Ugo A Realfonzo
@ugorealfonzo.bsky.social
Senior Editor @brusselstimes.com
Pinned
Ugo A Realfonzo
@ugorealfonzo.bsky.social
· Oct 23
MEP alleges that Hungary paid over €1 million to spy on his Brussels office
"Apparently, they think I'm dangerous enough to put this kind of money on the table," the targeted German MEP Daniel Freund told The Brussels Times.
www.brusselstimes.com
Targeted MEP Daniel Freund told me he was "shocked" that Orbàn's government would allegedly pay over €1 million to spy on him.
@danielfreund.bsky.social
@danielfreund.bsky.social
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
[Explainer] #Tech & #Data - Fewer cookies: Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI? By @ugorealfonzo.bsky.social | Brussels Times
www.brusselstimes.com/1847828/fewe...
www.brusselstimes.com/1847828/fewe...
Fewer cookies: Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
"External pressure from the US and from large platforms is obvious. They have pushed for years for looser data protection."
www.brusselstimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
[Explainer] #Tech & #Data - Fewer cookies: Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI? By @ugorealfonzo.bsky.social | Brussels Times
www.brusselstimes.com/1847828/fewe...
www.brusselstimes.com/1847828/fewe...
Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
Fewer cookies: Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
"External pressure from the US and from large platforms is obvious. They have pushed for years for looser data protection."
www.brusselstimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Is the EU giving away your personal data for AI?
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Many Europeans convinced themselves that Trump's public statements of frustration with Putin meant he was committed to 🇺🇦
Today they got a rude awakening. Washington presented a US-Russia peace plan to Kyiv which amounts to a surrender, with an ultimatum to accept it by Thursday or lose all 🇺🇸support
Today they got a rude awakening. Washington presented a US-Russia peace plan to Kyiv which amounts to a surrender, with an ultimatum to accept it by Thursday or lose all 🇺🇸support
Leaked US-Russia peace plan angers Europe despite diplomatic statement • FRANCE 24 English
YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Many Europeans convinced themselves that Trump's public statements of frustration with Putin meant he was committed to 🇺🇦
Today they got a rude awakening. Washington presented a US-Russia peace plan to Kyiv which amounts to a surrender, with an ultimatum to accept it by Thursday or lose all 🇺🇸support
Today they got a rude awakening. Washington presented a US-Russia peace plan to Kyiv which amounts to a surrender, with an ultimatum to accept it by Thursday or lose all 🇺🇸support
Former UKIP and Brexit Party man Nathan Gill gets 10 and a half years in prison.
A series of Whatsapp messages revealed that the British MEP had received over €45,000 from an alleged Russian asset to make pro-Kremlin statements.
Former Brexit MEP jailed for 10 years for taking Russian bribes
Former Brexit MEP jailed for 10 years for taking Russian bribes
www.brusselstimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Former UKIP and Brexit Party man Nathan Gill gets 10 and a half years in prison.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
The European Commission has announced changes to key EU data protections, alarming NGOs while industry groups say they "do not go far enough."
EU wants fewer cookies but some warn of ‘biggest attack on digital rights’
EU wants fewer cookies but some warn of 'biggest attack on digital rights'
www.brusselstimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The European Commission has announced changes to key EU data protections, alarming NGOs while industry groups say they "do not go far enough."
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Wealthy foreign tourists, including Belgians, allegedly paid extortionate amounts to shoot civilians for fun during the siege of Sarajevo.
Belgians allegedly among ‘weekend snipers’ shooting Bosnian civilians during 90s war
Belgians allegedly among 'weekend snipers' shooting Bosnian civilians during 90s war
www.brusselstimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Wealthy foreign tourists, including Belgians, allegedly paid extortionate amounts to shoot civilians for fun during the siege of Sarajevo.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
According to leak documents, the EU is proposing changes which take aim at every element of GDPR that could limit AI usage.
Secret EU plans to allow Big Tech to train AI with our personal data
Secret EU plans to allow Big Tech to train AI with our personal data
www.brusselstimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:28 AM
According to leak documents, the EU is proposing changes which take aim at every element of GDPR that could limit AI usage.
Targeted MEP Daniel Freund told me he was "shocked" that Orbàn's government would allegedly pay over €1 million to spy on him.
@danielfreund.bsky.social
@danielfreund.bsky.social
MEP alleges that Hungary paid over €1 million to spy on his Brussels office
"Apparently, they think I'm dangerous enough to put this kind of money on the table," the targeted German MEP Daniel Freund told The Brussels Times.
www.brusselstimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Targeted MEP Daniel Freund told me he was "shocked" that Orbàn's government would allegedly pay over €1 million to spy on him.
@danielfreund.bsky.social
@danielfreund.bsky.social
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
President began demolishing the East Wing of the WH to build there his $200M+ ballroom.
East Wing was built in 1942 during the presidency of FDR. It was constructed to cover the bunker that he used during WWII and the President's Emergency Operations Center.
East Wing was built in 1942 during the presidency of FDR. It was constructed to cover the bunker that he used during WWII and the President's Emergency Operations Center.
October 20, 2025 at 11:33 PM
President began demolishing the East Wing of the WH to build there his $200M+ ballroom.
East Wing was built in 1942 during the presidency of FDR. It was constructed to cover the bunker that he used during WWII and the President's Emergency Operations Center.
East Wing was built in 1942 during the presidency of FDR. It was constructed to cover the bunker that he used during WWII and the President's Emergency Operations Center.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Brussels police confiscate tents and sleeping bags Sunday morning from a planned People's Encampment outside @ec.europa.eu aimed at pressuring EU to suspend EU-Israel association agreement.
October 19, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Brussels police confiscate tents and sleeping bags Sunday morning from a planned People's Encampment outside @ec.europa.eu aimed at pressuring EU to suspend EU-Israel association agreement.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
'We're turning the tide on Gaza starvation crisis' - UN aid chief
'We're turning the tide on Gaza starvation crisis' - UN aid chief
Tom Fletcher told the BBC more aid trucks were entering Gaza, but that it was a "huge job" to get vital supplies to those in need.
www.bbc.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
'We're turning the tide on Gaza starvation crisis' - UN aid chief
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
🇪🇺💰 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐔 𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐀 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨.
What began as a conservation project to protect Virunga National Park became a story of conflict, broken promises – and Bitcoin mining in the rainforest.
🎙️ Journalist Olivier van Beemen investigates 👇
www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
What began as a conservation project to protect Virunga National Park became a story of conflict, broken promises – and Bitcoin mining in the rainforest.
🎙️ Journalist Olivier van Beemen investigates 👇
www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
Podcast | A Belgian prince’s parade in Congo
A Belgian prince is running a conservation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, – financed by millions in European aid. Journalist Olivier van Beemen reveals how more than 150 million euros i...
www.ftm.eu
October 15, 2025 at 6:32 AM
🇪🇺💰 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐔 𝐚𝐢𝐝. 𝐀 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐀 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨.
What began as a conservation project to protect Virunga National Park became a story of conflict, broken promises – and Bitcoin mining in the rainforest.
🎙️ Journalist Olivier van Beemen investigates 👇
www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
What began as a conservation project to protect Virunga National Park became a story of conflict, broken promises – and Bitcoin mining in the rainforest.
🎙️ Journalist Olivier van Beemen investigates 👇
www.ftm.eu/articles/pod...
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the North Sea and inside the ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge or Ghent for days.
Chaos continues at Belgian ports as strike enters 10th day
Chaos continues at Belgian ports as strike enters 10th day
www.brusselstimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the North Sea and inside the ports of Antwerp, Zeebrugge or Ghent for days.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Follow The Brussels Times live blog for the latest news on today's national strike.
Latest updates as Belgium is hit by national strike
Latest updates as Belgium is hit by national strike
www.brusselstimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Follow The Brussels Times live blog for the latest news on today's national strike.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
It is Tuesday, it is strike time - and right now, protesters are blocking Brussels' Avenue de la Couronne.
October 14, 2025 at 5:53 AM
It is Tuesday, it is strike time - and right now, protesters are blocking Brussels' Avenue de la Couronne.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Prime Minister De Wever was forced to delay his 'State of the Union' speech after his government failed to agree on its federal budgets in time.
Belgian Government fails to agree on budget: What happened?
Belgian Government fails to agree on budget: What happened?
www.brusselstimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Prime Minister De Wever was forced to delay his 'State of the Union' speech after his government failed to agree on its federal budgets in time.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Big presence on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 too.
From Donald Trump's Roundtable on Antifa just now —
"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."
— special guest Jack Posobiec
"Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost 100 years in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany."
— special guest Jack Posobiec
October 9, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Big presence on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 too.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
The Maison du Peuple would have thrived in the age of le rooftop.
October 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Maison du Peuple would have thrived in the age of le rooftop.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
"We elect MEPs, and we do not really know what they do for the next couple of years. And no one seems to really interrogate that."
‘Where is my MEP?’ New website tracks which officials show up to work
'Where is my MEP?' New website tracks which officials show up to work
www.brusselstimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:57 AM
"We elect MEPs, and we do not really know what they do for the next couple of years. And no one seems to really interrogate that."
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Through "a deliberate, planned and explicit action," they say the minister is forcing them to live on the streets, "in total poverty, without shelter or food."
Four families sleeping rough in Brussels sue Belgian Migration Minister
Four families sleeping rough in Brussels sue Belgian Migration Minister
www.brusselstimes.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Through "a deliberate, planned and explicit action," they say the minister is forcing them to live on the streets, "in total poverty, without shelter or food."
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
New sanctions should target the infrastructure behind Israel’s settlement regime as it continues to violently expand.
EU urged to target Israeli settler regime amid Trump’s Gaza plan
EU urged to target Israeli settler regime amid Trump's Gaza plan
www.brusselstimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:43 AM
New sanctions should target the infrastructure behind Israel’s settlement regime as it continues to violently expand.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
🚨 The 🇪🇺 European Investment Fund (EIF), provided venture capital for Israeli #spyware firm Paragon Solutions, confirmed a spokesperson for the European Investment Bank Group, to which the EIF belongs, @apache.be is reporting.
apache.be/2025/10/01/e...
apache.be/2025/10/01/e...
European Investment Fund financed Israeli spyware company Paragon
Paragon's spyware has been used against activists by multiple governments.
apache.be
October 1, 2025 at 8:25 AM
🚨 The 🇪🇺 European Investment Fund (EIF), provided venture capital for Israeli #spyware firm Paragon Solutions, confirmed a spokesperson for the European Investment Bank Group, to which the EIF belongs, @apache.be is reporting.
apache.be/2025/10/01/e...
apache.be/2025/10/01/e...
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Ah yes, nothing says "I'm a European company committed to Europe" like "Cut regulations or we we'll let Europe's economy tank".
Such Europeans, brings tears to my eyes.
Such Europeans, brings tears to my eyes.
Airbus, Siemens, Novo Nordisk and other industry heavyweights are preparing a pledge to invest billions in Europe if the EU follows through on plans to slash red tape and ease industrial hurdles.
You deregulate, we’ll invest billions, industry titans to tell EU
Airbus, Siemens among industry heavyweights to pressure EU to follow through on deregulation and competitiveness drive.
ow.ly
October 1, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Ah yes, nothing says "I'm a European company committed to Europe" like "Cut regulations or we we'll let Europe's economy tank".
Such Europeans, brings tears to my eyes.
Such Europeans, brings tears to my eyes.
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
Interesting: The Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live are using the European Convention on #HumanRights to challenge a council leader's decision not to speak to their journalists👇
🔗 www.bbc.com/news/article... via BBC News
#FreeSpeech #ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
🔗 www.bbc.com/news/article... via BBC News
#FreeSpeech #ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
Nottingham Post launches legal challenge over Reform press ban
Council leader Mick Barton has not spoken to journalists from the Nottingham Post since August.
www.bbc.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Interesting: The Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live are using the European Convention on #HumanRights to challenge a council leader's decision not to speak to their journalists👇
🔗 www.bbc.com/news/article... via BBC News
#FreeSpeech #ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
🔗 www.bbc.com/news/article... via BBC News
#FreeSpeech #ECHR #OurRightsAndFreedoms
Reposted by Ugo A Realfonzo
I wrote about Underground Brussels, the result of 1,000 years of digging, building, filling-in and forgetting. A hidden second city for which there's no proper map.
www.brusselstimes.com/1765462/laye...
www.brusselstimes.com/1765462/laye...
Layers of time: How digging for a car park revealed the soul of Brussels
When Brussels broke ground for a sleek new city hall, it stumbled into its own origins: the buried remains of a medieval port.
www.brusselstimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I wrote about Underground Brussels, the result of 1,000 years of digging, building, filling-in and forgetting. A hidden second city for which there's no proper map.
www.brusselstimes.com/1765462/laye...
www.brusselstimes.com/1765462/laye...