Politics News in English

French minister urges Iran to de-escalate

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East during a recent phone call. Barrot condemned Iranian attacks and deman...

Possible conflict of interest in investigation into Muslim discrimination

An investigation by the newspaper Trouw suggests a possible conflict of interest in recent research focused on the discrimination and exclusion of Muslim youth. The findings raise concerns about the o...

City air getting cleaner, yet quality still comparable to passive smoking 4 cigarettes a day

Air quality in Amsterdam has improved significantly since 2010, yet current pollution levels are still equivalent to smoking four cigarettes a day. The city aims to achieve zero-emission mobility by 2...

Groninger Bodem Beweging: reopening Groningen gas field is not an option

The Groninger Bodem Beweging (GBB) has rejected a proposal by the political party JA21 to maintain the Groningen gas field as a strategic reserve. The group argues that reopening the field for extract...

Advocacy group: major differences in cold-weather shelters for the homeless

A study by the coalition 'Dakloosheid Voorbij!' reveals significant inconsistencies and implementation failures in winter shelter provisions for homeless people across various Dutch municipalities. De...

Bart Overkamp (Pirate Party) warns against runaway AI: ‘People must continue to make the rules in Haarlem’

Bart Overkamp, leader of the Pirate Party, warns against the risks of artificial intelligence and digital dependency in Haarlem, emphasizing the need for human-led regulation. He also advocates for ke...

More neighborhood enforcement officers, less for low-income: Haarlemmermeer VVD expects to be the largest party again

The VVD party in Haarlemmermeer aims to remain the municipality's largest political group, emphasizing a platform focused on extensive housing construction and increased neighborhood enforcement. The ...

Companies eye 178 billion mega-pot for defense contracts, but one hurdle remains

The Dutch government's plan to invest 178 billion euros in defense has triggered a surge in interest from companies seeking military contracts. Economists from Rabobank predict that revenue for these ...

More repatriation flights from Oman and Egypt on Friday

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced additional repatriation flights for Friday from Muscat, Oman, and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. Operated by KLM and TUI, these flights require passengers ...

Growing calls in Dutch Parliament not to permanently close Groningen gas fields

Support is growing in the Dutch House of Representatives to keep the Groningen gas fields open as a strategic emergency reserve rather than closing them permanently. This proposal, supported by partie...

Iranian minister warns of retaliation after US attack on ship

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned of retaliation following a deadly US attack that sank an Iranian frigate near Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The incident has significantly increased tensio...

Number of cancelled flights to Middle East continues to rise

Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are causing a significant increase in the number of cancelled flights to the region. This disruption is resulting in major travel issues for passengers as air traff...

First Israelis repatriated since start of Iran war

Israel has conducted its first repatriation flights following the closure of its airspace due to the conflict with Iran. An estimated 100,000 Israeli citizens were stranded abroad after civil aviation...

Crisis cabinet seeks stability: will the real foreign minister please stand up?

The Dutch coalition government is facing internal competition over who speaks for the country regarding the crisis in Iran. Multiple ministers, including Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Prime Minis...

Eerdmans wants to enshrine 'gas emergency button' in law

JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans proposes legally designating the Groningen gas field as a strategic reserve to allow drilling during emergency situations. He argues that rising energy prices necessitate ke...

South Holland requests power grid capacity for a quarter million homes

The province of South Holland has requested electricity grid capacity for approximately 250,000 new homes planned for construction through 2032. This collective application was submitted to grid opera...

Politicians debate at Mendelcollege: 'You must stay in Haarlem and not end up in Hoofddorp'

Local politicians and students at Mendelcollege in Haarlem held a debate ahead of the municipal elections on March 18. The discussion addressed housing concerns for young people and the city's approac...

XR glues doors of multiple Amsterdam high schools shut

Extinction Rebellion glued shut the doors and chained the gates of approximately 35 high schools in Amsterdam to protest against the climate crisis and educational policies. The group left messages ca...

XR blocks access to Amsterdam high schools with glue and chain locks: classes cancelled at IVKO

Zita Pels (GroenLinks) forced to stand her ground during housing debate: ‘This is not polarizing’

Embassy cannot help stranded travelers in Thailand

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised travelers stranded in Thailand due to tensions in the Middle East to contact their airlines and travel insurers for assistance. The ministry clarified...

Nationwide rise in human smuggling on ferries, but IJmuiden-Newcastle route bucks the trend: ‘Less attractive for smugglers,’ says marechaussee

Human smuggling at Dutch ferry ports has increased nationwide, with the number of detected migrants rising from 70 to 107 in a single year. In contrast, the route between IJmuiden and Newcastle has se...

Cabinet must speed up AI rules, says watchdog AP

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has urged the new cabinet to accelerate the establishment of clear regulations for artificial intelligence. The watchdog warned that current oversight is insuf...

That 500 Amsterdam police officers viewed the Lisa file is not necessarily illogical: ‘Many staff members were involved’

Justice Minister Bondi subpoenaed to testify in Epstein case

A U.S. House of Representatives committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The committee seeks to question her about her role in the...

US Senate votes against resolution to limit Trump's power

The US Senate has voted against a resolution intended to limit President Donald Trump's authority to launch military strikes against Iran. The proposal, introduced by Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican...

Israel eases restrictions, people allowed back to work

The Israeli military announced on Thursday that restrictions for citizens are being eased, allowing public gatherings of up to fifty people. Residents are also permitted to return to work, provided th...

Fat bike ban text amended: words 'intimidation' and 'chases' removed

The Amsterdam City Council has approved a revised regulation allowing for fatbike bans in specific areas, removing controversial terms like 'intimidation' and 'chases' to ensure more generic language....

Hezbollah leader refuses to surrender, calls resistance only option

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared in a recent speech that the group will not surrender following Israeli military operations, which he characterized as premeditated aggression. He emphasized that ...

Israel reports new attacks on Iran, powerful explosion heard

The Israeli military launched a new wave of attacks on Iran on Wednesday, resulting in powerful explosions in Tehran. Both international journalists and Iranian state media confirmed the strikes in th...