Europe

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 12 BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries agreed Thursday to allow Croatia to fully open its borders and participate in Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone, but Bulgaria and Romania were told that they must wait longer to be allowed in. “The Schengen area is growing for the first time in more than a decade,” the Czech Republic, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency tweeted after a meeting of interior ministers in Brussels. “Ministers approved Croatia’s membership as of 1 January 2023!” The so-called Schengen area is the world's largest free travel zone. It comprises 26 countries — 22 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Almost 1.7 million people live in one Schengen country and work in another. Around 3.5 million people cross an internal border each day. Austria, in particular, had objected to … [Read more...] about EU: Croatia to enter Europe’s ID-check-free area in January

We’ve all dreamed about it since working from home has become more popular; moving abroad and working from your laptop in exotic places. Well, there’s a name for such a lifestyle - digital nomads - and number is slowly growing. Now, Spain’s just made it a lot easier and more tempting to make a shift. Remote working has exploded in both popularity and feasibility thanks to all the video meetings and online collaborations available, and people want to be on the move. READ MORE: 'I was in Mexico when UK borders closed – so I travelled the world while working' Some choose to renovate their vehicles and live the #VanLife driving around Europe. Others have said it’s cheaper to hop from hotel to hotel around the world than to rent in their city. But, the end result is pretty similar – you get to work from wherever you are in the sunshine, by the beach or at the edge of a desert (Wi-Fi permitting). Unfortunately, the main issue with living such a life is often a boring … [Read more...] about Spain’s new digital nomad scheme lets you travel all over Europe visa-free

Germany slams UK for breaching Brexit agreement SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The United Kingdom and the European Union have been at loggerheads for months over demands from the British Government for the renegotiations of the terms of the Northern Ireland protocol. London has maintained the terms of the Brexit clause have affected the economic and social standing of the UK nation but Brussels has insisted new negotiations will not take place. Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth urged the UK to "come to your senses" as he insisted Britain is in breach of the terms of the agreement. Related articles Gleeful Irish TD taunts Brexit Britain over ferry routes bypassing UK Brexit trade LIVE: MPs … [Read more...] about ‘Don’t want to argue, damn it!’ German Europe minister in fiery Brexit outburst at UK

Russia: Pawel Jablonski warns Poland ‘next in line’ SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Polish Secretary of State Tadeusz Kościński has likened the EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen's insistence on withholding funds to Poland to a "stab in the back." The former finance minister lashed out at the EU Commission's failure to agree to unlock money held up in Warsaw and Brussels' row over the rule of law while the war in Ukraine is raging on Poland 's doorstep. Related articles Putin's Wagner fighters use 2,000 rounds of ammo a day in Ukraine Russian port in Crimea rocked by 'powerful explosion' in major threat Mr Kościński told Express.co.uk: "We're in such a very specific situation with a … [Read more...] about ‘Knife in the back!’ Poland chief erupts at Brussels’ betrayal in Ukraine aid row

A sunny Spanish city is the best place to break the shroud of darkness which comes with winter in the UK. In the run up to Christmas twinkling fairy lights, open fires and the warm glow of a mince pie oven do their best to break through the bleak mid-winter. Once the amount of daily sunlight has dropped to less than eight hours however, it's easy to let the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) creep in regardless. If you're looking to escape these shores and top up your vitamin D levels, then Almería in Andalucía, Spain may be the place to go. The city has ranked top in a ranking of the sunniest European cities by loveholidays, clocking up an average of six hours and 18 minutes of sunshine per day between the months of December and February. Cyprus has a good amount of sunlight over the winter months ( Image: Golden Bay Beach) Two other hotspots in Andalucía also ranked within the top ten and are both easily reachable from most UK airports. That includes Cadiz … [Read more...] about Best European cities for winter sun including Barcelona, Seville and Marseille

LONDON (AP) — Britain is easing banking rules brought in after the 2008 global financial crisis in a bid to attract investment and secure London’s status as Europe’s leading finance center. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt said Friday that the changes, which follow Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020, will make the U.K. “one of the most open, dynamic and competitive financial services hubs in the world.” The package of more than 30 changes includes lifting a cap on bankers’ bonuses and easing capital requirements for smaller lenders. The government also said it will review regulations that hold bankers accountable for their decisions and will relax “ringfencing” rules intended to separate risky investment banking from retail operations. Hunt said the government was using “Brexit freedoms” to make Britain more competitive. But many economists point out that the U.K.’s departure from the EU has erected barriers to trade and led some firms to shift offices and jobs to … [Read more...] about UK to ease financial regulations in post-Brexit shakeup

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 4 BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were higher in Europe and Asia ahead of an update Friday on U.S. wholesale prices that will provide insights into how businesses are coping with inflation. Germany's DAX added 0.2% to 14,295.30 while the CAC 40 in Paris was nearly unchanged at 6,649.30. Britain's FTSE 100 also was little changed, gaining less than 2 points to 7,474.82. The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. Chinese benchmarks rose Friday on reports the government is planning new measures to support the ailing property sector, which has been a severe drag on growth over the past several years. Property shares got a boost from Sunac China Holdings' announcement that it has made “considerable progress" in restructuring $9.1 billion of its $11 billion in offshore debts. More than a third of the total originally was to … [Read more...] about World shares higher ahead of U.S. inflation update

Brits could work remotely from a beautiful Spanish beach and pay just 15% income tax from next year under a newly passed law. The Spanish government has announced a new Digital Nomad Visa which is designed to tempt talented people from outside the European Union into the country's workforce. The visa is part of the Start-Up law, which was passed by the Spanish parliament last Thursday. To qualify you have to be making less than €600,000 (£522,000) a year and apply for a new one-year visa every 12 months. Typically, non-residents must pay a personal income tax of 24%, while those under the new visa will pay just 15% for five years. As the country is using the scheme to bring cash into Spain, there is also a minimum wage requirement which is expected to be between €2,100 and €3,000 per month. Visa holders can bring their loved ones along ( Image: Getty Images) An added bonus for Brits who sign up to the scheme is the extra travel rights it affords you. Those … [Read more...] about Spain’s new ‘digital nomad’ scheme will let Brits travel around the EU visa-free

Ukraine: President Zelensky visits war wounded in Kiev hospital SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen Moscow take advantage of the cold weather by weaponizing energy supplies and attacking power systems to freeze out Ukrainians. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of once again “escalating the war”. Related articles Putin insists that Russia has 'not gone crazy' Ben Wallace strengthens ‘special US-UK defence relationship’ He said: “He has been weaponizing food and hunger and Putin now has decided to weaponize the winter, throwing Ukrainian people into the cold and … [Read more...] about Brussels vows to ‘keep pressure high on Kremlin’ as Putin accused of ‘escalating’ war

Nottingham Forest v Tottenham: Carabao Cup pictures SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt star Daichi Kamada, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The midfielder is attracting plenty of interest from around Europe, with many impressed by his performances at the Qatar World Cup . Related articles Tottenham eye swoop for 'outstanding' Amrabat as agent drops hint Mauricio Pochettino selects surprise all-time World Cup team Kamada was a standout star for Japan in their successful tournament, being knocked out in the Round of 16 by Croatia having progressed through a group containing Spain, Germany and Costa Rica. The … [Read more...] about Tottenham ‘eye in-form World Cup star’ who they could sign for bargain fee in January