Author: Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk

Olga Winter is a specialist editor writing about current affairs on the EU news desk for WTX News. Based in Brussels she ideally suited to the address the domestic and global affairs of the European continent, with assignments that include expose and In Review features for specialist reports..

In the notorious Saidnaya prison in Damascus, Syria’s dictator Assad systematically tortured and murdered political opponents. After the fall of the regime, terrible images from the underground tracts went around the world. Survivors and relatives now have hope. Metal press and blood-soaked ropes – The full extent of the Syrian torture system is now becoming apparent

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Deadly Russian strike kills at least three in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia EU

At least three people were killed and 20 injured, many of whom are in critical condition, after a Russian strike on the city Zaphorizhzhia in Ukraine on Tuesday. According to regional governor Ivan Fedorov, the strike hit a private clinic in the city centre, damaging buildings nearby. “Medics, police and rescuers are currently working at the attack site,” he wrote on Telegram. Among the victims were two doctors and a five-year-old girl. At least 11…

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Hyrox is a global sports phenomenon with origins in Germany. The competition attracts many gym fans. But sports scientists also see dangers in the mix of strength and endurance. The latest trends in the industry are presented year after year at the Fibo fitness trade fair in Cologne. When I was there this spring, I discovered a few athletes in the basement doing some kind of intensified circuit training. They ran from one station to…

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The Basque Government’s budget project for 2025 will continue its processing in Parliament after passing the processing of the entire amendments presented by the PP, Sumar and Vox, which have been rejected after receiving 39 votes against (PNV and PSE-EE) , 27 abstentions (EH Bildu) and only having the nine votes in favor from the proposing groups. The entire amendments have been rejected by the Plenary Session of the Basque Chamber, which this coming Thursday,…

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Summary of Le Monde Newspaper Le Monde front page this morning – summarisedThe front page of Le Monde reports on Syria latest. The news spread first across Syria, and then the world. The regime once referred to as being “forever” during the rule of former president Hafez al-Assad [1930-2000, Bashar Al-Assad’s father] is no more. The death machine built up over 40 years has been brought to a halt with the takeover by an armed rebel…

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Summary of the Die Welt Newspaper Die Welt front page this morning – summarisedThe front page of Die Welt reports on Syrians applying for asylum in Germany. Syrians have been the largest group of asylum seekers in this country every year since 2014. After Assad’s fall, the Federal Office for Migration immediately put 46,000 applications on hold. Austria is doing the same. What do Faeser and Baerbock’s Foreign Ministry say about the scenario that refugees could…

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Summary of the El Pais Newspaper El Pais front page this morning – summarisedEl Pais says Rebel fighters are trying to restore order in Syria after seizing control of the capital Damascus and bringing down Bashar al-Assad’s regime.Rebel police have taken up residence in police stations after Assad’s army emptied military posts.And the leader of the coalition of rebel groups, Abu Mohamed al Julani, has met with the Syrian prime minister and the president of…

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After the overthrow of ruler Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the leader of the victorious Islamist fighters announced that he would publish a list of ex-officials involved in torture. The list to be published by the future Syrian authorities will contain “the names of the highest-ranking officials involved in the torture of the Syrian people,” wrote Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, head of the Islamist militia Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). on Tuesday in the Telegram online service.“We will…

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How was Syria’s economy ravaged by the civil war? Syria’s economy was worth $67.5 billion (€63.9 billion) in 2011 — the same year that large-scale protests broke out against President Bashar Assad’s regime, which sparked a rebel insurgency that escalated into a full-blown civil war. The country was placed 68th among 196 countries in global GDP rankings, comparable to Paraguay and Slovenia. By last year, the economy had fallen to 129 in the league table, having shrunk by 85% to just…

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Union politicians hope that with the fall of the Assad regime, many Syrians will return to their home country. Foreign Minister Baerbock (Greens) and Interior Minister Faeser (SPD) reject a premature return debate. Watch this and other news on WELT TV.© Axel Springer Germany GmbH. All rights reserved. Now live: After Assad’s fall in Syria – return debate polarized – video

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EU adapts product liability rules to digital age and circular economy EU

New product liability rules have entered into force, reflecting the increasing digital features of products and the growing circular economy. The EU’s product liability regime was established in 1985 to compensate those who have suffered physical injury or property damage due to a defective product. Since then, technological developments, new circular economy business models and ever-more global supply chains have made updating the rules essential. The new rules explicitly cover products like software, AI systems or…

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Manuel Neuer suffered a broken rib when he fouled Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. “He probably won’t play again this year,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany on the eve of the game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Schalke Arena. After the loudly proclaimed “title at home”, FC Bayern has to solve a groundbreaking compulsory task for the Champions League anniversary, even without Manuel Neuer, who has been injured for a long time. The captain will not only…

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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it had detected 47 Chinese military aircraft around the island. The French AFP news agency cited a senior Taiwanese security source as saying that “nearly 90” Chinese naval and coast guard vessels had been detected in waters along the so-called first island chain, which links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines. The Defense Ministry said that 47 aircraft and 12 warships were detected in the last 24 hours. It added that this…

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Iran, the EU and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps EU

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) should be recognized by the EU as a terrorist group” was the main message of a conference hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen on 4 December. The event titled “The Iranian regime, a risk for the security of Europe and Israel” was attended by about 200 participants and several members of the Parliament. The IRGC which was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. on…

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Nationale-Nederlanden has launched its winter pension campaign which aims to attract self-employed clients by improving bonuses. It maintains the advantageous bonuses of up to 10% on transfers and hiring that occur until December 31, 2024 with a novelty: the campaign covers both its Duplo System – which includes two individual Pension Plans – and the recently launched Plan of Simplified Employment Pensions for the Self-Employed. This campaign stands out for offering customers a cumulative bonus…

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