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Business · 28 September 2026

German Fuel Tax Vanishes Faster Than a Battery‑Powered Beetle in a Berlin Speed‑Trap

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

A surge in electric‑vehicle sales is draining Germany’s fuel tax coffers, prompting a tongue‑in‑cheek Brussels communiqué and a forecast annex warning of a fiscal pothole on the road‑funding highway.

Business · 28 September 2026

German carmakers draft 40‑hour “speed‑up” plan, unions respond with brake lights

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

German car manufacturers propose a jump from 35 to 40 hours without pay rise, sparking a showdown between the engine room and the union brake pads.

Environment · 27 September 2026

Pope Leo XIV’s Lourdes Pilgrimage: 150,000 Witnesses, Victim Apologies, and a Scenic Detour to Metz

Inès Vogel, Brussels desk

In a move that could have been lifted straight from a Vatican itinerary, Pope Leo XIV celebrated mass before a throng of 150,000 in Lourdes, met with victims of clerical abuse, and is now en route to Metz for the next ch…

Business · 27 September 2026

Germany’s Gas Tanks Look Like a Half‑Empty Wine Cellar as Winter Looms

Etienne Marlow, Brussels desk

Germany’s gas reserves are far below historic levels, prompting a satirical look at a chilly winter ahead and the prospect of soaring energy prices.

World · 25 September 2026

Pope Leo Declares AI ‘Paradisical Threat’ as He Tries to Re‑brand the Church in Paris

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

The pontiff spent four days in France, warning against a ‘paradise of machines’, meeting the Élysée, UNESCO and a parade of diplomats, while attempting to mend the Church’s image after years of scandal.

Politics · 25 September 2026

EU Bans Russian Commentator Xenia Fedorova, France Expels Her for Speaking Too Loudly About Propaganda

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

The European Union has slapped a sanctions list on Xenia Fedorova after France threw her out for allegedly spreading pro‑Russian narratives. The move turns the EU into a strict librarian, while Fedorova tries to file a…

Environment · 25 September 2026

Pope’s Return to France: A Vatican‑EU Summit Over Ties, Transparency and Trousers

Inès Vogel, Brussels desk

The Vatican’s Leo XIV arrives in Paris for his first state visit in almost two decades, set to juggle apologies to abuse survivors, a high‑tech rosary demo and a diplomatic handshake with EU leaders.

World · 24 September 2026

Poland Accuses Sabotage After Starlink Station Goes Up in Smoke, Denmark Urges Russian ‘Space‑Kittens’ to Behave

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

Poland blames sabotage for a fire at a Starlink hub used to feed Ukrainian internet, while Denmark warns that Russian cyber‑threats are on the rise, and Poland’s digital minister laments the daily deluge of cyber‑a…

Environment · 24 September 2026

EU Heritage Bureau Declares Paris a New Wall‑Capital After 20‑Metre Gallo‑Roman Discovery

Inès Vogel, Brussels desk

An ancient 20‑metre Gallo‑Roman wall uncovered in central Paris has prompted the EU’s Heritage Department to declare the city a potential “wall‑capital”, sparking procedural debates and a sudden surge in heri…