Brussels has had another busy week, marking five years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and Huawei lobbyists shockingly suspected of bribing Members of the European Parliament.
In case you missed it, here are six stories that defined the week, as told by The Brussels Times.
Disruption central: The strikes and protests to watch this month
Credit: Belga
Many people in Belgium – especially commuters – likely let out a sigh of relief when the nine-day rail strike ended. However, several more days of action are planned this month. Here's what to expect.
From handguns to Kalashnikovs: How illegal weapons flooded the streets of Brussels
Drug-related gun violence spiked in February but has been rising over several years. Credit: Belga
Gun violence in Brussels has escalated significantly – especially recently with seven shootings happening in just two weeks in Anderlecht. Experts are warning that the city is caught in a vicious cycle of crime and readily available firearms.
Covid legacy: How the pandemic changed Brussels
Scene from the Covid-19 pandemic. Credit: Belga
Five years ago on 13 March, Belgium first ordered its bars and restaurants to close in what would later become a countrywide lockdown. The world has gone "back to normal" since then, but there are quite a few remnants of the pandemic in people's everyday lives – whether they realise it or not.
‘Like buying chewing gum': Crack use in Brussels exploding
Credit: Canva/ Belga
Brussels has long had a crack problem. But the extent of the issue has been highlighted by a recent study, which found that the drugs can be bought "on every street corner."
Huawei lobbyists suspected of bribing MEPs
A Huawei sign at the headquarters of the Belgian Huawei Technologies Research and Development NV company, at a business park in Zwijnaarde, near Gent, Thursday 23 May 2019. Credit: Belga/ Dirk Waem
Belgian police have carried out raids on 21 addresses across Belgium belonging to lobbyists from Chinese multinational Huawei early on Thursday, Dutch investigative media Follow the Money revealed. One suspect has been arrested in France.
'This is the best job in the world' - the manager of Brussels' most luxurious hotel
Filip Boyen. Credit: The Brussels Times
The man at the helm of the newest and most luxurious hotel in Brussels reflects on a colourful career that saw him work his way up from the bottom to captain the world's most glamorous getaway locations.
