Indonesia and the Netherlands have reached an agreement to transfer two Dutch nationals convicted of drug offences, including one on death row and another serving a life sentence. The move follows a formal humanitarian request from the Dutch king and foreign ministry, Indonesian officials said on Tuesday.

Indonesia’s senior law minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, announced the decision during a signing ceremony in Jakarta. He said President Prabowo Subianto had approved the request, clearing the way for the men to be returned to the Netherlands on 8 December. A corresponding signing took place in Amsterdam, attended by Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel and representatives from both governments.

The transfer involves 74-year-old Siegfried Mets, who was sentenced to death for his role in the attempted shipment of 600,000 ecstasy pills from the Netherlands to Indonesia in 2008. Mets has spent 17 years in a Jakarta prison. The second prisoner, 65-year-old Ali Tokman, was arrested at Surabaya airport in 2014 after authorities found just over six kilograms of MDMA. He has served 11 years of his life sentence.

Indonesian officials said both men are in poor health and were considered suitable for transfer. Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Marc Gerritsen welcomed the agreement, saying the Netherlands was “very grateful” that Jakarta had allowed the detainees to return home, adding that the decision would allow them to be closer to their families. He described the arrangement as a reflection of the strong legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries.

Indonesia has authorised several similar repatriations under President Prabowo’s administration. Recent transfers have included a Filipino detainee on death row, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British citizens who had faced capital punishment and a life sentence for drug-related offences.

Despite its tough anti-narcotics laws, Indonesia continues to grapple with major drug-trafficking activity. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime identifies the country as a key transit point in the region, partly due to international syndicates targeting its young population. Indonesian authorities say 530 people are currently on death row, most for drug crimes, including around 100 foreign nationals.

The country has not carried out an execution since July 2016, when one Indonesian and three foreign prisoners were put to death.

Europe’s defence sector recorded one of its strongest years on record, with industry leaders urging EU member states to favour European-made military equipment as the bloc ramps up rearmament in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression.

According to the annual report released by the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), turnover across its 4,000 member companies rose 10.1 percent in 2024 to €325.7 billion. Defence activities drove the surge, expanding by 13.8 percent to reach €183.4 billion. Civil aviation grew at a slower pace of 6 percent.

The boom in production has been matched by record hiring. Direct employment in the sector increased by 6.9 percent to 1,103,000 workers — the highest figure ever recorded. Defence-related jobs accounted for the bulk of the gains, rising 8.6 percent year-on-year to 633,000.

ASD President and Saab CEO Micael Johansson said the sector’s momentum reflects Europe’s broader geopolitical concerns. “Our sectors are not only vital to Europe’s economy. They are essential for Europe’s security, connectivity and resilience, ultimately for its sovereignty at a time of fast-shifting global dynamics,” he said. He stressed that the EU’s next multiannual budget must prioritise industrial investment to maintain competitiveness and strategic strength.

Defence Spending Surges Across EU

EU member states have sharply boosted their defence budgets since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Combined defence spending across the bloc reached €343 billion last year, up from €251 billion in 2021. Intelligence assessments have warned that Russia could threaten additional European countries before the decade ends, prompting governments to speed up procurement and expand production capacity.

In response, the European Commission has launched measures to accelerate defence manufacturing, including easing fiscal limits on defence spending and reducing regulatory barriers for companies. The proposal for the EU’s next seven-year budget allocates €131 billion for defence, a significant jump from the roughly €10 billion assigned in the 2021–2027 cycle.

Yet divisions remain among member states over whether to prioritise domestically produced European systems — which often face longer delivery timelines — or to purchase off-the-shelf foreign equipment to boost readiness more quickly. The debate is set to continue at an upcoming EU summit, where leaders are expected to adopt a defence readiness roadmap featuring key “flagship” initiatives such as an Eastern Flank drone wall.

The Commission is currently reviewing applications from 19 member states seeking financing from the €150 billion SAFE defence loan programme, with first disbursements anticipated by the end of the first quarter next year.

ASD Secretary General Camille Grand welcomed rising budgets and closer industrial collaboration but stressed the need for consistency. He warned that sustained investment is necessary to prevent repeating past cycles of underfunding. He added that a substantial share of defence procurement continues to go to non-European suppliers, underscoring the importance of strengthening “supply chain sovereignty” to ensure that European spending reinforces Europe’s own industrial base.

Belgium experienced nationwide disruption on Wednesday as trade unions staged the final day of a three-day strike against government austerity measures, with parts of the private sector joining for the first time. The industrial action affected public transport, airports, ports, schools, and several other sectors.

Public transport services ran at reduced capacity, though more trams, buses, and trains were operating compared with the previous days. The education sector continued to see disruption, with some teachers striking for a second consecutive day, marking the first time since 2001 that educators staged walkouts on back-to-back days.

Airports were significantly impacted. Brussels Airport cancelled all departing flights and warned of possible issues for incoming flights. Charleroi Airport announced it would not be able to operate scheduled arrivals or departures due to a lack of staff, citing the national day of action organised by a united front of trade unions. Ports in Flanders also faced operational challenges, with dozens of vessels unable to enter or leave the ports of Antwerp, Ghent, and Zeebrugge. Some supermarkets closed temporarily, while disruptions were more noticeable at distribution depots, according to Flemish public broadcaster VRT.

Prisons were affected as well, with police and Red Cross personnel stepping in to cover duties after prison employees joined the strike. Several companies in the private sector also participated in the final day of action, highlighting the breadth of industrial unrest.

The strikes were called by Belgium’s three largest trade unions in protest against government austerity plans. The action began on Monday, even though the five-party coalition government reached a long-delayed budget agreement that same day following 20 hours of negotiations. The budget includes tax increases on certain products and services alongside cuts in government spending, aiming to reduce the federal deficit by €9.2 billion by 2029.

Belgium’s budget deficit stood at 4.5% of GDP at the end of 2024, with national debt exceeding 100% of GDP, well above EU limits of 3% for deficits and 60% for debt. While some union leaders welcomed parts of the agreement, many insisted it did not meet their demands. Bert Engelaar, chair of trade union ABVV, described the deal as “only a first step” and warned that additional measures would be needed to address the country’s fiscal challenges.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever acknowledged the difficulties ahead, quoting Winston Churchill: “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning.”

Belgium has seen growing public frustration over fiscal reforms, with strikes becoming larger and more frequent. The country recorded 25 train strikes in 2025 alone, and teacher participation in industrial action has reached record levels, reflecting widespread concerns over austerity measures and the impact on public services.

The three-day strike highlights ongoing tensions between the government and unions as Belgium attempts to reduce its debt while balancing social and economic priorities.