What's happening in Europe?
Belgium
The front page of De Standaard features a mix of international and domestic news. Top stories include a report on the Gulf states' self-reliance in their conflict with Houthis and declining trust in the US, a piece on the increasing pressure on young students, and an analysis of potential revenue…
The Gulf states are facing an existential crisis as economic lifelines are redrawn, drones and missiles fill the airspace, and the US is perceived as absent, leading to plummeting trust in American support.
Exams, homework, hobbies, social media, and family expectations contribute to immense pressure on students, who describe feeling overwhelmed and needing to study for hours for a single class.
Economist Arthur Apostel from Ghent University has calculated the potential revenue from wealth tax proposals by Green/Ecolo, PS, and PVDA, estimating the yield to be between 2 and 12 billion.
Despite a mandate for reform, populist parties are gaining, raising questions about adapting to a hostile world, as noted in commentary regarding leaders like Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, and Bart De Wever.
French President Macron described his conversation with Donald Trump in New York during the UN General Assembly as very constructive.
President Putin's renewed mandate suggests continued conflict, with nearly a fifth of the parliament now being war veterans, causing concern among young Russians about potential mobilization.
Donald Trump's second term sees him highly visible, with the White House initiating 'Trump TV' following a boycott by major television networks.
The murder case of Baroness Mimi Lechien is now proceeding to the assizes court, with a witness recounting a contemptuous look from the accused.
