Heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including German President Joachim Gauck and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, are gathering at an Allied memorial to commemorate the start of World War I.
In a spirit of reconciliation among former enemies, Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed Gauck under cloudy skies for the late-morning ceremony amid pomp and military honor.
Germany invaded neutral Belgium on Aug. 4, 1914 as part of a planned attack on France. By nightfall, Britain had joined the war.
The war was not expected to last long. Instead, over four years, the continent was plunged into unknown hardship and misery.
Further remembrance events are planned in Belgium and Britain throughout the day.
Heads of state and foreign dignitaries, including German President Joachim Gauck and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, are gathering at an Allied memorial to commemorate the start of World War I.
Swiss authorities say two passenger ships have collided with a cargo vessel that had gotten into difficulty on the Rhine river in the city of Basel.
Australia's government is considering intervening in the case of a baby with Down syndrome who was left with a Thai surrogate mother by his Australian biological parents, with a minister saying Monday that the child might be entitled to Australian citizenship.
Posted by Unknown on Monday, August 4, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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