Netherlands-Russia Relations: Netherlands says Russian jets 'harassed' its warship in Black Sea

The Netherlands has accused Russian fighter jets of "unsafe" behaviour in an encounter with a Dutch warship in the Black Sea.

The incident last Thursday involved the frigate HNMLS Evertsen, part of a carrier strike group with the British destroyer HMS Defender, which itself purportedly came under Russian warning fire a day earlier.

Read more at: Netherlands says Russian jets 'harassed' its warship in Black Sea

The Netherlands: Euro 2020: 'Embarrassing! They gave up!' - Could the Netherlands have done better after red card?

Dutch soccer team gave up!'-Could the Netherlands have done better after red card?

Read more at: Euro 2020: 'Embarrassing! They gave up!' - Could the Netherlands have done better after red card? - Football video - Eurosport

The Netherlands: Dutch leader Mark Rutte tells Hungary’s Orban: If you don’t like LGBT rights, you can leave the E.U. - by Adam Taylor

The dispute between a number of European Union leaders and Hungary over LGBT rights grew emotional after a meeting on Thursday, with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban’s peers warning him that there was no place for discrimination in the bloc.

“If you don’t like it, there is also an alternative: Leave the Union,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Orban, he recalled to reporters after the meeting.

Read more at: Dutch leader Mark Rutte tells Hungary’s Orban: If you don’t like LGBT rights, you can leave the E.U. - The Washington Post

The Netherlands to welcome back Americans today, with little restriction by Caroline Tanner

As of Thursday, June 24, Americans can travel freely to the Netherlands: no vaccine, negative COVID-19 test or quarantine required upon arrival.

The Dutch government’s decision to expand entry options follows the June 18 announcement by the Council of the European Union to open EU borders to visitors from additional “safe” countries, including the United States, given the low risk of contracting COVID-19.

Read more at: The Netherlands to welcome back Americans today, with little restriction

Soccer Euro 2020: The Netherlands beat Austria to book ticket to last 16

How often is a match decided by a single miscue? Too often, if you are Germany or Austria at Euro 2020. Two days after an own goal by national team returnee Mats Hummels saw Germany fall 1-0 to reigning World Cup champions France, Austrian captain David Alaba committed the foul that resulted in a Dutch penalty – that Memphis Depay confidently put away.

Read mkore at: Euro 2020: The Netherlands beat Austria to book ticket to last 16 | Sports| German football and major international sports news | DW | 17.06.2021

Netherlands free coronavirus tests: Netherlands to Offer Free-of-Charge COVID-19 Tests for Travellers During July & August

The Dutch Government has announced that 3.5 million COVID-19 tests have been set aside to be made available for everyone planning to travel to the country during July and August.

Read more at: Netherlands to Offer Free-of-Charge COVID-19 Tests for Travellers During July & August - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Netherlands offers free herring as Covid jab incentive - by Jon Henley

After Russia offered cars, Washington state spliffs, Indonesia live chickens and Hong Kong the chance of a £1.2m apartment, the latest country to reward people who show up for their Covid shots is the Netherlands – with soused herring.

Early batches of Hollandse nieuwe, or new-season Dutch herring, a traditional delicacy consumed to the tune of 75m a year, are being distributed to vaccination centres around the country as an encouragement for people to get their jabs.

Read more at: Netherlands offers free herring as Covid jab incentive | Netherlands | The Guardian

The Netherlands: Dutch racedriver Max Verstappen wins intense French Grand Prix battle with Lewis Hamilton - by Andrew Benson

Max Verstappen fought back to pass Lewis Hamilton and take a brilliant win in the French Grand Prix to extend his championship lead.

Verstappen's Red Bull team gambled on an extra pit stop, sacrificing the lead to come back at Hamilton on fresher tyres to pass the Mercedes with two laps to go.

And Mercedes were ruing a strategic blunder in which they left Hamilton out one lap too long and lost the lead.

After a thrilling see-saw battle between the two title contenders and their teams, Verstappen moves into a 12-point championship lead after seven races following Red Bull's third victory in a row.

Read more at: Max Verstappen wins intense French Grand Prix battle with Lewis Hamilton - BBC Sport

EU Travel: Travel Restrictions Lifted As Americans Can Finally Fly to Europe Again

The U.S. has been officially added to the European Union's list of countries considered safe for travel. The move allows Americans to visit EU nations for non-essential purposes.

Read more at: Travel Restrictions Lifted As Americans Can Finally Fly to Europe Again

EU: Coronavirus ′still has the upper hand,′ warns WHO Europe head

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned European countries against becoming complacent in their efforts to put an end to the coronavirus pandemic.

Across the continent, governments have been increasingly easing pandemic-related restrictions as new case numbers in the region continue their downward trend. More social gatherings, sports events and travel across borders are also being permitted.

Read more at: Coronavirus ′still has the upper hand,′ warns WHO Europe head | News | DW | 17.06.2021

The Netherlands: Heir to Dutch Throne Waived Right to $1.9 Million Annual Allowance

Princess Amalia of the Netherlands, the heir to the Dutch throne, waived her right to her $1.9 million annual allowance.

Amalia, the Princess of Orange, is King Willem-Alexander's eldest daughter. She graduated from high school on June 10, and the royal family marked the occasion by hanging her backpack alongside the Dutch national flag at Huis ten Bosch Palace. Read more at: Heir to Dutch Throne Waived Right to $1.9 Million Annual Allowance

The Netherlands: People v Shell: from ‘corporate social responsibility’ to legal accountability – by Alejandro García Esteban and Jill McArdle

In a historic victory for climate justice, in late May a Dutch civil court held a corporation liable for the first time for its contribution to climate change. The ruling that the oil giant Shell must reduce its global carbon-dioxide emissions by 45 per cent from 2019 levels by 2030 is a game-changer for corporate accountability and our future on this planet.

The decision sets a precedent for litigation against slow-moving polluters. Not only has it opened new legal avenues for climate action. The judges clearly spelt out that companies have an individual responsibility to combat climate change, because of its severe impacts on human rights.

Read more at: People v Shell: from ‘corporate social responsibility’ to legal accountability – Alejandro García Esteban and Jill McArdle

EU: Poll Shows US Image Problem in Europe Persists as Biden Embarks on Trip to Repair Ties- by Benjamin Fearnow

Europeans still hold largely negative opinions of the United States as a world partner and ally in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, just as President Joe Biden makes his first trip outside the country since replacing former President Donald Trump in the White House.

A new survey conducted by the German Marshall Fund and the Bertelsmann Foundation across 11 European countries shows America's reputation abroad remains stifled, particularly by the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic last year. A majority of French and German respondents agreed with March research which found the Trump administration could have avoided nearly 400,000 COVID-19 deaths if it had formed a more effective strategy.

read more at: Poll Shows US Image Problem in Europe Persists as Biden Embarks on Trip to Repair Ties

USA: Gun Sales Reach 19 Million: Here’s Every State Ranked

Gun Sales Reach 19 Million: Here’s Every State Ranked – 24/7 Wall St.

NATO: What is NATO for? – by Mary Kaldor

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a geopolitical alliance. It was constructed during the cold war to counter a potential Soviet threat. NATO forces in western Europe, nuclear and conventional, anticipated and planned for a conventional Soviet attack—a Blitzkrieg across the German plains—on the model of World War II.

NATO could be transformed into an organisation for reducing and damping down conflict within the framework of the United Nations. It could represent the transatlantic contribution to peacekeeping. It would mean a focus on crisis management—reducing violence in the context of armed conflicts, massive violations of human rights or genocide.

Read more at: What is NATO for? – Mary Kaldor

EU travel: These are the countries Europeans can travel to right now

Hoping that summer 2021 might be better than 2020? It’s difficult to see how it could be worse. For those not in national lockdown, there are some destinations it's possible to travel to at the moment. They even have bars, restaurants and tourist attractions open and few curfews.

It's best to check the latest travel restrictions for each country in Europe before booking.

With a mixture of non-European and EU countries on offer, all your needs are covered by this blazing hot list of holiday destinations.

Read more at" These are the countries Europeans can travel to right now | Euronews

G7 agree to back 15% global minimum corporate tax rate, more taxes for tech giants

The Group of Seven wealthy democracies agreed Saturday to support a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15% in order to deter multinational companies from avoiding taxes by stashing profits in low-rate countries.

Read more at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2021/06/05/g-7-nations-support-15-global-minimum-tax-corporations-tech-giants/7560398002/

Coronavirus news: : Hungary to produce China′s Sinopharm jab

The Hungarian goverment on Monday announced plans to produce the Chinese-developed Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine locally.

Hungary is the only EU country to inoculate its citizens with the Chinese jab after domestic regulators approved its use.

Speaking in China, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said officials would open a planned €157 million ($193 million) vaccine plant in the eastern town of Debrecen.

Read more at Coronavirus digest: Hungary to produce China′s Sinopharm jab | News | DW | 31.05.2021

The Netherlands: Latest Update on the Netherlands' Walrus-class Submarine Replacement Program - Nathan Gain

The Dutch Ministry of Defense on May 28 informed the House of Representatives about the progress of the Walrus-class submarines replacement program. It was followed by the first official communication on the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) future submarine program since December 2019 and the release of the "B-Letter".

Read more at: Latest Update on the Netherlands' Walrus-class Submarine Replacement Program - Naval News