Vatican's Christmas tree arrives from Belgium

VATICAN CITY — Workers are setting up the Vatican's Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square, keeping up a 27-year tradition of decorating the vast square for the holiday. The Vatican says the 100-foot (30-meter)-tall tree has come from the forests of the Ardennes in Wallonia, Belgium. The tree was trucked in Friday, with the official lighting ceremony set for Dec. 18. The tree will be adorned with white and gold ornaments. It stands beside a life-size nativity scene that will be unveiled on Christmas Eve. Christmas trees have only been placed in the square since 1982, when Polish-born Pope John Paul II began the northern European tradition. Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j-haJKKqYzA72mSuj9QybPU-foSwD9CCHULO3

Belgium Open Main Event Title Returns to Homeland

Antonio Guida Beats 817-Strong Field to Win Belgium Open Poker Championships 2009


The 2009 Belgium Open Poker Championships played out from Nov. 21 to 29 at Belgium's Casino de Namur, attracting a total field of 817.


The total prize pool for the EUR1,500+EUR200 buy-in event was EUR1,138,877, and the player who took home the biggest part of that was local Antonio Guida. Although first place was due to receive EUR302,946, Guida actually received EUR256,082 due to a deal agreed upon three-handed.


Maurits Blom of the Netherlands was the unfortunate final-table bubble and joined the 71 players on the other side of the rail who had so far received payouts.


The nine players and their chip counts going into the final table were:






Seat 1 -- Antonio Guida (819,000)
Seat 2 -- Dalil Massaud (525,000)
Seat 3 -- Xavier Charlier (940,000)
Seat 4 -- Fabian Gantile (1,286,000)
Seat 5 -- Laurent Gauthier (330,000)
Seat 6 -- Marc Inizan (1,045,000)
Seat 7 -- Barbara Martinez (1,151,000)
Seat 8 -- Joris Springael (1,419,000)
Seat 9 -- Stefan Aerts (1,004,000)




After eight hours of play, the final hand occurred when Antonio Guida opened from the button and Fabian Gantile called. The flop was Kd 10h 7d. Gantile checked, Guida moved all in and Gantile called for his tournament life. Guida showed 6d 2d for the flush draw while Gantile flipped over Kh Jh for top pair. The turn kept Gantile safe with the 4s, but it was meant to be for Guida as the river brought a diamond in the form of a ten.


The 47-year-old from Liege in Belgium was crowned the champion of the event, while Gantile received EUR190,122 for his runner-up finish - slightly more than the original prize of EUR185,070 due to the three-handed deal.


Full list of final table payouts:






1: Antonio Guida - EUR256,082*
2: Fabian Gantile - EUR190,122*
3: Springael Joris - EUR167,089*
4: Dilal Massaud - EUR76,875
5: Xavier Charlier - EUR51,250
6: Barbara Martinez - EUR36,444
7: Stefan Aerts - EUR25,397
8: Laurent Gauthier - EUR18,450
9: Marc Inizan - EUR13,325




* based on deal made three-handed


The tournament was streamed live via http://www.CircusPoker.be and filmed for broadcast, while many other events carried on alongside. One of these events which drew considerable attention was the EUR10,000 Heads-Up Team tournament.This saw six teams of four battle each other in heads-up matches on Nov.25.


The teams who took first and second place were:






First Place - PokerStars (EUR45,000)

Player 1: Arnaud Mattern
Player 2: Bertrand Grospellier
Player 3: Johnny Lodden
Player 4: Julien Brecard

Second Place - Netherlands (EUR15,000)

Player 1: Jasper Wetemans
Player 2: Bert Van Doesburg
Player 3: Jorn Walthaus
Player 4: Marc Naalden




Among other side events on offer at the Belgium Open Poker Championships were a EUR1,000+EUR50 buy-in no-limit hold'em freezeout, a EUR150+EUR10 buy-in no-limit hold'em Bounty freezeout, and a EUR100+EUR10 no-limit hold'em ladies event. All events were well attended and the whole week proved another success for the annual event.


The main event attracted some of the poker world's top professionals including PokerStars Team Pro members such as Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Arnaud Mattern, Johnny Lodden, Noah Boeken, Joep Van Den Bijgaart, Marcel Luske, Pieter De Korver, Thierry Van Den Berg, J.P. Kelly, and Marion Nedellec, and legends from all over Europe including Surinder Sunar, Davidi Kitai, Michel Abecassis, Marc Naalden, and Paul Jackson.


Kenny Hallaert, Poker Manager of Casinos de Namur and Spa, said, "We expected to have about 650-700 players and in the end we had 817, so it was definitely a success. People were also very pleased with the structure, a five-day tournament structure where it took almost 45 hours of play to honour the winner. Something you never see, especially for a tournament with a buy-in of only EUR1,700.


For side event results, photographs, or further information please email Kenny Hallaert at kh@circuspoker.beThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call +32-(0)-476-80-65-35 or Brendan Murray on

Source: melodika.net/

Pak plays 2-2 draw against Belgium in practice match

SALTA (ARGENTINA), Dec 3 (APP): A late goal from forward Shakeel Abbasi helped Pakistan to earn a 2-2 draw against Belgium in their first practice match hit by rain here on Thursday at Popeye baseball club here.



The match helped the green shirts to overcome jet lag ahead of their participation in the Champions Challenge cup to be played from December 6. Pakistan will play China in their second practice match tomorrow, Friday.
On a soggy pitch players from both sides faced lot of difficulty in ball control and passing as the first ten minutes play was played in light showers. The each half of the match was of 20 minutes and both sides demonstrated high speed hockey and opened game with players coming and going off the field in frequent changing process.
Pak team settled down with a lovely field goal when Haseem Khan swiftly guided the ball in after setting up by Umer Bhutta from right side in the 7th minute as Pakistan lost the first penalty corner.
Belgium team came with full force to avenge and they stretched their wings, specially from the side in which Gougnard was the main trouble maker with his persistent penetration and speed but most of his efforts were dashed away by first half goalkeeper Nasir.
Pakistani team management led by Muhammad Asif Bajwa tried out all the 18-member squad to ensure that every one gets a fair chance to flex his muscles and to be in right frame of mind and physical condition before the Cup.
After trailing by one goal at half time the Belgium side went into action to lock the score at 1-1 through Dekeyser off a short corner in 27th minute of play and they made 2-1 when striker Gucassoff shone in a mid field move.
It was Abbasi who brought teams at par five minute before the close after crowing solo efforts from half line before Waseem fed him with a straight.
“It was a good match and I am satisfied with the performance of players,” said Pak team head coach, Shahid Ali Khan while talking to APP. He said despite adverse weather conditions, rain and soggy field players gave a good show. We will be playing China in next match which will help us in ending jetlag and by that way we will be fully prepare for the Cup,” he added.

Source: app.com.pk/

Pak to play Belgium and China in practice match

ARGENTINA, Salta, Dec 2 (APP): Pakistan hockey team will play two back to back practice matches to fully warm up for Champions Challenge Cup Hockey tournament being played here from December 6.



The green shirts will play Belgium in the first practice match here tomorrow, Thursday, followed by a similar game against China on December 4.
According to Pak team manager, Muhammad Asif Bajwa the practice matches will be of three sessions, each of twenty minutes. “We will be trying out all the players in these matches to overcome the jetlag and bring players back to fitness and form,” he told APP here on Wednesday.
He said team management has planned these matches to give team necessary practice and the opportunity to settle down with the playing conditions and weather

Source: app.com.pk/

Couples’ visit to Aubel, Belgium, closes complex loop

In Aubel, Belgium, on Sept. 11 was former Gresham resident Carole Keller Heimberg and her husband, Gerhard, and Melissa Fletcher and Wayne Swanson, both of Boring. Swanson was born on the day that Aubel was liberated by American troops.






It’s complicated, just how a small group of Gresham High grads fetched up in Aubel, Belgium, on Sept. 11 to help that city celebrate the 65th anniversary of its liberation from the Germans.

But it began when a brother and sister, Wayne and Elice Swanson, cooked up an idea for a historical fiction book set in Belgium during World War II.

Wayne, a retired firefighter who lives in Boring and graduated from Gresham High in 1961, had the nugget of an idea for a book. He told his sister, and she wrote the work of historical fiction, naming it “The Baker’s Boy, a Soldier’s Story.” (It is available at Borders and on Amazon.)

Elice, who lives in Seattle and graduated from Gresham High in 1955, went looking for a setting for her brother’s story idea and found Aubel, Belgium, on the Internet, She was struck by an account of an American couple who visited Aubel on Sept. 11 and found it filled with American flags. Believing it was an observance of the New York disaster; the visitors inquired, and learned that the flags marked the liberation of the community by the 101st Army, “The Big Red One,” on Sept. 11, 1944.

“That is Wayne’s birthday. He was born on that day 65 years ago,” Elice said. Struck by the coincidence, she vowed that they would be in Aubel on Sept. 11, 2009.

That is how Wayne Swanson and his partner, Melissa Fletcher, ended up in the town square of Aubel on his 65th birthday with Elice taking the photo. With Swanson and Fletcher was Carole Keller Heimberg, another Gresham High grad, class of 1955, and her husband, Gerhard. The Heimbergs live in Switzerland.

The Heimbergs took the opportunity for a reunion to track the wartime struggle of Carole’s father, Gresham baker Karl Keller. Keller was drafted in 1944, a family man with three children, and sent to Europe. Early in the summer of 1944, he was captured and taken to a prisoner of war camp in Bad Orb, Germany, until the war’s end in 1945. Part of his ordeal was a forced march in the winter through Belgium and Germany. Carole Keller Heimberg and her husband retraced her father’s route through the area on the September trip.

“It was so heartwarming to be in Aubel for the anniversary. They are so kind to Americans and still so grateful,” said Elice Swanson.

Source:

BELGIUM: Cost cuts, growth in Delhaize "new game plan"

Delhaize has unveiled a plan that will see the Belgium-based retailer cut costs and expand its discount formats and operations in growth markets.

The company unveiled its "new game plan" at an analyst meeting in Greece today (3 December).

Delhaize is aiming to cut costs annual costs by an extra EUR300m 2012, which it said can then be invested in the group's price positioning and store openings as well as supporting profits.

Delhaize said that it will increase price competitiveness in all its markets, with the accelerated opening of budget outlets and investment in lowering prices.

The group has also increased its focus on the "growth" markets of Greece, Romania and Indonesia. Delhaize will triple its number of budget store openings in these markets over the next three years, to 250 outlets.

The group, which operates stores in the US under the Food Lion and Hannaford banners, added that there is the potential to expand through acquisitions.

According to Delhaize, the plan means a greater focus on accelerated growth, increased efficiencies and stronger intra-group integration.

"Today, Delhaize Group has a strong and proven building platform of leading brands and market shares, best-in-class profitability and a solid balance sheet," said president and CEO Pierre-Olivier Beckers.

"The goal ... is to deliver value leadership in all our markets leading to superior revenue and profit growth, and to make Delhaize a more effective acquisition platform through additional synergies, shared knowledge and shared services," he added.

Source: just-food.com/

Major Belgium Lawsuit Against Citibank (NYSE:C) Started Friday

In the largest Belgium lawsuit in relationship to the financial banking crisis, 4,000 Belgium customers of Citibank (NYSE:C) have begun their attempt at recouping their savings after losing everything in where the prosecution says Citibank used “misleading information” and employed “tricks” to get Belgium banking customers to invest in highly risky products.

What the prosecutors are referring to are taking what the plaintiffs in the case say they believed were regular savings accounts, which were then changed into structured products issued by Lehman Brothers.

The trial, which has started on Friday, December 4, will focus on how the savings of the Citibank customers were lost because of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which they seemingly had no idea they had had their money invested in.

The cases is predicated upon whether or not Citibank had communicated to their customers to the point they understood what the risks were regarding the products they had evidently acquired. If that is established to be the case, it looks like Citibank will lose this lawsuit.

According to Le Soir newspaper, Citibank customers were “surprised” when the U.S. bank collapsed and their accounts discovered as they were – structured products – rather than savings.

In all honesty, this seems like a difficult cased on both sides to me. Many people in countries almost completely unaware of what a structured product is or even that it exists, probably could be talked to for hours and would have no idea of what it was, as in their thinking any investment in something bank represents would be considered safe.

When I was working as a financial advisor in the past, even in America, where many of these risky products originate, most of the average bank customers wouldn’t have the slightest idea of what a structured product is and the risk associated with it. So you could imagine the difficulty in a country of people who aren’t aware of these types of risky securities in any way, and listen with the mindset which comes with thinking a bank is talking about savings, no matter what the investment is.

That sounds like what has happened in this case, and if nothing else, Citibank should have known better than to have offered these types of products to a people that had little if any understanding of what they were getting into. That’s the crux of the case, and whether Citibank wins or loses from a financial viewpoint won’t be that relevant if they lose the trust of the people of Belgium in helping them take care of their life savings.

Source: americanbankingnews.com/

Sunparks’ Launches Into the UK Market with Holiday Villages in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

The Sunparks brand has been running for over 20 years in Europe and has recently become part of the Pierre & Vacances Group. Sunparks is well known throughout Europe for operating all-weather, year-round holiday villages that offer a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor facilities for the whole family. Four of the villages are located in Belgium, two in the Netherlands and two in Germany.

The villages all act as a good base for exploring the surrounding regions. For example, the De Haan aan zee village in Belgium is only 20 kilometres from Bruges. Each village also has a dedicated tourist information centre, the ‘Tourist Guide’, which provides in-depth information and event listings for each region. Some of the holiday villages, including De Haan aan zee in Belgium and Sunparks Nordseeküste in Germany, have also recently been refurbished.

All Sunparks properties offer flexible arrival dates and holiday lengths ranging from two nights to two weeks. Twenty percent discounts apply for young families with children under twelve years of age, and those aged 55 and over. Early booking discounts also apply. Prices start from €399 per week for a four person villa, or €239 for a four night midweek break.

Source: pr-usa.net/

Int’l groups in Belgium condemn massacre in Maguindanao

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Days after the Maguindanao massacre, the European Commission in Brussels immediately issued a press statement.

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, in a statement sent to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, lambasted the brutal killings of innocent civilians last Nov. 23,

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the barbaric killing on 23 November 2009 of innocent civilians, including women, journalists and lawyers, who were preparing to participate in the electoral process in the Philippines”, he said in the statement.

Apart from condoling with the families of the massacre victims, Ferrero-Waldner said he hopes that everything will be done to give justice to the aggrieved ones.

“I convey my profound condolences to the families of all those killed. I note with satisfaction the declaration of the President of the Philippines, that all will be done to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

He also called on everyone to stay calm especially with elections set next year.

“I call for calm in the period leading up to the forthcoming elections scheduled for May 2010. In the face of this atrocity, the rules of law and democracy have to prevail”, he added.

On the other hand, International Action for Liberation (INTAL), called on the Arroyo government to act at once.

“Well Arroyo has to do something because the outrage is immense. She has to do something, she has to react”, said INTAL Desk Officer for Philippines Wim de Ceukelaire.

He said he believes that 2010 elections will be more chaotic and dangerous compared to the previous ones should the government fail to serve justice.

“I’m afraid that this election campaign will be even more bloody than previous election campaign and probably this massacre is only the start of it”, de Ceukalaire stated.

Meanwhile, the Filipino community in Brussels offered a mass to all the victims of the massacre in Ampatuan town and their families. They pray that such act of cruelty should never happen again and should serve as an eye opener to everyone.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com/

Belgium braces for worst as Yves Leterme returns as Prime Minister

Belgium's newly appointed Prime Minister Yves Leterme











He called his country “an accident of history”. He forgot the national anthem. He insulted half the population by suggesting that they were lazy or stupid. Yves Leterme’s first stint as the Prime Minister of Belgium was not a resounding success. Now he is back for another go.

Despite presiding over a crisis that nearly broke up the country, Mr Leterme, 49, has been recalled by Albert II, King of the Belgians.

Herman Van Rompuy, Mr Leterme’s replacement, has been plucked from office to become Europe’s first President. The owlish Mr Van Rompuy, who writes Japanese-style haiku poetry in spare moments during boring meetings, was seen as a master of consensus who repaired the damage of the first Leterme leadership. The country is bracing itself for Mr Leterme’s return.

Belgium has a complicated political scene, with no national parties, but rival factions serving the Francophone and Dutch-speaking communities.

Although he has a French-speaking father, Mr Leterme was raised as a Fleming from the Dutch-speaking north, and stoked ill will by showing his disregard for the Francophone south on several occasions. He once suggested that all the Belgian people shared was their “King, national football team and certain beers”. In 2006, he upset French-speakers by suggesting that they were either lazy or lacked the “intellectual capacity” to learn Dutch. A supporter of Flemish autonomy, he even said Belgium had “no intrinsic value” as a unified state.

Yet he has managed to offend the Flemings as well. Asked to sing a few lines of the national anthem Brabanconne, he launched into a rendition of France’s La Marseillaise instead.

Mr Leterme’s Flemish Christian Democrats (CDV) won the elections of June 2007, but such was the mistrust between the feuding parties that he was only able to form a ruling coalition in March 2008. The stress of forming a government was so severe that he had to take a couple of weeks off.

He first offered his resignation in July 2008 as a way of trying to take the sting out of a debate on whether the country’s two halves would be better going their separate ways. The row blew up amid plans to devolve more power to the regions, seen as a slippery slope to Flemish independence, with the Government of five parties unable to agree on a budget.

The financial crisis took place during his short reign and he bore the brunt of anger over the break-up of Fortis, a Belgian bank, before being forced out of office last December.

A senior judge accused officials of meddling in the sell-off of Fortis, but Mr Leterme was eventually cleared of malpractice and returned to political office as Foreign Minister.

He is still reviled by sections of the French-speaking community. Its main newspaper, Le Soir, is arguing against his return as prime minister and has organised a petition of its readers.

Not even the great mediator Mr Van Rompuy could bring himself to express enthusiasm for his successor. “It is now his second chance. He has all the elements to prove he will be a good prime minister. I hope so for him and for Belgium,” he said.

Source:

BELGIUM: GM Europe plan expected this week

General Motors was expected to present a restructuring plan for Opel and Vauxhall to European Union ministers by the end of the week, the head of the Belgian region of Flanders said on Monday.

Kris Peeters told Reuters EU ministers would discuss the GM Europe plan at a meeting on 4 December.

Nick Reilly, the interim chief executive of GM Europe, had said earlier that Opel needed around EUR3.3bn (US$4.94bn) of refinancing.

European Union industry commissioner Guenter Verheugen on Monday convened a meeting of ministerial heads from countries with GM plants in the face of fears of a subsidy auction over promised job cuts and included representatives of GM Europe which wants to shed 10,000 jobs.

In a statement after the talks in Brussels, Reilly said: "Our discussion was very open and fair, and I am confident that we will be able to quickly bring our talks with governments, union leaders, employees and other stakeholders to a close so that we can finalise the funding structure and move forward with the necessary restructuring.

During the meeting, I went through the rationale of why GM has decided to retain Opel/Vauxhall and why we think this decision is the best solution for all involved parties.

"We do have a plan, and we are convinced that this plan is the right concept for Opel/Vauxhall's future.

"The implementation of the plan will be based on economic criteria and not be impacted by any government's decision to what extent they support the plan."

German magazine Spiegel said the company had received offers of EUR400m from Britain and between EUR300m and EUR400m from Spain, as well as proposed tax breaks from Poland.

There are also GM Europe plants in Austria and Hungary.

Peeters told AFP said he wanted "more explanations" from the company though Belgium's offer of up to EUR500m to keep the Antwerp Opel factory open was "still on the table".

Jochen Homann, German secretary of state for economics, told the news agency he was "waiting to see what GM will present," but added: "We won't take part in a competition."

He said all governments could "rely" on the commission to ensure there would be no jobs auction at a time of high unemployment, expected to keep growing at least throughout 2010.

Britain was represented by junior minister for business Ian Lucas. A spokesman said London had "always said we will offer aid" and that it would be consistent with commission state-aid competition rules.

Verheugen said last week that he wanted to "avoid putting jobs up for auction" at GM Europe.

The EU's competition and employment commissioners were also present.

Source: just-auto.com/

Is Belgium coma patient Ron Houben really conscious?

Rom Houben reportedly spent some 23 years in a vegetative state before beginning to "communicate" again by moving a single unparalized finger against a screen, His mother, Fina Nicolaes stated that, "Early on, he was surprised that the words came out of his finger. Now, he is busy writing a book."

The so-called method of communication, with the help of a speech therapist holding his hand punching a touch screen is doubted by some authorities, and is stirring controversy only days after the story of his comeback as a fully conscious man entombed in an immobile body captured the world's imagination.


Many scholars doubt the technique of facilitated communication, and bloggers denounce it as a cruel farce, and millions asking as they watch the video of Houben's hand being held as it quickly types into the screen — who is really doing the punching here?

Dr. Steven Laureys understands the questions and said he might ask the same if he did not know the patient. And he said there is only one way to address the doubters — science. "For me, there are two questions: Is he conscious? Can he communicate? That is 'yes' twice," he said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Having watched the video, and having worked with many individuals with communication impairments, it is my opinion that this is a case of wishful thinking married to a thought of, "I could make some money here."

Source: examiner.com/

30/11/2009Van Rompuy : Belgium's Mr Fixit becomes Mr EU

More poet than pit-bull, Herman Van Rompuy, who becomes the EU's first president on Tuesday, earned his reputation as a quiet negotiator at the head of a fractious Belgian coalition government.

BRUSSELS - Flemish yet francophile, in his 11 months as prime minister he stablised a kingdom divided between its Dutch-speaking north and poorer French-speaking south.
The grey, bespectacled Roman Catholic has now risen effortlessly to Europe's new top job, which he never campaigned for and said he never sought, until he accepted it earlier this month.

It was his reputation as Belgium's Mr Fixit, and perhaps his very modest amount of charisma, which appealed to European Union leaders most in their search for a technocrat to be the face of the new EU without overshadowing them.

He is "more cerebral, whereas I'm a man of action" said younger brother Eric, an MP and a more outspoken champion of Dutch-speaking Flanders.

Born in 1947 not far from what is now the European quarter of Brussels -- Herman Van Rompuy was taught by Jesuits and studied Thomas Aquinas before dedicating himself to economics and politics.

A good sense of humour runs through his penchant for poetry. He likes to keep a blog updated with his latest Haikus, the 17-syllable form of Japanese poetry.

Political scientist Pierre Vercauteren said that given the task in hand "his sense of humour could certainly be useful."

The now former PM has spent much of his political career in Belgium's lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Representatives, as a member of the Flemish Christian Democrats.

He led the party between 1988-1993, and then served as budget minister under Jean-Luc Dehaene, presiding over Belgium's adoption of the single European currency.

Van Rompuy became president of the lower house in 2007, at a particularly tense period between the Dutch and French-speaking regions, and last December King Albert II persuaded him to take on the job of prime minister when another crisis hit.

His predecessor -- and successor -- Yves Leterme could not navigate the linguistic minefield and after a year of trying stepped down amid allegations that his aides sought to influence a court ruling on the break-up of Fortis bank.

Source: expatica.com/

Belgium looks to strengthen relations with Turkmenistan: King Albert

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec. 4 / Trend News H. Hasanov /

In his message to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow, Belgian King Albert II stressed that his country is interested in supporting and strengthening relations with Ashgabat.

Officer of the Order of the Crown Paul de Witte was appointed Belgian ambassador to the country. He presented his credentials to Turkmen Parliamentary Speaker Akja Nurberdiyeva.

"We believe he will perform his mission with great zeal and gain the confidence of your excellency," the king said.

Enex Process Engineering, headed by Koen Minne, is one of the most famous Belgian companies on the Turkmen market.

"The Turkmen market is developing dynamically. Certainly, it is attractive for investments," Minne recently told media.

His company operates in the Turkmen fuel and energy sector, processing and chemical industry, and telecommunications.

Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: trend@trend.az

Source: trend.az/

Misdiagnosed 23 years as comatose, Belgium man tells his story

News spread quickly this week about a Belgium man who suffered 23 years unable to speak but able to hear doctors who misdiagnosed him as being in a coma, and later in a vegetative state.

Rom Houben is finally able to communicate, thanks to a brain scan — and thanks to his mother never giving up her skepticism about his poor prognosis after he was hurt in a car crash. She eventually was able to find someone who tested him with a specialized brain scan and found his brain function almost normal, according to the Associated Press.

That brain scan was about three years ago, but Houben’s tale was just recently reported in a scientific study.

See news coverage about his experience:

The Associated Press: Rom Houben uses a touchscreen to describe the “utter powerlessness” he experienced; his neuropsychologist says his condition is a form of “locked-in syndrome” in which people are unable to speak or move but can think and reason.

BBC News: See a video of Rom Houben using a touchscreen to communicate, along with a photo of him as a young man before his accident.

Source: syracuse.com/

Belgium - MFA - Rights of the child: Belgium supports an emergency UNICEF project designed to protect children

Development Cooperation Minister Charles Michel has decided to support the UNICEF project "Système de protection de l'enfant en urgence dans l'est de la RDC" (Emergency System for Protecting Children in the Eastern DRC) to the tune of €1 million.

The ongoing armed conflict in the DRC is continuing to have drastic consequences for children there. The fragmentation of families and the utter disintegration of basic social structures have driven hundreds of thousands of children into exile. Military operations under way in the eastern DRC are resulting in kidnappings, forced labour, looting, murders and rapes, crimes of which all the parties to the conflict are guilty.

Together with its partners, UNICEF is fighting to prevent such violations of children's rights and come up with an appropriate response to the problem by establishing protective mechanisms at different levels. More specifically, these mechanisms will aim to prevent children from being enrolled into the armed forces, ensure that forms of abuse suffered by children are reported, and guarantee that those children who do end up participating in armed conflicts can be reintegrated into society.

"Since 2005, the rights of the child have been one of four themes underlying all our cooperation. My intention in backing this project is to make sure that the rights of the child do not merely remain an ideal, but become a genuine, fully serviceable development tool. Our very future, no less, depends on it", said Minister Michel.

Source: isria.com/

Ambassador-designate to Belgium, EU calls on President

ISLAMABAD, Nov 25 (APP): Ambassador-designate to Belgium and the European Union Jalil Abbas Jilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.The President while congratulating the ambassador-designate on his new assignment advised him to work for further enhancing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belgium.He said that Chambers of Commerce and businessmen of both the countries must be encouraged to meet and develop mutually beneficial interaction and explore real potential of trade between the two countries.


The President also advised the ambassador-designate to encourage Belgian companies to benefit from the investment friendly policies of the Government of Pakistan.

He advised the ambassador-designate to pro-actively engage with the Belgian government to further Pakistan’s interests in holding of second Pakistan-EU Summit in early 2010 as well as institutionalization of the summit process.

The President said that European Union and Pakistan are partners in the global campaign against terrorism and appreciated EU’s contribution towards economic development and its decision to raise level of regular economic assistance to Pakistan.

He said we need an increased access of Pakistani products into the EU markets and also advised the ambassador to further Pakistan’s case for market access.

The President advised the Ambassador designate to convey his felicitation to Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy on his appointment as President of European Union.

Source: app.com.pk/

Leterme likely to be Belgium's new PM: report

BRUSSELS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Belgian Foreign minister Yves Leterme is likely to succeed the newly elected President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, a Belgian TV reported here on Tuesday.

After facilitator Wilfried Martens hands his report of mission to the Belgian King, Albert II, Van Rompuy will officially step down as Belgian Prime minister, RTV TVI reported, quoting official sources.

It will allow Leterme, who was predecessor of Van Rompuy as Belgian prime minister, to meet with the King and subsequently take office.

Van Rompuy was elected the first president of the European Council on Nov. 19 at an informal European Union summit.

The appointment of a new Belgian prime minister will involve a reshuffling of government positions, but there will not be any major changes, the four main political parties will keep their portfolios, according to the report.

It said that current vice-prime minister of the CD&V party, Steven Vanackere, is likely to fill the post of foreign minister to replace Leterme.

Official appointment ceremonies should take place on Wednesday at the King's Laeken castle, according to the report.

Source: xinhuanet.com/

A-G looking at helping mum recover son in Belgium

SEGAMBUT: The Attorney-General is looking at the best possible method of helping Elis Syuhaila Mokhtar bring home her six-year-old son Ferris Mokhtar van de Ven who is believed to have been taken to Belgium by his father.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail would look into legal implications and the best method of helping Elis Syuhaila.

The ministry has sought legal advice from the A-G, she said.

Elis Syuhaila, who was married to a Dutch man, has secured a custodial order from the Shah Alam Syariah High Court for her son.

“The case is complicated as it involves a lot of legal procedures. Therefore, we’ve requested Abdul Gani’s help to look at how the Government can bring the child back in accordance with the Syariah Court order,” she said.

Shahrizat said Elis Syuhaila had sought the ministry’s help but it had no jurisdiction over the matter.

“Abdul Gani is very concerned with cases like this, cases that involve two sets of legal systems as well as the syariah law.

“We must know that the syariah law is no less important than the civil law. We’ll wait for his advice,” she told press members at a Hari Raya Aidiladha event organised by Kepong Wanita Umno at Surau Mahmudiah here yesterday.

Shahrizat also advised Malaysian women to “know the risks” of marrying foreign citizens.

“Malaysian women need to know their rights here and also abroad or their husband’s country of origin if a marriage fails, especially when it comes to the custody of their children,” she said.

Source: thestar.com.my/

Solar Power expands into Belgium

Solar Power Inc. has entered an agreement with BNL Tactics Group International, which will establish a dealership network for the solar-panel system company in Belgium.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Solar Power will sell its solar-panel systems directly to the dealers.

The “relationship is a unique and exciting opportunity,” said Bradley Ferrell, president of business development for Solar Power. “This part of the European market offers significant growth opportunities in the near-term for (photovoltaic) solar.”

Roseville-based Solar Power has 17 dealers nationwide, and distributors in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Shares of Solar Power (OTCBB: SOPW.OB) increased 8 cents to $1.38 in trading Wednesday.

Source: bizjournals.com/

Belgium to propose Praet for ECB vice president

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Belgium will on Tuesday put forward Peter Praet as a candidate to become the next European Central Bank vice president, a finance ministry spokesman said.
Praet, 60, is a director at Belgium's central bank responsible for international cooperation and financial stability.
The spokesman said on Monday the proposal would be put to the Eurogroup of finance ministers, which meets on Tuesday.


Source: iii.co.uk/

BELGIUM: A-B InBev completes Eastern Europe assets sale

Anheuser-Busch InBev has completed the sale of brewing assets across Eastern Europe to private equity group CVC Capital.

The deal nets A-B InBev an initial US$2.2bn, but the brewer could receive a further $800m depending on the performance of the businesses under CVC Capital.

A-B InBev said today (2 December) that the assets will be renamed 'StarBev'.

They include brewing assets in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia.

However, A-B InBev will retain the right to brew Czech beer brand Staropramen in Russia and Ukraine and to distribute the beer in several other markets, including the UK, US and Germany.

StarBev will also brew Stella Artois, Beck's, Löwenbräu and Spaten and distribute Hoegaarden and Leffe - under licence from A-B InBev - in the countries in which it operates.

Yesterday, A-B InBev announced it had completed the sale of theme parks in the US to Blackstone.

The two deals are part of the brewer's strategy to dispose of at least $7bn in assets following InBev's $52bn takeover of A-B late last year.

Source: just-drinks.com/

3/12/09 Holland-Belgium Bid All Star Team Plays African Legends

With their first official match the All Star Team of The HollandBelgium Bid today showed the world the full scope of their slogan 'Together for Great Goals'.

In the middle of the township Crossroads in Cape Town, the All Star Team played a friendly match against a team of African Legends. Playing on the Cruyff Court - which was completely refurbished - and introducing the World Coaches concept the Holland/Belgium team exhibited how football can make contributions to a better world.

Hundreds of residents of township Crossroads in Cape Town looked on in amazement when over a dozen soccer world stars kicked off for a friendly in support of the candidature of Belgium and Holland for the FIFA World Cup 2018/2022. The Belgian/Dutch All Star team will travel the world in the next twelve months to focus the attention on the candidature of the neighbouring countries.

The African Legends team with the likes of Dr. Khumalo, Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kalusha and Eric Tinkler faced an All Star Team of the HollandBelgium Bid including Gilles De Bilde, Ronald de Boer, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Gert Verheyen and Aron Winter. Unfortunately renowned goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff had to stay on the sideline with an injury.

Former Dutch team captains Ruud Krol and Ruud Gullit acted as coaches of both teams. The match ended in an exciting draw (5-5) and a thrilling penalty shoot out brought the win to the HollandBelgium team when Gilles De Bilde netted the final penalty.

Bringing these stars to the township was not a coincidence, Ruud Gullit admitted after the match.

He is acting as one of the key ambassadors of the HollandBelgium Bid and is aware of the power of football and the impact of a World Cup.

"Belgium and Holland want to host the World Cup and thus contribute to better football and a better world. Football is entertainment and football is hope. When children are young and keen on football they always hope for an international career in football.

"For that reason we asked 60 children to play on the Cruyff Court prior to our All Star match. That is one thing. Our countries have contributed to the success of football. They were co-founders of FIFA, and have had players and coaches working on the quality and the image of the game all over the world. For two countries of that size their World Cup track record is amazing."

Gullit added: "The two countries provide easy access and once you have arrived all stadiums are within easy reach. Having organized the European Championship in 2000 jointly and successfully Belgium and Holland want to prove that hosting the World Cup is not a privilege of the world powers in football. They want to set an example that can be followed by other nations as well."

Before the All Star match, 17 African coaches received their certificates after successfully completing the first World Coaches Course this week. As a gesture of gratitude and appreciation to the African continent the Dutch football association wants to educate 2010 football coaches on the African continent in the next few years and will continue to teach another 2014 football coaches in South America on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

As a contribution to the development of the Crossroads township hosting the event on Thursday, The HollandBelgium Bid made a donation of 10.000 Rand which can be spent on any project of their own choice contributing to the quality of life in Crossroads.

In addition and after consultation with the township leadership The HollandBelgium Bid made a donation in kind as well thus supporting the food programme FeedBack which offers food to minorities in townships.

Source: worldfootballinsider.com/

PM urges envoy designate to strengthen ties with Belgium

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday asked the Ambassador designate to Belgium and European Union Jalil Abbas Jilani to work towards further enhancement of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belgium. The Prime Minister stated this as Jalil Abbas Jilani paid a farewell call on him at the PM House. The Prime Minister urged the envoy designate to seek the support of Belgium for strengthening ties with NATO, for early conclusion of Foreign Trade Agreement with European Union as well as getting EU’s GSP Plus facilities for Pakistan.



Underlining the importance of Belgium after its Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy’s selection last week as the first President of the European Council, the Prime Minister urged the Ambassador designate to seek EU’s enhanced political and economic support for Pakistan.
The Prime Minister further asked the Ambassador designate to focus his energies to further increase Pakistan’s exports to Belgium which happens to be the sixth largest buyer of Pakistani products in Europe.
The Ambassador designate thanked the Prime Minister for reposing his confidence on him for this assignment and assured him that his guidance will set his agenda of work as Ambassador to Belgium and European Union.

Source: app.com.pk/

BELGIUM - Obama requests more troops

BRUSSELS (AP):

President Barack Obama is asking European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to contribute up to 10,000 additional troops to the international force in Afgha-nistan, officials with the military alliance said yesterday.

A diplomat from a European nation said that the troop figure was included in an official NATO document, compiled on the basis of information received from Washington before Obama's planned announcement late yesterday of new United States (US) troop deployments.

Paris was being asked to provide 1,500 troops, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. Apart from the 30,000 additional troops that Obama is expected to send to Afghanistan, the French total would be the single largest new contribution to the expanded NATO-led force, the official said.

Source:

Malaysia seeks to recover child from Belgium in custody dispute

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's government is trying to help a woman recover her 5-year-old son from Belgium after her estranged husband took him there and defied an Islamic court order granting her custody of the child, news reports said Sunday.

The case has stirred religious sensitivities in this Muslim-majority country partly because Elis Syuhaila Mokhtar has voiced doubts about whether her Dutch husband, who converted to Islam before they married in 2001, was raising their child according to Islamic principles.

Malaysia's Shariah High Court last month gave Elis custody of the Malaysian-born boy but granted visitation rights to her husband, Frank Theodorus van de Ven, following a custody dispute after the couple began divorce proceedings in January 2008. Van de Ven had taken his son to Belgium in March and wanted to keep him there.

Elis and van de Ven, who lived together in Belgium for several years, have traded accusations against each other in the Malaysian media. The New Straits Times newspaper on Saturday quoted van de Ven as saying in an email interview that Elis had kept him away from their son for more than a year after their marriage ran into trouble.

Women and Family Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said late Saturday that the man's refusal to heed the court's decision was "an insult to the Shariah laws of Malaysia," the national news agency Bernama reported.

She said her ministry would work with government lawyers to assist Elis, who would likely need to appoint a lawyer to bring the case to the Belgian courts, Bernama said.

Ministry officials who could comment on the case could not immediately be contacted.

Malaysia's Shariah courts have jurisdiction over Muslims in legal disputes regarding family and personal matters.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jMtabpoV_WbEeUIhlD5gKhGBmMrw

Belgium Twitter

The Kingdom of Belgium /ˈbɛldʒəm/ is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi) and has a population of about 10.7 million.

Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Flemish and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons, plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north, with 59% of the population, and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia, inhabited by 31%. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region and has 10% of the population. A small German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.

The name 'Belgium' is derived from Gallia Belgica, a Roman province in the northernmost part of Gaul that was inhabited by the Belgae, a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples. Historically, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were known as the Low Countries, which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states. From the end of the Middle Ages until the 17th century, it was a prosperous centre of commerce and culture. From the 16th century until the Belgian revolution in 1830, many battles between European powers were fought in the area of Belgium, causing it to be dubbed "the cockpit of Europe"—a reputation strengthened by both World Wars. Upon its independence, Belgium eagerly participated in the Industrial Revolution and, at the end of the nineteenth century, possessed several colonies in Africa. The second half of the 20th century was marked by the rise of communal conflicts between the Flemings and the Francophones fuelled by cultural differences on the one hand and an asymmetrical economic evolution of Flanders and Wallonia on the other hand. These still-active conflicts have caused far-reaching reforms of the formerly unitary Belgian state into a federal state.