Europe

Europe is shaped by decisions made across borders, from the continent’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine to debates over sanctions and military support. These choices affect security, diplomacy and the daily lives of people across the region.

The topic also covers European politics, business, culture and sport, alongside events that test public safety and trust. Together, these stories offer a view of the forces changing life in Europe and its place in the wider world.

Germany’s top former spy leaked British secrets, MI6 fears

October 7, 2026

Former BND chief August Hanning has been arrested in Germany on suspicion of treasonous espionage, obtaining state secrets and attempted treason. MI6 and GCHQ are reviewing sensitive information shared with European allies to assess whether British intelligence or its sources may have been compromised. Prosecutors allege that Hanning received about 2,000 documents from former aide…
Ikea tests online furniture buy-back service in Spain and Portugal

October 6, 2026

Ikea is testing an online buy-back service for secondhand furniture, with pilots in Spain and Portugal before the end of December, ahead of a potential UK launch. The move comes as the retailer launches its own secondhand marketplace in the UK this week, directly competing with platforms like Vinted and eBay in the booming pre-owned…
Drone strikes sink two Black Sea cargo ships and damage another

October 6, 2026

Drones have sunk two cargo ships and damaged a third in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries in the Black Sea, marking the first such attacks in NATO waters. The strikes killed at least two sailors, with others missing or rescued from the water. Bulgaria and Romania’s territories were targeted on 5-6 October,…
Former Soviet bioweapons chief urges scrutiny after Russian lab worker dies

October 6, 2026

A 28-year-old laboratory worker at a Russian plague research institute has died from pneumonia of unclear origin, prompting alarm from a former Soviet bioweapons official. Dr Ken Alibek, who once oversaw the Soviet Union’s secret biological weapons programme, warns the incident is “highly suspicious” and requires close monitoring, particularly given Russia’s documented history of weaponising…
Hackers demand ransom from ASOS; Ukraine railways battered by drones

October 6, 2026

ASOS customers hit by extortion scam demanding payment within two weeks. Russian drone attacks intensify on Ukrainian railways; composer George Fenton dies aged 76.
Ruth Davidson says Brexit deepened divisions and expects another Europe vote

October 6, 2026

Ruth Davidson said she expects another referendum on Britain’s relationship with Europe eventually, but hopes it will not happen in the next few years. The former Scottish Conservative leader said the Brexit and Scottish independence votes divided people into opposing camps and damaged UK politics. Davidson argued that Britain should address economic and social problems…
European AI flag bearer Mistral’s new open weights model is ‘Le Chonk’

October 6, 2026

Mistral has unveiled Mistral Large 4, a trillion-parameter open weights model it nicknames “Le Chonk”, its largest release to date. The model is designed for multimodal and reasoning tasks, and its European training and deployment are relevant to efforts to build sovereign AI capabilities within Europe. The model uses a mixture-of-experts architecture with about 49…
Croatia face Spain as Nations League quarter-final race intensifies

October 6, 2026

Croatia and Spain meet in the Nations League, with Spain able to secure a place in the quarter-finals if they win and England avoid defeat against the Czech Republic. The match follows Croatia’s recent loss to England, which has prompted questions about the team’s performance and response. Croatia captain Luka Modrić said the manner of…
Nigeria crash kills 32; Paris protests rattle euro zone

October 6, 2026

Nigeria mourns 32 after military aircraft crash; Paris protests send euro to 17-month low amid debt crisis. Prostate cancer diagnoses among under-50s surge 305 per cent in England.
Leaked Fitbit Edge details confirm pricing, OLED screen and health features

October 6, 2026

Google’s upcoming Fitbit Edge fitness tracker has been revealed through leaks, with full pricing and feature details now confirmed. The new device combines an OLED touchscreen with comprehensive health monitoring, positioning itself as a premium addition to Google’s Fitbit range powered by AI coaching and advanced sensors. The Fitbit Edge will cost £159 in the…