- Your News Feed

Belgium accused of abandoning thousands of elderly to die from the coronavirus

Amnesty International said Belgium authorities “abandoned” thousands of elderly people who died in nursing homes during the coronavirus pandemic following an investigation published Monday that described the situation as “human…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian racing pigeon sells for world record 1.6 million euros

A two-year-old Belgian racing pigeon called New Kim set a world record of 1.6 million euros ($1.89 million) at an auction that ended on Sunday, the online auction house said.…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium launches COVID patient air-lifts to Germany

Belgium's surging second wave of COVID-19 cases has forced it to move some severely ill patients, many on ventilators, to neighbouring Germany, and air ambulances began flying Belgian patients further…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium goes into lockdown

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced a national “reinforced” lockdown starting Monday, with shops deemed non-essential to close and family visits outlawed, Politico reports. Belgium stopped short on Friday…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian ambulance crews say they risk being overwhelmed by COVID

Belgian ambulance crews say they are at risk of being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, running out of capacity to handle other calls. One ambulance company, NAAB Ambulance Services, said COVID…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium requires more blood plasma to continue testing

Belgian clinical studies to study the effectiveness of blood plasma for people recovering from COVID-19 are at risk of being suspended because of low plasma stocks, doctors said, prompting a…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium becomes EU nation with highest rate of COVID-19 infections

The Belgian government will convene on Friday to decide on a potential new national lockdown with the country now suffering the highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100,000 citizens, according…

Read More from CDE News

Covid-positive Belgian doctors asked to keep working if displaying no symptoms

A number doctors and nurses in the city of Liège, in Belgium ,who have tested positive for Covid-19 have been requested to keep working if they have no symptoms, the…

Read More from CDE News

Warning hospitals in Belgium could run out of beds in 15 days

Belgium could run out of beds in intensive care units within two weeks if the number of people in hospitals continue to increase at its current rate, an official said…

Read More from CDE News

Brussels edges towards lockdown

Sport and cultural facilities in Brussels must close and residents will face a longer curfew from Monday, the regional government said on Saturday, as COVID-19 infections in Belgium continued to…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium tightens coronavirus restrictions

Belgium, one of the European countries worst hit by the new coronavirus, tightened restrictions on social contacts on Friday by banning fans from sports matches, limiting the number of people…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès in intensive care with Covid-19

Sophie Wilmès, who was Belgium’s caretaker prime minister during the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak, has been admitted to intensive care with Covid-19. Wilmès, who is now foreign minister,…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium postpones non-essential hospital work because of COVID “tsunami”

Belgium will need to postpone all non-essential hospital procedures to deal with a surge in COVID-19 infections, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told lawmakers, days after warning of a COVID “tsunami”…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium’s foreign minister tests positive

Belgium's foreign minister Sophie Wilmes said on Saturday she had tested positive for COVID-19. "My Covid test result is positive. Contamination probably occurred within my family circle given the precautions…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium tightens measures to curb ‘infections, hospital admissions and deaths’

Belgium announced the tightening of its measures in an attempt to stop the rising coronavirus infections, hospital admissions and deaths in the country. People will only be allowed to have one…

Read More from CDE News

Ghent University moves online because of the coronavirus

One of Belgium’s main universities is moving to online education whenever possible and another is getting ready to follow suit because the coronavirus is continuing to soar across the nation.…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium Health Minister not ruling out a second lockdown as infections rise in ‘dramatic’ way

Belgium is heading for a “difficult autumn” as coronavirus infections are rising in a “dramatic” way, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said Sunday. Vandenbroucke called on people to “pull together” to…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: Bars in Brussels to close for one month after spike in virus cases

A closed bar at Flagey Place in Brussels, Belgium, 08 October 2020. Bars and cafes in Brussels have been ordered to close for one month from 08 October by local…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium tightens coronavirus restrictions, nominates first Covid-19 Commissioner

Belgium will tighten its coronavirus measures for a month starting Friday, new Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced Tuesday. Bars will have to close at 11 p.m. instead of 1…

Read More from CDE News

Hospital capacity for coronavirus patients in Brussels saturated

All hospital beds for patients with the coronavirus in and around Brussels are full already, with the University Hospital (UZ) even transferring patients to a hospital outside the Region. “With…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: ‘Warhol – The American Dream Factory’ Exhibition in Liege

A visitor looks at art pieces on display at the exhibition 'Warhol - The American Dream Factory ' in Liege, Belgium. The exhibition brings together Andy Warhol's most famous works,…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium has a new princess

A Belgian artist who has fought a seven-year legal battle to prove that Belgium’s former King Albert II is her father secured a literally crowning success in court on Thursday…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium’s finance minister De Croo set to become prime minister

Belgium's caretaker finance minister Alexander De Croo is set to be appointed the country's prime minister, 16 months after a parliamentary election, according to Belgian daily Le Soir. The new…

Read More from CDE News

Covid deaths pass 10,000 in Belgium

Belgium, one of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, said today its death toll from the pandemic has surpassed 10,000. The country, which has a population of 11.5…

Read More from CDE News

Sex workers say Brussels prostitution ban drives them underground

Belgium's capital has banned prostitution in certain districts in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. For sex- workers, however, the prohibition is a threat to their livelihoods.…

Read More from CDE News

Brussels to strengthen coronavirus restrictions, PM urges city to act fast

Bars and cafés in Brussels will have to close at 11 p.m. from Monday. This one of a new set of measures aimed at controlling the coronavirus outbreak, announced by…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian coronavirus experts go on ‘silent strike’ against relaxed rules

Several Belgian experts will go on “silent strike” this weekend, in a protest against the relaxed coronavirus measures and politicians who often hide behind the experts. Experts such as virologist…

Read More from CDE News

16 months after elections, Belgium inches closer to having a government

Sixteen months after elections, Belgium may finally have a new government as King Philippe on Wednesday tasked the caretaker finance minister and the leader of the Francophone Socialist Party with…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium cuts quarantine and eases mask rules, Malta and Luxembourg to become red zones

Belgium is ending a requirement to wear masks outdoors and reducing the time people have to self-isolate, in a slight easing of coronavirus restrictions announced on Wednesday despite sharply rising…

Read More from CDE News

Digital security system for containers at the port of Antwerp

In Belgium, the Port of Antwerp will introduce a new security system for containers at the port from next year. The current system uses a pin code that if it…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium’s government formation talks put on hold as mediators test positive for Covid-19

Belgium's plans to forge a fully fledged government 16 months after an election were put on hold on Tuesday after one of the two mediators charged with the job tested positive for…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium updates its safe-travelling list – Malta on the orange list

Belgium has turned light orange on the coronavirus map of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), meaning fewer than 60 new coronavirus infections per 100,000 inhabitants were…

Read More from CDE News

French, Belgian and English pupils back to school

Aware of the risks to the educational future of the younger generation, Governments across Europe are seeking to ensure a safe return to school, with French and English children returning…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium compulsory education age lowered to 5 years

School will be compulsory for all children in Belgium from the age of five years, instead of six, from this academic year, which starts in September. By adopting the new…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian shops unable to sell summer sale stocks

Belgian shops have not been able to sell their clothing stock following the summer sales – brought forward to August this year due to corona-virus measures impacting the sector. The…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: ‘Meet the Masters’ exhibition in Brussels

Photos from the exhibition 'Meet the Masters', a digital art expo the three great masters of Flemish painting Jan Van Eyck, Pieter Paul Rubens and Pieter Bruegel, at Dynasty Palace…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium revises down COVID-19 deaths just shy of 10,000 mark

Belgium revised down on Wednesday the country’s COVID-19 death toll, just as it was about to pass the milestone of 10,000 fatalities. Health authorities have reviewed figures from care homes…

Read More from CDE News

Coronavirus re-infections raise concerns about immunity

Two European patients are confirmed to have been re-infected with COVID-19, raising concerns about people’s immunity to the coronavirus as the world struggles to tame the pandemic. The cases, in…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: Origami For Life

Photos from Origami For Life, an artistic setup of 22 000 origami exposed a Cathedral of Saint Michael and Gudula in Brussels , Belgium. Origami For Life is an initiative…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian schools to reopen in September with masks mandatory for older children

Belgian schools will reopen on 1 September when the academic year starts, with children above 12 years old and teachers required to wear masks, prime minister Sophie Wilmes has. “The…

Read More from CDE News

Head of Flemish liberals appointed to lead Belgian government coalition talks

Belgium's King Philippe on Tuesday asked Egbert Lachaert, leader of the Flemish liberal party Open VLD, to try to form a coalition government. The king had held talks with party…

Read More from CDE News

Belgian hospitals stock up on drugs, kits for possible second COVID wave

Belgian hospitals are stockpiling drugs and protective kits and putting in place contingency plans amid a continuing spike in new COVID-19 infections that has forced the capital Brussels to make…

Read More from CDE News

Brussels makes face masks compulsory in all public spaces as COVID-19 cases spike

Wearing a face mask became compulsory on Wednesday in all public places in Brussels as the number of COVID-19 infections rose to a government alert level that puts the city…

Read More from CDE News

Big rise in coronavirus infections in Brussels

According to figures released by the public health science institute Sciensano there has been a spectacular rise in the number of people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the…

Read More from CDE News

Antwerp win Belgian Cup

Antwerp denied Club Brugge the double as they won the Belgian Cup final 1-0 on Saturday in the first football in the country since the COVID-19 lockdown began in March.…

Read More from CDE News

Antwerp urges visitors to stay away after new spike in cases

Lockdown restrictions were eased too quickly and now "severe measures" may be required to quell a second wave, according to the governor of Belgium's worst-affected province. Cathy Berx, who oversees…

Read More from CDE News

Antwerp imposes curfew among several new social restrictions after dramatic rise in cases

One of Europe’s major port cities, Antwerp, has announced significant new restrictions including a night curfew as Belgium strives to halt a worrying rise in local coronavirus cases. Only people…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium tightens COVID measures as infections spike

Belgium will tighten COVID-19 containment measures on July 25 after a rise in infections, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said, requiring the use of face masks in crowded outdoor public spaces…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium and Lufthansa agree rescue for Brussels Airlines

The Belgian authorities have struck a deal with Brussels Airlines and its parent company Lufthansa of Germany with regard to the rescue of the Belgian flag carrier. The deal still…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium could be at start of localised coronavirus ‘second wave’

Belgium may be at the start of a second wave of coronavirus infections after reporting a 32% increase in weekly cases, though for now the resurgence appears more localised than…

Read More from CDE News

UPDATE: Travelling corridor between Malta and Belgium established – First flights expected on July 16th

UPDATE Monday July 13th - 1420h : Travelling between Malta and Belgium is expected to resume as of 16th July, following the inclusion of Belgium on the amended 'travelling list' from…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: A tribute to medical workers in Belgium

A view of a fresco paint, by street artist Amandine Lesay, paying tribute to all the medical workers, next to the Etterbeek-Ixelles site of the Iris Sud Hospitals in Brussels,…

Read More from CDE News

Belgium shortens mandatory quarantine after Covid-19 exposure

People who have had close contact with a Covid-19 patient can now request a second PCR, or diagnosis, test in order to shorten their mandatory 14-day quarantine, a federal health…

Read More from CDE News

Slight rise in Belgium the number of new coronavirus infections

During the past 7 days there were an average of 92 confirmed new novel coronavirus infections in Belgium. This is 6% higher than was the case during the 7-day period…

Read More from CDE News

Photo Story: Belgian Royal Family visit Genk

Queen Mathilde (L) and King Philippe (R) of Belgium ride bicycles during a royal visit to the Bokrijk park and open-air museum in Genk, Belgium. To support the tourism sector,…

Read More from CDE News