Amsterdam  - Dutch Islam critic Geert Wilders praised Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen for taking Jordan's decision to charge Wilders with incitement against Islam seriously, news reports said Thursday.

"It speaks to his credit although I am not at all comfortable about the situation," the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party said Thursday, a day after talking with Verhagen.

Wilders had requested the meeting to discuss the consequences of a Jordan public prosecutor's decision to charge him over his 16-minute political film Fitna, released late March.

In the film, Wilders expressed his concern about what he called the Islamization of the Netherlands and the spreading of Muslim fundamentalism in Europe.

Abuja  - Royal Dutch Shell said Thursday it has shut down production at its main offshore oil field in Nigeria after a militant attack.

"I can confirm that the Bonga field in western Niger Delta was attacked early today," Shell spokesman Precious Okolobo said. "Production at the facility has been shut off, but we cannot confirm further details at the moment."

Militant attacks have cut production in Nigeria by almost a quarter since the beginning of the year, contributing to sky- rocketing global oil prices.

The Hague - A Dutch court began hearings Wednesday to decide whether the surviving family members of the victims of a 1995 massacre of Muslims in Bosnia could sue the United Nations for failing to prevent the killings.

Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslims in one week in July 1995, overrunning the Srebrenica enclave that had been declared a United Nations safe zone.

Dutch peacekeepers failed to intervene as the male victims were led away from their custody for execution.

Amsterdam - US office supply manufacturer Staples has increased its bid for its Dutch counterpart Corporate Express, the company announced on Tuesday.
The US company is now offering 9.15 euros (14.24 dollars) per share, an increase of 1.15 euros per share.
The news comes two weeks before an extraordinary shareholders' meeting at Corporate Express, where the management is due to discuss the company's previous plans to takeover its French competitor Lyreco for 1.73 billion euros.
The takeover of Lyreco, which came shortly after Corporate Express rejected a takeover bid by Staples of 8 euros per share or 2.8 billion euros in total, including debts, is to be completed by the end of this year.

Amsterdam  - Heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning caused moderate damage in the Netherlands overnight, particularly in the southern provinces of Limburg and Zeeland, officials said Tues

Amsterdam  - Some 250 international fans of the famous Laurel and Hardy silent movies are due to convene in the Netherlands from July 9 to July 13 for the 16th Laurel and Hardy Convention.