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Belgium Detains Suspects in European Parliament Bribery Probe Linked to Huawei

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Belgian prosecutors announced on Thursday that several individuals had been detained over suspected bribery in the European Parliament, allegedly for the benefit of China’s Huawei. Authorities conducted searches across Belgium and Portugal, sealing the offices of two parliamentary assistants as part of the investigation. A suspect was also arrested in France. Prosecutors revealed that the alleged corruption had taken place discreetly since 2021 under the guise of lobbying, involving financial incentives and excessive gifts in exchange for political influence.

Huawei responded to the allegations, stating that it takes the matter seriously and will cooperate with authorities to understand the situation. The company reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and emphasized its commitment to compliance with all laws and regulations. Meanwhile, the European Parliament confirmed that it had received a request from Belgian authorities to assist in the investigation and pledged full cooperation.

The prosecutors refrained from disclosing the names of those involved but stated that the detained individuals were being questioned over corruption, forgery, and the use of false documents. The case adds to growing scrutiny over lobbying practices within European institutions, raising concerns about foreign influence in EU policymaking.

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Britain Warns of U.N. Sanctions on Iran Over Uranium Enrichment

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Britain has warned that it will trigger the return of U.N. sanctions on Iran if necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. This comes as the U.N. Security Council met behind closed doors to address Iran’s rapid uranium enrichment to 60% purity, nearing weapons-grade levels. Western nations argue that such high enrichment is unnecessary for civilian use, while Iran insists its nuclear program remains peaceful. Britain’s deputy U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki emphasized the country’s commitment to taking diplomatic measures, including sanctions, to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The U.S. and its allies have accused Iran of violating International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations and defying the Security Council. Iran, in turn, has condemned the U.S. for what it calls the “weaponization” of the council to escalate economic pressure on Tehran. Meanwhile, China is set to host a meeting with Russia and Iran to discuss the nuclear issue, urging diplomatic efforts to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal. China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong warned that maximum pressure tactics would not yield effective results.

With the 2015 U.N. resolution on the Iran nuclear deal expiring in October, Britain, France, and Germany will soon lose the ability to trigger snapback sanctions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed diplomats to work with allies to reinstate international restrictions before the deadline. As tensions rise, the window for diplomatic negotiations appears to be closing, increasing the risk of renewed sanctions and further geopolitical friction.

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Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili Sentenced to Nine More Years in Prison

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Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of embezzlement, according to the Interpress news agency. Saakashvili, who led Georgia from 2004 to 2013, was already serving a six-year sentence for abuse of power after his return to the country in 2021. He has spent much of his imprisonment in a prison hospital due to reported health concerns.

The courtroom erupted in chaos following the verdict, with Saakashvili’s supporters accusing the judge of being controlled by the ruling government. Once a widely popular leader who rose to power through the 2003 Rose Revolution, Saakashvili implemented sweeping reforms that aligned Georgia with the West. However, his tenure later became controversial, marred by allegations of authoritarianism, police brutality, and a failed 2008 war with Russia.

After leaving office, Saakashvili moved to Ukraine, where he briefly served as governor of the Odesa region. Despite being convicted in absentia of abuse of power, he returned to Georgia in 2021 and was immediately arrested. His United National Movement party had lost power in 2012 to a coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who remains Georgia’s de facto leader.

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Portugal Faces Likely Early Election as Confidence Vote Looms

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Portugal’s parliament is set to vote on a motion of confidence in Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s minority centre-right government on Tuesday, with rejection all but certain. The move comes amid opposition criticism over Montenegro’s past involvement in a consultancy firm now run by his sons. With the centre-left Socialists and far-right Chega vowing to vote against him, a failed motion would push the government into a caretaker role, leaving President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to decide on a potential mid-May election.

Analysts predict another inconclusive result if fresh elections are held, as recent polls show little shift in voter preferences since the tight March 2024 election, which Montenegro’s Democratic Alliance (AD) won by just 1,500 votes. The AD currently holds 80 seats in the 230-seat parliament, narrowly ahead of the Socialists’ 78, raising concerns about continued political instability. Many voters, fatigued by frequent elections, express frustration over the lack of clear leadership.

Experts believe the only viable path to stability is a rare centrist alliance between Montenegro’s Social Democrats and the Socialists, a scenario last seen in 1983-1985. Political scientist Adelino Maltez warns that without such a pact, Portugal risks enduring further deadlock and uncertainty, with no single party securing a strong mandate.

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Romania Bars Far-Right Candidate Calin Georgescu from Presidential Re-Run

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Romania’s central election authority has barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from running in the May presidential election re-run, citing a prior Constitutional Court ruling that annulled the original vote due to allegations of Russian interference. The decision, reached by a 10-to-4 vote, has intensified a constitutional crisis in the EU and NATO member state, with Georgescu’s supporters denouncing it as political suppression. U.S. figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance, have criticized the move, while European diplomats back Romania’s judicial independence.

Following the announcement, violent protests erupted outside the election bureau, where Georgescu’s supporters clashed with security forces, throwing rocks, overturning cars, and setting fires. Police deployed teargas to disperse the crowds. The former frontrunner remains under criminal investigation for multiple charges, including membership in a fascist organization and financial misconduct, though he denies any wrongdoing.

Georgescu had surged to prominence through a highly coordinated social media campaign despite claiming to have spent no funds. His disqualification has further strained U.S.-European relations, particularly amid tensions over the White House’s stance on Ukraine. While he plans to challenge the ruling in Romania’s Constitutional Court, experts suggest the appeal is unlikely to succeed.

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Former French Security Chief Bernard Squarcini Convicted for Misusing Public Resources to Benefit LVMH

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A Paris court has found Bernard Squarcini, former head of France’s domestic security services, guilty of misusing public resources to benefit luxury giant LVMH. Squarcini, who led the agency from 2008 to 2012 before being hired as a security consultant by LVMH, was sentenced to two years of house arrest with an electronic bracelet, plus a two-year suspended sentence and a €200,000 fine. His conviction stems from using state resources to track down blackmailers targeting LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault in 2008 and aiding in the illegal surveillance of French lawmaker François Ruffin and his team in 2013.

The court found that Squarcini had ordered security agents to monitor a cyber café in Aix-en-Provence to identify a suspect sending extortion emails to Arnault, justifying the act as protecting French economic interests. He was also complicit in the surveillance of Ruffin and members of his left-wing publication Fakir, who planned to disrupt an LVMH shareholder meeting and were producing the satirical documentary Merci Patron. The film, which won the French César Award for Best Documentary in 2017, highlighted the struggles of workers affected by LVMH’s business practices.

While LVMH settled a criminal probe into the case in 2021 with a €10 million payment without admitting guilt, the company declined to comment on the latest ruling. Bernard Arnault told the court he was unaware of the illegal surveillance, which he said had been arranged by a close associate who passed away in 2018. Ruffin’s lawyer welcomed the verdict but expressed disappointment that Arnault himself was not among the defendants. Squarcini’s legal team announced plans to appeal the decision.

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Switzerland Cancels Geneva Conventions Conference on Palestinian Territories

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Switzerland has cancelled a planned conference on the application of the Geneva Conventions to the occupied Palestinian territories due to a lack of consensus among participating states. The event, scheduled for March 7 in Geneva, aimed to address the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem under the Fourth Geneva Convention. However, Switzerland’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the cancellation after some countries expressed dissatisfaction with the draft declaration.

The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, criticized the proposed declaration for lacking concrete measures, calling instead for economic and diplomatic actions against Israel to ensure the implementation of the Geneva Conventions. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also planned to boycott the event, stating that the document failed to reflect the severity of the situation. Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Hamas and expanding settlements in the West Bank, dismissed the conference as “legal warfare” against the country.

Several Western nations, including Britain, declined to fully support the proposed declaration, leading to a lack of participation. While some European states intended to attend, concerns from Israel’s allies contributed to the conference’s cancellation, marking a diplomatic setback for neutral Switzerland, which has long been known for hosting peace talks and conflict mediation efforts.

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EU Leaders Push for Increased Defence Spending Amid U.S. Uncertainty

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European Union leaders are set to endorse bold measures to boost defence spending and reaffirm support for Ukraine during a high-stakes summit in Brussels on Thursday. The meeting, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, comes amid growing concerns over the U.S.’s shifting stance on military aid under Donald Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron has stressed the need for Europe to prepare for its own security, even suggesting that France’s nuclear arsenal could be extended to protect EU allies. Meanwhile, Germany is moving to loosen borrowing limits to fund additional defence spending, and the European Commission has proposed mobilizing up to €800 billion for European defence.

Despite widespread European support for Ukraine, internal divisions remain, with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatening to veto a statement backing Kyiv. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has proposed a military aid pledge of at least €20 billion for Ukraine in 2025, but disagreements persist over contributions, with Nordic and Baltic nations urging larger commitments from France, Italy, and Spain. Paris, Rome, and Madrid reject claims they are not doing enough, arguing that public figures do not fully reflect their military contributions.

The summit highlights the deepening geopolitical rift as Europe seeks to bolster its security in the face of a potentially reduced U.S. role. Trump’s mixed signals on NATO and Ukraine have fueled concerns about European defence autonomy, prompting urgent discussions on coordinated military efforts. While most EU nations are eager to reassure Ukraine of continued support, Orban’s opposition underscores lingering fractures within the bloc. European leaders are now working to finalize concrete defence measures and financial commitments to safeguard the continent’s security.

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Serbian Parliament Erupts in Chaos as Opposition Protests Intensify

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Serbian opposition lawmakers ignited smoke grenades and used pepper spray inside parliament on Tuesday in a dramatic protest against the government, supporting ongoing student-led demonstrations. The chaos erupted after the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) approved the legislative agenda, prompting opposition members to scuffle with security guards. Amid the mayhem, SNS lawmaker Jasmina Obradovic suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in serious condition.

The unrest follows four months of protests sparked by the collapse of a railway station roof in Novi Sad last November, which killed 15 people. Demonstrators, including students, teachers, and farmers, accuse the government of corruption and incompetence, demanding justice for the victims. Outside parliament, hundreds of protesters held a silent vigil, while inside, opposition lawmakers disrupted the session with whistles and horns, holding signs calling for a “general strike” and “justice for those killed.”

Despite calls for a transitional government to ensure fair elections, President Aleksandar Vucic and his allies have rejected the demand, alleging foreign interference in the unrest. While parliament was set to approve increased funding for universities, tensions escalated over the planned acknowledgment of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic’s resignation. The session was adjourned and is set to resume on Wednesday, as opposition leaders urged for a major rally in Belgrade on March 15.

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Scottish Painter Jack Vettriano Dies at 73 in France

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Renowned Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, best known for his iconic painting The Singing Butler, has passed away at the age of 73. His publicist confirmed that he was found dead in his apartment in Nice, France, on Saturday, with local reports stating there were no suspicious circumstances. Remembered as a deeply private and humble man, Vettriano gained widespread popularity for his evocative paintings depicting themes of romance, mystery, and nostalgia.

Born in 1951 into a coal mining family in Methil, Scotland, Vettriano took up painting in his early twenties and was largely self-taught. His breakthrough came in 1988 when two of his paintings sold at the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual show, leading to a successful career despite criticism from the art establishment. The Singing Butler fetched a record-breaking £744,800 at auction in 2004, and a reinterpretation by Banksy is expected to sell for up to £5 million this week.

Vettriano’s later work became more overtly erotic, mirroring his own hedonistic lifestyle, which included struggles with drugs and alcohol. Despite his immense commercial success, he often clashed with art critics, believing their disapproval stemmed from jealousy and his lack of formal training. “I am a melancholic romantic,” he once said, describing his paintings as both a celebration of women and a reflection of human desires. His legacy lives on through his captivating and widely admired artwork.

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