The Board of Directors of the National Railway Company of Belgium, the NMBS / SNCB, is set to award the contract for the new MR30 / AM30 trains to manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from the Basque Country in Spain, Thibault Lapers‘ mobilithib blog has learned from a source.
Tag: Palestine
BELGIUM | Council of State backs NMBS / SNCB’s choice of Spanish CAF for multi-billion train order
The Council of State has dismissed an appeal by Siemens and rejected a request from NGOs, clearing the way for Belgian state railway NMBS / SNCB to move forward with its plans to order hundreds of new trainsets from Spanish manufacturer CAF. A ruling on a parallel case brought by French rival Alstom is still…
NMBS / SNCB’s AM30 / MR30 order faces political and legal headwinds as costs of delay mount
The Belgian national rail operator NMBS / SNCB is under mounting pressure over its planned order of new trains from Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), as political debate, legal challenges and international criticism threaten to delay the procurement.
Antwerp Pride 2026 from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 August
The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride took place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme was “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focused on belonging. Belonging…
Open letter and gathering speak up for Palestine on Tuesday 5 August, the eve of Antwerp Pride 2025
The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging…
ANTWERP | ‘These Branching Moments’ – ‘.tiff 2025′ – ”OM/MOTHER’: 3 new exhibitions at FOMU, from 28 June 2025
Starting Saturday 28 June 2025, Antwerp‘s photography museum FOMU presents three new exhibitions. ‘These Branching Moments‘, ‘.tiff 2025‘ and ‘‘OM/MOTHER‘.
Queer March Ghent 2025 from 1 to 31 March
Queer March Ghent is changing its sense of the word March. Instead of being a foot-based activity you could call a walk or parade, ‘March’ now refers to the month of March. A month full of queer activities in Ghent. There will be a protest march for women’s* rights though on Saturday 8 March. On…
UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024
With 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals recorded globally, 2024 marked the recovery of international tourism from the worst crisis in the sector’s history. A majority of destinations welcomed more international tourists in 2024 than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, while visitor spending also continued to grow strongly. For 2025, more growth is predicted.
UPDATE | 65 countries where gay sex is illegal in 2025
The tally of countries with anti-homosexuality laws has again risen to 65 with last month’s official publication of a homophobic new penal code in Mali in West Africa, Erasing 76 Crimes reports. This means that in January 2025, 65 countries (and other entities) criminalise gay sex.
ISTANBUL | Galataport – Sirkeci Railway Station – Hagia Sophia – Topkapi Park
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…
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