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The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Dutch businessman Alexander Tattersall and his Turkish company, Redwing Metal, following a joint investigation by The Kyiv Independent, OCCRP and IrpiMedia that exposed shipments of European industrial equipment to Russian factories supplying missile and fighter jet manufacturers.
La relazione 2026 sull'Europa sociale e del lavoro fotografa un'Italia a disuguaglianze crescenti, che critica il governo in carica
Brussels – It’s now official: electric and alternative-fuel engines are becoming increasingly common in the European Union. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, in 2025 the EU imported 45.1 billion euros of hybrid and electric cars, a 4 per cent increase from 2024 (43.4 billion euros). Exports reached 64.7 billion euros, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year (58.7 billion euros).
Matt Steinglass, our Europe editor, identifies the continent’s Spartans
Brussels – Ireland supports the negotiated compromise – the so-called ‘nego-box’ – on the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF 2028–2034), drawn up during its term as President of the Council of the EU. It matters little that some Member States, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, and the agricultural and industrial sectors do not agree with the proposed solutions.
France opens debate on its 2027 budget as high deficits, rising debt and student protests intensify pressure on lawmakers.
Hackers targeted hundreds of French supermarkets in a large-scale cyberattack, causing refrigerators to overheat, spoiling food, and sparking fires.
The Prime Minister: “If we do not develop structural, long-term solutions, we risk becoming increasingly at the mercy of emergencies”
The IMF raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1%, warning that resilience is tested by energy constraints and looming fiscal risks.
4 Ocotber 2026
Palestinian-American novelist susan abulhawa has secured the restoration of her full Oxford Union speech in a settlement announced on 5 October. It’s a major victory for free speech about Palestine and the fight to preserve the public record of Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people. Continue Reading Article HERE
While European leaders appear unified in beating the drums of war, many workers in the supply chain do not seem so convinced, with strikes rocking some of the defence industry’s key producers. John Rees is [...]
There are some signs the student protests in France could be spreading into a broader movement. Read the article HERE.
If the AI hype is true, we won’t need to worry about fiscal deficits because growth will solve all problems. If they are wrong and the AI bubble bursts, interest rates will fall sharply. Dean [...]
Vladimir Putin looks poised for a huge new wave of forced inductions
A new play exalts economist John Maynard Keynes as a prophet of the good life, but was he really? Michael Roberts is an Economist in the City of London and a prolific blogger. Cross-posted from Michael [...]
The centre-ground is collapsing in Germany as far-right an radical left make gains. In ‘Tribune’. Read the article HERE.
The European Union adopted its largest-ever single set of sanctions against Russia to date on Monday, blacklisting 1,569 individuals and companies within the country's military-industrial complex.
Brussels – Three steps forward for Montenegro in the process of joining the European Union. Today (12 October), the EU and Podgorica provisionally closed three negotiation chapters concerning economic and monetary policy, statistics, and social and employment policy, the Council of the EU said in a press release.
Brussels – There is one overriding priority: to counter the network of mercenary soldiers controlled by the Kremlin. For this reason, “we have taken down dozens of websites and hundreds of adverts” linked to a network recruiting mercenaries (without their knowledge) in Africa. The announcement was made today (12 October) by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, at a press conference on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held today in Luxembourg.
Brussels – The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed a “Pact against gold-plating”, that is, against Member States adding further requirements to national legislation beyond those laid down by EU law. The proposal is set out in a letter to Heads of State and Government sent today (12 October), which refers to the announcement made in last month’s State of the Union address.
Brussels – The European Union stands in solidarity with the occupied territories of Ukraine, not only when they are theatres of war, but also when they are the venues for illegitimate elections. Today (12 October), the EU Council announced
Brussels – The report on the WestMed plan for fisheries management in the western Mediterranean has been approved. This was announced by Giuseppe Lupo, MEP for the PD and a member of the Committee on Fisheries: “The approval of the report on the WestMed plan is an important step towards fisheries management in the Mediterranean that balances the protection of marine resources with employment and the future of coastal communities.”
Brussels – Following the European Parliament, the Regions and farmers, it is now the European Commission itself that is speaking out today (12 October) against the cuts set out in the new proposal (the so-called “Nego-box”) put forward by the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. It is calling for “a budget that matches the Union’s ambitions.”
The EU’s High Representative, while expressing her satisfaction, has criticised the US: “A very productive meeting; now is not the time to ease sanctions on Moscow.” The issue of frozen Russian assets has resurfaced
Croatia's anti-corruption office, USKOK, expanded its investigation into an alleged international illegal waste dumping ring, arresting and questioning five new suspects and three companies over the suspected criminal disposal of hazardous materials near the town of Benkovac and inside the Velebit Nature Park near Senj.
The Portuguese Football Federations said its sponsorship deal with China’s Changan Automobile went through a “tight” compliance process. Reporters found that the Russian military uses Changan trucks to launch drone strikes against Ukraine.
Brussels – Italy will receive €74.9 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to address the damage caused by Cyclone Harry, which struck the country alongside Malta in January 2026. This was announced by the European Parliament, which explained that the Committee on Budgets approved the allocation on Monday with 34 votes in favour, none against and no abstentions.
Brussels – The Council of the European Union today (12 October) adopted a decision establishing a European Union support mission in Lebanon (EUSM Lebanon) under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The mission will have an initial mandate of three years.
Fiji has been granted a one-year reprieve from a potential downgrade that could lead to U.S. aid cuts, amid concerns over its efforts to combat human trafficking, including its response to the Korean doomsday sect the Grace Road Group, according to a U.S. State Department report released last week.
The FAA warned U.S. airlines about flight risks over Saudi Arabia as Riyadh airport attacks disrupt travel and Delta weighs an Oct. 23 launch.
The Hungarian political advertising agency Megafon received about $12 million from a construction company owned by a friend of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. After years promoting the government, the ad firm appears to have ceased activities since Orbán’s dramatic loss in April.
His diesel deal with Russia may prove as illusory as his “energy ceasefire”
Brussels – While there is agreement and a united front against budget cuts, the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions (COR) continue to hold differing views on the direction of cohesion policy. The press conference marking the start of the European Regions Week held by the Vice-President of the EU executive, Raffaele Fitto, and the President of the CoR, Kata Tüttő, highlights all the limitations of today’s Europe, characterised by differing visions and institutions that are disconnected from one another.
The U.S. economists were awarded for work that underpins the models used by central banks and governments to stabilize the economy.
The Saudi-led coalition responding to the attacks said Monday it was dealing with more drones and missiles heading toward the Kingdom.
Brussels – The Council of the EU also gave its final approval. Today (12 October), the Council formally adopted the regulation establishing the programme for agile and rapid innovation in the defence sector (AGILE). With a budget of 115 million euros, the instrument provides “rapid, agile and targeted” financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including start-ups and scale-ups – engaged in developing defence products.
Brussels – At the end of August, 4.43 million people who fled Ukraine as a result of Russia’s war of aggression were granted temporary protection in the EU, according to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office. Temporary protection is an exceptional procedure offering immediate protection to displaced persons who are unable to return to their home countries due to war, violence, or human rights violations.
If Russia doesn't agree to Trump's energy ceasefire, Ukraine will respond, Zelenskyy said in a live-streamed address Monday morning.
President Donald Trump's latest effort to ease a diesel supply crunch ahead of November's midterm elections is unlikely to make a dent on prices.
Stellantis' CEO urged European regulators to create incentives for carmakers to manufacture vehicles in the region amid competition from Chinese rivals.
Brussels – Moving forward without paying too much attention to others’ choices. The European Union condemns US President Donald Trump’s decision to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and is responding with greater firmness. The Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg begins with a display of unity of purpose, aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s resistance. “We are moving forward on our own path,” said the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on her arrival.
Brussels – The leader of the Place Publique party and MEP (S&D), Raphaël Glucksmann, has won the social-democratic left’s primary election in France. With 66.13 per cent of the votes, he comfortably beat the secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure (14.48 per cent), yesterday (11 October).
A trove of emails shows that Deloitte Cyprus helped firms beneficially owned by Roman Abramovich attempt to skirt tax and disclosure obligations by retroactively transferring assets to British Virgin Islands companies using backdated paperwork.
A recent study titled “The Café Economy” by the Hellenic Observatory at the London School of Economics (LSE) reveals an uncomfortable truth about the transformation of Greece’s economy following the bailout era.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is waiting on details from Washington.
There’s a reason why so few truly leftwing politicians are visible in public life. Because the media’s role is to weed them out, discredit them, place them beyond the pale Jonathan Cook is the author [...]
Budget 2027 tells you who gets what this year. Ten years of budgets tell you who pays, and for how long. Aidan Regan is a professor of political economy at the school of politics and [...]
Goldman Sachs says Italy’s higher 2027-28 deficit targets, rising yields and election uncertainty could weaken its debt outlook.
Relentless Russian attacks and energy crisis, matched with depleting resources from abroad, demand that Trump make dramatic changes in approach to war now Read Article HERE Photo: Screengrab
This is a follow-up to my previous piece on the economic effects of the Persian Gulf sulfur and urea cutoff. In that piece I argued that the public conversation about the Strait of Hormuz has fixated on crude oil and ignored the other commodities the Gulf supplies: LNG, urea, sulfur and helium.
AI adoption is forcing the legal profession to rethink the billable hour and how lawyers build expertise.
A parliamentary fight over hemlines shows the battle of the sexes is still on
Brussels – “The time for words, for ‘we deplore’ and ‘we condemn but at this stage we prefer dialogue’ is over,” says MEP Cecilia Strada (PD / S&D) following the announcement of new US sanctions against the International Criminal Court.
Brussels – The United States has announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) – following numerous threats – and the European Union has come out in defence of the court, assuring that it will take all necessary measures to ensure its continued operation. Washington’s decision, as announced by the US Treasury Department, comes at the very same time as the award of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a South African lawyer and former judge at the ICC and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Montenegrin authorities crack down on the pro-war Telegram channel over "hybrid warfare" fears, confiscating drones and digital equipment while ordering the deportation of five Russian nationals.
7 October 2026
At the end of his visit to the Chinese capital, the European Commissioner welcomed the signing of a joint declaration and the agreement on three key points, including the issue of rare earths
Iran war could turn rising oil and food costs into a debt crisis, forcing countries to put their populations before creditors. Energy prices and the risk of a world depression Robinson Erhardt: Michael, I woke [...]
Israel was forged out of ethnic cleansing and apartheid. The Greens have very belatedly recognised what should have been obvious all along Jonathan Cook is the author of three books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and [...]
Thousands of protestors have set up encampments in city squares across Spain. The immediate spark has been the housing crisis but years of neo-liberal driven austerity have brought matters to a head Steven Marsh is [...]
Brussels – Taxing windfall profits to enable investment in healthcare, schools, education, energy, industry, and housing. This is the appeal that Benedetta Scuderi, MEP for the Green and Left Alliance, made today (9 October) on the programme “Coffee Break” on La7, just a few hours before the Ecofin’s decision to mandate the European Commission to assess the possibility of taxing energy companies’ windfall profits. “A budget deviation to make investments is absolutely necessary.
As the country stamps out its national heritage, its neighbour’s propaganda is taking over
Brussels – Panama and Vietnam have been removed from the European Union’s blacklist of tax havens. The Ecofin Council issued an update today (9 October) The list now comprises eight countries and territories. The half-yearly review takes into account the progress made in international tax cooperation and the commitments made to comply with European and international standards.
Brussels – Taxes on the windfall profits of oil and energy companies: the EU has decided to try to introduce them. It will not happen immediately, as further technical and legal work is required, but “the Commission has been given a mandate to explore the possibility of taxes on windfall profits”, announced Simon Harris, Ireland’s Minister for Finance and current chair of the Ecofin Council by virtue of the Irish Government’s current presidency of the Council of the EU.
Boosting European competitiveness. The event, which will be attended by European policy-makers and Italian stakeholders, will take place at the European Parliament on 13 October
A father beaten and forced into a car trunk. A magistrate and her mother held hostage for 30 hours. A family terrorized overnight in northern France for digital cash. Over the past two years, a violent wave of kidnappings and home invasions has swept across France targeting cryptocurrency executives, influencers, and their loved ones, as criminal networks increasingly turn to physical torture to extort digital fortunes.
Lithuanian Culture Minister Lukas Alsys condemned the harassment of journalists and editors on Thursday after being asked about growing pressure on 15min staff following the news outlet’s joint investigation with OCCRP into the crypto-finance firm Bankera.
Ferrari chair John Elkann played down AI bubble fears, but acknowledged investment in the technology could outpace revenue generation.
The ministers for the economy and finance reached a compromise on the single supervisory mechanism that satisfies only national governments, thereby cementing the EU’s role as an organisation serving the interests of the Member States. Albuquerque: “A weakened package with less ambition; a deplorable agreement.” Lagarde: “I share these concerns.”
Economist Paul Krugman sounded the alarm on a looming "ugly crisis," while former ECB head Jean-Claude Trichet said French politicians must compromise.
Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, IKEA pulled out of Russia, as well as Belarus where it had sourced some furniture. The Belarusian factory stopped supplying IKEA, but kept making similar products for export to Russia. One Russian retailer even marketed the furniture as a replacement for IKEA, touting its “fami
Brussels – It’s official: the Council of the European Union today (9 October) formally appointed Carlo Comporti as Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). His term of office will begin on 1 November 2026, lasting for five years, and may be extended once. Comporti is currently a commissioner at the National Commission for Companies and the Stock Exchange (CONSOB) and a member of both the Supervisory Board and the Management Board of ESMA.
Brussels – “The development agenda has seen its budget cut by more than 23 per cent year-on-year,” and “we cannot bridge this gap with public funds alone,” said the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, at a press briefing on the sidelines of the informal meeting of EU development ministers held today (9 October) in Dublin, Ireland.
Brussels – Europeans are continuing to travel, but without straying too far from home. According to data released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, in 2025, EU residents made 1.2 billion personal and business trips, 1.4 per cent more than in 2024. Of these, 848 million took place within the country of residence (70 per cent), while 264 million took place in another Member State (22 per cent). In total, 92 per cent of journeys remained within the EU’s borders.
Brussels -Irregularities and changes to project timelines to “make the numbers add up”, thereby concealing poorly planned measures financed by Recovery Fund resources: Member States are alleged to have adjusted their stated intervention and reform targets to finance their National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) and conceal foreseeable failures. This is the allegation in the EU Court of Auditors’ special report on the implementation of the budget in 2025. A comprehensive document states that “Several CIDs (Council Implementing Decisions,
The initiatives cover 15 of the 17 raw materials considered strategic by the EU: eight relate to extraction, 11 to processing and 19 to recycling, and involve 16 Member States
The president of Confagricoltura, re-elected as head of COPA, has called for “a special Temporary Framework” to allow countries to take action to prevent the rise in energy and fertiliser costs
Brussels – A tax on the windfall profits of energy companies to tackle rising fuel and energy prices: the EU is attempting to introduce it and has launched a debate at the Member State level. It is not yet clear if or when this will be achieved, but the debate has officially begun. It is the Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, who is putting the proposal on the table at the Ecofin Council in Luxembourg. “We will hold an exploratory debate,” he said upon his arrival to take part in the proceedings.
Thoughts on Gaza, China, and Afghan drug lords. Matthew Hoh is the Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network. A former Marine and State Department official who resigned in protest over the wars in Iraq [...]
In his traditional letter of invitation to the 27 EU leaders, the President of the European Council warned: “Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical uncertainty, our next meeting will have a strong focus on the economy”
Brussels – Despite the energy crisis, the European gas system continues to cope. Once again, The Gas Coordination Group’s assessment of the situation has yielded a positive outcome. Although storage levels are “below historical levels”, the winter report from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) confirms that the EU system is “flexible enough to meet demand” this winter. The analysis covers a six-month period, from early October 2026 to late March 2027.
The ideological roots of our Big Tech technocrats, and how tech is facilitating the elimination of the democratic gains that centuries of political struggle have earned Americans Chris Hedges: An outgoing researcher at Anthropic announced [...]
Channel 4 investigation shows how the UK government repeatedly failed to hold the Israeli army to account for war crimes Peter Oborne’s new book, Complicit: Britain’s Role in the Destruction of Gaza, was recently published [...]
Brussels – There is discontent within the Eurogroup over Italy’s request for further flexibility to tackle the energy crisis. The issue of additional leeway will be on the agenda at today’s (8 October) Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg, but there will be no conclusions. This is a reassuring development, at least for the so-called “frugal” countries, but it is not enough to allay the ever-present fears of wasteful spending and rising debt.
Brussels – European consumers’ trust in the Ecolabel UE, the EU’s official eco-label, is growing, as is their willingness to buy products certified as more sustainable. This is what emerges from the latest Eurobarometer survey, published to mark World Ecolabel Day, highlighting an increase in both awareness of the label and its use in purchasing habits.
Brussels – Providing a comprehensive overview of the entire product life cycle and improving transparency and accessibility through digital tools. This is what the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) made clear to the European Commission regarding the new energy labelling scheme.
Nearly 50 suspects have been detained following an international crackdown on a Western Balkan drug syndicate allegedly linked to murders, kidnappings, and grenade attacks across Europe, Europol announced on Thursday.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia will eliminate intermediary companies from its electricity imports from neighboring Azerbaijan, a move he said would save the state millions of dollars annually.
Brussels – Following the latest rise in interest rates decided at the September meeting, the European Central Bank may be considering a pause, possibly a prolonged one. This is less a matter of speculation than a necessity to safeguard the eurozone economy. The reason is that, as the ECB’s Executive Board concludes, “a further rise in long-term interest rates could adversely affect growth.“ This is probably one of the key passages in the minutes of the meeting of 10 September, when interest rates were raised.
The latest disbursement reflects a broader change in European military support. Alongside transfers from existing inventories and orders from established suppliers, EU financing is supporting weapons production within Ukraine
Brussels – Canada remains an important trading partner for the European Union. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, in 2025 the EU exported goods worth €48.8 billion to Canada, while imports stood at 33 billion. During the same period, the trade surplus – the positive difference between a country’s exports and imports – stood at 15.8 billion. Compared with 2024, exports (48.2 billion) increased by 1.2 per cent and imports (28 billion) by 18 per cent.
Its former chief is accused of passing on classified information to foreign agents
French pupils are angry and the country is tense
Elections will sap what little resolve Europe has to make tough decisions
Brussels – The European Commission has given the go-ahead to Italy’s request to activate the national escape clause. The dossier now passes to the Council for final approval. The announcement was made today (8 October) by the spokesperson for the European Commission, Balazs Ujvari, during the daily press briefing.
Brussels – Common rules, reduced administrative burdens and simplified measures for large-scale pig and poultry farms. The European Commission adopted today (8 October) new rules set out in the Directive on industrial and livestock emissions, which establish minimum standards across the EU to reduce ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, which are responsible for air and water pollution and ecosystem damage.
A suspected online scam operation that was raided by police in Papua New Guinea last month is believed to have relocated to the Pacific island country in response to a crackdown on online fraud in Cambodia, local police have told OCCRP.
Spain’s Socialist party hopes to hold on to power but the right leads the polls
The U.S. State Department announced Thursday it had designated for “significant corruption” Zhao Fugang, a Chinese Communist Party-backed businessman in Fiji that OCCRP has previously revealed to be a top organized crime target of Australian law enforcement.
Brussels – The European Union is mobilising 134.8 million euros to support Spain and Romania in their recovery from the natural disasters that struck the two countries in 2025. The funds will be channelled through the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to cover part of the costs of emergency operations and recovery efforts in the affected areas. Spain will receive 120.5 million euros to address the damage caused by the prolonged drought, extreme heatwaves,
Brussels – The Council of the European Union decided today (8 October) to extend the individual restrictive measures against those responsible for Russia’s destabilising actions abroad by one year, until 9 October 2027, in light of Russia’s continued and intensified hybrid activities, including Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) against the EU and its member states and partners.
Brussels –Focus on climate change and climate policies: the effects of the former are uneven, and the latter, if not adequately supported by targeted measures, risk exacerbating disparities, inequalities, and poverty. This is the message in the European Central Bank’s analysis of climate-change-driven inequalities and why the EU should take them into account.
Macron and Merz ask von der Leyen for a trade flick knife that opens at the touch. With consequences for power inside the Union, for the 2027 appointments, for the open account with Beijing, Washington and Moscow
Brussels – No more demonstrations in Liège. There has been no response to the demands of the young people and adults taking part in the demonstrations. However, there was a swift response to the local police’s proposal: as of this morning and for at least nine days, any gathering of more than three people on the streets of the Belgian city is banned.
The K-shaped global economy that enriched the rich and impoverished the rest now threatens collapse Read Article HERE
Brussels – TIM’s chief executive, Pietro Labriola, criticised the AGCM’s ruling on the renewal of mobile spectrum usage rights, accusing the Authority of moving in the opposite direction to that indicated by the European Union to accelerate the digital transition. In a post on LinkedIn, the executive argues that the issue “goes far beyond spectrum.”
For seven months, the coverage of the war with Iran has been about oil: tanker counts, the price of Brent, how much is left in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Hardly anyone outside the fertilizer trade has noticed that the Strait of Hormuz also carries close to half of the world’s seaborne sulfur. Sulfur is not glamorous. It is a byproduct of cleaning sour gas and crude oil, and most Americans could not tell you what it is used for. But turned into sulfuric acid, it is the indispensable ingredient in phosphate fertilizer.
The Luxembourg auditors warn that without an agreement on new sources of revenue there will be tougher choices and less ambition. A reminder about spending errors, which are on the rise, and a call for better control systems
Britain faces a finely balanced choice over whether to follow the EU in imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Brussels – How to respond to rising energy prices? The Eurogroup is attempting to find a unified, consistent, orderly, and coordinated response to a problem that everyone must address, during a meeting that will not alter the current state of play. Firstly, as European sources indicate, no operational conclusions are expected from today’s meeting (8 October); secondly, because the budgetary rules cannot be changed. “How long can the regulatory framework maintain its credibility if it proves to be flexible in every single practical situation?”
Three years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the consequences of a decision driven by siege, settlement expansion and assaults on Al-Aqsa are still unfolding Sami Al-Arian is the Director of the Center for Islam and [...]
France might be leading the world into the end of neoliberalism. Richard Murphy is an economic justice campaigner. Professor of Accounting at Sheffield University Management School., and Chartered Accountant, and Co-founder of the Green New [...]
Today in the West reform is a slogan, not an activity Cross-posted from Aurelien’s substack “Trying to understand the world” By Guallendra – Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=200809764 Last week, we looked at the grip that [...]
Azerbaijan has denied a report from a German magazine that claimed a former German spy chief — arrested Tuesday on treason and espionage charges — used classified state secrets to prepare an “analysis” for Baku’s intelligence services in exchange for money.
Brussels – It’s a well-known fact: sport is good for your health, and it seems that young people in the European Union have realised this. According to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, in 2025, 73.1 per cent of people aged between 16 and 29 in the EU engaged in physical activity at least once a week, while the proportion amongst the total EU population – everyone aged 16 and over – stood at 61.6 per cent. The most marked differences were found amongst young people who take part in sport several times a week.
Brussels – The European Union’s multiannual budget is not merely an accounting exercise, but the instrument through which Brussels funds its priorities and translates them into concrete actions on the ground.
Brussels – The journalist, essayist and former MEP, Barbara Spinelli, has died at the age of 80. The announcement was made today (7 October) by her family, while Il Fatto Quotidiano, for which Spinelli had been a contributor since 2016, reported the news.
The European Parliament has approved the recommendation on the policy to be pursued towards Beijing. Diplomacy takes a back seat, with pressure taking priority
Brussels – Next year, “Russia will spend an amount equal to, or even slightly greater than, the combined total of all EU Member States, namely between 500 and 550 billion euros.” The Council and the European Parliament “must understand this and act accordingly, including at national level, particularly with regard to military mobility.” This was stated today (7 October) by the European Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius, in Hamburg (Germany) at a conference on “Schengen – military logistics and transport”.
Brussels – As student protests spread across France, NewsGuard has identified four examples of fake news that use videos taken out of context to exaggerate the scale and violence of the movement. Three of the videos, the organisation explains, have nothing to do with the ongoing protests.
Brussels – France is taking to the streets, but the protests go beyond education. The focus is on an increasingly fragile social model, cuts to public spending and a future that many young people feel is closing in on them. Since mid-September, thousands of secondary school pupils have been blocking French schools to protest against overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers, dilapidated buildings and excessively long school days.
Leaked records show the Uzbek leader’s son-in-law, Otabek Umarov, covertly acquired Emirati citizenship – an explicit legal breach of his position at the time as deputy head of presidential security. He then went on to obtain millions in luxury Dubai real estate.
Operation Vivaldi has reportedly recovered around 150–250 square kilometres of territory. It is testing how combined-arms manoeuvre might work when persistent surveillance makes traditional force concentration increasingly dangerous
Brussels – Change at the top of the Registry of the Court of Justice of the European Union: today, at the institution’s headquarters, the formal ceremony is being held for the swearing-in and the assumption of office of Vittorio Di Bucci. The Court announced that the Italian judge succeeds Alfredo Calot Escobar, who had held the post since 6 October 2010 and has resigned.
7 Ocrober 2026
Brussels – Eating is becoming a luxury, and for European Union citizens, it is increasingly a source of sacrifice and forced dieting. According to Eurostat data released today (7 October), in 2025 8.5 per cent of people could not afford a meal containing meat, chicken or fish (or a vegetarian equivalent) every second day. Translated into actual people, this 8.5 per cent amounts to over 38.3 million: a vast number of men and women of all ages having to cope with the high cost of living.
Brussels – The European Parliament has given its final approval to the updated rules on road tolls for low-emission heavy goods vehicles, which will remain in force until 30 June 2031. The plenary vote saw 475 in favour, 96 against and 70 abstentions.
Brussels – The European Parliament’s plenary session paid tribute to the 1,195 victims and 251 hostages of the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, welcoming Omri Miran, who was abducted on that day and held hostage by the terrorist group for 738 days. “Today marks three years since the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October 2023. Nearly 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage. I therefore ask you to join me in welcoming Omri Miran to the Chamber, who was taken hostage and spent 738 days in captivity.
Brussels – The European Union is steadfast in its support to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities. The European Commission today disbursed 1.24 billion euros as part of the loan to support Ukraine as part of the 90 billion euros package the EU approved to assist Kyiv during the two years 2026 and 2027. Specifically, the allocation relates to the “defence component” of the loan and will cover the supply of drones, their components and missiles manufactured in Ukraine.
Brussels – The European Union’s draft multiannual financial framework (MFF 2028–2034) is causing discontent within the European People’s Party (EPP), where divisions and rifts are emerging between the parliamentary group, the party and its leaders.
Finland has emerged as a key location for data centers amid the AI boom.
The launch comes as luxury rivals Ferrari and Bentley also push into EVs, seeking to test wealthy buyer's appetite for going electric.
Brussels –A ban on new nicotine products entering the market, a wide-ranging ban on flavors, and the option for Member States to ban nicotine pouches. This is the approach that eight EU countries are calling for in the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and of the Tobacco Advertising Directive (TAD).
Brussels – The European Greens parliamentary group has confirmed Terry Reintke and Nicolae Ștefănuță as co-chairs. The two had already held the post and have been elected for a further term until the end of the parliamentary term.
According to the survey by the research firm formed through a partnership between SWG and OpinionWay, the Commission’s proposal to generate new revenue for the common coffers is well received in Italy and Spain
The findings of the regular survey carried out by the research company formed through a partnership between SWG and OpinionWay
Independence leader Puigdemont is finally going to return, ending his long period of political exile. He will go back to a Catalunya that has largely deserted him and his party. Read the article HERE.
French school students explain why they are organising blockades of their schools and the brutality they have faced from the French police. Cross-posted from Counterfire Below are speeches made at an international briefing organised by Informations [...]
The notion that a two-state solution is the ‘viable’ option completely ignores the present and history of Israeli politics. David Hearst is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye. He is a commentator and speaker [...]
Review of Sven Beckert’s ‘Capitalism: A Global History’, which takes an unconventional view of how capitalism came about and what it actually is. Cynthia Kaufman is a writer and educator. She is the author of [...]
‘The European Green Party rushed to condemn the Greens of England and Wales when they voted to support a single democratic state in Palestine. It has never condemned the German Greens for supporting Israel’s genocidal violence against the Palestinians.’ In Jacobin. Read the article HERE.
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have sent a case to trial charging former lawmaker Heorhii Lohvynskyi and five others with misappropriating 54.18 million hryvnias (about $1.3 million) in state funds and laundering the proceeds.
The use of qualified majority voting – which reduces the weight of unanimity in certain areas – and the gradual integration of candidate countries, even before their accession, are the two major innovations on which the European Commission is focusing in order to expand the EU’s borders
Russian secrecy means it is unclear how grave the threat is
The Irish Presidency of the Council has asked the Economic and Social Committee to draw up an opinion on a structural issue
UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti warned that "hard measures" are needed to tackle France's spiraling debt crisis.
Brussels – Biophysicist Peter Hegemann, whose work has also been supported by European funding, has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine alongside Karl Deisseroth and Georg Nagel. Their work has revolutionised neuroscience, making it possible to control the activity of neurons using light.
Montenegrin prosecutors are seeking the permanent confiscation of over 54,000 square meters of coastal real estate and luxury vehicles linked to a fugitive drug lord, striking a massive financial blow as he continues to evade a half-million-euro bounty.
The initiative forms part of the competitiveness agenda. A greater focus on SMEs, with the European Commission granted the power to take the initiative. Séjourné: “Those who set the requirements shape the technologies and markets of tomorrow”
Brussels – There’s no getting around it: if the Socialists (S&D) want to get their proposals on affordable housing through, they must seek support from the European People’s Party (EPP). During a press briefing held today (6 October) on the sidelines of the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, the group’s chair, Iratxe García Pérez, urged the group led by Manfred Weber not to give in “to the temptation to negotiate this legislative proposal with the far right in order to weaken it.”
Lithuania is seeking to bolster its security amid growing concerns over Russia.
Western developers are racing to compete with Chinese companies in open weight and open source AI.
Brussels – “The first step is to give citizens a voice. My message today is that if Alberto (Núñez Feijóo, ed.) is strong, if the Partido Popular is even stronger, then there will be no need for any influence from more radical forces, nor will these be decisive.” These were the words of Manfred Weber, MEP and chair of the European People’s Party (EPP) group, during a press briefing today (6 October) in Strasbourg, on the sidelines of the European Parliament’s plenary session.
Brussels – The European Parliament has lifted the immunity of Matteo Ricci, an MEP from the PD. The Democratic Party politician, who is currently vice-president of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, is at the centre of a judicial investigation known as the “Affidopoli” inquiry, concerning alleged irregular contracts awarded by the Pesaro City Council during the period in which he was mayor of the city (May 2014–June 2024). The plenary vote follows the procedure to lift his immunity, which was initiated last June.
Brussels – Europe is edging closer to its 2030 employment target. Still, Italy continues to show a deep regional divide, according to data released today (6 October) by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union. In 2025, the employment rate for people aged between 20 and 64 in the EU rose to 76.1 per cent, just 1.9 percentage points short of the 78 per cent target set by the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Brussels – The European Parliament’s plenary session has approved AGILE, the pilot programme proposed by the Commission in March 2026 with a budget of 115 million euros to support the development and market entry of innovative defence technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence to unmanned systems. Between 20 and 30 projects are planned for 2027.
Brussels – The European Union is strengthening its position in the global trade of high-tech products and ended 2025 with a surplus of 32.4 billion euros. This marks the second consecutive year in the black following four years of deficits, between 2020 and 2023, according to the latest Eurostat data. In 2025, EU countries imported high-tech products worth 534.1 billion euros and exported 566.5 billion euros, resulting in a surplus of 32.4 billion euros.
Brussels – Beware of cuts – excessive ones, that is. On the delicate issue of the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF 2028–2034), heads of state and government have received a joint warning from the Commission and the Parliament. It is not a new warning, but one centred on a word that seems to be becoming the linchpin of the whole issue: “excessive”.
Oil markets remain on edge over potential Middle East supply disruptions, with Brent trading around $100 a barrel as the risk of further escalation persists.
Brussels – The energy crisis continues to take its toll, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is well aware of this. That is why she announced measures in the European Parliament to safeguard the entire EU, its businesses, and its households. First and foremost, she confirmed her intention to postpone the rules on the trade in natural gas: “We will give flexibility to exporters for one more year on methane”, she told MEPs. This flexibility, she assures, “saves additional costs at a moment of crisis.”
Brussels – “My grandmother wrote of Russia under Putin as a country where violence has gradually become systemic and indifference the norm.” These are the words with which the political activist Anna Victoria Politkovskaya chose to remember her grandmother, the journalist Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya, at a tribute held yesterday (5 October) on the sidelines of the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
The Nokia CEO's comments underscores continued demand for AI even as top executives debate slowing down the pace of development.
A bold joint letter suggests confrontation looms with China
Bolsonaro Jr. won the first round, and there is not many reasons to believe he won’t win the second round on 25 October as well. Mike Elk is the senior labor reporter at Payday Report [...]
The kids are revolting! Read the article HERE.
The US agreement with Denmark gives the super-power enormous control over Greenland’s critical mineral resources. Joshua Frank is co-editor of CounterPunch and co-host of CounterPunch Radio. He is the author of Atomic Days: The Untold Story of [...]
‘The occupation of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol by housing protesters has brought back memories of the anti-austerity revolt that began in 2011. But where the Indignados used generic populist language, this new movement has a clear left-wing focus on class.’ In Jacobin. Read the article HERE.
Alex Turner, our defence editor, examines how a Ukrainian counter-offensive is faring
Brussels – It is a fact: the basic skills of 15-year-olds in the European Union are declining and continue to do so. The European Commission published today (5 October) an EU analysis on the results of the 2025 international PISA survey, organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study assesses pupils’ skills in three key areas: reading, mathematics, and science.
Brussels – A safeguard mechanism which, if necessary, would lead to the immediate exclusion from the European single market of third countries seeking to prevent the restoration of fair conditions of competition. Signed by Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz. The request, put forward in a letter from the French President and the German Chancellor to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, aims to give Brussels a powerful economic weapon in the event of escalating trade disputes.
Brussels – The European Commission is allocating a further €130 million under the Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI) with the aim of stepping up support for Member States’ capabilities to counter drones. The initiative, announced during the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 1 October, forms part of the EU’s efforts to strengthen border surveillance and improve the response to emerging security threats.
Brussels – Lula again, or Bolsonaro once more – but the younger one? Brazil will need a run-off to choose its president, in an election dominated by low turnout (21 per cent of voters abstained in the first round) and irregular behaviour on social media, which has sparked an outcry in Europe. The day of reckoning will be 25 October, when the second round will determine whether Brazil remains under Labour leadership or whether power returns to the far right.
Bruxelles – European defence spending is rising at a remarkable pace. According to the European Defence Agency (EDA), EU Member States spent €418 billion on defence in 2025, equivalent to 2.2 per cent of GDP. That figure is expected to continue rising significantly over the coming years. The increase is important. Russia’s war against Ukraine
Brussels – The European Union’s support for Moldova’s reform process remains unwavering. The European Commission today (5 October) has disbursed €157 million to the government in Chișinău as part of the Moldova Growth Plan, a major package of financial support and reforms promoted by the EU for the period 2025–2027, with a total value of €1.8 billion. Today’s tranche, the third, was disbursed during the tenth EU-Moldova Association Council.
In the remote Colombian smuggling hub of La Guajira, locals say a year of U.S. airstrikes has left behind wrecked vessels and bodies, but done little to stop cocaine-laden speedboats from heading out to sea.
Accused Venezuelan cybercriminal Anibal Alexander Canelón Aguirre will remain behind bars after pleading not guilty to charges of funding the Tren de Aragua gang through a multimillion-dollar ATM fraud scheme.
Spain’s prime minister makes a last stand for the European left
Brussels – Industrial producer prices are rising. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, industrial producer prices rose by 1.9 per cent in August 2026 from the previous month in both the eurozone and the European Union. In July 2026, prices had risen by 1.6 per cent in the euro area and by 1.4 per cent in the EU. Over the course of a year, between August 2025 and August 2026, the increase stood at 8.2 per cent in the eurozone and 8 per cent in the EU.
Brussels – Moldova in the EU, complete with reunification with Transnistria. In Brussels and Chișinău, people are discussing the future with conviction – and perhaps a touch of levity. Because there is a territory claimed by Russia, a factor that was not taken into account at all at the end of the 10th meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council.
The eruption of a mass housing movement in the past 10 days has put social class back on the agenda of Spanish politics and completely altered the dimensions of a high stakes General Election on [...]
Brussels – 5 October is World Teachers’ Day, but within the European Union the teaching profession is under strain, particularly when it comes to generational renewal, with some countries – including Italy – where half of all teachers are already over 50. According to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, 5.3 million teachers worked in primary and secondary schools across the EU, up by 36,500 in 2024 compared with 2023. Of these, the majority are women (72.9 per cent), while men account for the remaining 27.1 per cent.
Saudi Aramco's CEO warned it could take up to two years to rebuild global oil inventories, saying the squeeze could worsen as the U.S.-Iran war continues.
Goldman Sachs' Anthony Gutman said lower fiscal deficits are needed tackle surging bond yields.
Ukraine needs more air defence. But it also needs weapons capable of striking Russian launch sites, drones capable of intercepting cheaper Russian threats, satellite capability to find targets, and functioning energy infrastructure to sustain the country through winter
Brussels – Just one metre away from one of the most dangerous men on the planet. Stefano Polli was the last Italian journalist to meet Vladimir Putin since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, in a three-and-a-half-hour interview conducted with a very small group of European journalists in June 2024.
Russia has pledged to intensify strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities after a drone attack damaged the capital’s key Northern Bridge over the weekend.
Brussels – Spain is set to go to the polls on 29 November for snap elections announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is calling on citizens to vote to openly challenge the People’s Party, a political group in the EPP family in Europe.
Moody's predicts that the world's aging populations will have fundamental impacts on the global economy and lead to difficult policy decisions.
The US strategy to convince Iran to surrender John Mearsheimer is a political scientist and international relations scholar and professor at the University of Chicago Cross-posted from John Mearsheimer’s Substack The Trump administration and its [...]
SuperImperialism, Dollar System, Financialization and China’s Economic Transition South South Dialogue on Sustainability Michael Hudson is President of The Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends (ISLET), a Wall Street Financial Analyst, Distinguished Research [...]
Vote by party members on Sunday backs single democratic Palestinian state with equal rights for all ethnic and religious groups Read Article HERE
The August level of $132.6 billion is the second-highest trade deficit on record, topped only by last year’s March deficit.
Recent AI security failures may point to something more troubling than runaway intelligence: models becoming highly capable while learning to game narrow goals in brittle and dangerous ways Daron Acemoglu is a 2024 Nobel laureate [...]
Experts say the offensive is not a decisive breakthrough, but demonstrates how Ukraine’s expanding use of robotic systems is reshaping frontline warfare.
Seeking wider support for its policy of systematic violence, Israel’s far-right government expands cooperation with far-right parties across Europe – and attacks their antifascist opponents. But Berlin backs Tel Aviv out of self-interest Read Article HERE
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