"Facing highest threat alert, Belgians bring out their cats"

"This is surreal Belgium."

What police force would start playing along with a practical joke when the capital is facing its highest state of alert and its most-wanted fugitive is still on the run? Right!

Late Sunday, police asked people to stop commenting on ongoing raids in social media to avoid tipping off suspects.

En masse, they did more than that, becoming mischievous within minutes.

The hashtag #BrusselsLockdown suddenly shifted from serious to humorous, tweeting a flood of pictures of all-too-innocent cats in all kinds of situations — holding their paws up as if captured, posing as police snipers with automatic weapons, and ignoring police warnings to stay away from windows.

One tweet had a cat wearing a bowler hat, the trademark of Rene Magritte, Belgium's greatest surrealist.

Within hours, federal prosecutor Eric Van Der Syp said police wanted to thank "social media users because they took the need of this operation into account."

Police joined the party on Monday, posting a picture of a dish overflowing with dry cat food "For the cats that came to our aid last evening. Serve yourself! #BrusselsLockdown"

Belgian chef invents chocolate snorting device

"Based on old Victorian snuff shooters, the device was invented by Belgian chocolatier Dominique Persoone as a novel way to enjoy his favourite sweet treat."

He originally made the device for a Rolling Stones party in 2007, but the concept has taken off and been used by culinary innovators such as Heston Blumenthal at his restaurant The Fat Duck.

Diners are given a special mix of Dominican Republic or Peruvian cocoa powder mixed with raspberry, ginger and mint to snort.

I mentioned to Victoria that Valentines might never be the same again.

"Belgium considering whether to allow sick CHILDREN to end their own lives"

"Euthanasia is already legal for people over the age of 18 in the country and now it may be extended to cover children which is something no other country has done."

The same bill would offer the right to die to adults with early dementia.

''It is strange that minors are considered legally incompetent in key areas, such as getting married, but might (be able) to decide to die,' Catholic Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard testified."

DailyMail