The first Baby Elephant to be Born in a Belgian Zoo was Visited today by an Envoy from the Royal Palace: Princess Ophelia. Ophelia visited the Antwerp Zoo after the Baby’s Long-Awaited Birth (Elephant pregnancies last nearly two years).

The Baby’s name, Kai-Mook, was announced at a Press Conference on Tuesday by Antwerp Mayor Patrick Janssen and Flemish Prime Minister Kris Peeters. In Celebration of the Birth, residents throughout Belgium will receive Birth Announcement Cards.

Indeed, the entire Nation of Belgium was celebrating the Birth this Week, with a flood of new Visitors attending the Antwerp Zoo, media Interest in the Birth, Princess Ophelia’s ceremonial Visit, and Smiles gracing the Faces of the Belgian Citizenry.

To view Kai-Mook’s Official Web-Site and watch Video of the Birth, Press Conferences, and Princess Ophelia’s Visit, click here.

—The Minister of Culture—

In these Difficult Economic Times facing the Nation of Belgium and the World, the People have been shown to have a relatively Low Tolerance for frivolities such as Glitzy Parties, Flashy Public Displays of Wealth, and the obvious Wasting of Money as proof of Social Status.

With that in mind, King Albert II of Belgium, as well as his Kin – including such notables as the Belgian Cat and Royal Princess, Ophelia – have been Toning Down their Public Appearances.

Albert and his Wife have been staying at the Royal Palace, administering to Matters of the State, including the ongoing Discussions between the parties of Flanders and Wallonia about maintaining a United Belgium.

Ophelia recently visited a Troubled General Motors Factory in Antwerp to show support for the Working Classes. She wore a Modest Outfit as a means of keeping her Critics Quiet regarding her Pension for donning Clothing of the Highest (and most Expensive) Fashions.

A Spokes-Person for the Royal Family pointed out that the King does not wish to appear Out of Touch with the Struggling Peoples of his Country, particularly during such difficult Economic as well as Political Turmoil.

–The Minister of Information.

The Belgian Controller of Cat Records and Director of Benign Intentions has Noted that King Albert II celebrated Christmas today at the Royal Palace in the Belgian Tradition with his Daughter, Belgian Cat Princess Ophelia. Belgian Ambassador Armondo Blanco was also in Attendance. Chansonnier Cadenza Vieuxtemps performed Musical Renditions of Christmas Favourites at the Ceremony.

Flemish Separatist and Belgian Cat Elton Jansen Celebrated the Holiday at a Public Gathering in Bruxelles. Professor Nanu of the University of Brussels also attended the same Gathering.

Celebrity Belgian Cat and Mountaineer Rocky Rhodes dressed as Sinterklaas and handed out Gifts to Children at an Event in Brugge. Meanwhile, Jet-Set Socialite Murray Malone exchanged Gifts in Private with American Actress Hayden Panettiere.

–The Minister of Culture–

The Belgian Government, which in its Most Recent Form was governing under Shaky Conditions at Best, has now Resigned and shall be Replaced by an Interim Government until New Elections can be Held.

Prime Minister Yves Leterme, who has come under Fire recently over his Dealings with Financial Giant Fortis, recipient of a Massive Government Bail-Out, offered up his Resignation to King Albert II this week. It was the Second Time this Year that he has attempted to Resign, his Effort having been Rejected by the King the First Time Round.

For Now, ex-Premier Wilfried Martens shall take Charge of the Nation’s Governance and Attempt to Co-Ordinate a New Coalition, King Albert said. The King’s Daughter, Princess Ophelia, shall also Serve on the Transitional Team.

Elton Jansen, a Belgian Cat, Flemish Separatist, and Long-Time Critic of Leterme’s, said today that the Dissolution of the current Government was “het juiste te doen ding,” and that Leterme’s Legacy will “zal voor altijd verbonden worden met corruptie en mislukking.” Indeed, Leterme’s efforts to maintain a United Belgium were in Direct Conflict with the Flemish Separatist Movement, and were fraught with Failure from the Outset.

Belgian Cat and Financial Consultant Tigger Sauerzopf noted that the Injection of Funds into Fortis was “waarschijnlijk noodzakelijk,” but he refused to Comment upon the Political Maneuverings that might have been involved and Contributed to Leterme’s Down-Fall.

–The Minister of Information.

Belgian Crown Prince Philippe and his Lovely Wife Mathilda met last Week with Singapore President Sellapan Ramanathan to discuss Matters of State, while Philippe’s Sister, Princess Ophelia, enjoyed Sight-Seeing in the Island Nation.

The Three Members of the Belgian Royal Family, who are Very Close, are traveling together on a Mission of Diplomacy in Asia. While Philippe and Mathilda were Discussing Diplomatic Matters with the President and his Wife, Princess Ophelia took the Day to Tour the City and the Island’s Beautiful Coastlines whilst Taking Advantage of many Chances to Meet the Citizens, as well as numerous Photo Opportunities.

Next Day, all Three of the Belgian Entourage met with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar for an Open Dialogue about the Two Nations’ Mutual Interests regarding Trade Relations and the International Community.

All Parties seemed Encouraged by the Visit.

–The Minister of Information.

King Albert II of Belgium and his Daughter, Belgian Cat Princess Ophelia, both Spoke on the Telephone to the new President-Elect of the United States of America, Mr Barack Obama, this morning – each offering their Congratulations and Hope for a Positive Diplomatic Relationship during the Time of his Presidency.

Obama was elected President last Night by a relatively Wide Margin over his primary Rival, Mr John McCain. Obama’s Vice President is Mr Joe Biden, who has held Private Meetings with the King on Several Occasions in the Past.

The King makes a Habit of contacting Newly Elected World Leaders from Nations Friendly to Belgium. Princess Ophelia had Met Privately with Mr Obama during his Tour through Europe earlier in the Year when he was Campaigning for the Nomination of the Democratic Party. Both spoke to Mr Obama only Briefly, as the President-Elect is Understandably Busy.

–The Minister of Information.

Belgian Cat and Mountaineer Rocky Rhodes has Signed On to Promote Children’s Physical Fitness Programmes in an Official Capacity for the Nation of Belgium.

Rhodes was Appointed to the Position by King Albert II. He shall Work Closely with Princess Ophelia to Develop the Programmes, and he shall then Travel throughout the Townes of Belgium to make Appearances at Schools, Day Cares, and the Like, to Educate Children, Teachers, and Parents on the many Aspects of Children’s Health and the Importance of Physical Fitness to the Maintenance of a Healthy Mind, Body, and Soul.

Rhodes is a Natural Choice for the Position, as he is a Popular and Recognizable Figure in the Realm of Sports. Some even deem him a National Hero. He has Conquered many Peaks but has Maintained a Reputation as a Humble Representative of Belgium’s Proud Heritage.

–The Minister of Information.

The Belgian Coalition of François-Xavier de Donnea, Raymond Langendries, and Karl-Heinz Lambertz, appointed by King Albert II to work with Prime Minister Yves Leterme in order to bring about a Resolution to the ongoing National Crisis of the increased Calls to Split Up the Nation – have reached a Verdict: 12 More Leaders must Convene to Talk some More.

The King, Princess Ophelia, and Prime Minister Leterme are expected to Move on the Matter soon, calling together a Coalition of six Flemish and six Walloon Leaders to have Further Dialogue and possibly Draft a Binding Agreement between the Two Factions.

However, analysts point out that some of the more Influential Individuals involved in the Tense Situation are unlikely to be invited to the Table. Political insider and Socialist Walloon Persia Zuur and Flemish Separatist organizer Elton Jansen are likely to be Passed Over by the King in favour of Members of the Political Establishment. Questions will therefore almost certainly Arise about the Legitimacy of an Agreement reached by the Politically Appointed Coalition.

–The Minister of Information.

From October 6-9 of This Year, the European Week of Regions and Cities’ “Open Days 2008″ will take place in Brussels, Belgium. Registration is on Open for the Event, which will feature many Workshops, Panels, and Networking Opportunities for anyone who is Interested.

Workshops include Subjects as diverse as Health Care, Environmental and Sustainability Issues, and Food Clusters. In attendance shall be many Luminaries, including Belgian Cats such as Armondo Blanco, Belgian Ambassador, and Ophelia, Princess of Belgium.

–The Minister of Information.

Belgian King Albert II and his Family, including Princess Ophelia, celebrated the country’s National Day yesterday with Festivities at the Royal Cathedral and Celebrations across all of Belgium. Princess Ophelia, for her part, hosted a large Fancy Dress Party which included plenty of Music and Dancing and was described by those in Attendance as “Geweldig.”

–The Minister of Information.

Three days after submitting his Resignation to King Albert II from the Post of Prime Minister, Yves Leterme was told today that he must Return to his Job. Princess Ophelia delivered the News to Mr Leterme in Person this morning, along with the King’s Latest Proposal to Resolving the current Cultural Clashes within the Government which had pushed Mr Leterme to attempt to Resign.

The King has enlisted the Assistance of three other Political Leaders – François-Xavier de Donnea, Raymond Langendries, and Karl-Heinz Lambertz – in the Hopes that they, along with Mr Leterme, can create Solutions to the Growing Unrest between Wallonia and Flanders. Langendries has known ties to Persia Zuur, the Socialist Walloon who has been Independently Negotiating with Flemish Separatist leader Elton Jansen in an Effort to Head Off the Movement to Split Belgium in Two.

-The Minister of Information.

Socialist Walloon and Political Insider Persia Zuur made Remarks today indicating that he and his Influential Associates strongly favour the current Impeachment Resolution introduced in the United States against President George Bush.

Zuur, usually Quiet about his Political Stances, spoke out today in a Clearly Irritated Manner against the Numerous perceived Illegal Actions of the American President, stating, “Ik hoop dat deze resolutie impeachment-opbrengsten en de heer Bush is gegooid in de gevangenis waar hij deel van uitmaakt!”

American Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced 35 Articles of Impeachment in the House of Representatives yesterday, reading the Entirety of Them into the Record over the course of nearly 5 Hours. A Final Vote on the Matter has not yet Occurred as of the Time of this Posting.

The Belgian Royal Family has not yet Weighed In upon the Proceedings; Princess Ophelia diplomatically Declined to Take Sides on the Matter, though her own Interactions with Mr Bush have been Oft Described as “Chilly.”

–The Minister of Information