Anti-austerity Strike Brings Belgium To a Halt

A nationwide general strike against austerity measures in Belgium has brought air, road and train services to a halt, media reports said Monday. "All flights are cancelled," a spokeswoman for Brussels airport told Sky News, with at least 600 arrivals and departures hit by a walkout by air-traffic controllers. Both domestic and international flights at Brussels, Liege, Ostend and Antwerp are expected to be affected the 24-hour industrial action. Many Belgian businesses and factories have been forced to shut their doors, while schools and government offices throughout Belgium are also not open. Unions are holding the strike to protest public-sector cuts, an increase in the retirement age and the government's decision to drop a cost-of-living increase in wages next year.