UN

Prime Minister Mark Rutte understands why American president Donald Trump is critical of NATO and EU countries' Defense spending, he said in a speech about cooperation between the United States and the Netherlands. He also called Trump's criticism of the United Nations "at its core, justified", RTL Nieuws reports.

If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, the sea level will rise by 84 centimeters by the year 2,100, according to findings that the UN climate panel IPCC published on Wednesday. As the Delta Works only protects against a sea level rise of 40 centimeters, that will leave the Netherlands 48 centimeters under water, researcher Marjolijn Haasnoot from Deltares said to NRC.

In his speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations, King Willem-Alexander called on Russia to cooperate in the investigation into the downing of flight MH17. "The relatives of the 298 victims expect justice and we will not rest until justice is done", the Dutch King said. King Willem-Alexander also spoke on climate change and LGBTQ rights in his speech. NOS reports.

The Asian state of Brunei implemented new strict Islamic laws on Wednesday, which allows the death penalty for homosexual intercourse and for women who had an abortion to be publicly flogged. The Netherlands is "deeply concerned" by these "inhumane penalties", Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Aairs said on Twitter.

"A serious breach of international human rights", the Dutch Foreign Minister said. "The Netherlands joins [UN Human Rights Chief] Michelle Bachelet in urging the government of Brunei to halt implementation of the revised Penal Code."

In an open letter published in Trouw, 350 Dutch scientists expressed support for school pupils protesting for the climate on Thursday. It is expected that around 10 thousand Dutch pupils will skip school on Thursday to call on the government to do more against climate change.

Pakistan summoned the Netherlands' envoy to the country to express their dissatisfaction about a Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest organized by anti-Islam PVV leader Geert Wilders. "Deep concern was conveyed about this willful and malicious attempt to put Islam in a bad light", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad said, RTL Nieuws reports.

Minister Sigrid Kaag of of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation wants detention centers for asylum seekers in Libya to close as soon as possible, she said after paying a visit to such a center in Tripoli. She was horrified by the conditions in which asylum seekers live in these centers, RTL Nieuws reports.

A number of politicians in The Hague are concerned about a conference for supporters of the Eritrean dictatorial regime that is planned for the Netherlands, NOS reports based on information from OneWorld.

The gathering will be the annual European conference for youth wing of the only party allowed in Eritrea. It is not yet clear when and where the conference will be held. But according to the broadcaster, it will be in the Netherlands and in the next couple of days. Around 650 people are expected to attend. 

The Netherlands was on of 16 countries that abstained on voting on United Nations negotiations on an international nuclear weapons ban. The negotiations will start next year - 123 countries voted for talks on nuclear disarmament and 38 countries voted against, NOS reports.

Western countries do too little to support United Nations peace keeping missions, while they are the ones who can help the most because they have the right resources, Minster Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs said in a speech at the UN in New York on Tuesday.

The UN war crimes tribunal ICTY is releasing French journalist Florence Hartmann from custody. Hartmann was arrested in The Hague on Thursday while waiting for the verdict against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.