Author: staff
Europeans are traveling in huge numbers this summer — but the conflict in the Middle East, volatile fuel prices linked to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and a troubled new border system are making journeys more complicated. Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO reporters Ben Munster, Tommaso Lecca and Jordyn Dahl to unpack how Europe avoided the jet fuel crisis that many had feared; whether flight ticket prices could still rise in the coming months; what passengers are owed when things go wrong; and why the EU’s new Entry/Exit System is producing such long queues. Plus, we’d love to…
The British government on Thursday called on FIFA to investigate Argentina after players celebrated their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England by posing with a banner claiming sovereignty over the disputed Falkland Islands. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed calls for FIFA to investigate, according to his spokesperson. “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver,” the spokesperson said. Business minister Peter Kyle had earlier also called for an investigation, calling the banner an “egregious violation” of FIFA rules which…
La remontada: In case you missed it, Argentina beat England 2-1 in the second of the FIFA World Cup semi-finals last night, scoring both goals after the 85th minute in what was one of the most extraordinary comebacks of the tournament so far. They now face Spain in Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Lucy Davalou has this review. Getting Putin to the table: But first, European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius has told our morning show Europe Today that Ukraine’s successes targeting Russian maritime vessels and energy infrastructure are putting Kyiv in a position of strength – and…
Three-quarters of EU citizens believe that general education at an upper secondary level has a more positive image than vocational training, according to a new Eurobarometer survey. Respondents in Sweden, Denmark and Finland agreed the most with this statement, while EU citizens in Czechia, Latvia and Romania agreed the least. When deciding between general education and vocational training, people tend to say that advice from parents (35%) is more influential than guidance from teachers (28%). At the bottom of the table, the perceived prestige of vocational education and training (16%) and social media (14%) are said to be some of…
Published on 16/07/2026 – 9:13 GMT+2•Updated 9:18 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled to Ukraine on Thursday for a farewell visit, using his final overseas trip in office to reaffirm his nation’s long-term support before handing power to his successor next week. Starmer is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he is expected to stress that the UK’s backing for Ukraine will continue after Andy Burnham takes office as prime minister on Monday. “Our cast-iron support for Ukraine will always endure,” Starmer said in a statement released ahead of the visit. “Throughout this conflict, I have seen the…
Food inflation has finally begun to ease across the eurozone, offering some relief to households after years of rising grocery bills. But economists warn the respite may not last. Instead of the recent Iran war, this summer’s extreme heat is now emerging as the biggest risk to food prices next year, with droughts and heatwaves threatening harvests across Europe and beyond. “We think this summer’s heatwaves will be a stronger upward driver of food prices next year than the war”, said Tomas Dvorak, senior economist at Oxford Economics, in a new report. The warning comes despite fears earlier this year…
“What matters isn’t the opinion of people abroad,” Jacobelli said. “It’s the opinion of the French people.” The X, SpaceX and Tesla owner has in recent years regularly weighed in on European politics and offered support to anti-immigration right-wing and far-right groups, including the AfD in Germany and far-right provocateur Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, in the United Kingdom. Musk’s politics and vision of free speech made him something of a hero among parts of the European right. National Rally MEP Thierry Mariani in 2023 even nominated Musk for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the EU’s…
Updated: 16/07/2026 – 9:15 GMT+2 Simeon de Brouwer, policy adviser at digital rights organisation EDRi, calls for “proportionality” to avoid “mass surveillance” and “undermining everyone’s privacy” under the proposed Chat Control law to tackle online child sexual abuse. He advocates for “targeted scanning”. … More
From children solving Rubik’s Cubes in oven gloves to world-class competitors completing blindfolded challenges, the European Speedcubing Championship in Arnhem is showcasing the full range of the sport. The championship, held at Sportcentrum Valkenhuizen until 19 July, is organised under World Cube Association rules and features a wide range of disciplines, from traditional speed solves to one-handed and blindfolded events, alongside novelty challenges such as solving while wearing oven mitts. Behind the scenes, volunteers prepare each round by scrambling cubes before placing them into individual boxes for competitors, while specialist stalls sell lubricants designed to keep the puzzles turning as…
Delivery Hero said Thursday it backs the takeover offer from US ride-hailing giant Uber, which aims to acquire the German food delivery group, which operates in more than 50 markets across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The deal gives Uber a much stronger foothold across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and parts of Europe, including major markets such as South Korea, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Argentina. Uber has agreed to offer €41.50 a share in cash for all Delivery Hero shares, valuing the German food delivery company at €13 billion ($14.8 billion).…