Belgium government
Belgian military arrive at the entrance of the National Park Hoge Kempen in Maasmechelen, Belgium, Friday, May 21, 2021. Specialized forces on Friday continued their manhunt for an armed soldier who is on a Belgian anti terror watch list because of his extreme right sympathies but was still able to hoard heavy arms in army barracks before disappearing early this week. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Far right Belgian soldier who hoarded weapons still at large

By Raf Casert May. 21, 2021 01:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 30, 2021 file photo, Belgium's Jeremy Doku celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during a World Cup 2022 group E qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Belarus at the King Power stadium in Leuven, Belgium. Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard were called up Monday, May 17, 2021 for the Belgium squad alongside the usual stalwarts for the European Championship. Belgium will play in Group B, opening against Russia on June 12. The top-ranked Belgians will then face Denmark and Finland. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Belgian players to get COVID-19 vaccine before Euro 2020

May. 19, 2021 06:28 AM EDT

FILE - Belgian top virologist Marc Van Ranst looks into a microscope at his lab in Leuven, Belgium, Feb. 19, 2020. The hunt for an armed man who is on a Belgian terror watch list because of his extreme right sympathies and who had threatened several people, including top virologist Marc Van Ranst, entered a second day on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne described the man as an "acute threat" and is known for his extreme right sympathies. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Belgian manhunt for soldier on terror-watch list goes on

By Raf Casert May. 19, 2021 01:35 AM EDT

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo prepares to speak during a media conference after a Belgian government meeting to discuss coronavirus, COVID-19, measures in Brussels, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, Pool)
Belgium relaxes lockdown measures as COVID-19 numbers drop

By Raf Casert May. 11, 2021 10:52 AM EDT

Court orders Belgium to reframe virus restrictions as laws

Mar. 31, 2021 10:25 AM EDT
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Belgian state should either lift all coronavirus measures within 30 days or frame them properly as law, a Brussels court ruled Wednesday. ...

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, right, speaks during a media conference after a meeting of the consultative committee of government ministers in Brussels, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Ministers met on Wednesday to discuss a possible tightening of COVID-19 measures as infections are once again on the rise. (Benoit Doppagne, Pool via AP)
Belgium reverts to tighter Easter lockdown amid virus spike

By Samuel Petrequin Mar. 24, 2021 09:49 AM EDT

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media conference prior to a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)
NATO prepares 'virus-free' zone for summit; Biden invited

By Lorne Cook Mar. 23, 2021 06:33 AM EDT

A man walks by a closed cafe, due to COVID-19 restrictions, which is now selling books and hats and offering take-away service on the sidewalk in Antwerp, Belgium, Friday, March 18, 2021. Belgian health authorities are urging residents to limit their social contacts to a bare minimum and to massively opt for remote working to avoid another wave of COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Belgium pauses re-opening plans as virus infections mount

Mar. 19, 2021 03:29 PM EDT

An empty classroom at Great Academy Ashton, as the school prepares for its reopening on March 8 after the latest lockdown curb the spread of coronavirus, in Ashton-Under-Lyne, England, Thursday, March 4, 2021. The school for approximately 1300 pupils aged 11 to 16 in Greater Manchester will have to conduct around 450 tests per day on pupils and staff in the first 2 weeks after the return of students on Monday. (AP Photo Jon Super)
The Latest: Michigan makes homeless people vaccine-eligible

By The Associated Press Mar. 07, 2021 04:03 AM EST

FILE - In this Monday, May 18, 2020 file photo, hairdressers work in a salon with face shields and masks during the partial lifting of coronavirus, COVID-19, lockdown regulations in Antwerp, Belgium. Belgian health authorities warned Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 that the number of coronavirus infections is rising as the government appeared set to prolong restrictions for several more weeks. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Belgium prolongs major restrictions as virus cases rise

Feb. 26, 2021 07:45 AM EST

Hold it! Belgian govt warns against using its own free masks

Feb. 25, 2021 04:09 PM EST
BRUSSELS (AP) — Ten months after promising free cloth facemasks to protect all Belgians from COVID-19, the country's government is having second thoughts —...

A police officers speaks to youths on scooters at a road block during a nation-wide curfew in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. The Netherlands entered its toughest phase of anti-coronavirus restrictions to date, imposing a nationwide night-time curfew from 9 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. which started Saturday Jan. 23, 2021, in a bid to control the COVID-19 infection rate. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Belgium fears spread of Dutch riots over virus restrictions

Jan. 27, 2021 05:51 AM EST

People recieve their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination inside Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Salisbury Cathedral opened its doors for the second time as a venue for the Sarum South Primary Care Network COVID-19 Local Vaccination Service. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Delay in Pfizer vaccine shipments frustrate Europe, Canada

By Raf Casert Jan. 20, 2021 02:35 PM EST

People participate in a demonstration in Montreal, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, protesting measures implemented by the Quebec government to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Latest: Tenn. governor enacts new virus restrictions

The Associated Press Dec. 20, 2020 12:39 AM EST

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 24, 2020 file photo, a woman prays at the Saint Martin Basilica in Halle, Belgium during a partial lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19. The Belgian government is under pressure to change its restrictive rules on religious services during the coronavirus crisis after Belgium's highest court said the measures impede constitutional conditions on freedom of religion. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Belgium seeks to ease virus rules on religious services

By Raf Casert Dec. 09, 2020 06:26 AM EST

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct 20, 2020 file photo, people wait in their cars in a line to be tested at the mobile COVID-19 testing site in Antwerp, Belgium. With nothing on their agendas for months to come, organizers of music festivals in Belgium want to use their know-how to help the coronavirus vaccination campaign. The Belgian government has set up the goal to vaccine about 70 percent of the country's population, the equivalent of eight million people, when efficient COVID-19 shots become available. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Music festivals offer to help Belgium's vaccination campaign

Nov. 30, 2020 05:21 AM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014 file photo, a plaster cast adorns a wall at the House of Saint Nicolas in the village of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. To ensure the merriment of millions of Belgian kids this year, the government is offering a special exemption from the stringent coronavirus measures to beloved Saint Nicholas, who always delivers bountiful presents on the morning of Dec. 6. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Belgium exempts gift-bearing St Nicholas from virus measures

By Raf Casert Nov. 12, 2020 09:08 AM EST

Romanian traffic police officers wait for vehicles to pass by shortly after midnight in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 to inform drivers of the pandemic related night traffic restrictions that just came into effect. Romania introduces new restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the COVID-19 infections following a week when it registered an all time high number of new infections. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Europe hunkers down but also notes wins against virus surge

By Barry Hatton, Justin Spike And John Leicester Nov. 09, 2020 08:01 AM EST

FILE - In this Friday, April 3, 2020 file photo, a worker in protective gear moves a casket of a Covid-19 deceased at the Pontes crematorium and funeral center in Wilrijk, Belgium. This week news struck that the European Center for Disease Control has put Belgium at the largest number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 citizens, surpassing the Czech Republic, it is revealed Tuesday Oct. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Divided Belgium among Europe's worst virus hotspots

By Raf Casert Oct. 28, 2020 04:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 file photo, Belgium's Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, left, speaks with Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde during a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Former Belgian Prime minister Sophie Wilmes has been hospitalized in intensive care after getting infected with the coronavirus. The 45-year-old Wilmes, who was admitted to hospital on Wednesday evening Oct. 21, said last week she thought she got infected within her family circle. (Jean-Christophe Verhaegen, Pool via AP, File)
Former Belgian PM in intensive care with COVID-19

By Samuel Petrequin Oct. 22, 2020 06:12 AM EDT