The European Poker Tournament in the German capital was attacked by several masked and heavily armed men Saturday afternoon. The tournament has a guaranteed prize of 1 million euros.

At the time of the robbery poker was played at many tables. According to unconfirmed reports, five or six perpetrators have gone off with 800,000 euros. Bild tabloid has photos of the time of the robbery. The masked men had machine guns, grenades and machetes with them.

The robbery took place at 15.04 hours in the luxurious Grand Hyatt hotel. In the panic that erupted several people got injured. The robbery took place in the room of the ballroom. A few minutes before the robbery had 48 poker players in the room registered to the high-roller event with a deposit of 10,000 euros per person. Behind the counter was so at least 480.000 euro cash.

After the raid 30 minutes the room was cleared, the tournament is now resumed. A robber would have called that a bomb was in the room.

Also a former hockey star and current pokerpro Fatima Moreira de Melo participates in Berlin, and former tennis player Boris Becker. The main event Moreira de Melo and Becker were all eliminated. It was intended that Moreira de Melo them detrimental to the ladies-only event is canceled.

According to Jaap Rosen Jacobson, owner of NG Aircraft, Ministry of Economic Affairs has made available a loan of 20 million euros. Only the European Commission still needs to approve this.

The construction of new aircraft should sell around 40 planes to make them economically viable. The aim is to build the aircraft in the Netherlands.

The Fokker 100 NG (Next Generation) is based on the structure of the Fokker 100, but features include the latest electronics and engines. The aim is to create an aircraft that is more environmentally friendly then other comparable aircraft and will have about 120 seats.

The Dutch aircraft maker Fokker went bankrupt almost fourteen years ago.

The man has been accused of violating animal rights, the police said on Friday.

The incident with the animal happend in the night of Thursday to Friday and was discovered by a guard of the farm.

The guard saw the suspect walking around the field and warned the police, who arrested the suspect. The man was covered with cow hair and has been accused of sexual acts with a cow in the farm.

A vet has taken care of the cow.

Beginning a week from today, March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

According to sources the slight shipping delay for the Wi-Fi iPad is due not to hardware production issues but to Apple putting the final touches on the software for the device.

“iPad is something completely new,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a Friday post on the company’s Web site. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Apple’s iPad is a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, playing games, reading e-books, and much more. Its high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets you interact with content — including 12 innovative new apps designed especially for iPad and almost all of the 140,000 apps available on the App Store. At just 0.5 inches thick and 1.5 pounds, iPad is thinner and lighter than any laptop or notebook. iPad will be available at the breakthrough price of just $499.

Apple’s new iPad has generated lively debate even before it hits the market. No device could have matched the hype and buzz generated before Jobs’ demo. Apple stock has shot up to a new all-time high of 219.70, besting a previous high of 215.59, which it hit on January 5, 2010.

Although Dutch Apple fans needs to wait a little longer. Soon you’ll finally be able to get your hands on the tablet.

Will you get your iPad at lauch?, let us know in the comments.

Vanessa Paradis isn’t going to lose her man to Angelina Jolie and has therefore forbid her partner to do sex scenes with Angelina Jolie. according to the New York Post.

Depp and Jolie play the lead roles in the new movie “The Tourist” and the director reportedly has some steamy sex scenes for two in store.

But that’s not to the liking of singer Vanessa Paradis, who is worried that Angelina will seduce her beloved Johnny. Even though Angelina has been coupled with Brad Pitt for five years now, Jolie famously took up with him on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith while he was married to Jennifer Aniston.. Paradis Depp would therefore forbidden to have to dive between the sheets with Jolie.

The 37-year-old Paradis is the mother of two children from father Depp (46). The two have been twelve years in a close relationship which the French singer would would like to retain.

Although Depp held the script already months ago, Vanessa had discovered untill recently that passionate” love scenes are planned between Depp and Jolie in “The Tourist”. Depp is still trying to escape through a back door, but it will not be easy, because the shooting of “The Tourist” have already been under way for several weeks.

Just two months into 2010, the Dutch Defence Ministry has exhausted its hardware budget. That’s according to an internal e-mail quoted by daily newspaper De Telegraaf on Tuesday. For the rest of the year the country’s armed forces will only be able to afford materials that are absolutely essential.

The ministry’s head of Military Equipment, Lex Hendrichs, is quoted as writing that the Dutch mission in Uruzgan will not be affected by any cuts. No new contracts will be signed, however, for new armoured vehicles or helicopters to replace outdated equipment. Purchases of munitions and clothing will be reduced “to no more than the absolute minimum”.

The 2009 budget was overspent by 120 million euros and the deficit compensated for by using money from the 2010 budget, leading to its early depletion. The Defence Ministry, according to De Telegraaf, would no longer be able to pay the bills of its suppliers on time. The upper echelons of the defence forces are negotiating to find a way out of the financial quandry.

Caretaker Deputy Defence Minister Jack de Vries, who is responsible for the defence forces’ hardware purchases, has not commented on the newspaper report.

source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

The collapse of the Christian Democrat, Labour, ChristenUnie government was inevitable, opposition party leaders said in their initial reactions.

After several days of marathon discussions, Labor Party members quit the coalition government.

News of the Cabinet dissolving followed speculation that the political squabble over Afghanistan could not be settled.

The Netherlands has roughly 2,000 troops serving in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province as part of NATO’s International Security and Assistance Force. The Dutch government extended the military mission by two years back in 2007.

Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos, leader of the Labour Party, opposed fulfilling NATO’s request to extend the mission again.

Bos said that the current Afghanistan policy was not sustainable, according to the official ANP news agency.

The Christian Democratic Alliance, Labour Party and Christian Union entered into a coalition agreement in 2007 but have disagreed on several issues including Afghanistan.

The debating champions of the Netherlands can now enjoy an early vacation.

Photo by Pixel Addict

The Dutch Bureau of Tourism & Conventions, together with KLM launched the campaign “Just be. In Holland” This campaign started in New York with the aim to show Americans the versatility of Holland. The metro are decorated on the inside and outside, with typical Dutch cultural, traditional and modern images and so offer the possibility to travel to “the Netherlands”.

This campaign is responding to the multifaceted nature of Holland. Netherlands is the place for you to wonder, relax and just be yourself. Conrad van Tiggelen, branch manager NBTC North America, is expecting a lot from this campaign: “It gives Americans who have been in the Netherlands a good view. Namely that the Netherlands is a place where you can really be yourself and many can experience authentic and modern experiences. Whether you’re into art, (horti) culture, design, fashion or architecture. ”

Potential visitors are tested on their knowledge of the Netherlands through a series of contests on the site. “Each week highlights a different aspect of the Netherlands. Around Valentine Amsterdam Diamond City will be promoted.

Netherlands in New York
The campaign started in New York with specially decorated subway trains. The sections of the subway, are both on the inside and out, with typical Dutch cultural, traditional and modern images and so offer the possibility to travel to the Netherlands.

Furthermore, this multimedia campaign is supported by a micro-site www.justbeinholland.com. Moreover, extra attention for Holland is generated by promotion teams, an advertising campaign in the New York Times and via Social media Twitter and Facebook.

Will you be in New York? Then don’t miss a chance to jump on the S shuttle train—running between Grand Central and Times Square! All throughout February, the S train will be wrapped inside and out to represent Holland’s classic, contemporary and cultural sides! Tot ziens!

The 24 year old blonde is a model, artist, and DJ in New York City. She was invited by her Girlfriend Gulcen Olcay, owner of the funky clothing brand “SuperTrash” a true LA it- girl label for independent women with great sense for fashion and style.

SuperTrash was found in L.A., by socialite Ava Rily, a true Hollywood girl, but brought to big European success in cooperation with the Dutch fashion entrepreneur Olcay Gulsen. Today SuperTrash is a well known brand in the contemporary fashion areas all over the world.

Olcay Gulsen is a 28-year-old Dutch exotic beauty who certainly has everything going for her. She’s famed, young, smart, and an extraordinary entrepreneur. With an international jet-setting lifestyle she travels to the world’s best places, while staying on the pulse of her brand. Mingling with celebrities and the fashion elite, working hard and playing hard; all the while being the managing director behind the ever-growing successful empire that is SuperTrash.

Beginning of 2009, a new era has begun with Olcay Gulsen taking over the worldwide business. SuperTrash may be born in L.A. but it definitely has been raised in Amsterdam!

Supertrash S/S 2010 Fashion Show AIFW 2009 from robertanderson on Vimeo.

Alexandra was not the only guest of honor. Edgar Davids who Olcay reportedly has a relationship with also sat in the front row during the Amsterdam Fashion Week.

People who don’t smoke and those who do sports and are not overweight should pay lower health insurance premiums the government is to be told.

To prevent the charges becoming too expensive for those on low earnings, the council will recommend that the basic health insurance premium should be income-related.

The council points to the fact that that over one-third of illness in the Netherlands is caused by unhealthy lifestyles. However, the major health insurance companies reject the idea of a range of premiums, saying such a system would be difficult to put into practice. They also argue that penalising unhealthy living risks making the Dutch health care system divisive.

Health Minister Ab Klink has already come out against higher premiums for unhelathy lifestyles.