Conference on EU Competitiveness: The Urgency to Close the Innovation Gap

High Fens, Belgium, 19 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) The fire in Belgium’s High Fens has put a difficult question back on the agenda: are there enough Belgium wildfire crews, and are firefighters receiving the specialist training needed when flames spread through forests, heathland and peat?
It is a question that goes beyond the number of fire engines sent to one incident. Wildfires can keep crew

Several prominent Socialists, such as former President François Hollande and former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, have suggested they might skip their party’s primary and run for president as independents.
However, polls indicate that Glucksmann, the head of his own small political group Place Publique, is the leading candidate on the center left, especially after bringing the Socialists

Dutch fashion brand Norah returns to Belgium and opens first store in Hasselt, marking the start of a planned 20–25‑store Flemish network after a strategic 2026 withdrawal. The retailer will open its new shop at Koning Albertstraat 60 in April 2027, with the Belgian head office located above the store, signaling a long‑term commitment rather than a one‑off expansion.
What exactly is Norah planni

A Russian court has sentenced opposition figure Lev Shlosberg to over 11 years in prison, while the Supreme Court confirmed the exclusion of his Yabloko party from upcoming parliamentary elections. These decisions diminish the space for peaceful opposition to the Ukraine war and eliminate the only registered party advocating for a ceasefire.
Shlosberg, 63, received an 11-year and one-month penal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the court of threatening American sovereignty, stating that the administration was acting to protect its citizens from a “sham” institution and would never permit Americans to be “transported beyond seas to be tried for pretend offenses.”
Tuesday’s sanctions are part of a campaign launched by Washington last month to undermi

Oakland, California, 18 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) Meta is facing one of the most consequential legal challenges yet to Facebook and Instagram after US states opened a federal case alleging the company built features that kept children hooked on its platforms while playing down risks to younger users. The Meta youth safety trial began with opening statements in Oakland on Tuesday.
The case bri

Scientific findings suggest that behaviors like obesity, suicide, violence, self-harm, and collective actions can be influenced by those around us. However, “social contagion” doesn’t imply a simple transmission from one person to another. Behaviors may spread like diseases, where one individual starts and others follow. This can occur in various settings, amplified by social me

Sandro Garibaldi, a regional council member in Liguria for the League, was bitten on the hand by a wolf earlier this year. Garibaldi had interrupted the wolf while it was attacking some sheep. It is unclear if this wolf was the same one that killed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s pet pony, Dolly.
A flock of Lories, arboreal parrots, made friends with German Chancellor Angela M

Oakland, California, 18 August (Brussles Morning Newspaper) Twenty-nine US states have taken Meta to court in one of the biggest legal tests yet of how social media companies treat children, after years of trying to keep their case together. The Meta youth safety trial centres on allegations that the Facebook and Instagram owner misled families about risks to young users and unlawfully collected

The United Arab Emirates has adopted a tougher stance towards Iran after detecting two ballistic missiles launched from Iranian territory. Abu Dhabi has announced a suspension of all trade exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. This decision highlights the UAE’s commitment to protect its sovereignty while leveraging its regional and international influence.
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