Belgium

Catalan lawmakers elect separatist as parliamentary speaker

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalan lawmakers on Wednesday elected a separatist as parliamentary speaker, a first step in a plan by pro-independence deputies to get regional leader Carles Puigdemont, in self-exile in Belgium, back into power. A member of the left-wing ERC party, Roger Torrent was elected with 65 votes against 56 for an anti-independence candidate in an assembly where eight seats were empty,Read more

Storm Eleanor barrels through Europe

Paris - Muslimchronicle

Winter storm Eleanor swept into France, Belgium and the Netherlands on Wednesday after tearing through England and Northern Ireland, cutting power to tens of thousands of people and forcing airports and train services to halt operations. A skiier was killed by a falling tree at Morillon in the French Alps while 15 others have been injured by the storm across the country,Read more

Kerber makes a fresh start in 2018 with Hopman Cup win

Perth - Muslimchronicle

Former world number one Angelique Kerber put a testing 2017 behind her on Monday, kicking off the new year with a fighting singles win as Germany beat Belgium 2-1 at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth. The 29-year-old gave her country an early lead in their Group A tie with Belgium, beating the emerging Elise Mertens in a tough two-set match. World numberRead more

Puigdemont says 'no one can dispute' Catalan separatists won vote

Brussels - Muslimchronicle

Deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said from self-imposed exile in Belgium that it was indisputable that separatists had won Thursday's key regional vote. "This is a result which no one can dispute," Puigdemont told supporters in Brussels as partial results showed that pro-independence parties were on course for an absolute majority source: AFPRead more

Puigdemont: the ousted Catalan president plotting a return

Barcelona - Muslimchronicle

Catalonia's axed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has dreamed since childhood of independence from Spain. And it was his dogged pursuit of the secessionist cause that ultimately led to his ouster from the regional presidency. A visionary to some and an opportunistic populist to others, Puigdemont sought exile in Belgium following the Catalan parliament's independence declaration on October 27. He faces arrest should he returnRead more

Paris suspect Abdeslam's lawyer asks for Belgian trial to be postponed: source

Paris - Muslimchronicle

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam's lawyer asked on Wednesday for his client's trial in Belgium to be postponed from next week's opening, a source close to the investigation told AFP. The request by lawyer Sven Mary for Abdeslam, who is due to stand trial on Monday over a 2016 shootout in Brussels that led to his capture, "logically should beRead more

Spain drops European arrest warrant for sacked Catalan leader

Madrid - Muslimchronicle

Spain has withdrawn the European arrest warrant for Catalonia's sacked leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, who fled to Belgium after the regional parliament declared unilateral independence, the Supreme Court said Tuesday. In a statement, the court said Judge Pablo Llarena, in charge of the case, decided to withdraw the warrant as the five have said theyRead more

Belgian judges to give Puigdemont extradition decision December 14: lawyers

Brussels - Muslimchronicle

A Belgian judge will decide on December 14 whether to grant a European arrest warrant and send axed Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont back to Spain on sedition charges, lawyers said on Monday. Lawyers for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, who all fled to Belgium in October despite a summons to appear in court in Spain, argued inRead more

World Cup draw throws up Spain, Portugal showdown

Moscow - Muslimchronicle

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will come up against Spain in the standout fixture of the 2018 World Cup group stage, while England were handed an encounter with a dangerous Belgium side in Friday's draw. Spain, the 2010 World Cup winners, have been revitalised under Julen Lopetegui after underperforming in recent years and were seen as the team to avoid after missingRead more

EU accuses AB InBev of blocking cheaper beer in Belgium

Brussels - Muslimchronicle

The European Union on Thursday accused the world's biggest brewer AB InBev of illegally blocking cheaper imports of local favourites Leffe and Jupiler into Belgium. Both brands are Belgium's best sold beers and part of the AB InBev behemoth that the EU says has a "very strong" position on the Belgian beer market. "Our preliminary finding is that AB InBevRead more