China-Netherlands Relations: Hi Speed Internet: Huawei denies spying accusation in the Netherlands

report accusing Huawei of having once had "unlimited access" to phone calls made using one of the Netherlands' leading operators, KPN, has been published by a Dutch newspaper.

The report was compiled by the CapGemini consultancy in 2010 but never released.

Those affected would have included former Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

Read more at: Huawei denies spying accusation in the Netherlands - BBC News

USA: Biden to the nation and world: 'America is rising anew'

President Joe Biden declared Wednesday night in his first address to a joint session of Congress that “America is rising anew,” and pointed optimistically to the nation’s emergence from the pandemic as a vital moment to rebuild the U.S. economy and fundamentally transform government roles in American life.

Biden marked his first 100 days in office as the nation pushes out of a menacing mix of crises, making his case before a pared-down gathering of mask-wearing legislators because of pandemic restrictions.

Speaking in highly personal terms while demanding massive structural changes, the president urged a $1.8 trillion investment in children, families and education to help rebuild an economy devastated by the virus and compete with rising global competitors.

He speech took place in a setting unlike any other presidential address in the familiar venue, with the U.S. Capitol still surrounded by fencing after the building was stormed in January by insurrectionists protesting his election. The nationally televised ritual of a president standing before Congress for the first time was one of the most watched moments of Biden’s presidency so far, a chance to sell his plans to voters of both parties, even if Republican lawmakers prove resistant.

“America is ready for takeoff. We are working again. Dreaming again. Discovering again. Leading the world again. We have shown each other and the world: There is no quit in America,” Biden said.

Read more at: Biden to the nation and world: 'America is rising anew'

The Netherlands: How a 94-meter superyacht is transported through narrow canals in the Netherlands

It's not every day you see a gigantic superyacht weaving through the narrow canals of the Netherlands.

Thankfully photographer Tom van Oossanen was on hand to capture the astonishing scenes as Project 817, a 94-meter (310 feet) vessel built by Dutch shipyard Feadship, was transported from its Kaag Island facility to the North Sea at Rotterdam last week.

In a series of stunning images, the vessel, one of the largest to be launched in 2021, is guided through the water with tugboats, passing by houses and churches, as crowds look on in amazement.

Resd more at: How a 94-meter superyacht is transported through narrow canals in the Netherlands | CNN Travel

India: The Netherlands Is Banning Passenger Flights from India

The Netherlands is banning passenger flights from India, where coronavirus infections are surging to record levels.

The government says the ban comes into force Monday evening and initially lasts until May 1. Flights carrying cargo and medical staff are exempt.

About seven flights a week arrive in the Netherlands from India.

Read more at: The Netherlands Is Banning Passenger Flights from India | heatlh & science , coronavirus | The National Herald

Genocide - Hypocracy: many countries have a dark page in their history: Historian Examines Native American Genocide, its Legacy, and Survivors

Genocide documents the murderous intentions that lurked beneath the idealized self-imaging of a young American nation.

“In order to have a ‘land of opportunity’ required space to expand,” Ostler notes. “Early American senses of ‘freedom’ fundamentally depended upon the taking of Native lands—which almost inevitably would lead to the taking of Native lives.”

From the beginning, he believes, US leaders understood and embraced this grim calculus. However, they obscured their true aims with a series of self-serving narratives built around the ideal of “civilization.” At first, this was held forth as a precious and necessary gift the colonizers were offering to Indigenous populations. Later, “defending civilization” would be invoked as justification to kill them.

Read more at: Historian Examines Native American Genocide, its Legacy, and Survivors | Around the O

EU mulls legal action against AstraZeneca over shortfalls - by Elena Sánchez Nicolás

aThe European Commission said on Thursday (22 April) it has not yet decided whether to take legal action against AstraZeneca for failing to meet its contractual obligations - but repeated that all options are still on the table.

"What matters is that we ensure the delivery of a sufficient number of doses, in line with the company's earlier commitments," a commission spokesperson said.

Read moreat: EU mulls legal action against AstraZeneca over shortfalls

The Netherlands: A pricey rapid-testing programme rings alarms in the Netherlands

SIPPING A BEER on a pub terrace may be the Netherlands’ holiest rite of spring. But the country’s grim incidence of covid-19, currently far higher than in Germany or Italy, has kept its pubs shut. As the weather has warmed, cries of “open the terrasjes!” have sounded ever louder in Dutch politics, and this week the government gave in. From April 28th cafés may open outdoor seating (two people per table, maximum) between noon and 6pm. Meanwhile the state is eyeing a more permanent solution. It is funding pilot programmes to explore whether rapid testing of patrons can allow reopening of restaurants, museums, cultural events and the like.

The budget is huge: €1.1bn ($1.3bn) through August, more than 0.1% of GDP. Of that, €2.7m goes to experiments this spring with large-scale events such as theatre performances and football matches. But critics say these are so flawed that they may prove useless. Participants are asked to get follow-up tests and report the results, but only about four-fifths do, spoiling the results for epidemiologists. Oddly, the researchers say they are not even trying to study whether the events lead to more infections, but only whether participants follow social-distancing rules. Public documents do not specify the trials’ research questions, as would be expected for a scientific Process.

Read More at: A pricey rapid-testing programme rings alarms in the Netherlands | The Economist

Netherlands keeps crown as world’s best pension system - by Rachel Fixsen, Venilia Amorim

The Dutch pension system has won the highest score in the latest Global Pension Index report from Mercer, with the international consultancy using this year’s publication to sound a stern warning on the impact of the pandemic on retirement income systems around the world.

In the 2020 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index report – previously called the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index – which awards national pension systems points for adequacy, integrity and sustainability as well as giving them an overall score, the Netherlands came top with 82.6 points, followed by Denmark with 81.4 and Israel with 74.7 points.

Read more at: ​Netherlands keeps crown as world’s best pension system | News | IPE

European Super League: Project is dead, Agnelli admits

The European Super League project is dead, its founder Andrea Agnelli has admitted. Twelve teams had agreed to join a breakaway Super League but plans collapsed when all six English clubs withdrew. Here is the latest.

Read more at: European Super League: Project is dead, Agnelli admits | Sports| German football and major international sports news | DW | 21.04.2021

The Netherlands: Balancing act: Dutch PM eases lockdown amid infection rise - by Mike Corder

Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced a significant easing in his country's months-long coronavirus lockdown Tuesday, calling it a delicate balancing act as infections remain stubbornly high.

The decision to cautiously relax restrictions reflects difficult choices being made in many countries as lockdown fatigue grows even as positive cases keep rising.

Read more at: Balancing act: Dutch PM eases lockdown amid infection rise - ABC News

EU - Soccer: Why European Super League could reshape the future of soccer

On Sunday, 12 of the biggest soccer teams in Europe announced their intention to form their own breakaway Super League in a bold move that challenges the tradition and long-standing history of the European club game, and could change the financial and competitive nature of the sport for generations to come.

Here's what you need to know about this seismic development:

Read more at: Why European Super League could reshape the future of soccer | CBC Sports

Europe's democratic renewal needs a feminist slant - by Iratxe García Pérez

If the Covid-19 outbreak has taught us anything, it’s that preparedness for crises is crucial to save lives. To be better prepared, we need to have a discussion about the future of the European Union. And not just among politicians. This is where the Conference on the Future of Europe comes in, which had been proposed already before the pandemic because, even back then, it was necessary to update our common vision and to speed up decision-making in our union of 27 member states.

Now, the time has come to get out of the ‘Brussels bubble’, listen to people and advance towards a feminist Europe. We need a new concept of power, a new approach to representative democracy and a new mindset in the EU institutions. This transformation should also be reflected in the institutional architecture. We must ensure that the conference plenary does not just become a political theatre for EU politicians to debate among themselves. Instead, it needs to be a forum to give a voice to citizens

Read more at: Europe's democratic renewal needs a feminist slant – Iratxe García Pérez

The Netherlands - Eurovision Song Contest: Postcards from the Netherlands soon to be delivered

As postcard production nears completion, Eurovision.tv can share with you a special behind-the-scenes video available to watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel. It features an exclusive interview with Head of Show Gerben Bakker, shot when the postcards for Veluwezoom National Park and the Koppelpoort (a medieval gate in Amersfoort) were being filmed.

Read more at: Postcards from the Netherlands soon to be delivered - Eurovision Song Contest

Netherlands joins Ireland in Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine suspension over blood clot concerns

The Netherlands has joined Ireland in suspending use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine as a precautionary measure following further reports of blood clots in people who have received it, this time from Norway.

Announcing the move late on Sunday, the Dutch health ministry said there was no proof yet of a direct link between the vaccine and reports of possible side-effects from Norway and Denmark and it had not recorded any cases in the Netherlands.

Read mre at: Netherlands joins Ireland in vaccine suspension over blood clot concerns | Coronavirus | The Guardian

EU Coronavirus - Vaccine: EU puts faith in Pfizer jab with plan for 1.8 billion doses - "Too little, too late"??

The EU has announced plans to buy 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine through 2023. The bloc is also bringing forward shorter-term Pfizer deliveries after suspending orders for the Johnson & Johnson.

On Wednesday, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said the EU planned to order 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine by 2023.

Von der Leyen said Brussels had full confidence in the technology behind the Pfizer vaccine. The manufacturing process used for the Pfizer product — dependent on mRNA — is different then the one behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, which uses a cold virus to transport a segment of the coronavirus to the recipients' cells.

Read more at: EU puts faith in Pfizer jab with plan for 1.8 billion doses | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 14.04.2021

The Netherlands: Dutch lockdown measures remain until at least April 28, ANP says

The Dutch government on Sunday dashed hopes of an early easing of lockdown, saying a night-time curfew and other restrictions would remain until at least April 28 as daily infections rose to a two-week high.

Read more at: Dutch lockdown measures remain until at least April 28, ANP says | Reuters

EU's Michel 'hasn't slept well' since chair gaffe in Turkey

Meeting between Turkey and EU, was a poorly planned EU disaster and is causing Michel many sleepless nights.

Read more at: EU's Michel 'hasn't slept well' since chair gaffe in Turkey | Euronews

The Netherlands: ‘Urban Chess’ initiative continues to expand in the Netherlands

Jesús Medina Molina initiated a national program in the Netherlands which promotes the placement of public chess tables in open spaces. Medina has succeeded in getting his initiative approved in 21 Dutch cities so far, with the first three public tables inaugurated in Máxima Park in Utrecht back in 2018.

Not only has Medina worked in IT and tourism, but he also holds a Bachelor’s degree in education. Fluent in Dutch, Spanish, English and Italian, he learned to play chess when his daughter was struggling in school — he thought that chess might help her to strengthen her calculation skills.

Read more at: ‘Urban Chess’ initiative continues to expand in the Netherlands | ChessBase

Coronavirus- de wereld wil bedrogen worden - maar dit komt niet van God - blijf positief - RM

Je hoort dezer dagen heel veel negatief nieuws, dat vooral is ontstaam door het fenomeen Coronavirus een virus die de wereld nu meer dan een jaar in haar greep heeft weten te houden

Maar let op. Wees niet te veel bezig met alles wat negatief is en afbreekt. Doe niet mee met mensen die altijd maar mopperen en zuchten, dat doet ons geestelijk niet goed en het is zeker niet de wil van God. Richt uw aandacht liever op Jezus (Hebr.12:2), die alle macht heeft en iedere situatie in ons leven in Zijn hand heeft.

Dat geeft vertrouwen en stabiliteit in het leven. Het is beslist niet van God om altijd en overal, van tevoren,beren en leeuwen op je weg te zien.

Wij mensen moeten ons,ook niet te veel aantrekken van radicale organisaties die ons bang proberen te maken door allerlei komplot theorieën van radicale aard te verspreiden. O.A, de internationale, uit Amerika overgewaaide QAnon.

Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. Deze Latijnse spreuk die toegeschreven wordt aan Petronius, luidt vertaald: ’De wereld wil bedrogen worden, dus wordt zij bedrogen’.

Als het over positief denken gaat is er voor mij niets positiever dan het voorbeeld dat we krijgen van Jezus aan het Kruis, vastgenageld en in verschrikkelijke pijn, die naar de hemel kijkt en zegt: "Vader vergeef hun, want ze weten niet wat zij doen".

Inderdaad de mensheid weet meestal niet wat ze doen!

Read more at: http://www.almere-digest.blogspot.com

Netherlands, Poland and Italy Antitrust & Competition

After conducting a detailed market study among manufacturers, competitors, and buyers of tires, ACM established that enough alternatives will remain in the market for tires for retailers. ACM expects that enough competitive pressure will continue to be exerted, and that the new combination will not raise prices or reduce the quality of services. ACM also assessed what the consequences would be for the market for replacement wheels. ACM has established that, in that market too, enough competition will remain. On March 10, 2021, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) cleared the acquisition of PGB by Global Automotive. Global Automotive and PBG are mainly active in the distribution of replacement tires and replacement wheels for cars and vans.

Read more at: Netherlands, Poland and Italy Antitrust & Competition News April 2021

Coronavirus: Netherlands Extends Travel Ban Until May 15

The Netherlands’ government has decided to extend the advice against travelling abroad for its citizens, until May 15, after taking into account the current infection rate of the Coronavirus in foreign countries.

The decision is an additional preventive measure imposed by the Dutch government to avoid travelling during the Easter holidays, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

In addition, the country’s administration has also decided to extend its restrictive measures after a rise in the number of COVID-19 infections.

Read more at: Netherlands Extends Travel Ban Until May 15 - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Vaccination Covid immunity Period: How Long Will COVID-19 Vaccine Immunity Last? - by Jennifer Rainey Marquez,

After half a million deaths and more than a year of lockdowns, quarantines, masking and social distancing, the U.S. is in the midst of a vaccination campaign that aims to put an end to the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months of rigorous testing and clinical trials have shown that the vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing COVID-19 and will likely fend off serious illness or hospitalization even if you do get sick. What's still unclear is just how long that protection will last, or whether we'll eventually need boosters or follow-up shots to protect against new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

A piece of the answer came today from Pfizer, which announced that its vaccine, after the second dose, was shown to be highly effective for up to six months — even against one of the well-known virus variants.

Read more at: How Long Will COVID-19 Vaccine Imm

The Netherlands: VVD continues to back PM Mark Rutte but coalition options are limited

A number of prominent VVD members have gone public with their support for beleaguered caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte, who is facing increasing isolation in The Hague after ‘forgetting’ he had suggested moving a critical MP to a ‘new role’.

Former ministers in Rutte-led governments, including Henk Kamp, Annemarie Jorritsma and Fred Teeven have all given their public backing to the prime minister, and there is no-one within the party who is publicly doubting his leadership, the NRC reported. After all, they point out the VVD won the election with 34 seats and ‘you do not dump a leader who made his party the biggest again’

Read more at: VVD continues to back Mark Rutte but coalition options are limited - DutchNews.nl

EU - Coronavirus Travel Restrictions: Czechia Adds Belgium & Netherlands to High-Risk COVID-19 Category

The Czech Republic’s government has announced that from April 5, Belgium and the Netherlands will be included on the COVID-19 dark red list, in which are placed countries profoundly affected by the Coronavirus disease.

At the same time, Ireland and Malta will be placed on the red list of countries, while Iceland will move to the orange list, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Czechia’s Ministry of Health decision comes after taking into account the updated data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which shows the degree of risk which countries face from the spread of the virus.

Read more at: Czechia Adds Belgium & Netherlands to High-Risk COVID-19 Category - SchengenVisaInfo.com

The Netherlands: Lawmakers censure Dutch PM Rutte over coalition talks- by MIKE CORDER

Netherlands (AP) — Caretaker Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s political future was in doubt Friday after lawmakers passed a motion of censure against him that was filed by two parties in his own outgoing coalition.

The politically damaging move came at the end of a marathon parliamentary debate about the stalled process to form a new government following elections last month. Opposition lawmakers accused Rutte of lying and undermining public trust in politicians. He narrowly survived a motion of no-confidence.

It was a stunning fall from grace just over two weeks after his conservative party won the most seats in parliament in the election, putting him in line to form his fourth governing coalition and possibly become the country’s longest-serving prime minister.<

Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/mark-rutte-netherlands-europe-elections-338dc3293ec7bf1ac206c9f3659caea1

Rapid Corona test: Netherlands set to launch rapid-test ‘Corona-Check’ app

The Netherlands will test an app this weekend called “coronacheck“, which will help aid entrance to festivals. Asking users of the app to travel to one of 100 test locations nationwide partake in a rapid test, an employee will fill in a code in your app which will create a QR code. At the entrance of a festival, the employees will scan the code and when the screen turns green you will have access to the event. The result is valid for 48 hours, and the test is free. The app is linked to your name and date of birth and that will be checked upon entrance to avoid fraud. People in the Netherlands can also use this app for other public events or settings, such the cinema, concerts, and sports matches.

At the press conference on Monday, outgoing Netherlands minister Mr. De Jonge indicated that a law still has to regulate the obligation to enter certain places. This law will be discussed in the House of Representatives this month. According to the Ministry of Health, the country will not open again fully until mid-April at the earliest. The parallel test streets will be located at a hundred different locations, and the new is generally being welcomed as a positive development for the country of the Netherlands.

RFead more at: Netherlands set to launch rapid-test ‘Corona-Check’ app

The Netherlands: Same-sex marriage around the world, 20 years after Dutch first - by Rachel Savage

Exactly 20 years ago, one lesbian couple and three gay couples tied the knot in Amsterdam's city hall - making history as the Netherlands became the first country to allow same-sex marriage, a step since followed by nearly 30 other nations.

During the two decades since the law took effect, thousands of gay and lesbian couples have wed in the Netherlands - representing 1.7% of all marriages, according to the national statistics bureau.

About 750 lesbian couples and 620 gay male couples have married on average annually over the last five years, and there are now some 20,000 married same-sex couples living in the country, official data shows.

Read more at Same-sex marriage around the world, 20 years after Dutch first

The Netherlands Eurovision 2021: Jeangu Macrooy "Birth Of A New Age" Lyrics

“Birth of a New Age” is written by Jeangu himself alongside Perquisite, with whom Jeangu writes all his material. Jeangu was reselected as the Dutch participant for Eurovision following the cancellation of last year’s contest.

“Birth of a New Age” is special because its lyrics are partially in Sranan Tongo, the local language of Jeangu’s birth country Suriname. Sranan was born as a Dutch and English-based creole language Eurovision 2021,Jeangu Macrooy,The Netherlands,“Birth of a New Age”,EU,initially used by slaves to communicate with each other. Nowadays, it is still an important language of intercultural communication in Suriname. Jeangu will be the first ever contestant to perform the language at Eurovision.

Jeangu Macrooy told NPO Radio 5’s Volgspot why he chose to incorporate the language into his entry:

Read more: Jeangu Macrooy "Birth Of A New Age" Lyrics - The Netherlands Eurovision 2021

The Netherlands: Movie Industry: Production Begins In the Netherlands on Horror ‘Moloch’, XYZ Selling

Production is underway in the Netherlands on director Nico van den Brink’s debut feature Moloch, which has been boarded for world sales by XYZ Films. Splendid Film has taken distribution rights in Benelux.

In the horror-thriller, 38-year-old Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient. Today, we can reveal a first look image from the movie.

The Dutch-language pic is being produced by Sabine Brian and Ronald Versteeg for NL Film in Amsterdam. Todd Brown and Maxime Cottray are executive-producing for XYZ. Cast is being kept under wraps.

Read more at: Production Begins In The Netherlands On Horror ‘Moloch’, XYZ Selling – Deadline