MERRY CHRISTMAS

As we celebrate Christmas around the world, let us not forget the reasonfor this festive season: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".Hope you and yours are having a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Almere-Dugest

The Netherlands: Ferries from UK banned from sailing to Netherlands

Ferry lines which transport passengers from the United Kingdom across the North Sea to the Netherlands will not be permitted from Monday as the Dutch government attempts to prevent a highly-contagious variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from spreading through the Dutch population. After a considerable rise in infections in the UK, many parts of that country went back into a strict lockdown over the weekend.

At the very start of Sunday, Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sent a letter to Parliament announcing that the Netherlands banned passenger flights from the UK effective immediately, and for an initial duration of about ten days. Belgium followed suit with a ban that included trains, meaning Eurostar rail service from the UK could no longer reach the Netherlands.

Read more at:Ferries from UK banned from sailing to Netherlands: Reports | NL Times

The Netherlands: Ferries from UK banned from sailing to Netherlands

Ferry lines which transport passengers from the United Kingdom across the North Sea to the Netherlands will not be permitted from Monday as the Dutch government attempts to prevent a highly-contagious variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from spreading through the Dutch population. After a considerable rise in infections in the UK, many parts of that country went back into a strict lockdown over the weekend.

At the very start of Sunday, Dutch Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sent a letter to Parliament announcing that the Netherlands banned passenger flights from the UK effective immediately, and for an initial duration of about ten days. Belgium followed suit with a ban that included trains, meaning Eurostar rail service from the UK could no longer reach the Netherlands.

Read more at:Ferries from UK banned from sailing to Netherlands: Reports | NL Times

Britain: EU to hold crisis talks as countries block travel from UK over new Covid strain

EU ambassadors are to hold a crisis meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss travel restrictions on the UK as multiple countries began closing their doors to travellers from Britain after the discovery of a fast-spreading strain of Covid-19.

As the World Health Organization called on European members to step up measures, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands on Sunday announced the suspension of air links – and in some cases rail and ferry routes – from Britain.

Read more at: EU to hold crisis talks as countries block travel from UK over new Covid strain | World news | The Guardian

USA Economy: Disparity for everyone to see in a country which claims to be the greatest in the world ?

North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) distributed more than 600,000 pounds of food for about 25,000 people on Saturday, according to spokeswoman Anna Kurian. There were 7,280 turkeys distributed to families, Kurian told CNN.

Read more at: Thousands of cars form lines to collect food in Covid-hit Texas - CNN

The Netherlands: Schiphol overcrowded and airlines cancel flights to holiday destinations

Over the weekend and throughout this week, Schiphol was reportedly overwhelmed by travellers, with images of long queues and crowds in the departure hall shocking many - including the government Minister for Infrastructure, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen. In an interview with NOS on Wednesday, Van Nieuwenhuizen said she was “disappointed and angry” to see how busy Schiphol was, and stated she had repeatedly asked airport management and various airlines to take action and reduce / manage crowds.

Read more at: Schiphol overcrowded and airlines cancel flights to holiday destinations

Eurozone reform—it’s not just the fiscal rules –by Willi Koll

The Covid-19 pandemic has eclipsed the general overhaul of the economic-policy framework of the European Union and the eurozone initiated in February by the European Commission. Comprehensive reform of economic governance remains nevertheless urgent and indispensable.

Reform of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) and the Regulation on the Prevention and Correction of Macroeconomic Imbalances (MIP), within the framework of the ‘six-pack’ and ‘two-pack’ of the European Semester and other regulations, should again be at the centre of discussions, as soon as—at the latest—the consequences of the pandemic have been dealt with.

Read more at: Eurozone reform—it’s not just the fiscal rules – Willi Koll