Thieves last week stole a bicycle belonging to the new bishop of Antwerp. Johan Bonny had received the brand-new bicycle as a gift from his family on being made bishop. He was previously rector of the Belgian college in Rome, where he rode a Vespa. Full story
The state archives housed in the city of Ghent are infested with a variety of insects and other pests, it was revealed last week. Among the creepy-crawlies found among the centuries-old documents are poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae), booklice (Psocoptera), silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) and the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). Full story
Party leaders from the opposition and majority alike have united to condemn the decision by Jean-Marie Dedecker, the leader of the Lijst Dedecker party, to employ a private detective to look into the financial affairs of foreign affairs minister Karel De Gucht, his wife and his son. Full story
The Jewish community in Belgium last week lashed out at Flanders Opera – over a production that will not take place until the end of the month. Full story
Federal mobility minister Etienne Schouppe has called for a report by the road safety institute (BIVV) into the safety or otherwise of MP3 players on the roads. The report will look at the dangers to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of listening to personal music players in traffic. Although personal stereos have existed for 30 years, the danger is increasing as more people use the devices, the government said. Full story
As the economy enters the doldrums, bankruptcies increase, factories stand on the brink of collapse and unemployment seems set to soar, this week’s industrial relations headlines were filled with one thing: how rude is a chef allowed to be when sacking a waiter? Full story
This year's Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) was again won by Stijn Devolder, the fourth win for the Belgian Quick Step cycling team in five years and Devolder's second victory in a row.Full story
A 59-year-old Ostend GP is under investigation after he allegedly prescribed up to 500 doses of the so-called “date rape drug” Rohypnol to a Yugoslav family. The drugs are thought to have made their way onto the black market, where it is a favourite of heroin addicts. Dr Johan De Pauw claims he was forced to write the prescriptions under duress. “I’m actually a victim,” he said.
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