A father in West Flanders killed his own children before committing suicide, reported Le Soir on Wednesday. The two girls, who lived in Koksijde near Newport, were aged five and nine and the age of the son was unknown. It is believed that the mother reported her children missing from school and that the couple were going through a divorce.

Unionists have warned SNCB that they intend to strike on 7 October, 10 October and 11 October. Passengers suffered delays and cancellations on Tuesday morning as workers took industrial action in Brussels.

A total of 670 jobs have been created so far this year in Wallonia, thanks to foreign investment. The region’s Office for Foreign Investors announced it had attracted a total of EUR 173.66 million into the local economy through campaigns to promote Wallonia. It says promotions over the last five years have generated 5,500 direct jobs.

The Fair Trade Center and the Belgian Agency for Cooperation and Development are running a series of activities until 15 October to promote ethical products. Around 50 Belgian celebrities have agreed to be photographed with Fair Trade products to convince more consumers that they should buy from companies who don’t exploit their workers and who don’t use child labour.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news