EU hourly labor costs hit €34.9 average as Eastern states lead growth rates

Brussels, Eurostat Data. Hourly labor costs across the European Union continued their upward trajectory in 2025. However, massive structural disparities remain between member states, ranging from €12 in the East to nearly €57 in Western Europe.

Zelensky warns Trump peace plan risks Ukraine’s security

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that Donald Trump’s team is seeking a swift end to the war by demanding unilateral territorial concessions, a move he says endangers national security.

Belgium’s sex work labor law faces collapse as few sign up

Belgium’s pioneering attempt to normalise the sex industry through formal employment contracts is facing a "brutal awakening." Since December 2024, the law has granted sex workers the right to legal contracts, maternity leave, and unemployment benefits. However, administrative data reveals a significant gap between legislative intent and reality.

EU urges oil and gas cuts as Iran war threatens energy supplies

The European Commission has urged member states to consider reducing oil and gas consumption, particularly in the transport sector, as it prepares for a "prolonged disruption" of energy supplies caused by the war in Iran.

Trump hints at withholding NATO aid amid Iran crisis

President Donald Trump warned on Friday that the United States might not provide military assistance to NATO allies, intensifying his criticism of the alliance during a business forum in Miami.

Russian drone strikes kill three in Odessa and Kryvyi Rih

Russian forces launched two waves of drone attacks on Odessa and a massive strike on Kryvyi Rih overnight, killing at least three people and wounding several others, local authorities reported on Saturday, March 28.

US, allies signal final phase of Iran military operation

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced at the G7 Summit in Paris that joint operations with Israel are expected to conclude within weeks. Allied leaders called for a rapid end to the conflict to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East conflict costs Russian tour operators €70m in losses

The escalating conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran has inflicted significant financial damage on Russia’s tourism sector. Since the start of hostilities, Russian tour operators have incurred losses totaling approximately 7 billion rubles (€70.5 million), according to Dmitry Gorin, Vice President of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST).

US senators propose sanctions on Hungary over Russia energy ties

U.S. senators are moving to introduce a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting high-ranking Hungarian officials. The legislation focuses on those responsible for maintaining Russian energy imports and stalling European financial assistance to Ukraine.

Ukraine faces June funding cliff as Western aid stalls

Ukraine risks exhausting its financial reserves for the war against Russia within the next two months. A convergence of geopolitical factors now threatens tens of billions of euros in critical international assistance.

Belgium deploys troops to protect Jewish sites amid rising threats

The Belgian federal government has redeployed armed military patrols to protect places of worship and Jewish community institutions. The move comes as the country, which hosts the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, faces a surge in security concerns.

Putin presses oligarchs for defense funds as budget deficit soars

President Vladimir Putin has urged Russian oligarchs to contribute to the country’s straining defense budget to sustain the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to reports cited by The Guardian.