Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash MEPs say it is time to send a clear signal that the European Parliament defends citizens’ rights. That was the message from the Socialists and Democrats on 18 June ahead of the plenary vote on the 2024 Rule of Law report. It comes, they say, at a time when…
Month: June 2025
Belgian Cocktail Championship
They came from far and wide…..all seeking to be crowned the best bar person in Belgium. Bartenders, who come from all over the world, converged on a horeca training centre in Anderlecht for their gold standard event of the year: the national cocktail championships. This writer was among the judges who joined an elite group…
European Parliament Crackdown on Child Abuse
Anders Vistisen MEP says he supports child protection but defends national legal sovereignty and harsher penalties against child abusers, including medical castration. He was speaking on Wednesday in a key plenary debate on the proposal to combat child abuse across the EU. Vistisen emphasized both his strong support for protecting vulnerable children and his firm…
Darcey Harry Wins Hulencourt Womens’ Open
Welshwoman Darcey Harry, 22, won the inaugural Hulencourt Women’s Open, a Ladies European Tour tournament with €300,000 in prize money, held on the prestigious Belgian course “Le Vallon” de Hulencourt, in Vieux-Genappe. After four rounds, the Cardiff rookie won with a total score of -13 under par (cards of 71, 68, 68, and 68). It…
MEP Demands Ban on Hungary Extraditions
Collapse of the World Order
The current international peace system is outdated and ineffective, says Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient. Speaking in London last week to highlight the urgent need for justice and accountability, she said “We are witnessing the collapse of the world order before our eyes.” She told this site, “The…
Listen to the Ocean Before it Falls Silent
Photo Credit Relais and Chateaux A major hospitality group is calling on chefs at all of its 580 properties, including those in the UK and Benelux, to remove threatened seafood species from their menus. The move by Relais & Châteaux is part of its stated mission to contribute to the protection and development of biodiversity….
Eating Breakfast Cereals Good for You
Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash Eating breakfast cereals is good for you, according to a new study. The study, which coincided with the recent World Breakfast Day, highlighted the nutrition and health benefits of breakfast cereals. The comprehensive analysis is said to have shed a light on the role that breakfast cereals can play…
Commission Urged to Rethink Embargo Policy
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash Brussels-based foreign correspondents association API-IPA says it has taken note of the European Commission’s formal reply to a case involving the European Ombudsman. The case concerns how the European Commission dealt with the request by a journalist working at a news agency to be added to a mailing list…
Ageing to Wreak Havoc from 2030
Photo by Bruno Aguirre on Unsplash The impact of Europe’s rapidly ageing population is coming under increasing scrutiny, including by British peers. The UK House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has just concluded an inquiry into Preparing for Ageing. Britain is an ageing society, the birth rate is declining and life expectancy increasing. It can…










