Elections to choose a new Dutch government will be held on September 12, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday following his coalition's collapse after failed austerity talks. Rutte and his ministers quit Monday after his minority government and its far-right ally, the party of eurosceptic Geert Wilders, failed to agree on a plan to slash the budget to steer the eurozone's fifth-largest economy back below the EU deficit ceiling of three per cent, from last year's 4.7 per cent. The agreement, according to the coalition government consisting of Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democrats, would have seen cuts amounting to 14.4 billion euros and brought the deficit down to 2.8 per cent next year. Rutte had told the Lower House on Tuesday he expected the elections on the announced date but it had to be set in stone by the outgoing cabinet on Friday. Although not part of the ruling coalition, Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) had … [Read more...] about Dutch PM set polls for September
Dutch sustainable growth coalition
Social News Headlines 27/4
Hydrogen balloon explosion injures 13 The victims received burn injuries on their faces and hands. The incident occurred after a ceremony to recognise the school's implementation of the national standards on education ended. The students had then asked the teachers to allow them to take the balloons. Three of the injured students were discharged from the local health centre after being treated for minor burns, while eight students and two teachers were admitted to the Tay Ninh General Hospital. The local police are investigating the case. Whirlwind injures 4 in An Giang province A whirlwind sweeping across the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Tuesday injured four people, according to local authorities. The whirlwind, which battered Hoa Binh and Hoa An communes, also inflicted damage to 172 houses and tens of hectares of crops. Vice Chairman of Hoa Binh Commune's People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Nhiem said local authorities visited the affected areas to assist local … [Read more...] about Social News Headlines 27/4
Social Highlights for October 26
All cosmetic surgery centers in country under inspection Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen in coordination with related agencies sent a document to municipal and provincial administrators in the country to conduct thorough inspections on all plastic surgery centers. Inspections should focus on skills, treatment methodologies, surgery procedures, rights and responsibilities of client and cosmetic surgeons, and operation license as per the country's law. Inspectors must issue proper penalties on centers which offer illegal cosmetic surgery services to earn profits. The Department of Health in Hanoi has publicized list of 33 beauty parlors and three hospitals that are licensed legally to offer cosmetic surgery services. However, the department noticed that beauty parlors can only provide simple cosmetic surgery services such as 'double eyelid' surgery or eyebrow tattoo, while complicated surgeries such as abdominal liposuction and breast lift surgery must be performed in … [Read more...] about Social Highlights for October 26