Author: OMN AI

Brussels launches major spring clean of city centre with steam cleaning ahead of summer tourism season Brussels has begun a large-scale spring cleaning operation across its city centre as authorities prepare the Belgian capital for the busy summer season. The campaign will run for around 10 days and aims to refresh public spaces, remove dirt and graffiti, and improve the overall appearance of key urban areas. The initiative covers a wide range of public infrastructure. Cleaning teams are working on benches, street signs, litter bins, lampposts, cycle racks, flower boxes, drinking fountains, kiosks, walls, and public toilets. Officials say no…

Residents have been evacuated after a major fire broke out at a textile warehouse in Tubize, a town southwest of Brussels in Belgium, amid fears that stored gas canisters inside the building could trigger explosions. Local authorities moved quickly to clear nearby streets after emergency services warned of a serious risk to surrounding homes. Officials said the presence of pressurised gas containers inside the burning warehouse made the situation particularly dangerous. Tubize Mayor Samuel d’Orazio Samuel d’Orazio confirmed that residents living closest to the site were ordered to leave immediately as firefighters worked to control the blaze and reduce the…

The municipality of Ixelles in Brussels has introduced new rules to control the rapid growth of student housing. Local officials say the move is needed to prevent what they describe as a “speculative bubble” in the student accommodation market. The decision comes as the area continues to attract large numbers of students and new housing projects. Ixelles is known as one of the main student hubs in Brussels. Nearly 45% of students in the region study in the municipality. This is mainly due to the presence of major universities such as Université libre de Bruxelles and Vrije Universiteit Brussel. As…

Brussels has begun a major effort to remove thousands of concrete blocks placed across the city over the past decade. The move is part of a wider plan to improve public spaces and reshape the urban landscape. Officials say the project will gradually dismantle around 3,000 blocks placed in streets, intersections, and public areas. The first symbolic removal took place on Avenue de la Toison d’Or near Porte de Namur, on the border between Ixelles and the City of Brussels. The event was attended by President Boris Dilliès of the Reformist Movement (MR), Secretary of State for Urban Planning Audrey…

Around 30 passengers were evacuated from Simonis metro station in Brussels on Saturday evening after reports of breathing difficulties and irritation inside the station. Emergency services responded quickly as several people reported feeling unwell shortly after 21:30 local time. According to the Brussels fire brigade, emergency teams assessed around 15 passengers on site. Two individuals were taken to hospital for further medical care, while the remaining passengers were treated at the scene. Authorities believe the incident may have been caused by the use of pepper spray inside the metro station, which spread through the enclosed space and affected commuters. Investigators…

A rainy night on the outskirts of Charleroi sets the scene for a job that most people only see in films. A woman sits alone inside an unmarked car, watching quietly as strangers pass by. When police stop to check on her, she calmly shows her licence. Moments later, they leave. She is not a spy or bodyguard, but a private investigator working in Belgium. The investigator, Roxane, now runs her own agency called RB Investigations. Before entering the profession, she spent 15 years working in real estate. She later decided to change careers after selling her business stake and…

A new survey shows strong public support for cleaner and safer streets near schools in Brussels. The issue is linked to rising concern about Brussels school pollution and the health of children. The findings were published by Les Chercheurs d’Air in cooperation with research institute Dedicated. The results show that many residents want faster action to reduce traffic near schools. They also want more green spaces to improve air quality. The survey found that 73 percent of Brussels residents support pedestrian streets in front of nurseries and primary schools. Even more support is seen for greener school areas. Around 83…

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar will travel to Brussels next week. He will meet European Commission officials. The talks will focus on frozen EU funds. The goal is to unlock billions in support for Hungary. The visit comes after a recent election change in the country. Officials say the talks are key for economic growth and public spending plans. Hungary hopes to restore full access to EU recovery support. The issue of EU money has been a long dispute. The European Union froze funds over rule of law concerns. These concerns were raised during the long rule of Viktor Orbán.…

A proposal to introduce a bloc-wide gambling levy is moving into formal discussion within the European Parliament, marking a shift in how European Union may look to fund its growing long-term budget needs. Lawmakers are expected to examine the idea next week as part of early-stage discussions on the EU’s financial framework for 2028 to 2034. The plan would introduce a 1% charge on gambling revenues or turnover generated across all 27 member states. The proposal has been put forward by Romanian Member of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu, who argues that the rapidly expanding gambling industry, particularly online platforms,…

The European Union is considering a plan to reduce natural gas demand by around 15 billion cubic metres this year as officials warn that global instability, including renewed conflict in the Middle East, is once again testing Europe’s energy security. The proposal reflects a broader shift in European energy strategy since the crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the bloc has successfully reduced its reliance on Russian pipeline gas, officials now say long-term resilience will depend not only on new suppliers but also on lower overall consumption. European Commission estimates that improved energy efficiency measures across…