Consumer advocacy group Test Achats argued that making healthy, sustainable food affordable through policy is an important step forward for both consumers and farmers. Soaring vegetable prices in recent months have caused consumers to turn to cheaper, often unhealthy foods. Since supermarket prices began rising in mid-2022, Test Achatz has calculated supermarket inflation and compared 3,500 products from seven major supermarkets to determine what consumers are paying for groceries. in January, the inflation rate was 5.93%. It declined further, but compared to two years ago, consumers are paying an average…
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Qatargate Belgian MP Marie Arena Questioned by Police as Suspect
According to Le Soir and RTBF, Belgian MP Marie Arena was questioned Friday morning by investigators involved in the so-called Qatargate corruption scandal in the European Parliament. The Socialist Party (PS) lawmaker is being questioned as a suspect but has not been arrested. This is because a warrant for their arrest cannot be issued unless their parliamentary privileges have been lifted. Arena has been arrested several times due to his close ties to former MEP Antonio Panzeri, the ringleader of the Qatargate scandal. According to Le Soir, the Federal Prosecutor’s…
Read MoreBelgian used Car market continues to grow
According to data released by the mobility federation Traxio, used car registrations in Belgium increased by 8.4% in January, reaching 61,908 units. Traxio calls this growth “remarkable,” noting in particular the success already achieved in 2023. The used car market has been consistently improving and is expected to remain high. The federation noted that several important factors have contributed to the good performance of the used car market. These include the affordability of used car prices, which declined slightly at the beginning of the year. Gasoline engines continue to account…
Read MoreDeutsche Lufthansa to Strike Ground Staff Wednesday
One of Lufthansa’s main trade unions called on ground workers to strike on Wednesday over a wage dispute involving 25,000 employees whose purchasing power has been reduced by inflation. The union Verdi called for a strike from 04:00 Wednesday to 07:10 Thursday to “intensify pressure” on management. According to the statement, they are demanding a 12.5% raise in pay over 12 months. Major German airports affected include Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, and Düsseldorf. Lufthansa says it is working on a “special flight plan” for “more than 100,000 passengers. The strike…
Read MoreFuture Post-Brexit Passport Checks Could Limit Eurostar Service
The much-delayed post-Brexit EU Entry-Exit System (EES), which is expected to come into effect by the end of 2024, will have a major impact on Eurostar trains to Brussels. The EES is an automated IT system for registering third-country travelers to the EU; after February 1, 2020, UK nationals will be considered “third country nationals” under EU law. Short-stay visa holders and visa-exempt travelers will also have to submit fingerprint and facial biometric data each time they enter the EU. The system will also record entry refusals. The introduction of…
Read MoreRock Werchter Announces 18 New Artists for 2024
Rock Werchter, which will take place July 4-7, 2024, has announced 18 new artists, including headliners Dua Lipa and the Foo Fighters as well as the Pretenders, Tom Odell, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. According to organizers, these newly announced groups will showcase a blend of soulful sounds, powerful blues, sharp rock, high-impact hip-hop, and accomplished songwriters and inspiring icons. Thursday, July 4 will feature live performances by The Cat Empire, Jaren Gonda, Bombay Bicycle Club, guitarist Johnny Marr, and folk band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats….
Read MoreElon Musk’s X Turning into Porn Site, Belgian Regulator Says
The French-speaking Belgian audiovisual regulator (CSA) has warned of a surge in pornographic content on X/Twitter since content moderation efforts were drastically cut. The CSA used KIVI, an artificial intelligence tool developed by German startup Condat, to monitor pornographic content over a four-month period (from September 6 to December 11) Using 500 keywords and 90 pre-identified “super-spread” accounts, the project recorded a total of about 5, 000 pornographic content on Twitter, with a total of about 5, 000 accounts. 000 problematic accounts were recorded. Subsequently, 1,041 were investigated by regulators…
Read MoreFrench Shipping Company CMA-CGM Halts Red Sea Transit Again
French shipping company CMA-CGM has again suspended its vessels transiting the Red Sea due to attacks by Houthi rebels. The decision was made Friday and will remain in effect “until further notice” to reduce risk, it said. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who control most of Yemen, have frequently targeted vessels believed to have ties to Israel. They claim their attacks are in retaliation for Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. CMA-CGM, like several other shipping companies, suspended its service through the Red Sea on December 16 and later resumed operations on December…
Read MoreEU threatens Belgium with legal actions if it will not address nitrogen issue
The European Commission is threatening legal action if Belgium does not promptly address the levels of nitrogen in Flanders. The Commission has issued a final warning to Belgium regarding the amount of nitrate in groundwater and surface water. Flanders has a significant presence of intensive agriculture and grapples with the nitrogen emissions it generates. Belgium has been aware of the increasing water pollution for years but, according to the Commission, has taken insufficient action. In such situations, EU member states are obliged to intervene as quickly as possible. Belgium is…
Read MoreEC recommends to keep glyphosate in use for another ten years
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to allow the ‘controversial’ herbicide glyphosate to be used for another ten years. If a substantial majority of EU countries do not oppose it, the pesticide can be used until at least 2033. Glyphosate, known under the brand name Roundup from the manufacturer Bayer (formerly Monsanto), has many opponents. Some researchers believe the substance can cause cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, glyphosate is thought to have a significant impact on biodiversity in nature. However, in line with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the…
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