‘It’s beautiful, don’t you think?’ The urban miners unearthing treasure in Belgium’s homes and garages

As the historic town of Leuven strives to become carbon neutral, it is transforming how its building are made – and demolished. Are there lessons for the rest of the world?

If even Germany is embracing higher spending, why on earth can’t Labour?

Russia has pushed Europe into a quasi-Keynesian approach to the defence budget. Only Britain insists on cutting help to the sick to pay for security

Donald Trump threatens 200% tariff on EU wine and champagne

US president says levy on alcohol imports would be retaliation for ‘nasty’ 50% tariff imposed on bourbon whiskey

Ireland could lose pharma tax to US after Trump accusations, experts warn

Predictions that US firms could retain manufacturing plants in Ireland but move profits back to America

‘It’s a massive frustration’: UK steelmakers squeezed by Trump tariff turbulence

Britain in middle as some of US’s trading partners retaliate while others want ‘pragmatic’ route in hope levies are eased

UK drops down list of affluent nations after decade of stagnation, NIESR finds

Districts in Birmingham now ranked below poorest areas of France, Malta and Slovenia as institute urges rethink on planned welfare cuts

EU retaliates against Trump tariffs with €26bn ‘countermeasures’

US goods due to be affected from 1 April include bourbon whiskey, jeans and Harley-Davidson motorbikes

EV battery startup Northvolt files for bankruptcy in Sweden

Swedish firm unable to ‘secure the necessary financial conditions to continue in its current form’

Toyota plans to build battery vehicles in UK and keep European plants

Japanese company announces two new EVs and promises another three by 2026, as well as new Lexus models

Volkswagen enjoys surprise bestseller amid financial woes: the VW currywurst

Sausage-based snack and ‘power bar of the skilled factory worker’ is being bought in record numbers in Lower Saxony

Euro and pound rise against dollar amid ‘Trumpcession’ fears

US currency has lost all the gains it enjoyed since Trump won election and hits lowest level since mid-October

‘If you fall into the dialogue of the far right, the far right wins’: Spain’s deputy PM on the need for workers’ rights

Yolanda Díaz Pérez’s leftwing government has championed employment reform similar to Labour’s proposals – and she tells British business there is nothing to fear

Virgin aims to raise £700m to rival Eurostar on cross-Channel trains

Richard Branson’s group plans rail routes linking London to Paris and Brussels, and maybe Amsterdam

EU must brace for impact of Trump wrecking ball on global trading system

UK appears to be out of US eyeline for now but it would not be immune to slowdown triggered by rising tariffs

‘Military Keynesianism’? Reeves faces British defence dilemma after EU spending surge

Even Berlin and Brussels are bending fiscal rules in the face of Russia’s threat. Will the chancellor still stick to hers?