Local elections held on 13 October saw lukewarm participation and delivered results that partially deceived predictions, with far- and centre-right less successful than expected; experts commented that the so-called 'blue wave' found a 'red wall'

A veterinary care group is calling on pet owners to add their animals to the blood donation register to cope with the severe shortage of animal blood donors; according to AniCura transfusions help surgery recovery and increase effectiveness of medication

Bankruptcies in Belgium increased by 7,13% year on year in May, according to the latest monthly report from commercial information bureau GraydonCreditsafe, the highest figure since 2013; in Flanders alone, bankruptcies reached a record high of 570

A new legislation came into effect in Brussels to regulate rental property prices in a bid to preserve housing access; affecting over 30.000 homes, mostly short-term rentals, it establishes a rent exceeding 20% of the regional rates would be a violation

Schools in Flanders ditched plans to provided a laptop to each primary education student, while are encouraged to develop collective ICT infrastructure; the regional government has also announced it will fully reimburse schools for asbestos removal costs