E.U. Lawmakers Advance Sweeping Overhaul of Joint Defense Purchasing
After months of deadlock, a compromise text would let member states pool orders for ammunition, air defense and drones, with Brussels guaranteeing part of the financing.
Europe
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Berlin Coalition Finds Compromise on Pension Reform After Week of Threats
The retirement age will rise by stages to 68, offset by a higher minimum pension. Both partners claimed victory; economists said the math still does not close.
First Stretch of Rail Baltica Opens Between Kaunas and the Polish Border
The 95-kilometer section is the first piece of a long-delayed line that will connect the Baltic states to the European rail network for the first time since independence.
Paris Loves Its Café Terraces. Its Neighbors Have Had Enough.
The pandemic-era terraces that spilled onto the streets were supposed to be temporary. Five years later the city is trying to decide what to keep.
Dutch Farm Buyout Program Closes With 1,100 Farmers Accepting Offers to Quit
The voluntary scheme, meant to cut nitrogen pollution near protected nature areas, fell short of the government’s target but still marks the largest exit from Dutch livestock farming in a generation.
After a Summer of Dry Taps, Greek Islands Rush to Build Desalination Plants
Tourist arrivals set records even as reservoirs on the Cyclades fell to historic lows, forcing Athens to approve emergency funding for 31 new plants.
Finland Completes 200-Kilometer Fence Along Russian Border, Ending a Three-Year Project
The barrier covers the most sensitive stretches of a 1,340-kilometer frontier that has been closed to traffic since late 2023.
Two Years Into a National School Phone Ban, Sweden Reports Better Grades and Fewer Fights
A government evaluation found measurable gains in reading scores and a drop in reported bullying, though researchers caution that the ban coincided with other reforms.
Lisbon Votes to Cancel 4,000 Short-Term Rental Licenses in Bid to Cool Housing Market
The city council approved a measure that will revoke permits in its most saturated neighborhoods over three years, the toughest step yet by a European capital against tourist apartments.
