Dutch government

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GPS Will Track Dutch Drivers for Per-Mile Tax

Those who drive on congested roads at peak hours will pay more

(Newser) - The Dutch government plans to bring the polluter-pays principle into the home garage. Rather than an annual road tax for their cars, drivers will soon pay a small sum for every mile on the road—a plan aimed at breaking chronic traffic jams and cutting carbon emissions. GPS devices installed...

Dutch Move to Block Teen's Around-the-World Solo Sail

(Newser) - Dutch authorities have gone to court to demand custody of a 13-year-old girl to block her planned solo sail around the world, reports the BBC. The girl's parents have already been denied permission for her to miss two years of school for the adventure. Laura Dekker, who has sailed since...

Dutch Abortion Ship Hits Rough Waters

(Newser) - A change in the law is threatening to scuttle a Dutch ship's mission to provide abortions to women throughout the world, reports the Independent. Dr. Rebecca Gomperts has delivered "abortion pills" that cause miscarriages to women in nations where abortion is illegal. She has skirted local laws by docking...

Huge Losses at ING Bring New CEO, 7K Job Cuts

Dutch banking giant posts $2.6B in quarterly loss, against asks government for help

(Newser) - ING posted a $2.6 billion quarterly loss today, leading the banking giant to replace its CEO, fire 7,000 employees, and seek new guarantees from the Dutch government. The request for state aid is ING’s second in three months, and the bank said it might even need a...

Dutch Smoking Ban Leaves Pot Users in a Fog

Cannabis in coffee houses is fine, but take that butt outside

(Newser) - Effective tomorrow, the Netherlands bans smoking tobacco in public places, and the new law means big changes for Amsterdam's famously relaxed coffeehouses, reports USA Today. Because the law doesn't cover cannabis or hashish, users can continue to smoke them inside. But those who prefer their pot mixed with tobacco, as...

Tsvangirai Hides Out in Dutch Consulate

UN Security Council condemns Zimbabwe violence, intimidation

(Newser) - Zimbabwe's opposition leader remained holed up in the Dutch embassy in Harare today as police stormed his party's headquarters, the New York Times reports. Officers detained at least 40 people who were there—many of them women and children—the day after Morgan Tsvangirai dropped out of the upcoming election...

Dutch Hope US Model Will Integrate Schools

Plan was used during American civil rights movement

(Newser) - Dutch leaders believe an integration program honed during the American civil rights movement can curb the racial and class divisions rampant in Amsterdam’s classrooms. Waves of immigrants have swept into the Netherlands, but they haven’t always mixed successfully with native Dutch, reports the Christian Science Monitor. “Segregation...

Dutch Brace for Terror Before Koran Shredding

Right-wing pol vows to air anti-Muslim film

(Newser) - The Dutch government expects violent protests in response to an anti-Muslim film—said to include images of the Koran being shredded—that a right-wing lawmaker has vowed to make public this month. Geert Wilders, one of nine members of an extremist party in the Dutch lower house, aims to expose...

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