Page 4 - Europe

US govt shutdown forces local workers at overseas bases to go without pay

The longest US government shutdown on record is doing more than grind activities to a halt at home; an ocean away in Europe, local workers at US military bases have started to feel the pain. At least 2,000 people working at overseas bases in Europe have had their salaries interrupted since the shutdown began almost six weeks ago. In some cases, governments hosting the US bases have stepped in to foot the bill, expecting the United States to eventually make good. In others, including in Italy and Portugal, workers have simply kept working unpaid as the gridlock in Washington drags on. It's an absurd situation because nobody has responses, nobody feels responsible, said Angelo Zaccaria, a union coordinator at the Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy. This is having dramatic effects on us Italian workers, he told The Associated Press. An array of needed jobs ----------------------------- The jobs foreign nationals do at US bases around the world range from food service, constructio

Russian drone threats prompt Poland, Romania to deploy defensive systems

Poland and Romania are deploying a new weapons system to defend against Russian drones, following a spate of incursions into NATO airspace in recent months that exposed the alliance's vulnerabilities and put Europe on edge. The American Merops system, which is small enough to fit in the back of a midsized pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, using artificial intelligence to navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed. As well as being deployed in Poland and Romania, Merops will also be used by Denmark, NATO military officials told The Associated Press, part of a move to boost defences on the alliance's eastern flank. The aim is to make the border with Russia so well-armed that Moscow's forces will be deterred from ever contemplating crossing, from Norway in the north to Turkey in the south, the officials said. The need for such technology became acute after around 20 Russian drones flew into Polish airspace in early September. ...

Europe winter travel costs for Indians drop up to 40%, says Cox and Kings

Europe remains a top pick for Indian travellers, and this winter brings extra cheer - package prices, airfares have fallen by up to 40% between November and February, according to Cox and Kings

China started reducing reliance on the West years before Trump tariffs

Two decades of sustained effort to build national self-reliance and minimize imports have antagonized trade partners but fortified what a senior adviser called Beijing's "bulwark" against conflicts

From Germany to Spain, top 10 European study abroad destinations in 2026

As visa hurdles rise in Canada and the US, a new report finds Europe could see 5% yearly growth in international enrolments through 2030

Europe struggles to avoid being sidelined by Trump's world-shaping plans

When President Donald Trump took the stage in Egypt to hail the US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, a row of world leaders stood behind him like extras in a political drama. It was a telling image. European governments have struggled to play a significant role in diplomacy over the Gaza war, while the America First leader has played a central one, pushing longtime allies in Europe toward the sidelines. Closer to home, they have labored with mixed results to shape Trump's response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's obstinate pursuit of the Ukraine war, a conflict with profound consequences for the continent's future. Is Europe able to influence Trump? I think the short answer... is no, said Lindsay Newman, a geopolitical risk expert and columnist for GZERO Media. The policy and positioning of the US government on Ukraine, on Israel, on its relationship with Europe is defined by the president and those around him. Largely the president. Newman said Trump's ...

European space push: Airbus, Leonardo, Thales join forces in €6.5 bn deal

Airbus, Leonardo and Thales will merge space businesses, creating a €6.5 billion company with 25,000 employees and cost savings of mid-triple-digit millions

France raises bird flu alert level to 'high' after fresh outbreaks

France has heightened its bird flu alert to 'high' after new outbreaks were confirmed in poultry farms and wild birds, prompting tighter biosecurity measures across the country.

Electric 2-wheeler maker Ultraviolette forays into Spain, Portugal markets

Premium electric two-wheeler maker Ultraviolette Automotive on Thursday announced its entry into Spain and Portugal, enhancing its presence to 12 European nations. By entering Spain and Portugal, the company is strategically positioning itself at the heart of Europe's booming EV landscape, it said in a statement. Rhino Electric Motor, its exclusive importer and distributor partner, will sell the F77 MACH 2 and F77 SuperStreet models in Spain and Portugal, it added. "The response from our first customers across France, Germany, the Netherlands, and other European markets has been absolutely phenomenal. Building on that momentum, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Ultraviolette F77 performance electric motorcycles in Spain and Portugal," Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said. Rhino Electric Motors Spokesperson Jorge Bialade said Ultraviolette is a game-changer for the Iberian electric motorcycle market.

Planning a Europe trip? New Schengen biometric entry rule now in effect

Europe New travel rules 2025: From October 12, non-EU travellers to Europe must register biometrics under the new Entry/Exit System replacing passport stamps by April 2026

France's re-appointed PM names new Cabinet in bid to quell political crisis

France's newly reappointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu named a new government Sunday, as he faces pressure to urgently produce a budget and quell political turmoil that is scaring businesses and investors and staining the country's image. The Cabinet includes several familiar faces from previous governments who hail from French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist camp, as well as allied conservatives, and some people from outside the political sphere. It is unclear how long this new team will last. Macron, whose term ends in 2027, lacks a majority in the deeply fractured parliament and is losing support from his own ranks. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen's ascendant far-right National Rally party is calling for new elections, while far-left France Unbowed wants the president to resign. Immediately after the president's office announced the new Cabinet, the conservative Republicans party announced it was expelling the six party members who agreed to join the government. Lecornu, a ..

Macron set to appoint new French PM in last-ditch move to tackle turmoil

After a week of intense political turmoil, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister on Friday in his latest bid to break the political deadlock that has gripped the country for more than a year, as France struggles with mounting economic challenges and ballooning debt. The appointment is widely seen as the president's last chance to revive his second term, which runs until 2027. With no majority in the National Assembly to push through his agenda, Macron faces increasingly fierce criticism, even from within his own camp, and has little room to manoeuvre. Outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, only hours after unveiling a new Cabinet. The shock resignation prompted calls for Macron to step down or dissolve parliament again. But they remained unanswered, with the president instead announcing on Wednesday that he would name a successor within 48 hours. Over the past year, Macron's successive minority governments have ...

EU nations plan to restrict Russian diplomats' travel: Here's why

European intelligence agencies have often accused Russian spies of carrying out arson, cyberattacks, drone intrusions, and other sabotage acts in Nato countries

Hundreds of thousands march across Europe in support of Palestinians

Hundreds of thousands of people across several European cities marched Sunday in support of Palestinians and an aid flotilla's attempt to reach Gaza. Istanbul held the largest of multiple demonstrations being staged in Turkiye. Footage showed crowds walking from the iconic Hagia Sophia to the banks of the Golden Horn, where they were greeted by dozens of boats decked in Turkish and Palestinian flags. The marchers called for Muslim solidarity with Palestinians following midday prayers in front of the former Byzantine cathedral, now converted to a mosque. The protests were among others planned Sunday in European cities to mark the second anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza. Israel's attacks have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry that is part of the Hamas-run government. In the Turkish capital Ankara, protesters held up flags and placards condemning the genocide in Gaza. This oppression, which

Hungary clings to Russian oil, gas as EU, NATO push to cut supplies

As the European Union pushes to fully sever its reliance on Russian energy and the administration of US President Donald Trump urges NATO members to abandon Russian oil, one country's populist government stands firm. Hungary and its leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbn, have long argued Russian energy imports are indispensable for the country's economy and switching to fossil fuels sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic collapse. Orbn, who has long had the friendliest ties to the Kremlin of any EU leader, has vigorously opposed the bloc's efforts to sanction Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and blasted attempts to hit Russia's energy revenues that help finance the war. As the rest of Europe has weaned off Russian energy, Hungary has maintained, and even increased, its Russian imports, insisting no viable alternative exists. But some energy experts as well as Orbn's critics, who see his commitment to Russian energy as a symptom of his affinity

Munich Airport suspends flights again after fresh drone sightings

Operations at Munich returned to normal at 5 am local time on Friday morning after drone sightings late on Thursday led to 17 departures being grounded and 15 incoming flights were diverted

India's diesel exports to Europe likely hit record high in September

Shiptracking data showed India's exports to Europe reached these levels for the first time since such figures began to be recorded in 2017

Putin vows quick Russian response if Europe continues provocations

'The elites of united Europe continue to whip up hysteria,' Putin said

US H-1B visa rules push Chinese workers to explore Europe as alternative

The new H-1B visa fee and stricter US visa rules are prompting Chinese workers to explore Europe, seeking better opportunities, higher stability, and a more welcoming work environment

Swiss glaciers shrink 3% this year, fourth-biggest retreat on record

Switzerland's glaciers have faced enormous melting this year with a 3 per cent drop in total volume the fourth-largest annual drop on record due to the effects of global warming, top Swiss glaciologists have reported. The shrinkage this year means that ice mass in Switzerland home to the most glaciers in Europe has declined by one-quarter over the last decade, the Swiss glacier monitoring group GLAMOS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences said in their report Wednesday. Glacial melting in Switzerland was once again enormous in 2025, the scientists said. A winter with low snow depth combined with heat waves in June and August led to a loss of 3 per cent of the glacier volume. Switzerland is home to nearly 1,400 glaciers, the most of any country in Europe, and the ice mass and its gradual melting have implications for hydropower, tourism, farming and water resources in many European countries. More than 1,000 small glaciers in Switzerland have already disappeared, the experts said.