Amsterdam Times

Turkey Explores S-400 Transfer to UAE in Bid to Rejoin F-35 Program

Ankara is discussing whether to move its Russian-built air-defense system to the United Arab Emirates, but any arrangement would still require Russian consent, United States approval and congressional acceptance.

Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards

A draft cooperation framework would open Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear market to American technology while potentially allowing sensitive fuel-cycle activities under negotiated restrictions, but no final agreement has been signed or su...

Netherlands Declares Water Shortage Emergency After Drought Pushes Rivers to Historic Lows

The Dutch government has activated emergency water-allocation measures as prolonged drought, exceptionally low river flows and rising demand strain freshwater supplies, while authorities prioritize drinking water, flood defenses and crit...

Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist

The 1991 rebrand was a calculated effort to modernize the chain, broaden its menu identity and soften the increasingly unfashionable association with fried food—not a response to state licensing demands or genetically altered chickens. :...

Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia

Attacks on logistics centres in the Tambov and Moscow regions killed eight people, while Kyiv said the facilities supplied restricted components for Russian drone production—a claim not independently substantiated.

Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests

Global investment is concentrating around artificial intelligence, driving financial markets, reshaping corporate strategy and intensifying competition between governments, even as regulatory and governance challenges emerge across Asia.

China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost

The Chinese start-up’s new open-weight model posts competitive coding and agentic results against leading American systems, challenging the assumption that frontier artificial intelligence remains confined to a small group of United Stat...

The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith

Artificial-intelligence agents can reconcile accounts, pursue anomalies and draft reports, but finance will accept autonomy only when every action remains visible, reversible and humanly accountable.

Trump Administration Pressures Banks to Restrict Financial Access for Undocumented Immigrants

New federal guidance encourages banks to scrutinize immigration-related credit risks and share more customer information, advancing a broader strategy intended to make remaining in the United States without legal status increasingly diff...

International Criminal Court Opens Investigation Into State-Sponsored Cyberattacks

The International Criminal Court in The Hague launched its first investigation into alleged state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting civilian infrastructure, expanding its examination of international crimes into the digital domain.

Netherlands Leads Northern European Push for Stricter European Union Fiscal Rules

The Dutch finance minister formed a coalition of northern European countries advocating tighter European Union debt and deficit rules, reaffirming the Netherlands' longstanding support for fiscal discipline.

Utrecht Launches Artificial Intelligence Traffic System for Cyclists

The city of Utrecht activated an artificial intelligence-based traffic management system designed to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times for cyclists through real-time signal adjustments.

KLM Completes Scheduled Transatlantic Flight Using Synthetic Sustainable Aviation Fuel

KLM operated what it described as the first scheduled transatlantic passenger flight powered entirely by synthetic sustainable aviation fuel, demonstrating the potential of low-emission aviation technology.

Schiphol Implements Flight Cap to Meet Environmental Targets

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol officially introduced an annual limit of 440,000 flight movements, reflecting the Netherlands' efforts to balance aviation activity with legally binding noise and emissions goals.

Delft Researchers Report Breakthrough in Solid-State Battery Technology

Scientists at Delft University of Technology published research describing a solid-state battery architecture that significantly extends battery lifespan and could support future electric vehicle development.

Quantum Delta Secures More Than 500 Million Euros for Delft Research Expansion

Quantum Delta Netherlands obtained more than 500 million euros in European and private funding to expand quantum computing and secure communications research in Delft.

Booking.com Introduces Generative Artificial Intelligence Travel Planning

Amsterdam-based Booking.com launched a generative artificial intelligence platform capable of creating and booking complex multi-city travel itineraries, expanding automation across its global travel services.

CEVA Logistics Extends European Distribution Partnership With Zalando

CEVA Logistics signed a long-term agreement to manage Zalando's distribution network across three countries through 2030, reinforcing the Netherlands' role as a leading European logistics hub.

Rijkswaterstaat Completes Key Stage of Afsluitdijk Climate Protection Project

Rijkswaterstaat finished another major phase of the Afsluitdijk reinforcement programme, strengthening the iconic flood barrier against rising sea levels and more severe North Sea storms.

Netherlands Introduces Circular Construction Requirements for Large Developments

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management now requires major commercial construction projects to use at least 40 percent recycled or circular materials, supporting national sustainability objectives.

Shell Invests One Billion Euros to Expand Sustainable Fuel Production at Pernis

Shell committed an additional 1 billion euros to transform its Pernis refinery in Rotterdam into a production hub for sustainable aviation fuel and advanced biofuels to meet future European demand.

Dutch Consortium Begins Construction of Large Offshore Green Hydrogen Project

A consortium of Dutch energy companies and European engineering firms started offshore construction of a one-gigawatt green hydrogen facility powered by offshore wind, advancing the Netherlands' renewable energy ambitions.

Prosus Restructures Global Technology Portfolio to Improve Profitability

Amsterdam-listed technology investor Prosus unveiled a broad restructuring of its food delivery and digital classifieds businesses to simplify operations and strengthen long-term financial performance.

ING Ends Financing for New Upstream Oil and Gas Projects

Dutch banking group ING announced it will stop providing corporate financing for new upstream fossil fuel exploration projects, accelerating its climate strategy in response to investor expectations and environmental commitments.

Adyen Expands United States Operations With New Banking Licences

Amsterdam-based payments company Adyen secured federal banking and direct acquiring licences in the United States, enabling it to process transactions directly for large enterprise clients and expand its North American business.

Port of Rotterdam Expands Artificial Intelligence-Powered Terminal Automation

The Port of Rotterdam Authority approved a major upgrade at the Maasvlakte II terminal that will introduce additional artificial intelligence-driven autonomous container handling systems to improve efficiency and address labour shortages.

Port of Rotterdam Maintains Cargo Volumes Despite Global Shipping Disruptions

The Port of Rotterdam handled 103 million tonnes of cargo during the first quarter, with higher liquefied natural gas and mineral oil volumes offsetting weaker container traffic as geopolitical tensions continued to affect global trade.

Dutch Government Introduces Housing Reforms to Expand Urban Residential Supply

The government approved new housing measures allowing easier subdivision of larger properties in cities including Amsterdam and The Hague, aiming to increase the supply of homes and ease pressure in the Randstad housing market.

NXP Semiconductors Launches Artificial Intelligence Platform for Next-Generation Vehicles

Eindhoven-based NXP Semiconductors introduced a new centralized computing platform that processes artificial intelligence workloads inside electric and autonomous vehicles, strengthening its position in Europe's automotive technology mar...

ASML and Tata Electronics Deepen Partnership to Support India's Semiconductor Industry

ASML and Tata Electronics finalized a strategic agreement to help develop India's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, combining Dutch lithography technology with India's expanding chip production ambitions.

Dutch Government Increases Defence Spending to Strengthen NATO Commitments

The Ministry of Defence announced a multi-billion-euro investment to expand the Royal Netherlands Navy and enhance cyber defence capabilities, keeping Dutch military spending above NATO's 2 percent target and reinforcing the country's ro...

ASML Beats Second-Quarter Revenue Forecast as Global Artificial Intelligence Demand Lifts Chip Industry

ASML reported second-quarter net sales of 9.3 billion euros, exceeding market expectations as demand for advanced logic and memory chips remained strong, while the company announced plans to increase extreme ultraviolet lithography produ...

Ukraine’s Leadership Rift Spills Into the Streets as Protesters Target Army Chief

The dismissal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has exposed a dispute over military modernization, battlefield command and presidential authority, prompting rare public demonstrations against General Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukrainian Drone Barrage Kills Eight and Strikes Russian Logistics Network

Warehouses operated by Russia's largest online retailer burned in coordinated attacks that Kyiv said targeted supply routes for drone and navigation components.

Rabobank Warns Grid Constraints and Trade Tensions Will Limit Dutch Economic Growth

Rabobank forecasts economic growth of 1.3 percent in both 2026 and 2027, saying electricity grid congestion, nitrogen regulations and increasing global trade barriers are expected to continue weighing on investment and industrial expansion.

Nearfield Instruments Secures Major Funding Round to Expand Semiconductor Technology

Leiden-based Nearfield Instruments raised 380 million US dollars in Series D financing led by Fidelity Investments, marking one of Europe's largest venture capital rounds and reinforcing the Netherlands' position in advanced semiconducto...

Government Declares National Water Shortage as Drought Disrupts Shipping and Agriculture

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management declared an official water shortage after prolonged dry conditions lowered river levels, prompting restrictions on lock operations to limit saltwater intrusion and affecting inland ship...

Government Blocks Foreign Takeover of DigiD Technology Provider Solvinity

Dutch authorities blocked the proposed acquisition of Solvinity by a United States company, citing concerns that the operator of the national DigiD digital identity platform could become subject to foreign data access laws.

Netherlands Joins Global AI Chip Alliance While Defending European Technology Interests

The Dutch government joined the United States-led Pax Silica alliance to strengthen semiconductor and artificial intelligence supply chains, while continuing to resist broader United States export restrictions that could affect Dutch com...

Dutch Government Presses United States to Preserve ASML Support Services in China

Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma met United States officials in Washington to oppose proposed legislation that would prevent ASML from servicing existing deep ultraviolet lithography systems in China, warning the move could disrupt global...