The week in brief: 7 August

Animal rights organisation Gaia has come out against the annual Waregem Koerse horse race in West Flanders (pictured), citing a lack of welfare and safety for the horses. The organisation was speaking after a five-year-old French filly fell at the last fence in last week’s event, sustaining a leg injury that led to her being euthanised. 

About 500 people attended the funeral of gang boss Silvio Aquino, who was recently shot dead in Opglabbeek, Limburg. Police are conducting permanent surveillance on the home of a magistrate linked to the drugs trial against the Aquino family, which was supposed to resume in Hasselt this week. In related news, a man found dead in Roermond in Dutch Limburg on the same day as the Aquino killing has been identified as a 22-year-old Italian national, who has a criminal record in France and Germany.  The man is believed to have been involved with three others in the Aquino killing and may have been hit by a stray bullet.

Federal home affairs minister Jan Jambon is preparing legislation to allow the gathering and storing of all data related to international travel, including rail. The storage of data on air travel is being considered by the EU, but Jambon wants to extend the scheme after the thwarted attack on a Thalys train from Brussels to Paris last month.

The Schaarbeek commune in Brussels has opened a “Love Room” to allow homeless couples to spend time together in safety and in private. The room is a project of Corvia, a non-profit that has also organised the Miss Homeless competition and the open fridge. The building housing the room also has a doctor’s office, an open fridge and wardrobe, toilets and showers.

Belgium’s first official Apple Store will open on 19 September on Guldenvlieslaan, next door to Marks & Spencer, according to an announcement posted on the fence enclosing the site. The arrival of Apple has been the subject of rumours in the press and on social media for months.

A fire that destroyed a Lotus Bakery waffle factory in Wolvertem, Flemish Brabant, last June could also threaten 71 jobs, as the owner has decided not to rebuild the plant. The company intends to shift production to another plant in Wallonia, while jobs could be found for the 66 workers and five executives in other factories.

Brussels’ official taxi sector has threatened to bring the city to a standstill on Wednesday, 16 September, if the alternative taxi service Uber is not banned by that date. The taxi associations claim Uber is fraudulent and unfair competition. Uber was declared illegal when it first appeared last year but continues to operate in the city. In related news, Uber has announced the arrival of Uber X, which uses professional drivers who the company promises will meet all legal requirements. Brussels mobility minister Pascal Smet said his office would examine the legality of the new service.

Police in Antwerp have introduced a Rapid Response Team of three highly trained and heavily armed officers on patrol 24 hours a day to respond to serious incidents involving armed criminals or terrorists. The teams will provide immediate support to the Special Intervention Squad, which does not patrol routinely and cannot be on the scene as quickly. The teams will be in unmarked vehicles, armed with automatic weapons, ballistic helmets and bulletproof vests, as well as non-lethal weapons.

Emir Kir, mayor of Sint-Joost in Brussels, plans to impose a limit on opening hours in the red-light district in his commune, including in the notorious Aarschotstraat behind North Station. Prostitutes soliciting from shop windows would have to close between 23.00 and 7.00, as well as on Sunday. Tougher rules introduced two years ago have done nothing to reduce related problems, including human trafficking and drug-dealing, Kir said. Opponents said the income lost due to such a closure would lead to sub-contracting and a decline in hygiene and safety.

The Dutch-owned retail chain Action has been criticised for making 12 applicants for jobs in a new store in Hasselt work for free in the Genk branch for two weeks as part of a “training programme”, after which only eight were offered a contract. Belgian law requires employers to pay staff, including for trial periods. The company said it had “made a mistake”. All 12 applicants have now been offered contracts.

Motoring organisation VAB has called for legislation to make warning signals for seat-belts not fastened in the rear seat of cars compulsory. The call comes after research was released that showed that one in five children riding in the back seat in Flanders is not belted in. 

Photo courtesy Gaia