Belgian news in brief, 1 September 2006 01/09/2006 00:00

Police to check truck overtaking ban

Federal police will start a large-scale operation on Monday to check that trucks are obeying the takeover ban in rainy weather. The aim is to reduce the number of accidents involving trucks. The checks will take place on motorways and normal roads. Signs will warn road users about the checks.

Bluetongue will not survive winter

Bluetongue disease is not expected to live through the winter. The Federal Food Agency said the heat of July and the rainfall in August helped the disease to spread. The agency was given an oversight of the epidemic on Friday. Bluetongue has been confirmed at Belgian sheep and cattle farms in recent weeks. It is also in France, Germany and the Netherlands. But the mosquito that spreads the disease will not survive the winter, the agency said.

Prince Gabriel starts pre-school

Three-year-old Prince Gabriël attended his first day of pre-school on Friday, the first day of the new school year. He was taken to school by his parents Prince Filip and Princess Mathilde. He is attending the Dutch-language Sint-Jan-Berchmanscollege in Brussels. Gabriël's sister Elisabeth and three other royal children attend the school. They are Louisa, Laetitia and Joachim, children of Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz. It is believed Princess Louise, the daughter of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire, also started school on Friday. She is two and half, but it is not yet known what pre-school she is attending.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Belgian news