A European Perspective

Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with government members via a video link in Moscow on September 23, 2026.

'Are you ready?' - Putin raises taxes following election

No sooner have the Russian parliamentary elections ended than massive tax rises are on the horizon. The Kremlin lacks the funds for the war, so the finance minister is having to be particularly resourceful.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

behind the game lies technology that has applications far beyond sport

Bulgaria opens academy to train drone specialists

A drone aviation academy is set to open at the Higher School of Telecommunications and Post in Bulgaria.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

Europe's hidden heat toll: excess mortality in summer '26

While it will take months to know the exact breakdown of the causes for these deaths, one thing is clear: the timing of the heat waves that gripped the continent between June and August coincided with the biggest increase in fatalities in many countries.

A European Perspective • 21 hrs

Erdoğan: We are allies with Greece, not enemies

"Turkey is not Greece's enemy; it is its neighbour and ally under the NATO umbrella," Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said whilst speaking to journalists at the Turkish House in New York.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

Illustrative image – A syringe filled with liquid against a blue background

Self-optimisation via injection: the peptide boom

Beautiful skin, weight loss, toned muscles: online, peptides are often advertised as miracle cures with supposedly life-changing effects. But what are the risks associated with these injections?

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

The changes could reduce fuel prices by around eight cents per litre

Excise tax on fuel to be reduced in Latvia

The Saeima (Latvian parliament) has approved amendments to the Law on Limiting Price Increases for Petroleum Products, which provide for a reduction in the excise duty rate on diesel fuel and unleaded petrol from 1 October until the end of the year.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

first solo exhibition in France for James Marshall

The American paintings of Kerry James Marshall

African-American painter Kerry James Marshall summed up his ambition as follows: 'I've always wanted to be a painter of history.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

A pile of maize grains is seen on the pier at the Izmail Sea Port, Odesa

Border controls on grain shipments in Latvia

To ensure that cargoes stolen in Ukraine, including grain, are not transported through Latvian territory, the Latvian parliament (Saeima) adopted an amendment to the Animal Feed Circulation Law in its final reading on Thursday, 24 September, according to the Saeima's press office.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

Situated in south-western Europe, Portugal has become a gateway for cocaine from South America

Portugal: at the forefront of cocaine trafficking

Portugal has become a strategic gateway to Europe with more than 28 tonnes of cocaine having been seized by authorities this year.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

E. Jean Caroll, the journalist who secured Donald Trump’s conviction for sexual assault, speaking on France Inter on 24 September 2026

'Beware of old women,' warns E. Jean Carroll

The journalist who secured Donald Trump's conviction for sexual assault warns 'beware of all women', adding 'no one is stronger or has less to lose than an old woman'.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

Heating costs could rise by 10 to 15 per cent in Latvia

Latvia is ready for the heating season, but people will most likely have to pay more for heating.

A European Perspective • 25 Sep

data centre will in future be connected to a farm

A farm thanks to a data centre

Servers stretching as far as the eye can see, designed to host, amongst other things, the data of tens of thousands of individuals will in future be connected to a farm.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

A Cistugo seabrae bat collected during an expedition in Namibia

Scientists rewrite the bat family tree

The most extensive genetic and palaeontological study of bats to date has revealed that the only flying mammals originated 65 million years ago in Europe – not in Africa, as had previously been assumed.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

The starting point for the Greek proposal is the observation that the radio spectrum

Greek proposal for creation of European Spectrum Union

Greece is proposing the creation of a European Spectrum Union, which would link the use of Europe's radio spectrum to new resources for the budget of the 27 Member States and for investment in strategic technologies.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

Germany: How to make school meals a success

The expectations for a good school meal are high. But so are the challenges: school lunches need to be healthy and sustainable, whilst also being affordable and tasty.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

It was only three years ago that Gerald Stelzer, the man behind the idea and a hotelier, had the rocket installed, paying around 50,000 euros for it

Mars hotel deal falls through: 12m rocket up for grabs

The world's first Mars hotel project has been cancelled. All that remains is a landmark: a 12m-high rocket, which is now to be given away.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

Pupils in Year 3 at the Jewish Primary School in Munich, together with their teacher – taken in May 1937

How the Jewish School in Munich became the last refuge

A class photograph provided the inspiration for a special book: it shows pupils at the Jewish Primary School in Munich. The result is a moving account of children during the Holocaust and the life journeys of young Jewish people.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

Gaißau-Hintersee ski resort in the Salzburg region is planning to reopen with a year-round concept

Ski resort operators rethink approach in climate change

More and more low-altitude ski resorts are being forced to close or reinvent themselves, as climate change is leading to less snowfall.

A European Perspective • 24 Sep

The cost of the Pope’s visit to France is expected to amount to 27 million euros, according to figures from the French Bishops’ Conference.

The impossible equation of funding the Pope's visit

The Church in France is still seeking several tens of millions of euros to balance the books for the papal visit. This is a challenge caused by France's unique status.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

Poland's government approves plan to cap doctors' pay

Poland's government approved a package of healthcare bills on Tuesday, including measures that would cap earnings for doctors working in the public system and limit the number of jobs they can hold to two.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

Debate over migration and social tensions in Lithuania

The burning of a Quran in central Vilnius and a confrontation outside a mosque in Kaunas have intensified a debate in Lithuania over immigration, integration and who is responsible for rising social tensions.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

Prince Okaiteye, a Ghanaian who fought as a mercenary in the Russian army, was taken prisoner by the Defence Forces in December 2025. He is currently being held in a camp for prisoners of war belonging to the Russian armed forces

How Russia recruits Africans to fight in Ukraine war

The Kremlin's recruitment of citizens from African countries is becoming widespread. Recruits from Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Algeria, Mali and other African countries continue to travel to Russia in the hope of making easy money.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

Spain: protecting the soil after fire

In Spain, more than 250,000 hectares of land were ravaged by fire this summer but before the first autumn rains arrive, the soil must be protected against erosion.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

'Dragon's teeth' on the Baltic Defense Line in Estonia's southeastern Setomaa region

'Border tourism' grows in southeast Estonia

The newly installed border infrastructure, including the Baltic Defense Line fortifications and its "dragon's teeth" anti-tank obstacles, is on the bucket list for visitors.

A European Perspective • 23 Sep

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu wants to block US voting initiative

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has asked the Central Elections Committee to block a US initiative that helps Israelis return home quickly and cheaply so that they can vote.

A European Perspective • 22 Sep

a-european-perspective

'Are you ready?' - Putin raises taxes following election

Bulgaria opens academy to train drone specialists

Europe's hidden heat toll: excess mortality in summer '26

Erdoğan: We are allies with Greece, not enemies

Self-optimisation via injection: the peptide boom

Excise tax on fuel to be reduced in Latvia

The American paintings of Kerry James Marshall

Border controls on grain shipments in Latvia

Portugal: at the forefront of cocaine trafficking

'Beware of old women,' warns E. Jean Carroll

Heating costs could rise by 10 to 15 per cent in Latvia

A farm thanks to a data centre

Scientists rewrite the bat family tree

Greek proposal for creation of European Spectrum Union

Germany: How to make school meals a success

Mars hotel deal falls through: 12m rocket up for grabs

How the Jewish School in Munich became the last refuge

Ski resort operators rethink approach in climate change

The impossible equation of funding the Pope's visit

Poland's government approves plan to cap doctors' pay

Debate over migration and social tensions in Lithuania

How Russia recruits Africans to fight in Ukraine war

Spain: protecting the soil after fire

'Border tourism' grows in southeast Estonia

Netanyahu wants to block US voting initiative

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