Belgium

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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Photo Story: Ryanair Belgium-based pilots go on strike

Ryanair Pilot representatives demonstrate on the first day of a two-day pilot strike at Brussels South Charleroi airport in Gosselies, Belgium, 14 September 2023. At Brussels South Charleroi Airport, a…

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Belgium questions Apple’s iPhone 12 after France suspends sales over radiation

PARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Belgium's junior minister for the digital economy said he would ask the telecoms regulator to analyse potential health risks linked to Apple's iPhone 12 after…

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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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Belgian Ryanair pilots plan another strike Sept 14-15

BRUSSELS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Belgian Ryanair pilots will go on strike for the fourth time in two months over Sept. 14-15, seeking higher pay and better working conditions, their…

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

An aerial picture taken with a drone shows people enjoying kayaking on the Lesse River, near the Walzin Castle, in Dinant, southern Belgium.Usually the kayak season on the river last…

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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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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Namur, Belgium

An aerial view taken with a drone shows a family enjoying bathing in the river Meuse to cool off, as temperature reach 30 degrees in Namur, Belgium. In Wallonia, the…

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Belgium win FIBA Women’s EuroBasket title

Players of Belgium cut down the net after winning the FIBA Women's EuroBasket final match between Belgium and Spain in Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Sunday. Belgium won 64-58.…

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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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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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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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25 arrested in Italy, Belgium and Germany in raids linked to the ‘Ndrangheta

ROME, June 5 (Reuters) - Authorities have arrested 25 people in Italy, Belgium and Germany in pan-European raids linked to an alleged drug- trafficking ring run by the 'Ndrangheta mafia,…

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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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Photo story: Belgium royals celebrate 10 years of reign with garden party in Brussels

On Saturday (L-R) Belgium's Queen Mathilde, Prince Gabriel (hidden), Princess Eleonore, King Philippe of Belgium and Prince Emmanuel hosted a garden party at the Royal Domain of Laeken in Brussels,…

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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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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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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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Four countries urge EU to set end date for new CO2-emitting trucks

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg have urged the European Union to fix a date by which new trucks and buses sold in Europe must have zero…

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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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Italy delays hearing on EU graft scandal suspect on Belgian jail claim

BRESCIA, Italy (Reuters) - An Italian court on Tuesday postponed until January a hearing on whether to hand over to the Belgian authorities a second woman suspected of involvement in…

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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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Belgium risks gas shortage during severe winter, report says – De Tijd

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Belgium's natural gas supply could be at risk this winter in the event of a cold wave, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported on Friday citing a…

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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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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Brussels, Belgium

Aerial view of the European district in Brussels with European Commission headquarters building, also called Berlaymont, in Brussels, Belgium. Via EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

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Croatia cling on to reach last 16 and send Belgium packing

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (Reuters) -Croatia reached the last 16 at the World Cup after a tension-filled 0-0 draw with Belgium on Thursday that ensured the last hurrah of the Belgian…

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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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Morocco strike late to earn shock win over Belgium

DOHA (Reuters) - Abdelhamid Sabiri scored from an audaciously tight angle and fellow substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal added a second in stoppage time as Morocco pulled off a shock 2-0 win…

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Batshuayi goal, Courtois penalty save earn Belgium win over Canada

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (Reuters) - Michy Batshuayi scored in the first half and Thibaut Courtois saved a penalty as Belgium opened their World Cup campaign on Wednesday with a scrappy…

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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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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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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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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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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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