Europe
Everything that does not fit a single desk: the continent in its full contradictory complexity.
Lisbon room rents top €550 as student housing crunch deepens
Nearly 50,000 students were placed in Portuguese higher education this year, intensifying housing pressure. Room demand rose 27% while suppl
EU boosts maritime defence spending to record levels amid sea threats
EU defence spending hit a record €392 billion in 2025, with a large share going to naval capabilities. The bloc is responding to threats fro
Partial lunar eclipse: Best viewing spots across Europe on Friday
A deep partial lunar eclipse will darken the Moon on 28 August, with up to 96% coverage. Spain offers the best views, while France may face
Morning Europe briefing: key stories for August 26, 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
French driver held in Bari over Akeron missiles found in van
A 46-year-old French driver was detained in Bari after three Akeron missiles were found in his van. He claims he was transporting them for r
Slovak police foil arson plot on drone factory, three arrested
Slovak police say they prevented a planned arson attack on a drone manufacturer's plant in eastern Slovakia. Two suspects were detained in S
Spain moves to align asylum rules with EU pact as Ceuta standoff drags on
Spain's cabinet approved a draft bill to align national asylum and immigration rules with the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The move come
UN and Red Cross urge binding rules on autonomous weapons as risks grow
The UN and Red Cross warn the world is close to a moral red line where machines could autonomously target humans. They urge states to agree
Costa's EU capital tour tests leaders' resolve on 2028-2034 budget
European Council President António Costa has launched a four-week tour of EU capitals to test leaders' willingness to compromise on the 2028
France to survey 10 million pupils on sexual violence
France will add questions on sexual and gender-based violence to an annual school questionnaire, covering about 10 million pupils. Education
EU enlargement chief unveils plan to break accession deadlock
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has proposed a new approach to break the accession impasse, focusing on internal reforms, democratic s
Spanish workers toil 231 days to cover taxes, think tank says
Fundación Civismo says the average Spanish worker's tax burden equals 231 days of work in 2026. Tax Freedom Day fell on 20 August, two days