Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Iran says it shot down US drone
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claims to have shot down a US MQ-9 drone that was allegedly flying in Iranian airspace. The guard asserts its right to retaliate against ceasefire violations, while Ira...
Municipalities and provinces: more funding needed for infrastructure
Dutch municipalities and provinces are urging the national government to increase funding for the maintenance and replacement of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and locks. A report by consultan...
Municipality slower to intervene against homeless tents
The city of Amsterdam is taking longer to clear homeless tents as it implements a new policy that prioritizes social care assessments and health services over immediate eviction. This approach targets...
Municipality less likely to intervene over homeless tents
The municipality of Amsterdam is taking longer to remove improvised tents used by homeless people, many of whom are labor migrants from Eastern Europe. New protocols require officials to prioritize ca...
Even halving president's salary does not stop Bolivia protests
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz's offer to halve his salary has failed to stop ongoing protests against his government. Demonstrators remain unconvinced by the gesture and continue their opposition mov...
Toos & Henk - May 26
Cartoonist Paul Kusters publishes his daily comic strip Toos & Henk from Monday to Saturday. The series offers his unique perspective on current events.
HRW: Colombians involved in Sudan atrocities trained in UAE
A Human Rights Watch report reveals that Colombian mercenaries have been hired by a company in the United Arab Emirates to support the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. These recruits reportedly traveled...
Rubio: Iran deal still possible despite US strikes
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a visit to India that a peace agreement with Iran remains possible despite recent American military strikes. He emphasized that the objective continues ...
Fund: Municipal absenteeism highest in over 20 years
Absenteeism among personnel at Dutch municipalities rose to 7.1 percent last year, the highest level in over twenty years. The figures were reported by A&O fonds Gemeenten, which tracks employment dat...
'A crying shame to just demolish this': Call to at least carefully dismantle the old Werf Conrad office
A historical administration building of Werf Conrad in Haarlem, previously thought demolished but discovered hidden behind modern facades, is now facing potential destruction. Heritage architect Camie...
Construction of new children's center and 90 homes at De Velst feasible, criticism of developer's profit maximization unfounded
A feasibility study has confirmed that constructing a new child center and 90 residential units at the De Velst site in Heemskerk is viable. This finding addresses previous concerns and criticism rega...
Mental health sector: 7,750 rental homes per year for people with mental health issues
The Dutch mental healthcare association (de Nederlandse ggz) reports that at least 7,750 social housing units are needed annually for individuals with mental health issues. These homes are specificall...
Urgenda founder Marjan Minnesma remembered in obituary notices
Marjan Minnesma, the founder and director of the Dutch climate organization Urgenda, has died at the age of 59. She was honored in several obituaries in the newspaper Trouw, where colleagues described...
US strikes targets in southern Iran
US forces conducted defensive strikes against targets in southern Iran on Monday, targeting mine-laying boats and rocket launchers. US Central Command stated that the operation was intended to protect...
Steef (29) has visited 106 of the world's 195 countries: ‘My mother couldn't always handle me having lunch with the Taliban in Afghanistan’
Canada: treatment of flotilla activists by Israel unacceptable
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has informed Israeli President Isaac Herzog that the treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla activists is unacceptable. Carney is calling for an independent investigatio...
Red Cross: about 140 asylum seekers to night shelter in Groningen
Approximately 140 asylum seekers are being moved from the overcrowded reception center in Ter Apel to a temporary night shelter in Groningen on Monday evening. This measure, supported by the Red Cross...
Netanyahu orders intensification of Lebanon offensive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an intensification of military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He stated in a video message that the objective of the offensive is to des...
Brazilian president undergoes radiation therapy
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began preventive radiation therapy on Monday following the removal of a malignant spot from his scalp last month. The hospital confirmed the treatment in...
Fatbike riders in Vondelpark fined starting today: "I'm going to sell it"
Starting today, fatbike riders in Amsterdam's Vondelpark will face fines instead of warnings as the city's new ban is strictly enforced. Visitors report a significantly quieter environment, though som...
Russia urges foreign citizens to leave Kyiv
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged foreign citizens and diplomats to evacuate Kyiv immediately. The warning comes as Russia plans to intensify systematic attacks on defense industry fac...
Questions surrounding Ali Dia (23) who died in Lebanon rocket attack after being sent back from Amsterdam
Ali Dia, a 23-year-old who lived in Amsterdam for several years, was killed in an Israeli rocket attack in South Lebanon after being deported from the Netherlands in December 2023. While online propag...
Iranian delegation arrives in Qatar for negotiations
A high-level Iranian delegation, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Monday for negotiations. The delegation also incl...
Pardon for convicted Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha
Convicted Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha has been granted a pardon, as announced by Senate President and former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Sokha had been serving a 27-year sentence of house arrest...
Kremlin calls attacks on Kyiv retaliation, continues attacks
The Kremlin announced that it will continue its missile attacks on Kyiv as retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian strike on student housing in the occupied Luhansk region. Russia claims the Friday attac...
Welfare union marks 50th anniversary: "Prejudice that they are all freeloaders"
The Bijstandsbond is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Amsterdam, marking its history as an advocacy group for welfare recipients. Originally a national organization founded in 1976, it now provides...
Pope: Idea of a legitimate war is outdated
In a new papal encyclical presented on Monday, the Pope declared that the concept of a "justified war" is now obsolete. The religious leader argues that traditional ideas regarding legitimate warfare ...
Red Cross: Lack of permanent space for Ter Apel asylum seekers incomprehensible
The Red Cross has described the lack of permanent accommodation for asylum seekers in Ter Apel as inhumane and incomprehensible. Due to the main reception center being full, individuals are being move...
Newspaper: Russia jammed GPS during British defense minister's flight
Russia is suspected of jamming the GPS systems of a British government aircraft carrying Defense Minister John Healey during a flight from Estonia to the United Kingdom last week. The interference was...
