Belgium News Blog

EU, US reach deal on air passenger data

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union and the United States have reached an agreement to share data on trans-Atlantic air passengers.

Diplomats say envoys from the EU's 27 nations reached a "basic political understanding" on the deal struck earlier by EU and US negotiators.

They say the amount of data handed over will be reduced, but that US authorities will be able to hold on to the information for longer.

EU Backs Passenger Data Deal With US

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- A new airline passenger information sharing agreement between the EU and the United States aimed at thwarting terrorism will go before European parliaments after concessions from both sides this week, diplomats said Friday, and will likely to go into effect in July. Envoys from the EU's 27 nations reached a "basic political understanding" on the new deal, which was struck Wednesday by EU and U.S. negotiators, the diplomats said. The diplomats said less data on passe...

EU Makes Deal With U.S. on Passenger Data

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

EU, US reach political agreement on the sharing of data on trans-Atlantic air passengers

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium ? The European Union reached an agreement with the United States Friday on the sharing of data on trans-Atlantic air passengers, diplomats said.

Envoys from the EU's 27 nations reached a "basic political understanding" on the deal struck earlier by EU and U.S. negotiators.

The diplomats said that the amount of data handed over would be reduced but U.S. authorities would be able to hold on to the information for longer.

Spurs select Brazilian with first round pick

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

The San Antonio Spurs added to their international influence Thursday by selecting Tiago Splitter, a 7-foot forward from Brazil, in the first round of the NBA Draft.

The Spurs won their fourth NBA title in nine years with five foreign-born players on their roster, including finals MVP Tony Parker, who was born in Belgium.

Splitter, 22, currently is playing with Tau Ceramica in Spain. He was taken with the 28th overall selection — three picks before the end of the first round. Splitter is expected to stay in Spain at least another year before a possible roster spot in San Antonio.

EU backs deal on air passenger data

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union reached an agreement with the United States Friday on the sharing of data on trans-Atlantic air passengers which Washington says is needed to help fight terrorism, diplomats said.

Envoys from the EU's 27 nations reached a "basic political understanding" on the deal struck earlier by EU and U.S. negotiators, the diplomats said.

They said that the amount of data handed over would be reduced but U.S. authorities would be able to hold on to the information for longer.

EU reaches political agreement on deal with U.S. on sharing air passenger data

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:47:06 +0000

bfg BRUSSELS, Belgium ? The European Union reached an agreement with the United States Friday on the sharing of data on trans-Atlantic air passengers which Washington says is needed to help fight terrorism, diplomats said.

Envoys from the EU's 27 nations reached a "basic political understanding" on the deal struck earlier by EU and U.S. negotiators, the diplomats said.

They said that the amount of data handed over would be reduced but U.S. authorities would be able to hold on to the information for longer.

Beer, food take center stage

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

Trolleys, beer and food are all part of the second Downtown International Beer & Food Tasting event in Cape Coral on Saturday.

The event is sponsored by the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency and will be at downtown bars and eateries.

About 350 tickets remain for the event, which is open to only 1,000 people. For $10, those 21 and older can hop aboard a trolley that stops at participating restaurants, stay as long as they like and get on the trolley and go to the next stop from 7 to 11 p.m.

EU blocks Ryanair bid for Aer Lingus

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) EU regulators blocked a hostile takeover bid by low-fare carrier Ryanair for Ireland's Aer Lingus on Wednesday, saying it would limit consumer choice and likely boost ticket prices.

Together, the two Irish airlines would control more than 80 percent of all European flights to and from Dublin airport, the European Commission said.

"What we are doing is preventing a monopoly from emerging," EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said. "Ireland, being an island, depends heavily on air transport."

EU court weighs in on cheese

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Parmesan or Parmigiano? The difference is lost on most consumers -- as long as lots of it is grated on some al dente pasta. At the European Union's highest court, however, food is politics -- and big business.

An adviser to the European Court of Justice said Thursday that Germany did not have to prosecute cheese producers who market some hard cheeses as ''Parmesan,'' even if it does not originate from Italy's fabled countryside around the city of Parma.

On the other hand, the same adviser said that Germany had failed to prove that Parmesan is a generic term different from the already-protected ''Parmigiano Reggiano'' wording.

Europe bans flights by Indonesian airlines

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium All Indonesian airlines and several from Russia, Ukraine and Angola will be banned from flying to the European Union due to safety concerns, the European Commission said Thursday.

The existing ban on Pakistan International Airlines also will be relaxed to allow specific Boeing 747 and Airbus 310 aircraft to fly to Europe, in addition to its already authorized Boeing 777 fleet, the statement said.

Once more, the EU blacklist will prove to be an essential tool not only to prevent unsafe airlines from flying to Europe and to inform passengers traveling worldwide but also to make sure that airlines and civil aviation authorities take appropriate actions to improve safety, said Jacques Barrot, commission vice president in charge of transport.

Iran exile group stays on EU terror list

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) ? European Union governments decided Thursday to keep an Iranian opposition group blacklisted as a terrorist organization after reviewing its demand to be removed following a recent court ruling, diplomats said.

The Paris-based People's Mujahadeen Organization of Iran, which seeks the overthrow of Iran's Islamic regime, is also on the U.S. government's list of terror groups.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein let the group ? also known as the Mujahedeen Khalq, or MEK ? operate camps in Iraq from which it staged attacks on Iran. The group says it has renounced military action and its militants in Iraq have handed weapons over to U.S.-led forces.

Spurs get Brazilian forward

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

SAN ANTONIO ? The San Antonio Spurs added to their international influence Thursday by selecting Tiago Splitter, a 7-foot forward from Brazil, in the first round of the NBA Draft.

The Spurs won their fourth NBA title in nine years with five foreign-born players on their roster, including finals MVP Tony Parker, who was born in Belgium.

Splitter, 22, is playing with Tau Ceramica in Spain. He was taken with the 28th overall selection ? three picks before the end of the first round.

Stratford star remembered for versatility and hard work

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

There was a sense in 1999 that actor William Hutt was playing his final role -- Prospero in Shakespeare's "The Tempest"-- at the Stratford Festival. It was the same year that Mr. Hutt, then 79, was depicted costumed as Prospero on a Canadian postage stamp.

The following year the bridge that crosses Stratford's Avon River at Waterloo Street was named for him. Never one to rest on his laurels when there was acting to be done, Mr. Hutt went on to play several more parts at Stratford, including Prospero again in 2005. That role would prove to be his last. Mr. Hutt, 87, died Wednesday at Stratford General Hospital. He had recently been diagnosed with leukemia.

Working woman's designer Liz Claiborne dead

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:23:48 +0000

Liz Claiborne, the fashion designer whose sportswear line helped change the way American women dressed for work, died Tuesday. She was 78.

Claiborne died at the New York Presbyterian Hospital after a yearslong bout with cancer.

''In losing Liz Claiborne, we have not only lost the founder of our company, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago,'' Bill McComb, chief executive officer of Liz Claiborne Inc., said in a statement.

EU bans flights by Indonesian airlines