Netherlands to Launch EU Digital COVID Passport on July 1

The Dutch Government has announced that the country will introduce the Digital COVID Passport in order to facilitate travel within the European Union amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more at: Netherlands to Launch EU Digital COVID Passport on July 1 - SchengenVisaInfo.com

Britain: UK Covid Booster Vaccine Shots for Vulnerable Groups May Start From September - by Katharine Gemmell

The country’s independent vaccination committee recommended that the government plan to offer boosters in a two-stage program alongside the annual flu vaccination drive. The rollout will depend on further data and the guidance could change, according to the Department of Health & Social Care.

“We want to be on the front foot for Covid-19 booster vaccination,” Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England, said in a statement. The goal is to “keep the probability of loss of vaccine protection due to waning immunity or variants as low as possible, especially over the coming autumn and winter.”

The shots would first be made available to extremely vulnerable and immunosuppressed adults, those ages 70 or older, residents of elderly care homes and front-line health workers, the health department said. Those eligible in the second stage would include people over 50 and household contacts of the immunosuppressed.

The benefits of vaccinating other groups, including young adults who may not have had a second dose yet, will be evaluated at a later date.

Final recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization will be published before September, the statement said. It will consider data from a government-funded trial that is evaluating the effectiveness of different Covid-19 vaccines as booster shots, as well as any new information on the immunity levels from the current inoculation program.

Read more at: UK Covid Booster Vaccine Shots for Vulnerable Groups May Start From September - Bloomberg

USA: Biden touts infrastructure bill as a response to extreme weather events - by BRITTANY GIBSON.

At the mixed in-person and virtual roundtable hosted by the White House, Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and more than a dozen federal officials spoke to Western state Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.), Kate Brown (D-Ore.), Spencer Cox (R-Utah), Mark Gordon (R-Wyo.), Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Steve Sisolak (D-Nev.).

Read more at: Biden touts infrastructure bill as a response to extreme weather events - POLITICO

Investigation – Web of bogus firms covertly using real company addresses -by John Mulligan

There’s now growing evidence of an organised fraud network that is exploiting glaring gaps in enforcement here to create legal entities in Ireland that can then be used for criminal activity anywhere in the world.

Investigation – Web of bogus firms covertly using real company addresses - Independent.ie

Outer space: Black hole swallows neutron star before astronomers' eyes

Astronomers witnessed the last 500 orbits before the neutron stars were swallowed, a process that took far less than a minute and briefly generated as much energy as all the visible light in the observable universe.

"It was just a big quick [gulp], gone," said study co-author Patrick Brady, an astrophysicist at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. The black hole "gets a nice dinner of a neutron star and makes itself just a little bit more massive."

Read more at: Black hole swallows neutron star before astronomers' eyes | CBC News

Spain: Covid-19: Where will and won’t it be mandatory to wear a face mask in Spain from Saturday

The Spanish Cabinet last Thursday approved a royal decree that allows people to go unmasked in outdoor spaces where it is possible to maintain a safe distance of 1.5 meters between people from different social bubbles. The new rules went into effect on Saturday, June 26.

Read more at: Covid-19: Where will and won’t it be mandatory to wear a face mask in Spain from Saturday? | Society | EL PAÍS in English

Italian US Relations -Tariffs: US duties on oil, wine and pasta put exports at risk

A bottle of prosecco that costs €5-6 a bottle in Italy can cost up to the equivalent of €10-15 at large retailers in the United States. With the application of 100% duty, that price would go up to €20-30. Prosecco exports

Read more at: US duties on oil, wine and pasta put exports at risk - Corriere.it

Euro 2021: England vs Germany, Euro 2020 LIVE: Final score, highlights and reactions

EURO 2020. cup. Even though Germany played better overall,the British where able to score in the few opportunities they had, and finally could take revenge for the many previous losses, which go back to the early 70's. Britain today has something concrete to celebrate.

Read more at: Euro 2021: England vs Germany, Euro 2020 LIVE: Final score, highlights and reactions | Marca

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

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

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

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

USA: A New Darkness Falls on the Trump Movement - by MERIDITH MCGRAW

On Saturday evening, Trump had come to town to support congressional candidate Max Miller, a former White House aide who gained his endorsement partly because he was a loyal foot soldier willing to take on Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

But no one seemed to care about any of that. Few of the attendees registered any opinion on the congressional race. Two people I interviewed from the 16th District didn’t even know who Gonzalez or Miller were.

Read more at: A New Darkness Falls on the Trump Movement - POLITICO

UFOs,: No firm conclusion on UFOs, says US intelligence report | Science| In-depth reporting on science and technology

A US government report released Friday said it could not determine the nature of unidentified aerial sightings because there was not enough data to study each of them.

A US official said it was not their duty to determine whether the sightings were of extraterrestrial origin. The report has laid down probable categories to study the sightings.

Read more at: No firm conclusion on UFOs, says US intelligence report | Science| In-depth reporting on science and technology | DW | 26.06.2021

ESA: Lift-off for European Union's new space programme - by Jonathan Amos

The new EU space programme has been officially launched.

It'll cover the period to 2027 and will see the bloc's 27 member states deepen investments in satellite-navigation, Earth observation, space situational awareness and secure communications, among other activities.

It also establishes a new body called the EU Agency for the Space Programme.

Read more at: Lift-off for European Union's new space programme - BBC News

USA: Florida is drowning. Condos are still being built. Can't humans see the writing on the wall?

Humans tend to respond to immediate threats and financial consequences – and coastal real estate, especially in Florida, may be on the cusp of delivering that harsh wake-up call. The peninsula has outsized exposure: nearly 2 million people live in coastal cities. On the list of the 20 urban areas in America that will suffer the most from rising seas, Florida has five: St Petersburg, Tampa, Miami, Miami Beach and Panama City. In 2016, Zillow predicted that one out of eight homes in Florida would be underwater by 2100, a loss of $413bn in property.

Read more at: Florida is drowning. Condos are still being built. Can't humans see the writing on the wall? | Environment | The Guardian

EU: What are the COVID entry rules for travelers to European countries?

Summer, sun, surf, sandy beaches, and lots of culture — vacationing in Europe is once again a possibility. Tourists from Israel, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, among others, can already travel to Europe, and since June 20, US citizens have also been able to do so again. As of July 1, the restrictions will be lifted for other countries jointly selected by EU member states. Tourism in Europe is picking up again. Here is an overview of the most important information:

Read more at: What are the COVID entry rules for travelers to European countries? | DW Travel | DW | 25.06.2021

USA: In major shift, Pentagon chief backs changes to sexual assault prosecutions

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a major break from his predecessors, said on Tuesday that he backed removing the prosecution of sexual assault and other related crimes from the military's chain of command.

Read more at: In major shift, Pentagon chief backs changes to sexual assault prosecutions | Reuters

USA religion: Rasmussen Poll says 82% of US Voters Say Religious Liberty Important -

A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and Summit.org finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters think freedom of religion is important to a healthy American society, including 67% who say it’s Very Important. Only nine percent (9%) disagree, while another 9% say they’re not sure.

Read more at: 82% of Voters Say Religious Liberty Important - Rasmussen Reports®

G;obal Economy - cryptocurrencies : World's central banks launch new campaign against cryptocurrencies - by Don Pittis

Recent moves by China to crack down on cryptocurrencies have been devastating to those who jumped on the bitcoin bandwagon this spring after a new buying frenzy had sent the digital units soaring to record highs.

And a report out Wednesday from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), a Switzerland-based financial institution often described as "the central bankers' central bank," may mean the worries of digital coin holders are not yet over.

Read more at: World's central banks launch new campaign against cryptocurrencies | CBC News

USA: Miami building collapse: one dead as rescue crews say 99 unaccounted for

A large-scale rescue operation was continuing Thursday evening at the site of a collapsed condominium block in Miami, where authorities said at least one person was killed, 10 injured and dozens more unaccounted for.

Crews reported hearing noises from inside the rubble as they searched for survivors at the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, a 12-storey apartment block that came crashing down at about 1.30am. Authorities said they expected the number of deaths to rise, but would not be drawn on the number.

Read more at: Miami building collapse: one dead as rescue crews say 99 unaccounted for | Miami | The Guardian

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may be 'new trigger' for heart inflammation, CDC group says, but benefit outweighs risks - by Lauren Pelley

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory group now says reports of heart inflammation in people given an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine are likely linked to the vaccine, but that the benefits of vaccination still outweigh any risks.

In a Wednesday presentation, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) noted that early data from its database shows a rate of 4.4 reported cases of heart inflammation per million first doses given of any mRNA vaccine in the 21 days following vaccination.

Read more at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-mrna-vaccines-may-be-new-trigger-for-heart-inflammation-cdc-group-says-but-benefit-outweighs-risk-1.6076870

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

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

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

EU: Child Guarantee—for most, but not all – by Ally Dunhill and Enrico Paolo Tormen

At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting of June 14th, the 27 member states of the European Union unanimously adopted the European Child Guarantee. Even before the pandemic, over 18 million children in the EU experienced poverty or social exclusion and this has been exacerbated by Covid-19. A guarantee to protect all children in need from such a fate was thus much needed.

Read more at: Child Guarantee—for most, but not all – Ally Dunhill and Enrico Paolo Tormen

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

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

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

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

Canada-China relations: China issues furious response after Canada condemns human rights record | Global development - by Leyland Cecco

The exchange at the UN human rights council on Tuesday marks the latest downturn in relations between Canada and China, which have deteriorated steadily as the two countries clash over human rights, trade and allegations of “hostage diplomacy”.

Canada urged China to allow “immediate, meaningful and unfettered access” so independent observers can visit its western Xinjiang region, where UN experts say nearly a million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims have been detained in camps.

Read more at: China issues furious response after Canada condemns human rights record | Global development | The Guardian

EU-Hungarian Relations: Hungary’s classrooms have become the new battleground for the war on ‘LGBT ideology’ - by Mark Gevisser

Last week, the Hungarian parliament banned any portrayal of homosexuality or transgenderism to minors, in educational material or on television. Appending this to a law protecting children from child abuse, the country’s president, Viktor Orbán, drew an explicit connection between homosexuality and paedophilia. In so doing, he resorted to a canard that much of the world has long dispensed with, but that is enjoying a troubling new emergence in the global battles against “gender ideology”: the danger posed by homosexuals and trans people to children.

Read more at: Hungary’s classrooms have become the new battleground for the war on ‘LGBT ideology’ | Mark Gevisser | The Guardian

EU-Britain Relations: EU will 'react' if UK continues to make unilateral decisions on Brexit, says MEP

The European Union will react strongly if the United Kingdom continues to make unilateral decisions in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol, according to the Parliament's top MEP on Brexit.

David McAllister, who chairs the UK's Coordination Group, was speaking to Euronews prior to the five-year anniversary of the UK's referendum on EU membership on Wednesday, where he said that the difficulties between the two must be resolved.

Read more at: EU will 'react' if UK continues to make unilateral decisions on Brexit, says MEP | Euronews

EU: Brussels greenlights Italy's €191.5 billion COVID-19 recovery plan

The European Commission on Tuesday gave the green light to Italy's €191.5 billion recovery plan, said its president Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Premier Mario Draghi at a joint press conference.

Read more at: Brussels greenlights Italy's €191.5 billion COVID-19 recovery plan | Euronews

Russia-US Relations: Vladimir Putin Accuses U.S. Of Organizing Coup in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the 2014 overthrow of Ukraine's then-President, Viktor Yanukovich, was the result of a coup organized by the U.S. and backed by the rest of Europe.

Yanukovich was removed from office following an uprising by his country's opposition, spurred by his rejection of a trade deal with the EU in favor of closer ties with

Read more at: Vladimir Putin Accuses U.S. Of Organizing Coup in Ukraine

USA: Elizabeth Warren Demands Wealth Tax, Says Jeff Bezos Gets Same Salary as Teacher

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has renewed her call for a wealth tax on some of the richest people in the United States and singled out Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for his relatively low salary.

Warren took to Twitter on Friday and highlighted the fact that while Bezos is worth tens of millions of dollars, he draws a salary roughly equivalent to a Massachusetts public school teacher.

Read more at: Elizabeth Warren Demands Wealth Tax, Says Jeff Bezos Gets Same Salary as Teacher

Coronavirus Vaccine: AstraZeneca must deliver 50m doses by September or face fines - by Elena Sánchez Nicolás

A Brussels court on Friday (18 June) ordered AstraZeneca to deliver 50 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to EU member states by September, in a legal case brought by the European Commission - with both sides claiming victory.

AstraZeneca is now expected to supply 15 million doses by 26 July, 20 million doses by 23 August, and 15 million doses by 27 September.

Responding to the ruling, the company said it would "substantially exceed" these deliveries by the end of June

Read more at: https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/152192

USA battered by bad weather: Dangerous heat wave grips Western US as tropical storm Claudette drenches Southeast

The western half of the United States is experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with 30 million Americans under an excessive heat advisory due to triple-digit temperatures. Meanwhile, tropical storm Claudette is still pounding parts of the South, causing flooding and a tornado.

Read more at: Dangerous heat wave grips Western US as tropical storm Claudette drenches Southeast

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kim Jong Un says North Korea is ′especially prepared for confrontation′ with US

Kim Jong Un said North Korea should be prepared for "confrontation" with the United States, state media reported on Friday.

At a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with the White House, bearing in mind the "policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Read more at: Kim Jong Un says North Korea is ′especially prepared for confrontation′ with US | News | DW | 17.06.2021

Botswana: Diamonds are forever: 1,098-carat diamond pulled from mine in Botswana

A 1,098-carat diamond believed to be the third-largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined has been discovered in Botswana, according to a joint venture between Anglo American's De Beers and the government.

Read more at: The stone was presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday by Debswana Diamond Company's acting managing director, Lynette Armstrong. It is the third-largest in the world, behind the 3,106-carat Cullinan stone recovered in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.

Read more at: 1,098-carat diamond pulled from mine in Botswana | CBC News

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

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

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

Coronsvirus: Brazil exceeds 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

Brazil hit the tragic milestone of half a million COVID deaths on Saturday when it added 2,495 fatalities to its count.

Read more at: Brazil exceeds 500,000 COVID-19 deaths | World| Breaking news and perspectives from around the globe | DW | 19.06.2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EU has carried out 300 million COVID-19 vaccinations, says EU President, Mrs. Von der Leyen

The European Union has passed the 300 million COVID-19 vaccinations threshold, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.Total population EU 448 millio people.

"We have passed 300 million vaccinations in the EU. Every day, we get closer to our goal: to have enough doses delivered to vaccinate 70% of adults in the EU next month," Von der Leyen wrote on her Twitter account.

Read More at: EU has carried out 300 million COVID-19 vaccinations - Von der Leyen | Reuters

EU-US Trade Relations: EU and US make peace on trade before Russia summit - by Andrew Rettman

The EU and US have ended their oldest trade war in a show of transatlantic unity one day before US president Joe Biden meets his Russian counterpart.

The 17-year old trade dispute over subsidies for rival aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus had seen billions of euros of punitive tariffs imposed on other products, such as tobacco and spirits.

But these will now be lifted for a provisional period of five years, while a special trade council will monitor compliance on state aid for the air firms. The move still left in place t

Read more at: EU and US make peace on trade before Russia summit

Switzerland: Biden and Putin agree: ′Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought′

The leaders' first in-person meeting since Biden became president took place at a lakeside villa amid soaring tensions between their two countries.

As talks ended after less than the five hours either side thought they would need, Biden gave a thumbs up. Members of the US team said the meeting had been "quite successful."

After the meeting, the two sides released a joint statement on one of the main topics of discussion, nuclear proliferation. The statement read, "Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought."

Read more at: Biden and Putin agree: ′Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought′ | News | DW | 16.06.2021

EU-US Relations: U.S., EU agree to end tariff turbulence over Boeing, Airbus

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the U.S. and the EU have come to terms on a five-year agreement to end their dispute over aerospace sector subsidies. (Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg)
The deal the United States and the European Union reached Tuesday to end their long-running dispute over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus will mean the phase-out of billions in punitive tariffs. It will ease transatlantic tensions, and it will allow the two sides to focus on a common economic threat: China.

But the breakthrough leaves other trade frictions between the U.S. and the EU unresolved. Most prominently, the import taxes that then-president Donald Trump imposed on European steel and aluminum three years ago have been left in place by President Joe Biden. Whether progress on that vexing issue can be resolved soon remains unclear.

Read more at: U.S., EU agree to end tariff turbulence over Boeing, Airbus | CBC News

USA: U.S. Republicans vow to oppose Yellen’s G7 tax deal, casting doubt on its future - by David Morgan and David Lawder

Several top U.S. Senate Republicans on Monday rejected Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s G7 deal to impose a global minimum corporate tax and allow more countries to tax big multinational firms, raising questions about the U.S. ability to implement a broader global agreement.

The opposition from Republicans may push President Joe Biden to attempt to use budget procedures to pass the initiatives with only Democratic votes.

Read more at: U.S. Republicans vow to oppose Yellen’s G7 tax deal, casting doubt on its future | Reuters

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

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

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

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

USA: New Census data could lead to a Republican landslide in midterm elections

Call it a decennial headache. The 2020 Census and subsequent Congressional redistricting could mean midterm trouble for Democrats, who currently have a precariously loose grip on legislative control.

Every 10 years the United States Census Bureau is charged with completing a full count of the American population, the $15.6 billion task was made especially difficult in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, controversial changes in survey execution by the Trump administration, and the various legal challenges to them. Now, an arguably more difficult process is underway: analyzing the data and using it to redraw legislative and congressional districts. This redistricting, a job has long been tense and prone to abuse, will be the most challenging in decades, according to experts.

Last week, legislative apportionment numbers started to trickle out from the Census Bureau (after an unusual delay due to COVID), and states were told how many representatives they gained or lost based on population. When these numbers change, as they often do after a decade, the districts need to be redrawn to accommodate the change. This change will have a large impact on which party controls Congress for the next decade.

Read More atNew Census data could lead to a Republican landslide in midterm elections | Fortune

Oil majors vow energy transition - at their own pace - by Julien MIVIELLE

Read More at: Oil majors vow energy transition - at their own pace - Japan Today

USA: The Return of the Finance Threat? - by Mohamed A. El-Erian

Read more at: The Return of the Finance Threat? by Mohamed A. El-Erian - Project Syndicate

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

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

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

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

America May Be ‘Back’ in Europe, but How Much Has Changed Under Biden? - by Mark Landler

Few images captured the rupture in trans-Atlantic relations better than that of President Donald J. Trump in 2018, arms folded across his chest as he resisted Chancellor Angela Merkel and other frustrated leaders in their doomed effort to salvage their summit meeting in Canada.

When the same leaders reconvene in Cornwall, England, on Friday, President Biden will reverse the body language, replacing impasse with embrace. But beneath the imagery, it is not clear how much more open the United States will be to give-and-take with Europe than it was under Mr. Trump.

The trans-Atlantic partnership has always been less reciprocal than its champions like to pretend — a marriage in which one partner, the United States, carried the nuclear umbrella. Now, with China replacing the Soviet Union as America’s archrival, the two sides are less united than they were during the Cold War, a geopolitical shift that lays bare longstanding stresses between them.

Read more at: America May Be ‘Back’ in Europe, but How Much Has Changed Under Biden? - The New York Times

Europe asks: Can Biden put his money where his mouth is? - by RYAN HEATH

There may be toasted marshmallows and firepits awaiting President Joe Biden and his fellow leaders on the beaches of Cornwall during this weekend’s G-7 leaders summit, but don’t expect them to be singing "Kumbaya."

Read MORE AT: Europe asks: Can Biden put his money where his mouth is? - POLITICO

G-7 nations expected to pledge 1B vaccine doses for world

The Group of Seven nations are set to commit to sharing at least 1 billion coronavirus shots with the world, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Thursday, with half coming from the U.S. and 100 million from the U.K. as President Joe Biden urged allies to join in speeding the pandemic’s end and bolstering the strategic position of the world’s wealthiest democracies.

Johnson’s announcement on the eve of the G-7 leaders’ summit in England came hours after Biden committed to donating 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and previewed a coordinated effort by the advanced economies to make vaccination widely and speedily available everywhere.

Read more at: G-7 nations expected to pledge 1B vaccine doses for world

Vaccines: COVID-19 Vaccines Are Better Than We Ever Expected

Amid a global tragedy, the striking effectiveness of vaccines against the coronavirus stands out as one of the pandemic’s few good-news stories for humanity.

And the vaccines are the success story that, so far, has kept on going. Vaccinations are proving to be just as effective in the real world as they were in clinical trials, while remaining highly protective against the more contagious variants spreading worldwide. And two recent studies found that immunity to the virus could last for years.

Read more at: COVID-19 Vaccines Are Better Than We Ever Expected

NATO: What is NATO for? – by Mary Kaldor

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

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

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

Bitcoin skids to two-week low, but technical analyst says the slump is not a ‘decisive breakdown’ — she’s watching the next two closes

Bitcoin was under fresh selling pressure Tuesday, dragging the world’s No. 1 cryptocurrency to lows not seen since late May. At least one technical analyst, though, says the slump doesn’t represent a decisive breakdown of the bitcoin uptrend unless and until the asset registers weaker closes today and tomorrow.

Read more at: Bitcoin skids to two-week low, but technical analyst says the slump is not a ‘decisive breakdown’ — she’s watching the next two closes - MarketWatch

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

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

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

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

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

Internet: Many of the world's biggest websites crashed. Here's what we know - by David Walsh

Online services are beginning to return to normal after a large-scale outage on Tuesday plunged parts of the world into a brief internet blackout.

Several websites around the world, including major media outlets such as the New York Times, Le Monde, the BBC, the Guardian, the Financial Times, as well as the Reddit platform, were inaccessible after an internet outage that lasted around an hour.

Read more atL Many of the world's biggest websites crashed. Here's what we know | Euronews

Canada: Muslim family ID'd in fatal truck attack in London, Ont., known for commitment to community

The Muslim family identified as the victims of a hit and run Sunday in what police are calling a hate-motivated attack in London, Ont., were deeply involved in the community and committed to their faith, friends and family say.

Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Afzaal and Salman Afzaal's 74-year-old mother, Talat Afzaal, were killed after a black truck slammed into them as they took an evening walk.

Read more at: Muslim family ID'd in fatal truck attack in London, Ont., known for commitment to community | CBC News

USA: Kamala Harris faces big risks with first foreign trip - by Stephen Collinson

Since becoming the first female Vice President in January, Harris has done what number twos are supposed to do: avoiding one-upping the commander-in-chief during his crucial first few months in office. But now, Harris is on a high profile and politically risky first foreign trip to Guatemala and Mexico, seeking to ease a tide of immigration at the US border.

She is tackling an issue critical to America's foreign and domestic policy, and one laced with traps for a politician expected to run for the presidency in years to come. Harris will focus on problems that spur the vulnerable to attempt undocumented migration, including the effects of climate change, crippled economies and crime, and is promising "frank and honest" conversations with the presidents of Mexico and Guatemala about corruption and violence.

Read more at https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/world/meanwhile-in-america-june-7-intl/?utm_medium=10today.media.mon.20210607.smartflab.436.1&utm_source=email&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=10-for-today---4.0-styling

USA: Chinese leaders predicted the US would self-destruct. Were they right? -by Mark Tipps

In his inaugural address, President Joe Biden called for unity, warning that our disagreements "must not lead to disunion." He's right, but I'm concerned that many Americans don't fully understand what's required to preserve our democracy.

Read more at: Chinese leaders predicted the US would self-destruct. Were they right?

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

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

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

Germany′s CDU gets boost with surprise victory

The embattled Christian Democratic Union (CDU) could barely have asked for a better launchpad for September's general election than its surprisingly resounding victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday.

After opinion polls in the last few days put Angela Merkel's center-right party in a neck-and-neck race with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the CDU pulled a full 16 percentage points clear on election day, according to the projected results, with 37% of the vote — 7 points more than it got in the 2016 state election.

Read Mote at: https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-cdu-gets-boost-with-surprise-victory/a-57795626

USA: Gun Sales Reach 19 Million: Here’s Every State Ranked – Douglas A. McIntyre

U.S. gun sales in the first five months of 2021 surged 26% to 19,188,494. This makes it among the largest figures since sales were first recorded in 1998.

The increase is part of a trend. Sales of guns in the United States rose 40% last year to 39,695,315. That represents the high water mark in annual gun sales since the current record-keeping system went into effect. Increases by state in May and for the first five months varied substantially, as has been the case for years

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

Middle East: EU, Mideast nations look to train at Cyprus security center

Three European Union member nations and three Middle Eastern countries are looking to train personnel in border, customs, maritime and cybersecurity techniques at a cutting-edge U.S.-funded facility in Cyprus that is expected to be ready early next year, the Cypriot foreign minister said Thursday. The Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS) is scheduled to start operating on Jan. 16, 2022, Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said after inspecting the under-construction facility with U.S. Ambassador Judith Garber.

Christodoulides said Cyprus was selected for the center because the Mediterranean island nation is located on the southeastern end of the EU and because it enjoys good relations with the nations in the Mideast.

“Officials from neighboring countries as well as from EU member states will receive the kind of traininto counter common threats of a non-military nature,” he said.

Biden made the remarks in a letter addressed to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Koushos said. In the letter, the U.S. president looks forward to working with Anastasiades to deal with issues of common interest in the east Mediterranean, the spokesman said.

Read more at EU, Mideast nations look to train at Cyprus security center - NEWS 1130

Israel: Civil marriage unlikely, Kotel deal for sure: What new Israeli gov’t means for religious status

If the new rotation government headed by Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett ultimately gets sworn in (still a big if), it would be the first time since 2015 that the ultra-Orthodox parties were not part of the ruling coalition. It would be the first time Israel has a prime minister who wears a yarmulke (though in the tradition of a certain type of Orthodox Jew, Bennett’s is very small).

Read more at Civil marriage unlikely, Kotel deal for sure: What new Israeli gov’t means for religious status quo - Israel Election 2021 - Haaretz.com

Coronavurus: Virus variants in Asia threaten the whole world

According to genome databases, such as nextstrain.org, there are now more than 1,000 known variants of the SARS CoV-2 virus.

Up to now, the "variants of concern" have been named after the places where they were first discovered. But in a move to avoid stigmatizing particular countries, the World Health Organization has now introduced a new naming system based on the letters of the Greek alphabet. The UK/Kent, South African, Brazilian and Indian variants will now be given the letters Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta respectively. But the labels will not replace their more complex scientific names.

Read more at: https://www.dw.com/en/virus-variants-in-asia-threaten-the-whole-world/a-57745685