Belgium

Father Damion, abbot at St. Joseph's Trappist Abbey, left, and Spencer Brewery director Father Isaac walk through their new, state-of-the-art facility.

Trappist monks keep beer tradition alive despite decline in interest for monastic life

Only five Trappist breweries remain in Belgium, known for producing the famous Westmalle brand. Beer consultant Sofie Vanrafelghem had the rare opportunity to visit one of the monasteries, and she joined The World's host Marco Werman from Antwerp to share her experience.

Trappist monks keep beer tradition alive despite decline in interest for monastic life
A member of auction house staff poses for a picture with a 19-carat pink diamond at Christie's auction house, in London, Oct. 18, 2017.

Belgium faces pressure to support sanctions on Russian diamonds

Belgium faces pressure to support sanctions on Russian diamonds
Ryanair strikers protest unfair working conditions, Barcelona, Spain.

As summer travel kicks off in Europe, airline strikes could thwart holiday plans

As summer travel kicks off in Europe, airline strikes could thwart holiday plans
Juliana Lumumba, the daughter of Patrice Lumumba, speaks during a ceremony to return the remains of her father to the family at the Egmont Palace in Brussels

Return of Patrice Lumumba's remains to DR Congo gives 'peace of mind,' UN envoy says

Return of Patrice Lumumba's remains to DR Congo gives 'peace of mind,' UN envoy says
King Philippe of Belgium, right, greets 100-year-old corporal Albert Kunyuku, the last surviving Congolese veteran of World War II during a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Wednesday June 8, 2022. 

Belgian King Philippe’s visit to DR Congo stirs hope for a 'win-win partnership,' historian says

Belgian King Philippe’s visit to DR Congo stirs hope for a 'win-win partnership,' historian says
Passengers wait at a ticket counter at Johannesburg's OR Tambo's airport, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. 

COVID-related travel bans spark outrage from targeted countries

“As omicron makes its way around the world, we have to see borders not as a stop point, but more as a surveillance point,” said Kelley Lee, a researcher of cross-border measures at Simon Fraser University in Canada.

COVID-related travel bans spark outrage from targeted countries
Protestors clash with riot police during a demonstration against the reinforced measures of the Belgium government to counter the latest spike of the coronavirus in Brussels, Belgium

Europe sees widespread protests against COVID-19 restrictions

Protests against COVID-19 restrictions, some of them turning violent, rocked Europe over the weekend. Also, Sudan's top military commander reinstates Abdulla Hamdok, but as interim prime minister, until new elections are held. And, two of 17 missionaries kidnapped in October have been released in Haiti.

Europe sees widespread protests against COVID-19 restrictions
Two women are shown hugging each other with the entrance and red-lettered sign of the Bataclan concert hall in the background.

Emotions raw before Paris trial for ISIS carnage

The survivors of the ISIS attack on Paris the night of Nov. 13, 2015, and those who mourn the 130 dead, are bracing for the long-awaited trial set to begin Wednesday.

Emotions raw before Paris trial for ISIS carnage
Several damaged houses are shown heavily damaged with entire walls missing.

Severe floods devastate parts of Germany and Belgium

Top of The World: Devastating floods across parts of western Germany and Belgium have left more than 120 people dead. And, Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has stepped down after failing to form a new government. Also, Cuba has agreed to temporarily lift some restrictions, following unprecedented protests.

Severe floods devastate parts of Germany and Belgium
A man wearing a reflective orange vest is shown kneeling next to another man laying down on his back.

Migrant hunger strike puts pressure on Belgian government

A hunger strike by hundreds of migrants living in Belgium without legal permission is putting increasing pressure on a government coalition weighing the wellbeing of those involved against the need to stick to immigration and asylum rules.

Migrant hunger strike puts pressure on Belgian government
People stand in front of a church door with protest signs on it.

‘We cannot continue to live like this': Migrants desperate to work occupy Brussels church

Up to 200 undocumented migrants, including teenagers, have occupied St. John the Baptist in Brussels since the end of January. They're calling on the government to grant them legal status.

‘We cannot continue to live like this': Migrants desperate to work occupy Brussels church
Roma musician Tcha Limberger, of Belgium, says “I Silenti,” which translates from Italian to “the silent ones,” is about giving a voice to the Roma people who died in the Holocaust. 

'I Silenti' gives a voice to those who died in the Romani genocide

The performance piece features musician Tcha Limberger, who is Roma, and pays homage to the hundreds of thousands who died in the Romani genocide during the Holocaust, whose stories often go untold.

'I Silenti' gives a voice to those who died in the Romani genocide
Dozens of rows of headstones are shown in rows at the Tyne Cot cemetery.

Virus makes for quiet WWI remembrances

When a dawn fog lifted over countless World War I battlefields, cemeteries and monuments in Belgium and France Wednesday, the pandemic ensured that the remembrance of the millions killed in the 1914-1918 conflict was one of the loneliest ever.

Virus makes for quiet WWI remembrances
A nurse takes a swab sample at a drive-through coronavirus test site at the University of Texas El Paso in El Paso, Texas, Oct. 27, 2020.

El Paso and Ciudad Juárez face COVID-19 surge; Tanzania imposes internet restrictions; Iran building new centrifuges

A record surge in COVID-19 cases is stretching hospital resources in the adjacent border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. As millions of Tanzanians vote in the country’s general election, internet users have reported that WhatsApp and Twitter are being restricted. And, satellite images show that Iran has begun construction on an underground centrifuge assembly plant at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

El Paso and Ciudad Juárez face COVID-19 surge; Tanzania imposes internet restrictions; Iran building new centrifuges
A crowd of people are shown walking across the London Bridge, many wearing face masks.

Europe on edge over new surges; North Korea's new missile; Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire in question

Health authorities in Europe are bracing for new surges of the coronavirus, this time with concerns over “pandemic fatigue” as a growing number of regions return to lockdown restrictions. And, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un unveiled several new weapons including a large intercontinental ballistic missile carried on an 11-axle vehicle; Also Armenia and Azerbaijan were again accusing each other of attacks over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region despite a ceasefire deal.

Europe on edge over new surges; North Korea's new missile; Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire in question