Former President of Suriname, Desi Bouterse, has passed away, causing shock and mixed reactions in the country. While some view his death as a gift, others still remember the atrocities he committed and wish he had lived to serve his prison sentence for the December murders.
In his Christmas speech, King Willem-Alexander calls for solidarity and understanding in a society full of tensions. He stresses the importance of respect and adherence to the Constitution, and advocates seeking similarities rather than differences.
Suriname's former president Bouterse's body has been seized and is currently under investigation for cause of death, with little information released. He was on the run since his conviction for his role in the 1982 December murders.
Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St. Peter's on Christmas Eve, kicking off the Holy Jubilee from 2025 to 2026. This will bring record numbers of visitors to Rome, including pilgrims seeking indulgences and young people attending the canonization of Carlo Acutis. There is also room for special pilgrimages, such as for the lhbtiqa+ community, which has not previously been allowed during a Holy Year.
The NPO Radio 2 Top 2000 brings people together with a mix of classic, new, and tribute songs, and this year saw a rise in Dutch music with 238 Dutch songs making the list. While women favored contemporary Dutch music, men mainly voted for British rock bands from the 70s.
3FM Serious Request will end differently than planned tonight due to disturbances. The festive stage program, featuring a performance by Chef'Special, has been scrapped following incidents yesterday.