Belgium

Belgium imposes new lockdown to fight third COVID-19 wave

Belgium will close schools, non-food stores and hairdressers for four weeks from Saturday, in a sharp renewed lockdown designed to contain a rising third wave of COVID-19 infections. A year on from the first pandemic shutdown, Prime Minister…

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Photo Story: Commemoration of 5th anniversary of Brussels terrorist attacks

A message for the victims at Brussels Airport on the fifth anniversary of the Brussels terrorist attacks, in Brussels, Belgium, 22 March 2021. On the same day in 2016 a…

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Belgium tightens COVID-19 measures to avoid third wave

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium followed France on Friday by tightening measures to control the spread of the coronavirus to avoid a third wave of COVID-19 infections and preserve plans to…

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Brussels to rename tram, bus stops after famous women

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Brussels' public transport operator marked International Women's Day on Monday by renaming 10 metro stations after famous women for one day, and pledging to permanently rename 17…

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Belgium sets out plan for easing, with bars to reopen on May 1

BRUSSELS, March 5 (Reuters) - Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo set out a roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions on Friday, even as COVID-19 infections rose, with restaurants, bars, gyms…

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Non-EU students will have one year to find work in Belgium

Non-European students studying abroad in Belgium will soon have one year to find work in the country following the competition of their studies. Currently, students must return to their home…

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Belgium plant denies blame for AstraZeneca vaccine cuts to EU

SENEFFE, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A plant in Belgium said to be the cause of big cuts in AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine supplies to the European Union said on Wednesday it…

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200 arrested during Covid-19 protests in Brussels

Brussels Times - Around 200 people have already been arrested in Brussels for participating coronavirus protests in the city, despite announcements from officials and police that the gatherings did not…

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Belgium bans foreign tourism to avoid third COVID-19 wave

BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Belgium is banning residents from taking vacations abroad until March to limit the spread of more infectious coronavirus variants and avoid a deadly third wave…

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Belgium fears surge of COVID-19 cases in coming weeks

Belgium could see an increase in daily cases of COVID-19 infections in coming weeks as more Belgians undergo tests on return from holidays, the government warned. Health ministry spokesman Yves…

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Belgium’s coronavirus deaths hit 20,000, still among world’s highest per capita

Belgium's death toll from coronavirus infections, one of the highest per capita in the world, has breached the 20,000 mark, according to official data published on Sunday. The country, home…

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Photo Story: Snow in Belgium

A Police officer close the road to the ski resort near the 'Baraque de Fraiture', in the Ardennes, Belgium. 'The Baraque de Fraiture' site and the 'Hautes Fagnes' are banned…

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Belgian authorities seize a record amount of cocaine in 2020

Customs employee during demonstration of of a mobile scanner for truck during presentation of the year results of drug seizure in port of Antwerp, Belgium. Belgian narcotics officers seized a…

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January a “grace period” to fine-tune post-Brexit procedures, Belgian port boss says

The head of a major European gateway for trade with Britain said yesterday that new customs clearance procedures would only be truly tested over the next fortnight as traffic returns to normal.…

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Cases in Belgium continue to drop

Belgium’s daily average new coronavirus infections continue to drop, according to the latest figures published by the Sciensano public health institute on Saturday. Between 23 and 29 December, an average…

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Belgium tightens COVID-19 controls with tests for all travellers

Belgium has tightened its measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus by requiring all people who have travelled abroad to undergo a COVID-19 test. The country of 11 million…

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Photo Story: Christmas decoration in Brussels

Photos from the Grand Place square in Brussels, Belgium, decorated for the Christmas season. A Christmas tree is reflected in a puddle at the Grand Place square in Brussels, Belgium.…

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Belgian minister tweets EU’s Covid vaccine price list to anger of manufacturers

A Belgian minister has blown the lid off a sensitive and commercial secret – the price that the EU has agreed to pay for the leading Covid vaccines. Belgium’s budget…

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Belgium tightens travel restrictions after Christmas

POLITICO - From Christmas, travelers arriving in Belgium will have to produce a negative coronavirus test in order to be allowed into the country, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said Friday.…

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Belgian mail turns to sports stores to ease parcel overload

Belgium's post office has teamed up with the country's largest sports store chain as a shift to online purchases accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic has left it overloaded with packages.…

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Animal rights organisation welcomes fireworks ban on New Year’s Eve in Belgium

Animal rights organisation GAIA has welcomed the ban on fireworks announced by Belgium’s Consultative Committee. “It will help save animals from a great deal of suffering,” GAIA President Michel Vandenbosch…

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Belgium lets shops reopen, but keeps Christmas curbs to prevent third wave

Belgium will let shops reopen from Tuesday, but keep other coronavirus curbs over the festive period, including limits on gatherings over Christmas and a ban on fireworks at New Year,…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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”…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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