Cabinet negotiator turns to left-centre-right option

23 June 2010

Cabinet negotiator Uri Rosenthal will on Wednesday hold talks with the VVD, Christian Democrat and Labour leaders to assess the chances of forming a new coalition between the three parties.

Eberhard van der Laan chosen as new mayor by Amsterdam council

24 June 2010

In a secret session, the Amsterdam council chose former housing minister Eberhard van der Laan as the new mayor for the city. Van der Laan, who is a lawyer and has been leading the Labour Party in the city council for years, announced his candidacy for the Amsterdam top job, after Job Cohen resigned to take over the Labour leadership for the national elections.

Amsterdam canals on UNESCO World Heritage List

23 June 2010

The canals of Amsterdam’s city centre will be included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites from next month. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre’s Deputy Director Kishore Rao announced the decision during the official designation as world heritage of the Wadden Sea, the area of tidal channels and mudflats off the northern Dutch coast.

America’s Oil-Spill Nationalism

23 June 2010

American exceptionalism, when it runs rampant, is a tsunami to be avoided. The oil company BP is discovering that right now.The environmental disaster destroying seaside communities around the Gulf of Mexico and killing off marine life is a globally important tragedy.

Trichet calls for ‘quantum leap’ in euro governance

22 June 2010

ECB president says fiscal sanctions should be applied "much earlier". Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) today (21 June) set out the case for stronger economic governance to prevent a repeat of the eurozone debt crisis.

Serbia wins backing for EU deal

22 June 2010

Dutch drop objections to starting accession talks with Serbia after presentation by the UN's war-crimes prosecutor.

World’s biggest radiotelescope launched in Netherlands

15 June 2010

Scientists in the Netherlands unveiled the largest radiotelescope in the world on Saturday, saying it was capable of detecting faint signals from almost as far back as the Big Bang.

Wilders urges CDA to join coalition talks immediately

15 June 2010

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam party PVV has called on the Christian Democrats to immediately join talks between his party and the Liberals VVD on forming a new government.

Dutch team lucky against Denmark

14 June 2010

In their first game of the World tournament in South Africa, the Dutch team won the first game (2-0) against Denmark with a little help from good fortune. The first half of the game the play was not good. The Danish defenders were effective in neutralising the Dutch forwards.  At the start of the second [...]

Amsterdam protest follows attacks on gays

14 June 2010

A call for the formation of a Gay-Straight alliance encompassing all sections of Dutch society has been made during a demonstration in Amsterdam. It follows recent violent attacks against gay men in the capital.

More cold and snowy winters to come in Europe, eastern Asia and eastern North America

14 June 2010

A warmer Arctic climate is influencing the air pressure at the North Pole and shifting wind patterns on our planet. We can expect more cold and snowy winters in Europe, eastern Asia and eastern North America.

Geert Wilders on course for Dutch cabinet seat

14 June 2010

Populist leader of Freedom party insists on government role after election breakthrough The Netherlands’ Muslim-baiting maverick Geert Wilders has staked a strong claim to a seat in a new Dutch cabinet after almost tripling his party's parliamentary presence in an election breakthrough. Wilders, the leader of the Freedom party, increased its seats from nine to [...]

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Amsterdam

Eberhard van der Laan chosen as new mayor by Amsterdam council

Posted on 24 June 2010

In a secret session, the Amsterdam council chose former housing minister Eberhard van der Laan as the new mayor for the city.

Van der Laan, who is a lawyer and has been leading the Labour Party in the city council for years, announced his candidacy for the Amsterdam top job, after Job Cohen resigned to take over the Labour leadership for the national elections.

Bookreview

History and the Enlightenment by Hugh Trevor-Roper

Posted on 24 June 2010

Arguably the leading British historian of his generation, Hugh Trevor-Roper (1914–2003) is most celebrated and admired as the author of essays. This volume brings together some of the most original and radical writings of his career—many hitherto inaccessible, one never before published, all demonstrating his piercing intellect, urbane wit, and gift for elegant, vivid narrative.

Climate Change

More cold and snowy winters to come in Europe, eastern Asia and eastern North America

Posted on 14 June 2010

A warmer Arctic climate is influencing the air pressure at the North Pole and shifting wind patterns on our planet. We can expect more cold and snowy winters in Europe, eastern Asia and eastern North America.

Dutch Domestic Policy

Dutch to Provide Assistance in Clean Up of Gulf Oil Spill

Posted on 31 May 2010

At the request of U.S. authorities, the Dutch Minister of Transport, Camiel Eurlings, has offered three sets of sweeping arms (6 arms in total) and auxiliary equipment to be used to collect oil spilled from the Deepwater Horizon incident, in the Gulf of Mexico.

Dutch Foreign Policy

Serbia wins backing for EU deal

Posted on 22 June 2010

Dutch drop objections to starting accession talks with Serbia after presentation by the UN's war-crimes prosecutor.

Dutch politics

Cabinet negotiator turns to left-centre-right option

Posted on 23 June 2010

Cabinet negotiator Uri Rosenthal will on Wednesday hold talks with the VVD, Christian Democrat and Labour leaders to assess the chances of forming a new coalition between the three parties.

Dutch Society

World’s biggest radiotelescope launched in Netherlands

Posted on 15 June 2010

Scientists in the Netherlands unveiled the largest radiotelescope in the world on Saturday, saying it was capable of detecting faint signals from almost as far back as the Big Bang.

Economy

Could marijuana save California?

Posted on 15 May 2010

In the 60s hippies fled to the backwoods of northern California to grow pot. There they have been joined by growers of medical marijuana – available with a doctors recommendation – as well as by Mexican drug cartels. With cannabis now its largest cash crop, the state will soon vote on whether to legalise it fully – and even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is thinking the enormous tax revenues might just solve his budget deficit…

EU Economic policy

America’s Oil-Spill Nationalism

Posted on 23 June 2010

American exceptionalism, when it runs rampant, is a tsunami to be avoided.

The oil company BP is discovering that right now.The environmental disaster destroying seaside communities around the Gulf of Mexico and killing off marine life is a globally important tragedy.

EU Environmental Policy

EU ‘must double spending on energy projects’

Posted on 13 April 2010

Report says improving Europe’s energy infrastructure and the removal of fossil fuels from the electricity supply are only ways to meet emissions targets.

EU Financial Policy

Trichet calls for ‘quantum leap’ in euro governance

Posted on 22 June 2010

ECB president says fiscal sanctions should be applied “much earlier”.

Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) today (21 June) set out the case for stronger economic governance to prevent a repeat of the eurozone debt crisis.

EU Foreign Policy

Biden calls on EU help to face 21st Century threats

Posted on 14 May 2010

On a visit to Brussels yesterday (6 May), US Vice-President Joe Biden stressed the importance of the EU-US relationship in responding to 21st Century threats such as climate change and the fight against terrorism.

Speaking to the European Parliament, Biden said “much has changed” since late US President Ronald Reagan addressed the EU assembly in 1985.

Financial

Yields on Dutch treasury bonds at record low

Posted on 09 May 2010

The massive flight of investors seeking refuge in secure treasury bonds has forced the yield on Dutch treasury bonds to a record low.

The yield on ten-year government bonds has dropped below three percent. According to the Dutch statistics agency CBS, the only time on record this has occurred in the past was in 1946.

History

Mount Vesuvius, Italy: Map, Facts, Eruption Pictures, Pompeii

Posted on 25 May 2010

Vesuvius is the only active volcano in mainland Europe, and has produced some of the continent’s largest volcanic eruptions. Located on Italy’s west coast, it overlooks the Bay and City of Naples and sits in the crater of the ancient Somma volcano.

Journalism

Forty predators of press freedom

Posted on 03 May 2010

There are 40 names on this year’s list of Predators of Press Freedom – 40 politicians, government officials, religious leaders, militias and criminal organisations that cannot stand the press, treat it as an enemy and directly attack journalists. They are powerful, dangerous, violent and above the law.

Moviereview

Agora: Christians as Taliban

Posted on 06 June 2010

The new film by Alejandro Amenábar, Agora, is a splendid achievement.

Agora is set in 391 BC, in Alexandria. The Egyptian/ Greek city that was founded by Alexander the Great and concurred by the Romans and that has been the intellectual capital of the Mediterranean ever since.

Music

Run – Snow Patrol

Posted on 26 May 2010

Politics

Hillary Clinton: She stoops to conquer

Posted on 26 April 2010

The Monday Essay: Hillary Clinton may have lost her bid for the US presidency – but even her critics admit she has shone as Secretary of State. Rupert Cornwell on the real comeback kid

Population

Did the over-45s ruin life for the rest of us?

Posted on 30 March 2010

The richest, most powerful generation that ever lived is embarking on a comfortable retirement. But why does it feel like they’ve pulled up the ladder with them?

Religion

Why humanists shouldn’t join in this Catholic-bashing

Posted on 05 April 2010

The reaction to the paedophile priest scandal is as guilty of scaremongering, illiberalism and elitism as the Catholic Church has ever been.

Security

George W. Bush ‘knew Guantánamo prisoners were innocent’

Posted on 09 April 2010

George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld covered up that hundreds of innocent men were sent to the Guantánamo Bay prison camp because they feared that releasing them would harm the push for war in Iraq and the broader War on Terror, according to a new document obtained by The Times.

Sports

Dutch team lucky against Denmark

Posted on 14 June 2010

In their first game of the World tournament in South Africa, the Dutch team won the first game (2-0) against Denmark with a little help from good fortune. The first half of the game the play was not good. The Danish defenders were effective in neutralising the Dutch forwards.  At the start of the second [...]

Tech

What does Wikipedia want?

Posted on 27 March 2010

The days when you could set about livening up the information on Wikipedia without fear of reprisal are over. Yet we still need to take a long and critical look at the popular online encyclopaedia. That the conclusion reached by delegates at an international conference in Amsterdam.

Women

Women, Work and a Name Change

Posted on 15 April 2010

Women who choose to adopt their husbands’ surnames may be penalized in the job market, a new study from the Netherlands suggests.

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