Author: The Guardian

Spiralling rents and sky-high property prices risk becoming a key battleground of European politics as far-right and populist parties start to exploit growing public anger over the continent’s housing crisis, experts have said.Weeks before European parliament elections in which far-right parties are forecast to finish first in nine EU member states and second or third in another nine, housing has the potential to become as potent a driver of far-right support as immigration.“Far-right parties prosper when they can exploit the social gaps that emerge out of underinvestment and inadequate government planning … and when they can blame outsiders,” said the…

ITamara Kuschel said it started about 10 years ago. De Regenboog, the charity she works for in Amsterdam, has provided day shelter for homeless people, often people with severe drug addiction and mental health problems, since the 1970s.Then, around 2015, a new client started to appear. “They don’t have the usual problems that homeless people have,” Kushel said. “They have jobs, friends. Their lives are similar in every way. But they can’t afford a house.Some, she said, were not young. The oldest was 72 years old last year. “But we’re really just a sticking plaster.”In the pan-European housing crisis, the…

Ange Postecoglou found comfort in Tottenham “at least trying to play a version of ourselves” at Anfield. The assessment will be as disconcerting to Spurs supporters as the performance that yielded a fourth consecutive ­Premier League defeat. This version of Postecoglou’s team was dreadful, and their top-four hopes were ­effectively extinguished as Liverpool rediscovered their verve in Jürgen Klopp’s penultimate home game.The scoreline flattered the ­conquered. Liverpool cruised towards victory for 72 minutes until Spurs’ substitute Richarlison and their captain Son Heung-min sparked a mini-crisis of confidence among Klopp’s reshuffled pack. It passed. For the second Sunday in succession Spurs…

Lando Norris hailed his maiden Formula One win at the Miami Grand Prix as an immensely proud moment, insisting it would finally silence the critics and doubters who questioned his talent.The McLaren driver took his first victory in a thrilling final at Miami International Speedway. Norris comprehensively beat three-time world champion Max Verstappen into second place to claim his first title after 110 races since his debut in Australia in 2019.Norris has come close to victory since then, especially at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, where he was only denied victory by late-race rain. But the 24-year-old has faced critics…

Ange Postecoglou claimed he had no issues with the Tottenham defenders Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal becoming embroiled in a half-time row at Anfield as it showed “they care” about the club’s plummeting form.Spurs were well beaten by ­Liverpool in Jürgen Klopp’s penultimate home game with Mohamed Salah, recalled to the starting lineup following a spat with his manager at West Ham, sparking the win.The visitors were fortunate to be only two goals down at the break when Romero and Emerson squared up to each other on the pitch. The Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario sprinted over to intervene.“I didn’t see…

Ukraine’s former Eurovision winner Jamala said Ukraine was “incapable” of boycotting the song contest because it needed the opportunity to remind Europe of Russia’s intrusion.As the war in Gaza continues, there are calls for artists to refuse participation in music competitions in Israel.The first round begins on Tuesday in Malmö, Sweden, following singer Rowling’s win in Liverpool last year.Jamala, the winner of Ukraine’s 2016 election, said boycotting Israel’s war with Hamas was not an option for Ukraine. She said that when the public is “tired” of hearing about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, artists need to remind the world “loudly and…

President Xi Jinping has lauded China’s ties with France as a model for the international community, as he arrived in Paris for a rare visit against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the EU.French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine. Xi is due to meet Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by prime minister Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were…

The Professional Cricketers’ Association has called for a reduction in domestic cricket, warning that crowding affects performance and could even lead to “disasters” on the road as tired players bounce from match to match.Figures released after the league conducted a nationwide study at the start of the season showed that 81 per cent of men’s players expressed concerns about the physical stress and increased risk of injury caused by the schedule, while 62 per cent expressed similar sentiments. Concerns about mental health. Two-thirds of PCA members believe there is too much domestic cricket, with the league calling the schedule “not…

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of neglect after a five-month-old boy suffered a cardiac arrest at Legoland Windsor Resort.The baby is in critical condition in hospital after the incident at about 1pm on Thursday, police said.A 27-year-old woman from Witham, Essex was arrested on Friday on suspicion of neglecting a child to cause unnecessary injury. She has been released on police bail until 26 July.DC Zoe Eele, of the Thames Valley police’s child abuse investigation unit, said: “We are investigating a distressing incident involving a very young child at Legoland Windsor earlier this week.“Firstly, our thoughts are with…

Finally, the grand spectacle in the sun was how the Miami Grand Prix used hype to sell its high-end luxury extravaganza, and so did the stars of the show when British driver Lando Norris won his first Formula One title.It’s been a long time coming, but Norris deserved it and sent clear notice that, given his mechanicals, he’s more than capable of putting world champion Max Verstappen to the sword.It was a Super Bowl-style event in a destination city that Formula 1 owners longed for, and for spectators dancing and drinking in the raucous fan zone, it fit the bill.…