Author: staff
Belgium fears that using the assets would leave it exposed to Russian legal action at home and abroad, as the sanctioned cash is held in the Brussels-based financial depository Euroclear. De Wever is demanding financial guarantees from the rest of the bloc to protect itself against the Kremlin’s lawyers, who could convince a court of law to send the money back to Moscow. This is a major concern for Belgium, which has a bilateral investment treaty with Russia, first signed in 1989. “The guarantees would also relate to risks stemming from bilateral investment treaties that are linked to the immobilisation of the…
Heavy rain triggered widespread flooding across northeastern Italy on Monday, affecting several towns in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Aerial footage released by Italian firefighters showed the village of Romans d’Isonzo submerged after the nearby River Torre overflowed. Fire crews carried out dozens of rescue operations, including evacuations by dinghy for residents trapped in their homes. Authorities said search efforts were also underway for two people missing after a mudslide struck a house in Brazzano di Cormons.
Equal pay is still not a reality for working women across the European Union, as men continue to earn on average 12% more per hour. This means that from Monday, women could, in theory, stop working until the end of the year to compensate for the pay difference. Each year, Brussels marks this date as “Equal Pay Day.” “There is no reason why men and women should be paid differently for doing the same job,” European Commissioners Roxana Mînzatu and Hadja Lahbib said. The gap has decreased by 4% over the last decade, but overall progress has been slow across…
Renée Zellweger visited London on Monday to reveal a new bronze statue of Bridget Jones, the beloved character she has portrayed across four films. The statue, inspired by Helen Fielding’s creation, now stands in Leicester Square as part of the Scenes in the Square trail, alongside figures such as Harry Potter, Batman and Mary Poppins. Fielding attended the event with cast members Sally Phillips, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor and director Michael Morris. Zellweger said she hadn’t fully examined the sculpture yet but thought “she looks pretty cute” at first glance.
Update: Rentenstreit-Nachbeben in der Union – und wieder Waffen für Israel – POLITICO Skip to main content
The Dubai Airshow opened Monday with Al Fursan aerobatic planes painting the UAE flag colours across the sky. Emirates Airlines kicked off the 19th edition by ordering 65 Boeing 777-9 jets to expand its fleet amid strong travel demand. Held at Al Maktoum International Airport, the event also highlighted growing interest in flying taxis, with Joby Aviation presenting a demonstration as Dubai aims to launch air mobility services next year. Military sales remain central to the show, with Russia taking part despite Western sanctions.
The 22-year-old Amine is one of the highest-profile crusaders against the narcotics trade in Marseille, the southern port city that for decades has failed to curb drug-related violence. He was profiled in the New York Times last year. Benoît Payan, the center-left mayor of Marseille, struck a similar tone as Darmanin, stating that the crime would usher the fight against drug trafficking into “a new era” if its intimidation motive is confirmed. In the wake of such brazen violence, security issues have become a top concern for voters ahead of municipal elections set for spring 2026, surveys show. An Ifop…
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of Ukraine’s defence company Fire Point amid Kyiv’s large-scale anti-corruption investigation, also involving the missile and drone producer known for its Flamingo long-range cruise projectile. Fire Point is a private defence contractor that emerged in 2023 and has recently come under scrutiny amid the anti-corruption investigation and possible links to wealthy entrepreneur Timur Mindich. A former business partner of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mindich allegedly served as the ringleader and mastermind of a $100-million corruption scheme involving Ukraine’s state-owned Energoatom. Is Fire Point under investigation? Fire Point has…
The EU risks breaching climate targets unless it shows “credible leadership” and fully discloses its militaries’ emissions. Experts have warned that the environmental cost of conflict can no longer remain “hidden in plain sight”, as COP30 sees fossil fuel phase-out negotiations intensify. A 2022 study by Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory estimates that militaries are responsible for around 5.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with armed conflicts emitting more CO₂ than most countries. However, they are widely excluded from mandatory reporting under global climate agreements. Is war driving the climate crisis? Last year,…
As trilogue negotiations on the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation (ELVR) reach their decisive phase, Europe stands at a crossroads, not just for the future of sustainable mobility, but also for the future of its industrial base and competitiveness. The debate over whether recycled plastic content in new vehicles should be 15, 20 or 25 percent is crucial as a key driver for circularity investment in Europe’s plastics and automotive value chains for the next decade and beyond. The ELVR is more than a recycled content target. It is also an important test of whether and how Europe can align its circularity…