Belgium

Emotions run high as Brussels bombing trial opens

The largest trial in Belgian history kicked off on Monday with 10 men accused of involvement in Islamist suicide bombings in Brussels in 2016 that killed 32 people and injured…

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UK Labour’s Starmer supports plans to spread power away from Westminster

British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer will on Monday support plans to spread power away from the political centre of Westminster, aiming to offer people more control over their lives and local…

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Photo Story – Violence erupts in Brussels after Morocco’s victory

General view after clashes between fans of Morocco and riot police in the streets of Brussels, Belgium, 27 November 2022, after the FIFA World Cup 2022 group F soccer match…

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UPDATED: Suspect in fatal stabbing of Brussels policeman was known radical

BRUSSELS, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The suspect in the fatal stabbing of a Belgian police officer was on a security agency list of radicalised Muslims and had been taken to…

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Belgians advised to shorten shower times to reduce energy bills

As people are currently exploring every way possible to reduce their energy consumption and avoid spiralling bills, one place where on cut costs is in the bathroom. Belgians spend an…

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Belgian inflation hits 12.27%, a 47-year high

Oct 28 (Reuters) - Annual inflation in Belgium hit 12.27% in October 2022, its highest since June 1975, as food and energy costs soared, statistics office Statbel said on Friday.…

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Belgian households slash savings intentions in October

Oct 21 (Reuters) - Belgian households have slashed their plans to save in October and private consumers' financial expectations remain low, according to data released on Friday by the National…

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NATO to kick off nuclear drills involving B-52 bombers on Monday

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - NATO said on Friday it would launch its annual nuclear exercise "Steadfast Noon" on Monday, with up to 60 aircraft taking part in training flights…

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Belgian PM warns of blackouts if energy prices capped

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned a cap on electricity prices called for by the opposition could lead to power being sold in other…

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U.S. says to defend “every inch” of NATO as nuclear planning group meets

BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The United States reaffirmed its commitment to defend "every inch" of NATO territory ahead of talks among defense ministers from the alliance on Thursday that…

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Belgian Defence Minister assures that military service not ‘on the agenda’

Belgian Minister of Defence, Ludivine Dedonder, has clarified that “military service is neither on the agenda today, nor on the table”, on Saturday following comments made by the chief of…

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First signs of new COVID-19 wave seen in colder countries

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are creeping up in Northern Europe where the colder and wetter weather is first being felt across the bloc. Latest data from Belgium, the U.K. and…

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Belgium reports bird flu outbreak on farm near Dutch border

PARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Belgium has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on a poultry farm near the border with the Netherlands, the World Organisation for…

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Belgium records huge drop in consumer confidence index

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Belgian consumer confidence dropped dramatically in September, according to the data released on Thursday by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB). The consumer confidence index dropped…

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Defying Vatican, Flemish bishops allow blessing same-sex unions

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Flemish Roman Catholic bishops issued a document effectively allowing the blessing of same-sex unions, in direct defiance of a ruling against such practices by the Vatican's…

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Belgian intelligence services help foil attack on George W. Bush

The FBI averted an attack on former US President George W. Bush earlier this year thanks to intelligence from Belgian security services, reported VRT. The tip allowed US security officials…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Walzin Castle, Dinant, Belgium

An aerial view of the Walzin Castle overlooking the Lesse river, near Dinant, southern Belgium. The Lesse is a popular river for kayaking and canoeing in the Walloon region of…

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Brussels’ flower carpet blooms despite heatwave

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The creators of Brussels' vast flower carpet, unfurled every two years in front of city hall, are opting for more heat-resistant blooms and the use of pot…

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Thousands of racing pigeons feared dead in Europe after storms

Tens of thousands of elite racing pigeons are missing and feared dead after getting lost because of thunderstorms in France in recent days. The loss of 20,000 of the homing…

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Photo Story: Wendy Adriaens, the Belgian Ostrich Whisperer

Wendy Adriaens, owner of animal rescue farm 'De Passiehoeve' and nicknamed the Ostrich Whisperer, poses for a photo with three-year-old male ostrich Flodder, in Kalmthout, Belgium. Flodder and Wendy were…

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Photo Story: Belgium’s National Day celebrations in Brussels

King Philippe (3-R) and Queen Mathilde (3-L) of Belgium, along with (L-R) Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, and Prince Emmanuel, leave after attending the 'Te…

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Brussels braces for heat wave

Brussels will be engulfed by the heat wave that is set to hit Western Europe from the weekend onwards — and the city is bracing for the consequences. As the…

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Photo Story: Dinosaurs lurk on the beach in Middelkerke, Belgium

A child poses for a picture in front of a dinosaur sand sculpture that forms part of the sand sculpture festival 'Dinos in the Sand' on the beach of Middelkerke,…

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Belgium introduces new rules including age restrictions to keep e-scooter riders safe and off the pavement

Belgium is set to tackle an often-aggravating new feature of urban life: e-scooters. Starting Friday, e-scooter users faced new rules to stanch rising numbers of injuries and prevent the vehicles…

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Brussels at near-standstill as cost-of-living march draws 70,000

Around 70,000 Belgian workers marched through Brussels on Monday demanding government action to tackle sharply rising living costs, as one-day strikes at Brussels Airport and on local transport networks nationwide…

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UPDATED: Brussels at near-standstill as cost-of-living march draws 70,000

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Around 70,000 Belgian workers marched through Brussels on Monday demanding government action to tackle sharply rising living costs, as one-day strikes at Brussels Airport and on local transport networks nationwide brought…

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Belgium hands over tooth to family of Congo independence hero Lumumba

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Belgium handed over a tooth, the only known remains of the murdered Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba, to his family during at a ceremony in…

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Ferrero chocolate factory allowed to reopen in Belgium after salmonella cases

The Belgian food-safety authorities on Friday allowed a Belgium-based Ferrero chocolate factory to reopen under conditions, after it shut in early April following cases of salmonella food poisoning reported in…

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Belgian bishop turns down cardinal role over sexual abuse criticism

Pope Francis has accepted a request by a Belgian bishop to not be made a cardinal because it might hurt the feelings of victims of sexual abuse, the Belgian bishops…

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Brussels Airport advises passengers to reschedule flight for next Monday

Brussels Airport and the airlines flying from Belgium’s biggest airport are preparing for the disruptions caused by the national manifestation next Monday 20 June. Brussels Airport has advised travellers scheduled…

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NATO’s Stoltenberg diagnosed with shingles

BRUSSELS, June 9 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been diagnosed with shingles and will therefore hold talks scheduled in Germany and Romania only remotely, a NATO official said on Thursday.…

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Belgian king reiterates regrets for colonial past in Congo but no apology

Belgium's King Philippe reaffirmed his deepest regrets for the exploitation, racism and acts of violence during his country's colonisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but again stopped short of…

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NATO has the right to deploy in eastern Europe, deputy chief says

NATO is no longer bound by past commitments to hold back from deploying its forces in eastern Europe, the US-led alliance’s deputy secretary general said Sunday. Moscow itself has “voided…

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Belgium to be paralysed by general strike on 31 May

Several national public sector unions will conduct a one-day nationwide strike action on 31 May, paralysing much of Belgium’s key infrastructure, according to statements from several unions. Disruptions will take…

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Belgium first country to introduce quarantine for monkeypox cases

Belgium has become the first country to introduce a compulsory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients after reporting four cases of the disease in the last week. Belgian health authorities took…

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Belgium to ease almost all coronavirus rules

Wearing face masks in public transport and completing travel forms upon arrival to Belgium will no longer be mandatory as of Monday, the Belgian government announced. Meeting online in the…

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Don’t forget other crises amid Ukraine focus, UNHCR chief warns

BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned on Friday that countries focused on helping Ukraine should not ignore crises elsewhere, which were likely to worsen due…

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Belgium detects first two monkeypox cases, Spain, Portugal cases tallies each surpass 20

BRUSSELS, May 19 (Reuters) - Belgian health experts were due to meet on Friday after the country detected its first two cases of monkeypox, authorities said. The cases were diagnosed…

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Belgium explores new avenues of assistance for Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, Belgium’s Select Ministerial Committee is currently reviewing the situation and the assistance that Belgium can provide. Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine…

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Belgian Foreign Affairs minister steps down temporarily to take care of husband who has brain cancer

BRUSSELS, April 21 (Reuters) - Belgian vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs minister Sophie Wilmes said on Thursday she will temporarily step down from the government to take care of her…

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UPDATED: Ferrero suspends operations at Belgium plant amid salmonella investigation

April 8 (Reuters) - Italian confectionery group Ferrero said on Friday it is suspending operations at its plant in Arlon, Belgium, after Europe's health agency started investigating dozens of reported and suspected…

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Belgium to inject another billion euros into its army – L’Echo

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - Belgium agreed on Thursday to inject an extra billion euros into its defence forces, on top of 10 billion euros ($10.98 billion) already agreed, Belgian newspaper l'Echo…

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UPDATED: Stoltenberg to stay on as NATO chief until October 2023 as Russia wages war on Ukraine

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - NATO allies on Thursday extended the term of Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of the Western military alliance by a year until Sept.30, 2023. "As we face…

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UPDATED: Six dead after car drives into people at carnival in Belgium

STREPY-BRACQUEGNIES, Belgium, March 20 (Reuters) - A car drove at high speed into a group of Belgian carnival performers who were preparing a parade early on Sunday, killing six people…

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Supermarkets in Belgium limit sales of flour and oil per customer due to high demand

Several supermarket chains in Belgium are limiting the sales of products, such as flour, oil and canned vegetables, due to the high demand. While Colruyt is putting a limit on…

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Belgian royal family funds hosting of Ukrainian families

The Belgian royal family will make three properties available for Ukrainian refugee families, the palace confirmed. Three Ukrainian families will be hosted by the Royal Trust, an entity managing the…

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Belgium poised to delay 2025 nuclear power exit

BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - Belgium may extend the life of its nuclear sector, deferring an exit planned for 2025 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced a rethink by the governing…

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Belgium changes travel rules

Belgium is again adapting its travel rules for those entering the country from Friday 11 March, lifting the general obligation to complete the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). “Someone who is…

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Belgian banks block flow of cryptocurrency earnings

Investors wishing to secure part of their profits in cryptocurrencies are finding it difficult to transfer them to their bank accounts, the Belgian newspaper De Tijd noted. According to the…

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Belgium permits four-day week to boost work flexibility post COVID

Belgian employees will be able to work a four-day week after the government on Tuesday agreed a new labour accord aimed at bringing flexibility to an otherwise rigid labour market.…

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Covid-pass protesters en route for Brussels rally

Hundreds of cars, campervans and trucks are on their way to a protest against Covid regulations in Brussels today where Belgian officials have already banned a demonstration following a weekend…

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Belgium further eases coronavirus restrictions

Belgium announced further easing of coronavirus restrictions to allow nightclubs to reopen and drop the requirement for primary school pupils to wear masks, as cases of the Omicron variant fell…

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Paris and Brussels police ban ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests

Brussels bans 'freedom convoy' protesting COVID curbs from entry BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Brussels authorities have banned a pan-European "freedom convoy" of motorists protesting COVID-19 restrictions from entering the…

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Big anti-terrorist operation in Antwerp

Belgian police arrested 13 suspected members of an Islamist terror group in an operation in Antwerp on Tuesday. The suspects were detained for spreading jihadist propaganda on social media, though…

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Tintin joins the Smurfs on new Belgian passport

From Monday, all new Belgian passports will feature Tintin, the Smurfs and other heroes of Belgian comic-strip art. With a 34-page standard passport, Belgian travellers will be accompanied by Lucky…

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Belgians forced to fork out more for their cherished fries

Belgians are having to fork out more for their favourite snack - fries, or fried potato sticks - because of rising energy, commodity and labour costs. Belgium is the world's…

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Belgium to cut VAT in response to energy price spike

Belgium will cut value added tax on electricity as part of a package to shield consumers from rising energy prices, the prime minister said on Tuesday. European gas and power…

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