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Europe

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Maricarmen Abascal, Spain's housing crisis icon, dies at 87 after failed return to home
europe2 days ago

Maricarmen Abascal, Spain's housing crisis icon, dies at 87 after failed return to home

Maricarmen Abascal, the 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid apartment sparked a national housing crisis, has died. She had resisted four eviction attempts over a decade but was finally removed by police in September. Although a late agreement allowed her to return, she died in hospital before moving back. Her death has triggered new protests, a general strike call from unions, and early elections as the government seeks to pass housing measures previously rejected by parliament.

Russian strikes on two Kyiv bridges sever Dnipro crossings, causing major traffic gridlock
europe6 days ago

Russian strikes on two Kyiv bridges sever Dnipro crossings, causing major traffic gridlock

Russian forces struck Kyiv’s Northern Bridge on October 3, following a hit on the Southern Bridge the previous day. The attacks damaged road surfaces and trolleybus cables, suspending traffic across the Dnipro River and causing severe congestion. Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the situation as 'very dramatic,' noting that three of the city’s six bridges are now closed or partially suspended. Russia claims the bridges support Ukrainian military logistics, while Ukraine asserts the strikes aim to disrupt civilian life and force residents to flee.

G7 Agrees to Release 100 Million Barrels of Diesel After Trump Threatens Export Ban
energy6 days ago

G7 Agrees to Release 100 Million Barrels of Diesel After Trump Threatens Export Ban

G7 nations agreed to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from strategic reserves over four months, ending a standoff with the U.S. administration. The decision followed intense pressure from Washington, which threatened to ban diesel exports to lower domestic prices. European leaders privately criticized the move as 'blackmail,' but ultimately conceded to avoid a U.S. export ban that could have disrupted global supply chains. Diesel prices had reached record highs due to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, prompting the U.S. to seek immediate relief for domestic consumers ahead of midterm elections.

Russia Launches Largest Energy Grid Assault Since Spring, Killing Seven and Cutting Power
europe7 days ago

Russia Launches Largest Energy Grid Assault Since Spring, Killing Seven and Cutting Power

Russia executed its most significant combined strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since April 2026, targeting power facilities in Kyiv and other major cities. The attack, which killed seven people and forced emergency power cuts in four regions, marks the beginning of a new winter campaign aimed at degrading Ukraine’s energy security. Ukrainian officials warn that the coming winter could be the harshest yet, while Russia claims it is retaliating for Ukrainian strikes on its own fuel and energy sites.

UK and France terminate 'one in, one out' migrant pilot after limited results
europe8 days ago

UK and France terminate 'one in, one out' migrant pilot after limited results

The UK has ended its year-long 'one in, one out' pilot with France, which aimed to return small-boat migrants in exchange for legal asylum seekers. The scheme, known as Operation Hillmore, processed only about 1,500 people and cost an average of €65,500 per return, failing to significantly deter the 27,920 small-boat arrivals recorded during the period. While London cited limited scale, Paris sought an EU-wide solution, and both nations are now negotiating the terms of exit.

Eiffel Tower CEO Resigns After Probe Confirms Discriminatory Staffing for Hindu Delegation
europe9 days ago

Eiffel Tower CEO Resigns After Probe Confirms Discriminatory Staffing for Hindu Delegation

Patrick Branco Ruivo, the director general of the Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), will resign at the end of 2026 following an internal investigation into the exclusion of female staff during a September visit by the Hindu group BAPS. The probe confirmed that management accepted requests to limit interactions with women, leading to a staff strike and the temporary closure of the landmark. SETE chair Ariel Weil has ordered new gender equality training and a dedicated protocol department to prevent future incidents.

Abascal to return home after deal, but Spain faces housing crisis
europe10 days ago

Abascal to return home after deal, but Spain faces housing crisis

Maricarmen Abascal, an 87-year-old Spanish pensioner evicted from her Madrid home in September, will return to her apartment under a new rental agreement. Her lawyer, Beatriz Duro, confirmed a deal with investment firm Urbagestión, averting a massive rent hike. The incident triggered nationwide protests and a tent camp in Madrid's Puerta del Sol, pressuring Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to pass emergency housing legislation. While Abascal's case is resolved, critics argue the deal is a temporary fix, demanding systemic reforms to address Spain's severe housing shortage and soaring rents.

CIA warns Europe of Russian drone strikes from sea
world15 days ago

CIA warns Europe of Russian drone strikes from sea

The CIA has warned European governments that Russia may launch drones from ships to attack Spain, France, or Italy. The alert, based on intelligence from CIA Director John Ratcliffe's August visit to Moscow, suggests Moscow is targeting southern Europe to exploit political vulnerabilities ahead of 2027 elections. Italy dismissed the threat as unsubstantiated, while analysts note the move could disrupt NATO cohesion.

EU Commission proposes releasing €4.2bn in frozen funds for Hungary after rule-of-law reforms
europe15 days ago

EU Commission proposes releasing €4.2bn in frozen funds for Hungary after rule-of-law reforms

The European Commission has proposed unblocking €4.2 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary and restoring its access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, citing significant rule-of-law reforms under Prime Minister Péter Magyar. This follows a 2022 suspension of €6.3 billion due to corruption and procurement issues under Viktor Orbán. While €10 billion in recovery funds remain under review, €2 billion in cohesion funds stay blocked over asylum and academic freedom concerns, with Magyar pledging to resolve these by year's end.

Hungary Rejects Carpathian Eight Forum and Oil Storage Deal, Deepening Ukraine Tensions
europe16 days ago

Hungary Rejects Carpathian Eight Forum and Oil Storage Deal, Deepening Ukraine Tensions

Hungary has formally rejected participation in Ukraine’s new Carpathian Eight regional forum and blocked a joint oil storage agreement, citing lack of consent and security concerns. This move has intensified diplomatic friction, with Kyiv accusing Budapest of continuing the obstructionist policies of the previous government despite recent efforts to reset relations.

Zaporizhzhia Struck Again as Kyiv's 1,000-Drone Weekend Escalates Ukraine War
europe17 days ago

Zaporizhzhia Struck Again as Kyiv's 1,000-Drone Weekend Escalates Ukraine War

Russian drones struck Zaporizhzhia late Sunday, damaging apartment blocks, a university and a shopping mall and wounding five, as Kyiv said it had deployed more than 1,000 drones in a weekend barrage against Russia; the strikes extended to nine other Ukrainian regions, while Moldova reported airspace incursions amid ongoing cross-border drone activity ahead of UN General Assembly diplomacy.

Europe’s Fuel Crunch Deepens as Jet-Fuel Shortage Joins Diesel Pain
world18 days ago

Europe’s Fuel Crunch Deepens as Jet-Fuel Shortage Joins Diesel Pain

Europe is facing a widening fuel crunch as jet-fuel shortages loom for Q4, with Energy Aspects forecasting a 510,000 barrels-per-day deficit and European jet-fuel stocks at their lowest since 2019; South Korea has become Europe’s largest jet-fuel supplier, while gasoline and diesel prices reach record highs and threaten eurozone inflation. The disruption follows Saudi Arabia canceling October cargoes after Houthi attacks, underscoring ongoing supply fragility, and analysts warn that diesel production gains could squeeze gasoline later.