Stories from Antwerp · Belgium

The pedestrian tunnel under the Scheldt in Antwerp will be closed for at least 10 months starting tomorrow. The closure is required to facilitate necessary renovation works on the structure.

The United Arab Emirates will extradite an Antwerp-based drug criminal to Belgium. The man was sentenced in absentia to ten years in prison three years ago for leading a criminal network with his younger brother. The parents' home in Merkem had been targeted by attacks multiple times. The younger brother was previously extradited to Belgium one year ago.

The chemical industry is for Belgium, with companies like BASF and Bayer, but faces pressure from the US and China. Bluecam in Antwerp, a six-year-old incubator, supports new and sustainable chemical applications by providing space and assistance to various startups.

Pro-Palestinian students have ended their occupation of a campus at the University of Antwerp following a court order. The activists had been sleeping in tents in a central hallway for one week.

Increased vigilance is reported around Jewish institutions in Belgium, specifically in Antwerp. Military personnel are patrolling Jewish neighborhoods following incidents in the United Kingdom.

Antwerp diamond import and export transaction volumes increased by nearly 20 percent during the first quarter. Transaction volumes for diamond imports and exports in Antwerp increased by nearly 20 percent in the first quarter. The Antwerp World Diamond Centre reported that import and export volumes for round and polished diamonds in Antwerp grew by nearly 20% in the first quarter of this year. Round diamond imports specifically saw a 35.7% year-on-year increase. Some diamond producers have begun reducing transactions in traditional hubs like Dubai, UAE, due to rising security risks in the Middle East.

Import volumes for polished diamonds and other trade groups have increased by nearly 20% year-on-year. The source noted that finding a diamond is rare and not a consistent occurrence throughout the year. Diamond-making foundries are utilizing enormous rooms containing over 1,000 large diamond-making machines. The scale of production suggests there is no limit on the number of synthetic diamonds that can be made. This unlimited production capacity could essentially drive prices down indefinitely. A small stone was noted to be valued between $80,000 and $100,000. This expansion could lead to a decrease in synthetic diamond prices. Poland is conducting investments to build production capacity for HVL, a synthetic substitute for diesel fuel. The substance can be added to existing fuel at a one-to-one ratio.

A cargo loss incident has caused a 1.5-hour delay on the Antwerp ring road towards the Netherlands. The right and middle lanes are closed between Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor and Deurne.

An investigation by Vicky Jansen and Bill Bleek revealed that officials in the municipality of Antwerpen received instructions to avoid mentioning 'ProKit Plus' to parents and caregivers. The investigation utilized municipal documents to uncover that the specific name of the algorithm being deployed was being intentionally withheld. It remains unclear what specific data the ProKit Plus algorithm utilizes or the exact nature of its functions. The municipality has since withdrawn the instruction following the findings. This decision raises questions about transparency in AI implementation. The municipality is located in Antwerp.

A Polish football match concluded with a 1-1 draw. Krakowia pushed for a win in the second half, but Oskar Wójcik of Pasy was sent off, leaving them with ten men. Mateusz Klich scored a late equalizer for Krakowia from a free kick. Both teams attempted to score a winning goal in the final minutes but failed to convert. In the Europe Playoffs of football, Westerlo lost 2-4 to Antwerp. Westerlo played with ten men for most of the match after a red card, missing an opportunity to take the lead. Earlier, league leaders Racing Genk drew 1-1 with Standard.