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Weather

From toxic blooms to dead zones, how wildfires transform oceans and lakes

Wildfire smoke and ash can reshape aquatic ecosystems long after the flames have been extinguished Wildfires are an increasing problem in Europe and elsewhere. While their immediate effect on air quality is obvious, they can also trigger less visible but significant environmental effects, including algal blooms. An algal bloom is the rapid growth of algae and other plant-like microorganisms. These blooms can become so dense that they change the colour of the lake and seas. Although most are harmless, some produce dangerous toxins. When their blooms die, their decomposition depletes oxygen in t

Travel

Solo autumn walks for women in the UK and Europe: ‘it should be fun, not daunting’

Hiking alone in the countryside can be joyous, but for women it can sometimes feel unnerving. Here’s how to enjoy it safely, plus four stunning routes to walk solo I did my first solo hike during a sunny September, seven years ago. After a summer of feeding and ferrying four noisy teenagers (and their friends) around, I was exhausted. But despite being bone tired, I had barely moved. I yearned, above all, for time on my own, for the chance to walk without interruption (and at the pace I chose), and for the silence of some empty wilderness. But I was nervous. Not of being on my own, but of what

Travel

Socialist hotels – in pictures

Socialist Hotels is the first photography book to focus solely on the architecture of hospitality in Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet landscape. These state-constructed buildings were used by visiting government workers and ordinary citizens. Today they are a fascinating legacy of a social and cultural idiosyncrasy. Socialist Hotels by Elena Amabili is published by FUEL Continue reading...

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Travel

‘Gateways to heaven’: readers’ favourite trips in Europe’s mountains

From the foothills of the Pyrenees to the peaks of the Dolomites, you share your top views, meals and adventures at altitude • Tell us about a trip to Germany – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher No doubt your first thought on hearing the words “double-decker” is of a bus. But in the Swiss village of Stans, an old wooden funicular carriage ascends to the station, where a double-decker cable car awaits. Inside, a spiral staircase leads you to an open upper viewing deck. At the summit, the views back to Lucerne are superb, and there are alpine marmots to spot too. There was a wedding cerem

Politics

Trump says 'major progress' made towards US military base in Poland

US President Donald Trump said that Washington and Warsaw were making "major progress" towards establishing a US military base in Poland, potentially giving the United States a permanent military foothold on NATO's eastern flank even as his administration reviews its broader troop presence in Europe.

Politics

Live: Russia strikes four Ukrainian vessels in Black Sea

Moscow on Friday struck four Ukrainian cargo vessels in the Black ‌Sea, according to Russian state media. The attacks came as polling stations in Russia opened for the country's first parliamentary election since the start of the war in Ukraine. Follow our liveblog for all the latest updates.

Politics

Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on

Polls opened in Russia's Far East on Friday as the country began three days of voting for its parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power alongside other parties aligned with President Vladimir Putin, as the only party that criticised the war was removed from the ballot.

Politics

'Election without meaningful competition': Russia’s results won't measure support for Putin or war

Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes at Chatham House. According to Roos, Russia’s parliamentary election is revealing because of what the electoral process can still tell us about the political system Vladimir Putin has constructed. In the absence of any meaningful competition, and anti-war opposition excluded, Roos argues that the most revealing signals may lie elsewhere: in turnout, the timing of voting, the performance of the remaining parties, and the Kremlin’s effort to frame participation itself as evidence of natio

Politics

Russia seizes assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French firms

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday to transfer assets of Swiss food giant Nestle and three French groups to a company called LEV Management. Most Western companies quickly sold their Russian operations and holdings after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Kremlin has since made it difficult for firms to leave the country.

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Topic: Europe | RocksNews