Between January and October, 2014, there were 1,200 cases of whooping cough diagnosed in Belgium. "Epidemic proportions," says microbiologist Denis Piérard of the University Hospital of Brussels in De Morgen . Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a type...

The driver who hit three pedestrians on Sunday near Place de la Monnaie in Brussels was released on condition that he undergoes psychiatric treatment, the investigating judge ruled on Monday. The offender was driving along Rue de l'Ecuyer when he ran into three pedestrians crossing the street near...

In 2014, more than 1,000 new electric vehicles were registered in Belgium, twice as many as last year, reports De Tijd based on figures from the Belgian Federation of Car and Two-wheeler Industries (FEBIAC). The success of fully electric-powered vehicles in Belgium is primarily due to the sale of...

From January 1, Belgium will increase the amount of value-added tax (VAT) to be paid on all e-commerce, including the downloading of apps, games, music, e-books, movies or software, reports Le Soir . The tax will be owed in Belgium, and not in the country where the provider is located. The VAT will...

"The bacterial resistance created by incorrect antibiotic use represents a real danger to public health," warned Health Minister Maggie De Block ( pictured ) at the launch of the 14th national campaign for the responsible use of antibiotics . Antibiotics should only be prescribed when absolutely...

City-centre theatre house La Bellone opens its doors over the festive period for the second edition of its seasonal mix of contemporary art, music and performance. Until January 3, La Bellonne fait le mur! invites visitors to explore the theme of hidden treasures via a guided tour of its myriad...

Flemish Liberal party (Open VLD) is a proponent of lifting the ban on self-driving vehicles in Belgium, and is working on a legislative initiative that would see Belgium and the Netherlands lead the way in testing the first autonomous cars, reports De Morgen . The Senate is working on a proposal to...

Two out of three Belgian telecom operators reported less text messages were sent this year on December 24 than last year. Belgians are increasingly using smartphones to send holiday greetings via the Internet, conclude the operators. Proximus saw a 220% increase in mobile data traffic compared to...

January – Insects approved for public consumption 2014 started off with some bad news for Belgium’s insect population. On January 3, Belgium's Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain published a list of 10 insect species approved for public consumption. Two brands of bug-based foods have...