CHINA-US relations; G20 summit: XI and Trump agree to restart China-US trade talks

G20 summit: Trump and Xi agree to restart US-China trade talks

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48810070

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Britain: Conservative party on route to self destruction

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt divided over Brexit plans

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48767191

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The Netherlands: Painting the Town Orange: A Day Out With the Dutch - by Sarah Lyall at the World Cup - The New York Times

It is getting increasingly difficult to find anyone eager to play the Netherlands at this World Cup, where the Dutch won all three of theirgroup games and suddenly look to be a formidable title challenger.

But  everyone loves the Dutch fans, even the countries that lose to them (as Canada’s team would last week, 2-1, though both teams advanced to the knockout rounds).

Read more: Painting the Town Orange: A Day Out With the Dutch at the World Cup - The New York Times

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48739256

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TURKEY: Erdogan's AKP suffers major loss in Istanbul election

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48739256

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The Netherlands: First heatwave expected in the Netherlands

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https://nltimes.nl/2019/06/20/years-first-heatwave-expected-hit-nl-next-week

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Germany: Aachen hosts major climate rally

Germany: Aachen hosts 'Fridays for Future' climate rally

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https://p.dw.com/p/3Kosv

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Britain: Brexit would 'diminish' UK, says Dutch PM Mark Rutte.

Brexit would 'diminish' UK, says Dutch PM Mark Rutte.

Note EU Digest: Mark Rutte hits the nail on the head when it comes to Brexit

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48703043

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DISPLACED PERSONS: More than 70 million displaced worldwide says UNCHR

More than 70 million displaced worldwide, says UNHCR

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-48682783

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EU Pension Legislation: Older and wiser?—when governments get it wrong on pensions reform - by Steve Coulter

Europe is turning grey. By 2060 over a quarter of the EU’s population will be over 65. Ageing is accelerating as the baby-boom generation retires and average life-spans continue to increase.

But while most of us are celebrating the fact that people are living longer, healthier lives, demogaphers and officials in finance ministries fret that, on current trends, more of us could be eking out our longer retirements in poverty. The problem is that we are not saving enough. Aviva, an insurance company, estimates that Europeans needs to save an extra €2 trillion each year to close the ‘pensions gap’—the difference between what people need to save to ensure an adequate retirement and what they are actually saving.

With most people still reliant on state pensions to make ends meet in later life, ageing populations will have profound consequences for the fiscal positions of member states, as working taxpayers shift into retirement and begin claiming old-age pensions in increasing numbers. Action is therefore needed to ensure that a decent retirement is affordable and available to all.

Read more: Older and wiser?—when governments get it wrong on pensions reform • Social Europe

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Germany: Money is the root of all evil, as Germany exports weapons to Saudi coalition

Germany exports weapons to Saudi-led alliance in 2019

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https://p.dw.com/p/3KXfP

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Climate Change: Tokyo, Oslo leading the way on climate change

How Tokyo, Oslo and other world cities are leading the way on climate action

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-plastic-bags-cities-climate-change-1.5174538

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EU Economy: In 2018, employment in the EU service sector accounted for 74 % of total employment

The shift towards a service economy is a long-term trend already observed in the EU in the second half of the 20th century. 

In 2018, employment in services accounted for 74 % of total employment in the EU compared with 66 % in 2000, while employment in industry decreased from 26 % in 2000 to 22 % in 2018 and agriculture halved from 8 % to 4 %. 

As regards value added, services generated 73 % of total value added in 2018, industry 25 % and agriculture 2 %.

Among the Member States, the share of agricultural employment in 2018 was the highest in Romania (23 % of total employment), Bulgaria (18 %), Greece (11 %) and Poland (10 %), while the highest shares for industrial employment were observed in Czechia (37 %), Slovakia (32 %), Poland (31 %), Romania and Slovenia (both 30 %). 

Service activities represented 80 % of total employment or just over in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Malta, France, Luxembourg and Denmark.

For more EU statistics go to: EUROSTAT  

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The Netherlands: More than two thousand centanerians in the Netherlands

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https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2019/24/over-2-thousand-centenarians-in-the-netherlands

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The Netherlands - Cyber attacks: Digitization leaves the Netherlands vulnerable to cyber attacks: NCTV report says

The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to IT failures and attacks because almost all vital processes and systems have been completely digitized with no analogue back-ups, the Dutch counter terrorism unit NCTV said on Wednesday.

‘The Netherlands is dependent on a limited number of providers and countries. This makes us vulnerable to changed intentions,’ the report said.

‘For example, a large part of the hard and software is designed and produced in China and the US.’ In addition, little expertise is needed to launch a cyber attack which could, for example, knock out gas, electricity and water supplies.

The best way to reduce the risks is to improve security systems. And while companies and government are taking action, they sometimes think the cost of the improvements are not worth it ‘until things go wrong,’ the NCTV said.

The biggest threats presently come from China, Russia and Iran, and a variety of hackersthe NCTV said, in a restatement of earlier reports.

Read more at: Digitization leaves the Netherlands vulnerable to cyber attacks: NCTV - DutchNews.nl - Live

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Garbage: After China will Romania become Europe's Garbage dump

After China, will Romania become Europe's rubbish dump? Until recently, China received eight million tonnes of plastic waste a year, much of it from western European countries. But Beijing has stopped accepting most used plastics. 

Experts believe a lot of that waste may now be sent to Eastern Europe. In Romania, the law on incineration allows all sorts of different types of rubbish - such as tyres, oils and plastics - to be burned. Locals there are already dealing with the alarming consequences.

Read more at:
http://www.france24.com/en/20190610-focus-romania-rubbish-dump-plastic-waste-incineration-europe-environment-china

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Europe Day 2019 : A video about the average European Citizen

Click here to see the video: https://youtu.be/6gAdwk0Fy7k

Soccer: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands: Nations League final – as it happened

 Portugal have done the European double - they won Euro 2016 and have added the 2019 Nations League.

They are a slightly odd side, a bit of a motley crew with one or two class acts like Bernardo Silva. But they are brilliantly organized at the back, they work like stink and they have a demented glory addict in attack.

Read more: Portugal 1-0 Netherlands: Nations League final – as it happened | Football | The Guardian

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Big Pharma in the EU : Dutch healthcare institute "Zorginstituut Nederland" says drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices

The Dutch healthcare institute "Zorginstituut Nederland" said recently insurers should stop paying for expensive drugs if pharmaceutical companies continue to refuse to say how they arrive at their pricing.

The institute, which assesses the efficacy of new drugs and advises the government on whether they should be included in the basic healthcare policy, says the drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices.

Last years June announcement that Ireland is joining the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy might suggest renewed vigour for the drive to equip national governments with more clout in their pricing negotiations with international drug firms.

The likelihood is that better-informed health authorities will be better equipped to confront drug firms. Similarly, drug firms will be obliged to present more cogent justifications for their pricing ambitions/

 As has been proven in the US, Pharmaceutical companies. also known there as "Big Pharma, can not be left operating with little or no strict Governmental controls.

In the US this has led to a steady rise in the cost of pharmaceutical products for consumers.

 It is more than obvious the Pharmaceutical industry must be closely monitored in two major areas: a) Their pricing structures and practices, and b) Providing far more transparency in their marketing and sales activities, specifically as it relates to the insurance and medical industry.

In Europe the initiatives of the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy certainly are a step in the right direction, but unfortunately Government support and action has been extremely slow, while the Pharmaceutical lobby in the EU Parliament, however, like it has been in the US Congress and Senate, has been vigorous and very effective.

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The Dutch healthcare institute Zorginstituut Nederland said in February insurers should stop paying for expensive drugs if pharmaceutical companies continue to refuse to say how they arrive at the price. The institute, which assesses the efficacy of new drugs and advises the government on whether they should be included in the basic healthcare policy, says the drugs companies are effectively blackmailing officials by refusing to be transparent about their prices. Leadiant Biosciences told DutchNews.nl in a statement: ‘We follow the discussion and the AMC initiative. Bringing medicines for rare diseases like CTX to patients and families in need requires a collaboration between industry and health systems, including governments, regulators, insurers, advocacy groups, and health professionals. ‘At the heart of the issue is ensuring the medicines we develop and deliver meet the appropriate standards of safety, efficacy and quality – and are accessible to the people who need them. We will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders on solutions that address these needs.’ The company did not comment on the reason behind the price hike.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

UEFA Nations League - Netherlands-England - Netherlands 3-1 England: Nations League at a glance - UEFA.com

The Netherlands will play Portugal in Sunday's UEFA Nations League final  after they came from behind to beat England 3-1 in extra time in Guimaraes.

Portugal await in Sunday's inaugural UEFA Nations League final. The Oranje overwhelmed the Portuguese 3-0 in March 2018, only their second win in 13 previous meetings with the Selecção 

Read more at: UEFA Nations League - Netherlands-England - Netherlands 3-1 England: Nations League at a glance - UEFA.com

D-day: World leaders, minus Vladimir Putin, gathered in UK for the start of the 75th D-day commemorations

World leaders gather in UK for start of 75th D-Day commemorations Queen Elizabeth II joined British Prime Minister Theresa May and other world leaders for a ceremony on the southern coast of England that will start two days of commemorations for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Read more at:

http://www.france24.com/en/20190605-uk-france-germany-usa-portsmouth-75th-anniversary-d-day-wwii-queen-trump-veterans

Middle East - Sudan: How Arab autocrats conspired to thwart reformist hopes

Sudan: how Arab autocrats conspired to thwart reformists' hopes

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/03/sudanese-crackdown-comes-after-talks-with-egypt-and-saudis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

France: Experiments with medical cannabis to be launched by France in coming weeks

France to launch medical cannabis experiment in coming weeks As a nearly unanimous French Senate gave medical marijuana the green light on May 28, 

France will start experimenting the use of medical marijuana for “about two years”, pending the approval of the health ministry.

Read more at; 

http://www.france24.com/en/20190602-france-launch-medical-cannabis-experiment-authier

Car Industry - Electric Cars : Aiways could be first Chinese-brand EV sold in Europe - by Echo Huang

China’s automakers have long wanted to expand beyond their home market. While they’ve made a little progress in Southeast Asia and Africa, they’ve had scant success in developed markets like the US and Europe.

That isn’t stopping Aiways, an electric-vehicle startup based in Shanghai, from trying. The four-year-old company recently told Quartz it plans to offer its flagship car, the U5, in Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands next spring. If all goes to plan, Aiways will become the first Chinese-brand electric car offered in Europe.

The company’s strategy involves skipping dealerships and offering consumers direct online sales and leasing. That will help it reduce costs and compete with traditional gas guzzlers, Alexander Klose, vice president for overseas operation, told the Financial Times (paywall). The U5, he added, will be priced at less than €40,000 ($44,700).

  Read more at: Aiways could be first Chinese-brand EV sold in Europe — Quartz

Robotics: If robots do everything, then what will we do? Will people marry robots in future?

As a journalist, I always try to ask smart questions. But I could not beat the questions that a group of five-year-olds posed to China’s top artificial intelligence (AI) guru, like the ones in the headline of this article.

People pay attention to what Dr Lee Kai-Fu says – lotsof people. Fifty million people in China follow him on social media, which means he has more fans than American talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

What worries Dr Lee is not human-robot marriages, because while a tiny minority of people might want to treat robots as humans, most of us – even children – know the difference between a toy or a pet and a human relationship.

Click here if you want to read more about Robots and sex 

For the original report of this story: If robots do everything, then what will we do? Will people marry robots in future? - CNA

The Netherlands: becomes the first country to show Amber alerts on ATMs - by Catalin Cimpanu

he Netherlands has become the first country in the world that has expanded its national Amber Alert system to automated teller machines (ATMs).

Starting last week, over 300 ATMs from ATM manufacturer In2Retail have begun showing photos of missing children on their screensavers.

For now, the Amber Alert-compatible ATMs are onlyinstalled in selected locations, such as international airports (in Amsterdam and Rotterdam), some national airports, but also in large shopping malls and near popular tourist attractions.

Authorities say they have plans to blanket the entire country and expand the system to the ATMs of other ATM vendors.

Read more at: The Netherlands becomes the first country to show Amber alerts on ATMs | ZDNet