Belgian Doctors Aid Athens Victim; Swiss Vote; G7 Protests Erupt

A series of international stories with Belgian connections unfolded this weekend, ranging from an act of medical heroism in Athens to a landmark migration referendum in Switzerland, mass protests ahead of the G7 summit, and a landmark US government intervention in artificial intelligence.

Belgian Doctors Provide First Aid After Hit-and-Run in Athens

Three Belgian doctors provided emergency first aid to a hit-and-run victim in central Athens on Friday evening, an act that has drawn widespread attention after the victim’s wife publicly confronted the fleeing driver. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the victim, Giorgos Angelidis, was struck on Pireos Street near Omonia Square and thrown into the air by the impact. The driver fled at high speed.

The Belgian doctors stayed with Angelidis until an ambulance arrived. His wife later expressed her outrage in an emotional appeal: “How could you sleep last night? And how would you react if this happened to your family?” The driver remains at large as Greek police continue their search.

Switzerland Votes on Controversial Population Cap

Switzerland held a referendum on Sunday that could fundamentally alter its relationship with the European Union. The initiative, proposed by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), seeks to cap the country’s population at 10 million through migration restrictions. As VRT NWS reports, Switzerland currently has 9.1 million inhabitants, with projections suggesting the 10-million mark could be reached by 2035.

The initiative requires a “double majority” — more than half of voters and a majority in at least half of the 26 cantons. Specific measures include suspending EU treaties on free movement, tightening asylum rules, and restricting family reunification once the population reaches 9.5 million. Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans warned the vote represents “Switzerland’s own Brexit,” while SVP parliamentarian Thomas Matter dismissed such concerns, calling for “moderate and controlled” immigration. Parliament, the government, employers’ organizations, and unions all rejected the initiative.

Anti-G7 Protesters Clash in Geneva Ahead of Évian Summit

Thousands of protesters from the “No-G7” coalition gathered in Geneva on Sunday, the eve of the 52nd G7 Summit scheduled for June 15–17 in Évian-les-Bains, France. As RTBF reports, the protest date coincides with the Swiss feminist strike, adding a symbolic dimension to the demonstrations.

The shadow of the violent 2003 G8 summit looms large. Shopkeepers boarded up their windows, and the University Hospitals of Geneva set up emergency tents to handle potential casualties. Swiss authorities mobilized up to 4,000 military personnel in support of police, while France deployed approximately 16,000 security personnel around Évian. Most world leaders are expected to arrive Monday via Geneva Airport.

US Forces Anthropic to Shut Down Most Powerful AI Models

In an unprecedented move, the US Department of Commerce ordered Anthropic to prohibit foreign access to its two most powerful AI models — Mythos 5 and Claude Fable 5 — citing national security concerns. Because Anthropic cannot distinguish between US and foreign users in real time, the company was forced to shut down access for all users, including American citizens and its own employees. As VRT NWS reports, this marks the first time the US government has forced a domestic tech company to take such action.

AI expert Tom Van de Weghe called it a “wake-up call for Europe,” noting that “one order from Washington can cut off access to the best systems overnight.” Anthropic disputes the decision, stating there is only oral evidence of a “potential, limited, non-universal jailbreak,” and is working to restore access.

Dutch Smiley Traffic Signs Reduce Accidents by One-Third in Germany

A Dutch innovation in traffic psychology is yielding remarkable results across the border. Smiley face signs — showing a red sad face at the start of roadwork zones, a neutral yellow face midway, and a green smiling face near the end — have reduced accidents by up to one-third in long German highway work zones. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the concept originated in the Netherlands around the turn of the century, with Germany beginning its first trial in 2012 on the A13 highway in Saxony. Similar systems are now used in Austria, Switzerland, and France.

Fur Industry Protest Targets Louis Vuitton in Antwerp

The Belgian Anti-fur Movement (BAM) held a protest on Saturday at the Louis Vuitton store on the Komedieplaats in Antwerp, part of a global campaign against parent company LVMH. As Het Laatste Nieuws reports, while fashion houses like Prada, Gucci, and Giorgio Armani have banned fur, Louis Vuitton and Dior continue to sell fur products — though activists allege the company deliberately avoids displaying fur in physical stores, offering it only online. BAM cites industry data showing an 85% decline in animals killed in fur farms over the past decade, from 130 million to 20 million annually.

What to Watch

First results from the Swiss referendum are expected later today, with implications for European migration policy and EU-Swiss relations. The G7 summit in Évian will dominate headlines through Wednesday, while the AI restrictions on Anthropic raise urgent questions about Europe’s digital sovereignty and dependence on American technology.