An even more explosive New Year’s Eve than usual has forced politicians to talk seriously about banning neighbourhood fireworks. We discuss whether 2019 will prove to be the tipping point in the annual debate about a tradition that leaves hundreds of people injured each year. The Netherlands pulls its troops out of Iraq, Hudson’s Bay pulls out of its Dutch stores and Ajax defender Sergino Dest pulls out of the team’s controversial winter tour. Plus we’ve got a red-hot ophef of the week, so be sure to check in with us online, unless you’re a certain Dutch celebrity…

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Top story

Dutch to halt training mission in northern Iraq after assassination of Iranian general

News

CDA on election footing with call for limits on immigrant numbers

European migration drove population growth in 2019

More threatening letters sent as mail bomb inquiry continues

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Palace returns porcelain to family of Jewish banker forced to sell by Nazis

Hudson’s Bay stores to close after Dutch branch goes bankrupt

Steps and Promiss are latest high street retail casualties

Sport

Ajax’s American defender Sergino Dest flies home early from Qatar trip

Ajax has its head in the sand in Qatar (AD)

Den Bosch bans fans from ground in wake of racist chanting at match

Discussion: Time to ban New Year firework sales?

Fireworks vandalism causes €15m of damage over New Year

Man and child, 4, die in New Year fire in Arnhem apartment block

Support grows among Dutch MPs for partial ban on consumer fireworks

Rotterdam proposes firework ban; 13 people lose eyes in accidents

Klaas Dijkhoff: Fireworks are a hot topic in the VVD (Facebook, Dutch)