Europe

Belgian Parliament passes tighter migration rules ——————————– The Belgian Parliament on Friday passed a bill tightening migration regulations, with a particular emphasis on family reunification, Anadolu Agency reported. The bill, proposed by Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van…

Serious Pollution Incidents by English Water Companies Rise 60% in 2024 ————————— Serious pollution incidents caused by English water companies increased by 60% in 2024, The Guardian reported based on Environment Agency data. There were 75 serious incidents last year,…

UK Lowers Voting Age to 16 Ahead of Next General Election …………………. The UK government will lower the voting age to 16 before the next general election, marking the most significant electoral reform since 1969, The Guardian reported. The change…

Italy Considers Early Release of 10,000 Inmates to Ease Prison Overcrowding ………………. Italy’s Ministry of Justice has announced plans to potentially release up to 10,000 prisoners to address severe overcrowding in the country’s detention facilities. The proposed measure would apply…

UK Air Quality Improving but Ozone Pollution Worsens, Scientists Warn ……………… Air pollution in the UK has declined since 2015 but still exceeds safe levels too often, researchers from the University of Reading report, The Guardian said. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂),…

Anti-Migrant Violence Erupts for Second Night in Southern Spain ………………… Several people were injured during a second night of anti-migrant unrest in Torre Pacheco, south-east Spain, following the assault of a local pensioner. Regional media reported that groups armed with…

Debate Over Immigrant Quotas in German Schools Highlights Challenges in Integration and Education ………………….. A proposal by Germany’s Education Minister Karin Prien to introduce quotas limiting immigrant students in schools has sparked significant debate across the country, DW reported. Prien…

Sweden to Rent Estonian Prison Cells Amid Overcrowding Concerns ……………….. Sweden plans to rent up to 600 prison places in Estonia to ease its overcrowded prisons, marking a shift away from its long-held focus on rehabilitation, The Guardian reported. The…

Berlin Reviews ‘Neutrality Law’ Amid Debate on Teachers’ Right to Wear Hijab ………………. A detailed report published by the German newspaper Die Welt has shed light on the growing debate in Berlin over the city’s so-called “Neutrality Law,” particularly its…

EU’s population projected to exceed 450M in 2025 —————————– As of January 1, 2025, the total population of the 27 EU member states reached 450.4 million, Anadolu Agency reported citing official data released by Eurostat on Friday. This marks an…