Ex-EU Commissioner Siim Kallas Passes Away at 77

An economist by training, Kallas began his career as president of the Bank of Estonia in 1991, where he played a key role in the country’s monetary reform. In 1994, he founded the liberal-democratic Reform Party and was elected to the Estonian parliament the following year, becoming foreign affairs minister.
Kallas was an influential figure in Estonia’s European journey: After his appo

For seventy years, the defense of the Persian Gulf ran as an American franchise. Oil moved, the Fifth Fleet patrolled out of Bahrain, and the monarchies settled their bill in basing rights and weapons contracts. That arrangement has not collapsed because Washington walked away from it. It has collapsed because Washington’s product failed a live test, and three of its best customers went out and o

Am 6. September steht Sachsen-Anhalt vor einer entscheidenden Landtagswahl, bei der die AfD erstmals zur stärksten Kraft werden könnte. Ministerpräsident Sven Schulze liegt in den Umfragen deutlich hinter seinem Herausforderer Ulrich Siegmund. Gordon Repinski begleitet den CDU-Politiker auf einem Spaziergang durch den anspruchsvollsten Wahlkampf des Landes.
Im Endspurt des Wahlkampfs konzentriert

The EU has spoken out in support of “all those who have suffered under totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.”
This comes on the eve of the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance of the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes on 23 August.
Ahead of the Day, senior EU political figures have issued a strongly-worded statement against “hatred, intolerance and the denial of human dignity.
The

Compare young adults to the 35 to 44-year-olds, who use technology as much as their younger counterparts, and a difference is evident: only 19 percent of 18-24s believe AI will enhance both their opportunities and society, while 28 percent of the older group do. The AI tools are the same, but the older group already possesses career experience and expertise.
Among those across all ages who conside

Special events will take place this weekend to mark the anniversary of the First Battle of Mons on 23 August, the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I.
Commemorations,which take place on Monday 24 August, start at 1pm at the Hôtel de Ville in Mons.
Representatives of RBL Brussels branch will also lay a wreath at the town’s British Empire Memorial which was f

Four suspects detained after blazes were allegedly started across ten locations
Croatian police have detained four individuals suspected of intentionally igniting fires at ten sites in Zadar County, prompting urgent public safety concerns as prosecutors deliberate on charges. The fires were reportedly coordinated, though final legal classification is pending.
Fires reported across Zadar County
T

French health authorities issued a warning on Friday about over 40,000 noncompliant condoms sold online in recent months, advising users of these products to undergo testing for sexually transmitted infections.
The items were deemed “likely to pose serious risks to the health and safety of users,” such as unwanted pregnancies and STIs, according to France’s consumer-fraud watchdog, the DGCCRF, and

A senior political figure has questioned whether the continued detention of the Mayor of Albania’s capital city is “strictly necessary.”
Erion Veliaj has remained nominally in office as mayor of Tirana despite being held in what is known as pre-trial detention (PTD) since February 2025.
He is accused of corruption and money laundering but strongly denies any wrong doing.
The latest in a protracte

New police tactics have significantly decreased crossings from northern France, but humanitarian groups caution that more beach confrontations could increase danger for migrants and asylum seekers.
French police are employing more forceful methods to prevent small boats from leaving for the UK, with new data showing a significant drop in Channel crossings. Video released on 21 August shows office