Belgium

The European Union entry-exit system (EES) has caused repeated delays for Brits at major EU airports this year

British holidaymakers heading abroad may finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief over the widely-criticised EES system. The scheme forces non-EU residents to queue at special machines in airports before gaining entry to 29 nations within the so-called Schengen area – essentially the majority of the European Union.

However, there have been persistent reports of lengthy delays – some stretching to as long as four hours. A new report in the Sunday Times now reveals that the European Union has shelved the controversial entry-exit system (EES) across at least nine countries.

Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Greece and Switzerland are all understood to have been granted permission to postpone full implementation of EES. The newspaper reports that there appears to be no deadline by which these countries must adopt the scheme, which has already sparked widespread reports of enormous queues at European airports this summer in destinations such as Mallorca, Faro, the Canary Islands and Milan.

The scheme has faced fierce criticism from Ryanair and others. The European Union describes the Entry/Exit System (EES) as an automated IT system designed to register non-EU nationals travelling on short stays each time they cross the external borders of participating European countries.

Following years of postponements, the system was rolled out from October 2025, with full implementation originally anticipated by the following April. However, faced with the prospect of significant border queues due to software failures, officials granted countries a 150-day grace period during which they could drop the checks to avoid travel chaos.

That rule ended on September 6. The EU previously insisted there would be no extension.

Yet the Sunday Times reports that at least nine Schengen countries are understood to have told the European Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the EES, that they would not enforce the new controls in full until the technology and systems were working correctly.

They have informally been allowed to do so with no time limits apparently in place to adopt the system, it is being reported. One of the main purposes of the system is to track whether non-EU citizens have spent more than their permitted 90 days in the bloc in a rolling 180-day period.

Social media has been awash with debate about the scheme. One post on Reddit saw a traveller say: “They made a mess of it. Seems many basic things like it is hit and miss on the document scanning but also things like people walk up with hats and headphones and the machine doesn’t tell them to remove them, and organisational things like if the machine errors the traveller has to back out and has no where to go.

“The right way to do this would have been progressive: start by getting some people eg 5% going through the machine lane, everyone else through normal.

“The vendor observes problems, fixes them, once machine working well, increase to 10%, then 20% and so on.” Another person said: “The general lack of functionality of so many IT systems across the EU is kind of astonishing.”

A third added: “It’s worse than that. There isn’t even consistent protocol/IT support within a single EU airport.”

Another put it more simply, saying: “I just miss having stamps.”

‘People are missing their flights’

Nadia, from Greater Manchester, told the Guardian in August she had made two trips to Schengen areas this summer. A trip to Tenerife in June was “quite straightforward”, but her experience in July at Frankfurt airport where she was picking up a connecting flight home, was much less so.

“The queue there was ridiculously long, and there was very limited information,” she says. “People were wandering around trying to work out where they needed to go.

“I’m very well travelled and pretty confident, but even I was slightly unsure and was thinking, is there some other queue I should be joining? There was no one nearby to check with without losing your place.”

Eventually, her passport was checked. “He didn’t actually take fingerprints then,” says Nadia, who is a solicitor. “I think the queue was so long they decided to dispense with that.

“It’s the efficiency of the system I question and the fact that individual member states’ systems do not talk to one another. They shouldn’t need to get information again if you have already gone through. It’s pretty shambolic, and I think people missing their flights because of it is just not acceptable, especially when there’s no recourse; it’s not your fault.”

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has repeatedly complained about EES. Speaking earlier this year, he said: “There’s a bit of Brexit in this too. Here, you voted for Brexit – f***ing join the queue.”

BERLIN: Buoyed by partisan home fans, host Germany upset Belgium 93-74 to reach the semifinals of the women’s FIBA World Cup on Thursday.

Leonie Fiebich scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Germany to a showdown with France on Saturday. Nyara Sabally also had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“I can’t quite believe it yet,” forward Frieda Bühner said. “We’re among the best four teams in the world. I can’t believe it. It’s crazy.”

The players screamed and whooped in celebration. Germany had never reached the semifinals before.

“Everyone stepped up today and we did it from the first second to the very last,” said Alexandra Wilke, who scored 10 points.

Germany lost their opening game by 30 points to Spain, but bounced back with impressive wins over Japan and Mali before routing South Korea in a playoff to reach the quarterfinals.

Egged on by fervent commentary from the announcer, fans cheered, jumped and waved Germany flags at the Berlin Arena to help the home team keep their momentum going.

“It’s always really cool to play in front of such a crowd,” Sabally said. “I couldn’t have wished for more, especially in Germany. It’s really cool to see that there’s so much hype and the whole venue is caught up in it. It’s really, really cool.”

It’s the sixth straight World Cup at which the host have made the final four since China failed to make the semifinals in 2002.

Belgium, the European champion, were one of three teams that advanced through group play without a loss.

Emma Meesseman led Belgium with 29 points and added eight rebounds, but her team were unable to regain the lead after Bühner made it 20-19 toward the end of the first quarter.

Germany did not qualify for the World Cup since the unified country’s only previous appearance as host in 1998. East Germany’s women’s basketball team finished fourth at the 1967 tournament.

France rout China

Marine Johannès and Janelle Salaün led France to the semifinals for the first time by beating China 90-61 earlier.

Both Johannès and Salaün scored 15 points while Gabby Williams contributed 14 as the Olympic finalists put themselves in contention for a first World Cup medal since the inaugural tournament in 1953, when France finished third in the final round.

“It means a lot,” Williams said of reaching the semifinals for the first time. “We want to be one of the greatest teams ever to put on the French jersey. Obviously, we have a big goal this tournament, but it’s great to check this off the list.”

Chants of “Allez les Bleues” rang around the Berlin Arena before Williams opened the scoring, and the French supporters made sure they were heard for the rest of the game as their team dominated on the court below. France have been fluid and free-scoring, beating their four opponents so far by a combined 156 points.

The team set a tournament record for 3-pointers in a single game by netting 22 in their final group game on Monday. The French players connected on 14 of 37 attempts Thursday, with Johannès and Salaün scoring three triples each.

“We are lucky because we are a group that have known each other for a couple of years now,” Salaün said of France’s team spirit. “We went through a lot of things, the Olympics, training camp(s), so we just know each other and we know what we want. We have a goal and we want to do everything to get to this goal.”

Salaün had an ice pack bound to her right knee. France coach Jean Aime Toupane told The Associated Press it was just a precaution.

Zhang’s impact limited

The French defense limited the impact of China’s 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu, who had the attention of two French players any time she received the ball. The 19-year-old sensation was held scoreless over her 7 minutes, 18 seconds of play in the first half, though she contributed in defense with three blocks before halftime.

There was nothing Zhang could do to stop Johannès from scoring successive 3-pointers in the third quarter, when she also got on the scoreboard. Zhang finished the game with seven points, eight rebounds and seven turnovers.

Han Xu, who had a double-double in each of her four games at the tournament, again led China with 21 points and nine rebounds.

US never in danger

The United States, the four-time defending champion, routed Hungary 108-56 in the first quarterfinal with Napheesa Collier scoring 19 points to stretch their winning run in the tournament to 34 games since a semifinal loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.

The US await the winner of Spain-Australia in the last quarterfinal later.

Thinking of heading to Europe’s Christmas markets this year? Here are some destinations you can reach directly on Eurostar, making them ideal for a day trip or a quick overnight break

A European Christmas market is an amazing way to get into the festive spirit. The historic city backdrops, authentic food and drink, and unique gifts all make it a must-do in the run up to Christmas.

Eurostar can be a good alternative to flying for short breaks, as it allows you to get to the heart of the city for a day trip or quick overnight stay, without the hassle of the airport. (Although do factor in the logistics of getting to London from where the trains depart).

If you’re already starting to count down the days until Christmas, we’ve got you covered with some of the top markets you can reach by Eurostar this winter…

1. Lille Christmas Market

Lille is Eurostar’s shortest route from London at around 90 minutes, so it’s ideal for a Christmas market day trip. Lille Christmas Market takes place on Place Rihour, just a 15-minute walk from the Eurostart terminal, making it an easy location to get to.

The event runs from November 19 to December 30, and is open seven days a week with Fridays and Saturdays seeing the event stay open until 10pm. In the square you’ll find a huge Ferris wheel covered in lights and around 90 wooden chalets selling food, drink, and crafty items. It’s relatively small compared to some of Europe’s other giant markets, but Lille’s red-brick Flemish architecture and cobbled streets make the whole city perfect for a Christmas break.

2. Paris – La Défense Christmas Market

Paris has a few festive markets around the city, and La Défense Christmas Market is the largest, running daily from mid-November until early-January, with exact dates not confirmed yet for 2026.

Running on La Défense Esplanade, it includes an ice skating rink, carnival rides, and hundreds of stalls selling mulled wine, tartiflette, and raclette. However, it’s worth noting that the market can get incredibly busy as it’s in a Paris business district, so you may want to visit during off-peak times.

Another option is the Tuileries Garden Market, set in a park between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, a sprawling market which takes up about half a mile of space. It runs for about six weeks from mid-November, again no dates are confirmed yet, and features 80 wooden chalets, a Ferris wheel, and lots of festive activities in this lively space.

3. Brussels – Winter Wonders

Brussels has a compact city centre that makes it ideal for a short break, and from the Eurostar station you can take a quick 10 minute journey to get to Winter Wonders. Taking up several streets in the Belgian capital, this sprawling Christmas market runs from November 27 to January 3 and features over 200 stalls.

At the heart of the market, in the beautiful Baroque Grand-Place, you’ll find the giant Christmas tree and a sound and light show. The market also has an ice rink and Ferris wheel, and closes daily at 10pm, so you can enjoy the festive atmosphere when the sun goes down and the Christmas lights turn on.

4. Antwerp Christmas Market

Eurostar launches a new direct service to Antwerp on December 14, and this city full of unique architecture, from ornate medieval buildings to quirky art nouveau structures, is the ideal backdrop to enjoy a Christmas market.

In the centre you’ll find the Grote Markt and Handschoenmarkt full of handmade crafts, local treats like Antwerp’s hand-shaped biscuits, a huge ice rink and plenty of festive bars. An adjacent street is turned into a giant light tunnel, perfect for exploring after dark, and the market is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays for festive night owls.

5. Amsterdam Christmas Market and Village

Amsterdam, Eurostar’s longest direct route from London, has multiple Christmas markets and events, but perhaps its best-known takes place in Museumplein, the city’s largest square. This area, popular with tourists thanks to its several attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum, is transformed into a Christmas village complete with live entertainment, 45 festive stalls, and a roaming acappella choir.

But if you prefer something a little less traditional, visit the Funky Xmas Market on December 20 in Westerpark. The event brings together the work of artists and creatives from across this colourful city, with lots of unique and quirky ideas for loved ones who are difficult to buy for.

6. Rotterdam – Scandinavian Christmas markets

Enjoy the ultimate hygge atmosphere at one of Rotterdam’s Scandinavian Christmas markets, which are held in traditional Seamen’s Churches across the city. Rotterdam has always had close ties to Scandinavia thanks to its large harbour, so you can enjoy the Scandi-vibes at traditional Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish markets, which are mostly held during November.

If you’re visiting in December, then Deliplein Winterplein is a two-week community festival where the Katendrecht neighborhood is turned into a winter wonderland. It kicks off with a parade and tree lighting, and includes lots of live music events, visits from Santa, and creative workshops. It’s a more community-focused alternative to the usual touristy Christmas markets.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Aug. 28 (UPI) — Belgium’s foreign minister on Friday summoned U.S Ambassador Bill White over an Instagram story the U.S. diplomat posted targeting the country’s health minister.

White posted an AI-generated image of Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke on a cigar box, apparently mocking the minister’s efforts to change how alcohol companies display health warnings on products.

The box read, “Damages every form of joy in life,” while White captioned the image, “Who’s the biggest loser in Belgium?”

“It is unacceptable that an ambassador uses such insulting language against a member of government,” Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said in a statement to Politico.

This is the second time White has been summoned over comments made toward the health minister.

In February, he accused Belgium of antisemitism over an investigation of three mohels for performing ritual circumcisions without a doctor present.

White called the move “ridiculous” and demanded Brussels drop its investigation.

He said Vanenbroucke was “very rude” and asked for his intervention in the case, adding, “You must make a legal provision to allow Jewish religious MOHELS to perform their duties here in Belgium.”

On Friday, White’s comments about the health minister also drew criticism from Conner Rousseau, who leads the political party Vooruit.

“Bill can be a funny guy,” said Rousseau, whose party includes Vanenbroucke, in a statement on Instagram. “But he knows nothing about healthcare.

“He only repeats what daddy Trump says. They only care about money, not our health.”