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Survey Reveals Major Gaps in Disaster Preparedness Across Europe

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A new Eurobarometer survey has uncovered alarming gaps in disaster preparedness across Europe, with Southern European countries particularly lagging in awareness and readiness. Despite the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, fewer than four in ten Europeans feel well-prepared for emergencies, and even fewer—just 9%—know about their city or region’s disaster response plans.

Lack of Awareness and Communication Gaps

The survey, conducted in early 2024 with over 26,000 participants across the EU, found that public knowledge of emergency procedures varies widely. Only 2% of respondents in Malta and Greece reported being informed about their local disaster response plans, compared to 20% in Sweden and 19% in Finland.

The disparity is stark but not surprising. In Sweden and Finland, at least one in five people have participated in emergency preparedness training. In contrast, many Southern European nations report low levels of confidence in their ability to handle disasters, despite being highly exposed to climate-related hazards like wildfires, heatwaves, and floods.

“The event was neither unexpected nor adequately prepared for,” said Professor David Alexander, an expert in emergency management at University College London, referring to the Valencia floods of October 2023, which claimed over 200 lives. He noted that while meteorological warnings were issued, poor administrative response and public awareness led to devastating consequences.

Who Feels Most—and Least—Prepared?

The survey also assessed how prepared Europeans feel on a personal level. Only 37% of EU citizens consider themselves well-prepared for disasters, while 58% do not.

Confidence levels vary significantly by country:

  • Slovenia ranks the highest, with 65% of respondents feeling prepared. The country has a strong culture of community resilience, with 31% of Slovenians engaging in volunteer work related to disaster preparedness.
  • Southern Europe lags behind, with Portugal (27%), Greece (28%), Spain (29%), and Italy (34%) reporting the lowest confidence levels.
  • Western and Central European nations such as France (30%) and the Netherlands (31%) also scored below 40%.
  • Only five EU countries have a majority of citizens who feel well-prepared, with Slovenia being the only one above 60%.
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A Disconnect Between Perception and Reality

Despite these low confidence levels, the survey suggests that self-reported preparedness does not always reflect actual capability.

“People commonly overestimate their own resilience,” said Professor Alexander, pointing to studies where individuals assumed they could manage floods simply by waiting upstairs—without considering the loss of electricity, heating, or water supply.

In terms of knowledge, only 46% of Europeans say they know what to do in an emergency, while 48% admit they do not. Once again, Northern and Central European countries (Slovenia, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and the Netherlands) rank highest in awareness, while Mediterranean nations (Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Malta) score the lowest.

A Growing Demand for Information

The survey highlights a growing demand for better access to disaster preparedness information. 65% of Europeans say they need more guidance, with this figure reaching 84% in Greece. Nearly half (49%) would turn to national media to learn about disaster risks.

Experts stress that clearer communication, public education, and community engagement are essential.

“They need better access to good, hard information on what the risks are and how to respond,” said Professor Alexander, calling for higher standards in emergency planning.

With climate change driving more frequent and severe weather events, the urgency for better disaster preparedness has never been greater. Italy, Greece, and Spain are among the European countries facing the most severe human and economic impacts from extreme weather—yet their citizens feel among the least prepared.

As policymakers assess these findings, one message is clear: improving public awareness and emergency response planning must become a top priority in the face of escalating climate risks.

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Belgium Takes Tax Portal Offline After Cyberattack Disrupts Digital Services

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Belgium’s Federal Public Service Finance has temporarily taken its online tax portal and several other digital services offline following a cyberattack, as officials work to secure government systems and assess the extent of the disruption.

The agency, known as FOD Financiën, confirmed on Wednesday that the attack had affected its digital services. MyMinfin, the country’s online tax portal, was among the platforms taken offline as a precaution while technical teams investigate the incident.

MyMinfin allows individuals and businesses to manage tax returns, access financial documents and handle other tax-related administrative tasks. The temporary suspension could therefore affect taxpayers who rely on the platform to submit documents or complete pending procedures.

FOD Financiën said it would extend certain upcoming tax filing deadlines affected by the disruption. The revised deadlines will be announced at a later date, giving taxpayers more time to complete their obligations if they are unable to access the relevant online services.

The agency has not yet provided details about the origin of the cyberattack, the systems targeted or how long the affected services are expected to remain unavailable.

Officials said there was currently no indication that personal data had been breached or compromised. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and the possibility of unauthorised access has not been definitively ruled out.

Taking the services offline is intended to give officials time to examine the affected systems and implement measures to protect them. The move also reflects the need to establish whether the attack was limited to service disruption or involved attempts to access sensitive information.

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The incident highlights the challenges government agencies face in maintaining essential public services during cyberattacks. Tax portals hold sensitive financial information and are widely used by residents and businesses, making their availability important, particularly around filing deadlines.

For taxpayers, the immediate concern is the temporary loss of access to MyMinfin and other affected platforms. The planned extension of certain deadlines is expected to provide some relief to those whose submissions are delayed by the outage.

FOD Financiën has not announced the full scope of the disruption or confirmed when normal service will resume. The agency is continuing its investigation and security work, while further information about revised filing dates is expected to follow.

Until the investigation establishes the extent of the incident, the status of personal information and the full impact on government services remains uncertain.

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UN General Assembly Renews Call to End US Embargo on Cuba as Support Falls to 30-Year Low

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The United Nations General Assembly has renewed its call for the United States to end its economic, trade and financial embargo on Cuba, although support for the resolution fell to its lowest level in more than three decades amid renewed tensions between Washington and Havana.

The resolution, which has been introduced almost every year since 1992, received 130 votes in favour, 17 against and 25 abstentions. The level of support was the lowest since 1995. Last year, more than 160 countries backed the measure.

Germany, Italy and Latvia abstained for the first time in 34 years, while Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Morocco, Slovenia and Bosnia were among the countries that voted against the resolution, several doing so for the first time.

Although the resolution is not legally binding, it serves as an indication of international opinion on the long-running dispute. The vote comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Cuba through sanctions and restrictions affecting its access to oil supplies.

The US embargo dates to 1960, following Fidel Castro’s revolution and the nationalisation of US-owned property. Washington maintains that Cuba’s economic difficulties stem from its government’s policies, while Havana argues that American restrictions have caused significant damage to the country’s economy.

Speaking shortly before the vote in New York, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected the description of the measures as a blockade.

“The plight of the Cuban people is exclusively the fault of this corrupt communist regime,” Waltz said.

Cuba’s government has accused Washington of conducting a diplomatic campaign to persuade countries to withdraw their support for the resolution. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused the United States of attempting to “determine the nation’s destiny” and “seize” its wealth.

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The debate also featured a heated confrontation between Rodríguez and Waltz. Rodríguez approached the US ambassador and accused him of lying, prompting Waltz to shout for him to back away.

During the session, Waltz accused senior Cuban officials of enjoying luxury lifestyles while ordinary citizens faced shortages. He displayed photographs of Cuban leaders, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel, wearing luxury watches. Members of the Cuban delegation responded by repeatedly banging on their desks.

Díaz-Canel later criticised Washington on the social media platform X, accusing it of “gangster-like coercion”. He said the international community had again opposed the embargo despite what he described as American pressure and blackmail.

In January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. The move has sharply reduced fuel deliveries, contributing to widespread power cuts and disruptions to water, internet and telephone services.

Cuba continues to face severe economic hardship, with shortages of fuel and other essential goods affecting daily life. The latest UN vote highlights the continuing international debate over US policy towards the island, even as the level of support for the annual resolution declines.

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Musk Says SpaceX Restricted Ukraine’s Starlink Service Over Military Drone Use

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Elon Musk has said SpaceX restricted Ukraine’s use of its Starlink satellite internet service after accusing the country’s military of breaching its terms by using the civilian network for offensive drone strikes. Ukrainian officials have reported that connectivity has stabilised, with military drones once again reaching the speeds required for operations.

Musk’s comments on Saturday followed more than a week of reported connection problems that Ukraine said had disrupted its defensive operations. The issue emerged amid growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.

“Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote on X. He said Ukrainian forces had violated the service’s terms and that SpaceX had closed the loophole the previous week.

Musk also rejected suggestions that SpaceX was responsible for problems affecting Starshield, a separate, military-grade satellite communications system controlled by the US government. He said SpaceX had done more to defend Ukraine than any other private company, while stressing that decisions concerning Starshield rested with Washington.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov questioned Musk’s account, saying the restrictions on Starlink in Ukraine made the claims difficult to understand. He said drones using the commercial service were limited to speeds of around 70 to 90 kilometres per hour and could not operate on Russian territory.

“Therefore, we physically cannot use commercial Starlink for deep strikes and medium-range strikes,” Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram. Ukraine’s defence ministry had not immediately commented on Musk’s latest statements.

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Ukraine uses Starlink to maintain communications between military units, particularly in remote battlefield areas. Starshield provides more specialised capabilities, including support for drone operators who need real-time information about targets.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said on Saturday that the military was recording a stable connection. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported that drone speeds had returned to the required levels. Kyiv had previously said connectivity could fail when drones exceeded 161 kilometres per hour.

US President Donald Trump said he had asked Musk to restore the service, although he has repeatedly denied instructing SpaceX to restrict it. Musk did not explain why the company changed the service’s capabilities after years of Ukraine’s military relying on Starlink.

The disruption coincided with a diplomatic dispute over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, which Kyiv says are important sources of revenue for Moscow’s war effort. Trump has criticised the attacks, linking them to pressure on global fuel prices. However, the conflict involving Iran has been a major driver of energy market volatility this year.

Meanwhile, fighting continued across Ukraine. Emergency services reported three people killed and 15 injured in attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region, including an 11-year-old girl. Six others were injured when a Russian drone struck an apartment building in Vinnytsia.

Russia also reported strikes on Ukrainian logistics facilities, while Ukrainian authorities said their forces had attacked a facility operated by a sanctioned heavy machinery manufacturer in the Russian city of Oryol. Russian authorities said three people were killed there.

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