Brussels - The 15-member eurozone officially slumped into recession Friday after its economy contracted by 0.2 per cent for a second quarter in a row, the European statistical office said.

Figures from Eurostat showed that gross domestic product in two of the euro area's biggest economies, Germany and Italy, fell by 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2008, after falling by 0.4 per cent in the second.

The other eurozone heavyweight, France, saw its GDP grow by just 0.1 per cent in the third quarter, after contracting by 0.3 per cent in the previous three months.

Dhabi, 13th Nov. 2008 -- President H. H.

Brussels - The European Union will fail to meet its goal of cutting energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2020 unless it makes better buildings and products, the bloc's executive said Thursday.

The warning was accompanied by a package designed to increase the bloc's energy efficiency and reduce its dependency on energy imports.

One proposal involves extending popular energy-efficiency labels now found on consumer goods such as fridges and washing machines to industrial products and buildings.

Another involves creating more off-shore wind farms and investing more money in gas and electricity networks.

Brussels - The European Commission on Wednesday proposed tough rules designed to impr

Brussels - Former world champion Tom Boonen on Saturday escaped uninjured after being involved in a car accident en route to the Brussels airport.

A Flamish TV station reported that the accident occurred when the 2005 world champion had to evade an oncoming car and ended up crashing into a tree.

VTM station reported police as saying that Boonen was uninjured but that the car had been damaged.

New Delhi, Nov 3 : King of Belgium Albert II arrived in New Delhi today on a ten day State visit to India.

Economic and academic relationship between Belgium and India are expected to get a major boost during the visit of King Albert.

A series of commercial agreements between Belgian and Indian companies will be signed during the visit.

Queen Paola, Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht and high-level business and academic delegation including CEOs of key Belgian companies and top officials of universities of the European nation will accompany the King.

The King will meet President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and hold discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday.