The Belgian government warned at the weekend that there might be an attack after the security services captured their most wanted man. It came swiftly.

After a four-month manhunt, police have captured the top fugitive in last year’s deadly Paris attacks in the same Brussels neighbourhood where he grew up.

Belgian authorities have lowered their terror threat alert to the second-highest level in the capital Brussels, calling a threat “possible and likely”.

Schools and much of the Brussels metro system reopened yesterday as the Belgian capital started to return to normal after four days of lockdown, but troops on the street were a reminder it remains on alert.

A massive police operation in the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek has ended without any injuries.

The Government has rejected claims in a British newspaper that Ireland received a “back door bailout” from the UK to cover losses in Ulster Bank.

Rescuers gave up hope of finding any more survivors from a cargo ship that sank in the frigid North Sea off the Dutch coast, saying they are searching for the bodies of six crewmen still missing.

The European Commission has rejected Belgium's 2012 budget as over-optimistic and is now demanding further cuts.

Dexia, the Franco-Belgian lender that had to be bailed out last month, says the fire sale of its Belgian retail business and losses on Greek government bonds cost it almost €6.32bn in the third quarter.

A DUBLIN home formerly owned by Derek Quinlan, once one of Ireland’s richest men, may be sold and used by the Belgian embassy, according to reports.

IS it discrimination to ban women covering their face in public?

A MUSLIM husband at the centre of a row in France over multiple marriages defended himself yesterday by claiming that keeping mistresses was the French way of life.

A Muslim husband at the centre of a row in France over multiple marriages defended himself today by claiming that keeping mistresses was the French way of life.

SOMALI pirates have released the entire crew of a Belgian ship seized 10 weeks ago after a ransom was paid, the Belgian government has saidSunday.

Somali pirates have released the entire crew of a Belgian ship seized 10 weeks ago after a ransom was paid, the Belgian government said today.

Ryanair has called on the Irish Government to shelve its plans to introduce a €10 air travel tax after Belgium today abandoned plans for a similar tax owing to fears of its impact on tourism providers in the country.

The Belgian government failed to agree on more self-rule for Belgium’s Dutch and French-speaking camps, forcing Prime Minister Yves Leterme to offer King Albert the resignation of his cabinet, according to media reports.

A 24-hour nationwide strike by Belgian rail workers left commuters struggling to get to work today, while international Eurostar services between London and Brussels were cancelled.

Europe’s leaders will stamp their carbon footprint all over Europe’s new reform treaty this week.

The transfer of confidential banking records by a Belgium-based company to US authorities for use in anti-terrorism investigations breached EU data privacy rules, the premier said today.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares ended todays trading in bouyant form, finishing up 90.52 points to 6478.75.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares was in buoyant form today, up 76.10 points to 6,464.33.

Two flights have been cancelled between Dublin and Brussels because of a strike by Belgian trade unions.

Police briefly ordered the evacuation of Brussels’ main international railway station today because of a suspect package, but quickly gave the all clear.

Representatives of a prominent Russian non-governmental organisation were on their way to London today for talks with a Chechen rebel envoy on ways to stop the war in Chechnya.

SOME of your correspondents who have challenged the decision to proceed with a toxic waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy are under the illusion that we live in a democracy.

Bank of Ireland Private Banking has acquired a landmark property in central Brussels, the IT Tower, for approximately €70m on behalf of a number of clients.

The EU is to consider urgent new measures to give member countries access to each other’s criminal records of paedophiles and other sex offenders, officials said today.

Belgian telecommunications operator Belgacom SA started trading today at its issue price of €24.50 on the Euronext Brussels stock market.

SHAREHOLDERS in Belgacom, Belgium's main fixed-line telecom company, will sell up to €3.91 billion in stock in Europe's biggest initial public offering in three years, the Brussels-based company said yesterday.

A day after fining Ryanair for violating anti-competition rules, the European Union head office began drafting EU-wide rules on subsidies low-cost airlines can receive from small regional airports.

The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has said that a European Commission decision, which may result in Ryanair having to repay millions of euro, has no bearing on his plans to privatise Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

Ryanair is to appeal to British transport secretary Alistair Darling for help in its battle with the European commission over cut-price landing deals at continental airports.

A LANDMARK European Commission ruling next month on subsidies to regional airports could profoundly affect the business model of low-cost airline Ryanair and other bargain carriers, EU officials say.

THE Belgian government is to be congratulated for not allowing the tobacco industry advertise its products via Formula One motor racing.

Iraqi opposition groups are to meet in London next month to discuss their role in any post-Saddam Hussein nation.

Iraqi opposition groups are to meet in London next month to discuss their role in any post-Saddam Hussein nation.

PRESIDENT of the European Parliament Pat Cox was last night caught in the middle of a row that led to the cancellation of a major meeting with politicians from some of the world’s poorest nations.

I AM calling on the Irish Government and the Minister for Health, Michéal Martin, to publish the long-overdue report on fluoride in our water supply.

THERE is no laboratory in Ireland to test food for potentially lethal dioxins despite State plans to build at least seven incinerators.

A day after reaffirming its own backing for the war against terrorism, the European Union sat down with neighbouring countries today to discuss improving co-operation.

The European Union has approved the Belgian government's plan to give Sabena airlines a short-term loan of £80m.