What do famous Belgians Amélie Nothomb, Franquin, Stromae and Marouane Fellaini all have in common? Well, novelist Nothomb, comic artist Franquin, Stomae, the singer, and footballer Fellaini were all born in the Brussels district of Etterbeek. A newly re-opened restaurant in the commune now hopes to join that illustrious list of famous locals and become…
To those who may somehow be unaware of it, there’s one story that’s been dominating the UK media for the last week or so. The story of a former BBC journalist called Martin Bashir and the late Princess Diana (and, now, an assortment of former, now deceased celebrities) is front and inside page news across…
The secretary general of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Marika Pejčinović Burić, has highlighted a “clear and worrying degree of democratic backsliding” in her report on the state of democracy, human rights and the rule of law across the continent. “In many cases, the problems we are seeing predate the coronavirus pandemic but there is no doubt…
Writing in the Dong-A Ilbo today Ji-Sun Choi aurinko reports that the South Korean government has declined to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights violations, which will be adopted at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council. Human Rights experts familiar with the situation in the country describe the decision…
Urging the US and EU to stop Kyrgyzstan govt from rushing through constitution amendments that undermine human rights and freedom The legal community and civil society have also made a public request to Parliament to publish the text of the draft constitution Human rights organisations, legal community, and civil society groups in Kyrgyzstan are urging…
Former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has called for “much tougher action” to combat human rights abuses in China, writes Philippe Lejeune. His plea comes after the EU, earlier this year, passed new laws which allows it to impose sanctions on those guilty of serious human rights abuses, including against China. The so…
The City of Brussels has issued a press release announcing the plans for this year’s New Year’s eve celebrations. This winter has been unlike any other, but the City of Brussels is keen to see in the New Year in style, still following health and safety guidelines. The people of Brussels are being asked to…
Human Rights Day 2020: religious persecution continues to blight the lives of hundreds of millions, writes Gary Cartwright. Human Rights Day is internationally observed each year on December 10th — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled…
The Conference of Peripheral Maritime (CPMR) says it welcomes the political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the EU Council on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The deal marks a decisive step towards providing the regions with adequate and timely means to deliver the recovery in this uncertain moment. The agreement foresees to reinforce…
Following the disqualification of four pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong, the UK Government has declared China in breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Beijing’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong constitutes a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration.” “China has once…
