Dutch authorities investigate possible sabotage against rail network as NATO summit opens
Caretaker Justice Minister David van Weel told the NATO Public Forum that investigators were considering the possibility that fire in some 30 rail cables may have been set intentionally.
'It could be an activist group. It could be another state. It could be anything,' Van Weel said at a roundtable gathering.
The damage disrupted rail services and no trains were running between Schiphol Airport and the country's capital, Amsterdam.
According to service operator ProRail, a power failure occurred early Tuesday morning in cables near the airport. An investigation revealed 'considerable damage' had been done by a fire according to a statement.
Trains were running south, in the direction of The Hague, where world leaders are gathering for the start of a two-day NATO summit. Leaders arriving for the summit were not taking trains: They will be whisked in motorcades along closed-down roads from the airport to hotels and the summit venue.
ProRail said it expects normal service to be returned by early evening.
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Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Not so much Putin-Trump summit, it's Modi's GST rationalisation promise that is pushing market up: Sunil Subramaniam
Sunil Subramaniam, Market Expert, says the Trump-Putin Peace Summit signals a potential easing of US-Russia relations, benefiting countries like India by reducing the risk of additional sanctions. Even if all agreements aren't met, it won't be seen as a failure of the meeting, as Putin has the authority to make decisions unilaterally. However, a bigger thing for India will be the GST rationalisation that the prime minister announced on August 15. Almost 98% of the items are going to see GST cut and it is likely to be signed before Diwali. ADVERTISEMENT Post the joint press conference with Putin, Donald Trump said that many points were agreed to, but a few remain. What could possibly he be hinting at or referring to when he says that a few remain but many were agreed upon? Sunil Subramaniam: I think that it is basically territory driven. Russia has occupied certain key Ukrainian territories and two big things are which territories Putin is willing to give away and what he wants to retain. Otherwise, he said 8 out of 10 areas have been mostly conclusive. In fact, he has rated the meeting 10 on 10 from that perspective. I am saying this because he was very clear that he was not seeking a solution from this meeting. Even before this meeting he said that yes, the next stage would be for a meeting with Mr Zelenskyy and Russia and the US probably together. From what he wanted to get away with, he has gotten away with that. So, to that extent, the meeting must be described as a success because people were expecting a solution to the war from this, I think that was not even what Mr Trump was expecting. So, these two big things are one thing. China's $11 trillion stock market is a headache for both Xi and Trump But more importantly it indicates an easing of relationship between the US and Russia and that is extremely good news. Let us say that Mr Putin has agreed to certain things and these two are disputable. Now Trump is going to speak to NATO, and get them to agree to Putin's demands. If they do not, Mr Trump can always claim that look I brought a deal to the table, you guys are not accepting, now do what you want. So, this clearly represents that Mr Trump and Putin have agreed on certain things and as an India-based observer and from our country's perspective, Russia and the US getting there is positive for us because additional sanctions could come through if this meeting was a disaster. That is not going to if all things do not go through, it is not a failure of Putin-Trump meeting. It is not Mr Trump's failure. Remember, he is dealing with a leader who has no democracy to go and represent his case to. Mr Putin is the ultimate decision maker. Even if he decides to give up some Russian wins there, nobody is going to object to him. So, he is talking to a person who can conclude a deed, whereas that is not necessarily true in other countries with our democracy. So, to that extent, it is positive from an India perspective that the danger of secondary sanctions is removed there and if things worsen, he may now need to act on China and not put more pressure on India because he has taken the India pressure to the maximum extent already. ADVERTISEMENT With respect to the Indian market, FIIs have been on a selling spree leading to a bit of volatility. Is that going to continue? How do you see the Indian market moving forward in the near term? Are we going to be largely insulated due to domestic investor interest? Sunil Subramaniam: Markets will be relatively calm about this news. They do not need to jump up. We have a big thing in India in terms of GST rationalisation that the prime minister announced on August 15 in his independence day speech. The details are to come out and almost 98% of the items are going to see a reduction in GST and it is likely to be signed before Diwali. The markets should react positively on the consumption stocks and the banking related stocks on Monday. So, the markets will be up. How much of it can be attributed to this easing of Trump-Putin relation and how much to the local factors we have to see. Unlock 500+ Stock Recos on App I expect the markets to be positive and FII also because they will see this growth in the Indian consumption sector may come in and start buying into FMCG and consumer discretionary stocks. So, the Indian market will respond positively. Not all can be attributed to the Trump-Putin meeting but definitely there are enough wins here. ADVERTISEMENT The second point is Pakistan is taking an edge over India in terms of ties with the US and that is what the main problem is. But two things I would like to say here, one is that India is not for sale. We are not willing to give up our Bitcoin just to make up with the president. We are not going to propose his name for a Nobel Prize just because of a deal. We are a nation which is strong on our own. So, there is pride at stake here. We are not going to put all those just to have a good relationship with Mr Trump. Number two is that Mr Trump has not helped that cause by using very damaging language. He called them obnoxious tariff related things. He also called India a dead economy. He is not the most popular person in India right now and India has also taken an iron hand in a velvet glove stance on this. We are not fighting tooth for tooth or throwing insult after insult, but we are staying firm on saying that buying oil from Russia will be based on our economic needs and what our citizens need. So there is going to be a different way that this relationship pans out. So, to that extent, secondary sanctions may ease away. Regarding the 50% tariff on India, I treat the 25% as an economic tariff, the second 25 as a political tariff. ADVERTISEMENT The chances of political tariff may ease up in the coming weeks based on how this goes because I do not think Mr Trump is going to be angry with Putin for anything because Putin has said I am looking to end the war. So, to that extent, whatever he wanted to punish India for as a route to make Putin agree to a meeting and do something that has been achieved. He could ease up on the 25% that if announced in the next couple of weeks, will be a huge positive for Indian markets. That is my take on this situation here. The geopolitics does not affect the Indian market so much. The Indian markets react to the Indian impact due to these talks. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
News18
an hour ago
- News18
From Keir Starmer To Macron, Decoding Trump's Bonds With European Leaders Heading To White House
The appearance with Zelenskyy seems aimed at projecting unity and avoiding a repeat of the tense February meeting, during which Trump publicly lashed out at the Ukrainian leader As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to Washington on Monday, he will be accompanied by European and NATO leaders to present a united front in talks with President Donald Trump on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also said they'll will take part in Monday's talks, as will secretary-general of the NATO military alliance, Mark Rutte. The leaders are throwing their support behind Zelenskyy following his exclusion from Friday's summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their planned appearance with Zelenskyy at the White House appears aimed at projecting unity—and avoiding a repeat of the tense February meeting, during which Trump publicly lashed out at the Ukrainian leader in a heated Oval Office exchange. In the Alaska summit, Putin agreed that the US and its European allies could offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO's collective defence mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the over three-year war, special US envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview on Sunday on CNN's 'State of the Union'. The European leaders' support could help ease concerns in Kyiv and in other European capitals that Ukraine risks being railroaded into a peace deal. Putin, meanwhile, has implied that he sees Europe as a hindrance to negotiations. He has also resisted meeting Zelenskyy in person, saying that such a meeting can only take place once the groundwork for a peace deal has been laid. News18 takes a look at the leaders visiting the White House and Trump's relationship with each one of them: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: Trump and Starmer are known to enjoy a good rapport, with the US President once describing him as a 'very good person" and acknowledging their positive rapport: 'I get along with him well. I like him a lot… I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him." Starmer, for his part, has said he found common ground with Trump despite their differing political views, even citing shared values such as care for family. He credited this personal understanding with helping to negotiate the removal of sweeping tariffs on British industries. According to The Guardian, Starmer has adeptly positioned himself as a 'soft power" conduit—a pragmatic voice among European leaders aiming to moderate Trump's tilt toward Russia and reinforce unwavering support for Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: Meloni visited the White House in April and both she and Trump enjoy a good relationship. Trump has called her a 'fantastic woman" who has 'really taken Europe by storm". She was also the only European leader to attend his inauguration in January. CNN reported that Meloni's role as a kind of 'soft power" intermediary has not gone unnoticed. Once dismissed as far-right and Eurosceptic, she now positions herself as a bridge between America and Europe, especially valuable amid uncertainty in France and Germany. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: A month after becoming German chancellor, Merz flew to the White House where he curried favour with the president by presenting Trump with a birth certificate for his grandfather Friedrich, who was born in Bavaria, BBC reported. Trump and Merz's dynamic is anchored not in ideology, but in realpolitik. Their relationship blends diplomatic civility, mutual utility, and guarded optimism. Merz walks a fine line—advancing Europe's independence while keeping Washington engaged. And Trump, ever transactional, acknowledges pragmatic alliances that reinforce America's interest. Finnish President Alexander Stubb: Trump and Stubb developed a surprisingly close relationship after a private, unannounced meeting in March 2025 at Mar-a-Lago, where they spent around seven hours together, including playing a round of golf. During their meeting, Stubb reportedly pushed Trump to support a clear ceasefire deadline for Ukraine, conveying concerns from European allies. Stubb later told media that Trump appeared increasingly impatient with Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress on peace. Since their meeting, Stubb has become an informal channel between Trump and several European governments. French President Emmanuel Macron: Trump and Macron's relationship initially garnered attention for its friendly and theatrical tone—long handshakes, back-slaps, public admiration—prompting media to dub their bond a 'bromance". Trump has referred to Macron as a 'special friend", while Macron has called France a 'solid ally" that Trump respects. In a notable 2025 Washington meeting, Macron tried to manage Trump with balance—combining charm with firm pushback. He corrected Trump on Ukraine aid contributions and called for fair competition in trade. Macron also emphasised that any peace deal in Ukraine must preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and not be a 'surrender," rejecting Trump's implications of territorial compromise. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte: Rutte once famously commended 'daddy" Trump's handling of the Israel-Iran conflict, while Trump praised Nato under Rutte's leadership after its members committed to boost defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, Rutte lavished praise on Trump, calling him a 'man of strength… and peace" and crediting him for driving Europe's increased defence spending. He even quipped, 'Europe is going to pay in a BIG way… it will be your win." Trump made a splash by sharing a private, glowing text from Rutte on his social platform, framing the praise as emblematic of their strong alignment. The message tied Trump's military actions and the 5 per cent defence spending goal to a 'moment that no American president in decades could get done". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: In May 2025, facing the threat of a 50 per cent tariff on EU goods, von der Leyen successfully negotiated a postponement with Trump, delaying implementation to July 9. Trump described granting the reprieve as 'his privilege," while von der Leyen emphasised her commitment to rapidly advancing talks. top videos View all In July 2025, during a high-stakes meeting at Turnberry, Scotland, Trump and von der Leyen struck a preliminary deal. Under its terms, the EU would purchase $750 billion in US energy and invest $600 billion in the US, while both sides agreed to a 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods. Trump touted it as 'the biggest deal ever made". Trump has publicly praised her toughness as a negotiator. At one point, he acknowledged her as 'very tough" but also 'fantastic," reflecting a mix of respect and strategic edge. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump Emmanuel Macron Giorgia Meloni Keir Starmer Ukraine-Russia conflict Ursula von der Leyen Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy view comments Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 18, 2025, 11:42 IST News world From Keir Starmer To Macron, Decoding Trump's Bonds With European Leaders Heading To White House Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Trump fact-checks fake news regarding Vladimir Putin in Alaska summit
3:21 Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Donald Trump posted that the war with Russia could be concluded. His post stated, "Ukrainian President Zelenskyy can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants to or he can continue to fight." Trump also commented on past events, saying Obama had given away Crimea and that there would be "no going into NATO by Ukraine." In response, analyst Daniel Block described the remarks as showing a "profound ignorance," adding that if Ukraine stops fighting, it would "in some way cease to exist." The discussion also covered Ukraine's potential flexibility on its NATO position, with Block suggesting that Ukrainian officials might be privately open to alternative security arrangements despite their public stance.
