Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused the United States of violating a ceasefire after US forces attacked targets in the southern province of Hormozgan. The US military reported striking minelayers and rocket launchers in the region bordering the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.
The Netherlands has summoned the Russian ambassador to protest recent attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen announced the decision following a meeting with European Union counterparts in Brussels.
The Dutch cabinet has paused planned changes to unemployment and disability benefits while seeking alternative ways to achieve 6.5 billion euros in social security cuts. Although the proposal to increase the state pension age has been permanently scrapped, the government remains committed to its overall savings target.
An Iranian cyberattack on payment provider Verifone in March has put De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) on high alert regarding the security of the national payment system. Bank officials warned that AI-driven hacking techniques are making threats faster and more sophisticated, describing the evolving situation as a significant 'gamechanger' for financial stability.
Inflation in the Netherlands is rising due to the conflict in the Middle East, though it is not expected to reach the record levels seen in 2022. Olaf Sleijpen, President of De Nederlandsche Bank, stated that while prices are increasing, the situation is less severe than the peak two years ago.
The municipality of Haarlem has completed the greening and redesign of the Jan Ligthartstraat neighborhood in Meerwijk. This project is part of a broader effort to improve the local environment, as announced in the recent Schalkwijk newsletter.