NATO will boost its high-readiness forces to more than 300,000 troops, the alliance’s chief announced on Monday, in part of plans that he described as “the biggest overhaul of our collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War.”
The current NATO response force compromises approximately 40,000 troops.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a summit of NATO leaders, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the transatlantic military alliance will strengthen its eastern defenses and adopt a new model for protecting them.
Read more at:
NATO will increase high-readiness force to ‘well over’ 300,000 troops – POLITICO
Showing posts with label Increase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Increase. Show all posts
6/20/22
Ukraine war: Russia becomes China's biggest oil supplier
Imports of Russian oil rose by 55% from a year earlier to a record level in May, displacing Saudi Arabia as China's biggest provider.
China has ramped up purchases of Russian oil despite demand dampened by Covid curbs and a slowing economy.
In February, China and Russia declared their friendship had "no limits".
And Chinese companies, including state refining giant Sinopec and state-run Zhenhua Oil, have increased their purchases of Russian crude in recent months after being offered heavy discounts as buyers in Europe and the US shunned Russian energy in line with sanctions over its war on Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Russia becomes China's biggest oil supplier - BBC News
China has ramped up purchases of Russian oil despite demand dampened by Covid curbs and a slowing economy.
In February, China and Russia declared their friendship had "no limits".
And Chinese companies, including state refining giant Sinopec and state-run Zhenhua Oil, have increased their purchases of Russian crude in recent months after being offered heavy discounts as buyers in Europe and the US shunned Russian energy in line with sanctions over its war on Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Russia becomes China's biggest oil supplier - BBC News
6/8/22
EU-Vietnam Relations: Why more European firms are choosing Vietnam over China
Vietnam was one of the few Asian countries that did not experience an economic contraction during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. This year,Vietnam's GDP is expected to grow by around 5.5%, according to the World Bank.
Vietnam's economic performance during and after the pandemic has captured the attention of some major European firms.
German automotive supplier Brose, which has 11 factories in China, is currently deciding between Thailand and Vietnam for a new production location.
Read more at: Why more European firms are choosing Vietnam over China | Asia | An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW | 08.06.2022
Vietnam's economic performance during and after the pandemic has captured the attention of some major European firms.
German automotive supplier Brose, which has 11 factories in China, is currently deciding between Thailand and Vietnam for a new production location.
Read more at: Why more European firms are choosing Vietnam over China | Asia | An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW | 08.06.2022
4/14/22
USA: Coronavirus Cases Increase as BA.2, or ‘Stealth Omicron,’ Spreads
Deaths appear to be ticking slightly upward as well. As of April 8, the average was 516 deaths per day, according to CDC data. That’s up from an average of 472 reported just one day prior.
Fauci said the increase in cases is a concern but that it wasn’t surprising given the highly transmissible BA.2 variant is spreading and mitigation measures have been dropped.
“This is not unexpected, that you're going to see an uptick when you pull back on the mitigation methods,” Fauci said on ABC’s “This Week.”
He said that officials are watching the situation ”very, very carefully,” adding that he does not believe that deaths and hospitalizations will rise in a comparable way.
Read More at: U.S. Coronavirus Cases Increase as BA.2, or ‘Stealth Omicron,’ Spreads | Health News | US News
Fauci said the increase in cases is a concern but that it wasn’t surprising given the highly transmissible BA.2 variant is spreading and mitigation measures have been dropped.
“This is not unexpected, that you're going to see an uptick when you pull back on the mitigation methods,” Fauci said on ABC’s “This Week.”
He said that officials are watching the situation ”very, very carefully,” adding that he does not believe that deaths and hospitalizations will rise in a comparable way.
Read More at: U.S. Coronavirus Cases Increase as BA.2, or ‘Stealth Omicron,’ Spreads | Health News | US News
4/13/22
OXFAM - Global Poverty: Quarter of a billion people now face extreme poverty, warns Oxfam - by Kaamil Ahmed
The rising price of food caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and increased energy costs could push a quarter of a billion more people into extreme poverty, Oxfam has warned.
The charity said these new challenges had piled on to the economic crises created by Covid, and called for urgent international action, including cancelling debt repayments for poorer countries.
“Without immediate radical action, we could be witnessing the most profound collapse of humanity into extreme poverty and suffering in memory,” said Oxfam’s international executive director, Gabriela Bucher.
Oxfam’s briefing, released on Tuesday ahead of World Bank and IMF spring meetings next week, said indebted governments could be forced to cut public spending to meet the rising cost of importing fuel and food.
Oxfam said cancelling debt repayments for this year and next could free up $30bn (£23bn) for dozens of the countries facing the biggest debts.
Read more at: Quarter of a billion people now face extreme poverty, warns Oxfam | Global development | The Guardian
The charity said these new challenges had piled on to the economic crises created by Covid, and called for urgent international action, including cancelling debt repayments for poorer countries.
“Without immediate radical action, we could be witnessing the most profound collapse of humanity into extreme poverty and suffering in memory,” said Oxfam’s international executive director, Gabriela Bucher.
Oxfam’s briefing, released on Tuesday ahead of World Bank and IMF spring meetings next week, said indebted governments could be forced to cut public spending to meet the rising cost of importing fuel and food.
Oxfam said cancelling debt repayments for this year and next could free up $30bn (£23bn) for dozens of the countries facing the biggest debts.
Read more at: Quarter of a billion people now face extreme poverty, warns Oxfam | Global development | The Guardian
11/24/21
EU-Coronavirus: Europe′s fight against the coronavirus
Up until this past weekend, the Dutch soccer club SC Cambuur Leeuwarden was making the kinds of headlines everyone wants. The team got off to an excellent start in the country's first league, and was about to host FC Utrecht for the week's top match. That's when unvaccinated supporters who were prohibited from entering the stadium because of coronavirus restrictions turned violent and stormed the field. The match was almost canceled after they stormed the pitch and launched fireworks.
And Leeuwarden wasn't an isolated case. There were also reports of violence and rioting against COVID-19 restrictions in Enschede, Groningen, The Hague and in Rotterdam for the third night in a row. Rioters threw stones at police, vandalized streets and set cars ablaze. According to local authorities, more than 140 people were arrested.
Read more at: Europe′s fight against the coronavirus | Europe | News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 24.11.2021
And Leeuwarden wasn't an isolated case. There were also reports of violence and rioting against COVID-19 restrictions in Enschede, Groningen, The Hague and in Rotterdam for the third night in a row. Rioters threw stones at police, vandalized streets and set cars ablaze. According to local authorities, more than 140 people were arrested.
Read more at: Europe′s fight against the coronavirus | Europe | News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 24.11.2021
11/21/21
USA: TSA reports significant increase of guns intercepted at US airport check points
Not only in Florida but this is also happening all across America. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have seen a major increase in firearms at their checkpoints, most of which have been loaded, with some checkpoints even seeing multiple weapons on the same day.
Just recently a passenger awaiting a bag search at the Atlanta airport’s main security checkpoint suddenly reached in his bag and grabbed a loaded firearm, which went off, causing panic among travelers, prompting a temporary FAA ground stop on all flights Records show that by early October,this year the TSA stopped a total of 4,495 passengers with firearms at security checkpoints.Many overseas airports have several checkpoints, including for anyone entering the airport premises .High time this is also instituted at US airports.
Read more also at: https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/09/24/record-number-passengers-are-bringing-guns-tsa-checkpoints-across?fbclid=IwAR2ipfWHQcTDPTC0tYWJT51DSQZQmTxBfAM1Ey6hKGyo_bRH578xmVd2Vho
Just recently a passenger awaiting a bag search at the Atlanta airport’s main security checkpoint suddenly reached in his bag and grabbed a loaded firearm, which went off, causing panic among travelers, prompting a temporary FAA ground stop on all flights Records show that by early October,this year the TSA stopped a total of 4,495 passengers with firearms at security checkpoints.Many overseas airports have several checkpoints, including for anyone entering the airport premises .High time this is also instituted at US airports.
Read more also at: https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/09/24/record-number-passengers-are-bringing-guns-tsa-checkpoints-across?fbclid=IwAR2ipfWHQcTDPTC0tYWJT51DSQZQmTxBfAM1Ey6hKGyo_bRH578xmVd2Vho
Germany: COVID causes cancellation of popular Christmas market in Germany
One of Germany's most popular Christmas markets has fallen victim to the country's worsening COVID situation.
The one at Nuremberg in Bavaria was scrapped on Friday.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, making the announcement, said: "The situation is very, very serious and complicated."
Read more at: COVID causes cancellation of popular Christmas market in Germany | Euronews
The one at Nuremberg in Bavaria was scrapped on Friday.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, making the announcement, said: "The situation is very, very serious and complicated."
Read more at: COVID causes cancellation of popular Christmas market in Germany | Euronews
11/19/21
The Netherlands aims to keep its schools open, even as cases soar among young people - by Claire Moses-
The coronavirus’s rapid spread through schools in the Netherlands has prompted some experts to call for extending this winter’s Christmas break. In an article on Thursday, one immunologist, Ger Rijkers, told the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, “Children are little virus factories and infect each other as well as adults.”
Read more at: The Netherlands aims to keep its schools open, even as cases soar among young people. - The New York Times
Read more at: The Netherlands aims to keep its schools open, even as cases soar among young people. - The New York Times
11/18/21
COVID in Europe: Sweden's new COVID pass as Slovakia targets unvaccinated - by Alice Tidey and Aleksandar Brezar
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in various parts of Europe as the cold weather has affected the spread of the virus.
Countries on the Old Continent are attempting to curb the spike through various means -- from introducing lockdowns for the unvaccinated to limiting access to certain services, or pushing for an increase in vaccination rates.
Read more at: COVID in Europe: Sweden's new COVID pass as Slovakia targets unvaccinated | Euronews
Countries on the Old Continent are attempting to curb the spike through various means -- from introducing lockdowns for the unvaccinated to limiting access to certain services, or pushing for an increase in vaccination rates.
Read more at: COVID in Europe: Sweden's new COVID pass as Slovakia targets unvaccinated | Euronews
11/10/21
USA: pressure on Fed to raise interest rates as US inflation surges to 30-year high | US economy
Although the Federal Reserve has repeatedly insisted price pressures will prove “transitory”, financial markets were taken aback by a 6.2% increase in the cost of living in the world’s biggest economy over the past year.
A labor department report released on Wednesday showed prices rose by 0.9% in October alone – more than double the 0.4% jump in September – to push the annual rate of inflation to its highest level since December 1990, a time when global oil prices had risen sharply due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
The news came after the Biden administration and the Federal Reserve tried to downplay rising costs, arguing they are a temporary phenomena driven by Covid-19’s unprecedented impact on the global supply chain
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/10/inflation-us-latest-high-30-years-economy-predictions?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
A labor department report released on Wednesday showed prices rose by 0.9% in October alone – more than double the 0.4% jump in September – to push the annual rate of inflation to its highest level since December 1990, a time when global oil prices had risen sharply due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
The news came after the Biden administration and the Federal Reserve tried to downplay rising costs, arguing they are a temporary phenomena driven by Covid-19’s unprecedented impact on the global supply chain
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/10/inflation-us-latest-high-30-years-economy-predictions?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
11/9/21
The Netherlands: COVID-19: Dutch hospitals sound alarm as eastern Europe reports record daily deaths
Hospitals in the southern Dutch province of Limburg warned the government on Tuesday that they can no longer cope with new COVID-19 patients.
"We are heading straight for a healthcare blockage and the entire system is grinding to a standstill," five hospitals in the border province said.
"We are convinced that other parts of the Netherlands will soon follow," they added in a statement.
Read more at: https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/09/covid-19-dutch-hospitals-sound-alarm-as-eastern-europe-reports-record-daily-deaths
"We are heading straight for a healthcare blockage and the entire system is grinding to a standstill," five hospitals in the border province said.
"We are convinced that other parts of the Netherlands will soon follow," they added in a statement.
Read more at: https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/09/covid-19-dutch-hospitals-sound-alarm-as-eastern-europe-reports-record-daily-deaths
10/27/21
EU-Russia Relations: Russia puts the freeze on EU, gas supplies limited, prices spike
With gas prices surging, Members of the European Parliament have called for an investigation into market manipulation from state and non-state actors, and into the EU carbon market speculation to measure the impact that both factors are having on prices.
During the debate between the European Parliament, Commission and Council in plenary on October 6, many MEPs insisted on the need for immediate measures to protect the most vulnerable from rising bills, the EU Parliament said in a press release.
Read more At Russia puts the freeze on EU, gas supplies limited, prices spike | New Europe
During the debate between the European Parliament, Commission and Council in plenary on October 6, many MEPs insisted on the need for immediate measures to protect the most vulnerable from rising bills, the EU Parliament said in a press release.
Read more At Russia puts the freeze on EU, gas supplies limited, prices spike | New Europe
10/14/21
U.S. inflation rate rises to 13-year high of 5.4%
The U.S. inflation rate rose to a 13-year high in September as rising costs for food and shelter pushed the rate up to 5.4 per cent.
Higher prices for food and shelter made up half of the increase in the overall rate, the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics said in a release. But the biggest individual category increase was energy, the cost of which has risen by almost 25 per cent in the past year.
Economists were expecting the number to come in at around 5.3 per cent, which would have been the highest rate since 2013. But the figure ended up being higher than it's been since 2008, right before the financial crisis.
+ Read more at: U.S. inflation rate rises to 13-year high of 5.4% | CBC News
Higher prices for food and shelter made up half of the increase in the overall rate, the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics said in a release. But the biggest individual category increase was energy, the cost of which has risen by almost 25 per cent in the past year.
Economists were expecting the number to come in at around 5.3 per cent, which would have been the highest rate since 2013. But the figure ended up being higher than it's been since 2008, right before the financial crisis.
+ Read more at: U.S. inflation rate rises to 13-year high of 5.4% | CBC News
10/8/21
The Netherlands: Dutch cabinet is working to evacuate up to 2,000 more Afghans to the Netherlands
Finally! Some good news for us this Friday morning — the Dutch cabinet is working on plans to evacuate more Afghans to the Netherlands than they had previously calculated.
Initially, the outgoing parliament estimated that in addition to the interpreters, only about 70 Afghans would be eligible for evacuation to the Netherlands. According to various sources from The Hague, this number is now seen to be between 1,000 and 2,000 people,
At this point, the plan is to bring anyone who has worked in visible public positions for Dutch organisations after January 1, 2019, to the Netherlands. This is around 900 people, including their immediate family members.
In addition, any Afghans who have worked for at least one year for the Ministry of Defense or Europol over the past 20 years are also entitled to come to the Netherlands. Several hundred people are included in this category.
Read more at: Dutch cabinet is working to evacuate up to 2,000 more Afghans to the Netherlands – DutchReview
Initially, the outgoing parliament estimated that in addition to the interpreters, only about 70 Afghans would be eligible for evacuation to the Netherlands. According to various sources from The Hague, this number is now seen to be between 1,000 and 2,000 people,
At this point, the plan is to bring anyone who has worked in visible public positions for Dutch organisations after January 1, 2019, to the Netherlands. This is around 900 people, including their immediate family members.
In addition, any Afghans who have worked for at least one year for the Ministry of Defense or Europol over the past 20 years are also entitled to come to the Netherlands. Several hundred people are included in this category.
Read more at: Dutch cabinet is working to evacuate up to 2,000 more Afghans to the Netherlands – DutchReview
10/5/21
The Netherlands: Dutch Covid hospital total up 6% in a day; New patients near 4-week high
Hospitals in the Netherlands were treating 483 people with Covid-19 on Tuesday. The figure rose 6 percent since Monday afternoon, the third straight daily increase. It was caused in part by 82 patient admissions during the preceding 24 hours, the most in a day since September 9.
Seventeen of the new patients were sent directly to intensive care, a two-week high. Hospitals took on an average of 47 new Covid-19 patients each of the past seven days, including nine sent to an ICU.
Read more at: Dutch Covid hospital total up 6% in a day; New patients near 4-week high | NL Times
Seventeen of the new patients were sent directly to intensive care, a two-week high. Hospitals took on an average of 47 new Covid-19 patients each of the past seven days, including nine sent to an ICU.
Read more at: Dutch Covid hospital total up 6% in a day; New patients near 4-week high | NL Times
6/4/21
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.
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.
4/13/21
USA - Poll: Most Americans Support Raising Minimum Wage, But Not to $15
Democrats in Congress want to raise the hourly minimum wage to $15, but while most Americans support increasing the minimum – currently $7.25 an hour – they balk at proposals to more than double it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 48% of American Adults believe raising the hourly minimum wage will help the U.S. economy, up from 42% two years ago. Thirty-three percent (33%) think raising the minimum wage will hurt the economy instead, while 10% say it will have no impact. Nine percent (9%) are undecided
Read more at: Most Americans Support Raising Minimum Wage, But Not to $15 - rickmorren@gmail.com - Gmail
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 48% of American Adults believe raising the hourly minimum wage will help the U.S. economy, up from 42% two years ago. Thirty-three percent (33%) think raising the minimum wage will hurt the economy instead, while 10% say it will have no impact. Nine percent (9%) are undecided
Read more at: Most Americans Support Raising Minimum Wage, But Not to $15 - rickmorren@gmail.com - Gmail
4/12/21
Canada's COVID-19 case rate now tops U.S. rate. Here's what the experts say
The staggering COVID-19 case numbers in the United States may have seemed like a world away compared to Canada's relative caseload for most of the pandemic, but recent statistics show the growing severity of the situation on this side of the border.
Read more at: Canada's COVID-19 case rate now tops U.S. rate. Here's what the experts say | CBC News
Read more at: Canada's COVID-19 case rate now tops U.S. rate. Here's what the experts say | CBC News
3/26/21
USA-Florida - Coronavirus: 2 Million Covid Cases, Reports 5,140 New Infections and 53 More Deaths Friday
Another 62 virus-related deaths among Florida residents were reported Saturday, bringing the total to 32,713. An additional 624 non-resident deaths have been confirmed in the state to-date. Most of the newly confirmed deaths occurred days or weeks earlier.
The positivity rate for new cases in the state was 5.39% in Saturday's department of health coronavirus report, a slight increase from Friday's 5.02% rate.
In South Florida, Miami-Dade County reached 433,452 cases on Saturday, an increase of 1,275 since Friday, along with a total of 5,724 COVID-related deaths, an increase of eight since Friday.
Read More at: Florida Nears 2 Million Covid Cases, Reports 5,140 New Infections and 53 More Deaths Friday – NBC 6 South Florida
The positivity rate for new cases in the state was 5.39% in Saturday's department of health coronavirus report, a slight increase from Friday's 5.02% rate.
In South Florida, Miami-Dade County reached 433,452 cases on Saturday, an increase of 1,275 since Friday, along with a total of 5,724 COVID-related deaths, an increase of eight since Friday.
Read More at: Florida Nears 2 Million Covid Cases, Reports 5,140 New Infections and 53 More Deaths Friday – NBC 6 South Florida
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