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
5/31/21
NATO tests its ability to reinforce Europe in a crisis with massive trans-Atlantic operation-by Murray Brewster
It was the kind of exercise that used to happen regularly in the deepest, darkest depths of the Cold War with the former Soviet Union.
In fact, it has been almost four decades since NATO nations practiced as a group the organizational and logistically complex task of rapidly moving troops and equipment across a potentially hostile Atlantic Ocean to reinforce Europe.
Over the last two weeks, warships, submarines and aircraft belonging to the western military alliance have war-gamed methods to keep the sea lines of communication open in the event of hostilities in Europe.
Read more at: NATO tests its ability to reinforce Europe in a crisis with massive trans-Atlantic operation | CBC News
In fact, it has been almost four decades since NATO nations practiced as a group the organizational and logistically complex task of rapidly moving troops and equipment across a potentially hostile Atlantic Ocean to reinforce Europe.
Over the last two weeks, warships, submarines and aircraft belonging to the western military alliance have war-gamed methods to keep the sea lines of communication open in the event of hostilities in Europe.
Read more at: NATO tests its ability to reinforce Europe in a crisis with massive trans-Atlantic operation | CBC News
France: Coronavirus - Advice for Foreign Nationals in France - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
This FAQ contains information for foreign nationals wishing to enter France or already in France, who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General information on restrictions and recommendations in France and action taken has been centralized on a platform at the following address: https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19.
During your stay in France, download and activate the #TousAntiCovid application.
Read more at: Coronavirus - Advice for Foreign Nationals in France - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
General information on restrictions and recommendations in France and action taken has been centralized on a platform at the following address: https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19.
During your stay in France, download and activate the #TousAntiCovid application.
Read more at: Coronavirus - Advice for Foreign Nationals in France - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
EU Twitter 'best' at applying EU disinformation code: by Nikolaj Nielsen
ocial media giant Twitter tops US tech firms applying an EU code to tackle disinformation - even if it does so only partially.
"Nobody has really fully respected the code," Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market commissioner, told reporters on Wednesday (26 May).
Read more at: Twitter 'best' at applying EU disinformation code
"Nobody has really fully respected the code," Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market commissioner, told reporters on Wednesday (26 May).
Read more at: Twitter 'best' at applying EU disinformation code
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
Read more at: Latest Update on the Netherlands' Walrus-class Submarine Replacement Program - Naval News
5/30/21
The Netherlands: Dutch golden age also had a dark side: Rijksmuseum slavery exhibition confronts cruelty of Dutch trade
The aim of a first exhibition on the Dutch slave trade to be shown at the Rijksmuseum, launched on Tuesday by King Willem-Alexander, is not to be “woke” but to be a “blockbuster” telling a truer story of the Golden Age, the director general of the national institution has said.
Taco Dibbits said his museum had no intention of taking sides in a political and cultural debate but that the royal visit, broadcast live on national television, highlighted that the wealth bestowed and cruelty endured is not just relevant to the descendants of those enslaved.
“I think, I mean obviously you would have to ask [Willem-Alexander] yourself, but I think with that he emphasises that this is part of our history that concerns all people in the Netherlands and not only the descendant of a slave”, said Dibbits. “I mean, it’s about me, it’s about you, it’s about the king himself … it’s about everybody who lives in the country.”
The Rijksmuseum currently remains closed to the public but a digital tour is available and students are being invited in free of charge. The exhibition will run until 29 August.
Read more at: The Netherlands: nRijksmuseum slavery exhibition confronts cruelty of Dutch trade | Netherlands | The Guardian
Taco Dibbits said his museum had no intention of taking sides in a political and cultural debate but that the royal visit, broadcast live on national television, highlighted that the wealth bestowed and cruelty endured is not just relevant to the descendants of those enslaved.
“I think, I mean obviously you would have to ask [Willem-Alexander] yourself, but I think with that he emphasises that this is part of our history that concerns all people in the Netherlands and not only the descendant of a slave”, said Dibbits. “I mean, it’s about me, it’s about you, it’s about the king himself … it’s about everybody who lives in the country.”
The Rijksmuseum currently remains closed to the public but a digital tour is available and students are being invited in free of charge. The exhibition will run until 29 August.
Read more at: The Netherlands: nRijksmuseum slavery exhibition confronts cruelty of Dutch trade | Netherlands | The Guardian
Outer Space: Chinese robotic spacecraft docks with the country's new space station
A robotic spacecraft docked with China's new space station on Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew.
China's space agency said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea.
It carried space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel for the station.
Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is the third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambitious space programme.
Read more at: Chinese robotic spacecraft docks with the country's new space station | Euronews
China's space agency said the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea.
It carried space suits, living supplies, equipment and fuel for the station.
Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is the third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambitious space programme.
Read more at: Chinese robotic spacecraft docks with the country's new space station | Euronews
The Atlantic Alliance in trouble: NSA spying row: Denmark helped US gather data on European officials, says report -
Denmark's secret service helped the US spy on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014, Danish media report.
The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information, according to a report by Danish broadcaster Danmarks Radio.
Intelligence was collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway, according to the report.
Read more at: NSA spying row: Denmark helped US gather data on European officials, says report - BBC News
The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information, according to a report by Danish broadcaster Danmarks Radio.
Intelligence was collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway, according to the report.
Read more at: NSA spying row: Denmark helped US gather data on European officials, says report - BBC News
Israel: Israeli opposition figures reach deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu
The far-right Israeli politician Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid have agreed to forge a coalition government that would oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his 12 straight years in power.
“It’s my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course,” said Bennett, a former settler leader and religious nationalist, in a televised address.
While further political negotiations are expected, the move by Bennett served a massive blow to Israel’s longest-serving leader, who is famed for his political wizardry and has survived repeated attempts to end his career.
Read more at: Israeli opposition figures reach deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu | Israel | The Guardian
“It’s my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course,” said Bennett, a former settler leader and religious nationalist, in a televised address.
While further political negotiations are expected, the move by Bennett served a massive blow to Israel’s longest-serving leader, who is famed for his political wizardry and has survived repeated attempts to end his career.
Read more at: Israeli opposition figures reach deal aimed at ousting Netanyahu | Israel | The Guardian
U.S. Covid cases lowest in a year as Memorial Day travel picks up - by Nicolas Vega
The U.S. has reported the lowest number of Covid-19 cases in more than a year, as the nation’s airports over Memorial Day weekend experienced the largest number of travelers since the pandemic began.
The 11,976 new cases reported on May 29 were the lowest since March 23, 2020, when 11,238 new cases were reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The seven-day average of 21,007 is the lowest since March 31 of last year, when it was 19,363.
Read more at:U.S. Covid cases lowest in a year as Memorial Day travel picks up
The 11,976 new cases reported on May 29 were the lowest since March 23, 2020, when 11,238 new cases were reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The seven-day average of 21,007 is the lowest since March 31 of last year, when it was 19,363.
Read more at:U.S. Covid cases lowest in a year as Memorial Day travel picks up
5/29/21
The Netherlands: What the Dutch court carbon emissions ruling means for Shell
A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) to significantly deepen planned greenhouse gas emission cuts, in a landmark ruling that could pave the way for legal action against energy companies around the world. read more
Shell said it was "disappointed" by the ruling which it plans to appeal.
Here are some key points about the ruling:
WHAT WAS THE RULING? The district court ordered Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Shell currently aims to reduce the carbon intensity of products it sells by 20% over the same period from a 2016 baseline.
DOES THE RULING AFFECT SHELL'S GLOBAL OPERATIONS? Yes. The reduction relates to Shell's global operations and is not limited to the Netherlands, the court ruling said. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SHELL? The ruling said that "it is up to RDS (Royal Dutch Shell) to design the reduction obligation, taking account of its current obligations and other relevant circumstances." Shell earlier this year announced a strategy to become a net zero emissions company by 2050, meaning its absolute emissions will also be net zero at that point. It has stated that it believes its emissions peaked in 2018.[USN:L1N2KH0LV] ABSOLUTE TARGETS VS INTENSITY TARGETS? The court ordered Shell to reduce absolute emissions by 45%. Shell's short and medium-term targets are intensity based. Intensity-based targets measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced. That means that absolute emissions can rise with growing production, even if the headline intensity metric falls. At its annual general meeting this month, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden rejected setting absolute reduction targets, saying: "Reducing absolute emissions at this point in time is predominantly possible by shrinking the business."
HOW BIG ARE SHELL'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? Shell, the world's largest oil and gas trader, produced 1.38 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2020, roughly 4.5% of global energy-related emissions that year, based on International Energy Agency figures. Shell's 2020 emissions were down from 1.65 billion tonnes the previous year, largely as a result of a fall in oil and gas demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More at: Explainer: What the Dutch court carbon emissions ruling means for Shell | Reuters
Shell said it was "disappointed" by the ruling which it plans to appeal.
Here are some key points about the ruling:
WHAT WAS THE RULING? The district court ordered Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Shell currently aims to reduce the carbon intensity of products it sells by 20% over the same period from a 2016 baseline.
DOES THE RULING AFFECT SHELL'S GLOBAL OPERATIONS? Yes. The reduction relates to Shell's global operations and is not limited to the Netherlands, the court ruling said. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SHELL? The ruling said that "it is up to RDS (Royal Dutch Shell) to design the reduction obligation, taking account of its current obligations and other relevant circumstances." Shell earlier this year announced a strategy to become a net zero emissions company by 2050, meaning its absolute emissions will also be net zero at that point. It has stated that it believes its emissions peaked in 2018.[USN:L1N2KH0LV] ABSOLUTE TARGETS VS INTENSITY TARGETS? The court ordered Shell to reduce absolute emissions by 45%. Shell's short and medium-term targets are intensity based. Intensity-based targets measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced. That means that absolute emissions can rise with growing production, even if the headline intensity metric falls. At its annual general meeting this month, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden rejected setting absolute reduction targets, saying: "Reducing absolute emissions at this point in time is predominantly possible by shrinking the business."
HOW BIG ARE SHELL'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? Shell, the world's largest oil and gas trader, produced 1.38 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2020, roughly 4.5% of global energy-related emissions that year, based on International Energy Agency figures. Shell's 2020 emissions were down from 1.65 billion tonnes the previous year, largely as a result of a fall in oil and gas demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More at: Explainer: What the Dutch court carbon emissions ruling means for Shell | Reuters
EU: The climate X factor – by Sanna Marin
limate change and biodiversity loss are the most pressing challenges of our time, so all responsible political leaders must offer long-term policies for confronting them effectively. We need clear strategies based on achievable targets, and we must be bold in deploying all means at our disposal. In particular, any credible climate strategy must take proper account of technological innovation.
With the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035 and carbon negative (removing more atmospheric carbon than is emitted) soon thereafter, Finland’s climate targets are among the most ambitious in the world. My country aims to be a leader among advanced economies, not just in terms of emissions reductions but also by ushering in a circular economy focused on sustainability and the elimination of waste. Our plan is to double our resource efficiency and circularity rate (the percentage of all material that is fed back into the economy) by 2035.
Read more at: The climate X factor – Sanna Marin
With the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035 and carbon negative (removing more atmospheric carbon than is emitted) soon thereafter, Finland’s climate targets are among the most ambitious in the world. My country aims to be a leader among advanced economies, not just in terms of emissions reductions but also by ushering in a circular economy focused on sustainability and the elimination of waste. Our plan is to double our resource efficiency and circularity rate (the percentage of all material that is fed back into the economy) by 2035.
Read more at: The climate X factor – Sanna Marin
USA: How Mitch McConnell killed the US Capitol attack commission and "participated in the killing of what is left of US democracy" - by Hugo Lowell
Days before the Senate voted down the creation of a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Capitol attack, the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, was adamant: he would oppose the bill, regardless of any amendments – and he expected his colleagues to follow suit.
The commission that would have likely found Donald Trump and some Republicans responsible for the insurrection posed an existential threat to the GOP ahead of the midterms, he said, and would complicate efforts to regain the majority in Congress.
Read more at: How Mitch McConnell killed the US Capitol attack commission | US Capitol breach | The Guardian
The commission that would have likely found Donald Trump and some Republicans responsible for the insurrection posed an existential threat to the GOP ahead of the midterms, he said, and would complicate efforts to regain the majority in Congress.
Read more at: How Mitch McConnell killed the US Capitol attack commission | US Capitol breach | The Guardian
Belarus: It's time to bleed Belarus's economy, says former Lukashenko adviser - by Chris Brown
From his vantage next door in Poland, Anatol Kotau looks at his homeland, Belarus, and sees a country on the precipice of collapse.
The Belarusian government's decision to concoct a fake bomb threat and force a Ryanair jet to divert and land in order to arrest a foe of the regime has ignited global outrage. It has also further isolated President Alexander Lukashenko.
Even so, Kotau says the events of this tumultuous week make it no easier to predict when the end of Lukashenko's 27-year rule may come.
Read more at: It's time to bleed Belarus's economy, says former Lukashenko adviser | CBC News
The Belarusian government's decision to concoct a fake bomb threat and force a Ryanair jet to divert and land in order to arrest a foe of the regime has ignited global outrage. It has also further isolated President Alexander Lukashenko.
Even so, Kotau says the events of this tumultuous week make it no easier to predict when the end of Lukashenko's 27-year rule may come.
Read more at: It's time to bleed Belarus's economy, says former Lukashenko adviser | CBC News
Two sides of the coin: More electric cars on the road will mean increased mining for what goes in their batteries
With all major auto manufacturers bringing electric vehicles into production in an effort to catch up to the popularity of Tesla, there will be a rising demand for metals and other resources necessary for the manufacture of millions of new batteries. This raises concerns about the environmental and social impact of more intense mining operations
Read more at: More electric cars on the road will mean increased mining for what goes in their batteries | CBC Radio
Read more at: More electric cars on the road will mean increased mining for what goes in their batteries | CBC Radio
5/28/21
Britain-EU Relations: Thousands of EU citizens refused UK entry in three months since Brexit took effect
Thousands of EU citizens were refused entry at the UK border in the first three months of 2021, representing a major surge in cases despite a decline in travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As many as 3,294 EU citizens were blocked from entering the UK in the first quarter of 2021, according to new data published by the British government.
The figure represents a major increase from the first quarter of last year, when fewer than 500 EU citizens were denied entry, despite travel rates being significantly higher.
Read more at: Thousands of EU citizens refused UK entry in three months since Brexit took effect | Euronews
As many as 3,294 EU citizens were blocked from entering the UK in the first quarter of 2021, according to new data published by the British government.
The figure represents a major increase from the first quarter of last year, when fewer than 500 EU citizens were denied entry, despite travel rates being significantly higher.
Read more at: Thousands of EU citizens refused UK entry in three months since Brexit took effect | Euronews
USA:Jan. 6 Commission Fails In Senate Following GOP Opposition - by Brian Naylor
Bipartisan legislation to establish an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has failed in the Senate, as Republicans staged their first filibuster since President Biden took office to block the plan.
The final vote was 54-35, but Republicans withheld the votes necessary to bring the bill up for debate. Just six GOP senators joined with the Democrats on Friday, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes needed to proceed.
The proposed commission was modeled on the one established to investigate the 9/11 attacks — with 10 commissioners, five Democrats and five Republicans, who would have subpoena powers. A Democratic chair and Republican vice chair would have had to approve all subpoenas, with a final report due at the end of the year.
The measure was approved by the House 252-175 earlier this month, with 35 Republicans joining all Democrats in support of the plan.
Note EU-Digest: Scandalous.... "Republicans" protecting the principal "instigator" of this assault on US Capitol and democracy.
Read more at: Jan. 6 Commission Fails In Senate Following GOP Opposition : NPR
The final vote was 54-35, but Republicans withheld the votes necessary to bring the bill up for debate. Just six GOP senators joined with the Democrats on Friday, leaving the measure short of the 60 votes needed to proceed.
The proposed commission was modeled on the one established to investigate the 9/11 attacks — with 10 commissioners, five Democrats and five Republicans, who would have subpoena powers. A Democratic chair and Republican vice chair would have had to approve all subpoenas, with a final report due at the end of the year.
The measure was approved by the House 252-175 earlier this month, with 35 Republicans joining all Democrats in support of the plan.
Note EU-Digest: Scandalous.... "Republicans" protecting the principal "instigator" of this assault on US Capitol and democracy.
Read more at: Jan. 6 Commission Fails In Senate Following GOP Opposition : NPR
Belarus: Russian authorities deny entry to European airlines as EU mulls sanctions on Belarus - by Tara John, Nadine Schmidt, Tim Lister and Chris Liakos
At least two European airlines have been refused permission to fly to Moscow by Russian authorities after the carriers requested to fly an alternative route bypassing Belarusian airspace.
Russia's move, underlining Moscow's support for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's regime, comes as the European Union mulls fresh sanctions against Belarus following what leaders have described as the state-sanctioned hijacking of a passenger flight over Belarus last Sunday.
Austrian Airlines canceled a scheduled flight from Vienna to Moscow on Thursday, saying in a statement: "A change in flight routes must be approved by the authorities. The Russian authorities did not give us this permit. As a result, Austrian Airlines had to cancel today's flight from Vienna to Moscow."
On Wednesday, Air France also canceled its flight to and from Moscow, citing similar reasons.
The EU has already applied a ban on Belarus-registered carriers flying to and from European airports and urged European airlines to avoid Belarus airspace. The Belarus national carrier Belavia has canceled flights to multiple destinations as a result of the EU's actions, which were introduced Monday.
Read more at: Belarus: Russian authorities deny entry to European airlines as EU mulls sanctions on Belarus - CNN
On Wednesday, Air France also canceled its flight to and from Moscow, citing similar reasons.
The EU has already applied a ban on Belarus-registered carriers flying to and from European airports and urged European airlines to avoid Belarus airspace. The Belarus national carrier Belavia has canceled flights to multiple destinations as a result of the EU's actions, which were introduced Monday.
Read more at: Belarus: Russian authorities deny entry to European airlines as EU mulls sanctions on Belarus - CNN
5/27/21
Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory
US President Joe Biden has said he expects to release the results of an intelligence report on the origins of the virus.
China's foreign ministry accused the US of "political manipulation and blame shifting".
It has rejected any link between Covid-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Read more at: Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory - BBC News
China's foreign ministry accused the US of "political manipulation and blame shifting".
It has rejected any link between Covid-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Read more at: Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory - BBC News
Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory
US President Joe Biden has said he expects to release the results of an intelligence report on the origins of the virus.
China's foreign ministry accused the US of "political manipulation and blame shifting".
It has rejected any link between Covid-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Read more at: Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory - BBC News
China's foreign ministry accused the US of "political manipulation and blame shifting".
It has rejected any link between Covid-19 and a virus research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Read more at: Covid: China hits back as US revisits Wuhan lab-leak theory - BBC News
UFO's: No longer confined to the fringe, UFO theories move into the mainstream
UFOs are now serious business.
So serious, in fact, that they have been given a new name. No longer called UFOs, or Unidentified Flying Objects, a term often associated with people of questionable sanity, the mysterious objects that have been reported by the hundreds, are now the source of discussion in serious scientific circles and have been rebaptised with the more serious-sounding moniker Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAPs.
Last June, officials made public the existence of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, housed within the Office of Naval Intelligence. Six months later, the 2021 Intelligence Authorization Act asked the director of national intelligence work and the secretary of defence to put together a report detailing everything the government knows about UAPs.
Read more at: No longer confined to the fringe, UFO theories move into the mainstream
So serious, in fact, that they have been given a new name. No longer called UFOs, or Unidentified Flying Objects, a term often associated with people of questionable sanity, the mysterious objects that have been reported by the hundreds, are now the source of discussion in serious scientific circles and have been rebaptised with the more serious-sounding moniker Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAPs.
Last June, officials made public the existence of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force, housed within the Office of Naval Intelligence. Six months later, the 2021 Intelligence Authorization Act asked the director of national intelligence work and the secretary of defence to put together a report detailing everything the government knows about UAPs.
Read more at: No longer confined to the fringe, UFO theories move into the mainstream
Belarus: EU readies fresh sanctions against Belarus in wake of journalist's arrest
EU foreign ministers met in Lisbon on Thursday to determine new economic sanctions against Belarus after it arrested a dissident journalist aboard an intercepted passenger jet on the weekend.
The incident caused international outrage against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko — whose disdain for democratic norms and human rights has made his country a pariah in the West.
Belarusian state media reported that Lukashenko personally ordered the flight to be intercepted.
Read more at EU readies fresh sanctions against Belarus in wake of journalist's arrest | CBC News
The incident caused international outrage against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko — whose disdain for democratic norms and human rights has made his country a pariah in the West.
Belarusian state media reported that Lukashenko personally ordered the flight to be intercepted.
Read more at EU readies fresh sanctions against Belarus in wake of journalist's arrest | CBC News
EU: The climate X factor – by Sanna Marin
Climate change and biodiversity loss are the most pressing challenges of our time, so all responsible political leaders must offer long-term policies for confronting them effectively. We need clear strategies based on achievable targets, and we must be bold in deploying all means at our disposal. In particular, any credible climate strategy must take proper account of technological innovation.
With the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035 and carbon negative (removing more atmospheric carbon than is emitted) soon thereafter, Finland’s climate targets are among the most ambitious in the world. My country aims to be a leader among advanced economies, not just in terms of emissions reductions but also by ushering in a circular economy focused on sustainability and the elimination of waste. Our plan is to double our resource efficiency and circularity rate (the percentage of all material that is fed back into the economy) by 2035.
Read more at: The climate X factor – Sanna Marin
With the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035 and carbon negative (removing more atmospheric carbon than is emitted) soon thereafter, Finland’s climate targets are among the most ambitious in the world. My country aims to be a leader among advanced economies, not just in terms of emissions reductions but also by ushering in a circular economy focused on sustainability and the elimination of waste. Our plan is to double our resource efficiency and circularity rate (the percentage of all material that is fed back into the economy) by 2035.
Read more at: The climate X factor – Sanna Marin
The Netherlands: World's most expensive drug may not be covered by Dutch insurance
A drug to treat a rare muscle disease which affects some 20 children in the Netherlands a year should not be included in the basic insurance package unless the price is halved, government advisory group Zorginstituut Nederland has said in new recommendations.
In addition, pharmaceutical company Novartis should also agree to payment on the basis of the actual results, the institute said. Zolgensma, known as the most expensive drug in the world, is used to treat spinal muscular dystrophy (SMA) and costs €1.9m per treatment. The institute estimates that if the cost were halved, the drug would add some €11m to the Dutch healthcare budget a year.
Read more at: World's most expensive drug may not be covered by Dutch insurance - DutchNews.nl
In addition, pharmaceutical company Novartis should also agree to payment on the basis of the actual results, the institute said. Zolgensma, known as the most expensive drug in the world, is used to treat spinal muscular dystrophy (SMA) and costs €1.9m per treatment. The institute estimates that if the cost were halved, the drug would add some €11m to the Dutch healthcare budget a year.
Read more at: World's most expensive drug may not be covered by Dutch insurance - DutchNews.nl
5/26/21
USA: Only 6% of Americans have a ‘biblical worldview’
Survey finds Only 6% of Americans have a ‘biblical worldview’
Read more at: [CP Today] Only 6% of Americans have a ‘biblical worldview’ - rickmorren@gmail.com - Gmail
Read more at: [CP Today] Only 6% of Americans have a ‘biblical worldview’ - rickmorren@gmail.com - Gmail
Belarus: Lukashenko is 'turning Belarus into the North Korea of Europe', says Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
The European Union's strategy against the administration of Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko hasn't worked, says the country's exiled opposition leader.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was speaking via video on Wednesday to the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that the bloc's approach has so far failed and called upon MEPs to increase the pressure on Minsk.
It comes after Belarus was thrust back into the spotlight when a Ryanair flight diverted to the Belarusian capital over the weekend.
Read more at: Lukashenko is 'turning Belarus into the North Korea of Europe', says Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya | Euronews
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was speaking via video on Wednesday to the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that the bloc's approach has so far failed and called upon MEPs to increase the pressure on Minsk.
It comes after Belarus was thrust back into the spotlight when a Ryanair flight diverted to the Belarusian capital over the weekend.
Read more at: Lukashenko is 'turning Belarus into the North Korea of Europe', says Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya | Euronews
5/25/21
US Healthcare Sucks If you have limited funds: Covid Killed His Father. Then Came $1 Million in Medical Bills - by Sarah Kliff -
One coronavirus survivor manages her medical bills in color-coded folders: green, red and tan for different types of documents. A man whose father died of the virus last fall uses an Excel spreadsheet to organize the outstanding debts. It has 457 rows, one for each of his father’s bills, totaling over $1 million.
These are people who are facing the financial version of long-haul Covid: They’ve found their lives and finances upended by medical bills resulting from a bout with the virus.
Their desks and coffee tables have stacks of billing documents. They are fluent in the jargon of coronavirus medical coding, after hundreds of hours of phone calls discussing the charges with hospitals, doctors and insurers.
“People think there is some relief program for medical bills for coronavirus patients,” said Jennifer Miller, a psychologist near Milwaukee who is working with a lawyer to challenge thousands in outstanding debt from two emergency room visits last year. “It just doesn’t exist.”
Read more at: Covid Killed His Father. Then Came $1 Million in Medical Bills. - The New York Times
These are people who are facing the financial version of long-haul Covid: They’ve found their lives and finances upended by medical bills resulting from a bout with the virus.
Their desks and coffee tables have stacks of billing documents. They are fluent in the jargon of coronavirus medical coding, after hundreds of hours of phone calls discussing the charges with hospitals, doctors and insurers.
“People think there is some relief program for medical bills for coronavirus patients,” said Jennifer Miller, a psychologist near Milwaukee who is working with a lawyer to challenge thousands in outstanding debt from two emergency room visits last year. “It just doesn’t exist.”
Read more at: Covid Killed His Father. Then Came $1 Million in Medical Bills. - The New York Times
EU Economy: In the EU, GDP down by 0.4% and employment down by 0.3%
In the first quarter of 2021, seasonally adjusted GDP decreased by 0.6% in the euro areaand by 0.4% in the EU,compared with the previous quarter, according to a flash estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. These declines follow falls in the fourth quarter of 2020(-0.7% in the euro areaand -0.5% in the EU) after a strong rebound in the third quarter of 2020 (+12.5% in the euro areaand +11.7% in the EU) and the sharpest decreases since the time series started in 1995 observed inthe second quarter of 2020 (-11.6% in the euro areaand -11.2% in the EU
Read more at: 2-18052021-AP-EN.pdf
Read more at: 2-18052021-AP-EN.pdf
Middle East: In the Wake of the Ceasefire, Don't Forget: Israel Is the Aggressor - Opinion by: Ahmed Twaij
After nearly two weeks of violence between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza, a ceasefire agreement has finally been reached. But the duration of the ceasefire remains questionable, especially given that the grievances that led up to the most recent conflict persist, and without addressing them, it's only a matter of time before the next wave of violence begins. Indeed, less than a day after the ceasefire was announced, violent clashes began again between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli police at Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem, reproducing the same conflagration that led to the armed conflict with Gaza.
Read more at: In the Wake of the Ceasefire, Don't Forget: Israel Is the Aggressor | Opinion
Read more at: In the Wake of the Ceasefire, Don't Forget: Israel Is the Aggressor | Opinion
5/24/21
Belarus: Angela Merkel says Belarus′ story ′completely implausible′
Chancellor Merkel on Monday dismissed Minsk's explanation for having forced an airliner to land in Belarus and arresting a dissident on board.
"We have seen a forced landing that led to the arrest," Merkel said as she arrived at an EU summit where sanctions will be discussed. "All other explanations for the landing of this Ryanair flight are completely implausible."
Merkel's comments came after Germany joined a list of European countries to summons their Belarusian ambassadors, amid shock over Minsk's forced landing of a plane and subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist.
Read more at: Angela Merkel says Belarus′ story ′completely implausible′ | News | DW | 24.05.2021
"We have seen a forced landing that led to the arrest," Merkel said as she arrived at an EU summit where sanctions will be discussed. "All other explanations for the landing of this Ryanair flight are completely implausible."
Merkel's comments came after Germany joined a list of European countries to summons their Belarusian ambassadors, amid shock over Minsk's forced landing of a plane and subsequent arrest of a dissident journalist.
Read more at: Angela Merkel says Belarus′ story ′completely implausible′ | News | DW | 24.05.2021
THE NETHERLANDS: Sex workers back in business as Dutch COVID curbs ease
Sex workers will go back to work in the Netherlands this week under an easing of COVID-19 curbs, health minister Hugo de Jonge said on Monday.
Authorities will also let parks, zoos, gyms and outdoor swimming pools reopen on Wednesday, after the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations eased pressure on hospitals, the minister told reporters.
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, but the government barred it in mid-December under restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Read more at: Sex workers back in business as Dutch COVID curbs ease | Reuters
Authorities will also let parks, zoos, gyms and outdoor swimming pools reopen on Wednesday, after the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations eased pressure on hospitals, the minister told reporters.
Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, but the government barred it in mid-December under restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Read more at: Sex workers back in business as Dutch COVID curbs ease | Reuters
Digital Nationalism: We’re entering the age of ‘digital nationalism’ — and this will only benefit big tech
The massive digital platform market has until recently been dominated by a handful of US-based companies such as Facebook and Google. However, as foreign governments and competing platforms try to erode this domination, platforms are becoming a new sphere of geopolitical manoeuvring.
The European Union wants to gain more control over international tech companies and achieve more independence in the digital arena. India has banned 177 Chinese apps on the grounds they are “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India”.
And in 2020, the then US President Donald Trump spent months attempting to ban the Chinese-made video-sharing platform TikTok or force its sale to an American owner. While some claimed Trump was piqued by a supposed prank against him by teenage TikTok users, a look at statements from US government officials over the course of the year shows geopolitical concerns were the main driver.
Read more at: We’re entering the age of ‘digital nationalism’ — and this will only benefit big tech
The European Union wants to gain more control over international tech companies and achieve more independence in the digital arena. India has banned 177 Chinese apps on the grounds they are “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India”.
And in 2020, the then US President Donald Trump spent months attempting to ban the Chinese-made video-sharing platform TikTok or force its sale to an American owner. While some claimed Trump was piqued by a supposed prank against him by teenage TikTok users, a look at statements from US government officials over the course of the year shows geopolitical concerns were the main driver.
Read more at: We’re entering the age of ‘digital nationalism’ — and this will only benefit big tech
USA: Senate Republicans scramble to derail creation of Capitol riot commission - by Hugo Lowell
Top Senate Republicans are making a concerted effort to quash the creation of a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Capitol attack, deeply endangering the bill’s passage amid fears about what a high-profile inquiry into the events of 6 January might uncover.
Read more at Senate Republicans scramble to derail creation of Capitol riot commission | US Capitol breach | The Guardian
Read more at Senate Republicans scramble to derail creation of Capitol riot commission | US Capitol breach | The Guardian
EU Automobile Industry:New battery-electric vehicles take 5.7% share in Europe in Q1; hybrids 18.4%, gasoline 42.2% , diesel 23.2%
In the first quarter of 2021, hybrid electric vehicles made up 18.4% of total passenger car sales in the EU, almost doubling their market share in a year, according to data from the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). Demand for electrically-chargeable cars also increased in Q1: battery-electric vehicles made up 5.7% of all new cars, while plug-in hybrids accounted for 8.2% of EU registrations.
Sales of traditional fossil-fuel cars continued to decrease in the European Union, although gasoline and diesel still made up 65.4% of the car market.
Read more at: New battery-electric vehicles take 5.7% share in Europe in Q1; hybrids 18.4%, gasoline 42.2% , diesel 23.2% - Green Car Congress
Sales of traditional fossil-fuel cars continued to decrease in the European Union, although gasoline and diesel still made up 65.4% of the car market.
Read more at: New battery-electric vehicles take 5.7% share in Europe in Q1; hybrids 18.4%, gasoline 42.2% , diesel 23.2% - Green Car Congress
5/23/21
USA - Alternative Energy: Turn off the gas: is America ready to embrace electric vehicles?
In Detroit, auto plants have for decades churned out trucks built with Motor City steel and fueled by gasoline. But this week’s rollout of the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck offered a vision of the future in America’s automotive heartland: aluminum-clad pickups running off of electric powertrains with lithium batteries.
An electric model of the nation’s best-selling vehicle at an accessible $40,000 has the potential to shift the auto industry’s course, and do more to advance the transportation sector’s electrification than any recent development, analysts say.
Read more at Turn off the gas: is America ready to embrace electric vehicles? | Automotive industry | The Guardian
An electric model of the nation’s best-selling vehicle at an accessible $40,000 has the potential to shift the auto industry’s course, and do more to advance the transportation sector’s electrification than any recent development, analysts say.
Read more at Turn off the gas: is America ready to embrace electric vehicles? | Automotive industry | The Guardian
Hungary′s Viktor Orban faces challenge from Budapest mayor
Budapest's liberal Mayor Gergely Karacsony on Saturday declared his plan to contest joint opposition primaries in September and October, hoping to become top challenger to Viktor Orban in general elections due next April.
Read more at: Hungary′s Viktor Orban faces challenge from Budapest mayor | News | DW | 15.05.2021
Read more at: Hungary′s Viktor Orban faces challenge from Budapest mayor | News | DW | 15.05.2021
EU's Travel Pass: Everything you need to know about the EU's COVID travel pass - by Michael Kennedy
The European Union has moved another step closer to reviving free movement after reaching a provisional consensus on an EU COVID travel pass.
Agreeing in a political sense on Thursday, the European Parliament and Council will now look to formalise the proposed legislation. This is expected to mark a watershed moment in the pandemic.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC), previously called the Digital Green Certificate, will allow for travel restrictions to lift across all 27 member states - and will be available for specific non-EU countries, too.
Read more at: Everything you need to know about the EU's COVID travel pass | Euronews
Agreeing in a political sense on Thursday, the European Parliament and Council will now look to formalise the proposed legislation. This is expected to mark a watershed moment in the pandemic.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC), previously called the Digital Green Certificate, will allow for travel restrictions to lift across all 27 member states - and will be available for specific non-EU countries, too.
Read more at: Everything you need to know about the EU's COVID travel pass | Euronews
5/22/21
Eurovision - the Netherlands: Italy's raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm - by Stephanie van den Berg
Italy's entry, glam rock band Maneskin, won the Eurovision song contest, as the world's most popular live music event was held in the Netherlands after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Italian's raucous "Zitti E Buoni" beat out professional jury favourites Switzerland and France, sweeping the public vote which counts for half the points. Victoria de Angelis of Maneskin told a press conference the win was an important boost for Italy, one of the European countries worst hit by COVID-19.
Read more at: Italy's raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm | Reuters
The Italian's raucous "Zitti E Buoni" beat out professional jury favourites Switzerland and France, sweeping the public vote which counts for half the points. Victoria de Angelis of Maneskin told a press conference the win was an important boost for Italy, one of the European countries worst hit by COVID-19.
Read more at: Italy's raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm | Reuters
5/21/21
USA: AOC says Marjorie Taylor Greene is ‘deeply unwell’ after 2019 video surfaces -by Adam Gabbatt
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the Republican extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene has a “fixation” on progressive members of Congress, and warned that Greene’s behavior has “raised concerns” among Democrats.
Greene, a Trump loyalist and a promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, was elected to the House in 2020, and has spent her first months in office harassing Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez’s warning came after CNN unearthed a video showing her staff being harassed by Greene, then a private citizen, in 2019. The footage shows Greene, accompanied by a man who would go on to take part in the Capitol riot in January this year, shouting through the letterbox of Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional office.
Read more at: AOC says Marjorie Taylor Greene is ‘deeply unwell’ after 2019 video surfaces | US Congress | The Guardian
Greene, a Trump loyalist and a promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, was elected to the House in 2020, and has spent her first months in office harassing Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive Democrats.
Ocasio-Cortez’s warning came after CNN unearthed a video showing her staff being harassed by Greene, then a private citizen, in 2019. The footage shows Greene, accompanied by a man who would go on to take part in the Capitol riot in January this year, shouting through the letterbox of Ocasio-Cortez’s congressional office.
Read more at: AOC says Marjorie Taylor Greene is ‘deeply unwell’ after 2019 video surfaces | US Congress | The Guardian
The Netherlands: Amsterdam to become first city in the world to ban advertising by fossil fuels companies
Amsterdam is set to be the first city in the world to ban ads from fossil fuel and aviation companies in a bid to reduce the ‘excesses’ of fossil fuel advertising.
This means that fossil-fuelled vehicles, such as petrol cars and flights, will no longer be advertised in Amsterdam subway stations or the city centre.
The new law follows mass movements in and around the capital which were headed up by the Reclame Fossielvrij (Fossil Free Advertising) initiative. The group co-ordinated a letter from over 50 local organisations demanding Amsterdam to go fossil free.
“The decision to ban fossil fuel advertising from subway stations comes at a crucial moment in the fight against climate change. Adverts that portray fossil fuels as normal worsen climate disruption and have no place in a city − or a country − that has complied with Paris,” says Amsterdam Mayor Femke Sleegers, coordinator of Reclame Fossielvrij.
Read more at: Amsterdam to become first city in the world to ban this type of advert | Euronews
This means that fossil-fuelled vehicles, such as petrol cars and flights, will no longer be advertised in Amsterdam subway stations or the city centre.
The new law follows mass movements in and around the capital which were headed up by the Reclame Fossielvrij (Fossil Free Advertising) initiative. The group co-ordinated a letter from over 50 local organisations demanding Amsterdam to go fossil free.
“The decision to ban fossil fuel advertising from subway stations comes at a crucial moment in the fight against climate change. Adverts that portray fossil fuels as normal worsen climate disruption and have no place in a city − or a country − that has complied with Paris,” says Amsterdam Mayor Femke Sleegers, coordinator of Reclame Fossielvrij.
Read more at: Amsterdam to become first city in the world to ban this type of advert | Euronews
Russia: Kremlin targets workers with Moscow's iconic Metro who support jailed opposition leader
he Komsomolskaya Metro station is one of the most ornate in Moscow's transit system, which is one of the world's busiest, carrying almost seven million passengers a day. Dozens and perhaps hundreds of employees have been fired or told to resign after supporting a jailed opposition leader. (Corinne Seminoff/CBC)
The Putin government's expanding crackdown on political dissent has entangled one of Russia's most iconic and respected institutions: Moscow's famously ornate Metro system.
Over the last week, dozens — perhaps even hundreds — of train drivers, mechanics, ticket agents and other public transit workers have been hauled before management and told to either resign or be fired.
The reason appears to be that either they or a family member signed onto a website calling for President Vladimir Putin's arch-foe, Alexei Navalny, to be freed from prison.
Read more at: Kremlin targets workers with Moscow's iconic Metro who support jailed opposition leader | CBC News
The Putin government's expanding crackdown on political dissent has entangled one of Russia's most iconic and respected institutions: Moscow's famously ornate Metro system.
Over the last week, dozens — perhaps even hundreds — of train drivers, mechanics, ticket agents and other public transit workers have been hauled before management and told to either resign or be fired.
The reason appears to be that either they or a family member signed onto a website calling for President Vladimir Putin's arch-foe, Alexei Navalny, to be freed from prison.
Read more at: Kremlin targets workers with Moscow's iconic Metro who support jailed opposition leader | CBC News
USA: Made By Putin? A 21st Century Slow-Burn US Civil War - by Alexei Bayer and Stephan Richter
Periods of leadership vacuum are by their very nature notoriously dangerous. In mature democracies — and the United States certainly considers itself as one — this shouldn’t be so. But it is.
Recall that in medieval Rome, the death of the sitting Pope was usually followed by riots and settling of scores by the city’s princely clans. Putting an end to the chaos was an important incentive for the cardinals to elect a successor as quickly as possible.
Read more at: Made By Putin? A 21st Century Slow-Burn US Civil War - The Globalist
Recall that in medieval Rome, the death of the sitting Pope was usually followed by riots and settling of scores by the city’s princely clans. Putting an end to the chaos was an important incentive for the cardinals to elect a successor as quickly as possible.
Read more at: Made By Putin? A 21st Century Slow-Burn US Civil War - The Globalist
5/20/21
U.S. Republicans: Flirting With Fascism
Now that Congressional Republicans have seen fit to expel Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her leadership post in the U.S. House of Representatives, the warning lights are flashing red for American democracy.
Like their German counterparts in the 1930s, Donald Trump’s Republican enablers in the U.S. Congress have lots of intelligence but no principles.
Read more at: U.S. Republicans: Flirting With Fascism - The Globalist
Like their German counterparts in the 1930s, Donald Trump’s Republican enablers in the U.S. Congress have lots of intelligence but no principles.
Read more at: U.S. Republicans: Flirting With Fascism - The Globalist
Middle East: Israel and Hamas agree cease-fire after 11-day conflict
Israel and Hamas announced a cease-fire on Thursday to halt an 11-day conflict that caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and brought life in much of Israel to a standstill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Thursday said his Security Cabinet unilaterally approved the Egyptian-mediated proposal.
Read more at Israel and Hamas agree cease-fire after 11-day conflict | Euronews
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Thursday said his Security Cabinet unilaterally approved the Egyptian-mediated proposal.
Read more at Israel and Hamas agree cease-fire after 11-day conflict | Euronews
Afghanistan: Taliban captures strategic district close to Kabul
Militants took control of the district building on Tuesday and torched it, according to provincial officials. The district center of Nirkh has been under siege by the Taliban for at least a week. The Taliban said it had captured munitions from stockpiles in the district.
Nirkh is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away from Kabul. It could be used by militants as a gateway to reach Kabul and launch attacks on the Afghan capital. Several important highways connecting Afghanistan's central and southern provinces go through Nirkh.
Read more at: Afghanistan: Taliban captures strategic district close to Kabul | News | DW | 12.05.2021
Nirkh is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away from Kabul. It could be used by militants as a gateway to reach Kabul and launch attacks on the Afghan capital. Several important highways connecting Afghanistan's central and southern provinces go through Nirkh.
Read more at: Afghanistan: Taliban captures strategic district close to Kabul | News | DW | 12.05.2021
Russia-US Relationbs: Kremlin hails ‘positive steps’ in US ties as Biden waives pipeline sanctions - by Luke Harding
Relations between the US and Russia have taken a tentative step forward after the Kremlin welcomed a decision by the Biden administration not to impose significant sanctions on a controversial Russian pipeline delivering gas to Germany.
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, on Thursday hailed what he called “positive steps” in ties with Washington, ahead of a face-to-face summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, due to take place in Europe in the next few weeks.
Read more at: Kremlin hails ‘positive steps’ in US ties as Biden waives pipeline sanctions | Russia | The Guardian
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, on Thursday hailed what he called “positive steps” in ties with Washington, ahead of a face-to-face summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, due to take place in Europe in the next few weeks.
Read more at: Kremlin hails ‘positive steps’ in US ties as Biden waives pipeline sanctions | Russia | The Guardian
Coronavirus Travel Restrictions: Canadians 'may' be able to travel to U.S. for vaccines without quarantine on return
If Canadians were to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Detroit, they might be able to do so without having to quarantine upon reentry to Canada.
That's according to a letter sent from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj.
Read more at: Canadians 'may' be able to travel to U.S. for vaccines without quarantine on return | CBC News
That's according to a letter sent from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj.
Read more at: Canadians 'may' be able to travel to U.S. for vaccines without quarantine on return | CBC News
5/19/21
Israel-Hamas conflict: Gaza Doctors Say Hospitals Overwhelmed With Casualties From Israeli Airstrikes
Palestinian public-health authorities say doctors are struggling to treat hundreds of people injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as medical supplies run short in hospitals on the verge of collapse.
Public hospitals have canceled nonemergency surgeries and transferred Covid-19 patients to private clinics to free up resources to treat trauma cases. Even so, at Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, patients often endure long waits for treatment or must share scarce beds, doctors said.
Read more at: Gaza Doctors Say Hospitals Overwhelmed With Casualties From Israeli Airstrikes - WSJ
Public hospitals have canceled nonemergency surgeries and transferred Covid-19 patients to private clinics to free up resources to treat trauma cases. Even so, at Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, patients often endure long waits for treatment or must share scarce beds, doctors said.
Read more at: Gaza Doctors Say Hospitals Overwhelmed With Casualties From Israeli Airstrikes - WSJ
The End Times: Lansing HR director warns of biblical end times - by Kyle Kaminski
The director of Lansing’s Department of Human Resources warned this week about the “second coming of Christ” — including the “mark of the beast,” microchips, martial law, a cashless society and total government dependency.
“The AntiChrist comes before the Rapture. I have studied the Bible a lot in my life, in many different forms and it really does always come down to this,” Linda Sanchez-Gazella posted to Facebook this week. “I have been hearing about the second coming of Christ since I was a kid. The ‘Mark of the Beast,’ microchips, no cash/just plastic, Martial Law, TOTAL government dependency/control. When we are raising a family, working long hours, some two jobs, lots of things go unnoticed or just get ignored. No one can comprehend how bad it will be till it is. We have NEVER been told to stay home, quit work and rely on the government. We are seeing a lot of ‘firsts’ since January. Can our minds and bodies handle what’s coming? Not without God."
Some churches and Christian ministries have made false claims that COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips or have construed associations between vaccine ingredients and the devil, according to reports in the Washington Post. Other evangelicals have reportedly talked about how vaccines and masks contain or herald the “mark of the beast,” a reference to an apocalyptic passage from the Book of Revelation that suggests that the Antichrist will test Christians by asking them to put a mark on their bodies.
The motivation and reasoning for Sanchez-Gazella’s recent Facebook musings — which she indicated was copied and pasted from another of her Facebook friends — isn’t totally clear. A message left with her office was not immediately returned.
"I wonder what doctor they will have on the news explaining the rapture and the disappearance of so many people? I won’t be here for it," Sanchez-Gazella also reposted on her Facebook page, which is not affiliated with the city of Lansing or its Department of Human Resources. “I also believe right now that God is giving us a chance to repent. We need to get the Gospel message out,”
Read more at: Lansing HR director warns of biblical end times | City Pulse
“The AntiChrist comes before the Rapture. I have studied the Bible a lot in my life, in many different forms and it really does always come down to this,” Linda Sanchez-Gazella posted to Facebook this week. “I have been hearing about the second coming of Christ since I was a kid. The ‘Mark of the Beast,’ microchips, no cash/just plastic, Martial Law, TOTAL government dependency/control. When we are raising a family, working long hours, some two jobs, lots of things go unnoticed or just get ignored. No one can comprehend how bad it will be till it is. We have NEVER been told to stay home, quit work and rely on the government. We are seeing a lot of ‘firsts’ since January. Can our minds and bodies handle what’s coming? Not without God."
Some churches and Christian ministries have made false claims that COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips or have construed associations between vaccine ingredients and the devil, according to reports in the Washington Post. Other evangelicals have reportedly talked about how vaccines and masks contain or herald the “mark of the beast,” a reference to an apocalyptic passage from the Book of Revelation that suggests that the Antichrist will test Christians by asking them to put a mark on their bodies.
The motivation and reasoning for Sanchez-Gazella’s recent Facebook musings — which she indicated was copied and pasted from another of her Facebook friends — isn’t totally clear. A message left with her office was not immediately returned.
"I wonder what doctor they will have on the news explaining the rapture and the disappearance of so many people? I won’t be here for it," Sanchez-Gazella also reposted on her Facebook page, which is not affiliated with the city of Lansing or its Department of Human Resources. “I also believe right now that God is giving us a chance to repent. We need to get the Gospel message out,”
Read more at: Lansing HR director warns of biblical end times | City Pulse
Middle East: Israel Strikes 'Number of Targets' in Lebanon Shortly After Biden Sets De-Escalation Expectation
On Wednesday, Biden told Netanyahu that he expected Israel to engage in "significant de-escalation" that day in an effort to move toward a cease-fire. About 10 minutes after the White House announced the contents of the call, Israel conducted strikes on a "number of targets" in Lebanon.
The strikes were in response to four rockets that were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome, a defense system that has been credited with saving Israeli lives.
As reported by the Associated Press, as of Wednesday, about 219 Palestinians have been killed in the current fighting, while Israel has seen 12 casualties. The rising number of deaths and injuries have raised calls from around the world for Israel to mount a "proportionate" response to the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has denied Israel has done anything beyond defending itself and vowed to continue until Hamas is deterred from future violence.
Read more at: Israel Strikes 'Number of Targets' in Lebanon Shortly After Biden Sets De-Escalation Expectation
The strikes were in response to four rockets that were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces. One was intercepted by the Iron Dome, a defense system that has been credited with saving Israeli lives.
As reported by the Associated Press, as of Wednesday, about 219 Palestinians have been killed in the current fighting, while Israel has seen 12 casualties. The rising number of deaths and injuries have raised calls from around the world for Israel to mount a "proportionate" response to the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has denied Israel has done anything beyond defending itself and vowed to continue until Hamas is deterred from future violence.
Read more at: Israel Strikes 'Number of Targets' in Lebanon Shortly After Biden Sets De-Escalation Expectation
5/18/21
EU leaders confront US over vaccine patent waiver demands - by Sam Fleming, Jim Brunsden, Mehreen Khan and Michael Peel and Guy Chazan
EU leaders have confronted the Biden administration over its calls for Covid-19 vaccine patent waivers and urged the US to export jabs directly if it wants to help poor countries in need.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after a two-day EU leaders’ summit in Porto, Portugal, that suspending intellectual property rights was no solution to supply shortages and called for a focus on ramping up production instead.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron and top EU officials echoed the German premier’s rhetoric as the union scrambled to respond to this week’s surprise US move. Both powers are attempting to fend off accusations they are hoarding vaccines as much of the world sees few or no shipments.
“I don’t think waiving patents is the solution to supply the vaccine to more people,” Merkel told reporters after the summit concluded on Saturday. “I think that we need the creativity and innovation of the companies — and for that we need patent protection.”
Read more at: EU leaders confront US over vaccine patent waiver demands | Financial Times
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after a two-day EU leaders’ summit in Porto, Portugal, that suspending intellectual property rights was no solution to supply shortages and called for a focus on ramping up production instead.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron and top EU officials echoed the German premier’s rhetoric as the union scrambled to respond to this week’s surprise US move. Both powers are attempting to fend off accusations they are hoarding vaccines as much of the world sees few or no shipments.
“I don’t think waiving patents is the solution to supply the vaccine to more people,” Merkel told reporters after the summit concluded on Saturday. “I think that we need the creativity and innovation of the companies — and for that we need patent protection.”
Read more at: EU leaders confront US over vaccine patent waiver demands | Financial Times
Covid Updates From Around the World
Europe: Starting today, people in England will be able to see what the inside of a pub looks like for the first time in months thanks to an easing of restrictions. And countries including Greece and Portugal are gradually opening their borders for the all-important summer tourist season. But at least in England, officials are worried about the growing prevalence of the highly transmissible B16172 variant first found in India.
Southeast Asia: Despite early successes at taming the coronavirus, Singapore and Taiwan are clamping down aggressively to combat new outbreaks. Singapore is sending most kids back to Zoom school this week, and Taiwan is limiting indoor social gatherings to five people.
North America: The one-week average of new cases in the US hit its lowest level since June. Meanwhile, the Canadian government has started to discuss reopening the border with the US, which has been closed since March 2020.
Read more at: Covid Updates From Around the World
Southeast Asia: Despite early successes at taming the coronavirus, Singapore and Taiwan are clamping down aggressively to combat new outbreaks. Singapore is sending most kids back to Zoom school this week, and Taiwan is limiting indoor social gatherings to five people.
North America: The one-week average of new cases in the US hit its lowest level since June. Meanwhile, the Canadian government has started to discuss reopening the border with the US, which has been closed since March 2020.
Read more at: Covid Updates From Around the World
Europe Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Israel-Palestinian Fighting - by Steven Erlanger
European Union foreign ministers overwhelmingly called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians in an emergency meeting on Tuesday, according to the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
All of the member states except Hungary backed a statement that condemned rocket attacks by Hamas and supported Israel’s right to self-defense but also cautioned that it had “to be done in a proportional manner and respecting international humanitarian law,’’ Mr. Borrell said at a news conference.
Read more at: Europe Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Israel-Palestinian Fighting - The New York Times
All of the member states except Hungary backed a statement that condemned rocket attacks by Hamas and supported Israel’s right to self-defense but also cautioned that it had “to be done in a proportional manner and respecting international humanitarian law,’’ Mr. Borrell said at a news conference.
Read more at: Europe Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Israel-Palestinian Fighting - The New York Times
5/17/21
European Song Festival: Eurovision makes Covid-lite return in the Netherlands
The glamour of Eurovision is back, with the Dutch hosting a scaled-down, coronavirus-safe version this week after the song contest was cancelled last year.
Delegates will be officially welcomed at the grand opening of this year's week-long event on Sunday afternoon, which includes a glitzy "Turquoise Carpet" event where contestants will strut their stuff, organisers said.
But four teams have already been nixed from the opening ceremony after a Polish and Icelandic delegate tested positive for Covid-19 and Malta and Romania are staying away as a precaution because they are staying in the same hotel.
French singer Barbara Pravi is the bookmakers' favourite to win the Eurovision song contest
Good news for U.S fans of the Eurovision Song Contest. Ahead of Tuesday’s first semi-final, it has been confirmed that the Peacock streaming platform https://www.peacocktv.com/ will air all three shows in the United States. It is set to be available to users of both the premium and free option of the site. Netflix US streams the contest on delay. Pre-qualifying contests are on May 18 and May 20 starting at EST 15.00hrs and PT 12.00hrs. The Grand Final will be on Saturday May 20 starting at EST 15.00hrs and PT 12.00hrs.
Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/eurovision-makes-covid-lite-return-in-the-netherlands/ar-BB1gMseX
Delegates will be officially welcomed at the grand opening of this year's week-long event on Sunday afternoon, which includes a glitzy "Turquoise Carpet" event where contestants will strut their stuff, organisers said.
But four teams have already been nixed from the opening ceremony after a Polish and Icelandic delegate tested positive for Covid-19 and Malta and Romania are staying away as a precaution because they are staying in the same hotel.
French singer Barbara Pravi is the bookmakers' favourite to win the Eurovision song contest
Good news for U.S fans of the Eurovision Song Contest. Ahead of Tuesday’s first semi-final, it has been confirmed that the Peacock streaming platform https://www.peacocktv.com/ will air all three shows in the United States. It is set to be available to users of both the premium and free option of the site. Netflix US streams the contest on delay. Pre-qualifying contests are on May 18 and May 20 starting at EST 15.00hrs and PT 12.00hrs. The Grand Final will be on Saturday May 20 starting at EST 15.00hrs and PT 12.00hrs.
Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/eurovision-makes-covid-lite-return-in-the-netherlands/ar-BB1gMseX
Israel: Opinion - Bernie Sanders: The Approach the Israel-Palestine Conflict Needs - by Bernie Sanders
Let’s be clear. No one is arguing that Israel, or any government, does not have the right to self-defense or to protect its people. So why are these words repeated year after year, war after war? And why is the question almost never asked: “What are the rights of the Palestinian people?”
And why do we seem to take notice of the violence in Israel and Palestine only when rockets are falling on Israel?
In this moment of crisis, the United States should be urging an immediate cease-fire. We should also understand that, while Hamas firing rockets into Israeli communities is absolutely unacceptable, today’s conflict did not begin with those rockets.
Further, we have seen Benjamin Netanyahu’s government work to marginalize and demonize Palestinian citizens of Israel, pursue settlement policies designed to foreclose the possibility of a two-state solution and pass laws that entrench systemic inequality between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Over more than a decade of his right-wing rule in Israel, Mr. Netanyahu has cultivated an increasingly intolerant and authoritarian type of racist nationalism. In his frantic effort to stay in power and avoid prosecution for corruption, Mr. Netanyahu has legitimized these forces, including Itamar Ben Gvir and his extremist Jewish Power party, by bringing them into the government. It is shocking and saddening that racist mobs that attack Palestinians on the streets of Jerusalem now have representation in its Knesset.
Read more at: Opinion | Bernie Sanders: The Approach the Israel-Palestine Conflict Needs - The New York Times
And why do we seem to take notice of the violence in Israel and Palestine only when rockets are falling on Israel?
In this moment of crisis, the United States should be urging an immediate cease-fire. We should also understand that, while Hamas firing rockets into Israeli communities is absolutely unacceptable, today’s conflict did not begin with those rockets.
Further, we have seen Benjamin Netanyahu’s government work to marginalize and demonize Palestinian citizens of Israel, pursue settlement policies designed to foreclose the possibility of a two-state solution and pass laws that entrench systemic inequality between Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Over more than a decade of his right-wing rule in Israel, Mr. Netanyahu has cultivated an increasingly intolerant and authoritarian type of racist nationalism. In his frantic effort to stay in power and avoid prosecution for corruption, Mr. Netanyahu has legitimized these forces, including Itamar Ben Gvir and his extremist Jewish Power party, by bringing them into the government. It is shocking and saddening that racist mobs that attack Palestinians on the streets of Jerusalem now have representation in its Knesset.
Read more at: Opinion | Bernie Sanders: The Approach the Israel-Palestine Conflict Needs - The New York Times
Turkey–US Relations: Where Now?
Turkey’s relations with the US have suffered a blow, but the US needs to understand that in a changing world, regional stability cannot be achieved without Turkish cooperation.
One cannot say that Turkey–US relations have been a smooth ride these past seven years. Although this has been an exceptional time, bilateral relations between the two countries have hit many a tough curve since US President Lyndon Johnson’s letter over Cyprus in 1964, which warned the then-Turkish government against ‘military interference’ on the island.
However, never before has the relationship been as strained as it is now in the context of US military aid to the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist organisation, which constitutes a primary national security threat for Turkey. Never before has Turkey found itself in such a pivotal role as the US attempts to draw a global ring of ‘like-minded’ states and allies closer to itself to distance Russia, with great power rivalry making a comeback. Never before was Turkey able to shape regional realties on the ground to this extent, as the first realignment of great power relations since the end of the Second World War is unfolding. Turkey’s role in Libya, Syria, Iraq and more recently in support of Azerbaijan in its fight against Armenian occupying forces in Nagorno-Karabakh has to be seen within this wider picture of global change.
Read more at: Turkey–US Relations: Where Now? | RUSI
One cannot say that Turkey–US relations have been a smooth ride these past seven years. Although this has been an exceptional time, bilateral relations between the two countries have hit many a tough curve since US President Lyndon Johnson’s letter over Cyprus in 1964, which warned the then-Turkish government against ‘military interference’ on the island.
However, never before has the relationship been as strained as it is now in the context of US military aid to the Syrian branch of the PKK terrorist organisation, which constitutes a primary national security threat for Turkey. Never before has Turkey found itself in such a pivotal role as the US attempts to draw a global ring of ‘like-minded’ states and allies closer to itself to distance Russia, with great power rivalry making a comeback. Never before was Turkey able to shape regional realties on the ground to this extent, as the first realignment of great power relations since the end of the Second World War is unfolding. Turkey’s role in Libya, Syria, Iraq and more recently in support of Azerbaijan in its fight against Armenian occupying forces in Nagorno-Karabakh has to be seen within this wider picture of global change.
Read more at: Turkey–US Relations: Where Now? | RUSI
Coronavirus J&J vaccination: EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, says odds favor use
The European Union’s drug regulatory agency said Tuesday that it found a “possible link” between Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots and recommended a warning be added to the label. But experts at the agency reiterated that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the risks.
The European Medicines Agency made its determination after examining a small number of clot cases in people vaccinated in the U.S. It said these problems should be considered “very rare side effects of the vaccine.”
J&J immediately announced it will revise its label as requested and resume vaccine shipments to the EU, Norway and Iceland. In a statement, it said: “The safety and well-being of the people who use our products is our number one priority.”
Read more a: EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, says odds favor use
The European Medicines Agency made its determination after examining a small number of clot cases in people vaccinated in the U.S. It said these problems should be considered “very rare side effects of the vaccine.”
J&J immediately announced it will revise its label as requested and resume vaccine shipments to the EU, Norway and Iceland. In a statement, it said: “The safety and well-being of the people who use our products is our number one priority.”
Read more a: EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, says odds favor use
US distances itself from demands for Israel-Hamas cease-fire - by E. Knickmeyer, M. Lee and E. M. Lederer
The Biden administration distanced itself Monday from growing calls by Democrats and others for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers as fighting entered a second week, with more than 200 people dead, most of them Palestinians in Gaza.
The United States, Israel’s top ally, also blocked for the third time what would have been a unanimous statement by the 15-nation U.N. Security Council expressing “grave concern” over the intensifying Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the loss of civilian lives. The final U.S. rejection Monday killed the Security Council statement, at least for now.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki and national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States instead was focusing on “quiet, intensive diplomacy.” As missile and rocket exchanges between Israel and Hamas surged to their worst levels since 2014 and the international outcry grew, the Biden administration — determined to wrench U.S. foreign policy focus away from the Middle East and Afghanistan — has declined so far to criticize Israel’s part in the fighting, send a top-level envoy to the region or press Israel publicly to wind down its latest military operation in the thickly populated Gaza Strip, as some past U.S. administrations have done. Appeals by other countries so far show no sign of progress.
Read more at: US distances itself from demands for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
The United States, Israel’s top ally, also blocked for the third time what would have been a unanimous statement by the 15-nation U.N. Security Council expressing “grave concern” over the intensifying Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the loss of civilian lives. The final U.S. rejection Monday killed the Security Council statement, at least for now.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki and national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States instead was focusing on “quiet, intensive diplomacy.” As missile and rocket exchanges between Israel and Hamas surged to their worst levels since 2014 and the international outcry grew, the Biden administration — determined to wrench U.S. foreign policy focus away from the Middle East and Afghanistan — has declined so far to criticize Israel’s part in the fighting, send a top-level envoy to the region or press Israel publicly to wind down its latest military operation in the thickly populated Gaza Strip, as some past U.S. administrations have done. Appeals by other countries so far show no sign of progress.
Read more at: US distances itself from demands for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
5/16/21
EU-Economy: European Commission upgrades economic forecasts - by Sam Fleming
The European Commission has sharply raised its economic forecasts for the coming two years, as an accelerating vaccination campaign helps the eurozone recover from the historic blow delivered by the pandemic.
The euro area will expand by 4.3 per cent this year and 4.4 per cent in 2022, Brussels said on Wednesday, compared with previous forecasts for 3.8 per cent growth in both years. As a result, all member states are now expected to regain their pre-crisis output levels by the end of next year, following a historic 6.6 per cent slump in 2020.
The stronger outlook was driven by the rising vaccination rates and the prospect of lockdowns easing across the region, as well as improving export demand driven by a global rebound. Brussels for the first time fully factored in the impact of the €800bn Next Generation EU economic relaunch package, which is expected to begin paying out in the second half of the year.
“The shadow of Covid-19 is beginning to lift from Europe’s economy,” said Paolo Gentiloni, the EU’s economics commissioner. “After a weak start to the year, we project strong growth in both 2021 and 2022. Unprecedented fiscal support has been — and remains — essential in helping Europe’s workers and companies to weather the storm.”
Read more at: European Commission upgrades economic forecasts | Financial Times
The euro area will expand by 4.3 per cent this year and 4.4 per cent in 2022, Brussels said on Wednesday, compared with previous forecasts for 3.8 per cent growth in both years. As a result, all member states are now expected to regain their pre-crisis output levels by the end of next year, following a historic 6.6 per cent slump in 2020.
The stronger outlook was driven by the rising vaccination rates and the prospect of lockdowns easing across the region, as well as improving export demand driven by a global rebound. Brussels for the first time fully factored in the impact of the €800bn Next Generation EU economic relaunch package, which is expected to begin paying out in the second half of the year.
“The shadow of Covid-19 is beginning to lift from Europe’s economy,” said Paolo Gentiloni, the EU’s economics commissioner. “After a weak start to the year, we project strong growth in both 2021 and 2022. Unprecedented fiscal support has been — and remains — essential in helping Europe’s workers and companies to weather the storm.”
Read more at: European Commission upgrades economic forecasts | Financial Times
Israel-Hamas conflict: China calls for UN council action, slams US
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on the U.N. Security Council to seek an early de-escalation of violence between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. He also blamed the U.S. for the council’s lack of action so far.
“Regrettably, the council has so far failed to reach an agreement, with the United States standing on the opposite side of international justice,” the state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Wang as saying in a phone conversation Saturday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
He expressed support for a two-state solution, just like the EU recently did, and said China, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, expects all parties to speak with a unified voice when the council discusses the conflict later Sunday.
Read more at: The Latest: China calls for UN council action, slams US
“Regrettably, the council has so far failed to reach an agreement, with the United States standing on the opposite side of international justice,” the state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Wang as saying in a phone conversation Saturday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
He expressed support for a two-state solution, just like the EU recently did, and said China, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, expects all parties to speak with a unified voice when the council discusses the conflict later Sunday.
Read more at: The Latest: China calls for UN council action, slams US
USA: America’s vanishing workforce - by M. Cassella and R. Rainey
Federal and state officials, who spent the last year trying to keep Americans safe in their homes during the pandemic, are suddenly grappling with the opposite problem: how to lure them back to work.
At least 14 states, including North Dakota, Alabama and South Carolina, have moved to cut off enhanced federal jobless benefits that were supposed to last until September. Florida is among roughly 30 states reinstating a requirement that the unemployed prove they are looking for work to receive state benefits. Montana is offering return-to-work bonuses to unemployment recipients who accept a job offer. Amazon, McDonald's and Chipotle are hiking wages, as is Tyson Foods, which will also start allowing more flexible work schedules.
Read more at: America’s vanishing workforce - POLITICO
At least 14 states, including North Dakota, Alabama and South Carolina, have moved to cut off enhanced federal jobless benefits that were supposed to last until September. Florida is among roughly 30 states reinstating a requirement that the unemployed prove they are looking for work to receive state benefits. Montana is offering return-to-work bonuses to unemployment recipients who accept a job offer. Amazon, McDonald's and Chipotle are hiking wages, as is Tyson Foods, which will also start allowing more flexible work schedules.
Read more at: America’s vanishing workforce - POLITICO
5/15/21
Middle East-Gaza-Israel: 'The Scene Is Horrific:' Gazans Trapped as Israel Escalates Bombing, Killing Dozens in the Territory |
The death toll in Gaza has reached at least 83, including 17 children, and hundreds of people have been injured, as Israel’s aerial bombardment of the besieged territory continues. Israel is now sending troops to the Gaza border for a possible ground invasion as many Palestinians are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The Biden administration on Wednesday gave Israel a green light to continue its assault, and Israel has reportedly rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, despite growing international condemnation.
Issam Adwan, Gaza project manager for We Are Not Numbers, a youth-led initiative to share Palestinian stories with the wider world, says many international observers make the mistake of viewing the latest violence in isolation. “They think this war is the only violation of human rights Israel is doing to the people of Gaza. Over the past 15 years, we have witnessed three brutal wars, and this is a fourth one,” says Adwan.
Read more at 'The Scene Is Horrific:' Gazans Trapped as Israel Escalates Bombing, Killing Dozens in the Territory | Link TV
Issam Adwan, Gaza project manager for We Are Not Numbers, a youth-led initiative to share Palestinian stories with the wider world, says many international observers make the mistake of viewing the latest violence in isolation. “They think this war is the only violation of human rights Israel is doing to the people of Gaza. Over the past 15 years, we have witnessed three brutal wars, and this is a fourth one,” says Adwan.
Read more at 'The Scene Is Horrific:' Gazans Trapped as Israel Escalates Bombing, Killing Dozens in the Territory | Link TV
The Netherlands: Dutch tulip farmers are hoping for a post-pandemic boom
The Netherlands, which produces some 90 percent of the world’s tulips, has seen its renowned floral market wilt before. The most famous instance was back in the 1630s, when tulpenmanie (tulip mania) meant the value of a single flower bulb soared up to 10 times the average worker’s annual income before the market suddenly crashed in 1637.
Prices didn’t exactly bottom out in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced borders to snap shut. But lockdowns and market closures meant the worldwide demand for the country’s famed flowers and bulbs dropped significantly. Dutch growers had to destroy hundreds of millions of tulips, daffodils, and other blossoms or sell them at far cheaper prices than in past years.
“A total of 11.4 billion flowers and plants were traded in the Netherlands in 2020, a decrease of 7.8 percent compared to 2019,” says Michel van Schie, a spokesperson for industry conglomerate Royal FloraHolland. The country’s international export market wilted from 6.235 billion euros (7.583 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 to 5.974 billion euros (7.266 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020.
Read more at: Dutch tulip farmers are hoping for a post-pandemic boom
Prices didn’t exactly bottom out in the spring of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced borders to snap shut. But lockdowns and market closures meant the worldwide demand for the country’s famed flowers and bulbs dropped significantly. Dutch growers had to destroy hundreds of millions of tulips, daffodils, and other blossoms or sell them at far cheaper prices than in past years.
“A total of 11.4 billion flowers and plants were traded in the Netherlands in 2020, a decrease of 7.8 percent compared to 2019,” says Michel van Schie, a spokesperson for industry conglomerate Royal FloraHolland. The country’s international export market wilted from 6.235 billion euros (7.583 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 to 5.974 billion euros (7.266 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020.
Read more at: Dutch tulip farmers are hoping for a post-pandemic boom
International Travel: Vaccinated Travelers Face Chaos and Confusion - by Stephen Hiltner
More than 105 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated. Greece, Iceland and Croatia, among a growing list of countries, are now open to American tourists. Airlines are resuming overseas flights. And perhaps the biggest development of all: Come summer, fully vaccinated Americans will once again be welcome across Europe.
But the optimism may be premature. At the moment, the broader reality is more chaotic, and more sobering.<
Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/travel/covid-vaccinated-travel-reality.html
But the optimism may be premature. At the moment, the broader reality is more chaotic, and more sobering.<
Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/travel/covid-vaccinated-travel-reality.html
5/14/21
US Economy: Unfilled jobs, unemployment and price rises show Biden's spending plans carry major risks - by W. James Antle III
We're a long way from the stagflation of those bad old days under President Jimmy Carter, with the economy growing at a brisk 6.4 percent annual rate as the world reopens and the pandemic recedes. Still, a recent spate of bad economic news in what should be a fairly robust recovery is a warning that President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats' approach to fiscal policy could reap negative unintended consequences.
Read more at: W. James Antle III: Unfilled jobs, unemployment and price rises show Biden's spending plans carry major risks
Read more at: W. James Antle III: Unfilled jobs, unemployment and price rises show Biden's spending plans carry major risks
Shipping Industry: Netherlands Will Vaccinate Seafarers Working on Dutch Ships
Seafaring organizations have been highlighting the challenge of vaccinating seafarers during the pandemic calling for special programs and considerations that recognize their role as key workers in the global supply chain. Responding to the need, the Netherlands announced that starting in mid-June all seafarers regardless of nationality who work on seagoing vessels under the Dutch flag or under Dutch management will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations under a program managed by the Royal Association of Dutch Shipowners (KVNR).
Read more at: Netherlands Will Vaccinate Seafarers Working on Dutch Ships
Read more at: Netherlands Will Vaccinate Seafarers Working on Dutch Ships
Russia officially dubs US and Czech Republic ‘unfriendly’ states | Russia
The Russian government has officially deemed the United States and the Czech Republic “unfriendly” states, and announced that US diplomatic missions could no longer employ local staff while Czech missions could employ a maximum of 19.
Moscow first announced the ban on the US hiring local staff last month as part of its retaliation for a slew of new US sanctions against Russia for interfering in the 2020 US presidential election and for involvement in the SolarWind hack of US federal agencies.
Read more at: Russia officially dubs US and Czech Republic ‘unfriendly’ states | Russia | The Guardian
Moscow first announced the ban on the US hiring local staff last month as part of its retaliation for a slew of new US sanctions against Russia for interfering in the 2020 US presidential election and for involvement in the SolarWind hack of US federal agencies.
Read more at: Russia officially dubs US and Czech Republic ‘unfriendly’ states | Russia | The Guardian
China Space Exploration: China successfully lands Mars rover Zhu Rong after ‘nine minutes of terror’
After seven months of space travel, three months orbiting and “nine minutes of terror”, China has become the third country in the world to safely land a rover on Mars.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said in a statement that its rover Zhu Rong – named after the Chinese mythical god of fire and war – had successfully landed on Mars on Saturday after “nine minutes of terror”: Nasa’s name for the time interval when engineers on Earth have no control or oversight of the rover because of a radio signal delay.
Read More at: China successfully lands Mars rover Zhu Rong after ‘nine minutes of terror’ | South China Morning Post
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said in a statement that its rover Zhu Rong – named after the Chinese mythical god of fire and war – had successfully landed on Mars on Saturday after “nine minutes of terror”: Nasa’s name for the time interval when engineers on Earth have no control or oversight of the rover because of a radio signal delay.
Read More at: China successfully lands Mars rover Zhu Rong after ‘nine minutes of terror’ | South China Morning Post
Middle East Israeli-Palestine conflict: Can the EU help defuse tensions as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates?
The EU has long been a staunch supporter of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: a position that Hugh Lovatt, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, expects to be maintained for the foreseeable future.
Josep Borel said: "The EU is unwavering in its support for not just two states but for [mid-1990s peace agreements] the Oslo Accords and the peace process,"
With regard to the latest flare-up, he added: "It's difficult to come up with a unified European Union-wide position - that has been the case for years - but the statement put out in Borrell's name, I think, was one of the better ones put out internationally." Nonetheless, Lovatt does not expect the EU to take an active role in mediation between Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the coming days or weeks, in keeping with its relatively restrained position in the past and during the war of 2014. "The EU has limited added value when it comes to escalation and de-escalation in Gaza," he said. "This is to an extent of the EU's own making because it refuses to have contact with Hamas.
"Those that play a mediating role are those that have contact: Egypt, Qatar and the UN
Read more at Can the EU help defuse tensions as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates? | Euronews
Josep Borel said: "The EU is unwavering in its support for not just two states but for [mid-1990s peace agreements] the Oslo Accords and the peace process,"
With regard to the latest flare-up, he added: "It's difficult to come up with a unified European Union-wide position - that has been the case for years - but the statement put out in Borrell's name, I think, was one of the better ones put out internationally." Nonetheless, Lovatt does not expect the EU to take an active role in mediation between Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the coming days or weeks, in keeping with its relatively restrained position in the past and during the war of 2014. "The EU has limited added value when it comes to escalation and de-escalation in Gaza," he said. "This is to an extent of the EU's own making because it refuses to have contact with Hamas.
"Those that play a mediating role are those that have contact: Egypt, Qatar and the UN
Read more at Can the EU help defuse tensions as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates? | Euronews
5/13/21
Indonesia: Religious fraternity: : Eid al-Fitr: Jokowi Also Greets Christians on Ascension Day of Jesus Christ
President Joko Widodo or Jokowi greeted and congratulated the nation’s Christians on the day of the Ascension of Jesus Christ that took place in conjunction with the 1442 Hijri Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
“To all of my Christian brothers and sisters, I would like to wish for peace, love and health for us all,” Jokowi said on his official Instagram account @jokowi, Thursday, May 13, 2021.
The Instagram post shows an animated picture of the President on the screen of a cell-phone in front of four Christians who clasp their palms—also on the screen of a cell-phone. Two flying doves are seen beside each of the pictures.
The Eid al-Fitr this year is celebrated alongside the Ascension Day of Jesus Christ on Thursday. The determination of the Eid al-Fitr Day was based on the isbat (confirmation) meeting presided over by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the ministry building’s HM Rasjidi Auditorium in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
Read more at: Eid al-Fitr: Jokowi Also Greets Christians on Ascension Day of Jesus Christ - News en.tempo.co
“To all of my Christian brothers and sisters, I would like to wish for peace, love and health for us all,” Jokowi said on his official Instagram account @jokowi, Thursday, May 13, 2021.
The Instagram post shows an animated picture of the President on the screen of a cell-phone in front of four Christians who clasp their palms—also on the screen of a cell-phone. Two flying doves are seen beside each of the pictures.
The Eid al-Fitr this year is celebrated alongside the Ascension Day of Jesus Christ on Thursday. The determination of the Eid al-Fitr Day was based on the isbat (confirmation) meeting presided over by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas at the ministry building’s HM Rasjidi Auditorium in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.
Read more at: Eid al-Fitr: Jokowi Also Greets Christians on Ascension Day of Jesus Christ - News en.tempo.co
Netherlands - Calvinists: In the Netherlands, traditional Calvinists refuse vaccines and social distancing
In the Netherlands, Protestants make up around 16 percent of the population and a small group of traditional Calvinists are opposed to vaccination and social distancing. Most of these believers, who live in a region known as the "Bible Belt", were never vaccinated as children and are opposed to the idea of injecting sickness into a healthy body. Despite surging case numbers, they continue to attend Sunday services without face masks. But amid some of the country's highest Covid-19 infection rates, some of them are starting to shift their mindset. Our regional correspondents report.
Read more at: In the Netherlands, traditional Calvinists refuse vaccines and social distancing - Focus
Read more at: In the Netherlands, traditional Calvinists refuse vaccines and social distancing - Focus
Spain: celebrates end of COVID lockdown with street parties
Hundreds of young people across Spain danced in the streets as the clock struck midnight on Saturday, celebrating the end of a six-month-long national state of emergency.
With COVID-19 infection rates stabilizing and progress in the vaccination drive, most of Spain's 17 regions were able to relax coronavirus restrictions.
Read more at: Spain celebrates end of COVID lockdown with street parties | News | DW | 09.05.2021
With COVID-19 infection rates stabilizing and progress in the vaccination drive, most of Spain's 17 regions were able to relax coronavirus restrictions.
Read more at: Spain celebrates end of COVID lockdown with street parties | News | DW | 09.05.2021
German Cabinet approves landmark climate bill
The German government has approved a bill that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a faster rate with the goal of becoming climate neutral by 2045.
Read more at: German Cabinet approves landmark climate bill | News | DW | 12.05.2021
Read more at: German Cabinet approves landmark climate bill | News | DW | 12.05.2021
Israel-US Relations: Antony Blinken Tells Israel to 'Do Everything' it Can to Avoid Civilian Deaths in Conflict
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate the violence in Gaza but reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel, the Associated Press reported.
Read more at: Antony Blinken Tells Israel to 'Do Everything' it Can to Avoid Civilian Deaths in Conflict
Read more at: Antony Blinken Tells Israel to 'Do Everything' it Can to Avoid Civilian Deaths in Conflict
5/12/21
The Netherlands: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report
A record number of people were euthanized in the Netherlands last year.
Some who died suffered from psychiatric issues, according to Dutch News NL. Both the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium are known for their progressive euthanasia laws that have expanded the scope beyond patients suffering from a terminal disease.
Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.
Read more at: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report | World | The Christian Post
Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.
Read more at: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report | World | The Christian Post
The Netherlands: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report
A record number of people were euthanized in the Netherlands last year.
Some who died suffered from psychiatric issues, according to Dutch News NL. Both the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium are known for their progressive euthanasia laws that have expanded the scope beyond patients suffering from a terminal disease.
Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.
Read more at: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report | World | The Christian Post
Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.
Read more at: Record number of people euthanized in Netherlands in 2020: report | World | The Christian Post
Canada-US Relations:U.S. border guards regularly engage in racial profiling, 3 Black officers allege in lawsuit
Three U.S. border officers stationed at the Blue Water Bridge crossing between Ontario and Michigan have sued the U.S. government alleging racial discrimination at the border. At the same time, the American Civil Liberties Union has released data that it says proves racial profiling at the border in Michigan.
Read more at: U.S. border guards regularly engage in racial profiling, 3 Black officers allege in lawsuit | CBC News
Read more at: U.S. border guards regularly engage in racial profiling, 3 Black officers allege in lawsuit | CBC News
EU Normalizing: Sightseeing, shopping and socializing: Normal life resumes in some EU nations as pandemic restrictions ease
With nearly 180 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in European Union nations, some member nations are slowly easing pandemic restrictions, meaning people can enjoy the sights, shops and nightlife. Here, people visit the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on May 3, the day of its reopening after weeks of closure
Read more at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/photos/sightseeing-shopping-and-socializing-normal-life-resumes-in-some-eu-nations-as-pandemic-restrictions-ease-1.6022581
Read more at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/photos/sightseeing-shopping-and-socializing-normal-life-resumes-in-some-eu-nations-as-pandemic-restrictions-ease-1.6022581
Controlling future Pandemics: How can we stop the next pandemic? Experts call for major changes in surveillance, alert systems
A new transparent global system should be set up for probing disease outbreaks, empowering the World Health Organization to deploy investigators at short notice and reveal findings, a COVID-19 pandemic review panel said on Wednesday.
The WHO should have declared the new coronavirus outbreak in China an international emergency earlier than Jan. 30, 2020, but the next month was "lost" as countries failed to take strong measures to halt spread of the respiratory pathogen, the panel said.
The independent experts, in a major report on the handling of the pandemic, called for bold WHO reforms and revitalizing national preparedness plans to prevent another "toxic cocktail."
Read more at: How can we stop the next pandemic? Experts call for major changes in surveillance, alert systems | CBC News
The WHO should have declared the new coronavirus outbreak in China an international emergency earlier than Jan. 30, 2020, but the next month was "lost" as countries failed to take strong measures to halt spread of the respiratory pathogen, the panel said.
The independent experts, in a major report on the handling of the pandemic, called for bold WHO reforms and revitalizing national preparedness plans to prevent another "toxic cocktail."
Read more at: How can we stop the next pandemic? Experts call for major changes in surveillance, alert systems | CBC News
5/11/21
Middle East: Israel-Gaza violence: Tel Aviv targeted with new Hamas rocket fire — live updates
Sirens rang out in Tel Aviv early Wednesday morning after the armed branch of Hamas said in a statement that it was "in the process of firing 110 rockets" toward Israel's largest city.
The Israel Defense Forces said that families in Tel Aviv had been woken up and taken to bomb shelters.
Hamas also said it had launched 100 rockets at the southern town of Beer-Sheva. The Associated Press reported that Israeli aircraft struck a high-rise building in Gaza City early Wednesday morning.
Read more at: Israel-Gaza violence: Tel Aviv targeted with new Hamas rocket fire — live updates | News | DW | 12.05.2021
The Israel Defense Forces said that families in Tel Aviv had been woken up and taken to bomb shelters.
Hamas also said it had launched 100 rockets at the southern town of Beer-Sheva. The Associated Press reported that Israeli aircraft struck a high-rise building in Gaza City early Wednesday morning.
Read more at: Israel-Gaza violence: Tel Aviv targeted with new Hamas rocket fire — live updates | News | DW | 12.05.2021
5/10/21
Britain: : Boris Johnson calls for talks after Scottish Nationalist victory
The Scottish National Party's (SNP) win is likely to set the stage for a second independence referendum.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the election results proved that a second independence vote for Scotland was "the will of the country'' and that any London politician who stood in the way would be "picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people."
Read more at: UK: Boris Johnson calls for talks after Scottish Nationalist victory | News | DW | 09.05.2021
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the election results proved that a second independence vote for Scotland was "the will of the country'' and that any London politician who stood in the way would be "picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people."
Read more at: UK: Boris Johnson calls for talks after Scottish Nationalist victory | News | DW | 09.05.2021
5/9/21
USA: CDC Reports 2 More Infant DEATHS Following Experimental COVID Injections During Clinical Trials
The CDC released more data in their Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) today, and it included two new deaths of infants age 2 and age 1.
While none of the COVID injections have emergency use authorization for children under the age of 17 yet, there are ongoing trials with children being injected with the experimental shots as young as 6 months old.
One of the infants who died was apparently in a Pfizer trial, while the other one was apparently in a Moderna trial.
Read more at: CDC Reports 2 More Infant DEATHS Following Experimental COVID Injections During Clinical Trials
While none of the COVID injections have emergency use authorization for children under the age of 17 yet, there are ongoing trials with children being injected with the experimental shots as young as 6 months old.
One of the infants who died was apparently in a Pfizer trial, while the other one was apparently in a Moderna trial.
Read more at: CDC Reports 2 More Infant DEATHS Following Experimental COVID Injections During Clinical Trials
Population Explosion: Are there too many people? All bets are off
In 2011, when the global population hit 7 billion, economist David Lam and demographer Stan Becker made a bet. Lam predicted food would get cheaper over the next decade, despite continuing population growth. Becker predicted that food prices would go up, because of the damage humans were doing to the planet, which meant that population growth would outstrip food supply. Becker won and, following his wishes, Lam has just written out a cheque for $194 to the Vermont-based nonprofit Population Media Center, which promotes population stabilisation internationally.
$194, about £140, equates to the amount by which a basket containing five food types – oils and fats, cereals, dairy, meat and sugar – and worth on average $1,000 in the decade to 2010, increased in price over the following decade, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index (FFPI) and allowing for inflation.
Read more at: Are there too many people? All bets are off | Population | The Guardian
$194, about £140, equates to the amount by which a basket containing five food types – oils and fats, cereals, dairy, meat and sugar – and worth on average $1,000 in the decade to 2010, increased in price over the following decade, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index (FFPI) and allowing for inflation.
Read more at: Are there too many people? All bets are off | Population | The Guardian
5/7/21
Germany: WHO to set up pandemic early warning center in Berlin, Germany
The WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence will start operating in Berlin in September. The center will quickly analyze data to predict, prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond to risks worldwide, it said.
It should also boost cooperation between countries and scientific institutes.
The hub should be able to detect pandemic signals earlier than current systems.
Read more at: WHO to set up pandemic early warning center in Germany | News | DW | 05.05.2021
It should also boost cooperation between countries and scientific institutes.
The hub should be able to detect pandemic signals earlier than current systems.
Read more at: WHO to set up pandemic early warning center in Germany | News | DW | 05.05.2021
Netherlands Embassy DC, USA unveils 3 new bells for the Carillon
You might see some new bells at the Netherlands Embassy in the District.
Three new bells were added to the Netherlands Carillon. The Carillon, located in Northwest, is one of Washington’s major landmarks and is currently undergoing renovation.
The bells are dedicated to three influential Americans whose legacy impacted the world: Secretary George C. Marshall, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt. Each bell has its own unique touch to it, but the largest of the bells, the “Marshall Bell,” is as tall as an average American.
Read More at: Netherlands Embassy unveils 3 new bells for the Carillon | wusa9.com
Three new bells were added to the Netherlands Carillon. The Carillon, located in Northwest, is one of Washington’s major landmarks and is currently undergoing renovation.
The bells are dedicated to three influential Americans whose legacy impacted the world: Secretary George C. Marshall, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt. Each bell has its own unique touch to it, but the largest of the bells, the “Marshall Bell,” is as tall as an average American.
Read More at: Netherlands Embassy unveils 3 new bells for the Carillon | wusa9.com
Personal Data Breaches: How US companies could use patients’ data from Covid vaccine drive - by Jessica Glenza
Data rights organizations have warned that patients lack a clear understanding of how information about their health, employment, contact or location details may be used if it is collected by private entities during the Covid-19 vaccine drive.
Some advocates have already expressed concerns that the information could be used for marketing, targeted advertising or de-identified and sold into the multibillion-dollar health data industry.
Read more at How US companies could use patients’ data from Covid vaccine drive | US news | The Guardian
Some advocates have already expressed concerns that the information could be used for marketing, targeted advertising or de-identified and sold into the multibillion-dollar health data industry.
Read more at How US companies could use patients’ data from Covid vaccine drive | US news | The Guardian
USA: Most Voters Want to End Protection for Social Media Companies After Trump Facebook Ban says Poll
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe operators of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are politically biased in the decisions they make. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree and believe social media companies edit their content in a fair and balanced way. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure.
Read more at: Most Voters Want to End Protection for Social Media Companies After Trump Facebook Ban - Rasmussen Reports®
Read more at: Most Voters Want to End Protection for Social Media Companies After Trump Facebook Ban - Rasmussen Reports®
5/6/21
The Netherlands: Bees in the Netherlands trained to detect COVID-19 infections- by Bart Biesemans
Dutch researchers have trained bees, which have an unusually keen sense of smell, to identify samples infected with COVID-19, a finding they said could cut waiting times for test results to just seconds.
To train the bees, scientists in the bio-veterinary research laboratory at Wageningen University gave them sugary water as a reward after showing them samples infected with COVID-19. They would get no reward after being shown a non-infected sample.
Read more at: Bees in the Netherlands trained to detect COVID-19 infections | Reuters
To train the bees, scientists in the bio-veterinary research laboratory at Wageningen University gave them sugary water as a reward after showing them samples infected with COVID-19. They would get no reward after being shown a non-infected sample.
Read more at: Bees in the Netherlands trained to detect COVID-19 infections | Reuters
USA - Bicycle Casualties: Florida’s 2020 Bicycle Accident Statistics - by Barthelette Law
Florida did betterthan in 2019. Still the figures were too high. With 5082 accidents and 127 fatalities. There are non or very few specifically indicated bicycle paths.
Read more at: Florida’s 2020 Bicycle Accident Statistics - Barthelette Law
Read more at: Florida’s 2020 Bicycle Accident Statistics - Barthelette Law
Canada-US Relations: Top Democrat tells Biden administration: Get to work reopening border with Canada
There's new political muscle in the United States pushing for a return to more regular travel between Canada and the United States after more than a year of pandemic-related disruptions.
The top member of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, has written a letter to members of the Biden administration making several demands regarding the border.
Read more at: Top Democrat tells Biden administration: Get to work reopening border with Canada | CBC News
The top member of the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, has written a letter to members of the Biden administration making several demands regarding the border.
Read more at: Top Democrat tells Biden administration: Get to work reopening border with Canada | CBC News
5/5/21
EU - Explainer: Scotland’s difficult route to another independence referendum - by Andrew Macaskill
Scottish independence supporters are calling Thursday’s election the most important in the nation’s history as they vow that if they win a majority in the devolved parliament, they will push for another referendum on breaking from the United Kingdom.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is close to controlling the devolved parliament - knows as Holyrood - outright in Thursday's election.
Read more at: Explainer: Scotland’s difficult route to another independence referendum | Reuters
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is close to controlling the devolved parliament - knows as Holyrood - outright in Thursday's election.
Read more at: Explainer: Scotland’s difficult route to another independence referendum | Reuters
′Diplomacy is back′: G7 foreign ministers present united front despite COVID setback
There's nothing quite like being face-to-face, or mask-to-mask," quipped US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as a three-day meeting of foreign ministers from the world's seven largest so-called advanced economies got underway in London on Monday.
Like the rest of us, G7 foreign ministers have been holding meetings online since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with this week's talks marking the first opportunity for representatives of the group of industrialized nations to meet face-to-face in over two years.
Read more at: ′Diplomacy is back′: G7 foreign ministers present united front despite COVID setback | News | DW | 05.05.2021
Like the rest of us, G7 foreign ministers have been holding meetings online since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with this week's talks marking the first opportunity for representatives of the group of industrialized nations to meet face-to-face in over two years.
Read more at: ′Diplomacy is back′: G7 foreign ministers present united front despite COVID setback | News | DW | 05.05.2021
USA: SpaceX finally nails the landing of the rocket that will take humans to the moon | CBC News
SpaceX's Starship, the rocket that CEO Elon Musk hopes will take people to the moon and eventually Mars, completed a test on Wednesday that marked the first time it successfully launched and landed.
The rocket, designated SN15, lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas, at 5:27 p.m. local time. It reached an altitude of 10 kilometres before beginning its descent in the "belly flop" configuration. Then it fired its thrusters, flipped itself in the upright position, extended its landing legs and touched down softly.
Read more at: SpaceX finally nails the landing of the rocket that will take humans to the moon | CBC News
The rocket, designated SN15, lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas, at 5:27 p.m. local time. It reached an altitude of 10 kilometres before beginning its descent in the "belly flop" configuration. Then it fired its thrusters, flipped itself in the upright position, extended its landing legs and touched down softly.
Read more at: SpaceX finally nails the landing of the rocket that will take humans to the moon | CBC News
France still split over Napoleon as it marks bicentenary of death
On 5 May 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died in a surprisingly small bed surrounded by his French coterie in exile in a damp and reportedly rat-infested house on the British island of Saint Helena.
His last words, uttered shortly before he expired around 5.59pm local time were relayed back: “La France, l’armée, tête d’armée, Joséphine …” (France, the army, head of the army, Joséphine). He was 51.
Read more at: France still split over Napoleon as it marks bicentenary of death | Napoleon Bonaparte | The Guardian
His last words, uttered shortly before he expired around 5.59pm local time were relayed back: “La France, l’armée, tête d’armée, Joséphine …” (France, the army, head of the army, Joséphine). He was 51.
Read more at: France still split over Napoleon as it marks bicentenary of death | Napoleon Bonaparte | The Guardian
5/4/21
USA: Biden pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030
President Biden is expected to pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 50% from 2005 levels by 2030, according to a senior White House official. The administration will express this as a range that has not yet been announced.
Read more at: Biden pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 - CBS News
Read more at: Biden pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 - CBS News
Middle East: Egypt and Turkey to hold two days of talks in normalisation push
Egypt and Turkey will hold two days of political consultations in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday as part of a push to mend ties between the regional rivals, the two countries said.
Read more at: Egypt and Turkey to hold two days of talks in normalisation push | Reuters
Read more at: Egypt and Turkey to hold two days of talks in normalisation push | Reuters
Coronavirus Vaccine: Pfizer vaccine sofar effective against Variants says developer
One of the people behind the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine says he has yet to see any evidence that emerging variants of the disease have found a way to defeat it.
Dr. Ugur Sahin, who founded BioNTech with his wife Dr. Özlem Türeci, told CBC News Network's Power & Politics today that scientists have two main concerns when it comes to variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Read more at: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine not troubled by variants so far, says CEO | CBC News
Dr. Ugur Sahin, who founded BioNTech with his wife Dr. Özlem Türeci, told CBC News Network's Power & Politics today that scientists have two main concerns when it comes to variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Read more at: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine not troubled by variants so far, says CEO | CBC News
Sweden's IVF programme for single women not 'as good as hoped'
Fertility campaigners in Sweden say healthcare officials have broken a promise to help more single women get pregnant.
Read More at: a Sweden's IVF programme for single women not 'as good as hoped' - BBC News
Read More at: a Sweden's IVF programme for single women not 'as good as hoped' - BBC News
India: While India is desperate for oxygen, its politicians deny there’s even a problem - by Mukul Kesavan
In India’s capital city, citizens are dying in their hospital beds because they can’t breathe. Their lungs, clotted with Covid-induced pneumonia, need oxygen to function. Overwhelmed by India’s tsunami-like second wave and undermined by the smug inertia of the state, hospitals run out of oxygen and patients choke to death in front of their horrified families.
Red more at: While India is desperate for oxygen, its politicians deny there’s even a problem | Mukul Kesavan | The Guardian
Red more at: While India is desperate for oxygen, its politicians deny there’s even a problem | Mukul Kesavan | The Guardian
5/3/21
The Netherlands: Bee population steady in Dutch cities thanks to pollinator strategy | Bees
Bee hotels, bee stops and a honey highway are some of the techniques the Dutch are crediting with keeping their urban bee population steady in recent years, after a period of worrying decline.
Last week, more than 11,000 people from across the Netherlands participated in a bee-counting exercise as part of the fourth edition of the national bee census.
The enthusiastic volunteers, armed with a list depicting the most common bees at this time of the year, spent 30 minutes in their gardens recording their apian visitors. At the close of data submission on Sunday 18 April, more than 200,000 bees and hoverflies had been counted.
Read more at: Bee population steady in Dutch cities thanks to pollinator strategy | Bees | The Guardian
Last week, more than 11,000 people from across the Netherlands participated in a bee-counting exercise as part of the fourth edition of the national bee census.
The enthusiastic volunteers, armed with a list depicting the most common bees at this time of the year, spent 30 minutes in their gardens recording their apian visitors. At the close of data submission on Sunday 18 April, more than 200,000 bees and hoverflies had been counted.
Read more at: Bee population steady in Dutch cities thanks to pollinator strategy | Bees | The Guardian
Net Zero Concept: Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap – by James Dyke, Robert Watson and Wolfgang Knorr
The US has joined the EU in committing to net-zero emissions by 2050—and the latter to 55 per cent net lower emissions by 2030. Scientists fear the ‘net’ could displace urgency.
The threats of climate change are the direct result of there being too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So it follows that we must stop emitting more and even remove some of it. This idea is central to the world’s current plan to avoid catastrophe. In fact, there are many suggestions as to how to actually do this, from mass tree planting, to high tech direct air capture devices that suck out carbon dioxide from the air.
Read more at: Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap – James Dyke, Robert Watson and Wolfgang Knorr
The threats of climate change are the direct result of there being too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So it follows that we must stop emitting more and even remove some of it. This idea is central to the world’s current plan to avoid catastrophe. In fact, there are many suggestions as to how to actually do this, from mass tree planting, to high tech direct air capture devices that suck out carbon dioxide from the air.
Read more at: Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap – James Dyke, Robert Watson and Wolfgang Knorr
Environment Concious: Why beef is off the menu for some climate-conscious foodies - by Inayat Singh, Alice Hopton
Growing up on a farm in southern Ontario, Toronto chef Ikeila Wright says she ate enough beef as a child to last her a lifetime.
Then, her parents grew crops and raised livestock. Now, she's the chef and owner at One Love Vegetarian, a Jamaican vegetarian restaurant in Toronto.
"What I eat, what I put on my plate, is personal. And I think for everyone it should be personal, but it also should be conscious," Wright said
Read more at: Why beef is off the menu for some climate-conscious foodies | CBC News
Then, her parents grew crops and raised livestock. Now, she's the chef and owner at One Love Vegetarian, a Jamaican vegetarian restaurant in Toronto.
"What I eat, what I put on my plate, is personal. And I think for everyone it should be personal, but it also should be conscious," Wright said
Read more at: Why beef is off the menu for some climate-conscious foodies | CBC News
EU: Austerity is risking our future! – by Carl Mühlbach and Felix Kösterke
With hindsight, such thinking seems petty, considering the success of vaccination campaigns in Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States. Those countries outspent the European Union many times over, per capita, on vaccine procurement.
Read more at:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#inbox/FMfcgxwLtkZwjPLPwDNLdzLvQFzkrqCP
Russia: As Russia's confrontation with the West escalates, so has its crackdown on dissent at home
Nikita Golovizin faced int imidation and later arrest by Russian security services after he flew a European Union flag from his balcony next to a sign calling President Vladimir Putin a 'thief.'
For opponents of President Vladimir Putin in Russia, it seems as if there's no place that's safe these days — including in their own homes. "It was like 'bang, bang, bang' for half an hour," said Nikita Golovizin, an activist from the city of Voronezh about five hundred kilometres south of the capital Moscow, as he described how security agents parked themselves outside his apartment for several hours on one recent evening.
Read Mo0re at: As Russia's confrontation with the West escalates, so has its crackdown on dissent at home | CBC News
For opponents of President Vladimir Putin in Russia, it seems as if there's no place that's safe these days — including in their own homes. "It was like 'bang, bang, bang' for half an hour," said Nikita Golovizin, an activist from the city of Voronezh about five hundred kilometres south of the capital Moscow, as he described how security agents parked themselves outside his apartment for several hours on one recent evening.
Read Mo0re at: As Russia's confrontation with the West escalates, so has its crackdown on dissent at home | CBC News
Iran nuclear deal: Progress slows at talks in Vienna
High-ranking diplomats from China, Germany, France, Russia and the UK made progress in talks with Iran on Saturday in Vienna that focused on bringing Washington and Tehran back into compliance with their landmark 2015 deal.
Read more at: Iran nuclear deal: Progress slows at talks in Vienna | News | DW | 01.05.2021
Read more at: Iran nuclear deal: Progress slows at talks in Vienna | News | DW | 01.05.2021
5/2/21
Canada: Proud Boys Canada, named by Ottawa as a terrorist entity, says it's dissolving - by Christopher Katsarov
Proud Boys members shout at a group of counter-protestors in Toronto in 2017. On Sunday, Proud Boys Canada — which Ottawa named as a terrorist entity earlier this year — announced that it has dissolved itself
Proud Boys Canada, a far-right group that Ottawa named as a terrorist entity earlier this year, has dissolved itself, saying it has done nothing wrong, according to a statement by the organization on Sunday.
Read more at:Proud Boys Canada, named by Ottawa as a terrorist entity, says it's dissolving | CBC News
Proud Boys Canada, a far-right group that Ottawa named as a terrorist entity earlier this year, has dissolved itself, saying it has done nothing wrong, according to a statement by the organization on Sunday.
Read more at:Proud Boys Canada, named by Ottawa as a terrorist entity, says it's dissolving | CBC News
5/1/21
US mass shootings: At least 45 in the month starting with the Atlanta spa shootings - by Madeline Holcombe
The US has seen at least 147 mass shootings in 2021, according to data from the GVA, a non-profit based in Washington.
Read more at: US mass shootings: At least 45 in the month starting with the Atlanta spa shootings - CNN
Read more at: US mass shootings: At least 45 in the month starting with the Atlanta spa shootings - CNN
May Day 2021: Know history and significance of Labour Day
May 1 is the International Day of Workers or International Labour Day dedicated to workers and labourers across the world. This day celebrates labourers and encourages them to be aware of their rights. The day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement. Popularly known as May Day, the day is observed in countries such as India, Cuba and China among other countries.
Read more at: May Day 2021: Know history and significance of Labour Day | Hindustan Times
Read more at: May Day 2021: Know history and significance of Labour Day | Hindustan Times
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