http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/all/ Latest headlines Mon, 25 May 2009 15:15:30 +0100 Mon, 25 May 2009 15:28:02 +0100 Wereldomroep reacties@rnw.nl http://www.radionetherlands.nl/ http://www.radionetherlands.nl/assets/resources/images/shared/logo/wereldomroep.gif 144 38 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313973/Nigerian-rebels-destroy-oil-pipelines
MEND has been waging an armed struggle for a fair division of the region's oil revenue since 2006. Over the past three years, the unrest in the Niger delta has led to a 25 percent reduction in Nigeria's oil production.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 15:15:30 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313973/Nigerian-rebels-destroy-oil-pipelines 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313919/Antifraud-operation-on-Canary-Islands
The suspects were arrested during a raid by the Guardia Civil on the town hall of Arrecife, the island's capital. Raids were also carried out at a number of construction companies elsewhere on the island.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 14:52:50 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313919/Antifraud-operation-on-Canary-Islands 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313853/Amsterdams-public-transport-to-go-bilingual
Mr Asscher says bilingual announcements are needed on trams, buses and metros to provide a better service to the city's foreign visitors. He would also like to see an improved English language service on the 20-minute train route between Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and the city centre. The council is currently negotiating with the airport and Dutch Railways to provide bilingual announcements and to distribute an English language guide to the city's entire public transport network.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 14:25:45 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313853/Amsterdams-public-transport-to-go-bilingual 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313703/British-military-failed-to-report-loss-of-sensitive-data
Vetting is the process of assessing an individual for higher security clearance. The military leadership failed to report this to the British government. A former air force officer recently brought the matter to light. He says foreign secret services could use the information to blackmail officers.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 13:31:28 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313703/British-military-failed-to-report-loss-of-sensitive-data 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313628/China-and-Russia-criticise-North-Korea
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende says the Netherlands will call for international condemnation. Mr Balkenende argues the test is not in the interests of the world community nor those of North Korea itself. Later today, the United Nations Security Council will convene to discuss the matter in an emergency meeting.

This is the second time North Korea has tested a nuclear weapon. The first time was in October 2006. The bomb that was tested today is more powerful and more refined than the one used three years ago. Pyongyang has also tested three short-range missiles simultaneously.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 13:00:46 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313628/China-and-Russia-criticise-North-Korea 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313591/Demonstrators-killed-in-rioting-in-India
The two were from a low-caste Sikh sect which has a large following in parts of Punjab and had travelled to Vienna to conduct a special service. Eyewitnesses said fundamentalist Sikhs from a higher caste attacked the preachers, who, they believed, were disrespectful of the Sikh holy book.

In Punjab police used tear gas and fired shots to disperse the demonstrators. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for calm.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 12:42:47 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313591/Demonstrators-killed-in-rioting-in-India 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313566/Nigerian-rebels-attack-oil-pipelines
MEND has been fighting since 2006 for a fairer distribution of the wealth from oil revenues in the Niger delta. The unrest has cut oil production in Nigeria by more than a quarter.

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The previous Maoist government fell earlier this month after Maoist prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was forced to resign when President Ram Baran Yadav reversed his decision to dismiss an army general. One of the conditions for peace after a decade of fighting was that communist rebels would be allowed into Nepal's army. This condition has not been met. The dispute led to street protests in the capital Kathmandu.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 12:06:27 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313516/Nepal-inaugurates-communist-prime-minister 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313509/Key-witness-pulls-out-of-underworld-murder-trial
Peter la Serpe, alias 'Dirty Peter', is a key witness in cases concerning 11 contract killings in the organised criminal underworld. Having confessed to carrying out one such killing himself, he struck a deal with the public prosecutor's office in return for giving evidence in other cases. He was to have his sentence halved and be provided with personal protection and a new identity after his release.

Public broadcaster NOS reports that the trial has been adjourned until 4 June to allow time for further negotiations with Peter la Serpe.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 12:03:28 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313509/Key-witness-pulls-out-of-underworld-murder-trial 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313435/French-dairy-farmers-protest-against-low-prices
The ministers are meeting to discuss the dairy market in Germany and France. The French agriculture minister, Michel Barnier, wants the EU to guarantee a stable price by limiting production. When there is a surplus of milk, the price drops under production cost levels.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 11:40:12 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313435/French-dairy-farmers-protest-against-low-prices 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313405/EU-criticises-Myanmar-on-Suu-Kyi-trial
The Nobel prize winner is on trial for allegedly allowing an American man to visit her home, while under house arrest. Her house arrest was due to be lifted in a week's time. Earlier, even the ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, criticised the trial.

Usually the association is mild in its judgement of the military junta of Myanmar (formerly Burma). In addition to Ms Suu Kyi's trial, the economic crisis and climate change are on the agenda.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 11:27:22 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313405/EU-criticises-Myanmar-on-Suu-Kyi-trial 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313324/Dutch-part-of-ABN-AMRO-reports-modest-profit
The group is now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Banco Santander and the Dutch state. In 2007, ABN AMRO was taken over by a consortium of RBS, Banco Santander and Fortis. When the financial crisis spelled disaster for Fortis in 2008, the Netherlands nationalised its Dutch divisions.

By the end of this year, ABN AMRO is to be divided up among its owners. The Dutch part will be merged with Fortis Bank Netherlands.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 10:30:58 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313324/Dutch-part-of-ABN-AMRO-reports-modest-profit 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313320/UNHCR-24-million-refugees-in-Pakistan
Most of the refugees are from the Swat valley, where the Pakistani army started an offensive against Taliban fighters earlier this month. A half a million Pakistanis had already fled fighting in other regions.

This is believed to be the largest number of displaced people since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 10:24:16 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313320/UNHCR-24-million-refugees-in-Pakistan 5.168137 52.24341 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zijlijn/6313280/Netherlands-to-sell-fighter-jets-to-Chile
According to news agency ANP, the agreed price for the surplus F16s is around 100 million euros, but the defence ministry has not specified an amount. The deal includes training for 75 Chilean technicians.

The announcement of the sale coincides with the state visit to the Netherlands by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who has a trade delegation travelling in her wake.

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North Korea has held a nuclear test once before in October 2006. Then the United Nations imposed economic sanctions in response. Pyongpang threatened to carry out a nuclear test last month if the UN Security Council did not apologise for its condemnation of a recent missile launch.

North Korea's nuclear programme is a matter of international concern. Last month the communist country withdrew from the six nation talks after criticism for launching a long-range missile.]]> Mon, 25 May 2009 09:37:32 +0100 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/6313224/North-Korea-carries-out-nuclear-test 5.168137 52.24341