Belgian news in brief, 20 December 2005

Praise for anti-Islamic prejudice fight

The director of food processing company Remmery, Rik Van Nieuwenhuyse, has been praised with an ‘award’ by the London-based Islamic Human Rights Commission. Van Nieuwenhuyse was recognised for his efforts to combat anti-Islamic prejudice. He refused earlier this year to given in to deaths threats and demands that he sack Moroccan employee Naima Amzil, who wore an Islamic head scarf to work.

Belgians buy Dutch frigates

The Belgium government has agreed to buy two M-class frigates from the Netherlands. Belgian Defence Minister André Flahaut and Dutch Defence State Secretary Cees van der Knaap were to seal the deal at a ceremony in the military museum in Brussels on Thursday. Belgium’s Council of Ministers approved the military spending of more EUR 1 billion back in July to pay for the frigates and to upgrade its fleet of jeeps and armoured vehicles. The new frigates will replace the Wielingen and Westdiep now in service.

Belgians spend more on telecoms

Belgians are spending more and more on telecommunications. The budget that was allocated to mobile phone calls was 47 percent higher in 2004 compared with 2002. Money spent on the internet in 2004 rose by 150 percent compared with 2002, the national statistics office said on Tuesday.

Subject: Belgian news