Sally Tipper

Belgium, Brussels

Deputy Editor at Flanders Today

Falling slowly. Rain later. Moderate, occasionally poor.

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Articles

15-year-old girl dies after collision with bus at Genk station

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Region Limburg A 15-year-old girl has died after she was hit by a bus near Genk railway station on Thursday morning, police have confirmed. The accident happened just before noon on Europalaan. The girl fell under the bus while crossing the carriageway. The emergency services arrived quickly but the girl died at the scene.
Molenbeek, Namur and Leuven shortlisted for 2030 European Capital of Culture title

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Belgium, Cyprus and a third country – an EEA or EFTA member, or a candidate or potential candidate for EU membership – will share the Capital of Culture title in 2030. The shortlisted applicants now have a year to develop their project. The three winning bids will be announced next year. A jury will visit the candidates in the autumn before making their decision.
WATCH: Golden orb and rooster restored to church tower after repairs

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Region Limburg A golden orb and rooster have been returned to the church tower in a village in Limburg following refurbishment. An inspection in March revealed that the church spire in Paal had subsided, so the orb and the rooster were brought down while the steeple underwent extensive renovation. Inside the orb, workers found a tube containing a church charter and a collection of Belgian francs.
Ghent trials anti-slip road coating to cut cycling accidents on tram tracks

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

There are an estimated 500 cycling accidents a year on tram tracks in Ghent. In an attempt to reduce that number, De Lijn has been applying an anti-slip coating to metal surfaces between the tracks at Emilie Braunplein and Cataloniëstraat outside the city hall. The rougher surface should help prevent cyclists from slipping in wet weather. “We had been planning this for some time, but partly due to the weather there was a delay.
Venezuelan opposition leaders awarded European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

This year’s annual Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s human rights award, has been given to Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González of Venezuela. Machado was nominated as a candidate of the democratic opposition to stand against radical-left president Nicolas Maduro in the primaries for the presidential elections in July this year. She was disqualified by the regime before the election.
Estimated cost of North Sea energy island spirals to €7bn

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Climate & Environment Energie The planned energy island off the Belgian coast is likely to cost at least €7 billion, instead of the initial estimate of €2 billion. The island is intended to connect new offshore wind farms to land and eventually be connected to an international wind farm network. The Princess Elisabeth Island was to be the showpiece of federal energy policy, built by Belgian dredging giants Deme and De Nul.
Backyard ultra runners break world record

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Frank Gielen, Merijn Geerts and Ivo Steyaert ran for a total of around 94 hours in the woods around Beverdonk, Antwerp province. Every hour, they ran a 6.7km loop, with a short break before setting off again. More than 900 participants in 63 countries took part. Once the three Flemish runners completed their 109th lap, breaking the previous record of 108, they decide to do one final victory lap. “I didn’t think it was possible. It’s fantastic to do this with friends,” said Steyaert.
Risk of medication errors in residential care centres increases

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

The organisation studied the medication policy of 255 care centres, looking at procedures and safety steps such as recording, storing and properly labelling medication. “In the majority of residential care homes, things are going very well and the medication policy works brilliantly,” says Johan Staes, CEO of Vlozo, the sector federation of private care providers. However, the study shows shortcomings in a number of areas, such as the registration of administered medication.
Investigative journalist collective Lost in Europe wins Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize

Oct 24, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Fourteen media outlets from across Europe are part of the collective, including VRT NWS, De Standaard and Knack in Belgium. Other partners come from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. They found that more than 50,000 unaccompanied minors disappeared between 2021 and 2023, and it is suspected that the true figure is even higher.
Belgum’s oldest citizen celebrates 109th birthday with a vintage car ride and a beer

Sep 26, 2024 | vrt.be | Sally Tipper

Denise Waelbers, the oldest person in Belgium, turned 109 on Thursday and celebrated with a ride in a vintage car through the streets of her home town. Her secret to a long life? “Basically, I do what I like to do, and drink a beer now and then.” Her birthday drive ended at a local bar. Denise Waelbers was born in 1915, in the middle of the First World War. Although she lives in Mortsel now, she was born and raised in Kerkhoven, in Limburg.