It's not yet 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning, but several hundred teachers working in one of Belgium's 7 European schools are already gathered at the foot of the emblematic Berlaymont building in the European quarter. For many, this is their first demonstration. Leaving their classrooms and taking to the streets is not a habit. But this time, there was no question of ignoring the injustices they felt they had been subjected to. At the root of their discontent: their status as "locally recruited teachers", far less favorable than that of their colleagues "seconded" from their home countries. They account for half the teaching staff in the European schools.
It's not yet 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning, but several hundred teachers working in one of Belgium's 7 European schools are already gathered at the foot of the emblematic Berlaymont building in the European quarter. For many, this is their first demonstration. Leaving their classrooms and taking to the streets is not a habit. But this time, there was no question of ignoring the injustices they felt they had been subjected to. At the root of their discontent: their status as "locally recruited teachers", far less favorable than that of their colleagues "seconded" from their home countries. They account for half the teaching staff in the European schools.
For several years now, Estonia has been among the top-ranked countries in international rankings analyzing school performance. In the OECD's 2022 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranking of 690,000 15-year-old students in 81 countries, Estonia is ranked 7th, behind such major Asian nations as Singapore, Macao, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Estonia is therefore Europe's top performer in this ranking, far ahead of Belgium, ranked 21st (in the distinction of Belgian pupils by Community, pupils from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation are in 29th and 31st position, depending on the subject). How do we explain the performance of Estonia, this tiny country of 1.3 million inhabitants?
For several years now, Estonia has been among the top-ranked countries in international rankings analyzing school performance. In the OECD's 2022 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) ranking of 690,000 15-year-old students in 81 countries, Estonia is ranked 7th, behind such major Asian nations as Singapore, Macao, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Estonia is therefore Europe's top performer in this ranking, far ahead of Belgium, ranked 21st (in the distinction of Belgian pupils by Community, pupils from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation are in 29th and 31st position, depending on the subject). How do we explain the performance of Estonia, this tiny country of 1.3 million inhabitants?
It's a concept that's still not very widespread, but which, when it works well, has nothing but advantages: kangaroo housing. In Ath, the "A toi mon toit" housing service has a kangaroo house with a social vocation. It houses an elderly person on the first floor, and a refugee mother and her four children upstairs. A concept that gives one a sense of security, and the other a chance to integrate more easily in Belgium.
It's a concept that's still not very widespread, but which, when it works well, has nothing but advantages: kangaroo housing. In Ath, the "A toi mon toit" housing service has a kangaroo house with a social vocation. It houses an elderly person on the first floor, and a refugee mother and her four children upstairs. A concept that gives one a sense of security, and the other a chance to integrate more easily in Belgium.
Since Tuesday, the ministers of the De Wever government have been presenting the policies they intend to pursue over the course of the legislature to the various parliamentary committees. On Wednesday, it was Defense Minister Theo Francken's (N-VA) turn to explain his plans to the members of the Defense Committee.
Since Tuesday, the ministers of the De Wever government have been presenting the policies they intend to pursue over the course of the legislature to the various parliamentary committees. On Wednesday, it was Defense Minister Theo Francken's (N-VA) turn to explain his plans to the members of the Defense Committee.
Europe must be rearmed! For some weeks now, this little phrase has been a leitmotif in the mouths of Europe's leaders. The facts are implacable. Over the past forty years, military spending has declined across Europe. Sheltered by the American military umbrella, Europeans have been lulled into believing that war in Europe is now confined to the history books. Russia's invasion of Ukraine proved them wrong. The United States' move to distance itself from its Western allies finally convinced the last skeptics.
Europe must be rearmed! For some weeks now, this little phrase has been a leitmotif in the mouths of Europe's leaders. The facts are implacable. Over the past forty years, military spending has declined across Europe. Sheltered by the American military umbrella, Europeans have been lulled into believing that war in Europe is now confined to the history books. Russia's invasion of Ukraine proved them wrong. The United States' move to distance itself from its Western allies finally convinced the last skeptics.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country had been the target of further Russian strikes on Tuesday evening, including on a hospital, hours after Washington and Moscow announced an agreement for a limited truce.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country had been the target of further Russian strikes on Tuesday evening, including on a hospital, hours after Washington and Moscow announced an agreement for a limited truce.
Mons family planning center, September 14. Céline Honorez - the coordinator - ends her telephone conversation with a sigh: once again, she has had to refuse an abortion.
Mons family planning center, September 14. Céline Honorez - the coordinator - ends her telephone conversation with a sigh: once again, she has had to refuse an abortion.
Five people have been charged with active corruption or money laundering as part of the investigation targeting Chinese company Huawei for suspicions of corruption within the European Parliament, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday.
Five people have been charged with active corruption or money laundering as part of the investigation targeting Chinese company Huawei for suspicions of corruption within the European Parliament, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday.
Belgium and the Netherlands had the highest job vacancy rates in the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to figures released on Tuesday by Eurostat.
Belgium and the Netherlands had the highest job vacancy rates in the European Union in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to figures released on Tuesday by Eurostat.
On a recent windy spring day, a mermaid, composed of salvaged pieces of metal and hair fashioned from red plastic tubing, was plunged into murky green waters outside Stockholm, making a provocative gesture with her two middle fingers.
On a recent windy spring day, a mermaid, composed of salvaged pieces of metal and hair fashioned from red plastic tubing, was plunged into murky green waters outside Stockholm, making a provocative gesture with her two middle fingers.
As we know, the De Wever government is looking for around 4 billion euros this year to finance accelerated spending in the defense sector. For the entire legislature, a total of 17.2 billion euros will have to be found.
As we know, the De Wever government is looking for around 4 billion euros this year to finance accelerated spending in the defense sector. For the entire legislature, a total of 17.2 billion euros will have to be found.
Imagine being stuck in a studio apartment with an unobstructed view of the Earth, unable to order a pizza or pick up your dry cleaning. That's the funny situation astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have found themselves in since June 2024. These two space explorers, who left for a week's orbital "vacation", have been stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) for over 8 months due to a helium leak in their Starliner spacecraft. The two American astronauts are finally due to return to Earth this Tuesday evening, Nasa announced.
Imagine being stuck in a studio apartment with an unobstructed view of the Earth, unable to order a pizza or pick up your dry cleaning. That's the funny situation astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have found themselves in since June 2024. These two space explorers, who left for a week's orbital "vacation", have been stuck in the International Space Station (ISS) for over 8 months due to a helium leak in their Starliner spacecraft. The two American astronauts are finally due to return to Earth this Tuesday evening, Nasa announced.
Gender transition care will no longer be funded for US military veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Monday, in line with presidential executive orders issued by Donald Trump since his return to the White House. "VA is adjusting its regulations to fully comply with the executive order" signed by Donald Trump as early as the day of his inauguration in January, which recognizes "two unalterable genders", the US administration explained in a statement.
Gender transition care will no longer be funded for US military veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Monday, in line with presidential executive orders issued by Donald Trump since his return to the White House. "VA is adjusting its regulations to fully comply with the executive order" signed by Donald Trump as early as the day of his inauguration in January, which recognizes "two unalterable genders", the US administration explained in a statement.
The M23 armed group, which is battling the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the east of the country, announced on Monday that it would not take part in the "peace talks" scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, with Kinshasa confirming its participation despite this withdrawal. These talks were to be the first between Kinshasa and the M23 since the movement took up arms again in 2021 in eastern DRC, seizing vast swathes of territory.
The M23 armed group, which is battling the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the east of the country, announced on Monday that it would not take part in the "peace talks" scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, with Kinshasa confirming its participation despite this withdrawal. These talks were to be the first between Kinshasa and the M23 since the movement took up arms again in 2021 in eastern DRC, seizing vast swathes of territory.
The selection of journalists admitted to press conferences, the exclusion of independent agencies, the bashing of traditional media and the red carpet treatment of influencers on social networks: never has freedom of the press been so threatened in the United States as since Donald Trump's return to the White House. The day after the presidential election, Elon Musk set the tone by posting "You are the media now" on X, underlining the desire of Donald Trump's favorite oligarch to favor social networks over the so-called "traditional" media considered too critical of the Republican president.
The selection of journalists admitted to press conferences, the exclusion of independent agencies, the bashing of traditional media and the red carpet treatment of influencers on social networks: never has freedom of the press been so threatened in the United States as since Donald Trump's return to the White House. The day after the presidential election, Elon Musk set the tone by posting "You are the media now" on X, underlining the desire of Donald Trump's favorite oligarch to favor social networks over the so-called "traditional" media considered too critical of the Republican president.
Since their entry into service, F-35 fighter jets have been the talk of the town. Their advanced technology, stealth and ability to carry out versatile missions make them an undeniable asset for the air forces that adopt them. But there's one point that worries more and more nations: their American dependence. In other words, do the buyers of these aircraft still have total control over their use, or are they still under the yoke of the United States?
Since their entry into service, F-35 fighter jets have been the talk of the town. Their advanced technology, stealth and ability to carry out versatile missions make them an undeniable asset for the air forces that adopt them. But there's one point that worries more and more nations: their American dependence. In other words, do the buyers of these aircraft still have total control over their use, or are they still under the yoke of the United States?
It's a small camera located on the counter of this bookshop. It quickly analyzes the customer's face to detect their age. When the light turns red, the customer is under 25. And if that customer buys cigarettes, the bookseller is then authorized to ask for his or her identity card to check that he or she is of the right age - at least 18 - to buy tobacco.
It's a small camera located on the counter of this bookshop. It quickly analyzes the customer's face to detect their age. When the light turns red, the customer is under 25. And if that customer buys cigarettes, the bookseller is then authorized to ask for his or her identity card to check that he or she is of the right age - at least 18 - to buy tobacco.
Italy will join the list of rare countries that recognize feminicide in their legislation. A step forward according to feminists, who nevertheless point to numerous limitations in this bill championed by far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Italy will join the list of rare countries that recognize feminicide in their legislation. A step forward according to feminists, who nevertheless point to numerous limitations in this bill championed by far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
What is the outlook for global growth in 2025 and 2026? According to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), these are less good than expected. Trade tensions, geopolitical and political uncertainties are weighing on the global economy.
What is the outlook for global growth in 2025 and 2026? According to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), these are less good than expected. Trade tensions, geopolitical and political uncertainties are weighing on the global economy.
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne passed away on Sunday March 16. She was 43. The announcement was made by her family and agent Danielle Gain to AFP. Emilie Dequenne suffered from a very rare cancer affecting the adrenal gland. Since her diagnosis in August 2023, she had regularly spoken out about her battle with the disease.
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne passed away on Sunday March 16. She was 43. The announcement was made by her family and agent Danielle Gain to AFP. Emilie Dequenne suffered from a very rare cancer affecting the adrenal gland. Since her diagnosis in August 2023, she had regularly spoken out about her battle with the disease.
