UN Negotiations on Plastic Treaty Conclude Without Agreement

In his analysis of baptism, Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky) examines Optatus’s stance on the validity of schismatic baptism. Optatus links baptism closely with the Holy Trinity, compelling him to accept the validity of baptisms in schismatic groups, which aligns with the prevailing Church norms. He agrees with his opponent on the Church’s unity as the bride of Christ but distinguishes

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Brussels, Belgium, 25 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) – European governments face growing pressure to act earlier and more proactively against EU climate risks, as extreme heat, drought, wildfires and flooding increasingly threaten public health, infrastructure and economic activity across the continent.
The challenge has become particularly visible during successive hot summers. European authoriti

Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick criticized the GDPR for burdening small businesses and tech firms with excessive regulation, arguing that the UK should not be adhering to EU privacy laws that harm British businesses a decade after the Brexit referendum.
The EU GDPR offers broader individual rights concerning personal data, such as the “right to be forgotten,” compared to New Zealand’

Paris, France, 25 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – French authorities are urging people to act quickly when France heatwave alerts are triggered, as official guidance stresses that health effects can begin during the earliest stages of unusually hot weather.
Météo-France operates a four-level heat vigilance system — green, yellow, orange and red — designed to warn the public and authorities

To properly accommodate international trains from London, stations require costly manned passport control, security checks, and a dedicated platform separated by an effective international border. International and domestic passengers must remain separate, which also makes serving other UK destinations beyond London commercially nonviable.
Piling in
Despite these obstacles, the London route is con

Belgium, 25 August (Eurotoday) – Colruyt has issued a Colruyt courgette recall after its supplier warned of the possible presence of heptachlor in loose courgettes sold through several of the retailer’s chains in Belgium and Luxembourg. Customers who bought the affected vegetables have been told not to eat them and to return them to a store for a refund.
Colruyt removes affected courgettes from

Guterres and ICRC chief Mirjana Spoljaric emphasized that attacking civilians in warfare is against international humanitarian law, expressing concern that machines may not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.
They both advocated for banning autonomous weapons causing unpredictable effects and anti-personnel weapons targeting humans.
The UN plans a conference in Geneva in November

Tielt (Eurotoday Newspaper) – Writer Rino Feys from Meulebeke has addressed an open letter to Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever over statements made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Feys, who once belonged to the De Zondvloed bookshop in Roeselare, wrote to De Wever in reaction to the language used by the Israeli minister that was described by him as aggressive and extre

“A gunman fired an automatic weapon in front of children in my village,” Spinette informed reporters. “There are bullet marks in the ground.” Customers at a pizzeria were forced to take cover as gunshots erupted, according to Belga. The shooter escaped and remained at large as of Tuesday morning.
Saint-Gilles has been struggling with drug-related violence for years, especially around the train sta