Europe

Karadzic still refusing to enter a plea

Radovan Karadzic has appeared before the Yugoslavia tribunal for the second time, but once again he refused to make a plea. The judge was conspicuously irritated by the non-appearance of revised charges.

North America

Obama accepts historic nomination

To realise the American dream, that's the task which Barack Obama had in mind when he accepted the Democratic nomination for presidency. Now the dream is reality: Obama is the first African American presidential candidate in US history.

The State We're In - stories

Disappearances in Pakistan

After the attacks on 9/11, the U.S. government recruited Pakistan as an ally in an effort to round up suspected terrorists. Since that time possibly thousands of people have been plucked out of their lives.

South & Central America

Cuba's rock provocateur on trial

Anti-communist punk rocker Gorki Aguila has been arrested by the Cuban authorities. He has been charged with "socially dangerous behaviour", which probably refers to his outspoken attacks on the Castro regime.

The State We're In - stories

Better factories for Cambodia

The International Labour Organisation is running a unique programme in Cambodia to improve working conditions in the country’s garment industry.

Curious Orange

Olympic poetry contest - the winner

And now we present the winner and four runners-up in RNW's Olympic poetry contest - and, of course, their poems, as well as a selection of the poems entered in Radio Henan's counterpart contest in China.

Dutch affairs

Your country needs you

The Dutch Defence forces are facing an acute personnel shortage. Although Dutch missions in Afghanistan and Chad are not at risk, the government is facing some 7,000 army vacancies. Low pay is blamed.

Radio Books

Sevtap Baycili

"Humour is not a mood but a way of looking at the world," wrote philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. It's a philosophy embraced by Dutch-Turkish author Sevtap Baycili. Her story 'No Age' starts a new season of Radio Books.

Dutch affairs

Back to square one

Sports fans have been spoilt this summer with Euro 2008, Wimbledon, the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. But Dutch football fans can't wait for things to be back to normal, with the ball rolling in the premier division.

Talking point

Do you have the right to refuse resuscitation?

A Dutch care home has sparked off a furious debate after saying that it would not resuscitate heart attack victims over 70 years old, unless they had specifically asked to be reanimated. Should you have the right to decide whether you want to be resuscitated?

Europe

Shevardnadze: Russia will be sorry

Eduard Shevardnadze, former president of Georgia, says Russia should not have recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. But he is also highly critical of his successor, Mikheil Saakashvili.

North America

It's official: Obama and Biden

Barack Obama is officially the Democratic Party's candidate for the US presidency. In a well-orchestrated drama at the Democratic Convention he received the wholehearted support of the Clintons.

Asia & Pacific

UN close airlift to Myanmar

In the wake of Cyclone Nargis, the World Food Programme that provided emergency aid to Myanmar's devastated Irrawaddy delta was closed this week. Aid workers are now preparing for the next phase of the operation.

Europe

Russia’s not afraid of a Cold War

Russia does not want a Cold War, but it's not afraid of one either. And if NATO wants to break relations with Moscow, it should go ahead. It is all the same to Russia.

North America

Benign vultures

Many Americans are affected by the wave of foreclosures, forced to sell their homes because of the credit crisis. European buyers, taking advantage of the favourable euro/dollar rate, are eager to purchase the houses.

Feedback

Free expression(ism)?

Last week our forums were very busy with several articles - relating to controversial art and design and new technology - inviting a bit of creative inspiration of their own.

Dutch affairs

Doubts about the European CO2 Network

Doubts have arisen over a plan to make Rotterdam the hub of a European network of pipelines for greenhouse gas storage. A recent leak of CO2 in Germany has raised concerns about the potential risks.

The State We're In - stories

The right to water?

Everyone needs water, both for drinking and sanitation. But is water a right? If so, who has the responsibility to provide people with that right? And is it even possible to get everyone in the world enough water?