Dutch Guarantees Given Abroad have increased Ten-Fold since the Beginning of the Euro Crisis

The guarantees the Netherlands have given to international institutions such as the IMF, the European Credit Bank and the European Emergency funds had increased by the end of 2012 to 201 billion Euro. At the beginning of the European credit crisis, the total number of foreign guarantees was 18 billion Euro. This results from a report of the National Control Office (Algemene Rekenkamer). The guarantees are the result of loans given in various ways to countries such as Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21933100/__Garanties_staat_naar_201_mld.__.html

Inspectorate Knew of Fraud at Ibn Ghaldoun, but did not Act

Already before final exams were stolen in large numbers at the Ibn Ghaldoun Muslim High School in Rotterdam, the Educational Inspectorate was warned by one of the teachers about fraudulent behavior at this school. In April it received a letter which stated that teachers knowingly gave relatively simple tests to students. Also, students were promoted to higher classes while they should have been left back. Students and teachers negotiated about marks. Teachers also gave higher marks than justified to make good impressions. Teachers who did not collaborate were bullied and had to leave. Two months later it became known that 27 final exams had been stolen at the school. The Inspectorate admitted that it was informed earlier, but decided not to act, as it wanted to do an overall “quality control” of the school later on. In the meantime, the exams were stolen and it has been announced that the school will be closed. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/9/Inspectie-wist-van-fraude-Ibn-Ghaldoun-maar-greep-niet-in-1376552W/

Ansaldo announces that it will take Dutch Railways to Court

Italian train builder Ansaldo has delivered documents to the Dutch Railways (NS) announcing that it will take them to court. At the same time the company has put advertisements in Dutch papers offering the NS collaboration to get the trains on the rail within 6 months. NS has announced that it considers Finmeccanica, the parent company of Ansaldo responsible for the failure of the Italian Fyra trains. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21924195/__Voor_de_rechter_en_samenwerken__.html

European Commission worried about competitive position of the Netherlands

The European commission is worried about the future of the competitive position of the Netherlands. While that position is good at present the low private in research and development may weaken it. Another handicap is the growing shortage of experts in technical fields. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2800/Europese-Unie/index.dhtml

Large Number of Complaints about overfull Trains

The travelers organization Rover reports that a huge number of complaints in about far too full trains. This month alone 600 complaints were received so far at the special information point for full trains. This does not include complainst by twitter, email and mobile phones. m In dit aantal zijn de klachten via Twitter, e-mail en telefoon niet eens meegerekend, aldus een woordvoerder. The complaints come from all over the Netherlands. There are complaints about people remaining behind because they can not enter the full trains, people feeling ill and delays due to the many passengers. www.metronieuws.nl/meer-metro/stroom-aan-klachten-over-volgepakte-treinen/SrZmix!OFfnqrzTEosE/

Retired Professor of political anthropology Mart Bax of the Amsterdam Free University has during fifteen years committed serious scientific misbehavior. This is the conclusion of an investigation commission headed by historian Michel Baud published today. Bax has invented at least 61 publications and recycled the same articles under different titles a number of times. He also invented awards he never received and positions he never held. The University in the meantime will not undertake any steps against Bax. He can keep his title of professor and there will be no investigation whether the award of his doctorate was justified. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/5288/Onderwijs/article/detail/3514394/2013/09/23/Oud-hoogleraar-Bax-schuldig-aan-wetenschappelijk-wangedrag.dhtml

Secret Report: Train Discarded by Dutch Railways is Excellent Train

The Italian Fyra train which has been discarded by the NS (Dutch Railways) is far from the ‘wreck’ the NS claims. A secret report of the British technical office Mott McDonald is in the hands of the Dutch daily Telegraaf. According to the report, which has also been seen by the NS the Fyra meets the specifications agreed. The design has also been accepted by the Dutch Railways. There are many small problems which can be solved. Within 17 months all Dutch Fyra trains can be turned into good quality trains. A major court case between the Italian train builder Ansaldo and the NS on this issue is pending. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21909630/__Fyra_blijkt_prima_trein__.html