WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE BELGIUM BRUSSELS - The Brussels Times - THE RECAP - Wednesday 22 January 2025

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THE RECAP Your daily catch up - great with a morning coffee. Sign up  here. 1. ‘The sting is in the tail’: Tensions over tax cuts rise in Belgian Government talks  Since formator Bart De Wever explained his revised socioeconomic proposals for the first time on Friday, there were few enthusiastic reactions.  Read More .   2. Brussels to Venice night train departs in early February "In the morning, wake up to breathtaking views of the Alps, before crossing the iconic Brenner Pass to South Tyrol and the rest of Italy."  Read More . 3. European Parliament wants to improve MEP attendance at debates MEPs "listening to each other is a form of respect” in debates, one one group leader said.  Read More .   4. Hard to breathe? Cold weather worsens air quality in Brussels There are two key reasons for Brussels' worsening air quality. Both are tied to the cold weather.  Read More . 5. Train connection to Charleroi Airport may be on the cards Despite budget cuts of €23 billion, Belgium's next government is considering a train connection to the airport located 50 kilometres away from Brussels.  Read More . 6. Belgian commutes pay off: Employees earn up to €810 for cycling to work One in five people in Flanders commuted by bike and received compensation last year, but this figure is significantly lower in Brussels and Wallonia.  Read More . 7. Von der Leyen warns Trump against a ‘global race to the bottom’ Von der Leyen's speech has hit back at Trump's desire to impose tariffs and "drill, baby drill".  Read More . 8. Belgian man sentenced for repeatedly defecating in public The man was caught four times doing a "number one" or a "number two" in public places while at coastal municipalities of De Panne.  Read More . HIDDEN SECRET OF THE DAY 9. Hidden Belgium: Antwerp story tapestries Woven by skilled workers at Flanders Tapestries, they illustrate the city’s history, architecture, fashion and food.  Read More .