A special event takes place in Brussels all this week which aims to showcase the best of the Caribbean and foster closer ties between the region and Belgium. Called “Caribbean Week” (17 to 23 June), the various activities seek to raise the profile of the Caribbean. The initiative is the brainchild of the Brussels-based Caribbean Chamber of…
Author: Martin Banks
Far Right Gains in France a Pivotal Moment
Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash Gains by the far right in last week’s EU elections are “deeply concerning”, says former UK MEP Claude Moraes The far right held their positions in Italy and the Netherlands (with swings between far-right parties rather than to them). But they failed to make headway in other countries where they were predicted…
Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean
The historic battlefield site of Waterloo is now home to a thriving multi-activity business Battlelines will be drawn next weekend (22/23 June) when Napoleon and Wellington again go head to head on the fields of Belgium. Throughout the weekend, more than 300 re-enactor troops will camp in bivouacs at Napoleon’s last headquarters and in the…
Far Right Wins Big in Italian Elections
One of the EU parliament’s longest serving former MEPs has failed to get re-elected. Sir Graham Watson was a long standing MEP and sought to return to Parliament as a candidate in Italy for an alliance backed by the country’s former PM Matteo Renzi. Sir Graham told this site, “The United States of Europe list…
Delivery companies leave bad taste for restaurant owners
Photo by Petr Sevcovic on Unsplash The Asian Catering Federation [ACF] has criticised restaurant takeaway delivery platforms in the UK for “undermining” the hospitality sector and High Street trade in general. The ACF represents the nation’s 35,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants in the UK and the sector employs over 100,000 people and contributes more than £5 billion to…
Battle of Waterloo
Environment-friendly river boats take to the Thames
Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash Sightseers and commuters in London are being given the chance to make more eco-friendly journeys. This is thanks to “Earth Clipper”, Europe’s first hybrid high speed passenger ferry. Built to the High-Speed Craft Code it is the first of three new passenger ferries operated by a UK company, “Uber Boat by Thames…
Kazakhstan’s New Gambling Law
Photo by Carl Raw on Unsplash The betting industry has suddenly found itself in the international spotlight – and not just in the European Union. Moves are afoot in Europe to raise standards in a sector – betting – that rarely finds itself on the political agenda. But it is not just in the EU that such reform…
EURO 2024
Taiwan Global Model for Democracy
Photo by Tom Ritson on Unsplash A former high ranking Taiwanese government minister has called for current tensions between China and Taiwan to be defused. But, speaking on Friday in Brussels, he also voiced concern about China’s recent military exercises against the island which have sent shockwaves throughout the world. He was a keynote speaker…