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Charity shops overwhelmed by post-lockdown donations

Charity shops are struggling to deal with the quantity of goods being donated and are asking people to hold on to their items a little longer. While many people have used the coronavirus lockdown as an opportunity to clear out their cupboards, attics and cellars, second-hand shops report being...
Card payments replacing cash

Coronavirus in Belgium: Can shops refuse cash payments?

One of the early and unexpected impacts of coronavirus on daily life has been cash — or more specifically, cash transactions. Supermarkets and shops selling essential items started restricting cash payments at the beginning of the crisis. The federal government invited them to limit as much as...

Meet-and-greet robot helps Brussels hospital return to normal

UZ Brussel, the city’s university hospital, has recruited a new member of staff to help it resume routine health appointments. Pepper the bilingual robot will be in reception this week to explain the precautions visitors need to take to prevent spreading the coronavirus. Pepper has been programmed...

Start-up develops eye-catching software to help doctors diagnose lung disease

ArtiQ is a spin-off of the University of Leuven, founded in 2019. Using AI-based medical software, ArtiQ helps doctors better interpret pulmonary function tests, reduces the administrative burden and can potentially speed up diagnosis of lung conditions. It started during my PhD at KU Leuven, when...

Undress to impress: Carine Gilson’s lingerie couture mixes old-school craft and contemporary chic

Since graduating from the fashion department of Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1988, Brussels-based designer Carine Gilson has become synonymous with the market of couture lingerie, turning out one-of-a-kind garments from the finest French laces and silks. “Lace has been a passion of mine...
Bois de la Cambre park Brussels

Bois de la Cambre: Petition and counter-petition as car-free debate heats up

Petitions are circulating as campaigners join the debate over keeping Brussels’ park Bois de la Cambre car-free until at least the end of August. City of Brussels mayor Philippe Close (PS) is considering making the popular park permanently free of traffic over the summer. Already partly closed to...

New service lets you share a birthday cake with friends virtually

A Brussels food truck owner has found a coronavirus-compliant way to celebrate a birthday party among friends - including share a cake together. Birthday Around Brussels bakes a personalisable cake and delivers it to the person's home on their birthday. Friends can join in with the cutting of the...

Brussels-North police catch one in six drivers speeding during coronavirus shutdown

Police in Saint-Josse, Schaerbeek and Evere have reported a rise in speeding since Belgium's coronavirus stay-at-home order was implemented in mid-March. The Brussels-North local police force checked the speed of more than 42,000 vehicles between 18 March and 18 May - and issued 7,500 tickets. This...

‘You can never stand still’: British School of Brussels looks to the future as it celebrates 50th anniversary

There is a special room inside the British School of Brussels' campus in Tervuren that not many people get to see. "At first I thought it might just be a cupboard," says Melanie Warnes, BSB's principal and chief executive since 2016. "But once I stepped inside I realised that we've got this amazing archive room, full of original letters, deeds and photographs. It's been a real discovery, pulling together memorabilia about the story of BSB."

Uccle extends €250 bonus for buying an electric bike

The Brussels municipality of Uccle has voted to renew its €250 cash bonus for any resident wishing to buy an electric bike. The grant has been running since 2015 - but take-up was initially slow as the scheme was capped at just 20 applicants. Last year, 300 people took advantage of the payout, at a...

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