Your daily catch up - great with a morning coffee. Click here to sign up.
Belgium and EU willing to discuss lifting coronavirus vaccine patents: Belgium and the European Union would be willing to discuss the lifting of patents on coronavirus vaccines to speed up the production and distribution of the vaccines. The discussion started after the US administration announced it would support the lifting of coronavirus vaccine patents.
Boss of mask firm Avrox arrested in France, extradition awaited: Laurent Hericord, managing director of Avrox, the company that won a contract last year to provide 15 million face masks for the Belgian population, has been arrested in Nice. The controversy surrounding Avrox has been simmering for over a year.
Brussels curfew starts at 10 PM on Friday, expires at midnight: While the curfew in Belgium will officially be lifted from Saturday 8 May, it will still apply for the two hours between 10:00 PM and midnight in the Brussels-Capital Region on Friday night.
Brussels’ park bars will reopen for the summer: Summer bars (or guinguettes) which occupy spaces in parks across the Brussels region, will reopen for guests alongside other terraces on 8 May, or in the coming weeks.
Government reaches agreement on pay rises for private sector: After difficult negotiations, the federal government has managed to bring together representatives of workers and bosses to reach an agreement on pay rises for the next two years in the private sector.
Government agrees to give employees coronavirus bonus in form of meal cheques: The federal government has agreed that the coronavirus bonus of up to €500, to be awarded to employees in sectors or companies which played an important role during the crisis, will take the form of meal cheques.
Brussels to regularly screen for discrimination in the rental market: The Brussels government will begin conducting proactive tests for possible discrimination in the rental market. “Too many Brussels residents are victims of discrimination when looking for accommodation.”
Brussels Airlines paints over Magritte aircraft: Brussels Airlines has announced the end of its airborne tribute to Belgian Surrealist painter René Magritte, as their passenger aircraft decorated with references to Magritte will make place for a new theme.
Early data shows Moderna coronavirus vaccine 96% effective in teens: The efficacy rate of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years proved to be 96%, according to early data from the trial on this age group.
The Brussels Times
