Latest Netherlands government News

Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79

Dec. 25, 2024 07:52 AM EST

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AP) — Desi Bouterse, a military strongman who led a 1980 coup in the former Dutch colony of Suriname then returned to power by election three decades later despite charges of drug smuggling and murder, has died. He was 79. Surinamese Vice President Ronnie...

Amsterdam court sentences 5 men over violence linked to Ajax-Maccabi soccer game

Dec. 24, 2024 12:55 PM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An Amsterdam District Court on Tuesday sentenced five men to up to six months in prison for violence that erupted around a UEFA Europa League football match between the Dutch club Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv in November. The riots, which...

Dutch court rejects lawsuit from rights groups seeking to halt arms sales to Israel

Dec. 13, 2024 11:09 AM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten...

NATO chief warns that Putin wants long-term confrontation with Europe after Ukraine

Dec. 12, 2024 14:01 PM EST

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending. “It is...

An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others

Dec. 07, 2024 11:45 AM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague on Saturday, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments, according to authorities. The cause of the disaster was unclear. Mayor Jan van...

The EU and a South American trade bloc reach a giant trade deal after 25 years of talks

Dec. 06, 2024 17:16 PM EST

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — The European Union reached a blockbuster free trade agreement Friday with Brazil, Argentina and the three other South American nations in the Mercosur trade alliance, capping a quarter-century of on-off negotiations even as France vowed to derail the contentious accord....

Stellantis recalling more than 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect

Dec. 06, 2024 12:42 PM EST

Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail. The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock...

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares steps down as carmaker continues struggle with slumping sales

Dec. 01, 2024 19:38 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is stepping down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales. The world’s fourth-largest carmaker announced that its board...

A Dutch court weighs a lawsuit against arms sales to Israel

Nov. 22, 2024 09:37 AM EST

THE HAGUE (AP) — Pro-Palestinian activists told a Dutch court on Friday that the Netherlands is violating international law by selling weapons to Israel, a day day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes....

Dutch coalition survives crisis over top official resignation decrying offensive comments

Nov. 15, 2024 18:06 PM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government dominated by hard-right leader Geert Wilders survived a government crisis that centered on the resignation of the finance state secretary over what she saw as denigrating comments on immigrants after Israeli fans were assaulted following a soccer...