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World · 4 October 2026

Merz lands in Kyiv as Russia hits the Pivnichnyi Bridge and a second crossing

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

German politician Friedrich Merz arrived unannounced in Kyiv while Russian forces struck the Pivnichnyi (Northern) Bridge and another major bridge, leaving the capital’s transport network in chaos.

World · 3 October 2026

School Protesters Rewrite Parisian Politics, One Baguette at a Time

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

When a wave of schoolchildren marches on the streets of Paris with signs, the French government feels the chill of a new curriculum: politics, protest and a dash of baguette. The protest, now in its third week, is forcin…

World · 3 October 2026

Baguettes, Chalk, and Chaos: Students Take the Bastille, One Classroom at a Time

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

When French pupils armed with baguettes and textbooks clash with riot police across Paris, Toulouse, and Lille, the nation’s educational budget feels more like a missing ingredient in a croissant. Over 600 schools are…

Business · 3 October 2026

World Bank Launches ‘AI for Equality’ Pilot, Promises Robots Will Finally Pay the Rent

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

The World Bank unveils a tongue‑in‑cheek AI pilot aimed at narrowing the inequality gap, sparking debate over whether algorithms can really balance the books or just shuffle the numbers.

World · 2 October 2026

French Schools Fall into ‘Urban Violence’ as 564 Institutions Turn into Protest Arenas

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

Over 560 schools across France were shuttered after nationwide protests over learning conditions, with some 3,000 teenagers detained and classrooms turned into impromptu street markets. The unrest, which has already left…

Environment · 2 October 2026

France’s Schools Shut, Students Demand Cooler Classrooms, EU Backs Out of Heat‑Proofing

Inès Vogel, Brussels desk

A wave of French high‑school protests over long hours, overheating classrooms and staff shortages has led to 400 schools closing and 2,000 arrests, prompting Brussels to reassess its own heating regulations.

Finance · 2 October 2026

Eurozone Inflation Climbs to 3.8% as Eurostat Declares Prices Have Taken Up a Full‑Time Job

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

Eurostat reports euro‑area inflation at 3.8% in September, nearly double the ECB’s target, prompting markets to wonder if rate hikes will soon need a ladder. An annexed forecast hints at more surprises ahead.

Business · 2 October 2026

EU convenes emergency diesel summit after ex‑president hints at US reserve release

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

A former US president’s suggestion to tap American diesel reserves triggered a Brussels‑led emergency summit, sending euro‑area diesel prices to record levels and prompting a flurry of market‑ready communiqués.

Environment · 1 October 2026

From Moo to Miso: Dutch Cattlemen Harvest Rice to Save Peatlands, Farmers Claim ‘We’re Farming the Future’

Inès Vogel, Brussels desk

In a bold bid to curb peatland subsidence, Dutch cattle farmers have swapped cows for rice paddies, turning former pasture into shimmering fields of grain in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions.