Netherlands Archives

17-year-old Englishman is youngest World Dart Championship winner

January 6, 2025
Luke Littler, a 17-year-old from England, won the World Dart Championships on Friday, Jan. 3, 7 sets to 3 over Michael Van Gerwen from the Netherlands. In the process, Littler became the youngest to win the title, surpassing Van Gerwen’s mark set in 2014 at the age of 24.

Littler screamed and was soon in tears after celebrating his last double, which won him the title. He started as the fourth seed in the tournament and beat a three-time world champ in Van Gerwen.

“Since the winning double, I can’t believe it. Walking around backstage with [the trophy], I can tell myself I’ve won it, that it’s mine, but it’s not sunk in,” Littler said.

LITTLER IS THE WORLD CHAMPION! 🏆

LUKE LITTLER ACHIEVES HIS DARTING DESTINY!

The 17-year-old sensation produces a spectacular display to defeat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 and create more history at Alexandra Palace!

📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/QbQgg2B1oA
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 3, 2025

Littler threw his first dart at 18 months old and made his first 180 at age 6. But after losing in last year’s final to Luke Humphries –– also a first-time winner –– Littler had motivation to take the crown. He left no doubt, jumping out to a 5 set to 1 lead over Van Gerwen, hitting on 25 of his 45 double attempts.

The win puts the ultimate cap on his debut year as a professional. He won 10 titles and amassed more than 1 million pounds, or $1.24 million, in prize money. He was also named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Asked what triggered the emotions after the win, he said, “After I celebrated, I looked up and thought, what have I just done? But then to look at the crowd on their feet, and look over at my family, that’s when the tears came.”

Littler, who still lives with his parents, also joked that since the trophy is so heavy, he might keep it on the living room floor.
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5 sentenced in riot-related violence between Dutch and Israeli soccer fans

December 24, 2024
The first criminal sentences related to riots at a soccer match between a Netherlands club and an Israeli club in Amsterdam last month have been handed down. A judge leveled the sentences on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

The judge handed down a six-month prison sentence to one man, while giving another defendant two and a half months in jail. Two others were given a one-month prison sentence. A fifth man received 100 hours of community service.

The men reportedly range in age from 19 to 32 years old.

Police say one of the defendants mentioned a “Jew Hunt” in a group chat and another described Israeli soccer fans as “cowardly Jews” on a WhatsApp chat.

The chief prosecutor in the case rejected suggestions the attacks amounted to terrorism due to targeted violence. They said the defendants’ actions didn’t qualify as terrorism because the “goal” of the suspects wasn’t to create fear among the people they were attacking.

The five men reportedly have two weeks to appeal their sentences.

The violence outside the soccer stadium led to international uproar and accusations of targeted antisemitic attacks and unruly behavior from Israeli fans. Israeli fans reportedly tore down a Palestinian flag and attacked a taxi.

The riots sent five people to the hospital and left 20 others with minor injuries, according to authorities. Police say they detained more than 60 people during the chaotic scene.

Authorities say the violence took place between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli soccer fans.

Prosecutors argued the violence erupted because of “strong pro-Palestinian sentiments and dissatisfaction with the war in Gaza.” They said some rioters took out their anger on Israelis attending the game.

The Nov. 8 match still went on after Netherlands authorities found no “concrete threat” to Israeli fans.

Six more suspects in the riots have trials set for later dates, including three minors.

Police say they are continuing to investigate what happened outside the stadium in early November and have released images of suspects they want the public to help identify.
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China building fastest train in the world, expected to top 600 mph

December 19, 2024
China is developing a mode of transportation that could transform the travel industry. In about a decade, developers expect a “floating train” that can reach speeds of more than 600 mph to be the next way to get around the country.

Chinese developers are now testing their “T-Flight” train, a mode of transport that shoots through a tube-like system designed to reduce air pressure and propel it forward. Simply put, the “hyperloop” technology eschews the need for wheels.

The project has already set a world record speed of nearly 400 mph, overtaking the Shanghai maglev, the world’s fastest passenger train in operation. While the train hasn’t reached its full capacity, developers expect it to accelerate to 621 mph.

Advocates for the train said it will make commutes for China’s booming population faster as they navigate the sprawling country. Developers also project that the high-speed network will connect China’s government to neighboring countries.

China isn’t alone in conducting trials using hyperloop technology. Switzerland, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Canada are among the countries looking to compete. India has also shown interest and said that its research will start in 2026.

The United States, once considered a leader in designing the rail system, has now fallen behind other countries.

In 2013, Elon Musk proposed using hyperloop technology to reduce travel time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. That idea became his company, Hyperloop One. However, it ceased operations last year.

While the technology will reportedly reduce greenhouse emissions, it is costly to implement, requiring a significant infrastructure overhaul.

China has spent close to two decades developing a high-speed rail network. Thousands of miles link 93% of the nation’s cities.
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6 arrested for planning copycat ‘Jew hunts’ in Belgium

November 12, 2024
Six people are now in custody after authorities accused them of planning attacks on Jewish people in Belgium. The attacks were expected to be similar to the assaults that took place in Amsterdam on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Investigators said there were calls on social media for a “Jew hunt” in Antwerp. The calls used the same language that the attackers used to organize the attack in the Netherlands on Nov. 7.

The coordinated attacks on fans of a Tel Aviv soccer team left a half-dozen people injured. Dutch and Israeli leaders have now condemned those hit-and-run crimes as targeted antisemitic attacks.

Authorities in Antwerp said Snapchat users called for “action against Jews.” That prompted a police alert which resulted in the six arrests. Those arrests were made where groups of young people congregated in the city’s Jewish area.

Fears of additional copycat attacks are growing. Israel’s National Security Council has warned its citizens to avoid cultural and sporting events in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Great Britain.
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Tram set ablaze, Amsterdam arrests 5 for antisemitic attacks

November 12, 2024

Tensions are escalating in Amsterdam as authorities respond to violent incidents tied to a soccer match involving Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv. Dutch police announced five new arrests over the weekend of Nov. 8, bringing the total number of detainees to nine in an ongoing investigation. The suspects, men aged 18 to 37, are accused of involvement in targeted attacks against Israeli fans.

In a separate incident, a group armed with sticks and firecrackers set a tram on fire, adding to the already volatile atmosphere. Police extinguished the fire and dispersed the crowd but have not confirmed whether the tram attack is linked to the earlier violence surrounding the soccer match.

The unrest began during the week of Nov. 3, during a Europa League game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax. Pro-Palestinian groups, reportedly banned from demonstrating near the stadium, targeted Israeli fans in hit-and-run assaults, leaving five people hospitalized.

Videos from the scene show additional clashes outside Amsterdam Central Station, where Israeli fans were seen chanting anti-Arab slogans, pulling down a Palestinian flag and attacking a taxi.

Dutch officials condemned the attacks on Israeli fans, describing them as antisemitic. Prime Minister Dick Schoof called the events “shocking and reprehensible” and promised justice for those responsible. While acknowledging reports of violent actions by Maccabi fans, Schoof emphasized that nothing justifies the subsequent assaults on Israelis and Jews in the city.

In response to the violence, the mayor of Amsterdam banned all demonstrations and designated several areas as high-risk zones, granting police the authority to stop and search individuals. Israeli authorities have also issued warnings for citizens to avoid cultural and sporting events abroad, arranging extra flights to bring soccer fans home.

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s upcoming match against Turkey’s Besiktas has been moved to a neutral venue in Hungary due to ongoing security concerns.

The incidents come amid a rise in antisemitic acts across Europe, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Dutch police continue to analyze video evidence and interview more than 170 witnesses as they work to uncover the full details of the events that unfolded in Amsterdam.
Calls for ‘Jew Hunt’, anti-Arab slurs: What sparked the Amsterdam attack

November 11, 2024
Violence erupted against Israeli soccer fans on Thursday, Nov. 7, with fans being chased, cornered and beaten. Now, a new controversy centers on what happened before the violence started.

Israeli fans were allegedly seen on video pulling down Palestinian flags across the city, vandalizing a taxi cab and chanting anti-Arab slogans.

Some media outlets reported these actions as “stoking the flames” ahead of the violence. However, some of those outlets have since backtracked on that rhetoric.

Sky News uploaded a new report after deleting its original one, which had depicted Israeli fans as instigators. The original report included a line stating that “Israeli far-right ultras are notorious for their racism and physical violence.” That line was removed in the revised report.

In an editor’s note, Sky News explained that the new report replaced the previous video “because it didn’t meet Sky News’ standards for balance and impartiality.”

Dutch authorities now say the attack on Israeli soccer fans was organized days before the violence unfolded. They claim that attackers coordinated through messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Amsterdam’s mayor said the attackers discussed “going on Jew hunts.” Attackers allegedly shared details of the hotels where fans were staying and tracking their movements. Telegram confirmed it shut down a group chat that “might have been linked” to the attacks.

A day before the soccer match, pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded a local casino with Jewish soccer fans inside. As fans left the casino, a series of attacks took place, according to local police.

A casino security guard was fired after he was found to have sent messages alerting others to the whereabouts of Israeli fans. A screenshot of the exchange referred to the attacks as a “Jew hunt” and called for “Part Two” to take place the following day after the soccer game.

Amsterdam’s City Council remains divided on how to categorize the attacks. Amsterdam City Council Member Jazie Veldhuyzen said the unrest was a “reaction” to Israeli fans tearing down Palestinian flags. However, others said the violence was driven by an antisemitic agenda.

The New York Times reported that in Amsterdam, many civic leaders agree on some basic facts.

“Israeli fans stoked anger in the city’s Muslim population by chanting incendiary and racist slogans,” the publication reported. “They also agree that Israeli fans were assaulted on multiple occasions in different locations, often in hit-and-run attacks on bikes and foot. Some attackers appear to have singled out their victims for being Jewish.”

Authorities continue to investigate what happened in Amsterdam last week. More than 60 people have been arrested. Thousands of Jewish people boarded “emergency flights” out of Amsterdam over the weekend as the fallout from the attacks continues to affect the city.
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Pro-Palestine violence targets Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam

November 8, 2024
At least five people were injured and 62 were arrested in Amsterdam after violence erupted Thursday, Nov. 7, following a Europa League soccer match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Police reported pro-Palestinian rioters targeted Israeli fans across the city, forcing officers to intervene multiple times to protect supporters and escort them to safety.

The clashes spilled into the streets, with videos showing individuals being chased and attacked near Amsterdam’s central station. Additional footage captured offensive chants and vandalism, including Maccabi fans tearing down a Palestinian flag.

“This is antisemitic violence,” Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said. “What happened last night in Amsterdam and the images and the messages that we have heard from there are downright scandalous and reprehensible. Everything must be done to track down and prosecute the perpetrators.”

Schoof continued by saying that everyone should be able to feel safe while in his country.

“People must be able to feel safe in the Netherlands,” Schoof said. “Jewish fellow citizens must be able to feel safe in the Netherlands and supporters of Jewish football clubs must also be able to feel safe in the Netherlands.”

He said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and local leaders to ensure the safe return of Maccabi supporters to Israel.

The violence unfolded despite a ban on protests near the stadium. Authorities confirmed that pro-Palestinian demonstrators had attempted to march toward the arena but were stopped by riot police.

Amsterdam officials acknowledged that the situation “got out of hand” despite preparations but emphasized the need for a thorough investigation.

In response to the unrest, extra police are patrolling Amsterdam, and security has been heightened at Jewish institutions. Israeli officials described the attacks as deeply troubling, as tensions remain high with ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
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Netflix offices in Europe raided by tax fraud investigators: Reports

November 5, 2024
Netflix headquarters in France and the Netherlands are reportedly under investigation for possible tax fraud and money laundering. The offices were searched Tuesday, Nov. 5.

A special financial prosecution unit called the PNF is handling the French investigation in Paris.

The group is known for conducting high-stakes investigations that often involve large international companies. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean criminal charges will be filed.

French news agency AFP cited an unnamed judicial source who said this is related to an investigation opened in 2022 into suspicions of covering up “serious tax fraud and off-the-books works.”

Dutch authorities searched the company’s Amsterdam headquarters at the same time.

Netflix is also under investigation in France for its tax filings from 2019 to 2021.

When those investigations went public in 2023, Netflix insisted it complies with tax laws in all countries where it operates.

Netflix hasn’t commented on the investigations.
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Strangulation marks allegedly found on woman who died in ‘suicide pod’

October 30, 2024
New revelations are raising questions about the death of a 64-year-old American woman who reportedly used a suicide pod to end her life in Switzerland. The woman was the first person believed to die inside the Sarco device. It was reported on Wednesday, Oct. 30, that prosecutors claimed strangulations marks were found around the woman’s neck during a forensic investigation.

Although official autopsy results have yet to be released, the alleged injuries are now prompting questions about how the woman actually died.

Last Resort, the company behind the pod, claims she died peacefully after she used the device as designed, pressing a button that released nitrogen gas into the chamber.

However, the chief prosecutor in the criminal case is now calling it a possible “international homicide” and pushing for those arrested in connection with the pod’s use to remain in custody.

After the 64-year-old woman’s body was found in the Sarco pod in a Swiss forest, several people with the company involved in manufacturing the device were detained.

The American woman who died reportedly suffered from a serious disease. A person close to Last Resort told a U.K. publication that the disease causes similar marks to those found around her neck.
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Dutch officials fine Clearview AI $33.7M for ‘illegal database’ of billions of faces

September 6, 2024
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has fined American facial recognition company Clearview AI $33.7 million for amassing what it calls an “illegal database” of billions of facial images, including those of Dutch citizens. Dutch officials said Clearview AI violated laws banning the unauthorized collection and processing of personal data without consent. The fine marks the tech company’s largest privacy fine in Europe to date.

Authorities say Clearview AI’s database contains more than 30 billion facial images, collected indiscriminately from across the globe without geographical limitations or authorization.

The watchdog agency said Clearview AI does not sufficiently provide people with knowledge about how the company uses their photo or biometric data, which raises serious privacy concerns, including the processing of minors’ personal data.

Clearview AI’s practice of scraping the internet for selfies to populate its searchable database has drawn sharp criticism and legal challenges across Europe.

Clearview AI maintains that it is not subject to Europe’s data protection regulations because the company has no place of business or customers in the EU.

Despite accumulating approximately more than $110 million in EU privacy fines in various countries, Clearview AI has not complied, continuing to operate without appointing a legal representative in the EU or altering its data collection practices.
Related Stories

17-year-old Englishman is youngest World Dart Championship winner

5 sentenced in riot-related violence between Dutch and Israeli soccer fans

China building fastest train in the world, expected to top 600 mph

6 arrested for planning copycat ‘Jew hunts’ in Belgium

Tram set ablaze, Amsterdam arrests 5 for antisemitic attacks

Calls for ‘Jew Hunt’, anti-Arab slurs: What sparked the Amsterdam attack

Pro-Palestine violence targets Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam

Netflix offices in Europe raided by tax fraud investigators: Reports

Strangulation marks allegedly found on woman who died in ‘suicide pod’

Dutch officials fine Clearview AI $33.7M for ‘illegal database’ of billions of faces

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