Europe
Everything that does not fit a single desk: the continent in its full contradictory complexity.
Morning briefing: key European stories for August 28, 2026
From Brussels to Berlin, here are the stories shaping Europe this morning. Key political shifts, economic updates, and cultural highlights a
Norway mourns King Harald V as Crown Prince Haakon ascends throne
King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89, ending a 35-year reign. Crown Prince Haakon now ascends the throne as King Haakon VIII. T
Israeli activists urge EU in Jerusalem: silence is complicity on Gaza
Israeli activists gathered outside EU offices in Jerusalem on 28 August, calling for stronger EU action on Gaza. They argue that silence amo
Switzerland to field drone battalion by 2028 as Europe rethinks defence
Switzerland will create a military drone battalion by 2028, the defence ministry announced. The unit will focus on reconnaissance, operation
Eastern EU commissioners push von der Leyen for Baltic security coordinator
Five EU commissioners from Eastern Flank states have called on Ursula von der Leyen to create a high-level coordinator for the region. They
Europe's evening briefing: key stories for August 27, 2026
Hungary is set to unlock €10bn in EU funds before the August deadline. An antisemitic video stokes tensions in the Alps. Greece opens 126 an
Two killed in school incident near Berlin, police arrest 19-year-old
Two people were killed in a violent incident at a secondary school in Gosen-Neu Zittau, near Berlin. Police arrested a 19-year-old man, repo
Ratko Mladić, convicted Bosnian Serb commander, dies at 84 in The Hague
Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb army commander, died on Tuesday in a prison hospital in The Hague. He was serving a life sentence for
Spain's seismic risk: geologist on the real threat after Granada tremors
Over 1,000 tremors shook Granada in August, reviving questions about Spain's seismic future. A geologist says major quakes are possible but
Ex-Estonian president: CIA chief's Moscow trip was about Iran, not Baltics
Former Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves doubts the CIA director's Moscow trip was a warning to Russia over the Baltics, saying Washin
Norway's King Harald in critical condition, palace says
King Harald of Norway is in an extremely serious condition in hospital, the palace said. The 89-year-old monarch has been treated for a bloo
EU GDP shares: Poland rises, Italy and France decline over two decades
Poland's share of EU GDP has nearly doubled since 2005, while Italy and France have seen the largest declines. Germany still accounts for ne