Latest news

The political situation in the Netherlands
Migration, housing shortage and government chaos characterise the Dutch election

The Netherlands goes to the polls on Wednesday. The election campaign has mainly been about how to limit immigration and how to solve the country's housing crisis, reports AP. According to opinion polls, far-right politician Geert Wilders, who won the last election, and his party PVV look set to become the largest party again.

Wilders managed to bring down the government he was part of during the summer after failing to pass stricter asylum and migration laws. Even if he were to win Wednesday's election, there is much evidence that it will be difficult to form a new government.

Several major parties have said that the government chaos this summer is proof that it is not possible to cooperate with the PVV. Several parties have also already ruled out cooperation. 

Political situation in Brazil
Major crackdown on gangs in Brazil – 60 dead

At least 60 people have been killed in a large-scale police operation in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, CNN Brasil reports. Governor Claudio Castro says that over 2,500 police and soldiers took part in the massive operation targeting the Comando Vermelho gang.

Four police officers are among the dead, according to the channel.

According to authorities, it is the largest operation in the state's history.

China's foreign policy
China's panda diplomacy expands with golden snub-nosed monkeys

During the year, several European zoos have received unique additions - the Chinese golden snub-nosed monkey, a species that has never before been found in Europe. Recently, the species has begun to be loaned from China on ten-year contracts, similar to what has been done with pandas, reports AP.

The rental of the monkeys is handled by the same state-supervised group responsible for coordinating panda exchanges and is seen as an extension of China’s so-called panda diplomacy.

One of the zoos that received the monkeys this year was Beauval Zoo in Saint-Aignan, France, following an agreement marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China.

The assassination of Shinzo Abe
Abe’s killer pleads guilty: It’s true

The man charged with the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty on Tuesday, several media outlets reported.

“It’s true. There’s no doubt about it,” defendant Tetsuya Yamagami told the court, according to the Japan Times.

It was the first day of the trial, which has been delayed for three years due to extensive psychiatric examination.

Tetsuya Yamagami is charged with both murder and weapons violations, after using a homemade weapon in the crime, according to AFP.

The allegations about Brigitte Macron
Macron's daughter: Rumors have worsened her health

The false allegations that the wife of the French President Brigitte Macron is a man have affected her health. This is what her daughter Tiphaine Auzière says in connection with the trial currently underway in Paris, several media outlets report.

- She has to think about what she wears and how she moves, because she knows that her image can be distorted, she says according to AFP.

Ten people are being charged with harassment.