Belgium

Pope Francis has canceled Monday's audiences due to a mild cold. This is also a preventive measure before the apostolic trip to Luxembourg and Belgium scheduled for September 26-29.

Penalty imposed for longstanding restrictions on the right to asylum, which Hungary refuses to lift.

The President of Ukraine accepted credentials from the ambassadors of Mexico, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands, India, and Belgium. Zelenskyy discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the countries with each ambassador.

Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostiuk defeated Belgian Elise Mertens in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. The match ended with a score of 2:1 (6:4, 2:6, 6:4) in favor of Kostiuk.

The EU funds a €2 million humanitarian demining initiative in Ukraine. 16 Belgian Malinois and 8 Ukrainian instructors were trained to search for mines in the liberated territories.

The apple harvest in key EU countries in 2024 will fall by 11% compared to the previous year. Production will also decline in Ukraine and Moldova, leading to high prices and new opportunities for exporters.

The former head of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, unexpectedly returned to Spain after 7 years in exile. He spoke to supporters in Barcelona, after which the police launched an operation to find and arrest him.

russian LNG supplies to France more than doubled in the first half of this year. French companies imported almost 4.4 bcm of russian LNG, making France the largest importer in the EU.

Ukraine has received upgraded F-16 fighters with new avionics and radars. Training of pilots and technical personnel continues, and the transfer of aircraft from other partner countries is expected.

The United States has provided Ukrenergo with 18 high-voltage autotransformers to restore power grids after Russian attacks. Some of the equipment is already in operation, providing electricity to millions of Ukrainians.

Ukrzaliznytsia has started selling tickets for the first children's compartment car on the Kharkiv-Yasinia train on August 8. The car, created in cooperation with UNICEF, is equipped for comfortable travel for children aged 0 to 8 and their parents.

The Belgian government and UNDP have signed a €9 million agreement for the green renewable energy sector in Ukraine. The funds will be used to repair critical energy facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

The tradition of creating Boyko Easter eggs with a pin has been added to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine. This technique is widespread in the places where the Boyko people live and has a deep symbolic meaning.

F-16 fighters will arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but their number will be insufficient to have a significant impact on the course of the fighting. The planes will initially be used primarily to strengthen air defense rather than for ground attacks.

Belgian authorities have charged three natives of Chechnya with preparing a terrorist attack. The suspects are allegedly affiliated with the Afghan branch of the Islamic State and were detained during a large-scale anti-terrorist operation.

Belgian police detained 7 people suspected of planning a terrorist attack. They conducted 14 searches in different cities of the country, and the suspects are accused of terrorism and its financing.

EU countries will discuss extending sanctions on Russian assets to secure a $50 billion G7 loan to Ukraine. Options for an indefinite extension or for 3 years are being considered.

Euroclear promises a first installment of €1. 5 billion from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine in July. The funds will be used for weapons, air defense, ammunition, and the development of the defense industry.

Belgium will provide EUR 150 million to finance projects to restore energy and social infrastructure in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has expanded access to consular services abroad by providing 24 institutions in 20 countries with access to the State Register of Civil Status Acts, which will allow Ukrainians to obtain repeat certificates and extracts from the register.

The rescued Himalayan bear Yampil died in a Scottish zoo after failing to recover from anesthesia during transportation for treatment.

Romania will provide Ukraine with a Patriot air defense system and support its security efforts in the Black Sea region under a new bilateral agreement.

Japan has handed over 2 Nikken mechanized demining vehicles to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine to help in the disposal of explosive ordnance, which will be sent to Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

Ukraine and the European Commission have started bilateral meetings as part of the process of assessing the approximation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law, an important step on the road to EU membership.

Europol reports a record increase in cocaine smuggling to Europe, with almost 70% of it being transported through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam.

House Democrats are calling on the Pentagon to expand training for more Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets to maximize their strategic advantage in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The French national team defeated Belgium 1-0 in the European Championship playoffs and reached the quarterfinals.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba congratulated Hungary on its presidency of the EU Council, thanked Belgium for its historic decisions during the presidency, and expressed interest in constructive cooperation and unity of the EU to protect peace and stability in Europe based on reliable support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy congratulated Hungary on its EU presidency, expressed readiness to contribute to strengthening Europe on the path to EU membership, and thanked Belgium for its leadership during the historic EU presidency, which helped advance Ukraine's accession negotiations and support programs.

Hungary takes over the presidency of the EU Council for 6 months amid serious disagreements with the EU leadership on issues such as the war in Ukraine and migration.