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ON THE ROAD ... The inner ring of Brussels will be a CAR-FREE ZONE ON MAY 11 between 09.00 and 19.00. Traffic will continue to circulate over the inner ring itself and in the tunnels, but the area within the ring will be restricted to public transport, taxis, emergency services and other public vehicles, with free car-parking in Interparking garages around the inner ring. Normally car-free Sunday takes place in September, when roads throughout the Brussels region are affected. May 11 will also be the date of the Fête de l'Iris/Irisfeest, the celebration of the Brussels region ROAD WORKS AT AIRPORT - Brussels airport authorities are warning passengers that the departure terminal's curb is closed for road works until the end of this year. A drop-off area is still accessible but farther from the entrance. Normal access to the airport by car will be through the arrival area which is already heavily crowded in normal circumstances.

In today's news    POLITICS - Another linguistic struggle BRUSSELS - It took nearly nine months to form a government and the linguistic battle still goes on and does not seem to be getting better. French-speaking politicians have taken the Flemish demands for the break-up of Brussels' dual-lingual surroundings to a declaration of war. At the moment, people living in the so-called BHV, made up of the Brussels, Halle and Vilvoorde electoral districts, can vote for Francophone or Dutch-speaking candidates come election time. (Source:xpats.com) Yves Leterme getting over another political struggle (Belga)
Weather    Tonight's Weather Clear to partly cloudy.	Site of the Week    Fast Rewind	Polls    How do Belgian taxes and the approach of the local tax authorites compare with other countries? Higher (6%) Lower (64%) The same (30%)
Agenda    Fri 02 May 2008 to Sun 11 May 2008 at 11:00 - Jorien as Artist in Residence Tour & Taxis has invited Jorien as Artist in Residence. In Hall B6 in the Royal Depot she will be showing her latest work including light sculptures, installations and photographs as well as recent paintings. Please drop by to take a look while she works on new creations during her residency. Thursday through Sunday 11:00-19:00. see details... Wed 07 May 2008 to Fri 27 Jun 2008 at 19:30 - Touch Rugby Competition Blueprint Touch Rugby competition 2008 is starting up. Games will take place on Wednesday nights, followed by BBQ and drinks. The profits will be donated to RETRAK, a charity for street children in Kampala, Uganda and to Ecole Chanterelle, a school for disabled children in Brussels. see details... Sat 10 May 2008 to Mon 12 May 2008 at 10:30 - Ikebana Exhibition The Belgian Sogetsu Sazalea Study Group will hold an Ikebana exhibition at the National Botanical Garden in Meise. A free entrance for exhibition. see details... Fri 16 May 2008 at 19:00 - Ghent Expat Night Social Networking for Expats in Ghent: There are numerous foreign professionals and their family living and working in Ghent. You might be part of them. The 'social networking for expatriates' drink will be hosted by the Mayor, Mr. Daniël Termont and participants can socialize and are invited to join a networking game to facilitate meeting each other. 19h00: Welcoming & registration for the Networking event 19h30: Introduction by Daniël Termont, Mayor of Ghent 20h30: Start International buffet & Social networking 21h45: Lucky Draw with various prizes -> Bring your Business cards! 22h00: Closure see details... Sat 17 May 2008 - Open House @ the BCT The BCT will be hosting the second “Open House @ the BCT”. The Open House is aimed at families new to Brussels, or new to parenting, who are looking to make new friends for themselves and their children. The whole family is invited, kids can play and/or do a craft while parents find out more about the BCT and other family support organisations in Brussels. Free entry, no booking required, contact the website www.bctbelgium.com for more details. see details... Sat 17 May 2008 - Belgian Lesbian & Gay Pride 2008 The 13th Belgian Lesbian & Gay Pride will march on 17 May 2008 through the Brussels streets under this year's theme: Celebrate Diversity! Activities are organised during the week before the Pride. During the Rainbow Week, which officially is opened with the Mini Pride on 9 May 2008 at the City Hall, several associations organise a large number of activities in their region. You can find these on http://www.blgp.be/en/events.php see details... Sat 24 May 2008 at 10:30 - Asia-Pacific Women's Association Charity Bazaar 2008 The Asia-Pacific Women's Association will hold a charity bazaar. 16 countries taking part in this year's Bazaar selling food and crafts. There will also be a Fashion Show and Tombola Drawings. The proceeds will go to an Orphanage in Malaysia, a Foundation for Slum Child Care in Thailand and to Victims of the cyclone in Bangladesh. see details... Thu 29 May 2008 to Sun 01 Jun 2008 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum BLOC's next production is is a bright, bubbly burlesque of a musical that takes place in ancient Rome. Musical Director Steven De Mesmaeker and Stage Director Elizabeth Merrill. see details... Thu 29 May 2008 at 19:30 - Dr Jane Goodall - Reason for Hope Dr Jane Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, will be coming to the University of Antwerp (D'Hanis Lecture Hall) to give her "Reason for hope" lecture. Her talk will cover the current chimpanzee research at Gombe stream and her reasons for hope in these complex times and ways in which every individual makes a difference everyday. Followed by book signing with Dr. Goodall. Ticket orders and information at www.janegoodall.be see details... Sat 31 May 2008 at 15:00 - Zinneke Parade 2008 A colourful parade with actors, dancers, musicians and other creative "Bruxellois" will invade the town and throw a party for the Zinneke, symbol of cultural diversity in Brussels. An orchestra, giant puppets, hip-hop, theatre,... all kinds of entertainment are to be found at this biennial event. The 2008 theme will be water; the participants are gathered in 'zinnodes' (collective multidisciplinary projects). Meet a Zinneke that gets wet! see details... Wed 18 Jun 2008 to Sat 21 Jun 2008 - B-interACTiv B-interACTiv will be hosting an out-of-the-ordinary adventure in a playful, multilingual Brussels. A time get to know people outside of your social circle and language community, take the language you are learning out of the classroom and onto the streets and discover Brussels "off the beaten track". Organized by: Tightrope asbl/vzw (www.tightrope.be) and the Centre for Language Animation asbl/vzw (www.animationlangues.be). Kindly subsidised by the King Baudouin Foundation as part of their “Brexpat” project. see details...