Author: staff
With visitor numbers predicted to hit record levels in 2026, many European hotspots are planning or have brought in tourist taxes to offset the burden. These extra fees are often overlooked when budgeting for a holiday, but they can add up. Here is a comprehensive summary of all the tourist taxes travellers should be aware of in Europe this year. Venice daytripper tax returns for 2026 Venice’s council has confirmed that its daytripper fee, introduced in summer 2024, will return once again in 2026. This year, the number of days that the levy will be in place has been extended…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed “a full maritime services ban for Russian crude oil” as part of the EU’s 20th sanctions package earlier this month. Those plans have been held up as part of an ongoing row between Hungary and European leaders over access to Russian oil. It also remains unclear whether the EU will be acting in concert with all G7 partners, as it did with the Russian oil price cap policy. While quizzing Bryant, Trade and Business Committee Chair Liam Byrne said it was his understanding that “our American colleagues are not quite there yet.” Alexander Kirk, sanctions campaigner at the Germany-based human rights organization Urgewald, said: “The…
Published on 26/02/2026 – 7:44 GMT+1•Updated 10:48 On today’s show: Our Babak Kamiar reports on the new round of US-Iran nuclear talks taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Our Sasha Vakulina fills us in on the latest developments in the peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. An interview with German Member of the European Parliament Bernd Lange, from the S&D Group. We travel to Berlin, where Diana Resnik breaks down Chancellor Merz’s visit to China. Our Jakub Janas takes a look at why Iceland is planning to fast-track a referendum on EU membership. When and where to watch Europe…
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first official visit to China continues with a tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City on Thursday, a symbolic stop during talks focused on trade and global tensions. Merz said Germany and Europe want a partnership with China that is balanced and reliable. His visit comes as Beijing looks for allies against renewed US tariffs. European leaders are seeking investment from Chinese firms while also urging Beijing to curb industrial overcapacity that affects sectors such as electric vehicles and solar panels. Germany’s trade deficit with China has widened sharply in recent years, a trend Merz called unhealthy. He…
A “long-standing silver lining” to the wrath of climate change has been put under scrutiny, as scientists find a huge flaw in the theory. As heat-trapping emissions continue to bake the planet, glaciers in Antarctica are witnessing unprecedented melt. Despite being geographically isolated from civilisation, the demise of these vast bodies of ice has a significant impact on the entire world. Thwaits Glacier, aka the Doomsday Glacier, is already responsible for four per cent of global annual sea level rise. If it were to collapse completely, sea levels could increase by a staggering 65cm. To put this into context, scientists…
By Roselyne Min with AP Published on 26/02/2026 – 10:41 GMT+1•Updated 11:03 There’s little new in the look of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The design is familiar, the size is similar to last year’s model, and the cameras remain in the same position. But Samsung says the real upgrade is artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. One of the Ultra’s most distinctive new features is a built-in Privacy Display designed to stop “shoulder surfers”. It allows only the person directly in front of the device to see the screen, making it easier to check banking apps, messages or confidential emails in public. “I think…
The Royal Household was so worried about these rumors that, in the lead up to the 1982 trial of the plotters, it deployed a representative to meet with Armada and Milans del Bosch and ensure neither mentioned the king in their testimony. According to a declassified CESID memo on the conversations, the aim was “to ensure that the Crown is not damaged by the legal proceedings.” Death of a coup leader Hours after the secret files were published Wednesday, Tejero, the most well-known of the plotters involved in the coup, died at the age of 93. The lieutenant-colonel became the…
By James Thomas & video by Loredana Dumitru Published on 26/02/2026 – 10:30 GMT+1 Europe’s job market is standing fairly strong as of early 2026, with record-high employment rates in the face of economic slowdowns and global volatility. Yet despite the overall market’s resilience, certain sectors are crying out for workers and are struggling to fill the gaps left in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. New figures released by Eurostat show that between 2019 — before the pandemic — and 2023, manufacturing labourers recorded the largest increase in their job vacancy rate, up by 4.2%. The rise suggests that the sector had…
The couple joined a World Health Organization delegation led by Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for a two day trip centred on mental health and conflict trauma. In Amman, they met children receiving treatment after being medically evacuated from Gaza and spoke with doctors dealing with long term injuries linked to the war. The visit was described as a listening mission rather than a political one. Harry and Meghan also took part in discussions on psychological support for displaced communities and visited projects helping young refugees cope with loss and instability.
Armenia, located in the highlands of West Asia, has just become easier to visit for Europeans. The country of windswept peaks, medieval stone monasteries and a capital city of monumental architecture is often overlooked, despite being a short to mid-haul flight away from many countries in Europe. New entry rules mean citizens of dozens of countries, including those in the EU and the UK, can now visit without needing a visa. Here’s why you should put Armenia on your travel list for 2026. Armenia relaxes visa requirements Armenia has temporarily scrapped visa requirements for 113 countries until 1 July 2026.…