CDE News - The Dispatch

Photo Story: Wendy Adriaens, the Belgian Ostrich Whisperer

Wendy Adriaens, owner of animal rescue farm 'De Passiehoeve' and nicknamed the Ostrich Whisperer, poses for a photo with three-year-old male ostrich Flodder, in Kalmthout, Belgium. Flodder and Wendy were…

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Photo Story: Belgium’s National Day celebrations in Brussels

King Philippe (3-R) and Queen Mathilde (3-L) of Belgium, along with (L-R) Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, and Prince Emmanuel, leave after attending the 'Te…

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Brussels braces for heat wave

Brussels will be engulfed by the heat wave that is set to hit Western Europe from the weekend onwards — and the city is bracing for the consequences. As the…

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Photo Story: Dinosaurs lurk on the beach in Middelkerke, Belgium

A child poses for a picture in front of a dinosaur sand sculpture that forms part of the sand sculpture festival 'Dinos in the Sand' on the beach of Middelkerke,…

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Belgium introduces new rules including age restrictions to keep e-scooter riders safe and off the pavement

Belgium is set to tackle an often-aggravating new feature of urban life: e-scooters. Starting Friday, e-scooter users faced new rules to stanch rising numbers of injuries and prevent the vehicles…

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Brussels at near-standstill as cost-of-living march draws 70,000

Around 70,000 Belgian workers marched through Brussels on Monday demanding government action to tackle sharply rising living costs, as one-day strikes at Brussels Airport and on local transport networks nationwide…

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UPDATED: Brussels at near-standstill as cost-of-living march draws 70,000

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Around 70,000 Belgian workers marched through Brussels on Monday demanding government action to tackle sharply rising living costs, as one-day strikes at Brussels Airport and on local transport networks nationwide brought…

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Belgium hands over tooth to family of Congo independence hero Lumumba

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Belgium handed over a tooth, the only known remains of the murdered Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba, to his family during at a ceremony in…

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Ferrero chocolate factory allowed to reopen in Belgium after salmonella cases

The Belgian food-safety authorities on Friday allowed a Belgium-based Ferrero chocolate factory to reopen under conditions, after it shut in early April following cases of salmonella food poisoning reported in…

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Belgian bishop turns down cardinal role over sexual abuse criticism

Pope Francis has accepted a request by a Belgian bishop to not be made a cardinal because it might hurt the feelings of victims of sexual abuse, the Belgian bishops…

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Brussels Airport advises passengers to reschedule flight for next Monday

Brussels Airport and the airlines flying from Belgium’s biggest airport are preparing for the disruptions caused by the national manifestation next Monday 20 June. Brussels Airport has advised travellers scheduled…

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NATO’s Stoltenberg diagnosed with shingles

BRUSSELS, June 9 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been diagnosed with shingles and will therefore hold talks scheduled in Germany and Romania only remotely, a NATO official said on Thursday.…

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Belgian king reiterates regrets for colonial past in Congo but no apology

Belgium's King Philippe reaffirmed his deepest regrets for the exploitation, racism and acts of violence during his country's colonisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but again stopped short of…

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NATO has the right to deploy in eastern Europe, deputy chief says

NATO is no longer bound by past commitments to hold back from deploying its forces in eastern Europe, the US-led alliance’s deputy secretary general said Sunday. Moscow itself has “voided…

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Belgium to be paralysed by general strike on 31 May

Several national public sector unions will conduct a one-day nationwide strike action on 31 May, paralysing much of Belgium’s key infrastructure, according to statements from several unions. Disruptions will take…

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Belgium first country to introduce quarantine for monkeypox cases

Belgium has become the first country to introduce a compulsory 21-day quarantine for monkeypox patients after reporting four cases of the disease in the last week. Belgian health authorities took…

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Belgium to ease almost all coronavirus rules

Wearing face masks in public transport and completing travel forms upon arrival to Belgium will no longer be mandatory as of Monday, the Belgian government announced. Meeting online in the…

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Don’t forget other crises amid Ukraine focus, UNHCR chief warns

BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warned on Friday that countries focused on helping Ukraine should not ignore crises elsewhere, which were likely to worsen due…

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Belgium detects first two monkeypox cases, Spain, Portugal cases tallies each surpass 20

BRUSSELS, May 19 (Reuters) - Belgian health experts were due to meet on Friday after the country detected its first two cases of monkeypox, authorities said. The cases were diagnosed…

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Belgium explores new avenues of assistance for Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, Belgium’s Select Ministerial Committee is currently reviewing the situation and the assistance that Belgium can provide. Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine…

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Belgian Foreign Affairs minister steps down temporarily to take care of husband who has brain cancer

BRUSSELS, April 21 (Reuters) - Belgian vice-Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs minister Sophie Wilmes said on Thursday she will temporarily step down from the government to take care of her…

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UPDATED: Ferrero suspends operations at Belgium plant amid salmonella investigation

April 8 (Reuters) - Italian confectionery group Ferrero said on Friday it is suspending operations at its plant in Arlon, Belgium, after Europe's health agency started investigating dozens of reported and suspected…

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Belgium to inject another billion euros into its army – L’Echo

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - Belgium agreed on Thursday to inject an extra billion euros into its defence forces, on top of 10 billion euros ($10.98 billion) already agreed, Belgian newspaper l'Echo…

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UPDATED: Stoltenberg to stay on as NATO chief until October 2023 as Russia wages war on Ukraine

BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) - NATO allies on Thursday extended the term of Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of the Western military alliance by a year until Sept.30, 2023. "As we face…

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UPDATED: Six dead after car drives into people at carnival in Belgium

STREPY-BRACQUEGNIES, Belgium, March 20 (Reuters) - A car drove at high speed into a group of Belgian carnival performers who were preparing a parade early on Sunday, killing six people…

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Supermarkets in Belgium limit sales of flour and oil per customer due to high demand

Several supermarket chains in Belgium are limiting the sales of products, such as flour, oil and canned vegetables, due to the high demand. While Colruyt is putting a limit on…

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Belgian royal family funds hosting of Ukrainian families

The Belgian royal family will make three properties available for Ukrainian refugee families, the palace confirmed. Three Ukrainian families will be hosted by the Royal Trust, an entity managing the…

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Belgium poised to delay 2025 nuclear power exit

BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - Belgium may extend the life of its nuclear sector, deferring an exit planned for 2025 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced a rethink by the governing…

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Belgium changes travel rules

Belgium is again adapting its travel rules for those entering the country from Friday 11 March, lifting the general obligation to complete the Passenger Locator Form (PLF). “Someone who is…

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Belgian banks block flow of cryptocurrency earnings

Investors wishing to secure part of their profits in cryptocurrencies are finding it difficult to transfer them to their bank accounts, the Belgian newspaper De Tijd noted. According to the…

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Belgium permits four-day week to boost work flexibility post COVID

Belgian employees will be able to work a four-day week after the government on Tuesday agreed a new labour accord aimed at bringing flexibility to an otherwise rigid labour market.…

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Covid-pass protesters en route for Brussels rally

Hundreds of cars, campervans and trucks are on their way to a protest against Covid regulations in Brussels today where Belgian officials have already banned a demonstration following a weekend…

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Belgium further eases coronavirus restrictions

Belgium announced further easing of coronavirus restrictions to allow nightclubs to reopen and drop the requirement for primary school pupils to wear masks, as cases of the Omicron variant fell…

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Paris and Brussels police ban ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests

Brussels bans 'freedom convoy' protesting COVID curbs from entry BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Brussels authorities have banned a pan-European "freedom convoy" of motorists protesting COVID-19 restrictions from entering the…

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Big anti-terrorist operation in Antwerp

Belgian police arrested 13 suspected members of an Islamist terror group in an operation in Antwerp on Tuesday. The suspects were detained for spreading jihadist propaganda on social media, though…

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Tintin joins the Smurfs on new Belgian passport

From Monday, all new Belgian passports will feature Tintin, the Smurfs and other heroes of Belgian comic-strip art. With a 34-page standard passport, Belgian travellers will be accompanied by Lucky…

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Belgians forced to fork out more for their cherished fries

Belgians are having to fork out more for their favourite snack - fries, or fried potato sticks - because of rising energy, commodity and labour costs. Belgium is the world's…

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Belgium to cut VAT in response to energy price spike

Belgium will cut value added tax on electricity as part of a package to shield consumers from rising energy prices, the prime minister said on Tuesday. European gas and power…

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Tens of thousands protest against Covid-19 health rules in Brussels

Thousands of people took to the streets in Brussels on Sunday to protest against the Belgian authorities' health measures. There were several tens of thousands of demonstrators in central Brussels,…

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Photo Story: European anti-coronavirus measures protest in Brussels

People take part in a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022. Tens of thousands of people were expected to a protest against the way the…

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Dozens of firms to make cheap version of Merck COVID pill for poorer nations

BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A U.N.-backed agency has struck a deal for nearly 30 generic drugmakers to make low-cost versions of Merck & Co's COVID-19 pill molnupiravir for poorer…

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Photo Story: Zara Rutherford becomes the youngest person to fly solo around the world

Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford poses for photographs in front of her small plane after landing in Wevelgem, Belgium, 20 January 2022. Zara, 19, broke the Guinness World Record for being…

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Belgium can extend life of nuclear reactors if it acts soon, watchdog says

Belgium's nuclear regulator gave a provisional green light on Monday to extend the life of two of the country's nuclear power reactors and urged the government to make a final…

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Rents in Brussels and Flanders hit record levels

The average rent for a house on the Brussels and Flemish rental market in 2021 rose to €846 in 2021, an increase that took prices to an all-time high, according…

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Belgium suffers record COVID cases

Fuelled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Belgium's daily cases of COVID-19 reached a new peak this week, with health experts warning of between 30,000 and 125,000 cases a day…

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Belgians spend a quarter of their money online

A quarter of all money spent by Belgians was spent online during the 3rd quarter of 2021, according to figures released by BeCommerce Market Monitor. 40.8 million online orders were…

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Coronavirus numbers keep falling in Belgium

The number of new coronavirus infections in Belgium continues to decline according to the latest figures released by the national health institute, Sciensano. Between 15 and 21 December, an average…

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New restrictions come into force in Belgium in response to Omicron spread

In Belgium a flurry of restrictions came into force Sunday in a bid to reopen schools after the Christmas holidays and ease tension on the health care system, as Omicron…

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Photo Story: The Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium

Visitors, some wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, stand in front of the illuminated Christmas tree at the Winter Wonder and Christmas Market on the Grand…

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Belgian government reaches compromise on nuclear power exit

BRUSSELS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Belgian government agreed in principle on Thursday to close its nuclear power plants by 2025, but left open the possibility of extending the life…

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Belgium to shut cinemas, theatres as Omicron cases surge

BRUSSELS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Belgium will close cinemas and theatres and play sporting fixtures behind closed doors immediately after Christmas in a tightening of coronavirus restrictions to curb a…

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Protest against coronavirus restrictions turns violent in Brussels

Police fired teargas and used water cannons on Sunday to disperse protesters pelting officers with cobblestones and fireworks as a demonstration in Brussels over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions turned violent. A…

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Belgium tightens curbs as COVID cases peak

Belgium tightened its coronavirus restrictions for the third consecutive week to fight one of Europe’s worst spikes of COVID-19 cases, but stopped short of the strict curbs imposed in the…

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Photo Story: Brussels lights up for Christmas

Visitors, some wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, stand in front of the illuminated Christmas tree at the Winter Wonder and Christmas Market on the Grand…

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UPDATED: Belgium detects first case of new COVID-19 variant in Europe

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Belgium has detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant which was first found in South Africa, a virologist said on Friday. Marc Van…

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Uber to halt app in Brussels from Friday after court ruling

Uber Technologies Inc. said it would halt operations in Brussels from Nov. 26 after a court ruled that a 2015 ban on private individuals offering taxi services also applies to…

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Clashes in Brussels in protests over coronavirus restrictions

Police and protesters clashed in the streets of Brussels on Sunday in demonstrations over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions, with police firing water cannon and tear gas at demonstrators throwing rocks and…

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