Aalst Carnival pokes fun at everything, everyone

Belgium's annual carnival celebrations kicked off in Aalst at the weekend with the 88th edition of the famous parade, featuring floats and costumes depicting current events from around the world. No subject was off limits for the float builders, who poked fun at everything, from the war in Syria and terrorist group IS to soldiers doing their Christmas shopping and television personality Gert Verhulst on the lookout for a girlfriend in the new pop group K3. About 80,000 spectators watched the 6km-long parade on Sunday, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

More highlights from the parade this year include moving companies that operate between Brussels and Paris, countless terrorists and soldiers, Belgian cyclist Femke Van Den Driessche, Prince Laurent, Queen Fabiola and public health minister Maggie De Block's 'sugar tax'.