Capital of South Holland; seat of government and de facto capital of the Netherlands
Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses face growing scrutiny as privacy concerns prompt venue bans in the UK. Backlash centers on non-consensual filming and surveillance, while governments explore regulations. The debate extends to privacy protections, accessibility, and the balance between innovation and safety.
China’s coast guard activities and disputed claims in the South China Sea continue to heighten regional tensions. The United States and Philippines reaffirm support for freedom of navigation as ASEAN accelerates talks on a binding code of conduct. New rules around Scarborough Shoal and demonstrations of maritime enforcement are intensifying the arguments over sovereignty and security in the region.
A bomb exploded at D66’s The Hague headquarters on May 8 during a youth-wing meeting. No injuries have been reported. A 37-year-old suspect has been arrested. Prime Minister Jetten has condemned the attack as an attempt to intimidate democracy. This follows a prior 2025 incident at the same building.
Israeli settlers have been attacking Palestinians across the West Bank, displacing communities, injuring and killing civilians and vandalising property; Israeli authorities have charged at least one suspected attacker, while the ICC has been preparing arrest-warrant applications against Israeli ministers for alleged crimes including forced displacement and apartheid. (As of 24 May 2026.)
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said he was informed of an ICC arrest-warrant request and has ordered the immediate evacuation of the Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar. The ICC has not confirmed any new warrants; Israeli security bodies and courts will determine if and when the order takes effect.
Felicien Kabuga, once a top financier of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, has died in UN custody at 93. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial due to dementia and was too ill to be returned to Rwanda, leaving investigators to probe the circumstances of his death.
The International Criminal Court has begun pretrial hearings for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a Libyan former militia commander accused of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to detention centres in Mitiga prison near Tripoli between 2015 and 2020. The proceedings will determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial.
Palestinian Bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar faces a looming evacuation order after Israel’s far-right finance minister Smotrich has said he is coordinating steps to expel residents, pending cabinet approval. He claims the ICC is seeking an arrest warrant, a claim denied by the ICC; residents fear demolition and displacement amid broader settlement expansion in Area C.
The hearing has concluded documenting the death of Félicien Kabuga, the alleged financier of Rwanda’s genocide, while the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals faces an uncertain future as its mandate ends in June. Death comes after years of detention in The Hague amid dementia and unfitness for trial.
The ICJ has issued an advisory opinion finding that the right to strike is protected under ILO Convention 87, in a 10-4 ruling. The opinion is narrow and not a ruling on the exact content or scope of the right; it is non-binding but influential.
The Philippine civilian Truth and Reconciliation Commission has launched to document killings in Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, which ICC warrants target Duterte ally Ronald Dela Rosa and others. The commission aims to collect testimonies, produce an evidence-based record, and steer accountability, healing, and reform.
The Hague hosts BlowUp Jubilee, a monthlong open‑air art festival featuring 24 inflatable works, including a 7‑meter pan near the Mauritshuis. The event returns with previous installations and new pieces as part of a broader celebration around the Binnenhof renovations.
Syria has located remnants of Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions. Eighteen suspects, including high-ranking officials, have been detained as part of ongoing investigations by Syrian authorities with the OPCW.
The International Criminal Court has charged former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity over the killings during his anti-drug crackdown. Duterte has waived attendance and remains in The Hague, with prosecutors detailing deaths that exceed thousands during 2016–2022. The court has noted health concerns but has allowed participation with adjusted sitting times.
The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration has rejected Rwanda's financial claims over the collapsed UK–Rwanda asylum deal, finding diplomatic exchanges after the scheme's 2024 cancellation amounted to agreement not to pay two £50m tranches. The tribunal has dismissed all Rwandan claims and both governments have said the matter is concluded.
The Times of Israel reports that a defamation suit against The New York Times is being considered, following a May article alleging sexual abuse by Israeli authorities in detention. Legal experts say any suit would be difficult, with US standards on defamation and potential discovery risk. Israel's government remains tight-lipped about the process.
European leaders unveil a technology sovereignty package to boost domestic semiconductors, cloud capacity and data centers, aiming to reduce reliance on non‑European tech providers amid geopolitical tensions. The package faces Parliament and Council scrutiny and could reshape how public services rely on digital infrastructure.
Palestinian athletes, including Rand Halawani, are detained by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem after protests; some are released with house arrest as investigations continue. The Palestinian Football Association condemns the detentions as part of a broader pattern targeting Palestinian athletes, while international observers note ongoing rights concerns.
The ICCs oversight bureau has suspended Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and referred him to disciplinary proceedings after finding he had committed serious misconduct. The bureau has sent the case to the Assembly of States Parties, which will hold a special session to decide whether to remove him; Khan denies wrongdoing and will challenge the decision.
A Hague court has convicted Rafik A. of torturing and raping prisoners during Syria’s civil war and has sentenced him to prison. The case marks the first time sexual violence has been prosecuted as a crime against humanity in the Netherlands; several other Europe-wide trials under universal jurisdiction are ongoing.
The Philippines’ Senate has shifted leadership ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, with Sherwin Gatchalian securing the presidency of the chamber after a bloc allied with him gains a majority. The move follows months of intra-chamber discord tied to broader clashes between Duterte and Marcos and potential ICC actions.
The ICC's executive bureau has found that Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan engaged in a serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty and should be removed. A vote by the Assembly of States Parties on his fate is scheduled for July 24 in New York. Khan denies the allegations.
Niger has initiated the withdrawal from the Rome Statute, becoming the third country to leave the ICC after Burundi and the Philippines. The move follows a 2023 military coup and signals growing regional tensions over international justice mechanisms amid shifting alliances with Russia and mounting security challenges in the Sahel.
NATO leaders have met in Ankara after months of U.S. threats to scale back forces in Europe and repeated U.S. demands that allies raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Tensions over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and U.S. troop reviews have strained transatlantic ties, while European governments are increasing procurement and planning to assume more conventional defence responsibilities.
Rwandan and Congolese officials remain locked in a dispute over commitments under a Washington-brokered peace deal, with UN experts noting M23 remains active and minerals continue to flow from conflict zones. Western governments have stepped up sanctions, and the ICJ case against Rwanda has widened the international response.
Morocco has eliminated the Netherlands 3-2 in a World Cup last-32 penalty shootout. Celebrations erupt in Casablanca, while police in The Hague deploy riot squads amid clashes as fans clash after the match.
The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has begun in Manila. Police have deployed around the Senate as pro- and anti-Duterte demonstrators gather. Duterte denies wrongdoing and has appeared via counsel, with the outcome potentially barring her from future office and shaping the 2028 race.
The NATO summit in Ankara is shaping up as a test for alliance unity as President Trump’s threats to curb U.S. involvement collide with Turkey’s bid to leverage its ties with Trump. Turkey’s foreign minister says the Erdogan-Trump rapport could ease tensions, while other members weigh new security arrangements amid funding and defence-spending debates.
The Defence Investment Plan has raised questions about whether the UK will reach Nato’s 3.5% of GDP core defence target by 2035. Recent reporting shows critics arguing that the plan edges the target without fully funding it, while ministers insist the trajectory remains on track.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has found that the RSF’s siege of El Fasher in Darfur, and related abuses, include killings, mass rape and deliberate starvation. The findings build on February’s report and warn that similar patterns are emerging around El Obeid as RSF forces mass around the city. Leaders say the international community must act to prevent further catastrophe.
NATO members pledge higher defence spending while President Trump sharpens demands on Greenland and Spain. Mark Rutte labels the alliance stronger, but others warn of lasting tensions as US pressure tests unity.
The Philippines has formally objected to a China Daily AI-generated video that dehumanizes Filipinos and mocks the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling. Manila calls for takedown and warns against propaganda that escalates tensions as regional powers urge adherence to UNCLOS.
The United States has launched a broad campaign to isolate the International Criminal Court, aiming to weaken its authority and deter investigations involving American personnel. Rubio argues the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty, while allies face pressure to withdraw or face penalties. Several ICC officials have already faced sanctions.
The ICC oversight body is set to vote on Karim Khan’s fate after allegations of misconduct toward a female aide. Khan has denied wrongdoing; the UK Bar Standards Board and US sanctions have added pressure as the Assembly of States Parties prepares for a special session at the UN on July 24.
US advocacy groups have filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging Donald Trump’s 2025 sanctions on ICC officials and related actors for alleged war-crimes investigations. The suit argues the measures violate the First Amendment and chill protected advocacy, while the administration defends them as targeting abuses at the ICC.
Three men broke into Kent Carpenter’s Sibulan home in Negros Oriental, shooting the 73-year-old marine biologist and raping his companion during a suspected robbery. Police say the attack was planned, not work-related, and a fourth suspect has been arrested while a lookout surrendered.
A ministerial on the resurgence of political terrorism convenes to coordinate action against far-left violence. Leaders from 65+ countries are examining left-wing extremism, with visas and designations expanding in several nations.
Los Angeles prosecutors have presented texts, photos and forensic evidence at a preliminary hearing accusing singer David Anthony Burke, known as D4vd, of murdering and sexually abusing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Evidence shown has included long-running messages, indications of a pregnancy and abortion, purchases of tools and a body bag, and DNA matches tying blood in Burke’s garage and a Tesla to the victim.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he believes Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs before the International Criminal Court and has told the city's law department to review whether existing New York law allows detaining Netanyahu if he visits for the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump has posted that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the United States.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has acknowledged that the city cannot execute the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. He is calling on the federal government to join the ICC and carry out the warrant as Netanyahu travels to the UN General Assembly this fall. Multiple outlets report the same limitation and emphasize that international law authority rests with the federal government, not city hall.
The House Judiciary Committee's criminal referral to the DOJ has escalated Republican efforts to scrutinize Jack Smith. The panel alleges Smith gave false statements about accessing lawmakers' text messages during the Arctic Frost investigation. The DOJ is not required to act on referrals, but the findings have intensified political pressure and calls for accountability.
The International Criminal Court has withdrawn charges against Abdallah Banda after prosecutors say key witnesses are no longer credible and new testimony could not sustain a conviction. Judges have approved the withdrawal, stressing it does not preclude later charges for similar facts. The decision affects 103 victims and comes amid broader scrutiny of the ICC.
The Assembly of States Parties has voted to remove Karim Khan as the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor after an inquiry found he committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty" over allegations of a sexual relationship with a junior staffer. Khan has denied the claims. The secret ballot passed with 82 of 125 votes; Venezuela has announced withdrawal from the court.
Venezuela has informed the UN of its irrevocable decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, citing a demonstrated geographical bias favoring Africa and Latin America. The move comes as the ICC faces ongoing probes into crimes against humanity and as pressures from the United States intensify against the court.
The International Criminal Court has voted to remove Karim Khan as prosecutor after findings of serious misconduct, amid a global political climate where the United States seeks to dismantle the ICC. The vote is decisive; the court continues to face sanctions, vacancies, and questions about its future leadership.
The ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu has prompted New York City’s mayor to urge federal action, while the prime minister seeks to address the UN General Assembly. Polls show mixed public opinion on arrest calls in the US, and Netanyahu is pressing on with plans to travel to New York.
Netanyahu has met with Trump in Washington to review three approaches to Iran: a diplomatic deal, sustained economic pressure with a blockade, or a renewed military campaign. The discussions, conducted without public detail, aim to determine the path that best prevents a nuclear Iran while considering global energy impacts.
The FAA has opened a safety review after Marine One, carrying the president, has had a momentary loss of separation with a commercial regional jet departing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Both aircraft have landed safely; the NTSB is gathering information and considering an investigation.