Briefly

BELGIUM

Trial starts over 2016 suicide bombings

Belgium on Wednesday opened its largest criminal trial, of suspected extremists linked to the March 2016 suicide bombings in Brussels and its airport that killed 32 people. The proceedings, held under tight security in NATO's former headquarters, have nine defendants — five of whom have already been convicted in France for attacks in Paris that killed 130 people on Nov 13, 2015. The trial, set to last until the end of June, will undoubtedly revive painful memories for the roughly 1,000 victims registered to attend. Lawyers said many are seeking to understand why they or their loved ones became targets of an extremist attack.

FRANCE

Baguette makes it onto UNESCO list

The humble baguette — the crunchy ambassador for French baking around the world — is being added to the United Nations' list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity. UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French flute — made only of flour, water, salt, and yeast — deserved UN recognition, after France's culture ministry warned of a "continuous decline" in the number of traditional bakeries, with nearly 400 closing every year over the past half-century. The UN cultural agency's chief, Audrey Azoulay, said the decision honors more than just bread; it recognizes the "savoir-faire of artisanal bakers "and "a daily ritual".

Agencies Via Xinhua