Tristan Vanheuckelom is a Belgian journalist, a book and film reviewer for various Dutch-language publications, and a writer for The European Conservative. His other interests include history, political science, and theology.
Historic Art Heist Loot Retrieved by German Police

Historic Art Heist Loot Retrieved by German Police

Upon hearing the news, Dresden State Art Collections’ general director termed the find a “true Christmas miracle.”

December 19, 2022
Japan Approves Doubling of Military Spending

Japan Approves Doubling of Military Spending

This change for Japan, which had renounced the right to wage war and had adopted a stance of military non-involvement in international disputes, illustrates how much the geopolitical reality has changed in recent years.

December 19, 2022
2022 Proved a Historically Dangerous Year for Journalists

2022 Proved a Historically Dangerous Year for Journalists

Detentions rose by 13.4% to 533 cases; 65 journalists are held hostage, 49 are missing, and the number killed has risen to 57—an 18.8% increase compared to 2021 figures.

December 18, 2022
Kosovo Seeks Formal Entrance to EU Bloc

Kosovo Seeks Formal Entrance to EU Bloc

Kosovo is the last Western Balkan country to apply for EU membership after Brussels recognized Bosnia’s candidate status earlier in the week and the leadership ratified it on Thursday.

December 17, 2022
EU Parliament Bribery Plot: Murky and Ever Thickening

EU Parliament Bribery Plot: Murky and Ever Thickening

Belgian court documents indicate that former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri was not only advising MEPs within the S&D to favor Qatar, but Morocco as well.

December 14, 2022
Hong Kong Media Mogul Sentenced to Five Years Behind Bars

Hong Kong Media Mogul Sentenced to Five Years Behind Bars

With another trial forthcoming and a life sentence hanging over his head, the 75-year-old Lai appears to have fallen victim to the Chinese Communist Party’s version of justice.

December 14, 2022
Kosovo Holds its Breath After Serb Clashes with Police in the North

Kosovo Holds its Breath After Serb Clashes with Police in the North

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused Serbia of threatening his country with aggression: “We do not want conflict, we want peace and progress, but we will respond to aggression with all the power we have.”

December 12, 2022
Russia Has Found its ‘Top Military Backer’ in Iranian Regime, U.S. Says

Russia Has Found its ‘Top Military Backer’ in Iranian Regime, U.S. Says

A U.S. spokesman said military coordination between Moscow and Tehran, such as in a planned joint production of deadly drones, is now a fait accompli.

December 12, 2022
Qatari Bribery Scheme Rocks Brussels; EU strips Greek MEP Kaili of VP Title

Qatari Bribery Scheme Rocks Brussels; EU strips Greek MEP Kaili of VP Title

Membership, current or past, of the EU Parliament’s ‘Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats’ group appears to be the shared trait among most of the five suspects.

December 11, 2022
China’s Xi in Saudi Arabia to Deepen Ties, Expand Influence in Region

China’s Xi in Saudi Arabia to Deepen Ties, Expand Influence in Region

The White House has warned that China’s attempts to exert its influence worldwide, as it has just done with what was traditionally a U.S. regional ally, were “not conducive” to the international order.

December 10, 2022
World Cup: Morocco-Spain Aftermath Roils Various European Cities

World Cup: Morocco-Spain Aftermath Roils Various European Cities

Brussels witnessed fireworks raining down on its streets, as some among the Moroccan supporters began throwing rocks at police officers. Some of the fireworks were even discharged horizontally, used as projectiles.

December 9, 2022
EU Migration Curb: Bloc Turns Gaze towards Balkans Region

EU Migration Curb: Bloc Turns Gaze towards Balkans Region

Thus far this year, the EU’s border force said they detected almost 130,000 irregular border crossings on all Western Balkan routes.

December 8, 2022