Today's Top Stories - August 21, 2012

Saudi Arabia funds radical schools in Belgium

Justice minister Annemie Turtleboom (pictured) says she has been told by the State Security that Saudi Arabia finances “around ten” schools in Belgium where not only Arabic but also a radical current of Islam are being taught. “In some cases, schools are opened at the express request of – and using funds coming from – the Saudi regime,” she said. “This is consistent with the Saudi authorities’ desire to spread the official version of Islam preached there, Wahhabism – a doctrine based on a strict interpretation of Islam. By funding these schools, the Saudi regime aims to recruit the pupils to its universities so that students teach and spread Wahhabism.” State Security warns that such schools are not harmless as they constitute a problem in the Belgian authorities’ fight against religious radicalism. 

Private investigators unregulated

The thousand or so private investigators working in Belgium do so with total impunity, warns Jan Cappelle of the Federal Public Service for Home Affairs in an interview with financial daily De Tijd. “The 1991 law regulating the profession of private investigator is totally out of date,” he said. “We hand out permits but we can only guess as to whether people go too far. There is no clear wording on how far they can go in order to get information.” Home secretary Joëlle Milquet plans to have the legislation reviewed. “There is nothing in the law regulating shadowing people,” she explained. “Private investigations must take place with total transparency.” 

Rise and fall of catering school registrations fuelled by TV cookery shows

The success of gastronomy programmes on Belgian TV has led to a rise in the number of registrations to catering courses. L’École Hôtelière Provinciale de Namur, one of the country’s leading catering schools, said that between 2007 and 2011 the school’s population had increased by 20 percent. Director Ariane Warnon explained that TV programmes had shone a light on a profession that had previously been in the shade. “It has become a more attractive profession and more seductive,” she said. But while registrations rise directly after the broadcasting of TV shows such as MasterChef and Un dîner presque parfait (pictured; the French-language equivalent of the UK’s Come Dine With Me), many drop out when they realise the reality of life in a professional kitchen does not match the glossy media image.

Rookie journalist faints live on TV

In a scene which is bound to become a hit on the internet and on end-of-year bloopers compilations, a young Belgian journalist fainted live on air while reporting outside the Ministry for Justice. Forty seconds into his report, Sébastien Degrave uttered a brief “excuse me” before dropping to the floor – a result of the oppressive heat combined with first-day nerves for the recent graduate. Luckily for him it was only a temporary mishap – he even saw the funny side of it when he tweeted, “I’m ok, don’t worry – at least the heat wave will have claimed one victim.” A video of the incident can be seen here. 

Belgian footballers light up opening day of English Premiership

The opening weekend of the new English Premiership season confirmed the ever-growing reputation of Belgian footballers on the international scene. Eden Hazard made his league debut for Chelsea, playing a part in both his team’s goals in a 2-0 win at Wigan. Romelu Lukaku, meanwhile, on loan from Chelsea, scored the second goal in West Bromwich Albion’s 3-0 demolition of Liverpool. Goalkeeper Sébastien Mignolet kept a clean sheet for Sunderland in a goalless draw against Arsenal (led by Thomas Vermaelen), and Vincent Kompany’s Manchester City beat newly promoted Southampton 3-2. Finally, last night Everton caused a major upset by beating Manchester United 1-0, courtesy of an unstoppable header by Marouane Fellaini (pictured). More is expected in the next few weeks, with fellow Belgians Yassine El Ghanassy, Jan Vertonghen and Kevin Mirallas yet to make their debuts for West Brom, Tottenham and Everton respectively.