brussels bureau The Brief from Brussels: EU expansion plans stall for the Balkans France, the Netherlands and Denmark have gone cold on expanding the EU into the Western Balkans, despite EU recommendations to start the process for Albania and North Macedonia.
state of the union Gender battles and Boris' Brussels memories This week we look at how the new Commission President hopes to get gender balance among the nominees for her Commissioners. And we look at how people remembered Boris Johnson's time as a correspondent in the Belgian capital.
Smart Regions Mont Saint Michel reclaims island-like character After around 20 years of research and construction work, Mont Saint Michel has recovered its isolated character, thanks to a new dam and footbridge.
Denmark Need a cheap mortgage rate? Try this Danish bank - it's less than 0% Borrowers will be able to secure a -0.5% interest rate over 10 years. 14/08/2019
France One man's battle with Europe's ultra-distance cycling circuit Jonathan Rankin returned to the Transcontinental Race for a second time to complete unfinished business 14/08/2019
Sweden Automated sobriety check installed at Gothenburg port's ferry terminal Drivers selected at random will have to submit to the test. If they fail, the gate remains closed and police is alerted. 14/08/2019
United Kingdom UK-based Turks take government to court over immigration policy change "We feel vulnerable and insecure. What if the Home Office changes the rules again?," Esra Candan Saginc, a Turkish national established in the UK, told Euronews. 14/08/2019
Sweden Swedish judge finds A$AP Rocky guilty of assault in Stockholm The court finds that the defendants were not in a situation where they were entitled to self-defence and that they have assaulted the victim by hitting and kicking him. But the rapper will avoid prison. 14/08/2019
Serbia Serbia and Kosovo told to compromise and resume talks Kosovo and Serbia have been told to put their differences aside so that both countries can resume membership talks with the EU. 14/08/2019
United Kingdom Watch back: Thunberg sets sail from Plymouth to attend UN summits Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg will sail across the Atlantic to attend UN climate summits. 14/08/2019
Germany Meet the women reunited 58 years after Berlin Wall was built Two women have been reunited 58 years since they appeared in a now-famous photo shaking hands over the Berlin Wall. 13/08/2019
Australia EU to Australia: Stop calling your cheese Feta or Gruyere At first glance, blocks of feta produced in Australia or in Greece are not as different as chalk and cheese. But for the European Union, they are. 13/08/2019
United Kingdom Debate flares up over whether UK PM can suspend parliament for Brexit Debate is hotting up in the UK over whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson should be allowed to suspend parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit as MPs prepare to take the government to court over the issue. 13/08/2019
Malaysia Body found in Malaysia confirmed as missing teenager Nora Quoirin The Lucie Blackman Trust confirmed "with great sadness that the body found today is that of missing teenager Nora Quoirin." 13/08/2019
World EU asylum applications jumped 10% in first six months of 2019 Overall, just over a third of decisions (34%) issued in the first six months of 2019 were granted EU-regulated protection 12/08/2019
United Kingdom UK MPs running out of options to block no-deal Brexit, report says There is no time for MPs opposing to a no-deal Brexit to legislate against it or to hold elections or a second referendum that would derail such an event, according to the Institute for Government. 12/08/2019
world news Could delays to Balkan enlargement undermine the EU? France and the Netherlands have shown reluctance about allowing any more members, but could that sabotage EU influence in the Balkans? 11/08/2019
Italy Fragments of Boeing 787 fall near Fiumicino airport after take-off Engine fragments from a Norwegian Airlines Boeing 787 fell on roofs and cars in the area near Rome Fiumicino airport, causing damage but no casualties. 11/08/2019
United Kingdom British would be 'big losers' from no-deal Brexit, Juncker says "If it comes to a hard Brexit, that is in no one's interest, but the British would be the big losers," Juncker told an Austrian newspaper. 10/08/2019
Denmark Denmark considers tightening border security with Sweden Two Swedes were charged with a bomb-attack aimed at a tax agency last Tuesday. 10/08/2019
United Kingdom Why is the Irish backstop so important in Brexit negotiations? The Irish backstop is a sort of insurance policy to keep the Irish border open post-Brexit. 10/08/2019
Finland Watch: Purpose-built primary school is designed to combat stress The school is publicly funded and was created with the help of designer Margit Sjöroos. 09/08/2019
United Kingdom Watch: A new footbridge will reunite the two halves of Tintagel Castle Watch: A new footbridge will reunite the two halves of Tintagel Castle 09/08/2019
