Author: staff

The overnight attack was a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Russian authorities confirmed the assault on Wednesday. “Early this morning, infrastructure facilities in Kronstadt, Kirovsky, and Krasnoselskiy districts were attacked by UAVs. Several objects were damaged. Several people were injured. There are no casualties,” St. Petersburg Mayor Aleksandr Beglov said in a statement. Russian officials did not confirm the terminal — which is the biggest in northwestern Russia — was hit, but local open-source investigators geolocated…

It might sound paradoxical, but for many employees across Europe, temporary work is a constant condition. Around one in 11 workers in the EU is in INE — short for involuntary non-standard employment. This is according to Eurofound, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Being in INE means people are stuck jumping from one part-time, fixed-term or gig-economy job to the next, because they can’t find stable alternatives, like a permanent, full-time contract. Eurofound says the real number of people in INE could be even higher than one in 11, with young workers particularly affected.…

Westminster may look busy but are MPs just waiting for the potential return of Andy Burnham? With the Makerfield by-election just over a week away Burnham insists he’s focussed on winning the seat. But behind the scenes allies are already developing ideas that could underpin a future bid for No10. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at who is moulding the Burnham project and why certain plans for the economy and AI are attracting growing scrutiny from Westminster and the City. You can get the full list of candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election here.

A grey plume of smoke was seen rising over St. Petersburg early on Wednesday, as officials gathered for Russia’s annual economic forum, which Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend. Ukrainian drones struck energy and military sites in the Russian port city, Russian and Ukrainian authorities reported. The Ukrainian military struck the Petersburg Oil Terminal overnight, roughly 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Another target was an enterprise in the Tambov region involved in the production of Russian weapons,” he added. The city’s governor, Alexander Beglov, wrote that several infrastructure facilities were struck in the…

Three EU countries — Germany, Austria and Portugal — are bidding for two non-permanent seats on the U.N.’s most powerful body in a General Assembly vote set for Wednesday. Portugal, thanks to its strong ties with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, is generally regarded as a shoo-in for the two-year term beginning in 2027. That leaves Germany and Austria — countries bound by close historical and cultural ties, but also occasional tensions — competing for the final seat. Germany is the Goliath in the contest, yet that has not stopped German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul from aggressively lobbying Berlin’s case, reflecting…

Good morning from Brussels. This is Mared Gwyn with a packed newsletter to kick off your Wednesday. First, an exclusive: The European Commission is set to criticise the Italian government’s cuts to excise fuel duties in a report published later today, arguing that such untargeted measures are ineffective. This after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked Brussels for even more fiscal flexibility to respond to the energy crisis stemming from the Iran war, as our political correspondent Luca Bertuzzi explains. The Commission is also expected to castigate Rome for a lack of a robust industrial plan, in separate country-specific recommendations also…

Protesters clashed with police in the southern English city of Southampton on Monday following a rally over the murder of student Henry Nowak. Video showed demonstrators confronting officers, throwing objects and chanting slogans as tensions escalated near the site of the killing and outside a local police station. The protest was triggered by the release of police bodycam footage showing Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in December, being handcuffed by officers while critically injured. The footage prompted anger among some members of the public and drew hundreds of demonstrators to the city. Participants carried signs bearing Nowak’s name and gathered…

Foreign investment is widely seen as a key driver of economic growth, innovation and job creation. When companies open new sites, build factories or establish research centres, they not only bring capital into a country but often create jobs and strengthen local supply chains. As a result, the competition to attract international investors has intensified. Governments use investment incentives, tax breaks and international investment forums to persuade companies to choose their markets. France, too, has made attracting foreign investment a key priority in recent years. Since 2018, the government has promoted the country through its “Choose France” initiative. At this…

As Europe gears up for another busy travel season, where you stay can make a bigger difference to your budget than ever. New short-term rental data reveals a continent of extremes, with nightly rates ranging from less than €40 in parts of the Balkans to well over €200 in some of Europe’s most sought-after destinations. The research has revealed the cheapest and most expensive places to book a short-term stay in Europe in 2026, offering a snapshot of where holiday budgets stretch furthest and where demand and popularity continue to drive prices sky-high. AirDNA, a short-term rental data and analytics…

Dysfunktional und doch aus Sicht vieler unverzichtbar: Der UN-Sicherheitsrat ist angesichts ständiger Blockaden durch Russland und China immer weniger ein Gremium, das die Welt sicherer macht. Trotz dieser Krise kämpft Deutschland heute darum, erneut für zwei Jahre einen der begehrten, nichtständigen Sitze im Rat zu erhalten. Hans von der Burchard ist in New York, und unter anderem mit ihm bespricht Gordon Repinski die außenpolitische Bedeutung dieses regelrechten Wettlaufs um den Sitz. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview dazu: die frühere Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (Grüne). Sie ist die amtierende Vorsitzende der 80. UN-Generalversammlung. Trotz aller Schwierigkeiten und der bisherigen Unfähigkeit zur Reform hält sie die…