Belgium
World Cup hopefuls stay focused before showdown
Mar 22, 2013 00:01 EDT
With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.
Croatia, Serbia meet for the first time since war
Mar 21, 2013 21:59 EDT
Croatia and Serbia's footballers play each other for the first time since independence on Friday, in a highly charged tie given wider significance by political, cultural and historical ties and fresh memories of war.
Croatia coach vows 'spectacle' with Serbia
Mar 21, 2013 15:01 EDT
Croatia coach Igor Stimac on Thursday promised a spectacular World Cup qualifier with former foe Serbia as the visiting team arrived in Zagreb amid tight security.
Overhaul of Cyprus banks on cards as meltdown looms
Mar 21, 2013 14:24 EDT
Cyprus Thursday was examining an overhaul of its banking sector to avoid financial meltdown after the European Central Bank threatened to pull the plug on emergency funding for the island's banks.
Cyprus brinksmanship could spin out of control: analysts
Mar 21, 2013 13:41 EDT
As the EU raised the spectre of a eurozone exit for Cyprus, experts warned on Thursday of the consequences of brinksmanship from Brussels to Moscow in the race to fix new bailout terms.
Croatia coach Stimac vows 'spectacle' with Serbia
Mar 21, 2013 13:11 EDT
Croatia coach Igor Stimac on Thursday promised a spectacular World Cup qualifier with former foe Serbia as the visiting team arrived in Zagreb under tight security measures.
Cyprus banks face meltdown as ECB ready to pull plug
Mar 21, 2013 10:42 EDT
The European Central Bank warned Thursday it was ready to pull the plug on emergency funding for Cyprus banks as the island's politicians scrambled to raise billions of euros to head off financial meltdown.
Cyprus weighs new bailout plan as meltdown looms
Mar 21, 2013 07:00 EDT
Cyprus was on Thursday fine-tuning a "Plan B" aimed at securing a eurozone bailout that the European Central Bank warned should be adopted by the weekend to avoid a banking meltdown on the debt-hit island.
Kosovo-Serbia solution close, says EU's Ashton
Mar 20, 2013 20:56 EDT
A deal to normalise ties between Serbia and Kosovo is close and could be sealed next month, the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said, following high-level talks in Brussels.
Cyprus scrambles to find cash after MPs snub bailout
Mar 20, 2013 08:55 EDT
Debt-hit Cyprus was scrambling Wednesday to secure funding for its banks after lawmakers rejected the terms of an EU bailout deal, soliciting Russia, the church and state institutions for cash.
Palestinians want Obama to end 'passivity' on peace
Mar 20, 2013 03:39 EDT
Palestinians want President Barack Obama's milestone visit this week to lead to a more active US approach to resolving the conflict with Israel, before the West Bank is overrun by Jewish settlements and it is too late for a two-state solution.
Pennetta puts herself in Serena's path at Miami
Mar 19, 2013 22:25 EDT
Italy's Flavia Pennetta booked herself a second-round clash with World No. 1 Serena Williams at the Miami Masters after a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Swede Johanna Larsson.
Ford to pay $750 mn to staff in closing Genk plant
Mar 19, 2013 16:55 EDT
US automaker Ford said Tuesday that it would pay at least $750 million to workers being let go as it closes its plant in Genk, Belgium, after reaching an agreement with unions.
Afghan government says NATO war 'aimless, unwise'
Mar 19, 2013 16:17 EDT
Afghanistan's presidential spokesman on Tuesday described the NATO-led military operation in the war-torn nation as "aimless and unwise", in the latest broadside by Kabul against the international coalition.
French budget minister steps down over Swiss account probe
Mar 19, 2013 15:19 EDT
French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac resigned on Tuesday after prosecutors announced a probe into a Swiss bank account he allegedly used to hide assets from the tax authorities.
European recycling jumps 50% but still lags target
Mar 19, 2013 10:39 EDT
Recycling of household waste rose by 50 percent in Europe over a decade but some countries are dragging their feet for meeting a target set for 2020, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said in a report issued on Tuesday.
EU plans new bid to protect bees
Mar 19, 2013 10:00 EDT
The European Commission said Tuesday it will try again to get member states to back a two-year ban on insecticides harmful to bees whose numbers have been in sharp and worrying decline.
Cyprus minister 'seeks' extension to Russian loan
Mar 19, 2013 09:51 EDT
Cyprus Finance Minister Michalis Sarris was headed to Moscow Tuesday to seek an extension to an existing Russian loan, a top official said, as the debt-hit island battles to stave off bankruptcy.
Red Star Belgrade hire Sa Pinto as coach
Mar 19, 2013 09:26 EDT
Red Star Belgrade have appointed Portuguese coach Ricardo Sa Pinto in a bid to turn their disappointing season around, the Serbian club announced on Tuesday.
Europe triples recycling but still lags target
Mar 19, 2013 07:41 EDT
Recycling of household waste has tripled in Europe over the past decade but some countries are dragging their feet for meeting a target set for 2020, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said in a report issued on Tuesday.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Kingdom of Belgium
Koninkrijk België (Dutch)
Royaume de Belgique (French) Königreich Belgien (German) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
Motto:  Eendracht maakt macht (help·info) (Dutch)L'union fait la force (French) Einigkeit macht stark (German) "Strength through Unity" (lit. "Unity makes Strength") | ||||||
| Anthem: The "Brabançonne" | ||||||
 Location of Belgium (dark green)
– on the European continent (light green & dark grey) | ||||||
| Capital | Brussels 50°51′N 4°21′E / 50.85°N 4.35°E | |||||
| Largest metropolitan area | Brussels Capital Region | |||||
| Official languages | Dutch, French, German | |||||
| Demonym | Belgian | |||||
| Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy[1] | |||||
| - | King | Albert II | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Yves Leterme | ||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | Declared from the Netherlands | 4 October 1830 | ||||
| - | Recognized | 19 April 1839 | ||||
| EU accession | 25 March 1957 | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 30,528 km2 (139th) 11,787 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 6.4 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 10,414,336[2] (78th) | ||||
| - | 2001 census | 10,296,350 | ||||
| - | Density | 344.32/km2 (2006) (29th [2005]) 892/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $389.793 billion[3] (29th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $36,415[3] (18th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $506.183 billion[3] (20th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $47,289[3] (14th) | ||||
| Gini (2000) | 33 (medium) (33rd) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.953[4] (very high) (17th) | |||||
| Currency | Euro (€)1 (EU) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .be | |||||
| Calling code | 32 | |||||
| 1 | Before 1999: Belgian franc. | |||||
| 2 | The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. | |||||
