Politics News in English

How a D66 senator almost saved the asylum laws – if he had been allowed to finish speaking

D66 reportedly planned to support asylum laws that were opposed by the PVV, a move that could have potentially saved the legislation despite current denials from the party. The situation was influence...

Housing construction stalls due to full power grid, Utrecht faces connection freeze

The Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents (NVM) warns that housing construction may slow down due to upcoming changes in power grid connection priorities. A potential connection stop in Utrecht curr...

Hegseth warns Iran: we are ready to resume the fight

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has warned Iran that the United States is prepared to resume combat operations if a deal is not reached. Hegseth stated that the U.S. could resume bombing Irania...

Zandvoort awaits Dolfirama demolition appeal with confidence

The municipality of Zandvoort has postponed the forced demolition of the long-vacant Dolfirama building following an appeal by its owner. The legal challenge seeks to overturn a court ruling that had ...

Pope denounces tyrants wasting billions on weapons

During a speech in western Cameroon, Pope Leo criticized global leaders, accusing a few tyrants of destroying the world by wasting billions on weapons. He also condemned leaders who use religious rhet...

Van den Brink does ‘everything necessary’ for asylum law support

Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink is actively seeking support in the Dutch Senate for two strict asylum laws following uncertainty caused by the PVV's opposition to a specific amendment. The minister...

At Carré, singer Anohni shows she is not just a musician, but also an environmental activist and artist

Cabinet: no more animal transport on sweltering days, only allowed up to 30 degrees

The Dutch cabinet has announced a ban on the transport of livestock, including pigs, chickens, and cows, when temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius. State Secretary Silvio Erkens stated the measure i...

Hungarian news agency staff in revolt after Orbán defeat

Employees of the Hungarian state news agency MTI are demanding the restoration of their editorial freedom following the election defeat of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In a letter to management, the ...

Brussels wants European mega-companies to compete with China and US: merging must become easier

The European Commission is considering a revision of merger guidelines to facilitate the creation of larger companies within the European Union. This strategic shift aims to help European businesses c...

Nature permit still required for Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports

A Dutch court has ruled that Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports must obtain nature permits, overturning a previous government decision that deemed them unnecessary. The ruling follows legal challenges f...

Israeli strike destroys crucial bridge in southern Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes have destroyed a crucial bridge over the Litani river, severing the final connection between the southern city of Tyre and the rest of Lebanon. According to the state news agency NN...

Dozens of designer drug websites taken offline over safety concerns

The Dutch health and food safety authorities (IGJ and NVWA) have taken dozens of websites selling designer drugs offline. Officials warned that using these substances can be life-threatening and pose ...

South African left-wing opposition leader convicted of weapons possession

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison for the illegal possession and public discharge of a firearm. Malema, who leads the Economic Freedom Fighters (...

Low incomes hardest hit by expensive oil

Rising oil prices due to conflict in the Middle East are increasing inflation and reducing purchasing power, particularly for low-income households with cars. The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Polic...

Coalition wants to compensate companies for electricity costs

Dutch coalition parties D66, CDA, and VVD have proposed moving forward funds originally allocated for 2028 to help companies manage current electricity costs. This initiative was announced during a pa...

Iran war hits our wallets: purchasing power growth could completely evaporate

A scenario study by the CPB indicates that the conflict involving Iran could lead to higher energy prices and inflation for Dutch households. This rise in costs might completely offset the expected gr...

State Secretary wants fire safety inspections for stables

State Secretary Silvio Erkens has announced plans to introduce mandatory fire safety and electrical inspections for agricultural stables as soon as possible. These measures aim to reduce the risk of s...

Princess Amalia brunches with Mayor Femke Halsema

Princess Amalia traveled to Amsterdam for a meeting with Mayor Femke Halsema at the mayor's invitation. The visit began with a brunch before the princess continued her busy schedule in the city.

Parliament seeks clarification on data vault containing benefits scandal documents

The Dutch House of Representatives has called for clarification regarding a data vault containing millions of documents related to the childcare benefit scandal that remained hidden for years. Politic...

Council of State: give more consideration to future generations

The Dutch Council of State has advised the cabinet to prioritize the interests of future generations when drafting legislation, particularly concerning long-term issues like climate change, housing, a...

Council of State extends priority for housing construction cases

The Dutch Council of State announced it will continue prioritizing housing construction cases until at least the summer of 2027 to address the country's housing shortage. Since the policy began in 202...

Iran reports rapprochement with US, but differences not yet resolved

An Iranian official reported progress in diplomatic negotiations with the United States, facilitated by a visit from Pakistan's army leader to Tehran. While the countries have moved closer together, s...

Australia increases defense budget under US pressure and China threat

Australia plans to increase its defense budget to 3% of its GDP within the next seven years in response to China's growing regional influence. The decision also follows pressure from the United States...

Petrol and diesel slightly cheaper again due to negotiation optimism

Fuel prices for petrol and diesel in the Netherlands decreased on Thursday morning following weeks of record highs, with prices reaching 2.546 and 2.589 euros per liter respectively. This decline is a...

Israeli minister: Netanyahu to speak with Lebanese president

Israeli Minister Gila Gamliel confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. This follows an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, ...

France releases Russian shadow fleet tanker after payment

The French navy has released the oil tanker Deyna, suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, after nearly four weeks of detention. The vessel was permitted to continue its journey once its ...

Turkey issues arrest warrants after online posts about shootings

Turkish police have issued arrest warrants for 83 individuals following social media posts concerning two recent deadly school shootings. The authorities stated the warrants were based on inappropriat...

Heemstede residents on Leidsevaartweg are fed up with rumble strips: ‘It’s a buildup of noise’

Residents of the Rivierenbuurt neighborhood in Heemstede are frustrated by persistent noise pollution caused by rumble strips on Leidsevaartweg. Despite two years of discussions with the municipality,...

UWV assigns different staff to calculation work as it's not getting any easier yet

The Dutch employee insurance agency UWV has established a specialized team to prevent further errors in calculating WIA disability benefits, as detailed in its 2025 annual report. The agency continues...