Federal budget talks stall as ministers weigh freezing pensioner holiday pay
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Belgium's budget committee has concluded its latest meetings the way it began them: with the coalition partners still far apart. The government is currently weighing a freeze on holiday pay for pensioners, an austerity measure that is being analyzed for its potential financial impact across the country.
The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge are reporting a shift in trade flows that suggests a slowing industrial engine. While the docks are busy, an increasing number of containers are returning to China empty, a development that indicates a potential weakening in European export competitiveness.
A fire at the Botanic Sanctuary luxury hotel in Antwerp forced the evacuation of guests, including the Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. While the wellness facilities suffered significant damage, the grandmaster was among those safely moved out of the building during the emergency.