Brussels correspondent, i newspaper Editor of The Brussels Times Magazine Waterslide tester https://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mvq5qqdaoc2cThe EU is ready to take a leap with Canada, despite the ocean between them. It seems unscripted, but the improvisation is a sign of the times. And, as ever, Britain gazes across the Channel and asks, "What does it mean focus?" https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/strong-new-obstacle-burnhams-brexit-reset-strong-477271517 Sep 2026 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvq5qqdaoc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mvcg4xyshk2oHalf a century ago, the Brussels metro's orange and aluminium trains opened their doors to ferry passengers into the future. An extraordinary engineering project, and still unfinished, it has today grown into the backbone of the capital’s transport system: https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels/2313503/brussels-metro-at-50-the-underground-railway-that-reshaped-the-capital12 Sep 2026 06:07 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvcg4xyshk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mutsdoswr22kVal Saint Lambert, the crystalmaker based in an abbey near Seraing, celebrates its bicentenary this year - making it older that Belgium itself. How did it survive for so long? https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2303240/the-crystal-phoenix-200-years-of-val-saint-lambert06 Sep 2026 10:36 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mutsdoswr22khttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mu2o3usucs2pAfter 40 years, the Palace of Justice in Brussels is finally free of scaffolding and clean...well, at least the front facade and the main portico, which were officially reopened today27 Aug 2026 10:44 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu2o3usucs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mtyocmhkd22hThe Brussels public transport operator, STIB/MIVB, has a great tribute to #DollyParton26 Aug 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyocmhkd22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mtr3cgd6ek2hIceland is voting on starting EU membership talks. Could this point the way for the UK? https://inews.co.uk/news/world/european-country-point-way-britain-rejoin-eu-471898723 Aug 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtr3cgd6ek2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3ms3gya4q3c24The town of Auronzo, in the Dolomites, has put sculptures of prehistoric creatures along its river. Don’t laugh - the dog was frightened by them.02 Aug 2026 07:19 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms3gya4q3c24https://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mrywmhpvgk2oThe rat pack: The Belgian idea helping reclaim the world's minefields: https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2253350/why-cambodia-built-a-statue-to-a-belgian-trained-rat01 Aug 2026 07:20 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrywmhpvgk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mqygcfqpak2oWhat does the EU think of Andy Burnham? https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/eu-exasperated-seventh-pm-wary-remainer-burnham-464365919 Jul 2026 09:03 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqygcfqpak2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mqvomliic22ehttps://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels-2/2234903/how-brussels-ended-up-with-europes-most-embarrassing-square-and-what-might-be-done-to-save-it18 Jul 2026 06:54 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqvomliic22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mqu4hql7oc2bhttps://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2233433/europes-top-rabbi-accuses-belgian-minister-of-appeasing-muslim-voters-over-circumcision-row-tbtb17 Jul 2026 15:57 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu4hql7oc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mqmsgva2mc2iRed Devil signs for Red Devils14 Jul 2026 18:08 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmsgva2mc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mqheeatuq22gVisited the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Idyllic12 Jul 2026 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqheeatuq22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mpxrpksw4s2wUS Ambassador to Belgium Bill White says there’s nothing fishy about his president calling the head of FIFA to demand they suspend the red card of a Team USA player. “Trump would never interfere,” he says. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you… https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2216471/trump-would-never-interfere-bill-white-defends-president-as-red-card-row-engulfs-belgium-clash-tbtb06 Jul 2026 09:29 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpxrpksw4s2whttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mpuyjewgsk2zNATO is holding a summit in Ankara this week. Europe has done all that Donald Trump has demanded, boosting spending and stepping up. However, his flaky mood could shatter any sense of unity and achievement. Me for the i: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/europe-building-nato-trump-wanted-own-cost-462066605 Jul 2026 06:53 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpuyjewgsk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mpqjkvybyk2mSpoke about the big USA 250 birthday bash in Brussels and the dire state of transatlantic relations on @euronews.com ' Brussels, My Love? podcast, with Méabh McMahon, Ian Lesser and Lina Aburous: https://podcasts.euronews.com/euronews-brussels-my-love/202607030500-us-party-split-brussels03 Jul 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpqjkvybyk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mpcn4ua42c2cMega electrical storm has erupted over Brussels tonight. It’s been like this for the past half hour27 Jun 2026 23:42 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpcn4ua42c2chttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mpboprliek2sCycled along the beautiful and tranquil Dender river this afternoon. Fun fact: The Dender, which is in Belgium, is also a tributary of the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC.27 Jun 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpboprliek2shttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mp3siipy222bBill White, the US ambassador to Belgium, is as Trumpian as his boss, insisting that everything is awesome - and doubters out there they are "morons or liars". He spoke to me ahead of the big US 250th birthday party in the Cinquantenaire in Brussels on Sunday: https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2206253/why-trumps-ambassador-to-belgium-insists-everything-is-going-perfectly25 Jun 2026 06:29 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp3siipy222bhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mowz4batx22oBelgium's railway company turns 100 this year. 🇧🇪🚆 Passenger numbers are rising. Climate goals should favour trains. Yet the real rail experience is often delays, strikes, overcrowding and crumbling stations. The new @BrusselsTimes.com Magazine asks if SNCB-NMBS is ready for its second century?23 Jun 2026 08:44 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mowz4batx22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mouugj4k6k2tTen years on from the #Brexit vote, the damage to the UK is clear enough. But how does the EU see this epic act of self-harm? My analysis of the chaotic decade, as viewed by Britain's friends in Europe: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/moved-on-brexit-boosting-eu-448142622 Jun 2026 12:15 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mouugj4k6k2thttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3moaq5xuwwc2sHe's the son of Hollywood legend Daniel Day-Lewis and grandson of playwright Arthur Miller. But Ronan Day-Lewis is striking out on his own - and his first European art show opened in Brussels on Thursday: https://www.brusselstimes.com/art-culture/2188055/why-ronan-day-lewis-brought-his-first-european-art-show-to-brussels14 Jun 2026 12:05 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3moaq5xuwwc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mmsxfyklyk2eActor Brett Goldstein got his beloved (and recently reprieved) Tottenham Hotspur into his new Netflix movie, Office Romance, with Jennifer Lopez. Goldstein plays a lawyer called Daniel Blanchflower - which also the name of Spurs' 1961 double-winning captain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11gcNa-TBRA27 May 2026 07:13 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmsxfyklyk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mmobeq5shk2u"We aren't believing hard enough!" [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 May 2026 10:28 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmobeq5shk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mlegxuszy227My first piece for @euronews.com, on why the EU will be wary of a weakened Starmer: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/08/why-a-weakened-starmer-will-worry-the-eu08 May 2026 19:16 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlegxuszy227https://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mlask33bt225Modern opera may sound melodramatic and intimidating, but its stories are very relevant to our lives today, composer Iain Bell says about his new show, Medusa, which premiered this week in Brussels Monnaie/Munt: https://www.brusselstimes.com/art-culture/2115921/211592107 May 2026 08:32 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlask33bt225https://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mjvnjxkld22xCall it Charles Michel unplugged. In The Brussels Times Magazine, Belgium’s former PM and ex-European Council President lets rip from an office overlooking his old seat of power - and launches a blistering critique of today’s EU leadership https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/2082613/after-power-after-europe-charles-michel-is-settling-the-score20 Apr 2026 04:38 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjvnjxkld22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mjr6w42ndc2cThe talk is getting louder. https://inews.co.uk/news/the-uk-is-giving-up-on-america-now-talk-of-a-brexit-u-turn-is-growing-louder-435924918 Apr 2026 10:06 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjr6w42ndc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/leocendro.bsky.social/post/3mitw5ftad22d"I'm good at language." [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Apr 2026 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:ib3sgdttbpsrsnejpp47xb4q/app.bsky.feed.post/3mitw5ftad22d