Last week, Brussels was home to the world’s top padel players. The event showcased the number one ranked players, Coello and Tapia, who have established themselves as a dominant force in the sport. Other pairs, such as Brea/González and Yanguas/Garrido, also demonstrated their strength and potential. However, some unexpected results occurred, with couples like Navarro/Lebron and Triay/Fernández falling earlier than expected. On the other hand, emerging pairs like Galán and Chingotto made an impressive mark, achieving a final and a victory in just two tournaments. The standout moment came on Sunday, when Galán and Chingotto secured a well-deserved win at the renowned Gare Maritime facilities, located in the heart of the Belgian capital.

Over the years, padel has gained tremendous popularity not only in Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy but also in Belgium. This surge in interest can be attributed, in part, to the impact of the pandemic. Previously, there were only four padel places in Belgium, and the game was predominantly played by Spanish-speaking athletes. However, the sport has grown significantly, with numerous courts, clubs, and coaches emerging across the country. Booking a padel court has become a challenge, with availability often limited until 10:00 p.m. Notably, Belgian athletes like Yannik Carrasco have invested in padel facilities, and local padel brands have also emerged. The enthusiasm for padel was evident throughout the weekend, as a large number of fans filled the stands at the Gare Maritime to witness the thrilling matches.

While the cameras and organizers focused on the top stars who provided spectacular performances, the heart of the stands belonged to a veteran player, Miguel Lamperti. At 45 years old, Lamperti is a legendary showman known for his charisma both on and off the court. The stands erupted with chants of “Miguel, Miguel” as he achieved an epic victory in the round of 16. Fans continued to rally behind him on Friday, as Lamperti and his partner Belluati came close to defeating the best players in the world. Lamperti embodies the spirit of old-school padel, compared to the younger and physically imposing players who effortlessly dominate the game. The crowd easily identified with Lamperti’s fearless charge against seemingly insurmountable opponents. Despite the inevitable outcome, Lamperti’s relentless determination resonated with the Belgian audience who appreciate his refusal to back down.

Lamperti’s story epitomizes the unwavering passion of Belgians, both for padel and for life itself. Belgians, much like their revered national hero, possess a resilience that allows them to overcome adversity. They never give up, always bouncing back from the most challenging situations. Lamperti’s approach to the game symbolizes the boldness and audacity that Belgians aspire to have in their lives. He radiates enthusiasm, fearlessness, and a complete disregard for danger, as he attempts daring shots and defies conventional wisdom. Lamperti’s sweaty, exhausted, and emotional state after a match mirrors the legends of classic flamenco performers. He plays without fear, taking on opponents without considering their reputations or physical size. Although victory may elude him most of the time, Lamperti embodies the spirit of a true Belgian – not defined by wins, but by bravery, heroism, and the willingness to take risks. In war, a Belgian stands out as the only one with a parachute on a submarine. Every Friday, Lamperti embodies this spirit and captivates the hearts of the Belgian audience.

Protests in support of Palestine continue in French universities, albeit with less intensity compared to the demonstrations in the US. Last Friday, over a thousand people blocked the historic Sciencespo building in Paris, and on Monday, police intervened to disperse another demonstration at Sorbonne University, where blockades had also taken place the previous week.

Law enforcement officers forcibly removed students who were demonstrating in support of Palestine and had set up tents inside the building. One student reported to the AFP agency that the police used violence during their removal from the campus.

The police prefecture and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had ordered the evacuation of the university center. Last Friday, the prime minister had already ordered the dissolution of the protest outside Sciencespo. As a result, the university has remained closed, and the Paris rectorate has announced the suspension of some scheduled exams.

The intervention of law enforcement inside university premises is uncommon in France, as it requires authorization from the rectorate and has the potential to further exacerbate the already volatile student atmosphere in the country. However, the police did not intervene during Friday’s protest.

French students are seeking to align their demands with those of American universities in support of Gaza, while certain political parties have also started rallying behind this cause. La France Insoumise, a far-left party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has described the situation in Gaza as genocide, and several of its lawmakers were present at Friday’s demonstration.

The party has called for the protests to be extended, while the government accuses them of fueling tensions. These developments come just days before the traditional May Day demonstration in France, which often sees heightened tensions.

Over the weekend, Gabriel Attal stated, “There will never be a right to blockade, there will never be tolerance towards the actions of an active and dangerous minority that seeks to impose its rules on our students and teachers.” Manuel Bompard, coordinator of La France Insoumise, urged for the mobilizations to be expanded “to put an end to the tragedy in Gaza.”

The first of three major trials to be held against the far-right group led by Heinrich the Stuttgart Regional Court. It will be the largest legal process in defense of the State in the history of the Federal Republic and for this reason the Federal Prosecutor's Office has decided to start the process. “We do not want a spectacle macro trial in a gym,” they explain.

The Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, has declared that the important thing, “in any case, is to demonstrate the strength of our rule of law and that the largest Reichsbürger terrorist network is only tried and held accountable (…) for its military plans to overthrow the current regime”. The minister added that “we will maintain our tough approach until we have completely revealed and dismantled these structures.”. “No one who belongs to these extremist circles should feel safe.”

The 'Reichsbürger', citizens of the Reich, do not recognize the current form of State. The group, heavily influenced by far-right groups, is under the surveillance of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, internal espionage. It is estimated that they belong to nearly 23,000 people throughout Germany, 2,300 of them willing to use violence.. And that's what, presumably, they were willing to do..

In total, 27 people will be tried for planning to take over the Bundestag (Parliament) to carry out a coup d'état and accepting that there could have been deaths. They have all been detained in different prisons since December 2022, when the plot was dismantled.. In Stuttgart there will be nine people prosecuted. They are charged with membership in a terrorist organization under section 129a of the German Penal Code (StGB) and with preparation for treason under section 83 of the StGB.. The ringleaders of the plot, including Reuss, will be tried in Frankfurt starting on May 21, and the rest starting on June 18 in Munich.

In Stuttgart, the process has started with the investigation of a shooting in Reutlingen in March 2023. The defendant, Markus L., who had not been arrested with most of the others in December 2022, resisted a house search and shot at police officers with a rapid-fire semi-automatic rifle, wounding two of them. He has now also been charged with attempted murder.

The Reutlingen incident could also be relevant for the other defendants, as it could serve as proof that the Prinz-Reuß group was really prepared to commit the most serious crimes.. The coup itself did not go beyond a rather vague planning phase.

Once the investigation into the Reutlingen shootings is concluded, the main focus of attention in Stuttgart will be on the “military arm” of the group. Its leader, Rüdiger von Pescatore, a former officer, will also be tried in Frankfurt because he was also a member of the leading group.

In the medium term, the military arm should include 286 national defense companies. When the police carried out the coup, the organization had already stored 382 firearms with 148,000 pieces of ammunition. In particular, the focus of attention will probably be on Schutzkompanie 221, which was to be in charge of the area between Tübingen and Freudenstadt.

The group was arrested shortly after a large-scale anti-terrorist raid in several German federal states and abroad, shortly after St. Nicholas Day 2022 was announced.. As head of a new state would be Heinrich XIII Prince Reuß. The populist Alternative for Germany (AFD) member of the Bundestag and former Berlin judge Birgit Malsack-Winkemann Malsack-Winkemann was planned to be Minister of Justice.

The nine defendants from Stuttgart, all of them held in different prisons to prevent them from communicating, have 22 lawyers, of which four were chosen by them.. The process will be long and complex. More than 300 witnesses have been summoned, including 270 police officers. The 18 defendants in the other two trials could also appear as witnesses in Stuttgart if they wish to testify.

Security measures are strict. The defendants sit in an area of the courtroom separated by a glass partition.. They can only talk to their lawyers through an intercom system. The auditorium is also separated by glass, although only at half height.

In principle, the trial is scheduled to last until early 2025. Hearings are scheduled to be held twice a week.. It is not yet possible to estimate how long the trial will actually last.

In the case of organizational crimes like this one, trials always have two major issues in the practice of evidence. On the one hand, it concerns the organization itself, its foundation, its structures and internal decision-making processes, and on the other, the involvement of individual defendants and their individual contributions to the crime.

In terrorism trials, the main characteristics of the organization are usually known. The trials against the Kurdish PKK or the Tamil LTTE, for example, have been going on for a long time. Here you can resort to the conclusions of other sentences if they are not too old. In the parallel proceedings concerning the Prinz-Reuß group, however, the foundations of the association must be established separately in each of the three trials.

The EU asserts that expansion is crucial for promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe, as well as creating business opportunities. Over the course of history, there have been seven occasions in which the community club has expanded. The process of enlargement is extensive, intricate, and subject to stringent scrutiny by European institutions.

Which countries are eligible to join the European Union? The fundamental requirements for a country to obtain candidate status include being located in Europe, demonstrating a commitment to democratic values, possessing stable institutions that ensure democracy and the rule of law, and having a free market economy. Furthermore, the country must be capable of assuming and fulfilling the obligations imposed by the EU on its partners. These aforementioned requirements are known as the Copenhagen criteria.

What are the steps involved in the enlargement process? Accession consists of three stages, and all countries wishing to join the EU must navigate this process: obtaining candidate status, initiating negotiations, and finally, achieving accession. The first step involves formally applying to the EU Council, which then requests the Commission to assess the candidate country’s ability to meet the accession criteria. If the Commission provides a favorable opinion, the Council can unanimously decide to grant candidate status.

After negotiations commence, the candidate country must prepare to implement the 35 chapters that encompass EU legislation (known as the Union acquis). Progress on each chapter is evaluated by the Council, and if deemed satisfactory, the Commission may recommend “provisionally closing” the chapter. The Council then deliberates and decides once again by unanimous agreement.

Once negotiations are concluded, which can take several years, and if the Commission deems the candidate country ready, an accession treaty is drafted between the Member States of the EU and the acceding country. This treaty can only be signed upon approval from Parliament and unanimous support from the Council. Subsequently, the accession treaty is subject to ratification by all Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional rules, either through parliamentary or referendum approval.

What assistance do candidates or potential candidates receive? Candidate countries and potential candidates receive EU funding, comprehensive policy advice, and Association Agreements (AAs), which facilitate access to the EU’s internal market. These agreements encompass political, commercial, social, cultural, and security connections. To be classified as an AA, an agreement must meet various criteria, including a clause emphasizing respect for human rights and democratic principles as a fundamental element.

What benefits does EU membership entail? Joining the EU provides new members with political stability, the freedom for citizens to live, study, or work anywhere within the EU, enhanced trade opportunities through access to the single market, increased financing and investment, and adherence to higher social, environmental, and consumer standards. The institutions argue that enlargement benefits the entire Union by promoting prosperity, offering more opportunities, strengthening the EU’s voice on the global stage, fostering cultural diversity, and investing in peace and security.

What role does Parliament play in the enlargement process? The European Parliament monitors the progress of candidates and has the responsibility, alongside the Member States and the Commission, of giving approval for accession. MEPs engage in debates and votes on the Commission’s annual country progress reports. This provides the candidate country with additional guidance on meeting the obligations of membership and assures existing members that the candidate is meeting the necessary conditions. The European Parliament supports the ongoing enlargement process, which President Roberta Metsola describes as “the EU’s most influential geopolitical tool”. In addition to supporting the entry of Ukraine and Moldova, MEPs continue to endorse the accession of Western Balkan countries to the EU.

The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandre Syrsky, acknowledged on Sunday that the situation on the front line has worsened as Russian troops, who have superior weapons and soldiers, have achieved successful tactical advancements in multiple areas.

After the fall of the city of Avdiyevka in February, the Ukrainian army, already on the defensive since its failed counteroffensive last summer, is facing a resurgence of Russian aggression.

Struggling to recruit new soldiers and with dwindling Western aid, Ukraine has been forced to retreat in several sectors recently, with Moscow claiming on Sunday that it had captured a new village.

General Syrsky stated on Facebook that Russia is actively attacking the entire front line and focusing their efforts in certain sectors to gain an advantage and break the front line.

The situation on the ground is described as dynamic, with fierce battles resulting in positions changing hands multiple times in a day. However, Ukrainian troops have managed to improve their tactical position in certain areas.

The Kupiansk sector in the northeast and the areas of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove are experiencing intense fighting, with Russian troops achieving partial successes but being halted.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from several towns, and the situation in the south is tense. Russia continues to advance, with the capture of Novobakhmoutivka and control over Otcheretyné, sparking criticism.

With bombings and the Russian offensive escalating, civilians are fleeing the area, seeking safety and leaving behind their belongings.

Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines have been instructed not to dig defense lines but to wait for orders as the Russians continue to attack and advance.

The Ukrainian commander-in-chief had previously acknowledged a significant deterioration in the situation and predicted that it would worsen in the coming weeks.

The head of Ukrainian Military Intelligence further emphasized that mid-May and early June will pose great challenges for Ukraine.

On Sunday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made an announcement that she will be running as the leader of the Brothers of Italy list in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The move is aimed at bolstering her far-right party’s position.

The Brothers of Italy party, led by Meloni, received the highest number of votes in the 2022 national elections with 26%. It is expected to achieve a similar result in the European elections in June.

By placing Meloni at the helm of the party’s list, they hope to capitalize on her popularity. However, European Union regulations state that if a winning candidate already holds a ministerial position, they must resign from the European Parliament immediately.

“Our goal is to replicate in Europe what we achieved in Italy on September 25, 2022 – creating a majority that unites right-wing forces to finally relegate the opposition on the left,” stated Meloni during a party rally in Pescara, a city on the Adriatic Sea, according to AFP.

In an impassioned speech, covering topics such as surrogacy and Ramadan, Meloni highlighted the achievements of her coalition in the fight against irregular immigration, along with the protection of families and Christian values, during her year and a half in power.

After an hour on the podium, Meloni declared her intention to run in the European elections, saying, “I am doing this because, in addition to being the president of the Brothers of Italy, I am also a leader among European conservatives who want to play a pivotal role in changing the course of European politics.”

Throughout her campaign for power, Meloni consistently criticized the EU, targeted “LGBT lobbies,” and denounced what she perceives as politically correct rhetoric from the left.