The Netherlands: Bird flu: Nearly 200,000 chickens culled in the Netherlands after multiple outbreaks - by Alessio Dellanna

Dutch authorities slaughtered around 190,000 chickens after a particularly contagious strain of bird flu appeared on at least two poultry farms, agriculture minister Carola Schouten said on Sunday.

Health workers killed 100,000 hens on a farm in Hekendorp, not far from Gouda, in the west of the Netherlands, and 90,000 chickens on a farm in Witmarsum, in the northern Friesland region.

In both cases, authorities suspected "a highly contagious strain of the H5 variant”.

Read more at: Bird flu: Nearly 200,000 chickens culled in the Netherlands after multiple outbreaks | Euronews

The Netherlands: could require travelers to show coronavirus test results at border

Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health wants to oblige travelers arriving in the Netherlands to prove that they tested negative for the coronavirus no more than 48 hours prior to arrival, he said in a letter to parliament.

Due to the rules around free travel in the European Union and Schengen area, a legislative amendment is needed to require that travelers from these areas show their test results at the Dutch border. De Jonge expects that this requirement will therefore only be implemented for them in the spring at the earliest. For non-European travelers exempted from the entry EU ban, a test statement can be requested from mid-December, he said.

Read more at: Netherlands could require travelers to show coronavirus test results at border | NL Times

The Netherlands: Could there be an indirect mandatory vaccination rule in the Netherlands? - by Victoria Séveno

At a debate in the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Rutte revealed that cabinet ministers were considering implementing a so-called indirect vaccination obligation in the Netherlands when the coronavirus vaccine becomes available.

Other members of Rutte’s party, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), are also supportive of this policy, with MP Hayke Veldman saying: "I prefer that everyone [is vaccinated] voluntarily, but I am prepared to make it an indirect vaccination obligation so that if you don't get vaccinated, it will have

Read more at: Could there be an indirect mandatory vaccination rule in the Netherlands?

Netherlands has world's highest English proficiency for non-native speakers

Netherlands residents are the best non-native English speakers in the world, according to the EF English Proficiency Index. In the ten years that this index has been ranking English proficiency in various countries, the Netherlands has topped the ranking four times, and has never ranked lower than third.

The index based its figures on English test results of 2.2 million adults in 100 countries around the world. The participants had to complete various tests, including reading advanced texts, using "nuanced and appropriate" language in social settings, and negotiating a contract with a native English speaker.

Read more at: Netherlands has world's highest English proficiency for non-native speakers | NL Times

Hungary says it blocked EU budget over migration 'blackmail' - "which is total nonsense by Orban who destroyed Democracy in his country" said a European parliamentarian

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday his country vetoed the EU's budget over plans to tie funding to respect for the rule of law, as it amounted to "blackmailing" countries that oppose migration.

Read more at: Hungary says it blocked EU budget over migration 'blackmail'

The Netherlands: 14 degrees in November?: Record-breaking temperatures in the Netherlands

Over the weekend, cities across the Netherlands experienced exceptionally high temperatures for this time of year. Amsterdam recorded temperatures of 14 degrees - significantly higher than the November average of around 9 degrees. Since the start of the month, a number of weather records have been broken: Monday was the warmest November 9 ever recorded, and November 2 reached temperatures above 20 degrees, making it the warmest November day ever.

Read more at: 14 degrees in November?: Record-breaking temperatures in the Netherlands

Canada- China Relations : Bob Rae calls on UN to investigate evidence of genocide against China's Muslim Uighur minority

Canada's ambassador to the United Nations says he's called on the organization's Human Rights Council to investigate whether China's persecution of Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang province should be considered an act of genocide.

Beijing lashes back, calling Rae 'ignorant'

Read more at: Bob Rae calls on UN to investigate evidence of genocide against China's Uighur minority | CBC News