- yesterday
Violent storms batter southern Belgium: firefighters overwhelmed, emergency plan activated, and a stark warning on climate readiness
Severe thunderstorms and hail struck Wallonia on Saturday evening, flooding roads, triggering a municipal emergency plan, and prompting a stark warning from the head of Belgium's firefighters' federation that services are 'totally helpless' in the face of increasingly extreme weather.
- 2d ago
EU agrees to unlock €16bn in frozen funds for Hungary as new PM Magyar races to meet August reform deadline
The European Commission has agreed to release up to €16.4 billion in frozen funds to Hungary, marking a major policy shift after the election of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who must now rush through anti-corruption reforms by the end of August.
- 2d ago
Patrick Bruel cancels all summer festival concerts amid sexual assault investigations, organisers express 'relief'
French singer Patrick Bruel has cancelled all his festival concerts between June and September, citing a 'climate of tension' as he faces multiple rape and sexual assault investigations in France and Belgium.
- 3d ago
EU, Hungary Reach Deal to Release €16.4 Billion in Frozen Funds, Tying Aid to Anti-Corruption Reforms
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Friday a conditional agreement to unfreeze up to €16.4 billion in EU funds, a major policy shift after years of blockages over rule-of-law concerns.
- 3d ago
EU Cohesion Funds Become Flashpoint in Energy Crisis Response as Regions Push Back
The European Commission has urged member states to repurpose existing cohesion funds to tackle the energy crisis, but the proposal has sparked a fierce backlash from regional leaders who accuse Brussels of treating long-term investment budgets like an emergency 'ATM'.
- 3d ago
EU fines Temu €200 million for selling dangerous toys and chargers, demands safety overhaul by August
The European Commission has fined Chinese shopping platform Temu €200 million for failing to properly assess and mitigate risks from illegal and unsafe products sold to EU consumers, including toys with choking hazards and uncertified chargers.
- 6d ago
Trump Administration Plans Drastic Cuts to U.S. Military Commitments to NATO, Shifting Conventional Defense Burden to Europe
The Trump administration has informed NATO allies of plans to drastically reduce U.S. military capabilities available to the alliance, including cutting fighter jets by a third, halving strategic bombers, and withdrawing all submarines, according to a report by Der Spiegel.
- 6d ago
Russia warns diplomats to leave Kyiv, threatens 'systematic strikes' on decision-making centres in major escalation
Moscow has urged foreign citizens and diplomatic staff to evacuate Kyiv, warning of an imminent campaign of 'systematic strikes' targeting decision-making centres and military-industrial facilities in the Ukrainian capital.
- 6d ago
EU Prepares Record DMA Fine Against Google Over Search Self-Preferencing, Decision Expected Before Summer
The European Commission is finalizing a penalty of several hundred million euros against Alphabet's Google for allegedly favoring its own services in search results, in what would be the largest fine under the Digital Markets Act.
- 6d ago
Russia Threatens Systematic Strikes on Kyiv and Mass Destruction as Germany and EU Summon Envoys
Russia demanded foreign citizens and diplomats leave Kyiv ahead of planned systematic strikes, prompting Germany and the EU to summon Russian diplomats on Tuesday.
