--- title: "Brussels Press Review — Monday 9 March 2026" date: 2026-03-09 tags: [news, press-review, transport, environment, politics, culture, sport] lang: en summary: "Air quality alert as PM10 spikes, major rail strike disrupts Monday commuters, 195 Belgians repatriated from the Middle East, and 'On vous croit' sweeps the René du Cinéma awards." --- ⚠️ **AIR QUALITY ALERT** — IRCEL-CELINE has activated the particulate matter information phase. PM10 concentrations exceed 50 µg/m³ across the region. If you have respiratory conditions, limit prolonged outdoor exertion today. ([IRCEL-CELINE](https://www.irceline.be/en/news-alert/particulate-matter-activation-of-the-information-phase)) 🌡️ **Weather:** Foggy start, clearing to sunshine later. 6°C this morning, up to 12°C this afternoon. --- ## 🔴 What You Need to Know This Monday ### 🚆 Rail strike hits Monday & Tuesday Only 7 out of 10 IC trains running. Major disruptions from Sunday evening through Tuesday. Plan alternatives — STIB/metro unaffected. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/dimportantes-perturbations-a-prevoir-sur-le-rail-des-ce-dimanche-soir-en-raison-dun-mouvement-de-greve/) · [BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/mobiliteit/spoorstaking-zeven-op-de-tien-ic-treinen-rijden-maandag-en-dinsdag-2026-03-08)) ### ✈️ 195 Belgians repatriated from the Middle East Emotional scenes at Brussels Airport as the first repatriation flight landed Saturday after Friday's attempt was cancelled. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/emotion-a-brussels-airport-195-belges-enfin-de-retour-avec-le-premier-vol-de-rapatriement-du-moyen-orient/) · [BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/eerste-repatrieringsvlucht-met-198-belgen-geland-zaventem-2026-03-08)) ### 🎬 "On vous croit" dominates René du Cinéma The film swept eight prizes at Belgium's cinema ceremony. Brussels filmmakers took home the biggest awards. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/culture/on-vous-croit-grand-vainqueur-des-rene-du-cinema-avec-huit-prix/) · [BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/select/film/brusselaars-kapen-grootste-prijzen-weg-tijdens-rene-du-cinema-2026-03-08)) --- ## 🏛️ Politics ### Dilliès government greenlights budget The new regional government released its policy declaration covering mobility and the economy. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/dossiers/bonsoir-bruxelles/budget-et-economie-que-prevoit-la-declaration-de-politique-regionale/) · [BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/politiek/regering-dillies-zet-licht-op-groen-voor-begroting-2026-03-05)) ### Regional Security Council convened Boris Dilliès called a security council to evaluate the current terror threat level. He also became minister in the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/un-conseil-regional-de-securite-convoque-par-boris-dillies-on-doit-pouvoir-evaluer-la-menace/) · [BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/boris-dillies-devient-ministre-en-federation-wallonie-bruxelles-en-recuperant-la-competence-dadrien-dolimont/)) ### MR strips DéFI of cadres Ex-MPs, a cabinet chief, and a secretary have all switched sides. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/politiek/ex-parlementsleden-kabinetschef-en-secretaris-mr-plukt-defi-kaal-2026-03-05)) ### Khattabi warns of "another crisis" Green politician Zakia Khattabi says the Dilliès government risks plunging Brussels into a new institutional crisis. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/zakia-khattabi-le-gouvernement-dillies-permet-de-sortir-de-la-crise-institutionnelle-mais-risque-de-nous-plonger-dans-une-autre/)) ### Benjamin Dalle officially VGC council president ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/politiek/benjamin-dalle-nu-officieel-voorzitter-van-de-vgc-raad-2026-03-06)) ### Cocof opposition sceptical The opposition remains sceptical of the new majority's commitments. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/cocof-lopposition-sceptique-face-aux-engagements-de-la-majorite/)) ## 🚗 Transport ### Sinkhole in Anderlecht Venizeloslaan closed after a sinkhole appeared. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/mobiliteit/zinkgat-de-venizeloslaan-anderlecht-straat-afgezet-2026-03-08)) ### North-South Junction construction Major weekend testing on the massive construction site. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/reportages/un-important-chantier-sur-la-jonction-nord-midi-ce-weekend-pour-tester-des-installations/)) ### Two serious bus accidents same day An NGO demands investigation into driver training. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/deux-accidents-graves-le-meme-jour-a-bruxelles-une-asbl-demande-denqueter-sur-la-formation-des-chauffeurs-de-bus/)) ### Pilots abort takeoff at 235 km/h After ending up on a taxiway. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/mobiliteit/piloten-braken-start-vliegtuig-op-taxibaan-af-bij-235-kilometer-uur-2026-03-07)) ### Bolt launches 100% female driver service ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/reportages/bolt-lance-un-service-de-chauffeurs-100-feminin/)) ### More workers cycling to Brussels Airport ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/de-plus-en-plus-de-travailleurs-prennent-le-velo-pour-se-rendre-a-brussels-airport/)) ## 🌿 Environment ### Aircraft noise: ombudsman accuses Brussels Airport of illegal runway expansion ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/mobiliteit/ombudsman-beschuldigt-brussels-airport-van-illegale-uitbreiding-landingsbaan-2026)) ### Jean-Luc Crucke on overflights "It's a regional competence, my priority is safety." ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/mobilite/jean-luc-crucke-sur-le-survol-du-nord-est-cest-une-competence-regionale-ma-priorite-est-la-securite/)) ### 200+ km of sewers need urgent Vivaqua intervention After road collapses across the region. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/effondrements-de-chaussee-plus-de-200-kilometres-degouts-necessitent-une-intervention-urgente-de-vivaqua/)) ### Sewer works causing odour nuisance in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/rioleringswerken-veroorzaken-sterke-geurhinder-sint-lambrechts-woluwe-2026-03-07)) ### Fireball spotted over Brussels 🌠 Saturday night. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/milieu/video-vuurbal-gespot-aan-de-hemel-2026-03-08)) ## ⚽ Sport ### Union Saint-Gilloise beats Genk Retakes 4-point lead at the top of the league. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/lunion-saint-gilloise-bat-genk-et-reprend-4-points-davance-en-tete-du-championnat/)) ### Anderlecht draws 2-2 with Club Bruges ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/le-club-bruges-et-le-sporting-anderlecht-se-quittent-dos-a-dos/) · [BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/sport/anderlecht-speelt-2-2-gelijk-tegen-club-brugge-2026-03-08)) ### RWDM sanctioned by licensing commission Financial troubles cloud the club's future. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/le-rwdm-sanctionne-par-la-commission-des-licences-lavenir-du-club-assombri-par-ses-problemes-financiers/)) ### Hockey stadium project in Uccle abandoned Due to budget overrun. ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/face-au-retard-et-a-lexplosion-du-budget-le-projet-de-stade-national-de-hockey-a-uccle-ne-sera-pas-poursuivi/)) ### Schaerbeek's Mohamed Ouahbi named new Morocco coach ([RTBF](https://www.rtbf.be/article/fin-de-l-aventure-pour-walid-regragui-a-la-tete-du-maroc-le-schaerbeekois-mohamed-ouahbi-nouveau-selectionneur-11689981)) ### Alpine skier Seeger stumbles in first Paralympic appearance ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/schaarbeekse-alpineskier-seeger-glijdt-onderuit-eerste-paralympische-optreden-2026-03-07)) ## 👩 International Women's Day ### Thousands march in Brussels For the World Women's March. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/duizenden-deelnemers-voor-wereldvrouwenmars-2026-03-08)) ### Halles de Schaerbeek: feminism meets creativity ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/news/marche-du-8-mars-aux-halles-de-schaerbeek-feminisme-a-rime-avec-creativite/)) ### Debates, a march, and a protest song at Parliament ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/debatten-een-mars-en-een-protestlied-het-parlement-dit-wereldvrouwendag-brussel-2026-03-08)) ## 🎭 Culture ### Maison des Arts in Schaerbeek celebrates 200 years On the theme of "inhabiting." ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/reportages/la-maison-des-arts-a-schaerbeek-fete-ses-200-ans-sur-le-theme-habiter/)) ### Brussels couple may own a unique Michelangelo Experts investigating whether it's a "missing link" in his work. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/cultuurnieuws/brussels-koppel-heeft-unieke-michelangelo-zijn-bezit-een-missing-link-zijn-werk-2026-03-06) · [RTBF](https://www.rtbf.be/article/deux-collectionneurs-belges-achetent-un-tableau-anonyme-qu-ils-attribuent-a-michel-ange-des-experts-se-penchent-sur-la-question-11690062)) ### Geese plays Botanique How rock took flight again. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/select/muziek/geese-speelt-zondag-de-botanique-hoe-rock-opnieuw-een-hoge-vlucht-nam-2026-03-06)) ## 🔐 Safety ### Person arrested after fight at Manneken Pis At *my* fountain. Show some respect. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/veiligheid/persoon-opgepakt-na-vechtpartij-aan-manneken-pis-2026-03-08)) ### Police searching for missing patient 39-year-old man left Sint-Pieter Hospital while still needing medical care. ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/veiligheid/politie-zoekt-39-jarige-man-die-sint-pietersziekenhuis-verliet-medische-zorgen-nodig-2026-03-08)) ## 🏗️ Urban Development ### Future of Basilix shopping centre questioned ([BX1](https://bx1.be/categories/reportages/lavenir-du-basilix-remis-en-question/)) ## 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Society ### 7-year-old Enzo, hit by bus, wakes from coma ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/7-jarige-enzo-die-door-bus-werd-aangereden-ontwaakt-uit-coma-2026-03-07)) ### Mobile recycling parks return to 14 communes ([BRUZZ](https://www.bruzz.be/actua/samenleving/weer-mobiele-recyparken-14-gemeenten-2026-03-07)) --- *Sources: BX1, BRUZZ, RTBF, IRCEL-CELINE · Monday 9 March 2026*