Belgium has declared beer and chocolates as essential items. This comes after Belgians were told to eat fries twice a week. The Wuhan virus pandemic has indeed changed our platter. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Pandemic and our plates

The Belgium government has categorised chocolate and beer as an essential item as certain shops were allowed to remain open during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Chocolate and Beer declared 'essential items' during Belgium's lockdown

Several European countries such as Belgium and Germany are imposing travel bans on all the incoming flights from the UK and South Africa to make sure the new variant does not get transmitted to their countries.

Scientific experts on new Coronavirus strain in Europe

Wildlife park and zoo Pairi Daiza has announced the birth of a new orangutan baby in its premises in Brugelette, Belgium.

Belgian wildlife park welcomes baby orangutan

St. Nicholas is keeping tradition alive and is speaking with children by video conference, as COVID restrictions in Belgium prevent him from seeing them face to face.

St. Nicholas video chats with Belgian children, keeping tradition alive despite COVID

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests.

The UAE’s footprint is visible across the globe, most recently in France, the latest arena in what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam, as well as in US disclosures about the nature of Emirati intervention in Libya.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia appear to have been lobbying for a tougher French policy towards political Islam prior to the crackdown initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the gruesome killing of a schoolteacher in September and subsequent attacks, including on a church in Nice.

The lobbying, emphasising common interests in countering political Islam and Turkey, with which France is at odds in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean as well as on the issue of political Islam, aligned themselves neatly with Macron’s domestic and international agenda.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia in effect gave the French leader welcome Muslim cover to target political Islam and Turkey more than six months before the attacks this fall as he gears up for an election in 2022 in which Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right, nationalist and anti-immigration National Rally, looms large.

Speaking in the French city of Mulhouse in February, Macron laid out his strategy to combat political Islam represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists who in his words insist that Islam’s legal code supersedes the laws of the French Republic and emphasise what he calls “Islamist separatism” and “Islamist supremacy.” The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both declared the brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

Austria last month started cracking down on the brotherhood following a shooting rampage in the heart of Vienna in which four people were killed.

Kuwait and Qatar are funding the construction of an Islamic religious and cultural centre in Mulhouse. The UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside Bahrain and Egypt have been boycotting Qatar economically and diplomatically since 2017, alleging that the Gulf state is a prime supporter of Islamist groups.

“In the Republic we cannot accept that we refuse to shake hands with a woman because she is a woman. In the Republic, we cannot accept that someone refuses to be treated or educated by someone because she is a woman. In the Republic, one cannot accept school dropouts for religious or belief reasons. In the Republic, one cannot require certificates of virginity to marry,” Macron said.

Qatar has backed the brotherhood in the past and is home to Yusuf al-Qaradawi, widely viewed as a one of the foremost influencers of the Brotherhood, a catch-all for a multitude of aligned Islamist groups that bicker among themselves.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as mediator Kuwait expressed hope in recent days that talks in advance of a Gulf summit in Riyadh later this month would produce at least a first step towards an end of the boycott.

Macron’s crackdown involves tighter legal control of Muslim organisations and aims to centralise the formation and accreditation of Muslim religious leaders in the country.

Critics, including United Nations experts, charge that a new security law introduced in parliament undermines democratic freedoms by implicitly targeting Muslims, imposing a wider ban on home schooling and controls on religious, sporting and cultural associations, and introducing degrees of surveillance and limits on freedom of expression.

Macron “does not want to see Muslims ghettoized in the West and he is right. They should be better integrated into society. The French state has the right to explore ways to achieve that,” UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said in November.

Playing on Macron’s differences with Turkey that are shared by the UAE, Gargash suggested that the French president was drawing a line in the sand for his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.&nbsp;

“It is only when he is shown the red line that he shows himself ready to negotiate," Gargash asserted.

Mohammed al-Issa, head of the Muslim World League, a one-time major vehicle for the global propagation of past Saudi ultra-conservatism that now projects the kingdom’s undefined notion of moderate Islam, insisted last month that the law would defend French secularism against Islamic radicalism.

Speaking earlier at an inter-faith conference in Paris co-hosted by the League, Al-Issa stressed that religion needed to be protected from political exploitation to safeguard youth against extremist groups.

Much of Macron’s thinking appears to be informed by French Muslims who maintain close contact with both the French and Emirati governments.

Hakim El Karoui, the French-born son of an anthropologist of Islamic law and nephew of a former Tunisian prime minister, has long advocated notions of a French Islam that are reflected in Mr. Macron’s thinking.

This includes an undifferentiated view of political Islam, the notion of Islamists being secessionists or separatists, and the belief that Middle Eastern funding and political manipulation of faith rather than of domestic and economic factors primarily drive support for political Islam.

An advisor to former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, university lecturer, investment banker, geographer and author of several reports on Islam in France, El Karoui has long projected the UAE as a model of best practice in countering political Islam and fostering a moderate form of the faith.

The UAE promotes a concept of state-controlled Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler.

“I think that France and the UAE must engage more in a religious debate. The positions of the moderate Muslims in France can be close to the ones of the UAE,” El Karoui told an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper in 2018.

French Middle East scholar Francois Burgat noted in an interview that “arguments put forth by El Karoui are enthusiastically embraced by authoritarian leaders in the Muslim world. They absolve them from responsibility for problems in their own societies.”

Macron’s UAE and Saudi-backed campaign is producing unintended advantages for the two Gulf states in their battle for the soul of Islam. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in competition with one another but also frequently see their interests aligned.

In a parallel development, the Belgian government, acting on the advice of security services, this month rejected a request of the once Muslim World League-controlled Grand Mosque in central Brussels to be recognized as a faith community.

Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said the application had been rejected because agents of the intelligence service of Morocco, a competitor for ownership of the definition of a moderate form of Islam in Europe and West Africa, had gained control of the mosque since Saudi Arabia handed it back to the government in 2018.

“I cannot and will not accept that foreign regimes hijack Islam for ideological or political motives, try to call the shots here and prevent Muslims in our country from developing their own progressive Islam,” Van Quickenborne said, echoing Macron’s approach.

A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox.

(Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.)

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests.

Punching above its weight, the United Arab Emirates is wielding a combination of religious soft power, commercial and economic sway, and hard power in its bid to counter political Islam in ways that potentially could threaten pillars of Western democracy as well as US and European strategic interests. The UAE’s footprint is visible across the globe, most recently in France, the latest arena in what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam, as well as in US disclosures about the nature of Emirati intervention in Libya. The UAE and Saudi Arabia appear to have been lobbying for a tougher French policy towards political Islam prior to the crackdown initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the gruesome killing of a schoolteacher in September and subsequent attacks, including on a church in Nice. The lobbying, emphasising common interests in countering political Islam and Turkey, with which France is at odds in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean as well as on the issue of political Islam, aligned themselves neatly with Macron’s domestic and international agenda. The UAE and Saudi Arabia in effect gave the French leader welcome Muslim cover to target political Islam and Turkey more than six months before the attacks this fall as he gears up for an election in 2022 in which Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right, nationalist and anti-immigration National Rally, looms large. Speaking in the French city of Mulhouse in February, Macron laid out his strategy to combat political Islam represented by the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists who in his words insist that Islam’s legal code supersedes the laws of the French Republic and emphasise what he calls “Islamist separatism” and “Islamist supremacy.” The UAE and Saudi Arabia have both declared the brotherhood a terrorist organisation. Austria last month started cracking down on the brotherhood following a shooting rampage in the heart of Vienna in which four people were killed. Kuwait and Qatar are funding the construction of an Islamic religious and cultural centre in Mulhouse. The UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside Bahrain and Egypt have been boycotting Qatar economically and diplomatically since 2017, alleging that the Gulf state is a prime supporter of Islamist groups. “In the Republic we cannot accept that we refuse to shake hands with a woman because she is a woman. In the Republic, we cannot accept that someone refuses to be treated or educated by someone because she is a woman. In the Republic, one cannot accept school dropouts for religious or belief reasons. In the Republic, one cannot require certificates of virginity to marry,” Macron said. Qatar has backed the brotherhood in the past and is home to Yusuf al-Qaradawi, widely viewed as a one of the foremost influencers of the Brotherhood, a catch-all for a multitude of aligned Islamist groups that bicker among themselves. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as mediator Kuwait expressed hope in recent days that talks in advance of a Gulf summit in Riyadh later this month would produce at least a first step towards an end of the boycott. Macron’s crackdown involves tighter legal control of Muslim organisations and aims to centralise the formation and accreditation of Muslim religious leaders in the country. Critics, including United Nations experts, charge that a new security law introduced in parliament undermines democratic freedoms by implicitly targeting Muslims, imposing a wider ban on home schooling and controls on religious, sporting and cultural associations, and introducing degrees of surveillance and limits on freedom of expression. Macron “does not want to see Muslims ghettoized in the West and he is right. They should be better integrated into society. The French state has the right to explore ways to achieve that,” UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said in November. Playing on Macron’s differences with Turkey that are shared by the UAE, Gargash suggested that the French president was drawing a line in the sand for his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “It is only when he is shown the red line that he shows himself ready to negotiate," Gargash asserted. Mohammed al-Issa, head of the Muslim World League, a one-time major vehicle for the global propagation of past Saudi ultra-conservatism that now projects the kingdom’s undefined notion of moderate Islam, insisted last month that the law would defend French secularism against Islamic radicalism. Speaking earlier at an inter-faith conference in Paris co-hosted by the League, Al-Issa stressed that religion needed to be protected from political exploitation to safeguard youth against extremist groups. Much of Macron’s thinking appears to be informed by French Muslims who maintain close contact with both the French and Emirati governments. Hakim El Karoui, the French-born son of an anthropologist of Islamic law and nephew of a former Tunisian prime minister, has long advocated notions of a French Islam that are reflected in Mr. Macron’s thinking. This includes an undifferentiated view of political Islam, the notion of Islamists being secessionists or separatists, and the belief that Middle Eastern funding and political manipulation of faith rather than of domestic and economic factors primarily drive support for political Islam. An advisor to former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, university lecturer, investment banker, geographer and author of several reports on Islam in France, El Karoui has long projected the UAE as a model of best practice in countering political Islam and fostering a moderate form of the faith. The UAE promotes a concept of state-controlled Islam that preaches absolute obedience to the ruler. “I think that France and the UAE must engage more in a religious debate. The positions of the moderate Muslims in France can be close to the ones of the UAE,” El Karoui told an Abu Dhabi-based newspaper in 2018. French Middle East scholar Francois Burgat noted in an interview that “arguments put forth by El Karoui are enthusiastically embraced by authoritarian leaders in the Muslim world. They absolve them from responsibility for problems in their own societies.” Macron’s UAE and Saudi-backed campaign is producing unintended advantages for the two Gulf states in their battle for the soul of Islam. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in competition with one another but also frequently see their interests aligned. In a parallel development, the Belgian government, acting on the advice of security services, this month rejected a request of the once Muslim World League-controlled Grand Mosque in central Brussels to be recognized as a faith community. Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said the application had been rejected because agents of the intelligence service of Morocco, a competitor for ownership of the definition of a moderate form of Islam in Europe and West Africa, had gained control of the mosque since Saudi Arabia handed it back to the government in 2018. “I cannot and will not accept that foreign regimes hijack Islam for ideological or political motives, try to call the shots here and prevent Muslims in our country from developing their own progressive Islam,” Van Quickenborne said, echoing Macron’s approach. A podcast version of this story is available on Soundcloud, Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spreaker, Pocket Casts, Tumblr, Podbean, Audecibel, Patreon and Castbox. (Dr James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute.) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

France, Belgium and Austria move into the frontline of a battle for the soul of Islam

Belgium's post office has reached a 'historical' workload as a shift to online purchases accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has left it brimming with packages.

Belgian postal service faces 'historic' workload as COVID-19 pushes Christmas shoppers online

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic there are now reports of the bird flu outbreak in different parts of the Europe & in Belgium not just humans, but even birds have been put under a strict lockdown. WION brings you a report.

Spate of bird flu outbreak in Europe, Swans go into quarantine in Belgium

Romelu Lukaku helped fire Belgium into the UEFA Nations League finals by scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Denmark on Wednesday, while Italy also secured a place in the last four with victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The world's number one-ranked side, Belgium only required a draw from their last League A, Group 2 game at home to Denmark behind closed doors in Leuven and took an early lead through Youri Tielemans.

Jonas Wind equalised for Denmark, but Lukaku got a second-half double and Kevin De Bruyne made sure of the victory for Roberto Martinez's side after Thibaut Courtois allowed a Nacer Chadli back-pass to squirm under his leg and in for an own goal.

Italy secured first place in Group 1 with a 2-0 triumph in Sarajevo thanks to a goal in each half from Torino's Andrea Belotti and Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo.

That ensured they finished a point ahead of the Netherlands, who came from behind to beat Poland 2-1 away with captain Georginio Wijnaldum scoring the winner after Memphis Depay's penalty cancelled out Kamil Jozwiak's opener.

Italy and Belgium join Spain and World Cup holders France in a final tournament which is expected to be held in Italy in October next year.&nbsp;

Before the finals, European national teams will start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in March and then the delayed Euro 2020 is set to go ahead next June and July.

England have more than one eye on that tournament, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Wembley, and Gareth Southgate's team rounded out their Nations League campaign with a 4-0 win over Iceland.

Declan Rice and Mason Mount scored in the first half and Manchester City's Phil Foden got his first international goals with a late brace as England had three players aged 21 or younger score in the same match for the first time since 1883.

"It was a very difficult game. All the players were hearing messages that this is meaningless and there was nothing to play for but they did play for it," Southgate told Sky Sports.

Birkir Mar Saevarsson was sent off for Iceland who, like Bosnia, are relegated and will compete in League B in the next edition.&nbsp;

<h2>- Wales move up, Scotland miss out -</h2>

Wales won promotion to League A with a 3-1 win over 10-man Finland in Cardiff that allowed them to top Group B4.

Despite manager Ryan Giggs being missing after his recent arrest on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, Wales came good with goals from Harry Wilson, Daniel James and Kieffer Moore.

Teemu Pukki netted for Finland, who had left-back Jere Uronen sent off after just 12 minutes.

Winning their group also improves Wales' chances of securing a place in the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs, as the two best group winners in the Nations League&nbsp;are guaranteed&nbsp;play-off places if they don't&nbsp;make it via&nbsp;the usual route.

While Wales go up, Scotland missed out on promotion from League B, Group 2 after losing 1-0 in Israel, their second consecutive loss since clinching qualification for Euro 2020.

Manor Solomon's first-half goal sunk the Scots, and the Czech Republic won promotion at their expense after beating Slovakia 2-0.

"We are all disappointed with the way the week's finished," Scotland manager Steve Clarke told Sky Sports.

"It's been an historic week for Scottish football. There was no lack of endeavour. It was similar to the game on Sunday (1-0 loss in Slovakia), just a little lack of quality in the final third meant we couldn't get a goal."

Also securing promotion to the top tier were Austria, who drew 1-1 with a Norway side deprived of stars Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard after being ordered to quarantine because of a positive coronavirus test in their squad.

Hungary won promotion too thanks to a 2-0 victory over Turkey combined with a 5-0 hammering for Russia at the hands of Serbia.

The Republic of Ireland avoided relegation to League C after drawing 0-0 with Bulgaria, but Northern Ireland and Turkey were among the sides to go down, while Montenegro, Armenia, Slovenia and Albania go up to the second level.

Romelu Lukaku helped fire Belgium into the UEFA Nations League finals by scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Denmark on Wednesday, while Italy also secured a place in the last four with victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Romelu Lukaku helped fire Belgium into the UEFA Nations League finals by scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Denmark on Wednesday, while Italy also secured a place in the last four with victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The world's number one-ranked side, Belgium only required a draw from their last League A, Group 2 game at home to Denmark behind closed doors in Leuven and took an early lead through Youri Tielemans. Jonas Wind equalised for Denmark, but Lukaku got a second-half double and Kevin De Bruyne made sure of the victory for Roberto Martinez's side after Thibaut Courtois allowed a Nacer Chadli back-pass to squirm under his leg and in for an own goal. Italy secured first place in Group 1 with a 2-0 triumph in Sarajevo thanks to a goal in each half from Torino's Andrea Belotti and Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo. That ensured they finished a point ahead of the Netherlands, who came from behind to beat Poland 2-1 away with captain Georginio Wijnaldum scoring the winner after Memphis Depay's penalty cancelled out Kamil Jozwiak's opener. Italy and Belgium join Spain and World Cup holders France in a final tournament which is expected to be held in Italy in October next year. Before the finals, European national teams will start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in March and then the delayed Euro 2020 is set to go ahead next June and July. England have more than one eye on that tournament, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Wembley, and Gareth Southgate's team rounded out their Nations League campaign with a 4-0 win over Iceland. Declan Rice and Mason Mount scored in the first half and Manchester City's Phil Foden got his first international goals with a late brace as England had three players aged 21 or younger score in the same match for the first time since 1883. "It was a very difficult game. All the players were hearing messages that this is meaningless and there was nothing to play for but they did play for it," Southgate told Sky Sports. Birkir Mar Saevarsson was sent off for Iceland who, like Bosnia, are relegated and will compete in League B in the next edition. - Wales move up, Scotland miss out - Wales won promotion to League A with a 3-1 win over 10-man Finland in Cardiff that allowed them to top Group B4. Despite manager Ryan Giggs being missing after his recent arrest on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend, Wales came good with goals from Harry Wilson, Daniel James and Kieffer Moore. Teemu Pukki netted for Finland, who had left-back Jere Uronen sent off after just 12 minutes. Winning their group also improves Wales' chances of securing a place in the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs, as the two best group winners in the Nations League are guaranteed play-off places if they don't make it via the usual route. While Wales go up, Scotland missed out on promotion from League B, Group 2 after losing 1-0 in Israel, their second consecutive loss since clinching qualification for Euro 2020. Manor Solomon's first-half goal sunk the Scots, and the Czech Republic won promotion at their expense after beating Slovakia 2-0. "We are all disappointed with the way the week's finished," Scotland manager Steve Clarke told Sky Sports. "It's been an historic week for Scottish football. There was no lack of endeavour. It was similar to the game on Sunday (1-0 loss in Slovakia), just a little lack of quality in the final third meant we couldn't get a goal." Also securing promotion to the top tier were Austria, who drew 1-1 with a Norway side deprived of stars Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard after being ordered to quarantine because of a positive coronavirus test in their squad. Hungary won promotion too thanks to a 2-0 victory over Turkey combined with a 5-0 hammering for Russia at the hands of Serbia. The Republic of Ireland avoided relegation to League C after drawing 0-0 with Bulgaria, but Northern Ireland and Turkey were among the sides to go down, while Montenegro, Armenia, Slovenia and Albania go up to the second level.

Belgium, Italy into Nations League finals as Foden stars in England win

The Belgian government intends to make any coronavirus vaccine available to around 70 per cent of the population, some eight million people, and free of charge.

Brussels expects the first vaccines to come on stream from early next year. The jab will not be compulsory.

Belgium, population 11.5 million, has registered almost 540,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 14,000 deaths to date. Its death rate per million residents is one of the worst in Europe.

As an EU member state Belgium is engaged in bloc-wide procedures for bulk purchases of anti-Covid-19 vaccines once they emerge in the coming months.

Earlier Monday, Brussels indicated it was signing a contract with German pharmaceutical company CureVac for another potential Covid-19 vaccine, bringing to five the number of vaccines in the bloc's portfolio and a sixth on the way from US firm Moderna.

Belgium itself has so far signed up to receive 7.7 million doses from AstraZeneca (administered in two doses) and a further 5.5 million from Johnson &amp; Johnson, national news agency Belga reported.

Distribution of any vaccine in EU states will only go ahead, however, once they are seen as safe and effective and that requires the green light from regulator the European Medicines Agency.

The Belgian government intends to make any coronavirus vaccine available to around 70 per cent of the population, some eight million people, and free of charge. Brussels expects the first vaccines to come on stream from early next year.

The Belgian government intends to make any coronavirus vaccine available to around 70 per cent of the population, some eight million people, and free of charge. Brussels expects the first vaccines to come on stream from early next year. The jab will not be compulsory. Belgium, population 11.5 million, has registered almost 540,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 14,000 deaths to date. Its death rate per million residents is one of the worst in Europe. As an EU member state Belgium is engaged in bloc-wide procedures for bulk purchases of anti-Covid-19 vaccines once they emerge in the coming months. Earlier Monday, Brussels indicated it was signing a contract with German pharmaceutical company CureVac for another potential Covid-19 vaccine, bringing to five the number of vaccines in the bloc's portfolio and a sixth on the way from US firm Moderna. Belgium itself has so far signed up to receive 7.7 million doses from AstraZeneca (administered in two doses) and a further 5.5 million from Johnson & Johnson, national news agency Belga reported. Distribution of any vaccine in EU states will only go ahead, however, once they are seen as safe and effective and that requires the green light from regulator the European Medicines Agency.

Coronavirus vaccine to be free in Belgium

A two-year-old Belgian racing pigeon called New Kim set a world record of 1.6 million euros at an auction that ended on Sunday (November 15), the online auction house said.

Belgian racing pigeon flies past record in auction

Some 300 healthcare workers demonstrated in the Belgian city of Liege on Thursday (October 29) to protest staff shortages as Belgium faces a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

Belgian health workers protest as country struggles with second COVID wave

Belgian clinical studies to study the effectiveness of blood plasma for people recovering from COVID-19 are at risk of being suspended because of low plasma stocks, doctors said, prompting a call for more blood donors to come forward.

Belgium needs plasma to continue COVID-19 studies, Red Cross says

Belgium's former King Albert has met his daughter Delphine for the first time, after she won a seven-year legal battle to prove that he is her father, earning recognition as a princess.

The two met Albert's wife, Queen Paola, last Sunday at their royal residence, the Belvedere castle, in the Brussels suburb of Laeken, the royal household said on Tuesday.

"This Sunday October 25, a new chapter has opened, filled with emotions, calm, understanding and also hope," the king, the queen and Delphine said in a statement.

"Our meeting took place at the Belvedere Castle, a meeting during which each of us was able to express, calmly and with empathy, our feelings and our experiences."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/belgiums-former-king-albert-ii-admits-artist-delphine-boel-to-be-his-biological-daughter-dna-tests-confirm-rumours-277051" hreflang="en">Belgium's former King Albert II admits artist Delphine Boel to be his biological daughter; DNA Tests confirm rumours</a>

"After the turmoil, the wounds and the suffering, comes the time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. This is the path, patient and at times difficult, that we have decided to take resolutely together."

Delphine Boel, 52, a Belgian artist, fought a seven-year legal battle to prove that the former king is her father. After a DNA test confirmed that, a court granted her the title of princess earlier this month. Albert, 86, who abdicated six years ago in favour of his son Philippe, had long contested Boel's claim.

She has since changed her surname from Boel to Saxe-Cobourg, her father's family name.

Delphine had previously met Philippe for the first time on October&nbsp;15.

Until then, she said her father and siblings, including Philippe, had refused to communicate with her and she was not expecting anything from them.

"These first steps pave the way which is now up to us to follow peacefully," the statement said.

Belgium's former King Albert has met his daughter Delphine for the first time, after she won a seven-year legal battle to prove that he is her father, earning recognition as a princess.

Belgium's former King Albert has met his daughter Delphine for the first time, after she won a seven-year legal battle to prove that he is her father, earning recognition as a princess. The two met Albert's wife, Queen Paola, last Sunday at their royal residence, the Belvedere castle, in the Brussels suburb of Laeken, the royal household said on Tuesday. "This Sunday October 25, a new chapter has opened, filled with emotions, calm, understanding and also hope," the king, the queen and Delphine said in a statement. "Our meeting took place at the Belvedere Castle, a meeting during which each of us was able to express, calmly and with empathy, our feelings and our experiences." Also read: Belgium's former King Albert II admits artist Delphine Boel to be his biological daughter; DNA Tests confirm rumours "After the turmoil, the wounds and the suffering, comes the time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. This is the path, patient and at times difficult, that we have decided to take resolutely together." Delphine Boel, 52, a Belgian artist, fought a seven-year legal battle to prove that the former king is her father. After a DNA test confirmed that, a court granted her the title of princess earlier this month. Albert, 86, who abdicated six years ago in favour of his son Philippe, had long contested Boel's claim. She has since changed her surname from Boel to Saxe-Cobourg, her father's family name. Delphine had previously met Philippe for the first time on October 15. Until then, she said her father and siblings, including Philippe, had refused to communicate with her and she was not expecting anything from them. "These first steps pave the way which is now up to us to follow peacefully," the statement said.

Belgium's former king meets estranged daughter for the first time

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week has now been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Wilmes' had been self-isolating for the past one week after she tested positive, but her condition kept worsening, and therefore she was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night.

Her office has, however, claimed that her condition is 'stable'.&nbsp;

"She is conscious and she can communicate," her spokeswoman said, confirming that the reports of her receiving intensive care are true.

The Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, who succeeded Wilmes on October 1, wished her a "speedy recovery" on his Twitter account.

"No one is immune from this dangerous virus. Together as one, we will beat Covid-19!" he said.&nbsp;(translated text)

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Veel beterschap, <a href="https://twitter.com/Sophie_Wilmes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sophie_Wilmes</a>. Je te souhaite un prompt rétablissement! 
Niemand is immuun voor dit gevaarlijke virus. 
Tous ensemble, nous vaincrons le COVID-19.
— Alexander De Croo (@alexanderdecroo) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexanderdecroo/status/1319200201396113409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Belgium, a country that has managed to keep the citizens safe, is now experiencing a worse second wave of coronavirus with infections doubling up to nearly&nbsp;253,386 in the last one month, out of which&nbsp;&nbsp;3,274 patients are currently admitted in the hospital.

The government is now aiming for tighter restrictions to contain the widespread of this&nbsp;deadly virus.

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week has now been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Wilmes' had been self-isolating for the past one week after she tested positive, but her condition kept worsening, and therefore she was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night.

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus last week has now been shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Wilmes' had been self-isolating for the past one week after she tested positive, but her condition kept worsening, and therefore she was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night. Her office has, however, claimed that her condition is 'stable'. "She is conscious and she can communicate," her spokeswoman said, confirming that the reports of her receiving intensive care are true. The Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, who succeeded Wilmes on October 1, wished her a "speedy recovery" on his Twitter account. "No one is immune from this dangerous virus. Together as one, we will beat Covid-19!" he said. (translated text) Veel beterschap, @Sophie_Wilmes. Je te souhaite un prompt rétablissement! Niemand is immuun voor dit gevaarlijke virus. Tous ensemble, nous vaincrons le COVID-19. — Alexander De Croo (@alexanderdecroo) October 22, 2020 × Belgium, a country that has managed to keep the citizens safe, is now experiencing a worse second wave of coronavirus with infections doubling up to nearly 253,386 in the last one month, out of which 3,274 patients are currently admitted in the hospital. The government is now aiming for tighter restrictions to contain the widespread of this deadly virus.

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes' health worsens due to COVID-19

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has withdrawn from Belgium's clash against Iceland in the Nations League that scheduled to play on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/major-soccer-league-higuain-brothers-to-play-for-inter-miami-fc-334472" hreflang="en">Major Soccer League: Higuain brothers to play for Inter Miami FC</a>

He has asked out citing an unspecified injury and returned to his club Manchester City, the Belgian national team said.

The 29-year-old was substituted in the second half during Belgium’s 2-1 Nations League defeat by England at Wembley on Sunday.

“Kevin de Bruyne has returned to his club. He couldn’t be fit enough to play against Iceland,” the Belgian national team said on Twitter.

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UPDATE: <a href="https://twitter.com/DeBruyneKev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeBruyneKev</a> returned to his club. He couldn’t be fit enough to play against Iceland.
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) <a href="https://twitter.com/BelRedDevils/status/1315735291345473540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Manchester City are currently 14th on the Premier League table with one win, loss and draw. They are set to face Arsenal on Saturday.&nbsp;

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has withdrawn from Belgium's clash against Iceland in the Nations League that scheduled to play on Wednesday. Also read: Major Soccer League: Higuain brothers to play for Inter Miami FC He has asked out citing an unspecified injury and returned to his club Manchester City, the Belgian national team said.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has withdrawn from Belgium's clash against Iceland in the Nations League that scheduled to play on Wednesday. Also read: Major Soccer League: Higuain brothers to play for Inter Miami FC He has asked out citing an unspecified injury and returned to his club Manchester City, the Belgian national team said. The 29-year-old was substituted in the second half during Belgium’s 2-1 Nations League defeat by England at Wembley on Sunday. “Kevin de Bruyne has returned to his club. He couldn’t be fit enough to play against Iceland,” the Belgian national team said on Twitter. UPDATE: @DeBruyneKev returned to his club. He couldn’t be fit enough to play against Iceland. — Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 12, 2020 × Manchester City are currently 14th on the Premier League table with one win, loss and draw. They are set to face Arsenal on Saturday.

Kevin de Bruyne withdraws from Belgium squad citing unspecified injury

The love child of former Belgian King Albert II, Delphine Boel has won a court battle to grant her the same rights and titles as her father's children by his marriage.

Belgian king’s love child wins court fight to call herself a princess

The once-secret daughter of former Belgian King Albert II will now be officially known as Princess of Belgium.

She has has won a legal battle over her rights to a royal title.

The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled the king's biological daughter Delphine Boel is entitled to the the same rights and royal titles as her father's other three children.

Belgium’s appeals court granted&nbsp;Boel the title “Princess of Belgium” after the former monarch’s DNA test proved that he was her father, Boel’s lawyers said in a statement, adding Boel was “fully satisfied” with the ruling.

Boel launched a lawsuit in 2013 to have the former king recognised as her father. She claimed the king had an affair with her mother, Sibylle de Selys Longchamps, resulting in her birth in 1968.

The king had contested the claims for seven years. In January this year, he acknowledged he was indeed Boel's biological father.

Albert II married Paola Ruffo di Calabria, later Queen Paola of Belgium, in 1959 and became king in 1993.

Albert II abdicated the throne in favour of his son Philippe in 2013 when he was 79, citing concerns over his age and health.

As well as being recognised as a princess, Boel will change her surname to her father’s, Saxe-Cobourg. Her two children Josephine and Oscar will also receive royal titles and the right to be referred to as his or her royal highness.

The once-secret daughter of former Belgian King Albert II will now be officially known as Princess of Belgium. She has has won a legal battle over her rights to a royal title.

The once-secret daughter of former Belgian King Albert II will now be officially known as Princess of Belgium. She has has won a legal battle over her rights to a royal title. The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled the king's biological daughter Delphine Boel is entitled to the the same rights and royal titles as her father's other three children. Belgium’s appeals court granted Boel the title “Princess of Belgium” after the former monarch’s DNA test proved that he was her father, Boel’s lawyers said in a statement, adding Boel was “fully satisfied” with the ruling. Boel launched a lawsuit in 2013 to have the former king recognised as her father. She claimed the king had an affair with her mother, Sibylle de Selys Longchamps, resulting in her birth in 1968. The king had contested the claims for seven years. In January this year, he acknowledged he was indeed Boel's biological father. Albert II married Paola Ruffo di Calabria, later Queen Paola of Belgium, in 1959 and became king in 1993. Albert II abdicated the throne in favour of his son Philippe in 2013 when he was 79, citing concerns over his age and health. As well as being recognised as a princess, Boel will change her surname to her father’s, Saxe-Cobourg. Her two children Josephine and Oscar will also receive royal titles and the right to be referred to as his or her royal highness.

Former Belgian king's secret daughter wins the right to call herself a princess

Belgium's capital has banned prostitution in certain districts in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. For sex- workers, however, the prohibition is a threat to their livelihoods.

"It's stupid," sex worker says after Brussels implements prostitution ban

Belgium formed a new government on Wednesday, 16 months on from an inconclusive election, with caretaker finance minister Alexander De Croo named as the new prime minister.

After weeks of talks, seven parties spanning the French-Dutch language divide agreed to form a coalition to replace the caretaker administration of Sophie Wilmes, which was appointed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Belgium has not had a fully fledged government since December 2018, when a four-party coalition collapsed. The two largest parties, the French-speaking Socialists and Flemish separatist N-VA, have struggled to overcome their differences, leaving the unwieldy, seven-party "Vivaldi" coalition across four political groups as the only viable option.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/belgium-seeks-new-name-for-road-tunnel-as-it-takes-on-colonial-past-326059" hreflang="en">Belgium seeks new name for road tunnel as it takes on colonial past</a>

De Croo's government will officially start work on Thursday when he and fellow ministers are sworn in by King Philippe.

"We have done what appeared impossible for long, too long, in our country... namely the formation of a federal government," De Croo said in a short statement to reporters at the venue for the talks.

De Croo, 44, comes from a family deeply involved in politics and has written a book on how feminism also liberates men.

Under Wilmes' caretaker administration he took charge of finance, overseeing stimulus to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and a deal to save Brussels Airlines. Belgium has one of the world's highest COVID-19 fatalities per capita and the death toll passed 10,000 on Wednesday.

De Croo inadvertently referred to his work under "Sophie Michel", mixing up the names of Wilmes and her predecessor Charles Michel.

"The first gaffe had to come. I've done it rather quickly," he said.

French-speaking Socialist Paul Magnette, standing beside De Croo, joked that his rival had won a coin toss to become prime minister but was "an excellent choice".

In their agreement, the parties agreed to close Belgium's nuclear power plants by 2025, set a 1,500 euro ($1,755) minimum monthly pension and reduce sales tax for green investments.

De Croo will present the plan to Belgian lawmakers on Thursday, the first day of a summit of EU leaders that he would be expected to attend.

Belgium formed a new government on Wednesday, 16 months on from an inconclusive election, with caretaker finance minister Alexander De Croo named as the new prime minister.

Belgium formed a new government on Wednesday, 16 months on from an inconclusive election, with caretaker finance minister Alexander De Croo named as the new prime minister. After weeks of talks, seven parties spanning the French-Dutch language divide agreed to form a coalition to replace the caretaker administration of Sophie Wilmes, which was appointed at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March. Belgium has not had a fully fledged government since December 2018, when a four-party coalition collapsed. The two largest parties, the French-speaking Socialists and Flemish separatist N-VA, have struggled to overcome their differences, leaving the unwieldy, seven-party "Vivaldi" coalition across four political groups as the only viable option. Also read: Belgium seeks new name for road tunnel as it takes on colonial past De Croo's government will officially start work on Thursday when he and fellow ministers are sworn in by King Philippe. "We have done what appeared impossible for long, too long, in our country... namely the formation of a federal government," De Croo said in a short statement to reporters at the venue for the talks. De Croo, 44, comes from a family deeply involved in politics and has written a book on how feminism also liberates men. Under Wilmes' caretaker administration he took charge of finance, overseeing stimulus to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and a deal to save Brussels Airlines. Belgium has one of the world's highest COVID-19 fatalities per capita and the death toll passed 10,000 on Wednesday. De Croo inadvertently referred to his work under "Sophie Michel", mixing up the names of Wilmes and her predecessor Charles Michel. "The first gaffe had to come. I've done it rather quickly," he said. French-speaking Socialist Paul Magnette, standing beside De Croo, joked that his rival had won a coin toss to become prime minister but was "an excellent choice". In their agreement, the parties agreed to close Belgium's nuclear power plants by 2025, set a 1,500 euro ($1,755) minimum monthly pension and reduce sales tax for green investments. De Croo will present the plan to Belgian lawmakers on Thursday, the first day of a summit of EU leaders that he would be expected to attend.

Belgium forms new government after 16-month deadlock

Belgians looking for a different culinary experience are once again able to eat 50 metres (164 feet) above the ground as the dining-in-the-sky experience returns from COVID-19 lockdown with a new, socially distanced feel.

Fifty metres up and two apart - Belgium's dinner in the sky relaunches

A Belgian judge has agreed that a tooth taken from the remains of assassinated Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba be returned to his family, prosecutors said Thursday.

The tooth had been seized from a Belgian policeman who by his own account took it while helping to dispose of Lumumba's body after the charismatic leader was murdered in 1961.

Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, told AFP the tooth would be returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony that gained independence 60 years ago.

He described the return as a symbolic gesture, since there was no "absolute certainty" that the tooth was Lumumba's.

"No DNA test has been carried out, it would have destroyed it," he said.

The tooth had been held as evidence in a separate case.

"The prosecutor was in favour of sending it back, but we needed the go-ahead from the investigating magistrate, and that came this week," Van Duyse said.

A pan-Africanist who played a key part in steering Belgian Congo towards independence, Lumumba was appointed the newly decolonised country's first premier at the age of just 34.

In the presence of the then-king Baudouin, he used the moment of independence to lash Belgium for racist persecution and forcing "humiliating slavery" on the Congolese people.

On June 30 this year -- the 60th anniversary of independence -- his daughter Juliana Amato Lumumba called on Belgium to return her father's "relics".

Belgium's current monarch, Philippe, also chose the anniversary to make a landmark gesture, expressing his "deepest regrets" for the "suffering and humiliation" of his country's reign.

Historians say millions were killed, mutilated or died of disease as they worked on rubber plantations belonging to the rapacious 19th-century king Leopold II.

- Drunken dismemberment -

Lumumba's stay in power was short.

Within months, the fledgling state was plunged into crisis by an army mutiny and the secession of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, a crisis stoked by Belgian involvement.

Lumumba was overthrown, then jailed, tortured and finally killed by firing squad in January 1961. Forty years later, Belgium acknowledged it bore "moral responsibility" for his death.

In 2000, Belgian Police Commissioner Gerard Soete told AFP that he had chopped up Lumumba's body and those of his companions, Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo, and then dissolved the remains in acid.

"We started by getting drunk, to have the courage. We dismembered the corpse, the hardest bit was cutting it up," the now dead Soete said. The corpse was doused in acid and only some teeth remained.

In a documentary screened the same year on the German TV channel ARD, Soete showed two teeth that he said had belonged to Lumumba.

In 2016, a Belgian academic, Ludo De Witte, filed a legal complaint against Soete's daughter after she showed a gold tooth, which she said had belonged to Lumumba, during a newspaper interview.

In Juliana Lumumba's letter this year, which she said was written on behalf of her "wider family", she said that her father was a "hero without a grave".

She condemned "vile statements made in Belgium about holding some of his remains" and blasted the authorities' ambiguous response.

"The remains of Patrice Emery Lumumba are being used on the one hand as trophies by some of your fellow citizens, and on the other as funereal possessions sequestered by your kingdom's judiciary," she said.

A Belgian judge has agreed that a tooth taken from the remains of assassinated Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba be returned to his family, prosecutors said Thursday.

A Belgian judge has agreed that a tooth taken from the remains of assassinated Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba be returned to his family, prosecutors said Thursday. The tooth had been seized from a Belgian policeman who by his own account took it while helping to dispose of Lumumba's body after the charismatic leader was murdered in 1961. Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, told AFP the tooth would be returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a former Belgian colony that gained independence 60 years ago. He described the return as a symbolic gesture, since there was no "absolute certainty" that the tooth was Lumumba's. "No DNA test has been carried out, it would have destroyed it," he said. The tooth had been held as evidence in a separate case. "The prosecutor was in favour of sending it back, but we needed the go-ahead from the investigating magistrate, and that came this week," Van Duyse said. A pan-Africanist who played a key part in steering Belgian Congo towards independence, Lumumba was appointed the newly decolonised country's first premier at the age of just 34. In the presence of the then-king Baudouin, he used the moment of independence to lash Belgium for racist persecution and forcing "humiliating slavery" on the Congolese people. On June 30 this year -- the 60th anniversary of independence -- his daughter Juliana Amato Lumumba called on Belgium to return her father's "relics". Belgium's current monarch, Philippe, also chose the anniversary to make a landmark gesture, expressing his "deepest regrets" for the "suffering and humiliation" of his country's reign. Historians say millions were killed, mutilated or died of disease as they worked on rubber plantations belonging to the rapacious 19th-century king Leopold II. - Drunken dismemberment - Lumumba's stay in power was short. Within months, the fledgling state was plunged into crisis by an army mutiny and the secession of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, a crisis stoked by Belgian involvement. Lumumba was overthrown, then jailed, tortured and finally killed by firing squad in January 1961. Forty years later, Belgium acknowledged it bore "moral responsibility" for his death. In 2000, Belgian Police Commissioner Gerard Soete told AFP that he had chopped up Lumumba's body and those of his companions, Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo, and then dissolved the remains in acid. "We started by getting drunk, to have the courage. We dismembered the corpse, the hardest bit was cutting it up," the now dead Soete said. The corpse was doused in acid and only some teeth remained. In a documentary screened the same year on the German TV channel ARD, Soete showed two teeth that he said had belonged to Lumumba. In 2016, a Belgian academic, Ludo De Witte, filed a legal complaint against Soete's daughter after she showed a gold tooth, which she said had belonged to Lumumba, during a newspaper interview. In Juliana Lumumba's letter this year, which she said was written on behalf of her "wider family", she said that her father was a "hero without a grave". She condemned "vile statements made in Belgium about holding some of his remains" and blasted the authorities' ambiguous response. "The remains of Patrice Emery Lumumba are being used on the one hand as trophies by some of your fellow citizens, and on the other as funereal possessions sequestered by your kingdom's judiciary," she said.

Belgium to return slain Congo leader's tooth to family

Brussels has asked its residents to pick a new name for the King Leopold II road tunnel in a step aimed at coming to terms with Belgium's colonial past and addressing gender inequality.

A statue of Leopold II - whose colonial rule at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries cost millions of lives in central Africa - was removed by activists in Brussels in June amid Black Lives Matter protests.

Now Brussels wants to rename part of its traffic ring road after renovations next year.

"We know that Leopold II is a very controversial figure in our history. We need to start a course of decolonisation of the public space," the region's minister in charge of mobility and public works, Elke van den Brandt, said.

She said an expert panel, including specialists in colonial history and women's rights, would select a shortlist of names for the tunnel. Just 6% of streets in Brussels are named after women, official data shows.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/belgian-king-expresses-deepest-regrets-over-dr-congo-colonial-past-309592" hreflang="en">Belgian king expresses 'deepest regrets' over DR Congo colonial past</a>

Brusselites will choose the new name from the shortlist. Results will be announced later this year.

Many Belgians remain ignorant of their country's harsh colonial rule that used slave labour to harvest goods including rubber. The proceeds laid the foundation for the modern-era prosperity of Belgium, a country of 11.5 million people and home to European Union institutions.

"This is a very good idea because we start being made aware in school of the crimes that (Leopold II) committed. Changing to a woman's name, I find that good for equality," said 17-year-old high school student Romain Noppe.

Rwandan nurse Theogene Fatakanwa, 49, who lives in Brussels and regularly uses the tunnel, agreed. "If it is a matter of changing (the name) because of the history of Congo, then we are on a good path," she said.

But 71-year-old Brusselite Alain Moons said: "Even if (Leopold II) has done things that are not right, that is no reason to erase history."

Brussels has asked its residents to pick a new name for the King Leopold II road tunnel in a step aimed at coming to terms with Belgium's colonial past and addressing gender inequality.

Brussels has asked its residents to pick a new name for the King Leopold II road tunnel in a step aimed at coming to terms with Belgium's colonial past and addressing gender inequality. A statue of Leopold II - whose colonial rule at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries cost millions of lives in central Africa - was removed by activists in Brussels in June amid Black Lives Matter protests. Now Brussels wants to rename part of its traffic ring road after renovations next year. "We know that Leopold II is a very controversial figure in our history. We need to start a course of decolonisation of the public space," the region's minister in charge of mobility and public works, Elke van den Brandt, said. She said an expert panel, including specialists in colonial history and women's rights, would select a shortlist of names for the tunnel. Just 6% of streets in Brussels are named after women, official data shows. Also read: Belgian king expresses 'deepest regrets' over DR Congo colonial past Brusselites will choose the new name from the shortlist. Results will be announced later this year. Many Belgians remain ignorant of their country's harsh colonial rule that used slave labour to harvest goods including rubber. The proceeds laid the foundation for the modern-era prosperity of Belgium, a country of 11.5 million people and home to European Union institutions. "This is a very good idea because we start being made aware in school of the crimes that (Leopold II) committed. Changing to a woman's name, I find that good for equality," said 17-year-old high school student Romain Noppe. Rwandan nurse Theogene Fatakanwa, 49, who lives in Brussels and regularly uses the tunnel, agreed. "If it is a matter of changing (the name) because of the history of Congo, then we are on a good path," she said. But 71-year-old Brusselite Alain Moons said: "Even if (Leopold II) has done things that are not right, that is no reason to erase history."

Belgium seeks new name for road tunnel as it takes on colonial past

Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak and a city of 11 million was under a lockdown and its schools were closed.

However, eight months later, students are back to schools. Around 3000 schools and colleges in Wuhan have kickstarted their autumn semester.

It is not an exception as a&nbsp;school in Jerusalem is also opening its gates to mark a new school year. The rising cases in Israel are a matter of concern but teachers are confident that the reopening of schools will not add to the crisis.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-person-learning-creates-dilemma-for-new-yorks-poorest-families-325222">Also read:&nbsp;In-person learning creates dilemma for New York's poorest families</a>

"We keep our distance, and they (students at class) come in capsules. Like a few kids will come at 8:00, then 08:30 etc and we're really trying to make (keep) a distance and keep the kids healthy,"&nbsp;Shay Adika, a kindergarten teacher at Keshet said. In Israel, at least 2.4 million students have returned to school.

Thousands of miles away, Belgium too reopened schools.Souad Ouhabi, mother of Souleyman who is attending first day at school said, "My kid is excited (to be able go to school), he is very happy there is no problem 
There, it is more me who has more apprehension."

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Students in Cuba too are back to school and most of them are very happy to be back in schools after months of social distance from his friends.

In the United Kingdom, a school in Bromley welcomed its students with balloons and hand sanitiser. The welcome day address had instructions on health, hygiene and handwashing. At a similar ceremony in Russia, parents told schools about the importance of keeping a positive attitude.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/teachers-undergo-covid-19-tests-days-before-spaniards-return-to-school-325131">Also read:&nbsp;Teachers undergo COVID-19 tests days before Spaniards return to school</a>

Schools have reopened in Berlin too and face masks are non-negotiable, but identifying students behind these masks is quite a task.

So, a school in France has come up with a solution of namecards and a school in Spain is preparing to welcome back its students with social distancing, hygiene and ventilation as the mantra.

Faculty member Maria Galdeana raised a valid point when she said social distancing comes in between students interaction and&nbsp;ends up hampering the learning process.

However, the question is that is a socially distant classroom still better than an online one?

"We consider it's more important to have all our students at school, even with the 1.5 metre distance, than to work remotely,"&nbsp;larramundi school faculty member Maria Galdeana said.

Most teachers will agree with her. The coronavirus pandemic kept more than 250 million children away from school. Most of them did not have access to online learning.

When the United States tried reopening schools, nearly 97,000 students tested positive in the first two weeks.

Earlier this week, France too sent 12 million students back to school, but soaring cases forced 22 schools to shut down again. Many students are returning to their classroom around the world.

In India, experts have written to the government suggesting reopening of schools in a graded manner. As the cases continue to rise, parents across the world watch these images with both hope and fear.

Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak and a city of 11 million was under a lockdown and its schools were closed. However, eight months later, students are back to schools.

Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak and a city of 11 million was under a lockdown and its schools were closed. However, eight months later, students are back to schools. Around 3000 schools and colleges in Wuhan have kickstarted their autumn semester. It is not an exception as a school in Jerusalem is also opening its gates to mark a new school year. The rising cases in Israel are a matter of concern but teachers are confident that the reopening of schools will not add to the crisis. Also read: In-person learning creates dilemma for New York's poorest families "We keep our distance, and they (students at class) come in capsules. Like a few kids will come at 8:00, then 08:30 etc and we're really trying to make (keep) a distance and keep the kids healthy," Shay Adika, a kindergarten teacher at Keshet said. In Israel, at least 2.4 million students have returned to school. Thousands of miles away, Belgium too reopened schools.Souad Ouhabi, mother of Souleyman who is attending first day at school said, "My kid is excited (to be able go to school), he is very happy there is no problem There, it is more me who has more apprehension." × Students in Cuba too are back to school and most of them are very happy to be back in schools after months of social distance from his friends. In the United Kingdom, a school in Bromley welcomed its students with balloons and hand sanitiser. The welcome day address had instructions on health, hygiene and handwashing. At a similar ceremony in Russia, parents told schools about the importance of keeping a positive attitude. Also read: Teachers undergo COVID-19 tests days before Spaniards return to school Schools have reopened in Berlin too and face masks are non-negotiable, but identifying students behind these masks is quite a task. So, a school in France has come up with a solution of namecards and a school in Spain is preparing to welcome back its students with social distancing, hygiene and ventilation as the mantra. Faculty member Maria Galdeana raised a valid point when she said social distancing comes in between students interaction and ends up hampering the learning process. However, the question is that is a socially distant classroom still better than an online one? "We consider it's more important to have all our students at school, even with the 1.5 metre distance, than to work remotely," larramundi school faculty member Maria Galdeana said. Most teachers will agree with her. The coronavirus pandemic kept more than 250 million children away from school. Most of them did not have access to online learning. When the United States tried reopening schools, nearly 97,000 students tested positive in the first two weeks. Earlier this week, France too sent 12 million students back to school, but soaring cases forced 22 schools to shut down again. Many students are returning to their classroom around the world. In India, experts have written to the government suggesting reopening of schools in a graded manner. As the cases continue to rise, parents across the world watch these images with both hope and fear.

Is reopening of schools during pandemic the right move?

Lewis Hamilton stretched his lead in the drivers' world championship and closed to within two wins of Michael Schumacher's Formula One record of 91 on Sunday with a majestic, if ultimately tense, Belgian Grand Prix victory.

The series leader and six-time champion registered his 89th career win with another flawless drive to take his fourth Belgian triumph, finishing 8.448 seconds clear of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

It was Hamilton's fifth win in seven races this year and extended his record run of points-scoring races to 40.

Max Verstappen came third for Red Bull, seven seconds further adrift, to claim his sixth podium finish in succession.

Hamilton, who had to nurse his car home on worn tyres, has 157 points in the title race, 47 clear of Verstappen. The 'black arrows' lead the constructors' championship with 264 points, well ahead of Red Bull on 158.

"It wasn't the easiest of races," said Hamilton. "It was a bit of a struggle, but nonetheless I think it was ok in the end."

At the British Grand Prix at the start of August, Hamilton had clung on to win after one of his tyres disintegrated.

"I was concerned that we'd have a scenario like Silverstone, but the tyre seemed to have quite a bit of rubber left on it at the finish."

Bottas admitted he could not match his team-mate's pace.

"The start was a good opportunity, but Lewis played it really well and I just couldn't catch him. In the same car, with Lewis driving a flawless race, it was really difficult."

Verstappen said he had a dull afternoon.&nbsp;

"It was pretty boring, not very interesting and not much to do," he said. "I ran out of tyre at the end so I was just stretching it out and saving the tyres."

Daniel Ricciardo produced the fastest lap on his final lap as he claimed fourth ahead of his Renault team-mate Esteban Ocon, and Alex Albon, in the second Red Bull.&nbsp;

Lando Norris was seventh in the sole McLaren.

Pierre Gasly finished eighth for Alpha Tauri ahead of the &nbsp;Racing Points of Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez. On a troubled weekend, last year's winner Charles Leclerc was 14th, one place behind outgoing Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

 
On a cool dry day in the Ardennes, the race was preceded by drama and ceremony with Carlos Sainz's McLaren suffering an exhaust failure that ruled him out and then a minute's silence, in memory of French F2 racer Anthoine Hubert, and the now-familiar drivers' anti-racism demonstration before the national anthem.

Hamilton made a smooth start from his record 93rd pole position ahead of Bottas while Verstappen fought to defend third position against Ricciardo.

Bottas chased Hamilton in vain, the champion controlling his advantage with imperious speed in the early laps as they pulled clear of the rest.

"We have one push now?" asked Bottas.&nbsp;

"Yes, but we agreed not to use it against each other," replied Mercedes.

"I've never heard of that," replied the clearly miffed Finn, who had said on Saturday that he would attack his team-mate to keep alive his own title bid.

The safety car came out on lap 11 after &nbsp;a collision involving Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi and George Russell of Williams. The Italian spun into the barriers in front of the Briton whose car was hit by an errant rear wheel as he took evasive action.

The damaged cars left debris strewn across the circuit, but the drivers walked away unhurt.&nbsp;

"I'm ok," said Russell on team radio. "Nowhere I could go, guys."

The leaders pitted immediately, Bottas only just returning ahead of Verstappen after a slow stop. Ferrari appeared unready when Leclerc pitted, another issue in a bleak weekend that saw their drivers bump wheels in a scrap for 12th.

After the re-start, Bottas closed to nine-tenths briefly, on lap 17, but Hamilton raised his pace and was gone.

Lewis Hamilton stretched his lead in the drivers' world championship and closed to within two wins of Michael Schumacher's Formula One record of 91 on Sunday with a majestic, if ultimately tense, Belgian Grand Prix victory.

Lewis Hamilton stretched his lead in the drivers' world championship and closed to within two wins of Michael Schumacher's Formula One record of 91 on Sunday with a majestic, if ultimately tense, Belgian Grand Prix victory. The series leader and six-time champion registered his 89th career win with another flawless drive to take his fourth Belgian triumph, finishing 8.448 seconds clear of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. It was Hamilton's fifth win in seven races this year and extended his record run of points-scoring races to 40. Max Verstappen came third for Red Bull, seven seconds further adrift, to claim his sixth podium finish in succession. Hamilton, who had to nurse his car home on worn tyres, has 157 points in the title race, 47 clear of Verstappen. The 'black arrows' lead the constructors' championship with 264 points, well ahead of Red Bull on 158. "It wasn't the easiest of races," said Hamilton. "It was a bit of a struggle, but nonetheless I think it was ok in the end." At the British Grand Prix at the start of August, Hamilton had clung on to win after one of his tyres disintegrated. "I was concerned that we'd have a scenario like Silverstone, but the tyre seemed to have quite a bit of rubber left on it at the finish." Bottas admitted he could not match his team-mate's pace. "The start was a good opportunity, but Lewis played it really well and I just couldn't catch him. In the same car, with Lewis driving a flawless race, it was really difficult." Verstappen said he had a dull afternoon. "It was pretty boring, not very interesting and not much to do," he said. "I ran out of tyre at the end so I was just stretching it out and saving the tyres." Daniel Ricciardo produced the fastest lap on his final lap as he claimed fourth ahead of his Renault team-mate Esteban Ocon, and Alex Albon, in the second Red Bull. Lando Norris was seventh in the sole McLaren. Pierre Gasly finished eighth for Alpha Tauri ahead of the Racing Points of Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez. On a troubled weekend, last year's winner Charles Leclerc was 14th, one place behind outgoing Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel. On a cool dry day in the Ardennes, the race was preceded by drama and ceremony with Carlos Sainz's McLaren suffering an exhaust failure that ruled him out and then a minute's silence, in memory of French F2 racer Anthoine Hubert, and the now-familiar drivers' anti-racism demonstration before the national anthem. Hamilton made a smooth start from his record 93rd pole position ahead of Bottas while Verstappen fought to defend third position against Ricciardo. Bottas chased Hamilton in vain, the champion controlling his advantage with imperious speed in the early laps as they pulled clear of the rest. "We have one push now?" asked Bottas. "Yes, but we agreed not to use it against each other," replied Mercedes. "I've never heard of that," replied the clearly miffed Finn, who had said on Saturday that he would attack his team-mate to keep alive his own title bid. The safety car came out on lap 11 after a collision involving Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi and George Russell of Williams. The Italian spun into the barriers in front of the Briton whose car was hit by an errant rear wheel as he took evasive action. The damaged cars left debris strewn across the circuit, but the drivers walked away unhurt. "I'm ok," said Russell on team radio. "Nowhere I could go, guys." The leaders pitted immediately, Bottas only just returning ahead of Verstappen after a slow stop. Ferrari appeared unready when Leclerc pitted, another issue in a bleak weekend that saw their drivers bump wheels in a scrap for 12th. After the re-start, Bottas closed to nine-tenths briefly, on lap 17, but Hamilton raised his pace and was gone.

Majestic Hamilton wins in Belgium to close in on Schumacher record

Belgians who decided to take a seaside holiday at home this summer have more than the changeable weather to contend with, as authorities require face masks along the country's entire North Sea coast to defend against the new coronavirus.

Belgian tourists adapt to 'science fiction' holidays with masks at seaside

Rather than take a summer holiday abroad during the coronavirus pandemic, some Belgians are trying a novel camping experience at home, spending a night in a tear drop-shaped tent hanging from a tree.

Belgians holiday in trees as COVID-19 prompts staycations

At 70 euros ($79) a night, the tents sleep two people and include access to a bathroom and barbecue.

Residents of a Belgian retirement home are able to soothe the pain of social distancing measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic by embracing their loved ones through a 'hug curtain'.

Belgian retirement home offers 'hug curtain' for safe embrace

Residents of a Belgian retirement home are able to soothe the pain of social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic by embracing their loved ones through a ‘hug curtain’.

A large plastic curtain on June 14 at the Jardins de Picardie nursing home has proven very popular with the residents, who had not been allowed any visitors for 11 weeks.

The curtain, decorated with flowers and bright colours, is made of a big plastic sheet with two pockets on each side where residents and visitors or staff insert their arms.

After each use, nurses carefully disinfect the plastic curtain.

<img alt="The Hug Curtain" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f63ce005-c09b-4036-a892-7d2d56b91b14" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/hug%20curtain%202.jpg" />

Lili Hendrickx, an 86-year old resident of the home, told Reuters the curtain was “the most beautiful invention” she had ever seen.

“It’s terribly emotional for me,” she said, adding that she cried the first time she was able to hug her daughter again.

Visitors were equally enthusiastic.

“The fact that you can meet your loved ones again, it’s a real pleasure, especially physically and emotionally, it feels good,” said Amandine Josefiak, 35, who had come to visit her father at the home.

Residents of a Belgian retirement home are able to soothe the pain of social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic by embracing their loved ones through a ‘hug curtain’.

Residents of a Belgian retirement home are able to soothe the pain of social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic by embracing their loved ones through a ‘hug curtain’. A large plastic curtain on June 14 at the Jardins de Picardie nursing home has proven very popular with the residents, who had not been allowed any visitors for 11 weeks. The curtain, decorated with flowers and bright colours, is made of a big plastic sheet with two pockets on each side where residents and visitors or staff insert their arms. After each use, nurses carefully disinfect the plastic curtain. Lili Hendrickx, an 86-year old resident of the home, told Reuters the curtain was “the most beautiful invention” she had ever seen. “It’s terribly emotional for me,” she said, adding that she cried the first time she was able to hug her daughter again. Visitors were equally enthusiastic. “The fact that you can meet your loved ones again, it’s a real pleasure, especially physically and emotionally, it feels good,” said Amandine Josefiak, 35, who had come to visit her father at the home.

Retirement home in Belgium offers 'hug curtain' for safe embrace

Belgium is due a reckoning with its colonial past, and things left unsaid must now be discussed, argues the Congolese-born 72-year-old who became the country's first black mayor.

Pierre Kompany's family has made a name for itself in Belgium. He is a former refugee turned pioneering politician, and his son Vincent Kompany is a star footballer in the national squad, the world's top-ranked team.

But, in an interview with AFP before the June 30 anniversary of the then Belgian Congo's independence, and against a backdrop of anti-racism protests, Kompany senior said it was time for some home truths.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/activists-remove-statue-of-belgian-colonial-king-leopold-ii-in-brussels-305403">Activists remove statue of Belgian colonial King Leopold II in Brussels</a>

While in the United States activists declaring "Black Lives Matter" have targeted the symbols of the slave-holding Confederacy, in Belgium the protests have focused around statues of Leopold II, "King Builder" of the Belgian nation.

Reigning between 1865 and 1909, Leopold held Belgium's central African territory, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a personal fiefdom, profiting directly from rubber plantations run with sadistic and murderous brutality.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-dismantles-historical-artefacts-of-racism-monuments-become-sites-of-protest-304777">World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest</a>

Historians and writers have documented the crimes of the era, in which up to 10 million Congolese were killed or fell victim to disease and torture, but Leopold's statues still look down on parks and squares across modern Belgium.

For Kompany, the monuments should have been taken down and placed in museums years before they became the target of protests and night-raids by activists, as part of a broader reckoning with the past that could heal some modern wounds.

"No one would go into a museum to smash them," smiles Kompany, who was elected bourgmestre or mayor of the Brussels suburb of Ganshoren in 2018 and represents the centrist CDH party in the capital's regional parliament.

For Kompany, Belgium missed an important opportunity to face up to its past in 2009, the centenary of the former king's death, which the Belgium state allowed to pass without fanfare, embarrassed to revive debate over his legacy.

&nbsp;

"There is a flagrant reality, it's not in doubt," he says of the crimes carried out in Leopold II's name.

Belgium is due a reckoning with its colonial past, and things left unsaid must now be discussed, argues the Congolese-born 72-year-old who became the country's first black mayor.

Belgium is due a reckoning with its colonial past, and things left unsaid must now be discussed, argues the Congolese-born 72-year-old who became the country's first black mayor. Pierre Kompany's family has made a name for itself in Belgium. He is a former refugee turned pioneering politician, and his son Vincent Kompany is a star footballer in the national squad, the world's top-ranked team. But, in an interview with AFP before the June 30 anniversary of the then Belgian Congo's independence, and against a backdrop of anti-racism protests, Kompany senior said it was time for some home truths. Also read: Activists remove statue of Belgian colonial King Leopold II in Brussels While in the United States activists declaring "Black Lives Matter" have targeted the symbols of the slave-holding Confederacy, in Belgium the protests have focused around statues of Leopold II, "King Builder" of the Belgian nation. Reigning between 1865 and 1909, Leopold held Belgium's central African territory, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a personal fiefdom, profiting directly from rubber plantations run with sadistic and murderous brutality. Also see: World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest Historians and writers have documented the crimes of the era, in which up to 10 million Congolese were killed or fell victim to disease and torture, but Leopold's statues still look down on parks and squares across modern Belgium. For Kompany, the monuments should have been taken down and placed in museums years before they became the target of protests and night-raids by activists, as part of a broader reckoning with the past that could heal some modern wounds. "No one would go into a museum to smash them," smiles Kompany, who was elected bourgmestre or mayor of the Brussels suburb of Ganshoren in 2018 and represents the centrist CDH party in the capital's regional parliament. For Kompany, Belgium missed an important opportunity to face up to its past in 2009, the centenary of the former king's death, which the Belgium state allowed to pass without fanfare, embarrassed to revive debate over his legacy. "There is a flagrant reality, it's not in doubt," he says of the crimes carried out in Leopold II's name.

Belgium should apologise for colonial past, says first black mayor

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