Author: staff
Published on 06/07/2026 – 8:00 GMT+2 You can swim in the Spree River in Berlin, in the Parisian Seine, or in the Dutch Maas River because they qualify as safe bathing waters. EU water legislation determines whether bathing water quality is classified as excellent, good, sufficient, or poor based on the level of faecal bacteria and pollutants. The latest EU Bathing Water Report by the European Environmental Agency (2026) found that only 1.5 per cent of Europe’s water sites were in poor condition in 2025. 88 per cent of coastal waters were rated excellent compared with 78 per cent of…
FIFA cleared US star striker Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup co-hosts’ showdown with Belgium despite his red-card ban after a personal phone call from US President Donald Trump, it emerged on Sunday, igniting a furious row that has rocked the tournament. Balogun had been set to miss Monday’s last-16 knockout clash with the Belgians after receiving a straight red card following video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnian defender in a round-of-32 clash that the US won 2-0. Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed…
Are you planning an island escape in Europe, but not sure where because of the sheer number there are to choose from? With hundreds of thousands of islands across the continent – and that’s a conservative estimate – it’s no surprise that deciding on which one to go to can often be the toughest task when planning a European island holiday. Thankfully, a new study published by Saga Holidays could just help make that decision a little bit easier. Comparing 80 island destinations across Europe, the research by the over-50s holiday provider was based on three main factors: Weather: including…
The summer months can sometimes feel slow and sleepy, but as this week’s calendar proves, there’s plenty to spark momentum. From exhibitions tackling the nuances of healing, to movies featuring soul-corrupting demons and albums from legendary rockstars, it’s an eclectic line-up ahead that’s sure to inspire reflection, nostalgia and, in some cases, horror. In other words, there’s something for everyone. Grab your diaries, remain cool, and keep scrolling to find out more. Exhibitions and events Better health: Audrey Amiss & Rudy Loewe When: 9 July 2026-7 February 2027 Where: Wellcome Collection (London, UK) More than 1 billion people are living…
The Russian planes were intercepted and escorted by British F-35 jets from the carrier on July 2. The HMS Prince of Wales — one of Britain’s two aircraft carriers — is the first European aircraft carrier conducting NATO air defense operations with F-35 jets. The move comes as Britain has for the first time taken command of the alliance’s special forces unit, described by the MoD as “the spearhead” of NATO’s rapid deployment teams and “able to deploy anywhere in the world within days.” Last week it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s £100 million superyacht is traversing the…
The European Commission is preparing proposals to reform the EU enlargement process in an effort to reassert its role in a debate that has increasingly been shaped by member states, three EU officials told Euronews. EU enlargement has climbed to the top of the agenda, as Montenegro is approaching the finishing line to join the bloc. In recent weeks, member states have advanced a flurry of position papers floating ideas on how to reform the accession process. Five of the six EU founding members have proposed strengthening existing safeguards to prevent democratic backsliding and breaches of the rule of law…
Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music On today’s episode, we take a closer look at the busy life of António Costa’s right-hand man, Pedro Lourtie. The European Council President’s head of cabinet was recently thrust into the limelight for opening backchannels with Moscow on his boss’s behalf. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur dig deeper into who this man is and how he does his job. Also on the show: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is asking lawmakers to vote again on a bill to fight child sexual abuse material — even though it was rejected by MEPs in March. To do this, she’s relying on a…
Published on 06/07/2026 – 5:27 GMT+2 Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on Monday over the tiny US territorial island of Rota in the western Pacific near Guam, ringing powerful winds and torrential rain to the Northern Mariana Islands. A cyclone becomes a super typhoon when it has maximum sustained winds of 241 kph or stronger, equivalent to a high-end Category 4 or a Category 5 storm. Authorities on Rota said they had received reports of ‘major damage’ as winds of up to 290 kilometres per hour were forecast. “We are hanging in there. We are experiencing heavy winds and flooding…
STOCKHOLM — At first glance, Fryshuset in Stockholm looks like any ordinary school. A group of girls sit together during recess, laughing, while the rhythmic bounce of a basketball echoes from the gym next door. Only the social workers and monitors discreetly making their rounds hint that something else is happening inside. The sprawling building is at once a school, a social hub and a drop-in center for young people at risk of being drawn into crime. That mission has become increasingly urgent in Sweden, where gang violence has spread and teenagers are being recruited into organized crime at ever-younger…
Published on 06/07/2026 – 4:59 GMT+2 A wave of Russian missiles and drones hit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv overnight, killing at least eight people in an attack that was still underway early on Monday. A residential building in the Podilskyi district partially collapsed, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration in a post on Telegram. In the Darnytsia district, several multistory buildings were damaged and people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. “These are residential buildings. Places where people slept and lived their ordinary lives,” he said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that air defences were in…