Belgium

Advisory comes amid growing concern about the devices being used to secretly record girls and women.

The European Union’s data watchdog has called for smart glasses to clearly show when they are recording, saying bystanders have the right to know when they are being photographed or filmed.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued the non-binding recommendation on Tuesday, amid mounting concern about the devices being used to secretly record girls and women.

It said the use of smart glasses – which can resemble ordinary glasses but also take photos and videos, make phone calls and translate text when connected to the internet – raises “serious privacy concerns”.

EDPB chair Anu Talus said the glasses should have clear signals when they are recording, such as “bright LED lights, audio signals or voice activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone notifications, or unique designs”.

“These warnings need to be reliable, hard to ignore, and always up to date,” said Talus. “Even in public spaces, bystanders should clearly understand that someone is filming or photographing them.”

The devices carry greater risks in “sensitive” spaces like schools and hospitals, as well as public spots like beaches, and raised concerns about children who are “more vulnerable to covert or intrusive processing of their personal data”, the EDPB warned.

The advisory comes amid campaigns in several European countries to ban or restrict smart glasses over privacy concerns.

Norway’s government said last week it was also worried about privacy invasions and wants a temporary ban on the use of smart glasses in certain public places. The capital Oslo already opted to ban glasses equipped with cameras in schools.

France’s e-Enfance association, which operates the national hotline for victims of online abuse, has also sounded the alarm about videos recorded with camera-equipped glasses and shared online.

Last month, French prosecutors said they had opened a criminal probe ⁠following sexual harassment complaints related to a social media trend of using smart glasses to film women on the street, without their consent, and posting the videos online.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a “Stop Smart Glasses” campaign has launched a petition and call for supporters to contact stores to stop their sale. It reached more than 10,000 signatures, which means the UK government must respond.

Belgian police respond to ‘troublemakers’ on sidelines of main rally with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges.

Clashes have erupted near Brussels Central station on the sidelines of a demonstration organised by the country’s socialist trade union against the federal government’s austerity plans.

As thousands of protesters gathered at the station on Friday, a smaller group clashed with the police and threw wooden beams, glass bottles and rubbish bins, The Belgian Times reported.

Police were deployed in large numbers around the stations as officers checked groups of young people not wearing trade union colours.

Police said the main trade union rally went ahead peacefully but “groups of troublemakers were responsible for serious incidents before and after the march.”

Riot police responded to those protesters with tear gas, water cannon and baton charges. Police said those who “cause the problems of public order are not linked” to the rally.

Reporting from Brussels, Al Jazeera’s Rosie Birchard said damage was caused during Friday morning’s protests with an “acrid smell of burning in the air”, due to fires that were set and the tear gas.

“Police [and] emergency services have been arriving, starting to disperse or clean up and then the protests flare up again. So the day is still early; often these things get worse in the evening in terms of the street violence,” Birchard explained.

“There were some young people who came out, they say they were inspired by what they had seen in France in terms of school protests, and they also wanted to talk about the education environment they’re learning in,” she said, adding that the students felt that they were “not being listened to”.

The clashes came after a week of tension in the city of Liege after authorities banned gatherings as students clashed with police and vandalised shops. More than 200 people were arrested in Liege, and dozens of police were injured.

The ABVV trade union and the Christian ACV, the country’s two biggest unions, organised protests on Friday morning, with protesters marching from Brussels Central station to Brussels South Station under the slogan “stay out of our pockets”.

Police said about 30,000 people attended the demonstrations, while ABVV had earlier estimated attendance at 50,000.

The anger stems from the government’s austerity measures, as officials consider a new budget that opposes potential measures that affect purchasing power, the wage indexation system and value-added tax (VAT), as well as plans to introduce annualised working time.

At the same time, the ACV organised a separate protest involving hundreds of activists at the capital’s headquarters of the governing coalition parties.

Protesting students demand accessible education in French-speaking areas of the country.

Police in Belgium have detained more than 100 people after demonstrations in the city of Liege against the rising cost of education turned violent in some places, as similar protests grip neighbouring France.

Students rallied in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday against overcrowded classrooms and difficulty accessing resources in Belgium’s French-language education system.

Eighty people were detained during the protests, and 27 were formally arrested, the Belga news agency reported, citing the Liege police.

Some protesters damaged property and set fires, the police added.

Attendees insisted that shortcomings in the education system gave them no choice but to take to the streets.

“When we saw nothing was changing without protests, we decided we would start,” said Amelia Di Salve, a 19-year-old studying to become a teacher, who added that protests in “France did influence us a little”.

“We support each other because we’re facing pretty much the same issues,” Alfred, another 19-year-old ⁠student, told the Reuters news agency.

‘Peaceful way’

Authorities were attempting to defuse tensions and head off further unrest.

“Dialogue can be established,” Willy Demeyer, the mayor of the city of Liege, told Belgian broadcaster RTBF, adding that he hoped “young people can express their grievances in a peaceful way and if possible have those concerns heard”.

In Belgium, education is managed independently by the country’s linguistic communities, and there is no single national curriculum.

Instead, the Flemish population regulates education in Belgium’s Dutch-speaking Flanders region while French-speaking Wallonia oversees its own curriculum.

Parents can decide where to enrol children in the bilingual capital Brussels.

The protests in Liege follow sporadic violent demonstrations over the summer in Brussels against an increase in tuition fees for students in French-speaking areas from 835 euros ($930) to 1,194 euros ($1,340).

Belgium’s education budget has been under pressure as a result of a cost-of-living crisis and the spiralling cost of energy, issues that are helping fuel student protests in France as well.

Michael Olise and Desire Doue help France score four goals in closing stages to overturn 1-0 deficit at home to Belgium in Nations League Group A1.

France came from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1 in their Nations League Group A1 meeting at the Stade de France on Monday.

Zinedine Zidane secured his first home win in charge, three days after a 1-1 draw against Italy, thanks to his substitutes.

Belgium’s Dodi Lukebakio put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute, but Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise, all on the bench at kickoff, turned the match on its head in the final 15 minutes.

Doue levelled with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box in the 77th minute. Four minutes later, Cherki put his side in front, finishing from an Olise cross.

Olise then completed a brace just before and during stoppage time, the second latching onto Doue’s slick pass after a clinical break.

In the same Nations League group, Italy secured a 3-1 victory over Turkiye with Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito scoring. Turkiye’s Aral Simsir had equalised earlier, just after the hour mark.

France sit top of Group A1 with 10 points, three ahead of Italy and four clear of Belgium. Turkiye are at the bottom with four defeats from four matches.

France head to Milan to face the Azzurri in their penultimate group game next month before hosting Turkiye.

EXPLAINER

Only one point separates Group A1 leaders France and second-placed Belgium before Monday’s clash.

Who: France vs Belgium
What: UEFA Nations League 2026-2027, Group A1 match
Where: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
When: Monday at 8:45pm (18:45 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 15:45 GMT.

Two-time world champions France host Belgium in the last of four Nations League games played over this extended international window.

Monday’s clash in Saint-Denis pits the top two teams in A1 against each other with France looking to complete the double in this league phase after their initial victory in Brussels in late September.

France and Belgium both enter this match with their creative stars in red-hot form. Michael Olise scored a goal in back-to-back matches while Kevin De Bruyne’s double steered Belgium to victory last time out.

However, Belgium will have to do without De Bruyne for the Les Bleus test with the midfield sensation suspended alongside their captain, Youri Tielemans.

Here’s all you need to know about France vs Belgium:

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The UEFA Nations League was founded in 2018 to reduce the number of friendlies and give nations competitive matches against equally ranked teams.

In this competition, countries from across Europe participate in a league structure that features promotion and relegation.

How does the UEFA Nations League work?

The teams compete across four divisions, facing every other team in their group twice: once at home and once away. The league phase ends in November.

In the top-most league, League A, the top two teams from each group go through to the quarterfinals, which will take place in March.

The finals will again be contested between four teams. The host and the dates of the finals have not been confirmed yet.

How have France and Belgium played in the Nations League?

France lead Group A1 with seven points from three games.

• Turkiye 0-1 France
• Belgium 0-1 France
• France 1-1 Italy

Belgium are second in the group with six points.

• Italy 0-2 Belgium
• Belgium 0-1 France
• Belgium 3-0 Turkiye

France vs Belgium: Head-to-head

• Matches: 79
• French wins: 30
• Belgian wins: 30
• Draws: 19

France vs Belgium: Form guide

France: D-W-W-L-L

Belgium: W-L-W-L-W

What have the coaches said?

Zinedine Zidane (France): “We always want to win. We are competitors. The most important thing is to prepare well for matches and to feel comfortable on the pitch. I am very satisfied with the mentality I have seen so far. I have clear convictions. I love the French national team, and I have top-class players, but I know it will take time. I am very happy with what I have seen.”

Mark van Bommel (Belgium): “France have an exceptional amount of quality. They’re a complete team. In the first match, however, we should have taken at least a point. So it is possible tomorrow. We have to be top in all areas.”

Team news and predicted lineups

France

Matteo Guendouzi and Dayot Upamecano are suspended, and Warren Zaire-Emery is out with a thigh injury.

Probable France XI: Mike Maignan; Pierre Kalulu, Jeremy Jacquet, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert; Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha, Eduardo Camavinga; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue

Belgium

De Bruyne and Tielemans are both suspended after picking up two yellow cards in successive matches.

Probable Belgium XI: Senne Lammens; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Nicolas Raskin, Romeo Lavia, Hans Vanaken; Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere, Mika Godts

Brits are continuing to face delays due to the EES system, and queues of five hours were reported just last week at a popular city break destination for those visiting from outside the EU

European Entry/Exit System (EES) continues for Brits with a major European airport confirming that non-EU visitors faced five hour queues last week.

The Brussels Times reports that non-European travellers, including Brits and Americans, were forced to go through staffed control posts leading the the huge queues. In a statement to the Belgian news outlet, the airport confirmed that additional police officers are being trained for the border control posts and they were seeking “structural solutions”.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson from Brussels Airport said: “Since the introduction of the European Entry/Exit System (EES), border checks for travellers covered by this system have taken longer, as is the case at many other airports. In addition, passengers from certain non-EU countries can no longer use the e-gates. As a result, more passengers need to go through staffed border control points, which has increased waiting times.”

They added: “All parties involved continue to work together on long-term solutions.” The airport spokesperson confirmed the airport had added two extra border control booths for the Federal Police at departures, in addition to two booths that were added at arrivals before the introduction of EES.

They went on to say: “The Federal Police also increased staffing levels on a permanent basis during the summer, and further reinforcements have been planned. More police officers are also being trained to ensure sufficient staffing at border control points, and additional infrastructure needs are being assessed.

“In addition, 60 EES pre-registration kiosks have been installed. These allow non-EU travellers to submit some of their information in advance. The connection between the e-gates and the pre-registration kiosks is still being tested so that, in the future, passengers from certain non-EU countries may be able to use the e-gates again.”

EES launched nearly a year ago, on October 12 2025, before officially becoming operational on April 10 2026. However, over the summer months holidaymakers have reported a myriad of issues with the system.

But no sooner was it launched than countries started to pause, or even shelve the scheme, due to the huge queues snaking through airports. Nine countries have put full EES implementation on hold, despite the fact that the EU said there would be no extension to the deadline. Holiday hotspots such as Greece briefly made an exemption for British holidaymakers over the summer, which has now been reversed, putting them back in the queue.

Over on Reddit, a poster took to the R/Belgium sub with a post titled: “Brussels airport queues should be a national scandal”, asking: “Why are they so bad? EES isn’t new anymore. They hardly have anyone checking passports. Are people in Belgium aware that queuing for 1hr + isn’t normal?”

One poster replied: “If you’ve got a kid under 12 you have to go through a manual check and can’t use the kiosks, and while usually shorter than the all passports line, it can sometimes be long as well. We waited 20-30 minutes last Friday mid morning. The all passport line was all the way along the back of the security screening area. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen more than 3 agents working and an all passport line shorter that didn’t back up into the arrivals corridor. “

Reviews of the airport on Google tell the same story. One visitor said: “The passport control situation at Brussels Airport is completely unacceptable. Every time I arrive and have to use the “All Nationals” queue, I face the same problem: an enormous line and an extremely long wait, sometimes lasting hours.”

They added: “This is an international airport and one of the main gateways to the capital of Europe. Yet the passport control capacity seems completely inadequate for the number of arriving passengers. Hundreds of people are forced to stand in line after long flights because there are simply not enough control points operating to process passengers within a reasonable time.”

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

Gary “Angry” Anderson, front man for the Australian rock band Rose Tattoo, has died. He was 79.

News of Anderson’s death came via the band’s Instagram account, which said he died Monday in Sydney. The vocalist had suffered cardiac arrest weeks earlier during Rose Tattoo‘s farewell tour in Europe.

“Angry was a devoted father, and much-loved member of his friends, bandmates and the wider music and entertainment community. His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew and loved him both here in Australia and overseas,” the band said.

Reports of Anderson’s health problems first came to light when the band canceled an appearance at the Alcatraz Metal Festival in Kortrijk, Belgium, on Aug. 9, stating on their Instagram account that the singer was in the hospital due to a “medical issue.”

By Aug. 10, Rose Tattoo had canceled all remaining shows on the band’s European tour as Anderson stayed in the hospital. Three weeks later, it was revealed via the band’s Instagram that the rocker’s medical issue was cardiac arrest and that he was receiving treatment and care.

Anderson was the most veteran member of Rose Tattoo, a hard rock and blues band that formed in Sydney in 1976. The group is known for tracks including “Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw” and “Bad Boy for Love,” and some of their discography was covered by Guns N’ Roses early in their career, including “Nice Boys” for the 1986 EP “Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide.” Rose Tattoo would later open for the L.A. hard rock band while on tour in Australia in 1993 for their Use Your Illusion Tour.

In the band’s bio, bandmates are described as as “four tall, gaunt men with unnaturally spikey red hair” — which at the time included Pete Wells on slide guitar, Ian Rilen on bass, Dillas “Digger” Royall on drums and Mick Cocks on guitar. Anderson was described as the “fifth out front stocky and furiously shaven” member, standing at 5 feet, 1 inch tall.

“[They] aren’t an average sight,” the biography states. “Even in the realm of Rock ’n’ Roll excesses.”

Apart from his role in the band, Anderson gained fame internationally as a solo artist when his debut 1987 single, “Suddenly,” earned critical acclaim and appeared on the charts in Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The track was used as the wedding theme in an episode of the Australian soap opera “Neighbours,” in which characters Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell got married.

Anderson was also a youth advocate, reportedly serving as an ambassador for national child protection campaigns. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corp., he has been connected to numerous children’s hospitals, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, as well as the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Canteen, a support organization for youths with cancer.

In 1993, he was made a member of the Order of Australia for his role as a youth advocate.

After longtime members of Rose Tattoo died from various forms of cancer, Anderson became an advocate for men’s health and conducted campaigns to raise awareness about prostate cancer in 2007. Wells, the guitarist, died of prostate cancer in 2006 at age 59.

Anderson stirred controversy with forays into politics. In 2007 he espoused controversial views about immigration and Muslim communities in Australia. In 2016, he was endorsed as Senate candidate by the Australian Liberty Alliance, a right-wing group that opposes Muslim immigration.

Anderson’s son Liam was killed in 2018. The singer is survived by children Galen, Roxanee and Blaine Anderson.