Briefly

BELGIUM

116 arrested at protest over black man's death

Police made 116 arrests after a demonstration in Brussels over the death of a young black man who collapsed while in police custody. Police said most of the violence took place after a largely peaceful demonstration on Wednesday of about 500 protesters- some holding "Black Lives Matter" signs－ended in downtown Brussels."A group of demonstrators (50-100 people) remained on the spot and caused various incidents and degradations," police said, adding that several officers were injured in the clashes. According to a police statement, protesters threw projectiles, set fires and damaged street furniture and police vehicles. They also smashed a window and a door at a police station. In all, 116 people were arrested, including 30 minors, and one protester was tended to by ambulance services, police said.

INDIA

Virus fails to deter massive pilgrimage

Hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims descended on the banks of the Ganges River on Thursday trusting in faith rather than masks to shield them against the coronavirus pandemic during the giant Kumbh Mela festival. Up to 1 million people were expected in the city of Haridwar for the first day of the pilgrimage, even though India has the world's second-highest number of cases, more than 10 million, and has recorded more than 150,000 deaths. Most of the hordes, aged between three and over 80, who walked into the revered but freezing river in the morning mist did not have masks. Kumbh Mela is recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO, and its last edition－in Allahabad in 2019- attracted around 55 million people over 48 days.

Agencies Via Xinhua