Author: OMN AI

Belgium’s interior minister has called for mandatory license plates on electric scooters, presenting the proposal as a practical tool in the fight against drug related violence that has plagued Brussels in recent weeks. Speaking before the Interior Affairs Committee, Bernard Quintin said electric scooters had been used in two out of three violent incidents recorded over a recent thirty six hour period, citing figures from Dutch language public broadcaster VRT. Quintin described the current lack of identifiable registration on electric scooters as a clear gap in the country’s safety policy. He argued that mandatory plates could make a significant difference…

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever traveled to Mumbai this week, wrapping up his first official visit to India with a business focused stop centered on the diamond, ports, and logistics sectors. The Mumbai leg followed two days of talks in New Delhi, where De Wever met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss trade, defense, and technology cooperation between the two countries. The Mumbai visit carries particular significance given the deep historical ties between Belgium and India’s diamond trade. The city of Antwerp has long served as one of the world’s leading centers for diamond cutting and polishing,…

Belgium’s federal government is continuing to roll out a nationwide campaign urging households to prepare for emergencies, part of a four year initiative launched by the country’s National Crisis Centre earlier this year. The campaign asks residents to be ready to cope on their own for at least seventy two hours in the event of situations such as a large scale power outage, severe weather, or a breakdown in internet and communication services. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin has been a leading voice behind the effort, telling reporters that the risks of both war and natural disasters have increased in recent…

A brand new overnight train linking Brussels to Milan is set to make its debut this week, giving travelers across Europe a fresh alternative to short haul flights between northern Europe and Italy. The service, operated by the Belgian Dutch railway company European Sleeper, begins running on September 9, connecting Brussels, Cologne, Zurich, and Milan in a single overnight journey across four countries. The new route marks a significant milestone for European Sleeper, which already operates overnight services linking Brussels and Amsterdam to Berlin and Prague. This latest addition becomes the company’s third regular night train route and its first…

Belgium’s largest trade union has filed a strike notice against Brussels Airlines over its decision to require crew members to work flights to Tel Aviv rather than relying only on volunteers for the route. The union, known as ACV Puls, says the move raises serious concerns about both physical safety and the emotional toll on staff assigned to fly into a region still affected by conflict. The strike notice took effect this week and could lead to actual disruption if the airline does not change its approach. Brussels Airlines resumed flights to Tel Aviv earlier this summer after a lengthy…

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has begun a three day visit to India, marking his first official trip to the country since taking office early last year. The visit centers on talks in New Delhi, where De Wever is set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss deeper cooperation across trade, defense, and technology. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken is also part of the traveling delegation, underscoring the security dimension of the trip. The two leaders are expected to hold detailed talks covering the full range of bilateral relations, along with wider regional and global issues of…

Belgium relies heavily on trade, with exports and imports together making up a huge share of its economic output. That openness makes the country especially sensitive to global shocks, including swings in energy prices and shifts in demand from major trading partners. Recent data shows exports picking up slightly even as broader business confidence remains mixed, with stronger sentiment in construction and industry but weaker readings in services. Public finances remain a major worry for policymakers. The government is running one of the largest budget deficits among wealthy European economies, and officials have warned the gap could widen further without…

Brussels is dealing with a new spike in gun violence, with several shootings hitting the city in recent days and pushing officials to call the situation a national emergency. The latest incident saw gunmen fire an automatic weapon at a street junction overnight, though no one was hurt and the attacker fled before police arrived. The shooting added to a string of at least six similar incidents that struck the capital within a short stretch of days. Belgium’s interior minister said the violence appears to be a direct response from drug networks facing pressure from police. Officers have stepped up…

Belgium’s economy is expected to grow more slowly this year, according to fresh projections that highlight ongoing concerns about the country’s public finances. Officials tracking Belgium economic growth 2026 say activity will expand at a modest pace, a slowdown from the previous year, as households face weaker purchasing power and businesses navigate a more cautious investment climate. The national bank’s latest outlook points to growth of roughly one percent for the year, before a gradual pickup expected over the following years. That pace, while still positive, reflects a cooling from stronger performance last year, when robust household spending helped drive…

A closely watched vote has drawn attention to Brussels this week, as citizens took part in the Iceland EU referendum on whether to resume long-stalled membership talks with the European Union. The result carries weight not only for Iceland but for the wider debate over how the bloc should approach future enlargement. Icelandic voters were asked a simple but significant question: should their government restart negotiations to join the European Union, more than a decade after talks were first suspended. The country originally applied for membership following a severe financial crisis, hoping that EU membership might offer greater economic stability.…