Europe
Everything that does not fit a single desk: the continent in its full contradictory complexity.
Drone explodes near Bulgarian gas pipeline after crossing from Romania
An unidentified drone exploded in Bulgaria near the Romanian border, close to a compressor station of the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. Prime M
Midday Europe Update: Key Stories for August 8, 2026
From Brussels to Berlin, here are the top stories shaping Europe this midday. Political shifts, economic moves, and cultural highlights defi
Football federations demand FIFA president Infantino's exit in open letter
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF have jointly issued an open letter demanding FIFA president Gianni Infantino's resignat
Evening Europe Briefing: Key Stories for August 7, 2026
Spain's Civil Guard warns of a possible mass crossing attempt at Ceuta on 15 August. France prepares to ban cold calls from 11 August. Other
OECD data: Greek and Austrian household incomes fall sharply
Real household income per capita dropped 3.6% in Greece and 2.8% in Austria in Q1 2026, the steepest falls among OECD countries. Overall OEC
Salah's Trabzonspor move: tourism boost and economic ripple effects
Mohamed Salah's move to Trabzonspor is expected to draw thousands of fans to the Black Sea city, boosting local tourism. The club has alread
Spanish police bust Mediterranean smuggling ring, arrest 78
Spanish police arrested 78 people in a crackdown on a major Mediterranean smuggling network. The group allegedly ran at least 64 migrant cro
Portugal fuel prices set for sharp drop from Monday
From 10 August, diesel prices in Portugal are expected to drop by about 12 cents per litre, with petrol down 12.5 cents. The average price f
Danube's low water reveals WWII motorbike and soldiers' remains in Budapest
A DKW NZ 350-1 motorbike and the remains of two German soldiers have been recovered from the Danube in Budapest. The low water level exposed
Iceland's EU referendum: fish and farming outweigh Arctic geopolitics
Icelanders vote on 29 August on whether to resume EU accession talks. The campaign centres on fishing quotas and farm subsidies, not geopoli
Holiday poverty persists across EU as summer travel surges
Almost three in ten EU adults could not afford a week away from home in 2025, up slightly from 2024. Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Hungary h
Spain's rural vet shortage threatens livestock industry and animal welfare
Veterinarians are abandoning rural Spain due to low salaries and tough working conditions. The shortage threatens the country's leading live