Author: staff
The history of Spanish cinema in the last decade is marked by a dissonance. It is an inversely proportional variable made up, firstly, of the evident leap in quality in productions that make up the miracle of the seventh. Secondly, there’s been a dramatic drop in box office takings in respect to Spanish spectators. The crux of the matter, for which we will quote Marisa Paredes in The Flower of My Secret (La flor de mi secreto), is obvious: Is there any possibility, however small, of saving our own? A batch of new directors such as Paula Ortiz, Estibaliz Urresola…
MPs may be on recess – but as the Iran war enters its fifth week should Whitehall ramp up contingency planning for its impact at home? With the Strait of Hormuz still shut and reports of a potential US ground invasion, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host a roundtable with key stakeholders from industry to discuss the impact of the conflict. Elsewhere, Labour launches its local elections campaign, and the duo look at the polls from a national perspective, assessing the state of the parties with a key month ahead to 7 May. Next Monday, Sam and Anne return…
Published on 30/03/2026 – 8:00 GMT+2•Updated 8:28 Since 1966, member states can use their unanimity power to halt European Council decisions. One opposing country is enough to block the Council’s works. Strategic enforcement of veto power rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to experts, governments are using the unanimity rule to extract concessions from Brussels on matters of national interest. This sparked reform discussions to change current voting rules in the Council. Replacing unanimity with qualified majority is complicated. It would require all member states to agree to give up their “leverage power”. The veto dispute has reached a…
Dozens of racers took to the streets of Japan this weekend for the ISU-1 Grand Prix, a two-hour endurance event held entirely on office chairs. Teams of three rotate throughout the race, each trying to complete as many laps as possible before time runs out. Inspired by Le Mans but far less serious, the competition blends speed, balance, and a fair amount of laughter. Founded in 2010, the ISU-1 series now travels across Japan, drawing crowds who cheer on teams as they slide through corners on unmodified, store-bought chairs. The winners don’t take home a trophy, but 90 kilos of…
Years before software programmers sat poised over their keyboards in sleek, expansive tech offices, women built the foundations of modern computer programming— in less-than-glamorous conditions. For much of its early history, programming was considered repetitive and tedious work. Many historians have shown that it was women who did much of this work, according to the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we look at the innovations made by women that have shaped computer science, from writing the first computer program to weaving the software that took American astronauts to the Moon. The first…
By Eloise Barker Published on 30/03/2026 – 8:00 GMT+2 ‘What landscapes have you been immersed in this week?’ asks my watercolour teacher at the start of every session. She’s made me want to seek out scenic views, and to look further afield, too – for bragging rights at my weekly art class, yes, but also for inspiration. It’s a good time of year to book a creative break: spring in Europe, where light and landscapes are a-changing. According to GetYourGuide’s 2026 travel trends report, almost a third of travellers now prefer to learn something new, over the time-honoured holiday staple of…
For two decades, aspiring EU members wanted to join the bloc to get richer. Now, that’s changing. With conflicts raging at Europe’s doorstep and NATO shaky under Donald Trump, even rich countries want to join the bloc, hoping it’ll help them feel safer. Zoya and Nick unpack this shift on today’s episode. Also on the show, we trace Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political journey from a liberal dissident to MAGA darling. As the leader continues to antagonize the EU, we ask what options the bloc has to minimize his influence in European political decision-making if he’s reelected in the…
Updated: 30/03/2026 – 7:00 GMT+2 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this March 30th, 2026 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
By Angela Barnes & AP Published on 30/03/2026 – 7:07 GMT+2 European markets are set to open lower on Monday, with futures pointing to declines across major indices as investor sentiment remains cautious amid rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As of early morning trading, Germany’s DAX was down around 0.5%, the FTSE 100 fell roughly 0.3%, and France’s CAC 40 was also in negative territory, according to IG data. The weaker outlook follows losses in Asia, where shares mostly dipped overnight as concerns persisted around soaring oil prices and the potential for further escalation in the US war…
If you’re feeling sleepy after the clocks went forward, prepare to be energised by another week of upcoming eggcitement. While this period of time is often reserved for devouring chocolate, we’re here to remind you that.. you can still do that. But while watching a new Star Wars animated series on Disney+, or visiting the Wellcome Collection’s excellent exhibition on ageing (which might make you want to reach for some fruit instead). Meanwhile, if there’s any family drama over the coming long weekend, just rest assured Zendaya and Robert Pattinson have it worse in their new movie about a bombshell…