Belgium saw travel disruption from a Skeyes strike, a major garage fire in Nederzwalm and student protests over tuition fees in Brussels. The day also brought a serious cycling collision in Ypres, new developments in a European VAT fraud probe and a confidence-boosting stage win for Mathieu van der Poel.
Fourteen Ryanair flights will be canceled Wednesday at Charleroi Airport due to a strike at Skeyes. The air traffic controllers’ strike is due to begin Wednesday at 10 p.m. The announced period covers 24 nights, ending at 8 a.m. each day. Nighttime operations will therefore be directly affected during this period.
A fire is raging at a car garage on Stationsstraat in Nederzwalm, a district of Zwalm. Firefighters are on site trying to extinguish the blaze. A large plume of smoke is visible from far across the area. Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed while smoke continues to spread nearby.
Around 750 students from French-speaking higher education institutions protested in central Brussels against higher tuition fees and rising living costs. Police counted about 750 participants, while organizers put the number at nearly 2,000. The demonstration brought together students from several French-speaking institutions.
Donald Trump is threatening to halt trade relations between the United States and the European Union. The US president cites the EU's relationship with Canada as the reason. The statement comes amid a global trade war and is central to live coverage of international trade developments being followed worldwide.
The US Federal Reserve raised its key interest rates on Wednesday for the first time in three years. The unanimous decision aims to curb inflation and had been anticipated by financial markets. It came despite opposition from President Donald Trump, who challenged this monetary policy direction. The measure concerns the US economy.
A 76-year-old cyclist was critically injured in a collision with a car in Ypres. The crash happened on Poperingseweg, near the Heilig Hart psychiatric hospital. The woman was cycling along the road when she collided with the car, sustaining serious injuries.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is investigating a network suspected of large-scale VAT fraud in Belgium, France and Germany. Two suspects have been arrested and 20 searches were carried out as part of the case. EPPO estimates that the countries involved lost up to €60 million in tax revenue. The investigation is ongoing.
Mathieu van der Poel won a stage in the Tour of Luxembourg. An earlier attack failed to create a decisive gap, after which the Dutch rider won the stage in the sprint. The victory boosts his confidence ahead of the World Championships, which he will approach with renewed belief.
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