Politics News in English

Psychiatric patient Malek F. confesses to attempted murder in Mesdag Clinic

Malek F., a 39-year-old TBS patient, confessed in a Groningen court to the attempted murder of a fellow patient at the Mesdagkliniek last year. He stated that he acted on commands from voices in his h...

'Corona' returns to The Hague: parliamentary inquiry will contain surprises, says committee chair

A Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will begin public hearings next week, featuring testimony from key figures such as Mark Rutte and Hugo de Jonge. C...

Former Spanish PM Zapatero investigated for COVID fraud

Former Spanish Prime Minister José Zapatero is under investigation for money laundering and involvement in a criminal organization related to COVID-19 state aid for the airline Plus Ultra. The probe ...

Dutch face longer waits for new cancer drugs: 'Unacceptable for such a wealthy country'

Access to new cancer treatments in the Netherlands is declining, with only 41% of medications approved in Europe over the last four years expected to be available to patients by 2025. This represents ...

Russia holds major nuclear arsenal exercise

Russia is conducting a large-scale nuclear arsenal exercise from Tuesday to Thursday involving over 64,000 military personnel. The drills include test launches of ballistic and cruise missiles as part...

Report: sex workers intimidated and exploited, no oversight

A report by the Sex Work Reporting and Advice Point (SMAP) reveals that sex workers in the Netherlands face poor working conditions, intimidation, and exploitation. The organization criticizes the gov...

Media watchdog warns of democratic risks from feeds

The Dutch Media Authority (CvdM) has warned that social media recommendation algorithms pose a threat to democracy by impacting the free formation of public opinion. Based on an analysis of these feed...

Discrimination test to prevent new benefits scandal will not be mandatory

Dutch Interior Minister Pieter Heerma announced that government organizations will not be legally required to use a discrimination test designed to prevent future scandals. Although approximately fort...

Holiday parks often scenes of criminal activity; North Holland approach to go nationwide

An approach developed in North Holland to combat criminal activities at holiday parks is being expanded nationwide through the 'Gastvrij Veilig' campaign. The initiative aims to improve the detection ...

Amsterdam drivers still speeding on 30 km/h roads, but average speed drops

Homeowners Association wants stricter control on house hunting: ‘Still cronyism’

Vereniging Eigen Huis is calling for stricter government oversight of the housing market, citing ongoing issues with transparency and "cronyism." Their research reveals that bidding logs are frequentl...

Other cities have long had public heating companies: what is holding Amsterdam back?

Subsidy pot shrank, site crashed, and now a lottery decides on changing room renovations and concrete rot repairs

Deaths in Kenya during protests against fuel price hikes

Four people were killed and more than 30 injured during protests against rising fuel prices in various Kenyan cities. Minister of Interior Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the casualties during a televise...

Looting and violent clashes during Bolivia protests

Protests in the Bolivian capital of La Paz have escalated as demonstrators stormed several government buildings. In response to the unrest, the government is prosecuting a protest leader on charges of...

Trump announces expansion of drug discount program

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the government-backed website TrumpRx.gov will expand its offerings to include generic medications. The platform is designed to provide consumers with di...

Municipalities see cabinet step forward after asylum riots

Sharon Dijksma, chair of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, expressed satisfaction after emergency talks with the cabinet regarding recent riots at asylum seeker reception centers. The mee...

Minnesota prosecutes ICE agent for assault among other charges

A 53-year-old ICE agent in Minnesota has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon following a shooting incident in mid-January. The agent is accused of firing at a Venezuelan migrant, who sus...

Jetten: Markuszower now 'not at the front of the line' for cooperation

D66 leader Rob Jetten stated that he will not prioritize cooperation with Gidi Markuszower until the latter more firmly retracts comments advocating for 'maximum violence' against Palestinian refugees...

Jetten wants more tailored approach for municipal asylum reception after talks

Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced that the Dutch cabinet will focus on customized solutions to assist municipalities with local asylum seeker reception. A specialized flying team will be established...

Engelen residents hand over petition for welcoming asylum center

Residents of the village of Engelen submitted a petition with approximately 800 signatures to the Den Bosch city council, advocating for a hospitable welcome for 50 young asylum seekers. The group aim...

Trump calls off planned Tuesday attack on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a planned military strike against Iran that was scheduled for Tuesday to allow for diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement. While the attack is cancelled for...

Defend Loosdrecht ‘hijacks’ lawsuit for immediate closure of emergency shelter; will it be a madhouse at the court too?

A group of eight companies and five residents from Loosdrecht are taking legal action in an Utrecht administrative court to demand the immediate closure of a local emergency asylum shelter. The activi...

No money for new siren system, emergency sirens to disappear in 2028

The Dutch government will discontinue the monthly air raid siren system starting in 2028 due to a lack of funding for a new, innovative replacement. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel ann...

Trump drops billion-dollar claim against tax authorities

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn a lawsuit he previously filed against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The decision was confirmed through recently released court documents.

Power grid also faces gridlock in North and South Holland, stalling housing and business. VNO-NCW seeks crisis law to shorten appeal processes.

VNO-NCW has warned the Dutch government that the power grid in North and South Holland is reaching its limit, potentially halting new housing projects and heat pump installations. The organization is ...

Time running out for EU-US trade deal: 'No one wants tariffs and barriers'

EU member states and the European Parliament are resuming negotiations with the United States on Tuesday to finalize a trade agreement and avoid new tariffs. Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma emph...

New complaint filed against Markuszower over remarks about Palestinians

The Turkish workers' association HTIB has announced it will file a police report against Dutch MP Gidi Markuszower for his statements concerning Palestinian asylum seekers. The organization alleges th...

Mayor Halsema, your letter about the Herculesstraat explosion does not ease our fears

22 arrests at pro-Palestinian occupation of VU buildings

Police arrested 22 pro-Palestine protesters after they occupied two buildings at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam to demand the university sever ties with Israeli institutions. The occupation ended...