Brussels – Muntpunt in Brussels has reopened following substantial renovations that introduced an open auditorium, a revamped children’s department, an upgraded digital zone, and a new youth café area, confirmed Director Roel Van Den Sichtenhorst, reports 24brussels.
The central library and cultural hub for the Flemish community has undergone a transformation to enhance its role beyond traditional library functions, positioning itself as a vibrant meeting space for the city, according to VRT News.
Director Van Den Sichtenhorst highlighted that the new auditorium will host a variety of events including talks, readings, and presentations that mirror the daily life of Brussels. This redesigned space is intended to foster public dialogue while centering on reading and education.
Transformation of Muntpunt After Renovation
The renovation included a complete overhaul of the children’s department and an extensive redesign of the third floor. The digital zone has also seen improvements, providing enhanced access to technology and study resources.
Additionally, the new youth area in the café is equipped with PlayStation consoles. Officials stated that these updates aim to create a more welcoming environment for visitors of all ages.
To mark the reopening, special public events were organized. On Sunday, September 20, 2025, Muntpunt hosted an open mic session along with a performance by the Letterfretters, which emphasized Dutch language and literature.
Director Van Den Sichtenhorst expressed that the reopening is met with “great enthusiasm” and encouraged the public to explore the revitalized spaces. The library is also set to participate in Car-Free Sunday, offering visitors opportunities to purchase books and DVDs at discounted prices.
Since its inception in 2012, Muntpunt has served as the primary Dutch-language library and cultural centre in Brussels, situated on Muntplein near the opera house. It was established to be a central gathering point for the Flemish community and has evolved into a crucial venue for events, discussions, and cultural initiatives. The recent renovation, completed in September 2025, represents the first major update since its opening and was undertaken to meet the evolving needs of the city.
“Time is of the essence, and we cannot wait any longer,” Republican Rep. Chris Smith said about his legislation helping release detained Americans in China.
Due to the attack, Heathrow Airport advised travelers not to arrive more than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic service.
The new order requires a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Trump administration said on Friday that it would raise application fees for the H-1B visa.
A new $100,000 annual fee is set to be required, affecting workers across tech and finance.
Read the memos sent to employees at Amazon and Microsoft about the changes.
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that will add a $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications, leading some major tech companies to warn visa holders to remain in the US or get back by Sunday’s deadline.
Business Insider has reviewed memos sent to staff at Amazon and Microsoft about the changes. Read them here.
Amazon
H-1B Executive Order, Sep 19, 2025
Amazonians,
We’ve reviewed the Presidential Proclamation on H-1B visas that was released today and are actively working to gain greater clarity. Here’s what you need to know right now: The proclamation creates a travel restriction starting September 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT (9:01 p.m. PDT tomorrow). After this deadline, individuals cannot enter the U.S. on H-1B status without an additional $100,000 payment associated with their petition. Recommended actions for you to take:
If you have H-1B status and are in the U.S.: Stay in the country for now, even if you have travel planned for the immediate future. We will continue to provide updates as more details are available.
If you have H-4 dependent status: We also recommend you remain in the U.S., though the proclamation doesn’t specifically mention H-4 dependents.
If you have H-1B or H-4 status and are outside the U.S.: Try to return before tomorrow’s deadline if possible. We realize this is short notice but returning soon is advisable and you should make every effort possible to clear U.S. customs before 12:00 a.m. EDT (9:00 p.m. PDT) on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
At this time, if you have an H1-B or H-4 status and are unable to return before the deadline, we advise that you do not attempt to enter the U.S. until further guidance is provided.
Microsoft
IMPORTANT ADVISORY: New travel restriction for H-1B visa holders
(Updated at 6:04 pm pacific with the intake form for those outside of the U.S.)
Hi all–We have now reviewed the actual text of today’s Presidential Proclamation on H-1B visas, which you can find here: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers — The White House.
Here’s what you need to know:
First, the proclamation is structured as a travel restriction. Beginning at 12:01 am eastern time on September 21, 2025 (so, 9:01 pm Pacific time tomorrow), individuals will not be able to enter/return to the U.S. in H-1B status unless their petition has an additional $100,000 payment associated with it.
What you need to do:
If you are in H-1B status and are in the U.S., you should remain in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. We know this may interrupt your travel plans. But the critical thing is to stay in the U.S. in order to avoid being denied reentry.
While the proclamation doesn’t reference H-4 dependents, we also recommend that H-4s remain in the U.S.
If you are in H-1B or H-4 status and are currently outside the U.S., we strongly recommend that you do what you can to return to the U.S. tomorrow before the deadline. The Proclamation was released within the last 30 minutes, so we realize that there isn’t much time to make sudden travel arrangements. But again, we strongly encourage you to do your best to return. If you are not able to return, please use this form to let us know about your situation. Please only complete that form if you are outside of the U.S. We want to be able to follow up with each individual and provide support and guidance as they try to return within the next 28 hours.
We will also be reaching out to everyone by email later today to make sure everyone is aware.
The proclamation does not impact any other visa statuses. (Note, we have started receiving emails from people in other statuses like L-1 and TN asking about impacts. I’ll reiterate that this does not impact people in other statuses. If you refrain from sending in questions asking about that, it will help us divert our resources to help those who are impacted. Thanks!)
There is other content in the proclamation about the pause in processing H-1B petitions for individuals who are outside the U.S. At this time, we do not interpret this to immediately impact extensions of H-1B status or changes of status to H-1B as long as you are currently in the U.S. We’ll share more about that later.
I know these developments are creating anxiety and uncertainty for many of you. While we don’t have all of the answers right now, we ask that you prioritize the recommendations above.
Microsoft declined to comment. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
x.com/gsideflow/status/19690… Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill: mentality and psychology of the Russian Byzantian “Symphonia” are in their common homophobic roots. – Google Search google.com/search?q=Vladimir… The phrase “mentality and psychology of the Russian Byzantian ‘Symphonia’ are in their common homophobic roots” refers to the alignment between Vladimir Putin’s government and the Russian Orthodox Church under Patriarch Kirill, suggesting their shared opposition to LGBTQ+ rights is a key element of their relationship. This alliance draws on historical concepts of Byzantine governance and promotes “traditional values” to bolster nationalist narratives. [1, 2, 3] Byzantine symphonia and Russian ideology
The concept of “symphonia”: This Byzantine model defines a harmonious interdependence between state power (the emperor) and divine authority (the patriarch), with neither being fully subordinate to the other. In this arrangement, the state handles secular matters and the church manages divine ones. Critics argue that in modern Russia, the church has sacrificed its moral independence by aligning too closely with Kremlin power. A tool for power: For Russia’s rulers, the historical concept of Byzantine “caesaropapism”—where the emperor was also head of the church—justified absolute authority. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Moscow’s rulers claimed the mantle of the “Third Rome” and the heir to the Roman Empire, adopting the title “Tsar” (from Caesar) to cement their power. Today, this tradition helps legitimize Putin’s ambition to restore Russian dominance. [4, 5, 6]
Putin and Kirill’s alliance
Mutual support: Patriarch Kirill has been a vocal and long-time supporter of President Putin, even calling Putin’s rise to power a “miracle of God”. In return, Putin has provided the Russian Orthodox Church with significant state support, increased media visibility, and the return of state assets. Weaponizing religion: As political allies, Putin and Kirill present their combined vision of a culturally rooted Russia standing against a “decadent” and “sinful” West. During the war in Ukraine, Kirill has framed the conflict as a “metaphysical struggle” against “evil forces,” providing a spiritual justification for the invasion. [1, 7, 8, 9]
The common thread of homophobia
State-sanctioned homophobia: Both Putin and Kirill have publicly condemned homosexuality, with their views aligning with a broader political and religious campaign to promote “traditional values”. Key actions include:
“Gay Propaganda” laws: Russia first passed a law in 2013 banning the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” to minors, later expanded in 2022 to apply to all citizens. Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage: In 2020, Russia amended its constitution to define marriage exclusively as a heterosexual union. “Extremist” designation: In 2023, the Supreme Court labeled the “international LGBT public movement” as an “extremist organization,” effectively criminalizing LGBTQ+ activism and simple expressions of solidarity, like displaying a rainbow flag.
Psychological and political role: The focus on homophobia serves several purposes for the Putin-Kirill alliance:
It defines a “moral enemy” in the West, which is portrayed as threatening Russia’s cultural and spiritual identity. It creates a common rallying point, uniting nationalist and religious conservatives around a shared “traditional values” narrative. It reinforces a rigid, top-down hierarchy consistent with the autocratic political traditions inherited from the Byzantine model. [1, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
