Brussels

Elon Musk is locked in a €120 million legal fight with the European Commission, and the US government has reportedly asked to join the case on his side. The dispute concerns EU regulation of Musk's businesses, and Washington's decision to weigh in raises the stakes, turning a corporate complaint into a transatlantic clash over tech regulation and jurisdiction.

The European Commission has floated possible curbs on energy demand in a letter sent to member states, as the bloc searches for ways to tackle soaring energy prices. The proposal signals Brussels is considering demand-reduction measures among its options for the crisis, though the letter does not commit governments to any specific steps yet.

The European Parliament is calling on the European Commission to provide funding to address a shortage of roughly one million health workers across the EU. The appeal highlights growing strain on healthcare systems struggling with staff shortages, and pushes Brussels to commit money to training, recruitment and retention of medical personnel.

Up to €20 billion in unallocated funds from the EU's SAFE defence instrument could be directed to Ukraine, according to TVP World reporting. The Security Action for Europe programme, a €150 billion loan facility for joint defence procurement, has seen slower uptake by member states than planned, leaving surplus cash that Brussels is considering channeling toward Kyiv's defence needs as the war with Russia continues.

European officials are pushing to impose sanctions targeting Russian influence activities, aiming to act before such operations cause further political damage inside the EU. The effort reflects growing concern in Brussels and national capitals over disinformation, covert funding and political interference linked to Moscow. Debates continue over what legal tools would allow the bloc to sanction influence campaigns proactively.

Palestinian hunger strikers taking part in a protest in Brussels have been hospitalized as their action continues. The development raises concern over the strikers' deteriorating health and keeps attention on the Palestinian cause in the heart of EU institutions, with the protest ongoing despite medical warnings.

A group of Palestinians in Belgium have begun a hunger strike to press the Belgian government to evacuate their family members from Gaza, where the ongoing war has created severe humanitarian conditions. The protesters are calling on Brussels to grant humanitarian visas and organise safe passage out of the territory, joining wider European advocacy efforts by Palestinian diaspora communities.

Google is preparing to test its AI chips in space, according to a report by The Brussels Times. The project would see the company's custom semiconductor hardware evaluated in orbital conditions rather than solely in terrestrial data centres. Further details on timing, partners or the specific chips involved have not been disclosed, and there has been no independent confirmation of the programme's scope so far.

The European Union says it will stand firm in defending its position against X after the United States backed a legal challenge brought by Elon Musk against the bloc. The dispute centres on EU rules affecting the platform, and Washington's intervention has escalated what was already a tense standoff between Brussels and Musk. The case is being closely watched as a test of how far the EU's regulatory powers reach over major American tech companies.

The European Union says it will stand firm against Elon Musk's social media platform X after the United States backed a legal challenge to EU content rules. The dispute centers on the EU's Digital Services Act enforcement against X, and Brussels insists it will defend its regulatory authority in court despite Washington's intervention.

Leaders from Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia have met with a European Union commissioner to discuss the planned phase-out of citizenship-by-investment programmes. The schemes, which sell passports to foreign investors, have faced mounting pressure from Brussels over security and due-diligence concerns. The talks are seen as an attempt by the Caribbean nations to defend a key source of government revenue while addressing EU objections.

Attention is turning to whether the European Union is reconsidering its biofuels policy, a question trade publication Ethanol Producer Magazine poses in its latest headline. Brussels has shifted position on crop-based fuels several times over the past two decades, first encouraging them and then capping food-based ethanol and biodiesel over sustainability concerns. Any new rethink would matter for fuel producers, farmers and climate targets across Europe.

Australia is reportedly considering forming what officials describe as a 'unique alliance' with the European Union. The announcement, reported by DW, signals a possible deepening of ties between Canberra and Brussels, though details of what the partnership would involve have not been made clear.

The Business Secretary has cautioned Labour against any move to rejoin the EU customs union, setting out a clear position in an internal debate over the party's post-Brexit stance. The warning signals tension within Labour over how closely to align with Brussels, as the government seeks to keep its options on trade and regulation open.

Brussels, Belgium has been named a host city for the 2026 Wanda Diamond League, athletics' top annual one-day circuit. The Belgian stop is traditionally one of the season's headline meetings, held at the King Baudouin Stadium as part of the finals stage of the series. Fans and athletics media are noting the confirmation as the 2026 calendar takes shape ahead of the season.