Amsterdam Businessmen Sue Chairperson of Amsterdam Inner-city Council

A group of businessmen renting short-term apartments are suing the chairperson of the Amsterdam Inner-city Council Els Iping, both in her official capacity and personally. She had authorized searching apartments which were rented to foreigners who came to the Netherlands for short periods of time. Searches were carried out without any pre-announcement, despite the fact that earlier a judge had ruled that renting apartments to such people was legal and could not be considered as providing hotel services.

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2891274/_Aangifte_tegen_Amsterdams_stadsbestuur__.html?cid=rs

Private Internet Surfing During Work Hours is Increasing

A study by Ernst & Young has found that in 2007 employees spent 4.9 hours of their work hours per week on private e-mails, Internet surfing and phone calls during work hours. This is a major increase over the year 2006, when it was 3.9 hours.

www.telegraaf.nl/digitaal/2885649/_Prive-internetten_op_werk_neemt_fors_toe__.html?p=12,1

Three Detained on Suspicion of Possible Violent Action

The Special Intervention Corps of the National Police has arrested three suspects in order to prevent a possible violent action. It is not clear whether terrorism was the motive of the planned action. Two of the three suspects have both Dutch and Moroccan nationality; the third is Sudanese.

www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article876897.ece/Mogelijke_aanslag_verijdeld_drie_aanhoudingen

Christian Democrats Criticize Weather Forecasts

Parliamentarian Joop Atsma (Christian Democrats) has stressed the need to reduce the number of faulty weather forecasts. He wants the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) to consult commercial weather bureaus before announcing warnings of extreme bad weather. Atsma said that three out of the five extreme bad weather alarms this year had proved to be incorrect, and each one cost the economy tens of millions of Euros.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article876448.ece/CDA_KNMI_moet_overleggen_over_weeralarm

Royal Dutch Touring Club Recalls Electric Plugs

The Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) has recalled a variety of electric plugs it sold in its shops from 2005 till August 2007. It was found that people using these products could get an electric shock.
www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article491043.ece/ANWB_haalt_stekkers_terug?source=rss

162 Arrested in Amsterdam for Pre-New Year Fireworks

One hundred sixty-two youngsters were arrested in Amsterdam, before the New Year, because they had set off fireworks before the official permitted time – on Monday at 10 am.

www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article876526.ece/Vuurwerkoverlast_in_Amsterdam

Dutch Complain Even When Things are Good

Paul Schnabel, director of the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau,
has said that the Netherlands must put an end to the "doom thinking,"
which causes people to be fatalistic. He said that the Dutch, rather
than complaining about everything even when the situation is good,
should focus on what is going well in the Netherlands. He said that
the Dutch could learn a lot from the Americans and their optimism.

http://www.trouw.nl/hetnieuws/nederland/article879727.ece/
Nederlander_klaagt,_ook_al_gaat_het_goed