–  King Filip and Queen Mathilde arrived yesterday in London, their first official visit to the United Kingdom. The royal couple visited the Parliament with Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders. They met briefly the chairmen of the House of Commons and House of Lords followed by a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. In the afternoon, the Belgian King and Queen went to Westminster Abbey, where they laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier. The ceremony was part of the 100th year commemorations of World War I. It is the sixth state visit since King Filip and Queen Mathilde began a series of royal tours to European capitals last year. 

–  Meanwhile, beginning end of this month, it is already possible for the Belgians to ask personalized number plate. Anything can,  as long as it is not more than eight characters or numbers in it. You might be asking how much it costs? A crunchy €1,000.00!

–  Germany and the U.S. threaten serious economic and political consequences for Russia if the Russians will not withdraw from the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea. Both Chancellor Merkel and President Obama want a diplomatic solution. Ms. Merkel on her speech was clear that Germany would go along with the other 27 states of the European Union and the United States, if Russia did not open meaningful diplomatic talks and the West moved to freeze Russian accounts and impose travel bans or restrictions on leading Russian figures. Secretary of State John Kerry asserted Thursday that Russia had not yet made the military preparations to undertake a full-scale invasion of all of Ukraine. Germany & the US are hoping to avoid that. Mr. Kerry will meet his counterpart from Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov today in London, seeking a way to de-escalate the crisis.

That’s all for this week. Please visit and like us on facebook Arlene Andes (Lady Arlene)…I’ll see you again on Monday, same time, same station. I wish you a happy and peaceful weekend. Take care everyone. I love you all.