Europe

Why Poland’s president is invoking wartime history in a dispute with Volodymyr Zelensky

This row is more about domestic Polish politics than any diplomatic incident.

Europe's Skies: Building Stronger Air Defence Together

Across the European continent, a quiet but consequential transformation is taking shape. Nations that once relied heavily on individual national systems are increasingly pooling resources, expertise, and technological ambition to construct a more unified and resilient aerial security architecture. This shift reflects a broader understanding that collective investment in shared infrastructure yields far greater protection than fragmented, go-it-alone approaches.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino set for fourth term – despite World Cup controversies

National football associations are lining up to endorse Infantino for a fourth term as Fifa president.

England out of the World Cup, but this team may have helped redefine a nation

It could be time for a new idea of what Englishness really means – and footballers are helping to shape it.

Politics

Andy Burnham is the Labour leader – third time lucky for the UK’s prime minister-in-waiting

His rise this time seemed unstoppable – but Burnham’s route to the top wasn’t always so clear.

If Europe wants to ‘go it alone’ on security, countries need to learn to sing from the same songsheet

Splits are appearing in Europe’s approach to Russia’s aggression just when it needs to present a united front.

Italy's New Front Against Organized Crime: Protecting Vulnerable Families from Mafia Networks

Italy has passed a landmark unanimous parliamentary law allowing the state to remove women and children from mafia-controlled family environments, offering them legal protection and a path to a life free from organized crime. The legislation marks a significant evolution of the anti-mafia framework built by legendary magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.

When Leadership Gaps Shape the World's Future

In an era defined by rapid transformation, the spaces between leadership — the pauses, the transitions, the unresolved successions — carry consequences that extend far beyond the immediate moment. Increasingly, political analysts and governance scholars are turning their attention not to who holds power, but to what happens when credible leadership is absent, delayed, or structurally contested.

Economy

Germany Weighs the Return of Coal as Energy Security Concerns Mount

Germany, long committed to phasing out coal-fired power generation, has faced renewed pressure to reconsider that trajectory following disruptions to natural gas supplies from Russia. The debate reflects broader tensions across Europe between climate commitments and the practical demands of energy security.

Business

European Startups Eye 'Nomad Citizen' Model as Alternative to Traditional Welfare Frameworks

A growing movement among European entrepreneurs is exploring portable, membership-based social protection schemes as alternatives to state-tied welfare systems. The concept, broadly referred to as 'nomad citizen' infrastructure, aims to decouple social benefits from national residency requirements.

From Fuel Prices to Investment Risk: How an Iran Nuclear Agreement Could Reshape European Finances

A renewed nuclear agreement with Iran carries broad economic consequences that extend well beyond diplomatic circles. European households and investors could feel the effects through energy markets, trade flows, and shifting geopolitical risk.

Travel

The Rise of Slow Travel: How a Growing Movement Is Changing the Way Europeans Explore Their Continent

A shift away from rapid, checklist-style tourism is gaining momentum across Europe, with travelers choosing longer stays, local immersion, and lower-carbon transport over traditional package holidays. The trend is influencing everything from regional rail networks to rural hospitality economies.

Netherlands Canals Draw Travelers Seeking Slower Pace Through Dutch Heartland

The Netherlands' extensive network of historic canals and inland waterways has become a growing draw for travelers choosing unhurried, water-based journeys over conventional tourism. Houseboats, canal bikes, and narrowboat rentals are among the options reshaping how visitors experience the Dutch landscape.

Croatia's Lesser-Known Islands Draw Travelers Seeking Quieter Adriatic Escapes

While Hvar and Brač attract the bulk of Adriatic tourism, Croatia's archipelago contains dozens of smaller islands that remain largely off major tourist circuits. Several of these destinations offer preserved natural landscapes, traditional fishing villages, and limited commercial development.

Hungary Emerges as a Premier Destination on Europe's Danube River Cruise Circuit

Hungary's stretch of the Danube River has become one of the most sought-after segments on European river cruise itineraries, drawing travelers with its mix of UNESCO-listed architecture, historic towns, and accessible waterway infrastructure. Budapest serves as the centerpiece, with the surrounding Danube Bend region adding further depth to itineraries that range from week-long journeys to extended multi-country voyages.

Culinary

A Guide to Traditional Finnish Cuisine for the First-Time Visitor

Finnish cuisine draws on centuries of Nordic tradition, combining foraged ingredients, freshwater fish, and hearty rye-based staples. Travelers exploring Finland encounter a food culture shaped by long winters, dense forests, and a close relationship with the land.

Artisan Markets Emerge as Anchors of French Local Food Identity

Across France, weekly and seasonal artisan markets continue to shape how communities source, celebrate, and define regional food traditions. These gatherings function as both commercial venues and cultural institutions, connecting producers directly with consumers in ways that supermarkets cannot replicate.

Luxembourg's Moselle Valley Positions Itself as a Destination for Wine and Gastronomy Tourism

The Moselle wine region along Luxembourg's southeastern border has become a growing draw for food and wine tourists exploring Western Europe. The area's combination of Rivaner, Riesling, and sparkling Crémant wines pairs with a regional culinary tradition that authorities and producers have worked to promote internationally.

From Galicia to the Atlantic: How Spanish Seafood Culture Travels Beyond Its Shores

Spain's deep-rooted maritime food traditions, particularly from its northwestern coastal regions, have long influenced dining cultures across the Atlantic world. Techniques, ingredients, and preparation methods originating in Spanish fishing communities continue to shape menus from Lisbon to Buenos Aires.

Culture

France's Layered Approach to Cultural Heritage Protection

France maintains one of the world's most comprehensive frameworks for preserving its artistic and architectural legacy, spanning centuries of monuments, museums, and living traditions. A combination of state institutions, legal protections, and public funding sustains this effort across the country.

Stone Before the Pyramids: Malta's Temple Builders Left a Civilization the World Is Still Decoding

Malta's megalithic temples, among the oldest freestanding stone structures on Earth, predate both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by several centuries. Archaeological evidence from these sites continues to reshape understanding of prehistoric social organization and ritual life in the central Mediterranean.

From Rembrandt to Vermeer: How the Dutch Golden Age Continues to Drive Museum Tourism Across Europe

The artistic legacy of the Dutch Golden Age remains one of the most powerful draws for cultural tourists visiting the Netherlands and beyond. Museums anchored by the works of Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and their contemporaries consistently rank among Europe's most visited institutions.

Ancient Rites and Maypoles: How Sweden Keeps Midsummer Alive

Midsummer remains one of Sweden's most widely observed cultural celebrations, blending pre-Christian fertility rituals with contemporary family gatherings. The holiday draws Swedes across generations to the countryside for maypole dancing, traditional food, and flower garlands each June.