The capital of Belgium is Brussels, and coincidently (even though it’s not official) it is known as the capital of the EU. It is a cultural heaven, so many ex-pats, and several fusions of cultures make Brussels, the most diverse place in Europe.
Author: Olga Lang
Minnesota Police Officer Involved in Traffic Stop Shooting of Black Man Resigns VOA says the Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer involved in the shooting death of a 20-year-old African American man during a traffic stop Sunday has resigned, as has the police chief of the Minneapolis suburb. A 26-year veteran of the city’s police department, Kim Potter resigned in a letter Tuesday, saying, “I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving…
Germany remembers victims of Nazis 76 years after liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp Euronews says wreaths were laid at the infamous Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald on Sunday, 76 years after its liberation by the allies. The president summed up the atrocities committed at Buchenwald and other camps during the Third Reich. “With its large number of victim groups, Buchenwald represents the entire barbarity of the Nazis’ aggressive nationalism on the outside, dictatorship and oppression…
‘Low level of oxygen’ led to George Floyd’s death – expert TRT World says a respiratory doctor has testified that George Floyd died from a lack of oxygen and that Derek Chauvin’s knee was on his neck almost all the time he was facedown in the street with his hands cuffed behind his back. Martin Tobin, a pulmonologist, told the jury at Chauvin’s murder and manslaughter trial that he had watched videos of Floyd’s May 25, 2020…
Labour MP praises church where pastor opposed LGBT+ rights amid Starmer visit row The Independent says a Labour MP has provoked anger by praising a church whose pastor opposed gay rights despite the party’s leader Keir Starmer apologising for visiting it. Stephen Timms was accused of “trolling” LGBT+ people after praising the “extraordinary work” of Jesus House for All the Nations in Brent, north London. His comment came hours after Sir Keir accepted it was…
Covid passports: Plans criticised by MPs amid fears of ‘two-tier Britain’ BBC News says criticism is growing over plans for Covid passports in England, amid fears they could create a “two-tier” society. Government documents released on Monday said such certificates – that prove if someone has had a vaccine, has tested negative or has immunity – were likely to become “a feature of our lives”. At Monday’s press conference, Boris Johnson did not rule out the idea. But many…
Pfizer-BioNTech says Covid-19 vaccine is safe, effective on adolescents TRT World says BioNTech-Pfizer have said their vaccine showed 100 per cent efficacy against the coronavirus in 12- to 15-year-olds, as they eye approval for adolescents to get the jabs before the next school year. Phase 3 trials carried out on 2,260 adolescents in the United States “demonstrated 100 per cent efficacy and robust antibody responses,” the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. https://wtxnews.com/uk/met-police-allegations-covid-19-variants/ https://wtxnews.com/uk/met-police-allegations-covid-19-variants/ https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1356890173909291012?s=20 Finding…
French air attack in Mali killed 19 unarmed civilians, UN says Aljazeera says a French air attack in January killed at least 19 civilians at a wedding party in central Mali, United Nations investigators have said, confirming locals’ accounts and contradicting France’s version that only rebel fighters were hit. The human rights division of the United Nations mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said on Tuesday it had visited the village of Bounti where the attack took…
Insta News story – Ghislaine Maxwell faces new charges, including sex trafficking of a minor Socialite accused of aiding Jefferey Epstein’s Sexual abuse ring Ghislaine Maxwell faces new charges, including sex trafficking of a minor Maxwell is facing two new charges Ghislaine Maxwell faces new charges, including sex trafficking of a minor Including sex trafficking a minor Ghislaine Maxwell faces new charges, including sex trafficking of a minor Maxwell accused of new lover A New…
Covid: Outdoor meetings and sports to resume in EnglandBBC News says two households or groups of up to six people are now able to meet outside in England again as the stay-at-home Covid restrictions order comes to an end.Outdoor sport facilities including tennis courts and golf courses are also reopening, and organised outdoor sports can resume in the latest easing. And weddings will also be on again, attended by up to six people.The prime minister said: “Despite today’s easements,…
Latest Bristol policing protest culminates in 14 arrests The Guardian says police have moved in to disperse demonstrators in Bristol, two days after another protest that descended into rioting in the city. The demonstration overnight ended with 14 people arrested. Around 130 people gathered at College Green in the evening – it was the latest ‘Kill the Bill’ protest in the city, against the government’s policing bill which gives cops new powers to tackle demonstrations. https://twitter.com/WtxNews/status/1374065469716586501?s=20…
Dubai announces Ramadan COVID-19 precautionary measures Visual Slideshow Previous Next Arab News says Dubai has urged people not to hold large gatherings during Ramadan, as part of its measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Dubai also called on the public to avoid exposing the elderly and people with chronic diseases to coronavirus risks. Ramadan and donation tents are also prohibited in the city, the committee said, adding that Tarawih prayers can be performed in mosques on the…
Top US diplomat makes overseas debut with Japan, Korea visits Visual Slideshow Previous Next Top US diplomat makes overseas debut with Japan, Korea visits TRT World says Antony Blinken has called for deeper economic ties with Japan, as he and Lloyd Austin seek to use their first trip abroad to solidify Asian alliances as a bulwark against China’s assertiveness. Their visit to Tokyo and later Seoul is the first overseas outing by top cabinet members…
Sarah Everard case: Met police faces watchdog investigation Visual Slideshow Play Previous Next Scotland Yard is to be investigated over its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure against the officer suspected of murdering Sarah Everard.The police watchdog will consider if Metropolitan Police officers “responded appropriately” to the alleged incident.Ms Everard, 33, was last seen in Clapham, south London, on 3 March.The Met officer arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of her kidnap and murder is back in…
Zayn Malik lashes out at Grammy Awards voters Visual Slideshow Previous Next Zayn Malik has delivered an angry message to the Grammy Awards, five days before this year’s music ceremony is due to take place. “Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionery,” the star tweeted. Malik has never been nominated, either as a solo act or with One Direction. https://wtxnews.com/uk/human-remains-found-covid-19-travel-news/ https://wtxnews.com/uk/human-remains-found-covid-19-travel-news/ https://twitter.com/FdezzGarciiia/status/1369633052511633412?s=20…
Buckingham Palace breaks silence on Meghan and Harry Oprah claims Visual Slideshow Previous Next The Guardian says the Queen has sought to draw a line under damaging racism claims made by Harry and Meghan saying that issues will be dealt with “privately” by the royal family. “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are…
US Supreme Court Dumps Last of Trump’s Election Appeals Visual Slideshow Previous Next The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday disposed of the last of three cases brought to the justices by former President Donald Trump challenging his election loss, bringing a muted end to his futile quest in the courts to hold onto power. The court without comment rejected Trump’s appeal challenging thousands of absentee ballots filed in Wisconsin, an election battleground that the Republican businessman-turned-politician lost…
COVID-19: Waterstones and Amazon urged to add warning tags as anti-vaccination book sales surge Visual Slideshow Previous Next Anti-vaccination books are being sold on Amazon and the websites of Waterstones and Foyles leading to calls for warnings to be added in the hope it will help combat the spreading of misinformation. Top-selling anti-vax books on Amazon include Anyone Who Tells You Vaccines Are Safe And Effective Is Lying, and Vaccine-nation: Poisoning The Population, One Shot At…
Meghan accuses royals of ‘perpetuating falsehoods’ Visual Slideshow Previous Next BBC News says Meghan Markle has said she is not afraid of the consequences of speaking out in her and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. In a second teaser clip released by CBS for the upcoming interview, Meghan said “a lot… has been lost already”. She said she could not be expected to be silent if the royals had a part in “perpetuating falsehoods about us”.…
Mining magnets: Arctic island finds green power can be a curse Visual Slideshow Previous Next The world’s biggest island has huge resources of metals known as ‘rare earths,’ used to create compact, super-strong magnets which help power equipment such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, combat aircraft and weapons systems. The metals are abundant globally, but processing them is difficult and dirty – so much so that the United States, which used to dominate production, surrendered…
Prince Harry on Oprah Winfrey: my worry of Diana history repeating Visual Slideshow Previous Next The Guardian says Prince Harry has told interviewer Oprah Winfrey that he had worried about history repeating itself. CBS has released two brief clips from Winfrey’s interview with the couple, which is scheduled to air on 7 March. It is the first TV interview they have given since making California their home last year. “My biggest concern was history repeating itself,” Harry…
New Pokemon cards at McDonald’s – Rare cards trade for big money Visual Slideshow Play Previous Next Rare Pokémon cards are fetching six figures at auctions as the Japanese cartoon and video game series celebrates its 25th anniversary this weekend. The Pokémon franchise is more valuable than those of Star Wars and Harry Potter combined. A card game based on the Pokémon series was created in 1996 with millions playing and trading the cards globally.…
India plans new social media controls after face-off with Twitter Visual Slideshow Previous Next Aljazeera says India plans to oblige social media companies to erase contentious content fast and assist investigations, according to a draft regulation. New Delhi’s planned Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code come as various nations around the world try to assert tighter control over powerful Big Tech firms. In India, Twitter ignored orders to remove content over farmers’ protests, heightening the zeal…
US, Canada Pledge ‘Net Zero Emissions by 2050’ Visual Slideshow Previous Next VOA says the US and Canada have agreed to “double down” on efforts “to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday, following his first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader since taking office last month. Trudeau said that “U.S. leadership has been sorely missed over the past years,” specifically on addressing climate change — a criticism of former President Trump’s four…
Johnson & Johnson sets aside almost $4 billion for talc verdict Visual Slideshow Previous Next (Reuters) – Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson set aside $3.9 billion in litigation expenses in 2020, which it said was “primarily associated with talc-related reserves and certain settlements”. The company faces 25,000 lawsuits by former users of its baby powder who say asbestos-laced talc in the product caused their cancers, it said in a securities filing here on Monday. The figure is nearly…