this is one of the typical, in old belgium towns you would find it now, it's the flow of cycling. it's what you do if you have a one-way road and you make it accessible for cyclists. we knew at the federal level, at belgium level that this regulation was coming up and in parallel in the brussels parliament, we voted a law if you will implement this new belgium law of accepting cycling on those one-way streets, if you do that within two years' time, we will finance half of the cost to do so. and that was a regional law who was, in fact, encouraging putting the federal law into practice and that's how come that you will see in almost every one way street like you see there on the left that cyclists are admitted. on the right hand, you have example of lines and i have seen that already here as well. as a cyclist, i like the advanced stoplights and i make much use of it. i was already one of those cyclists who was contraflow cycling. it's a good thing and i can tell my kids that it's allowed to contraflow cycle. a policy of permits is another instrument we have just to, well, to mainl

belgium has been without a central government for 249 days and that maybe a world record.the election resulted in a dead lock between the nation's french and belgium speakers. >>> and residents are asking police to investigate phantom calls. now police want the fcc to figure out why it went haywire and keep it from happening again. >>> an oakland man credited for saving the life of an abused dog was honored today. vince faucet secretly video taped his neighbor beating his pit bull. the video led to the dog owners arrest and conviction. the pit bull has been adopted. >> there's violence associated with oakland. if we want to change, it's going to take residents to step up. >>> take a look at these colorful hand meat floats. we'll bring you a preview of saturday's chinese parade. >>> and our chief meteorologist bill martin is continuing to track showers, the complete forecast in just a few minutes. >>> at this hour, people are busy putting the last flourishing on all those floats that will be featured in this saturday's chinese new year parade in san francisco. amber lee joi

belgium has been without a central government for 249 days and that maybe a world record.the election resulted in a dead lock between the nation's french and belgium speakers. >>> and residents are asking police to investigate phantom calls. now police want the fcc to figure out why it went haywire and keep it from happening again. >>> an oakland man credited for saving the life of an abused dog was honored today. vince faucet secretly video taped his neighbor beating his pit bull. the video led to the dog owners arrest and conviction. the pit bull has been adopted. >> there's violence associated with oakland. if we want to change, it's going to take residents to step up. >>> take a look at these colorful hand meat floats. we'll br >>> at this hour, people are busy putting the last flourishing on all those floats that will be featured in this saturday's chinese new year parade in san francisco. amber lee joins us to tell us why this year's parade won't be like last year's, amber. >> reporter: gasia, we're at pier 27 where workers have been busy putting on finishing touches

in the world either. >> we brought in for you guys, so this is -- we brought three beers from new belgiumpular beer. >> i've had before. it's good. >> take a shot. what you should get in here is like a biscuity, maybe like caramel. >> and i'm saying this seriously, are you supposed to swirl and sniff like you do with wine? >> a lot of the tasting he does is smelling. you can't drink all day long. >> he would never be able to keep that bike upright. >> he does a lot of whiffing. it's a well balanced beer. next you have a beer called 1554. what's interesting about this one of course it looks very dark, so you think it would be heavy and it's not. but you will get some kind of chocolatey -- >> i was going to ask, because dark beer to me equates to heavy. >> it does not necessarily mean heavy, no. >> and not more of an alcohol content in it or anything. >> everyone is different but that's not necessarily the case. you should get a little chocolate action in there. >> licorice. >> i like the first one better. >> possibly licorice even. >> consult dave on that one. >> finally ranger. this might

i was a member of cabinet in the white house and suddenly i'm going off to brussels belgium. it looked like syria. proximity to power is considered in washington what one would want and i did the opposite. thousands of miles and the other direction. someone wrote in a magazine in washington after watergate broke who is the smartest man in washington? answer, donald rumsfeld. but he's not in washington. that's right. [laughter] and i got a reputation for being smart instead of lucky. i had no idea what was going on. i mean, richard nixon had just been reelected by one of the biggest margins in the country. he won every state in the union except massachusetts and the district of columbia. and no one could imagine that i would want to get -- excuse me -- the i would want to be away from that as opposed to write in the middle of it. but we did, we took our family had moved to belgium and had a truly wonderful experience representing the country overseas. >> and gerald ford becomes president after the knicks and inauguration. your friend and colleague in the 1960's. he came in say

he is captured by germans in belgium. he is riding in a boxcar with other americans pows to dresden a supposed german city unlikely to be develop -- bombed. this city was not a military target. as vonnegut road in on a train, he was able to view the city and placed in a slaughter house where the rest of the prisoners of war were held. he was in house five. we have this exhibit called the dresden exhibit. it's really his world war ii experience that was so important in his writing and his world view later in his life. i'll start with his photo that was taken right after he was released as a prisoner of war along with fellow prisoners. we also have his purple heart donated by his son mark vonnegut to us. he received the purple heart for frostbite. he was embarrassed to receive the purple heart for frostbite when so many of his friends had suffered from other types of physical problems and disease. we have a signed first edition of the book. this is important because slaughter house five is the most well-known book of the 30

overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills, he enters combat in europe and is captured by germans in belgium during the battle of the bulge. soon he is writing in a boxcar with other american pows to dresden, a supposedly quote cosi fan german city," unlikely to be bombed. so kristen was a beautiful cultural city that was not a military target. as he road on a train he was able to view this city and then he was placed in a house where the rest of the prisoners of war were held. over here we have what we call the dressed in exhibits that is his world were to experience that became so important in his riding and his world view leader in his life. all i will start with his -- a photograph taken right after he was released as a prisoner of war along with fellow prisoners. we also have his purple heart donated by his son. he received a purple heart and kurt vonnegut was embarrassed to have received the purple heart for the fight when so many of his friends had suffered from other types of physical problems and disease. we have a signed first edition of the book slaughterhouse five. this is import

we went to singapore, the netherlands, belgium a federal court judge then announced that mr. william should be released from prison. [applause] he is currently still in prison because the state has an appeal, but the judge basically said, it

sweden, 30,000, belgium, 20,000. italy took 7000. this is a long way from being overwhelmed. >> the pressure on europe is increasing. the u.n. is warning of a humanitarian crisis and they plan to start airlifting supplies to tunisia this weekend. >> my appeal to your kids to fully support the countries that are emerging from dictatorships and are in transition. -- my appeal to europeans is to fully support the countries. we would like to have inclusions through the mediterranean and europe. i hope that europe will live up to its commitments and offer protection and assistance to are fleeing a war. >> as debate continues, the consensus on assistance for those affected still seems a long way away. >> germany has lifted his travel warning for egypt. this comes as berlin moves to normalize relations with the transitional vernnt in cairo. the minister paid a visit to the capital with promises of more economic and development aid. >> the german foreign minister visited tahrir square. only two weeks earlier, it had been the focal point of t

and belgium will face the czech republic in the other semifinal after defeats in the usa kim clijsters won the third singles match which made. her opponent bethanie matic sans did win the first set on a tie break but the australian open champion cruised through the next two sets to seal victory for the country the usa incidentally. says states. in other news poll elaine isn't biver is back in the headlines after being away from the sport for almost a year to tea time olympic champion. has taken the latest title at the russian winter event in moscow but missed out on another world record from across the rest as mole. since two thousand and three get an ace in by about his broken twenty seven world records i never bowled the five meters six centimeters remains out of reach to any of her competitors however despite winning and number of events in russia a record breaking performance continues to elude her on home turf i suspect you know it just it must get worse of course i wanted to break my record today especially here in a moscow but i will definitely come back here and i believe it wi

many have relatives in france, switzerland, or belgium.italy is only a transit stop for them on their journey to other european countries. >> for more analysis, i am joined from brussels. italy wants other eu countries to take in some of these refugees, but those countries are refusing to do so. is there anything that can be done to resolve that? >> it is very difficult at this stage. this is no clear reason behind this huge migration. the commission in brussels say we have to find out how many of these people are genuine economic migrants. how many may be fleeing persecution? other countries have to be willing to take them in. right now, there are more immediate problems. once the doors open at one eu border for migrants to come in and they are allowed across, it is a single market area and they are entitled to move to any other member state. other countries are resisting the immediate pressure in italy to allow them through until the check out who these people are and whether they count as immigrants. >> italy is asking for 100 million e

. >>> 75 in belgium looking to show disabled can accomplish extraordinary feats.attempted to pull a 67-ton c-130 well over 300 feet. after getting over a third of the way to the record, bad weather left them unable to finish. they were disappointed, but confident that they will make it next time. >>> one parade in brazil has gone to the dogs. in preparation for one of the biggest parties of the year, carnavale, animal owners dressed up their loved ones for a pet parade. the celebration featuring dogs, cats and even roosters gives pet lovers to celebrate their furry friends before kick offing the world famous humor show on march 59. there's something that troubles me when i see a dog in a polka dotted dress or wearing booties. >> i have trouble seeing a human in a polka dotted dress, too. >> there you go. march 59. >> i can't wait for the real carnivale. that's when the real fun happens. >> absolutely. all right. time for an early look at some of the stories we'll be following throughout the day here on nbc. consumer reports unveils its closely watched list of 2011

. >>> in a speech to the parliament in belgium yesterday england's prince charles lashed out at climatehange skeptics saying they are having a corrosive effect on public opinion and playing a, quote, reckless game of roulette with the planet's future. >>> and if you've got $40,000 laying around, you may be able to buy a rare copy of the so-called wicked bible on display at a san francisco book fair this weekend. the 17th century bible shocked readers by accidentally omitting the word "not" from a commandment, resulting in the advice thou shall commit adultery. that's an important world. >> and now here's an early look at one of your top health headlines on msnbc.com. new research is raising concern about diet soda, showing regular drinkers have a 61% risk of heart attack and stroke than those who don't drink it. more study is need. but with no clear chemical or biological explanation, doctors speculate they tend towards risky behavior such as lack of exercise, drinking and excessive alcohol. for more information on this and other health stories check out the health page at msnbc.com. >>

players from town different countries for the first time with russia's there doesn't matter what behind belgium kim clijsters is looking up to date caroline wozniacki at the summits italian francesca schiavone handle strelley and samantha stossel clear the top five in the new chart on the old on monday they still got. you have to close on the three leading players though then as williams has slipped one spot in the rankings to six then american is followed white's wednesday eleven australian open runner up china. holding steady in eighth place. and. leave group world wide fourth warry as. rafael a doll remains the player to catch in men's tennis the spaniard who won three majors in twenty eight sounds so it's a huge four thousand four hundred and twenty five points in front of roger federer two thousand and eleven australian open win a noble djokovic is gaining on the federer express with eighty five points all that separates second spot roman soldier named and runner up and around the. there are no russians in their list still ranked player in the eleventh. some sports news now and with its wi

belgium will face the czech republic in the semifinal after the fates in the us came classed as a singles match making dates late for the halves bethen and didn't take the set on a tie break in that one but a certain open champ and classed as to the next to sets to say victory for him until. now the green bay packers have commemorated their legendary coach the late in the ultimate way aaron rodgers and company defeating the paid xbox tennis and super bowl forty five bringing them by the truth back to wisconsin to watch the action on field. the packers lack super bowl experience against the steeler steam which retained key players from their two thousand and five and two thousand and eight title wins the green bay seemed more collected in the first half aaron vij was finding greg jennings with a kalamazoo native making the score twenty one to three green bay last defensive captain charles woodson among others for the second half but there was no stopping jennings the twenty seven year old making it twenty eight to seventeen against the surging steelers in the fourth one of the n.f.l.'s fas

we went to singapore, the netherlands, belgium a federal court judge then announced that mr. william should be released from prison. [applause] he is currently still in prison because the state has an appeal, but the judge basically said, it will be remanded to the same judge at said the evidence was bogus. the police department basically botched all the evidence. they executed more people in harris county than in many states. the judge says by next year this time, they fully expect him to be home with his family after being locked up for more than 18 years, more than half his life. so even just a small part of this victory on the horizon, that has been a blessing and an honor to be a part of that. i have a friend who is a skinhead -- was a skinhead. he was a white guy who used to beat up black people and gay people in texas. when he was the same age of the guy that got into trouble with the law as well, they used to hang outside of dallas. they would wait on a park bench, send a guy out, and when somebody came out to flirt with him, they would beat him up. that was their wee

belgium will face the czech republic in the other semifinal after defeating the us rice is winning the third singles match which made it a clean sweep for the hosts her opponent bethany sounds it did take the first set on a tie break and the one that's a strain open champion clijsters cruised through to. see victory for her. football where russia have arrived and ahead of their friendly with iran on wed and stay the squad no dark delighted to be leaving subzero moscow for the sunnier climes of the be a clash also acting as a prep exercise ahead of the next draw and euro two thousand and twelve qualifiers at the end of march russian mamma should pick out a couple speaking in moscow prior to the trip the dutchman standing behind his decision not to add any new faces to the twenty mounts caught pneumonia starting you have to explain every time about the provisional use the new play you listen the target. group to qualify for next year does the most important thing and then we have not so much time to make experiments because you can only make excuse if we already qualified. ok let's talk

not belgium will face the czech republic in the other semifinal after the fading u.s. kim clijsters winning the third singles match which made it a clean sweep for the hosts of poland bethany mutha exxon's did take the first set on a type araik but a strained open champion clash cruised through the next two to see victory for her country. all right that brings us to football where russia have arrived in abu dhabi ahead of their friendly with iran on wednesday the squad no daughter allotted to be leaving subzero moscow for the sunnier climes of the u.a.e. their clash also acting as a prep exercise ahead of the next drawing of euro two thousand and twelve qualifiers at the end of march a russian manager dick out that was speaking in moscow prior to the trip the dutchman standing behind his decision not to add any new faces to the twenty nine squad. starting he. explained if. the provisional new players listen to the target. group to qualify for next year there's the most important thing and we have not so much time to make experiments because you can only make excuses if

i can fly says is playing in her first final since becoming the new women's world number one the belgium is a pita but. where play has not long got under way and the school though she can see is. the czechs. and twice has reached this stage by waiting is ten years kyra coming up in the semifinal the belgian race through the first set with a typical display. thanks. thanks they're kind of they did better in the second failed to break down the world number one splices fought back from four one down six one seven five. has moved to english premier league football and manchester united striker wayne rooney says his wonder goal that security two one job a win for united over city on saturday was the best of his career nani supplied the cross connected with a right footed volley into the top corner from fifteen yards with twelve minutes to go to victory in surety united say four points clear at the top of the table elsewhere second place all small state in the title hunt to know when it's time to . flatten against newcastle and go rest pulled through as one want to tell aston villa live a ball

belgium will face the czech republic in the other semifinal off to defeating the usa he implies as was the third singles match which made it three zero for the house her opponent bethany maddox sounds did win the first set tie break above the australian open champion cruised through the next couple of sets to seal victory for her country the year is saying so definitely well without the williams sisters. now it will take formula one driver a bit cubits and nearly a year to recover after a high speed crash he suffered in the rally a door on saturday there is no driver crash near juneau it needs to live with his car hitting a wall is suffered fractures to the same all his seriously damaged in a road accident eight years ago even faced all education but it will say a seven hour surgery doctors say it could take you to up to one he had to fully recover well filled with reportedly replace him as a renewal driver for the upcoming formula one season. when you. know. the iris are always a very special. motorbike and patience is a healing the the fastest way possible much faster than a normal p

facing the facts standing up to reality standing up to the social phenomena popping up in belgium and holland and germany and throughout a few throughout europe in sweden and denmark as well you can't you can't blame a whole. group of people for not doing this or that but you can you can blame the politicians for not dealing with the problems not not turning them into subjects can be criticized and be paid which is exactly what they're trying to do now. coming up later in the program martial law after protests force of the military are filling the power vacuum left by. but for how long. by terry base we'll take a look at how washington has spread its military might around the world. and moscow and london will be hoping to turn a page there factious relations when russia's foreign minister visits the british capital on tuesday well events over the last two years have cost diplomatic tension but with a relatively new government there is hope for a fresh start laura reports russian foreign minister sergey lavrov is visiting the u.k. at a difficult time for the two countries relations ear

they've been demonstrations as far field as south africa demonstrations in europe and france and belgium so those kind of images of support so we are keeping remembering tim going here for the demonstration as we are today saturday into the twelfth day now at the same time we are hearing that demonstrators have formed a new opposition party and that this party consists of ten members included among them mohamed el baradei who is the former head of the international atomic energy agency the muslim brotherhood and that the demands they're putting forward a quite simple number one they want mubarak gone and number two they want to have some kind of mechanism in case of the gradual transition to free and fair elections the prime minister was reportedly meeting. with various opposition groups today that has shown a shift on both sides because until today both sides are confirming their stance that they were not going to negotiate with the other until one of their sides did but we're also hearing reports about the need to assess the nation attempt on the life of the vice president omar suleima

not facing the facts standing up to reality standing up to the social phenomena is popping up in belgium and holland and germany and in throughout a few throughout europe in sweden and denmark as well you can you can't blame a whole. group of people for not doing this or that but you can you can blame the politicians for not dealing with the problems not not turning them into subjects can be criticized and and be paid which is exactly what they're trying to do. now to end suicide bombers of rock russia's southern republic. the explosions happened to our support in the village of two people were killed and another twenty were injured all of them policemen are peter all over has the details. brown eight pm moscow time on monday a female suicide bomber she turned out approached a police station in the village and in the southern russian republic of dagestan she threw objects kindly at the police station and offices to to draw attention to self when one of those offices approached her she detonated the device that she was carrying this device is believed to have been to it with small particl