Author: staff

A historic waterfront Belgian address will open its doors to guests for the first time on 1 September in the port city of Ghent. Designed to blend into a locale of cinematic canals and medieval towers, 1898 Porter’s House is a refurbished property, whose pale stone façade, tall arched windows and imposing double wooden doors will offer would-be guests, and passers-by, a glimpse of Gothic revival architecture, with a luxurious twist. Whether you choose to stay in a room, suite, or for a more private experience, reserve the entire property for yourself and up to nine other guests, the interiors…

Published on 26/08/2026 – 12:55 GMT+2 The Kossuth and Attila József Prize-winning writer, playwright and essayist Péter Nádas was one of the most significant figures in contemporary Hungarian and European prose. Born in Budapest in 1942, he began his career as a photojournalist and reporter, later gaining international renown with his novels, short stories and essays. His works have been translated into numerous languages and his writing is distinguished by an exceptionally precise examination of personal memory, history, the body and human relationships. His most important works include “Egy családregény vége”(“The End of a Family Story”), “Emlékiratok könyve” (“A Book…

Published on 26/08/2026 – 12:17 GMT+2 The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dissolved on Tuesday after their commander announced the completion of their integration into the Syrian army, ending the existence of the Kurdish-led force that served as Washington’s main partner against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria and once controlled a vast autonomous zone in the country’s northeast. “We announce today the end of the mission of the Syrian Democratic Forces and declare, with full responsibility, their dissolution as an independent military force,” Mazloum Abdi said in a televised speech at the presidential palace in Damascus, following meetings with…

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will join European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the most high-profile political moment in the EU’s calendar, amid a worsening rift between the U.S. and Ottawa. A European Commission official close to von der Leyen confirmed to POLITICO that Carney had accepted an invitation to attend the State of the EU address in Strasbourg, where the president sets out her priorities for the bloc. “Before the summer break, the European Commission President invited Prime Minister Carney for [the State of the Union] both as a strong sign of the closeness of the EU…

The Ionian Islands region was placed under a Code Red alert on Wednesday, as a very high risk of wildfires (Category 4) is forecast. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Under the alert, the National Civil Protection Mechanism is fully activated, deploying the necessary personnel, equipment and resources required to prepare for imminent threat, respond to emergencies and manage the consequences of any destructive event. Short-term recovery, relief and support measures are also activated to help mitigate the impact of the disaster. A high wildfire risk (Category 3) is forecast for Attica, several…

A rare 1920 painting by Dutch master Piet Mondrian, Composition III, is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s in London this October. The abstract work, unseen in public for more than 25 years, is expected to fetch between £20m and £30m during the auction house’s Frieze Week sale. The video shows an art handler adjusting the canvas in a hidden gallery at Christie’s. Close-ups reveal the bold blocks of primary colour and straight black lines that define Mondrian’s signature neoplastic style. The piece marks a pivotal moment as the artist moved from traditional landscapes to pure abstraction. Works…

For most people, September might seem like an unlikely month for a holiday. It’s a month when the summer is winding down and kids are going back to the classroom. In the last three years, however, the trend has been heading in the opposite direction. ABTA’s Travel Trends 2026 report highlights the “Super September” trend, as more and more travellers seek out the month to venture abroad. Since 2023, travellers’ intention to holiday abroad in September has steadily risen, with almost a quarter (24%) saying in 2025 that they are planning on taking a holiday in that month. This is…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded his country’s Order of Freedom to Elon Musk Wednesday, amid efforts to persuade Musk to expand access to his Starlink network. Zelenskyy’s presidential decree praises Musk for “protecting people’s lives and freedom, and developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States of America.” Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service has helped Ukrainian forces maintain communications and coordinate operations since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In February 2026, SpaceX disabled thousands of Starlink terminals used by Russian forces, weakening their military capabilities. Ukraine is trying to convince the tech mogul…

Published on 26/08/2026 – 11:30 GMT+2 A second man has been arrested over a sword attack at a school in central Sweden that left a 17-year-old girl dead and three other students wounded, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The man is suspected of assisting murder and attempted murder over the attack at Brinell School in Fagersta, northwest of Stockholm, on August 21. Prosecutors have not disclosed his age or said how he is suspected of being involved. They are expected to decide by noon on Thursday whether to ask a court to detain him or release him. An 18-year-old student at…

Published on 26/08/2026 – 10:50 GMT+2 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people in July, the highest monthly total since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to new figures. ICE made 49,571 arrests in July, up 15% from 43,021 in June and 70% from 29,241 in February, according to government data analysed by the Associated Press news agency. The surge in immigration arrests comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue its mass deportation agenda, shifting from high-profile operations in major US cities to less visible enforcement actions. As arrests have surged in recent…