Mouse also sacrificed for Domino Day

The killing of a sparrow that knocked over 23,000 dominoes before the attempt to break the domino-toppling world record made international headlines last week. As the little bird is commemorated in song and on its own website, it has been revealed a mouse was also killed to protect the dominoes. The hapless victim was among a group of 18 mice placed in a pizza box by students who planned to unleash them on the 4.3 million dominoes in the FEC events hall in Leeuwarden. But the students were arrested by police at the door of the hall. When the contents of the box were examined at the police station, one of the mice was found to be dead.

Motorist hits house

Three cyclists injured, several cars damaged and the front of a House smashed up — all the result of a apparent blackout suffered by a motorist in Bussum on Wednesday morning. Police say the motorist failed to turn the corner when she reached the end of the Vondellaan. The car went straight ahead and ploughed into the front garden of a house. The cyclists and the motorist were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Briefcase with EUR 125,000 stolen

A 42-year-old businessman had a briefcase, containing EUR 125,000, swiped from his hand in Amsterdam on Tuesday. The man was walking on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal when the thief took the case and ran to a waiting car. The man had the huge amount of money for a business transaction, the police said.

 'Reactionary' tells Hirsi Ali to cool it

Hans Wiegel, an elder statesman of the Liberals (VVD), has advised his outspoken party colleague, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, not to  be so "fanatical". Wiegel was responding in newspaper 'Trouw' to her suggestion he is a 'reactionary' who has no idea about the problems relating to the integration of immigrants into Dutch society. She accused the former leader of the VVD of being Utopian who was living in the "Land van Ooit" (a fantasy world). Wiegel hit back by cautioning Hirsi Ali to "play the ball, not the person" and to respect people who hold contrary views. "In this way we can strengthen Dutch society and offer a future," he said.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news