Month: April 2023

In the Belgian capital of Brussels, an increasing number of its major buildings are powered by heat found deep beneath the ground. Geothermal energy is heat energy from the Earth’s crust and is – in principle – an inexhaustible and clean source of energy. As awareness of the impacts of climate change increases, and with … Read moreHow an EU-project is helping Brussels tap into its geothermal potential

In “pop-up brothels”, car washes, nail bars and countless other types of businesses, slavery is running rampant in the UK, often in plain sight of wider society. Government estimates put the number of victims at 10,000 in 2020, though Anti-Slavery International claims the real figure is ten times higher – more than 130,000 people. “Slavery … Read moreBritain’s growing slavery problem fuelled by ‘culture of fear’, say experts

Less than a year after first applying for membership, Finland became the latest country to join NATO earlier this week – and given the Nordic nation’s history of non-alignment, its accession is significant. The Western military alliance’s frontier with Russia has grown more than 800 miles with the addition of its 31st member. Prior to … Read moreFinland’s long-held neutrality is over. What next?

Russian forces spearheaded by mercenaries of the Wagner Group seized the centre of the eastern city of Bakhmut during the 58th week of the war. Yet Ukrainian defenders were still holding the Russian army at bay, and their commanders said the Russian offensive was now clearly waning. At the same time, pro-Russian civilians were evacuating … Read moreWagner advances in Bakhmut as Ukraine gears up for counterattack

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been suffering from chronic blood cancer for some time and is currently in intensive care for a lung infection, according to his doctors. The 86-year-old, whose media empire has made him a billionaire, was rushed to the intensive care unit of Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday, heightening … Read moreDoctors reveal Italy’s Berlusconi diagnosed with leukaemia

The battle for Bakhmut is not over and Ukraine is still fighting hard for the town, according to a White House official. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the United States National Security Council, told reporters on Monday that Ukrainians have not been repulsed from the city, adding that an additional assistance package for Ukraine could … Read moreRussia-Ukraine war: Battle for Bakhmut not over, says US official

Finland will become the 31st member of the world’s biggest military alliance on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says, prompting a warning from Russia that it would bolster its defences in response. “This is a historic week,” Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday on the eve of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. … Read moreFinland to join NATO on Tuesday, military alliance’s chief says

On April 10, Northern Ireland marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of conflict in the British-ruled province. Following are some key developments in the history of the province and the peace process: 1921 – Ireland is partitioned, with the southern 26 counties becoming the … Read moreTimeline: Long road to Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement

Last year, a severe drought hit much of Europe, with some scientists claiming it was the worst in 500 years. In France, a state of emergency was declared in five northern provinces; in Spain, water reservoirs dropped to 36 percent of capacity; in Italy, the level of the country’s largest river Po was six times lower than normal. … Read moreEastern Europe must not lag behind on the green transition