Todd Buell

Not now, Saharan Dust!

I loved the line in the article about the woman putting up 'Bills mafia' on her door in Albania and people being wondering about it, as the country has an organized crime problem.

One day, just one day, I would love a policymaker to say, 'Economic environment leaves room for complacency.'

A Happy Independence Day to my friends in Estonia!

Brussels folks, we noticed a sign today saying that the Central Station isn't accessible for persons with reduced mobility until September 2026. I think it's due to renovations, but still: how is this okay? What are people in wheelchairs, with walkers, crutches, etc. supposed to do? Not travel?

Leading Belgian opera singer José Van Dam dies aged 85 Leading Belgian opera singer José Van Dam dies aged 85

"Belgium loses its greatest ambassador of lyrical art, and the world loses a legend who, through his genius, shaped the history of opera in the 20th and 21st centuries."

A thought on the reports that Lagarde is leaving the ECB early: Is there a risk her doing this would actually help the political extremes? They can just point to her and say 'she's running away so the elites can replace her. See, it's all rigged.' Or something like that?

Yes, but I was pleased to see a new center of cash machines open recently at Frere Orban Place. It's not Round Point Schuman, but it's still 'EU quarter.'

I get it that this is frustrating for people, but this is how the system works in the US, I believe. I wouldn't dream of trying to enter the US on my Belgian passport. I think it might even be illegal.

Well, Brussels friends, it looks like our regional nightmare is finally over. Habemus government!

I'm one of the three

Washington Post Begins Laying Off More Than 300 Journalists

Very sad to see the Washington Post cutting 300 reporting positions.

It was a honour to be a freelancer for 4 years at the foreign desk. Even with a small team in Europe, we managed to produce great journalism!

Good luck for those looking for new gigs.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...

Personally, I'd say Sept. 10, 2001 was the last good day.

I began my career as a journalist on Feb. 2, 2009. Then I was a junior ECB correspondent. Fast forward 17 years later to the day and I edited an article about the ECB that reminded me of things I wrote about years ago. I'll think about this if I ever doubt what I've accomplished professionally.

Spain to grant legal status to half a million undocumented migrants | CNN Spain has announced it will grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, in a move that goes against a trend of anti-immigration rhetoric and policies in the United States and much of Europe.

Madrid, Spain — Spain has announced it will grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, in a move that goes against a trend of anti-immigration rhetoric and policies in the United States and much of Europe.

Pope Leo’s Top U.S. Ally Says ‘No’ to Funding ICE Cardinal Joseph Tobin calls ICE a “lawless organization” perpetuating a “machinery of death” and urges Congress to defund Trump’s deportation force.

NEW: One of Pope Leo XIV’s top U.S. allies, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, is calling for the defunding of ICE.

Tobin says the “lawless organization” is a “machinery of death.”

This marks the first time a senior Church leader has called for ICE to be defunded. More are expected in the coming days.

At first, I read 'Flanderised Flanders' and thought, when did Springfield move to the northern half of Belgium?

Video of someone taking out the empty bottles on a Sunday might do the trick too!

Makes me think of a paradoxical question my grandfather used to ask: Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? (He was from New Jersey).

I remember hearing it as a teenager in the 1990s on Maine Public Radio. Not that far from Nova Scotia, at least geographically.

Of 'The last of Barrett's Privateers' fame?

Catholic personnel in the US military could in good conscience consider disobeying orders to attack Greenland, according to Archbishop of the Military Services Timothy Broglio.

EU chief diplomat Kallas: World’s woes mean it’s time to start drinking High representative says global events mean now could be a good time to hit the bottle.

No Dry January this year :)

Happy New Year! A gentle reminder to journalists and others: 'This year' now refers to 2026. 'Last year' refers to 2025. 'Next year' refers to 2027.

Just booked my first trip using my Belgian passport. Yay!

German comedian Jan Böhmermann to post video of a song about Pierra-Pierra-Pierra-KAKIS

But would I be right to say that if they've come up with a name, maybe they're close to an agreement? Probably wishful thinking.

Where I live there is neither snow nor are there orange trees; there is only the gray skies and the rain, the monotony that is interrupted by the vehicles crowding the roads to the beast of power. (Thank you for reading the beginning of my novel).

Where I live there is neither snow nor orange trees :(

Isn't that basically a scene in Whit Stillman's film 'Barcelona'? 'Everybody talks about the sub-text, but nobody ever talks about what's above the sub-text.' 'That would be the text.'