Thousands of e-scooters are expected to come to Brussels by 2020, a rail strike has been announced for one of the busiest weekends of the year, and a heatwave is going to hit Belgium again ( probably).
Here’s a recap of the news you should know in Belgium this morning:
1. Rail strike could hit Belgium during busy July weekend
Rail traffic could be heavily impacted during a weekend in which two world-renowned events are set to take place in Belgium, after rail workers on Thursday submitted a strike notice for July 27. Read more.
2. Feeling hot? Get ready for another heatwave next week
The second heatwave of the summer is expected to hit Belgium next week, according to the latest forecast from the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI). By Wednesday temperatures should even reach 35 degrees, and stay that way for the remainder of the week. Read more.
3. Not a Nazi field hospital?
An underground complex found beneath the Flemish town of Wevelgem last week and thought to be a former field hospital of the Nazis has sparked debate among local historians, with some saying the abandoned facilities were not built by the Germans. Read more.
4. Thousands of e-scooters take Brussels by storm, more expected by 2020
There are currently more than 4,800 scooters in Brussels, and that number could increase to 7,000 by next year, and thousands more in the Belgian capital by 2020. Mobility concerns around the free-floating scooters continue to be a concern. Read more.
5. European Commission opens investigation on Amazon.
The European Commission has opened an investigation into Amazon for anti-trust practices. The Commission wants to see if Amazon's use of sensitive data from independent retailers that use its platform violates EU competition rules. Read more
6. Belgian collective wants to launch solar panels in the ocean
A new Belgian collective wants to become the first to launch solar panels in the ocean. The new panels would need to resist saltwater, currents, and waves, and the group has a budget of 2 million euros, made up of both public and private funds.. Read more.
7. France reduces period of abstinence for gay blood donors to four months
France has reduced the period of abstinence for gay blood donors from one year to four months. The French health ministry says this new decision “is based on scientific, objective and independent elements." Read more.
Jules Johnston and Sam Nelson
The Brussels Times
