Belgium news stories on Newser

DSK Now Target of Gang-Rape Investigation

Matt Cantor — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:19:00 CDT

More hot water for Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and once again it's US-flavored: A French prosecutor today opened a preliminary investigation into an alleged gang rape in Washington, DC, CNN reports. In the course of France's probe into Strauss-Kahn's alleged participation in a prostitution ring, the gang-rape allegations surfaced; a Belgian prostitute...

Swiss Tunnel Bus Crash Kills 22 Kids, 6 Adults

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:52:05 CDT

A bus carrying students returning from a ski holiday crashed into a wall in a Swiss tunnel last night, killing 22 Belgian 12-year-olds and six adults. Another 24 students were hospitalized with injuries after the crash near the Alpine city of Sierre. The cause of the crash has not been...

Eurozone Economy Shrinks

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:11:06 CST

For the first time since 2009, the eurozone economy contracted last quarter. The fourth quarter of 2011 saw the GDP shrink 0.3% compared to the third quarter; the last quarterly contraction occurred during the second quarter of 2009 when the GDP dropped 0.2%. Meanwhile, the GDP grew just...

Belgium Gunman Had Woman's Body in His Shack

Kevin Spak — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:15:40 CST

The plot thickened today in the case of the grenade and shooting rampage in Liege, Belgium , when police announced that they'd found a woman's body hidden in a shack that alleged gunman Nordine Amrani was using to grow marijuana. The woman is said to be a 45-year-old who worked for...

4 Dead in Belgium Grenade Attack

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:22:44 CST

At least four people are dead in Belgium after a man armed with hand grenades and guns attacked a busy intersection in Liege today; local media is reporting that 75 were wounded. Initial reports indicated that there were multiple attackers, but police now say there was just one, identifying him...

S&P Lowers Belgium's Credit Rating

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:11:05 CST

Standard & Poor's is lowering its long-term sovereign credit rating for Belgium, citing a threat to exports and the country's lack of a permanent government. In a sign that financial contagion is spreading across Europe, the agency cut Belgium's credit rating from AA+ to AA. Belgium has been without a...

Belgium Bails Out Failing Dexia

Matt Cantor — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:01:15 CDT

Leading Franco-Belgian bank Dexia has agreed to a government rescue plan—making it "the biggest euro zone bank failure in quite some time," one analyst tells the New York Times . The plan will nationalize Dexia's Belgian banking division in a $5.4 billion government buyout; meanwhile, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg...

It's Official: US Is World's Coolest Country

Matt Cantor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:26:19 CDT

When it comes to foreign policy, perhaps Americans aren’t the world’s favorite nationality. But the US has clearly cornered the market on coolness. Just ask the 30,000 people from 15 different countries polled by social networking site Badoo.com. When asked to choose the coolest country, America came first,...

5 Killed as Storm Slams Belgian Rock Fest

Rob Quinn — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 05:16:00 CDT

At least five people were killed and about 140 others injured after a heavy storm hit Belgium's Pukkelpop music festival yesterday, the AP reports. One stage was completely destroyed after trees blown over in strong winds crashed into rigging, the Guardian adds. The Chicago-based band Smith Westerns was playing at...