Entertainment
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Tourism thrives in Flanders, surpassing pre-pandemic levelsPreliminary data from the statistics agency Statbel reveal that tourism in Flanders soared in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. A total of 14.6 million domestic and international tourists29 March 2024Read More...
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Prague airport expands direct connections with summer schedule launchPrague Airport is set to broaden its direct connection network with the introduction of the summer flight schedule, which takes effect at the end of March. Among the new destinations added25 March 2024Read More...
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Swiss Alpine ski resorts anticipate 40% reduction in snow daysA recent study predicts a significant decline in snow days at Alpine ski resorts by the end of the century, with natural snow cover possibly disappearing altogether in one out of every eight15 March 2024Read More...
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Copenhagen named Europe’s premier cruise port for 2024Copenhagen's port earned the prestigious title of Europe’s Leading Cruise Port for 2024 at a distinguished ceremony held in Berlin on March 6th, 2024, by the esteemed World Travel Awards.10 March 2024Read More...
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Relaxing regulations: Flanders prepares for open-air swimming seasonWith the arrival of spring and the anticipation of summer, Flanders is preparing to relax its rules and regulations for outdoor swimming. This adjustment, first25 February 2024Read More...
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Watchdog reveals Lithuanians' €288 million gambling loss in 2023, sparks tighter ad rules proposalLithuanians lost a staggering €288 million to gambling and lotteries in 2023, according to Virginijus Daukšys, the chief of the Gaming Supervision Authority.20 February 2024Read More...
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Switzerland to host 37th European Film Awards for the first timeIn an exciting first, Switzerland is set to host the prestigious European Film Awards at the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre. The announcement marks a significant20 February 2024Read More...
Economics
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Rise in foreign buyers of property in PortugalIn 2023, residential property purchases by Portuguese residents experienced a significant decline of 19.8% compared to 2022, totaling 126,108 units, representing 92.4% ofRead More...
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Amsterdam tops wealth charts: 70 times higher than VlissingenAccording to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Amsterdam leads the pack in terms of wealth per resident among Dutch municipalities. As of the end of 2022, Amsterdam boasted a staggeringRead More...
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Czechia to propose EU ban on Russian and Belarusian grain importsCzech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný has announced plans to advocate for a ban on Russian and Belarusian grain imports into the European Union during this week's European CouncilRead More...
News
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Turkish-Kurdish clashes leave six injured in LimburgSix individuals sustained injuries during clashes between individuals of Kurdish and Turkish descent in the Belgian province of Limburg on Sunday. Police presence will be heightened at the siteRead More...
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Hundreds rally against racism in BrusselsBrussels witnessed a significant demonstration on Sunday as several hundred individuals took to the streets to protest against racism and advocate for equal rights.Read More...
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Housing prices see 8.2% increase in 2023The Housing Price Index (IPHab) reported an 8.2% increase in 2023, marking a slight slowdown compared to the previous year's growth rate of 12.6%. The number of house transactions alsoRead More...
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Guyana authorities apprehend Dutch fugitive allegedly linked to Italian mafiaIn a significant development, Guyana authorities have apprehended a Dutch fugitive with purported ties to the notorious Italian mafia syndicate, 'Ndrangheta. Identified as Vitesh G. (50),Read More...
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Insurance costs for 2016 Brussels terrorist attacks surpass 77 million eurosAccording to data compiled by industry federation Assuralia, insurers have disbursed a total of 77.2 million euros to victims of the terrorist attacks that struck Brussels Airport and MaelbeekRead More...
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China excludes Portugal from visa exemption policyPortugal finds itself among the select few Western European nations whose citizens do not enjoy visa exemptions for entry into China, as Beijing extends this privilege to sixRead More...
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Belgium grants additional military assistance to UkraineThe Belgian government has approved an additional €412 million in aid to Ukraine, announced Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder on Friday. This latest aid package encompasses the provisionRead More...
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Belgium grants citizenship to record 55,000 foreigners in 2023In a notable development, nearly 55,000 foreigners obtained Belgian citizenship in 2023, marking the highest figure in two decades, primarily following an integration process.Read More...
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Poles' views on nations: Americans and Italians favored, Russians and Belarusians disapprovedRead More...
According to a survey conducted by pollster CBOS, Poles hold favorable views of Americans and Italians, while expressing disapproval towards Russians and Belarusians.
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Sport
Russia will miss August's World Athletics Championships in London after their doping ban was extended on Monday, world governing body president Sebastian Coe said.
Coe said Russia, whose 15-month ban from athletics was prolonged at the IAAF's Council meeting in Cap d'Ail near Monaco, could not be reintegrated into the sport before November.
Double Olympic 1500-metre champion Coe was speaking after the IAAF Council approved the Taskforce's recommendation that Russia was "not ready for reinstatement".
Russia has been barred from international competition since November 2015 following a damaging report alleging that state-sponsored doping was rife in the country.
Around 350 people have come forward to tell British police they were victims of child sexual abuse by football coaches, deepening a scandal that has rocked the sport.
The scale of the abuse began to emerge last week after a string of ex-footballers, including England internationals, told of the crimes inflicted upon them, including years of being repeatedly raped.
The National Police Chiefs' Council said a "significant" number of calls had been made to them after the players spoke out about what they suffered as children.
Announcing the figures, the NPCC said they were based on existing investigations dating back to 2014 as well as a new helpline set up by British charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The NSPCC said the helpline received 860 calls in its first week, enabling it to refer 60 cases to police or social services within three days of the hotline launching.
That was more than triple the number of referrals made in the first three days of the helpline set up for victims of Jimmy Savile, a serial paedophile and late BBC television presenter.
"We are working closely with the Football Association to ensure that the response to this significant and growing number of victims, at all levels of football, is co-ordinated effectively," said Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC's lead officer for child protection.
He encouraged anyone with information about child abuse in football to come forward, "regardless of how long ago the abuse may have taken place".
A quarter of the police forces across Britain are investigating cases that have made daily headlines over the past two weeks.
Greater Manchester Police said they had identified 10 suspects and its inquiry was widening on a daily basis.
"We are investigating reports from 35 victims and we have identified 10 suspects," said GMP Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Ford.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn said on Thursday he does not believe child abuse within British football has been covered up.
"It will help uncover some issues that can't happen again, but do I think there has been a cover-up? I doubt it," said Glenn, whose organisation has established an internal review of the allegations.
- Chelsea investigation -
The scale of the abuse began to emerge after ex-footballers Andy Woodward, Steve Walters and Paul Stewart revealed last week the abuse they suffered at the hands of youth coaches.
Convicted child molester Barry Bennell has been accused by several footballers of abusing them when he worked for Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City and Stoke City across three decades beginning in the 1970s.
He is the target of five separate police investigations and on Tuesday was charged with eight counts of child abuse, prosecutors said.
Former Newcastle United player David Eatock is the latest player to speak out about his suffering.
Police investigations into the sexual abuse of youngsters within English football widened Friday as England captain Wayne Rooney praised victims for speaking out.
Jason Dunford, once a youth player with Premier League giants Manchester City, added to the growing tide of abuse accusations that have rocked the English game by alleging that a football paedophile ring was covered up.
The allegations mainly centre on Barry Bennell, a youth coach with Manchester City, Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra and several junior teams in northwest England.
Andy Woodward last week became the first player to reveal publicly the abuse Bennell inflicted upon him, triggering a stream of similar claims.
Bennell was given a four-year sentence for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida in 1994 and a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against six boys in England in 1998.
He was jailed for a third time in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to abusing a boy at a football camp in Macclesfield, northwest England, in 1980.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) announced Thursday it had launched a telephone helpline for victims of football abuse.
Rooney urged any player who had been affected to call the hotline and no longer "suffer in silence".
"It's awful that some of my colleagues have suffered this way whilst playing the sport that I and they love," the Manchester United forward said.
"Andy (Woodward) has been really brave to come forward and I would encourage anyone who has or is suffering from abuse to call the NSPCC's new football helpline.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will slug it out for the world number one ranking in a high-stakes final at the ATP Tour Finals after completing their contrasting paths to the dramatic showdown.
Murray and Djokovic's unprecedented clash for pole position will end with one of the old rivals finishing the year on top of the world after the Scot shattered his rival's 122-week reign at number one earlier this month.
Fittingly, they will bring the curtain down on the ATP season with both the prestigious Tour Finals title and the top spot up for grabs in Sunday's final at London's O2 Arena.
After staging a superb fightback to defeat Milos Raonic 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (11/9) in Saturday's first semi-final, Murray is just one win away from capping a dream year in perfect fashion.
But Djokovic can say exactly the same after the defending champion thrashed Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1 in the other semi.
Djokovic, who has a 24-10 lead in his head to head with Murray, said: "This is one of the biggest matches we will ever play against each other. The match everybody anticipated.
"This has never happened in the history of tennis. I'm privileged to be part of history.
"My level had been going in the right direction. Now it's coming up to the last match of the year. I hope we get a great final."
Crucially, Murray might be on his last legs after having to survive a three-hour 39-minute epic against Raonic that ranked as the longest match in Tour Finals history -- eclipsing the record mark set when Murray beat Nishikori in three hours and 20 minutes on Wednesday.
Andy Murray swept into the semifinals of the ATP Tour Finals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Stan Wawrinka on Friday as the world No. 1 remained on course for a final showdown against Novak Djokovic.
Murray brushed aside Wawrinka in 86 minutes at London’s O2 Arena to ensure he finished top of his group and avoided a last four clash with Djokovic.
Instead, the 29-year-old will face Canada’s Milos Raonic in Saturday’s semifinals.
Wawrinka’s defeat means Japan’s Kei Nishikori qualifies as runner-up to Murray in their group, and he will take on defending champion Djokovic in the other semifinal.
Nishikori lost to Djokovic on his previous appearance in the semifinals in 2014.
The 26-year-old Nishikori suffered a frustrating warm-up for his latest meeting with Djokovic as the world No. 5 was beaten 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by Marin Cilic in the evening session to leave him with two defeats in his three group matches.
Gareth Southgate says he wants to know within weeks whether he will be England's next permanent manager.
The former England centre-back was given the job on a caretaker basis following the Football Association's dramatic decision to dispense with Sam Allardyce, whose one-game reign was ended by controversial comments he made to undercover reporters.
Meanwhile, England captain Wayne Rooney, who returned to the starting line-up against Scotland on Friday, and defender Ryan Bertrand, an unused substitute on Friday, missed Monday's training session at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground in north London with what the Football Association said were "minor issues".
Southgate has been in charge for England's past three games, including England's 3-0 win over old rivals Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley, a laboured victory over Malta and a goal-less draw away to Slovenia.
Kei Nishikori admits he has been handed a daunting task as the Japanese star tries to finish his season on a high at the ATP Tour Finals.
Nishikori is aiming to reach the final of the prestigious tournament for the first time, but he will have to survive a tough group featuring new world number one Andy Murray, US Open champion Stan Wawrinka and former Grand Slam winner Marin Cilic.
The world number five has lost seven of his nine meetings with Murray and four of his six with Wawrinka.
He has a slight edge in his head to head encounters with Cilic, but the Croatian enjoyed the best win of his life at Nishikori's expense in the 2014 US Open final.
Nishikori, who made the semi-finals of the Tour Finals in 2014, acknowledges he will have to be at his very best to return to the last four at London's O2 Arena.
England's so far unbeaten year under Australian coach Eddie Jones was recognised Monday with three internationals from Saracens providing 50 percent of the nominees for the 2016 World Rugby Player of the Year award.
Goal-kicker Owen Farrell, No 8 Billy Vunipola and lock Maro Itoje were on a shortlist that also included New Zealand's Beauden Barrett and Dane Cole and Ireland back-row Jamie Heaslip.
The Saracens trio helped the London club win the English Premiership and European Champions Cup titles.
They also played key roles as England won their first nine Tests under Jones -- appointed after the hosts' embarrassing first-round exit at last year's World Cup.
England's unbeaten run included a Six Nations Grand Slam and a 3-0 series win in Australia.
Itoje, 22, had already been nominated for the 'breakthrough' player of the year award.
Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea exploited a slip-up by Manchester City to claim top spot in the Premier League by stylishly crushing Everton 5-0 on Saturday. Marten de Roon's stoppage-time equaliser earned Middlesbrough a 1-1 draw at City and Antonio Conte's Chelsea took advantage to move a point clear of Pep Guardiola's side at the summit.
"When you win in this way it's fantastic because we played good football with good intensity," Conte told BT Sport.
"All the players played in the right way with and without the ball. We created many chances to score and also it's the fifth clean sheet in a row, which is fantastic.
"It is fantastic to be top of the league."
Arsenal and Liverpool could also surpass City before the weekend is out, the former tackling Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's North London derby and the latter entertaining Watford.
Elsewhere, bottom club Sunderland ended their wait for a first win of the season at the 11th attempt by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Bournemouth despite having Steven Pienaar sent off.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea produced one of their most scintillating performances in recent memory as the 2014-15 champions made it five straight wins without conceding a goal.
Hazard opened the scoring in the 19th minute, drifting in from the left to drill a shot into the bottom-right corner, and a minute later Pedro Rodriguez teed up Marcos Alonso for the hosts' second.
Diego Costa made it 3-0 three minutes before half-time, slamming home at the back post after Nemanja Matic flicked on Hazard's corner to bring up his ninth goal of the campaign.
The man in charge of West Ham United's London Stadium stepped down on Thursday, in the latest episode of upheaval to affect the controversy-plagued venue.
David Edmonds has left his post as chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which has been responsible for the running of London's Olympic Park since the 2012 Olympics.
It comes after London mayor Sadiq Khan announced an investigation into the rising cost of converting the arena, formerly known as the Olympic Stadium, for use by Premier League club West Ham.
"David has made an enormous contribution to the legacy of the London 2012 Games and he has helped to steer the organisation through some extremely challenging issues," said LLDC chief executive David Goldstone.
"We thank him for all his hard work and wish him well in the future."