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The Netherlands

The latest news, analysis and opinion on The Netherlands. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Amsterdam

Head of State

King Willem-Alexander

Head of Government

Prime Minister Dick Schoof

People wait in line to enter the Swatch store in Times Square in New York on Saturday. Photo: AFP

France

‘It’s nasty’: Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch hype ignites global shopping chaos

From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces.

2 hours ago

Music

Bulgaria’s Dara wins Eurovision contest, beating out Israel for top spot

3 hours ago

Africa

Rwandan genocide suspect Kabuga dies in custody in The Hague at age 91

25 minutes ago

Ukraine war

36 nations approve tribunal creation to prosecute Russia over Ukraine

The move came on the same day the WHO said Ukraine’s mental health crisis is growing, with ‘work to do until the end of the century’.

15 May 2026 - 9:44PMvideocam

A neighbour hugs a crying woman at the site of a fatal Russian missile attack on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday. Photo: AP

The Philippines

Gunfire, farce and fugitive Philippine Senator Bato dela Rosa

‘Call me a coward’, ICC fugitive Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa told the cameras, as he holed up in the Senate in a bid to escape justice.

15 May 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

US-China trade war

The US-China trade war is entering a worrying new phase

The US and China are racing to roll out competing sanctions, rules and regulations, leaving firms trapped in a legal Catch-22.

15 May 2026 - 11:04AMvideocam

European Union

France, Netherlands say all hantavirus contact cases negative

Globally three people have died, six are confirmed to have hantavirus, and there is one probable case.

14 May 2026 - 8:27PMvideocam

Reporters stand in front of the Bichat Hospital where a woman who tested positive for hantavirus remains in intensive care, in Paris on Tuesday. Photo: AP

The Philippines

Philippine senator wanted by ICC flees from Senate

Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s exit from the heavily guarded Senate came after volleys of gunshots were fired on Wednesday night.

14 May 2026 - 8:09PM

2026 Xi-Trump summit

Xi-Trump summit casts optimistic light on lingering tensions

The presidents of China and the United States focused on cooperation and potential trade, rather than tougher issues, as they opened the first day of talks in Beijing.

14 May 2026 - 5:00PM

The Philippines

Gunshots fired in stand-off at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect

Chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

14 May 2026 - 12:07PMvideocam

Military personnel enter the Senate building as more than a dozen gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

US-EU relations

Netherlands opposes US proposal to further bar chip giant ASML from China market

While the chipmaking-gear giant is already banned from selling advanced kit to China, new rule would make low-end products off-limits too.

13 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

ASML is already banned from selling its most advanced chipmaking equipment to China. Photo: Reuters

Hantavirus

Argentine city tries to shrug off hantavirus ship ‘patient zero’ suspicions

The search for answers about the MV Hondius outbreak has pointed towards Ushuaia and a huge landfill site.

13 May 2026 - 12:48PM

Hantavirus

French hantavirus patient ‘critical on artificial lung’ as ship cases grow

Doctor in Paris describes MV Hondius passenger as having ‘the final stage of supportive care’.

13 May 2026 - 10:40AM

The Philippines

‘Accountability is coming’: dela Rosa flight piles pressure on Duterte camp

Dela Rosa evading the ICC arrest and the Senate leadership coup could mark a turning point for a Duterte camp under siege, analysts say.

12 May 2026 - 8:27PMvideocam

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa shows his bandaged fingers during a session at the Senate in Metro Manila on Tuesday, a day after he evaded an ICC arrest warrant. Photo: EPA

World Health Organization (WHO)

Spain reports new hantavirus case as outbreak grows to 11

World Health Organization chief says there is currently ‘no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak’.

12 May 2026 - 7:35PMvideocam

Members of the media gather in front of the entrance to the Gomez Ulloa Hospital in Madrid on Tuesday, where Spanish passengers from the MV Hondius cruise have been taken for quarantine. Photo: EPA

China airliners

European airlines adding China flights despite Russian airspace barrier

Demand for China-Europe flights surges as airlines avoid Iranian, Russian airspace and divert tourists away from Southeast Asia.

12 May 2026 - 5:02PMvideocam

The Philippines

Philippine senator escapes arrest as ICC confirms drug war warrant

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be treated as if in the custody of the Senate.

12 May 2026 - 11:26AMvideocam

Hantavirus

More passengers from hantavirus-hit cruise ship test positive

Two passengers, French and American, test positive as governments take extensive precautions for evacuees.

11 May 2026 - 8:48PM

A bus transporting repatriated British nationals from the MV Hondius as they arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Birkenhead, Britain. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong leverages ‘unrivalled’ medical hub status amid global hantavirus alarm

Leader John Lee and health chief Lo Chung-mau highlight city’s unique role in boosting global pandemic readiness at summit.

11 May 2026 - 9:27PM

Food and Drinks

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Stübli to Blanc de Noirs

Discover Hong Kong’s latest dining gems: Stübli’s Alpine delights, Sichuan Verandah’s spicy fare, Blanc de Noirs’ bubbly haven and Lola Maria’s Spanish charm.

11 May 2026 - 8:00AM

Malaysia

Malaysia tightens border screenings to prevent hantavirus entry

The health minister said over 20,000 vessels, especially those arriving from high-risk areas, were inspected at Malaysia’s entry points.

10 May 2026 - 3:45PMvideocam

The hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius arrives at the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, to commence evacuation of passengers on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Britain

Hantavirus outbreak: UK to isolate cruise ship passengers in ex-Covid hospital

There are around 24 British passengers and crew, as well as two people from Ireland, on board the MV Hondius.

10 May 2026 - 1:15AM

Passengers on the MV Hondius, scan the horizon with binoculars during their voyage to Spain’s port of Tenerife on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Artificial intelligence

Why foreign buyers are returning after China’s Huaqiangbei makeover

Shenzhen’s electronics hub is riding the AI boom, with curated devices like drones and robots pulling in overseas customers once more.

9 May 2026 - 3:00PM

Art

5 exhibitions across the globe celebrating women who shaped art and culture

From Björk’s grief-tinged ‘Echolalia’ to Marina Abramović making history in Venice, these shows shine a light on women who shaped contemporary culture.

9 May 2026 - 8:00AM

Hantavirus

‘Not another Covid’ says WHO, as new suspected hantavirus cases found

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, is in charge of MV Hondius’ evacuation; latest patient sat on plane near woman infected during cruise.

9 May 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Sant Joan university hospital, where a woman with symptoms consistent with a hantavirus infection is being treated, is seen in Alicante, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Mainland China

Chinese health authority says no need to worry about latest hantavirus outbreak

CDC says the strain behind the current outbreak, which emerged on a cruise ship sailing from Argentina, has no natural hosts in the country.

8 May 2026 - 8:47PMvideocam

The outbreak has been linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Photo: Reuters

Spain

Spain to repatriate guests as hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canaries

The MV Hondius is expected to reach the port of Granadilla on the island of Tenerife on Sunday.

8 May 2026 - 11:25PMvideocam

Singapore

Asia faces low hantavirus risk as Singapore isolates 2 from cruise over cases

Eight hantavirus cases linked to the cruise have been reported so far, including three deaths, the WHO says.

8 May 2026 - 6:58PMvideocam

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