisa in Italy both...

Events

2 w. ago Winter Wonderland opens this week – here’s all the new attractions at Europe’s biggest festive event

IT'S that time of year again where the festive markets open their doors with thrilling rides and magical experiences - and the best one in the UK will open in a matter of days. Winter Wonderland in London - which was recently named the UK's best Christmas market - will launch on November 14 and...

Politics

2 w. ago Brits can get to Europe's sunniest beach in winter for £23 this week

The striking beach appears like an alien landscape from above. The way its orange sand undulates and twists across great hills is unlike anything else you can find in Europe

Economics

3 w. ago Man orders drink at pub then realises familiar face standing behind the bar

A man and his friends were out for the night when they stopped by a pub – but were left utterly gobsmacked after realising the familiar face standing behind the bar...

Politics

3 w. ago Reform's substantial tax cuts ‘not realistic’ admits Nigel Farage

The Reform UK leader used a speech in London on Monday to promise sweeping deregulation, arguing that the UK had ‘squandered’ Brexit

Politics

3 w. ago Why the new Champions League suits surprise rivals PSG and Bayern Munich

The French and German heavyweights meet for a 10th time in eight years this week, with European domination in both their sights

Sport