Confronting Ecuador’s gang violence with international power? 

Port in Ecuador

Guayaquil port, Ecuador, is one of many ports commonly used to ship drugs to Europe and the USA. Photo: Andrés López Maldonado / Unsplash

 

Ecuador, located between two of the largest cocaine producers in Latin America, Peru and Colombia, has become increasingly violent in recent years. Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, told the BBC he wants foreign military aid to help fight his “war” against …

Popinjay Archery: A Flemish Tradition at Risk

Close up of a popinjay with the target cage in the background; Photo: Nathan Verbrigghe and Sian Olislagers

 

On a grey mid-spring weekday afternoon in the municipality of Lochristi, northeast of Ghent, the local sports complex slowly comes to life. The football pitch might catch the eye at first, but it is the group gathered on the grass …

The Founder of A Social Cornerstone in Gentbrugge

In the heart of Gentbrugge, you can find a cozy spot where you can enjoy a warm coffee and a friendly smile, called “Kaffie is Kaffie”. But it’s more than just a café, it’s a place where people who may …

The Mannekes: building more than a tower

Sant Jordi 2025 Credit : Hanna Tarasrewisz

 

Kids are shouting and running all over the place. Adults are still chatting when a loud voice cuts through the noise: “Van silencí!” yells Joan. Instantly, the group of around 40 people falls silent. The mood shifts from laughter and …

Is Greenland ready for more tourists?

Greenlandic settlement

Greenlandic settlement

 

Greenland has just opened its first international airport in Nuuk, and another is set to open in Ilulissat in 2026. For the first time, direct flights to Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and soon New York and Iqaluit are possible. But multiple problems …

A taste of home: Philippine Food Festival Celebration in Brussels

A glimpse of the Filipino cuisines | Image by: Urzina Dela Cruz

 

The Centre Communautaire de Joli Bois in Brussels came alive on May 11, 2025, as it hosted the 5th Philippine Food Festival. Organized by the Philippine Art and Culture Exchange (P.A.C.E.), the event showcased traditional Filipino dishes along with local …

Trump’s War on Independent Media: The Defunding of Radio Free Europe

Donald Trump via Library of Congress

 

On March 14, President Donald Trump signed an order to cut funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The next day, his administration took steps to implement the decision. …

Delayed Payments to Justice’s Translators Spark Court Protests in Ghent

Credit: Ward Schouppe - VRT NWS 2024

 

The budget for translators working within the justice system has been stagnant for years, despite rising costs due to inflation, according to the Union of Translators (BBVT). This has sparked protests, including one at the important SKY-ECC trial in October …