It started out with Germany, the U.K, the Netherlands and Austria asking for more power to keep out people they claim are trying to take advantage of their welfare systems.

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To keep pace with the modern game, the Netherlands had to adopt a more structured game.

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Barclays, whose own bid seems like a stretch, needs to convince ABN shareholders that its deal is somehow more value-enhancing than the RBS consortium's, and perhaps plug the point that it will keep the company in one piece and in the Netherlands.

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In the Netherlands, scientists have developed a self-healing nano coating that repairs itself when it's damaged and could keep cars permanently clean.

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