Belgium

Belgian PM says country will not legalize drugs

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasised that Belgium won't back down in its war on drugs. “People who think that casual drug use is just an individual thing, that it…

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Large police operation against counterfeiting of luxury watches in Antwerp

Europol has supported a large-scale operation led by Belgian law enforcement authorities to dismantle an Israeli organised criminal group. The criminal organisation allegedly produced and imported counterfeit luxury watches and…

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Eight arrested for sexual exploitation in Belgium and Hungary

Thee Belgian Local Police Oostende (Lokale Politie Oostende), the Belgian Federal Police (Federale Politie/Police Fédérale) and the Hungarian National Police (Nemzeti Nyomozó Iroda), supported by Europol and Eurojust, have targeted…

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Belgium advises face coverings amid flu surge

Belgian health authorities issued a "code orange" alert as the country faces a sharp rise in influenza cases, which means wearing face masks is now "strongly recommended" for vulnerable people.…

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NATO to hold biggest drills since Cold War with 90,000 troops

BRUSSELS, Jan 18 (Reuters) - NATO is launching its largest exercise since the Cold War, rehearsing how U.S. troops could reinforce European allies in countries bordering Russia and on the…

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European NATO members strike deal to buy up to 1,000 Patriot missiles

BRUSSELS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - NATO on Wednesday said its procurement arm would support a group of member countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain, with a contract to…

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One dead in Belgium as heavy rainfall hits the country; Sweden and Finland freezing in minus 40C

A 59-year-old woman died in Belgium's East Flanders province on Tuesday after being hit by a blown-away fence during a period of heavy rainfall in the country, local governor Carina…

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Belgian PM sees China as ‘hostile’ country after espionage allegations

Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo on Wednesday described China as a "sometimes very hostile" country, following allegations that Beijing had recruited a member of the Belgian far-right party Vlaams…

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Schools closed in Belgium due to bomb alert

BRUSSELS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Numerous Belgian schools in Brussels and the Brabant region will remain closed to pupils on Monday after a late Sunday evening bomb alert, the Wallonie-Bruxelles…

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NATO to replace AWACS surveillance jets with modified Boeing 737

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO will replace its ageing fleet of AWACS surveillance planes, in service since the Cold War in the 1980s, with a militarised version of the Boeing 737…

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Jewish students in Europe living in ‘constant fear’, union leader says

Emma Hallali, president of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS), told the Guardian that Jewish students across the continent were feeling scared and that universities were largely ignoring concerns…

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Cost of living and rents in Belgium continues to rise

Rents have experienced a notable increase in Belgium over the past decade, rising by approximately 23%, as reported by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. This surge is in tandem with…

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Belgian justice minister resigns after Brussels attack

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian Justice Minister Vincent van Quickenborne said he has decided to step down, following pressure over how Belgium had handled the case of a Tunisian gunman who…

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Swedish, Belgian leaders pay tribute to Brussels attack victims

By Johnny Cotton BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo paid tribute in Brussels on Wednesday to the victims of…

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Man who smuggled 10,000 people to UK jailed in Belgium

LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A man who British police believe ran an operation involved in smuggling 10,000 people to the United Kingdom as part of a pan-European network has…

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Updated: Brussels gunman shot and killed in a cafe, Ministry confirms

Updated 0950 A 45-year-old Tunisian gunman suspected of killing two Swedish football fans in Brussels died on Tuesday after being shot by police in a cafe, Belgium authorities said, while Sweden's prime…

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UPDATED: Belgian intelligence service monitors Alibaba hub over ‘espionage’ worry – FT

Oct 5 (Reuters) - Belgium's intelligence service has been monitoring the main logistics hub in Europe of China's Alibaba Group Holding over concern about possible espionage, the Financial Times (FT)…

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Belgium considers supplying F-16s to Ukraine, PM says

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Belgium is considering whether to supply its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. Belgium is replacing its F-16s with F-35 fighter…

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Rising ammunition prices set back NATO efforts to boost security -official

By Gwladys Fouche and Sabine Siebold OSLO, (Reuters) - A top NATO military official warned that a drastic rise in ammunition prices means that allies' higher defence spending does not…

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Belgium to help train Ukrainian F-16 pilots

This collaboration, spearheaded by the Netherlands and Denmark, aims to deliver F-16 fighter-bombers to Ukraine and cultivate a workforce skilled in operating them, Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced. Since the…

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Global climate protests demand world leaders phase out fossil fuels

Protests planned in 54 countries this weekend Organisers seek post-COVID return to mass actions Demand rapid phaseout of fossil fuels Countries to consider phaseout at COP28 summit By Kate Abnett…

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‘Pipigate’ peeing scandal puts Belgian minister in hot water

By Geert De Clercq BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Belgium's justice minister had not been aware that three of his friends had urinated against a police vehicle during a party at his…

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Photo Story: Ryanair CEO Micheal O’Leary hit with cream pie in Brussels

Activists throw cream pie on Ryanair CEO Micheal O'Leary as he is on his way to deliver the 'Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open' petition to EU Commission President, Ursula…

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Railway stations in Brussels becoming a hotspot for crack cocaine and crime

Belgian capital Brussels is seeing a disturbing trend that has been shaking up the city. It's gotten so bad, in fact, that on Wednesday 40 Brussels neighborhood committees and associations…

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Libyan wealth fund sues Belgian prince for fraud over reforestation project

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Libya's sovereign wealth fund has filed a criminal complaint against Prince Laurent of Belgium, accusing him of fraud and extortion linked to his bid…

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Climate nears point of no return as land, sea temperatures break records

Temperature records topple around the world Sea temperatures also hit record high Climate talks failing to respond to extreme weather emergencies U.S. climate envoy Kerry expected in Beijing in July…

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Belgium plans short-term flight ban to combat pollution

The Federal Minister of Mobility, Georges Gilkinet, is proposing to ban frequent short flights between nearby airports, known as "flea hops," which are seen as a symbol of wasteful air…

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EU lawmaker Cozzolino charged by Belgium in ‘Qatargate’ probe

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union lawmaker Andrea Cozzolino, under investigation in a cash-for-influence corruption scandal at the European Parliament dubbed "Qatargate", has been extradited to Belgium and charged, the Belgian…

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Belgian foreign minister in turmoil over Iran, Russian delegates invitations

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, June 19 (Reuters) - Belgian foreign affairs minister Hadja Lahbib is facing calls for resignation after granting visas to delegations from Iranian and Russian cities to…

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Stoltenberg likely to be asked to remain as NATO chief for another year

By Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jens Stoltenberg is expected to be asked to remain as NATO secretary general for another year, according to a source familiar…

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Belgian police raid EU parliament office of Qatargate suspect

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police on Tuesday raided the office of Marc Tarabella, a Belgian EU lawmaker and suspect in a corruption scandal, his lawyer told Reuters. Maxim Toller said…

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Belgium investigating whether its weapons were used in Russia

BRUSSELS, June 5 (Reuters) - Belgium will ask Ukraine for clarification on reports that rifles made in Belgium had been used by pro-Ukrainian forces to fight Russian troops inside Russia's…

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Belgian Prime Minister De Croo briefly lost consciousness in bike fall

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo fell from a bicycle and briefly lost consciousness but hospital tests revealed no lasting effects, national news agency Belga reported. The…

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Qatargate suspect Eva Kaili freed from house arrest

Eva Kaili, one of the main suspects in a cash-for-influence corruption probe at the European Parliament, is no longer under house arrest. Kaili was one of the first to be…

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European police search for the names of 22 women found murdered

Police in three European countries are asking for help to identify 22 murdered women whose names remain a mystery. The bodies were found in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany between…

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Belgium arrests seven suspected of planning terrorist attack

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police have arrested seven people on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack, the prosecutor's office said. The suspects had discussed several scenarios for an attack in…

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Qatargate suspect Eva Kaili wants to perform her duties at the European Parliament

Eva Kaili will soon seek to have her house confinement lifted, her lawyer said, the politician, one of the main suspects in a corruption probe at the European Parliament, was…

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Former MEP Eva Kaili moved to house arrest

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Eva Kaili, the former European Parliament vice president accused of corruption, is to be released from custody, while still facing charges, federal prosecutors and her lawyer's office…

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Belgium to become second EU country to recognize Buddhism

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - Belgium is expected to officially recognize Buddhism after the federal government approves a draft law on Friday, opening the door to federal…

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Belgium adds beds for migrants as EU faces rising arrivals

By Gabriela Baczynska and Marine Strauss People fend for themselves as Belgium capacity stretched Italy, France warn higher arrivals still ahead Migration rhetoric gets harsher ahead of 2024 election BRUSSELS…

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Strike slashes Belgian domestic and international train services

BRUSSELS, March 10 (Reuters) - Only one in three trains were running in Belgium on Friday, rail operator SNCB/NMBS said, as public sector workers went on strike nationwide to protest…

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Belgium bans gambling advertising from July 1

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, March 9 (Reuters) - The Belgian government has decided to ban gambling advertising across multiple platforms from July 1 in a bid to crack down on…

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Photo Story: Snowfall in Brussels

A few centimetres of snow cover the ground near Jubilee Arch, in Brussels, Belgium. The snowfall on Wednesday morning resulted in over 200 kilometres of traffic jams on Flemish motorways.…

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Custody of ex-European Parliament VP Kaili extended amid graft probe

BRUSSELS, March 3 (Reuters) - A Belgian judge ruled on Friday that European lawmaker Eva Kaili would remain in custody for two more months as an investigation continues into corruption…

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Jailed MEP Eva Kaili challenges lifting of her immunity

Former European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili has filed an appeal against the European prosecutor’s request to lift her immunity over alleged irregularities in assistants’ salaries. The Greek MEP has…

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Belgian justice minister warns of sabotage to infrastructure

Belgium's Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said European countries should not be "naive" about the presence of a Russian "spy ship" in the North Sea, amid growing concerns that Moscow…

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Belgium investigates Russian ‘spy ship’ in North Sea

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Belgium said it is investigating the presence of a Russian "spy ship" in the North Sea, a day after its neighbour the…

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Europe’s biggest Chinese prostitution ring dismantled

An unprecedented law enforcement operation involving different countries has resulted in the dismantlement of an international sex-trafficking ring that held hundreds of Chinese women trapped in debt bondage across Europe. …

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Belgium detains two more EU lawmaker in graft investigation

ROME/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian prosecutors arrested one lawmaker and took another in for questioning on Friday in connection with a corruption scandal that has hit the European Parliament. The cash-for-influence…

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MEP Eva Kaili to remain in prison, protests treatment in Belgian jail

Eva Kaili, the Greek MEP at the centre of the corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament, has been ordered to remain in prison for at least one additional month. The…

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Calls mount to send troops to Antwerp port as part of war on drugs

Politicians from across the spectrum have called for the army to be sent to the port of Antwerp after new figures showed a record amount of cocaine was seized in…

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Ryanair is closing Brussels Airport base -Belga

Ryanair is closing its Brussels Airport base, Belgian press agency Belga reported on Wednesday, quoting local union ACV Puls. It said 59 jobs could be at risk. The Irish low-cost…

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‘Klimaatklever’ is Dutch word of the year

Klimaatklever, a new term to describe climate campaigners who glue themselves to works of art, has been voted the Dutch word of the year. The result was announced after a…

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Former European Parliament VP Kaili remains in custody amid corruption investigation

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Belgian judge ruled on Thursday that European lawmaker Eva Kaili will remain in custody for another month as an investigation continues into corruption charges in a…

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Italy agrees to transfer suspect in EU graft scandal to Belgium

An Italian court on Monday agreed to hand over to Belgian authorities a woman suspected of involvement in a Qatar graft scandal that has rocked the European Parliament. An appeals court in…

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Judge to decide on detention of EU-Qatar graft scandal suspects

By Philip Blenkinsop and Johnny Cotton BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - A three-judge panel will decide on Wednesday whether four suspects charged and arrested in a fraud scandal rocking the…

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Belgium to tax private jets, short-haul flights

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Belgium will impose new taxes on older, noisier planes as well as private jets and short-haul flights in a bid to reduce noise and…

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