Author: staff
In Belgium, a thick layer of green duckweed now covers canals in Ghent’s historic centre, turning the water into a bright green carpet. Tour boats continue to operate, but the growth has caused problems: one vessel’s motor overheated after duckweed clogged its intake. Geert Weymeis, spokesperson for the Flemish waterways management body, says the spread is unprecedented, linking it to drought, high temperatures and slow-moving water, which created ideal conditions for the plant. Students watching from the banks describe the scene as striking, but say it also raises concerns about climate change.
In Britain, police and the security services are dealing with a three-fold threat from Iran-backed groups: attacks against Iranian dissidents, attacks against the country’s Jewish population, and the targeting of U.S. assets such as those used for strikes against Tehran. Counter Terrorism Policing is currently investigating potential Iranian state involvement in a major incident at RAF Fairford on Sept. 27, when police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base. Six men — including a British-Iranian national — have so far been arrested on suspicion of terror offenses. All have subsequently been released on bail while police continue their…
Published on 05/10/2026 – 14:10 GMT+2•Updated 14:12 The European Commission is monitoring the suspected outbreak of pneumonic plague in Siberia, Russia, “very closely” and stands ready to coordinate a response among member states if necessary. The situation came to light following the death on 2 October of a lab worker of the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute who is said to have broken a test tube containing the plague pathogen. Her death was attributed to a “pneumonia of unknown aetiology”. The incident prompted precautionary measures in the region. Roughly 200 people who had been in touch with the lab worker have…
Students barricaded a private school in Marseille and clashed with police at a lycée in Lille on a new day of protests across France over education funding and conditions. In Marseille, dozens of teenagers used wheelie bins and barriers to seal off the Saint-Joseph de la Madeleine school. The school, which teaches pupils from nursery to secondary level, will stay closed on Monday. In Lille, protesters smashed a bus shelter and set debris alight in front of Lycée Faidherbe. Some threw projectiles before police moved in, and smoke rose over the street. School blockades are continuing elsewhere in the country.
Appetite for Vox Over the past decade, the far-right Vox party has evolved from a fringe group into a major political force — and, now, a plausible coalition partner in a national PP government. In contrast to when national elections were last held in Spain, Vox has a clear track record of teaming up with the PP at the local and regional levels. The two parties currently govern together in Extremadura, Aragón, Castilla y León and Andalusia, and previously ruled in Valencia and Murcia. Within those governments, Vox has successfully pressured the PP into adopting tougher migration policies and denouncing…
When students from a school in Créteil, in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, joined their teachers in protest to call for more resources and staff, they could not have predicted that their action would trigger a nationwide movement. The campaign began on 17 September and quickly gained momentum after videos of the protests spread across social media, prompting students across France to join the call for government action to address overcrowded classrooms, teacher absences, outdated facilities and other grievances. More than two weeks on from the first protest, student unions have called for pupils to assemble for a day of…
The co-pilot of the Israel-bound FlyDubai FZ1073 flight planned to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, according to multiple US and Israeli media reports quoting sources close to the multinational investigation. The same reports say the Omani national named by multiple sources as Hamam Al-Hammami was most likely acting alone. After attacking captain Smit Machchhar, Al-Hammami planned to fly the plane toward Ben Gurion Airport using normal approach and landing procedures, then crash it at the last moment, with more than 180 passengers on board. According to Israeli media quoting sources with knowledge of the investigation, the co-pilot…
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, will face the snap elections on 29 November hoping that the strong economic figures that have marked much of his time in office will help him overcome a widespread feeling across the country: macro-level growth is not enough. Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.8% in 2025 and is expected to continue expanding at a relatively brisk pace, with growth forecast at 2.4% for 2026, as the European Commission’s country report on Spain points out (source in Spanish). Since the pandemic, moreover, Spain has grown faster than the main economies of…
By Laure Valentin Published on 05/10/2026 – 15:30 GMT+2•Updated 17:47 Tensions are rising between Canal+ and the government. As the executive prepares its 2027 budget, Maxime Saada is openly opposing plans to scrap the reduced VAT rate enjoyed by pay television. The Canal+ boss describes the move as “political” and “absurd”, and says it would mean an additional cost of around 200 million euros a year for his group. According to him, raising VAT from 10% to 20% could lead to higher subscription prices, as well as internal savings and job cuts. “We cannot absorb 200 million euros”, the executive told…
“Based on unofficial information available, the public health risk to the general population appears to be low,” the spokesperson said, adding that the risk assessment will be updated once more information is available. Asked about the communication with Russia, Hrncirova said the EU has “channels [on] how to get the information.” “We obviously would like to recall that timely and transparent reporting and access to reliable epidemiological and laboratory finding is essential,” she added. Treatment Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, usually found in small mammals and their fleas, according to the WHO. It has…