World
Critics slam landmark EU competitiveness report as 'one-sided'
Draghi is being accused by various stakeholders of not including voices from all parts of Europe in his landmark report.
Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s recently released, long-awaited report on EU competitiveness is being accused of being one-sided, as critics point to an apparent lack of diversity in its consultation process.
According to a list published by the European Commission, Draghi’s team received 236 contributions — in writing or in meetings — from think tanks, universities, lobbyists, EU bodies, trade and business associations and some NGOs.
The list includes prestigious Brussels-based research institutions, big tech companies such as Google and Amazon, the European Central Bank and top non-EU universities such as the London School of Economics or Harvard.
However, some stakeholders flag that those who didn’t make it on the list of contributors to the report commissioned by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are just as noteworthy.
“Not a single Central and Eastern European personality has been questioned by Draghi’s team about the desolate state of Europe,” said Velina Tchakarova, a Vienna-based geopolitical consultant, in a post on X.
The Commission says it is aware of these allegations, but since Draghi was mandated as an independent special advisor, “it was up to him to choose his working methods and consultation process,” a Commission spokesperson said on Friday.
Yet complaints keep mounting as civil society organisations and NGOs have also voiced alarm that their views are not reflected in the 400-page report released on 9 September, which makes recommendations on how to bridge Europe’s widening gap with its biggest economic rivals, China and the US.
Civil society and trade unions account for only 5% of the contributions to the Draghi report, Olivier Hoedeman, Corporate Europe Observatory’s research and campaigns coordinator, told Euronews.
“With such a one-sided process, it [the report] fails to adequately address the scale of the ecological crisis and social inequality in Europe,” Hoedeman added.
Other NGOs, such as the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), were listed as contributing stakeholders – but the EEB told Euronews it was not involved in the process, despite requests to meet Draghi’s team.
“Had the EEB been consulted, we would have stressed the importance of ensuring that President von der Leyen’s Clean Industrial Deal does not become a deregulation agenda,” said EBB Secretary General Patrick ten Brink.
Draghi’s office did not respond to a Euronews request for comment by the time of publication.
World
‘X-Men’ Star Famke Janssen Says Marvel ‘Made a Mistake’ By Not Asking Her to Return as Jean Grey in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Famke Janssen said during a recent conversation with Nerdtropolis at Spacecon 2026 that Marvel “made a mistake” by not bringing her back as Jean Grey for December’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”
“I am so bad at keeping secrets that I always say to everyone I’m the worst actor in the world. It’s all on my face. You right away will read it,” Janssen said. “I think they made a mistake, but hey, who am I? I’m just a little me who thinks that.”
Janssen first appeared as the telepath Jean Grey, aka Phoenix, in 2000’s “X-Men,” and then reprised the role for 2003’s “X2: X-Men United” and 2006’s “X-Men: The Last Stand.” She also briefly appeared as Grey in 2013’s “The Wolverine” and 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
Janssen’s absence from “Doomsday” is notable, considering Marvel is bringing back many of her “X-Men” co-stars for the film. Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) are all set to return.
In an October 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Janssen said in every interview she does, she’s asked about the future of Jean Grey in the MCU.
“It’s interesting,” Janssen said. “I didn’t realize that was such a big part. Every interview I do, that will come up, and of everything I say, that is going to be the only thing that’s gonna be printed.”
“I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people,” she added. “It’s been so long, but it’s nice that people are still talking about her. I’m sure every single time there’s a new movie that they’re doing, like [is it] ‘Doomsday?’ … it’ll come up again.”
World
Two-train crash leaves at least 1 dead, 89 injured as emergency crews rush to chaotic scene
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Authorities are responding after two passenger trains crashed into each other Friday near Bedford, England, killing at least one person and injuring nearly 90 others.
The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to a collision involving two trains at Elstow, near Bedford, at about 5:15 p.m. local time and quickly declared a “major incident.”
One person died at the scene, 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 people had minor injuries, officials said.
Bedford is roughly 60 miles north of London.
2 TRAINS COLLIDE IN DENMARK, LEAVING 5 PEOPLE CRITICALLY INJURED
Two passenger trains collided Friday in the United Kingdom. (Fox News)
All the patients with the most serious injuries have been taken from the scene to hospital.
The ambulance service said it sent numerous resources to the scene, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist hazardous area response teams and six air ambulances.
MULTIPLE STABBED IN UK TRAIN ATTACK NEAR CAMBRIDGE AS POLICE ARREST 2 SUSPECTS
Emergency crews were pictured working near the scene. (Fox News)
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response,” the ambulance service wrote in a statement.
The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews were also responding.
“Please avoid the area,” fire officials wrote in a statement on X.
Sources told The Telegraph the train driver was on the phone with maintenance staff discussing a safety issue at the time of the crash.
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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
World
Lebanese influencer organises World Cup event amid Israel’s attack on Leban
As Israel’s war on Lebanon rages, hundreds gather in Rmeileh by Sidon Gate to watch the 2026 World Cup. Organised by influencer Bilal Haddad, the fan zone offers food trucks, shisha and family activities, giving people a rare chance to relax. Al Jazeera’s Justin Salhani went to check it out.
Published On 20 Jun 2026
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