Author: Lester Holt

EU shipping carbon charges will not result in double payments for shipping companies, according to assurances from Brussels aimed at easing industry concerns over overlapping climate regulations. European shipowners received confirmation that they will not be required to pay carbon costs twice under both European Union rules and International Maritime Organization frameworks. Apostolos Tzitzikostas said European companies would be protected from duplicate charges during remarks at the Posidonia international shipping exhibition held in Athens. He stressed that while the energy transition will involve costs, the system will be designed to avoid double taxation under different regulatory regimes. The clarification is…

The EU carbon pricing battle is heating up in Brussels. The European Union is preparing for a major fight over its Emissions Trading System. This system is one of the world’s oldest carbon pricing tools. It forces companies to pay for pollution. Now it faces strong political pressure. Industry groups and some governments want big changes. The debate is growing before key reforms planned for July. Across the world, carbon pricing is slowing down. Almost 30 percent of global emissions are covered by carbon pricing schemes. But many governments are weakening their climate plans. In California, regulators gave billions in…

The European Union is reportedly considering potential sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with internal discussions. EU officials are said to have informed member state ambassadors that diplomatic work has begun on possible restrictive measures, although talks remain in early stages and divisions persist among member countries. The discussions reflect growing political tension within the bloc over Israel’s actions in recent regional incidents, particularly those involving maritime enforcement and treatment of activists. According to the report, the potential measures are still being evaluated behind closed doors and have not yet…

Brussels launches major spring clean of city centre with steam cleaning ahead of summer tourism season Brussels has begun a large-scale spring cleaning operation across its city centre as authorities prepare the Belgian capital for the busy summer season. The campaign will run for around 10 days and aims to refresh public spaces, remove dirt and graffiti, and improve the overall appearance of key urban areas. The initiative covers a wide range of public infrastructure. Cleaning teams are working on benches, street signs, litter bins, lampposts, cycle racks, flower boxes, drinking fountains, kiosks, walls, and public toilets. Officials say no…

The municipality of Ixelles in Brussels has introduced new rules to control the rapid growth of student housing. Local officials say the move is needed to prevent what they describe as a “speculative bubble” in the student accommodation market. The decision comes as the area continues to attract large numbers of students and new housing projects. Ixelles is known as one of the main student hubs in Brussels. Nearly 45% of students in the region study in the municipality. This is mainly due to the presence of major universities such as Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. As…

A new survey shows strong public support for cleaner and safer streets near schools in Brussels. The issue is linked to rising concern about Brussels school pollution and the health of children. The findings were published by Les Chercheurs d’Air in cooperation with research institute Dedicated. The results show that many residents want faster action to reduce traffic near schools. They also want more green spaces to improve air quality. The survey found that 73 percent of Brussels residents support pedestrian streets in front of nurseries and primary schools. Even more support is seen for greener school areas. Around 83…

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar will travel to Brussels next week. He will meet European Commission officials. The talks will focus on frozen EU funds. The goal is to unlock billions in support for Hungary. The visit comes after a recent election change in the country. Officials say the talks are key for economic growth and public spending plans. Hungary hopes to restore full access to EU recovery support. The issue of EU money has been a long dispute. The European Union froze funds over rule of law concerns. These concerns were raised during the long rule of Viktor Orbán.…

Belgium’s Eurovision final result has sparked debate after the country lost nearly all of its public voting support between the semi-final and the grand final. Analysts now believe a weak televote appeal, combined with an unfavorable running order, may explain the sudden drop. Belgium’s entry, “Dancing on the Ice,” managed to collect 10 televote points during its semi-final performance. The points came from several countries, including Israel, Georgia, Finland, Moldova, Montenegro, and viewers voting from the Rest of the World category. However, those points disappeared completely in the final. Belgium not only failed to repeat its semi-final support, but also…

Brussels has hosted the launch of a new international phase of the “Moroccans of the World 2026” Expo Tour, led by Al Omrane. The event marks an important step in Morocco’s effort to strengthen ties with its citizens living abroad and promote investment opportunities in the country. The initiative is part of a wider strategy supported by Morocco’s Ministry of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy. The policy focuses on building closer connections with Moroccans across the world and encouraging their involvement in national development. Officials said the Brussels stage is designed as a direct platform for…

Belgium have named their Belgium World Cup squad despite major questions over fitness and form. The biggest talking point is the inclusion of striker Romelu Lukaku, who is currently struggling with injury and match sharpness ahead of the 2026 tournament. Lukaku, who plays for Serie A club Napoli, has had a difficult season. The 33-year-old forward has scored 89 goals in 124 international matches for Belgium national football team, making him the country’s all-time top scorer. However, he has only played 69 minutes of club football in 2026 due to a hip injury and lack of match fitness. Belgium coach…