Zadie Smith’s new book shows authors shouldn’t publish every thought

A third book of essays from the literary powerhouse is patchy and strangely bloodless If you’re reading this on a screen then I hope you’ve been awake for more than an hour. Or at least Zadie Smith does. More than once in the essays collected in...

Spain’s emeritus king on his undeclared fortune: ‘It was a gift I did not know how to refuse. A grave mistake’

Juan Carlos de Borbón, who reigned as King of Spain for nearly 39 years, is back in the public eye just weeks before the 50th anniversary of the Spanish monarchy. It may seem unusual, but the former monarch has decided to give a few interviews to...

15 easy tips from Scandinavians on how to have a cosy winter

From barbecuing sausages on walks to candle-lit evenings, Scandinavians know how to make the season more enjoyable. Locals tell Joanna Whitehead their favourite little comforts Welfare, equality, happiness, work-life balance – the Scandinavian...

Exiled Russian founders build new startups across Europe

Bogdan Leonov, a Russian national, is building a chain of power-bank rental stations in Cyprus and Greece, and setting up a franchise in Portugal. His WE53 startup, launched in 2023, has already seen annual revenues rise to about €600,000...

Spain’s Poverty Problem

Spain’s Socialist-led government claims to have reduced socioeconomic inequality to “historic lows.” In some respects, this seems to be true. Spain currently scores 31.2 on the Gini income inequality index, down from 31.5 in 2023 and 33 in 2021....

Europe’s regulatory framework for hydrogen: What lies ahead for the industry?

The 2024 Gas and Hydrogen Package constitutes the largest legislative development in the European gas market in over a decade. Member States now have until mid-2026 to translate the provisions of the Hydrogen Package and its Directive into...

Spain’s Emeritus King, Juan Carlos, says he gave the ‘people democracy, it is my legacy’

EXILED Emeritus King, Juan Carlos, has said that democracy is the ‘legacy he left to Spain’ in his memoir to be published in France next week. The book’s appearance will coincide with next month’s 50th anniversary of the death of dictator General...

The Magic of Egypt in Interwar Britain

It was Rasputin, one of the greatest sorcerers in history, who really caused World War I — at least according to the plot of a hugely successful novel of 1935, “The Devil Rides Out.” Its author, Dennis Wheatley, was one of the most popular British...

Spain travel reminder: Month of big travel changes for Britons heading for Mallorca and Menorca

November could prove a challenging month for Britons travelling to Spain, especially Mallorca and Ibiza. To begin with Ryanair, Europe's No. 1 airline, has confirmed that it will begin using 100% digital boarding passes from Wednesday, 12...

Understanding Ekwensu beyond European Satan (2)

PROF NATHAN UZOMAH In Igbo cosmology, Ekwensu is considered a powerful and important figure, but he is not the supreme deity. That distinction belongs to Chukwu, the all-powerful and all-knowing creator of the universe. Chukwu is believed to be...

Has life today been enshittified? Cory Doctorow's new book explores

Does your phone seem less functional than it once was? It may be due to enshittification HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images Enshittification Cory Doctorow (MCD Books) “Enshittification” is one of those rare new words that so perfectly sums up a...

‘You don’t have to hurtle down slopes or dance like crazy at après parties’: readers’ favourite winter mountain holidays in Europe

Why Innsbruck makes the perfect winter base Innsbruck offers lots of options for a winter holiday. I found it’s a place where you don’t have to hurtle down ski slopes or dance like crazy at après-ski parties. In fact I was amazed when I took the...

2026 Anambra governorship election: Women candidates facing online abuse, safety threat, discrimination – EU-SDGN II 

Ahead of the 2025 Anambra state off-cycle governorship election, EU-SDGN II partners have raised the alarm that women candidates were facing online abuse, discriminatory party structures and safety threat. The Executive Director of International...

Max Hastings on how Britain didn’t win the war

For those of us who are ardent Churchillians, it is embarrassing to be reminded by the author of this weighty but never dull tome that the greatest Englishman appeased Stalin at least as extravagantly as Chamberlain appeased Hitler and Trump...

Lyndal Roper wins Cundill History Prize for ‘thrilling and tragic’ book

Lyndal Roper, regius professor of history at the University of Oxford, has won the 2025 US$75,000 (£55,000) Cundill History Prize for her “sensational” Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants’ War (John Murray Press/Basic Books). The...

Rockport, Maine: Where farm, sea and flavor meet

Rockport, Maine: Where farm, sea and flavor meet Explore a harbor town where sustainable farming, seaside views and inspired cuisine define the heart of Midcoast Maine THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL. IN THE LOW ANGLED SON OF AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON, ROCKPORT...

Putin seeks 'dialogue' with Trump as EU seeks to shore up Ukraine as US wavers

Putin seeks 'dialogue' with Trump as EU seeks to shore up Ukraine as US wavers by AFP Staff Writers Moscow (AFP) Oct 23, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to continue "dialogue" on Thursday, after his US counterpart Donald Trump shelved...

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales: ‘The EU is making some disastrous ­missteps over the regulation of speech’

The internet entrepreneur talks to Adrian Weckler about his new book, the dangers of European laws on hate speech, being on texting terms with Elon Musk but wanting ‘Twitter’ to go out of business, and having no regrets about not making billions...

MoS Margherita signs Book of Condolences, pays tribute to Thailand Queen Mother Sirkit at Thailand embassy in Delhi

New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita paid solemn tribute by signing the Book of Condolences at the Thailand Embassy in New Delhi on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen...

No longer a Prince or a duke: What all has Britain’s Andrew lost? What benefits does he keep?

He was born a prince — into a life of royal privilege as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, on Thursday (October 30), Britain’s King Charles III stripped his younger brother Andrew of his royal titles, including prince, and ousted...