The new Dutch government is expected to be installed on Jan. 10, almost 10 months after the last election, a statement released by Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s office said on Thursday.
Political parties earlier this month agreed on the details of their governing pact, after the longest such negotiations in Dutch history. [nL1N2SY0UW}
The coalition will consist of the four parties that have been in power since 2017, but it took almost 300 days to bring them back together after the March 17 elections produced an inconclusive result.
Rutte is expected to lead his fourth consecutive administration as prime minister, making him the longest serving government leader in the European Union together with Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Read more at:
New Dutch government expected to be installed on Jan 10 | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County
12/30/21
Netherlands Announces Plan To Give People Up to Six Doses of COVID Vaccine
Hugo de Jonge, health minister of The Netherlands, has indicated the country could be preparing another three coronavirus booster vaccines.
De Jonge wrote a letter to his country's parliament Wednesday suggesting the Netherlands should consider additional rounds of booster vaccines to fight new variants, with two of these in 2022 and another shot in 2023.
Read more at: Netherlands Announces Plan To Give People Up to Six Doses of COVID Vaccine
De Jonge wrote a letter to his country's parliament Wednesday suggesting the Netherlands should consider additional rounds of booster vaccines to fight new variants, with two of these in 2022 and another shot in 2023.
Read more at: Netherlands Announces Plan To Give People Up to Six Doses of COVID Vaccine
EU Back on Track: 5 reasons for the EU to be hopeful in 2022 – by Paul Taylor
The dark cloud of the Omicron coronavirus variant may be plunging your plans for the New Year into uncertainty, but there are still reasons to hope that Europe can make significant progress on a range of thorny issues in 2022.
While it is clear we will have to live with COVID-19 for another while, new political constellations have been emerging since Germany’s change of government in December. These will offer the prospect of innovative solutions for long-standing problems in the European Union.
To be sure, there are several things that could go wrong: an uncontrollable surge of more deadly coronavirus variants that set back the economic recovery; a Russian military offensive against Ukraine; a Polish blockade of EU institutions in the battle over the rule of law and EU funds.
However, none of those worst-case scenarios is certain — or even likely. And there are undeniable grounds to be more optimistic about the coming year. After years of sterile battles over the EU’s much abused fiscal rules — which were suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — a consensus is emerging that in order to avoid strangling the recovery, budget discipline regulations must be changed before they return to force in 2023.
From the frugal north to the more spendthrift south, there is widespread recognition that public investment will be key to the success of the green and digital transformations of the European economy, and that outdated debt and deficit limits must not prevent this. Along this line, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have jointly called for reform to perpetuate collective EU borrowing beyond the temporary recovery fund created in 2020.
Read more at: 5 reasons for the EU to be hopeful in 2022 – POLITICO
While it is clear we will have to live with COVID-19 for another while, new political constellations have been emerging since Germany’s change of government in December. These will offer the prospect of innovative solutions for long-standing problems in the European Union.
To be sure, there are several things that could go wrong: an uncontrollable surge of more deadly coronavirus variants that set back the economic recovery; a Russian military offensive against Ukraine; a Polish blockade of EU institutions in the battle over the rule of law and EU funds.
However, none of those worst-case scenarios is certain — or even likely. And there are undeniable grounds to be more optimistic about the coming year. After years of sterile battles over the EU’s much abused fiscal rules — which were suspended at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — a consensus is emerging that in order to avoid strangling the recovery, budget discipline regulations must be changed before they return to force in 2023.
From the frugal north to the more spendthrift south, there is widespread recognition that public investment will be key to the success of the green and digital transformations of the European economy, and that outdated debt and deficit limits must not prevent this. Along this line, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi have jointly called for reform to perpetuate collective EU borrowing beyond the temporary recovery fund created in 2020.
Read more at: 5 reasons for the EU to be hopeful in 2022 – POLITICO
Wise words: The book of Revelation and the passing of political powers - by Martin Davie
This message is that, in spite of challenges from other powers, the US remains the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, and that all will be well in the world providing that what happens is determined by the actions of the benevolent US government and the honourable and heroic US military.
In this view of things, the Pax Americana, the political and military domination of the world by the US is, to quote Francis Fukuyama, 'the end of history,' the end point of human political development beyond which nothing better can be expected or hoped for.
Of course, in reality, this view of the world is fantasy. The actions of the US government are not always benevolent, the US military is not always honourable or heroic, and the political and military power of the US is on the wane due to the resurgence of China and Russia and internal political and social conflict.
Read more at: The book of Revelation and the passing of political powers
In this view of things, the Pax Americana, the political and military domination of the world by the US is, to quote Francis Fukuyama, 'the end of history,' the end point of human political development beyond which nothing better can be expected or hoped for.
Of course, in reality, this view of the world is fantasy. The actions of the US government are not always benevolent, the US military is not always honourable or heroic, and the political and military power of the US is on the wane due to the resurgence of China and Russia and internal political and social conflict.
Read more at: The book of Revelation and the passing of political powers
12/29/21
Covid Cases: U.S. Shatters Prior Record Of New Covid Cases Over Past 7 Days - by Lisa Kim
As of Wednesday morning, the seven-day average of new infections totaled 282,117, eclipsing the previous record of around 250,000 on January 11, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Covid data tracker.
Comparing the U.S. seven-day average with other countries most affected by new Covid cases, the U.K. and France set new records this week, peaking at around 115,000 and some 88,000, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Read more at: U.S. Shatters Prior Record Of New Covid Cases Over Past 7 Days
Comparing the U.S. seven-day average with other countries most affected by new Covid cases, the U.K. and France set new records this week, peaking at around 115,000 and some 88,000, respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Read more at: U.S. Shatters Prior Record Of New Covid Cases Over Past 7 Days
Global Energy Supplies: Europe needs an energy policy independent of US interference
It is no secret to the world that the US government has been obstructing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for many years by imposing all types of political and economic sanctions on related parties. The stake is high behind the US' suppression of the project, because the pipeline could enable more cheap gas supplies from Russia to Europe, depriving US suppliers of a prime export market.
Whether the Nord Stream 2 will promote energy cooperation between Russia and Europe, or become a trigger of tensions across the Atlantic will remain to be seen. While the US doesn't really care about Europe's energy security, Washington won't tolerate anything that threatens its energy trade.
What the US government wants is to preserve its global hegemony in the energy sector. The US energy hegemony is one of the important pillars of American global hegemony. So, the US will do everything in its position to ensure global energy supply patterns are in line with its global geopolitical power play. If the energy cooperation between Russia and Europe were allowed to unfold without any complications, it is conceivable that many things would be out of the control of the US.
If anything, the energy crisis is another example demonstrating why Europe needs to have the ability to independently form its own political and economic policies including energy security. Europe needs to be clear that its interests are not the same as the US', and it cannot completely follow the US lead on many issues, or it will end up hurting itself.
Read more at: GT Voice: Europe needs an energy policy independent of US interference - Global Times
Whether the Nord Stream 2 will promote energy cooperation between Russia and Europe, or become a trigger of tensions across the Atlantic will remain to be seen. While the US doesn't really care about Europe's energy security, Washington won't tolerate anything that threatens its energy trade.
What the US government wants is to preserve its global hegemony in the energy sector. The US energy hegemony is one of the important pillars of American global hegemony. So, the US will do everything in its position to ensure global energy supply patterns are in line with its global geopolitical power play. If the energy cooperation between Russia and Europe were allowed to unfold without any complications, it is conceivable that many things would be out of the control of the US.
If anything, the energy crisis is another example demonstrating why Europe needs to have the ability to independently form its own political and economic policies including energy security. Europe needs to be clear that its interests are not the same as the US', and it cannot completely follow the US lead on many issues, or it will end up hurting itself.
Read more at: GT Voice: Europe needs an energy policy independent of US interference - Global Times
US between a stone and a hard rock: Putin and Xi Working Together to Force Biden into a Two-Front Crisis He Can't Win - by Tom O'Connor
As crises mount over Ukraine and Taiwan, an unprecedented bond between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping has allowed the United States' two top rivals to force President Joe Biden into a two-front crisis that could spread his administration too thin to respond adequately to either.
And should a shooting war erupt, there's little guarantee the U.S. would come out on top.
"I don't think the United States is prepared to go to war in Ukraine. I don't think the United States is prepared to go to war over Taiwan," Lyle Goldstein, an expert on China and Russia who served for 20 years as a research professor at the Naval War College up until October and now holds the position of director of Asia engagement at the Defense Priorities think tank, told Newsweek.
Read more at: Putin and Xi Working Together to Force Biden into a Two-Front Crisis He Can't Win
And should a shooting war erupt, there's little guarantee the U.S. would come out on top.
"I don't think the United States is prepared to go to war in Ukraine. I don't think the United States is prepared to go to war over Taiwan," Lyle Goldstein, an expert on China and Russia who served for 20 years as a research professor at the Naval War College up until October and now holds the position of director of Asia engagement at the Defense Priorities think tank, told Newsweek.
Read more at: Putin and Xi Working Together to Force Biden into a Two-Front Crisis He Can't Win
12/28/21
The Netherlands: Dutch law in 2022: Here's what's changing in the Netherlands next year
As was announced on Prinsjesdag, the government has introduced a tax-free allowance for employees who work from home. From January, companies will be able to provide employees with an allowance of two euros per day to cover the costs acquired from working from home (i.e. energy bills, cups of coffee).
The criteria used to determine whether couples are eligible for the income-related combination tax credit will change in January, which could mean that some couples may no longer qualify as tax partners. In better news, the new system for tax partners will ensure that you and your tax partner will receive the maximum benefits.
Read more at: Dutch law in 2022: Here's what's changing in the Netherlands next year
The criteria used to determine whether couples are eligible for the income-related combination tax credit will change in January, which could mean that some couples may no longer qualify as tax partners. In better news, the new system for tax partners will ensure that you and your tax partner will receive the maximum benefits.
Read more at: Dutch law in 2022: Here's what's changing in the Netherlands next year
European Strategic Autonomy After Afghanistan - by Ana Palacio
In Europe, the rapid collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government has prompted a spate of finger-pointing and accusations. But the return of the Taliban to power has also intensified an already-growing sense of insecurity regarding the NATO and the and the dominant role played by the US in the Atlantic Alliance.
Read more at: European Strategic Autonomy After Afghanistan by Ana Palacio - Project Syndicate
Read more at: European Strategic Autonomy After Afghanistan by Ana Palacio - Project Syndicate
The Root of All Evil: Arms sales: Capitalizing on conflict: How defense contractors and foreign nations lobby for arms sales
The defense industry's business prospects are tightly controlled and in many ways entirely decided by official decisions made in Congress and the Pentagon in a way that other industries don't have to contend with. Despite those restrictions, business is undeniably good both at home and abroad. Foreign sales delivered an average of $12 billion worth of arms per year between 2016 and 2018, according to Security Assistance Monitor data analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics.
That's on top of a sizable portion of the $740 billion Pentagon budget spent on weapons for use by the U.S. military. When it comes time for Congress to decide funding levels for a Pentagon that spends nearly three times as much as any other military in the world, arms manufacturers and military support sellers have an extensive network of lobbyists and former government employees pushing their business interests to members of Congress who have taken contributions from them and also often have constituents employed by them.
Read more at: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/capitalizing-on-conflict
China-US relations: Despite sharp divide on major issues, Congress largely agrees on China - because heavy lobby Arms industry
Despite sharp divisions on most major issues, congressional Democrats and Republicans agree on at least one way to deal with China.
President Joe Biden signed into law just before Christmas a bipartisan bill banning goods from China’s Xinjiang region unless companies can prove they aren’t made with forced labor. The House and Senate unanimously passed the measure earlier this month, showing the parties are largely aligned on China policy.
“The United States will not standby as the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against the Uyghurs. Our bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, now law, will help keep China accountable by ensuring no goods made with Uyghur slave labor are sold in American markets,” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said in a tweet.
Read more at https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/12/28/22857023/despite-sharp-divide-congress-agrees-china-human-rights-uyghurs-genocide-joe-biden-mitt-romney
President Joe Biden signed into law just before Christmas a bipartisan bill banning goods from China’s Xinjiang region unless companies can prove they aren’t made with forced labor. The House and Senate unanimously passed the measure earlier this month, showing the parties are largely aligned on China policy.
“The United States will not standby as the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against the Uyghurs. Our bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, now law, will help keep China accountable by ensuring no goods made with Uyghur slave labor are sold in American markets,” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said in a tweet.
Read more at https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/12/28/22857023/despite-sharp-divide-congress-agrees-china-human-rights-uyghurs-genocide-joe-biden-mitt-romney
Turkey: ‘There’s jobs but no money’: Turkey’s economic crisis begins to bite - by Ruth Michaelson
In a jewellery shop close to Istanbul’s Taksim Square, Seda unzips an elegant black leather pouch and piles her gold jewellery on the counter to discuss selling it all. The shop owner gently places gold chains, rings and a pendant on a small scale, before immediately calling a trader to discuss the latest rates.
“I used to look at the price of gold once a week. Now I look roughly 50 times a day,” says the owner, who asks that his name is withheld. He advises Seda to wait – perhaps the price will stabilise.
Turkish citizens like Seda, who declines to give her surname, are frantically trying to find ways to cope as the lira continues a downward slide. The currency lost half its value against the dollar this year, falling almost 30% in November alone. Those without foreign currency or gold to sell are finding other ways to cut down, avoiding buying meat or turning to government-subsidised bread stands for sustenance.
Read more at: ‘There’s jobs but no money’: Turkey’s economic crisis begins to bite | Turkey | The Guardian
“I used to look at the price of gold once a week. Now I look roughly 50 times a day,” says the owner, who asks that his name is withheld. He advises Seda to wait – perhaps the price will stabilise.
Turkish citizens like Seda, who declines to give her surname, are frantically trying to find ways to cope as the lira continues a downward slide. The currency lost half its value against the dollar this year, falling almost 30% in November alone. Those without foreign currency or gold to sell are finding other ways to cut down, avoiding buying meat or turning to government-subsidised bread stands for sustenance.
Read more at: ‘There’s jobs but no money’: Turkey’s economic crisis begins to bite | Turkey | The Guardian
12/27/21
Coronavirus - isolation period: US cuts recommended isolation period
US health authorities on Monday announced that quarantine periods for asymptomatic coronavirus patients would be shortened from 10 to five days.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited evidence that those infected with the virus were most infectious during the two days before and then three days after symptoms developed.
Read more at: Coronavirus: US cuts recommended isolation period | News | DW | 27.12.2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited evidence that those infected with the virus were most infectious during the two days before and then three days after symptoms developed.
Read more at: Coronavirus: US cuts recommended isolation period | News | DW | 27.12.2021
Covid Symptoms: What are COVID symptoms after getting vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect people from getting seriously ill with the virus, as well as stave off extended hospital stays and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, no vaccine is 100% effective and, though rare, fully vaccinated people can contract coronavirus. These cases, known as breakthrough infections, can cause COVID-like symptoms — or no symptoms at all. Researchers behind the ZOE COVID Symptom Study found that the five most common symptoms reported by those vaccinated against the virus are:
Read more at: What are COVID symptoms after getting vaccine? | Miami Herald
However, no vaccine is 100% effective and, though rare, fully vaccinated people can contract coronavirus. These cases, known as breakthrough infections, can cause COVID-like symptoms — or no symptoms at all. Researchers behind the ZOE COVID Symptom Study found that the five most common symptoms reported by those vaccinated against the virus are:
Read more at: What are COVID symptoms after getting vaccine? | Miami Herald
Press Freedom - Poland’s president vetoes controversial media law following pressure from US
Poland’s president has vetoed a controversial media law that had been passed in the country’s parliament, under pressure from the US.
Andrzej Duda said on Monday he has decided to veto the bill that would have forced US company Discovery to give up its controlling share in Polish TV network TVN.
The president noted that the bill was unpopular with many Poles and would have dealt a blow to Poland’s reputation as a place to do business.
Read more at: Poland’s president vetoes controversial media law following pressure from US | Euronews
Andrzej Duda said on Monday he has decided to veto the bill that would have forced US company Discovery to give up its controlling share in Polish TV network TVN.
The president noted that the bill was unpopular with many Poles and would have dealt a blow to Poland’s reputation as a place to do business.
Read more at: Poland’s president vetoes controversial media law following pressure from US | Euronews
China - US Relations: China anger after space station forced to move to avoid Elon Musk Starlink satellites
Beijing has called on the UN to remind the US to abide by the treaty regulating outer space after space satellites launched by tech tycoon Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX almost collided with its space station twice in the past year.
China said its space station deployed prevention collision avoidance control measures in July and October to avoid colliding with Starlink satellites in a recent report submitted by Beijing to the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space earlier this month.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/28/china-complains-to-un-after-space-station-is-forced-to-move-to-avoid-starlink-satellites?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
China said its space station deployed prevention collision avoidance control measures in July and October to avoid colliding with Starlink satellites in a recent report submitted by Beijing to the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space earlier this month.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/dec/28/china-complains-to-un-after-space-station-is-forced-to-move-to-avoid-starlink-satellites?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
12/26/21
The Netherlands: Dutch streets deserted as snap Christmas COVID lockdown starts
Dutch urban centres were largely deserted on Sunday as the country bega a snap lockdown that, aimed at stemming an expected COVID-19 surge caused by the fast-spreading Omicron variant, left people's Christmas plans in disarray.
Read more at: Dutch streets deserted as snap Christmas COVID lockdown starts | Reuters
Read more at: Dutch streets deserted as snap Christmas COVID lockdown starts | Reuters
USA: Omicron, weather ground more than 1,300 U.S. flights on Sunday
.S. airlines called off more than 1,300 flights on Sunday as surging COVID-19 infections due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus grounded crews and forced tens of thousands of Christmas weekend travellers to change their plans.
Commercial airlines cancelled 1,318 flights within, into or out of the United States on Sunday, according to a tally on flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.
It was the third straight day of travelling pain, after a total of 997 flights were scrapped on Christmas Day and nearly 700 on Christmas Eve. Thousands more were delayed on all three days.
Read more at: Omicron, weather ground more than 1,300 U.S. flights on Sunday | CBC News
Commercial airlines cancelled 1,318 flights within, into or out of the United States on Sunday, according to a tally on flight-tracking website FlightAware.com.
It was the third straight day of travelling pain, after a total of 997 flights were scrapped on Christmas Day and nearly 700 on Christmas Eve. Thousands more were delayed on all three days.
Read more at: Omicron, weather ground more than 1,300 U.S. flights on Sunday | CBC News
French Guiana: NASA Space telescope blasts off from French Guiana to replace aging Hubble
The world’s largest and most powerful space telescope was blasted off on Christmas Day on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared upwards from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky.
“What an amazing Christmas present,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's science mission chief.
Note EU-Digest: "NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s) northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky. Isn't that a far better, productive cooperation between the EU and the USA, than in the outdated and destructive NATO ?"
Read more at: Space telescope blasts off from French Guiana to replace aging Hubble | Euronews
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared upwards from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky.
“What an amazing Christmas present,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's science mission chief.
Note EU-Digest: "NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s) northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky. Isn't that a far better, productive cooperation between the EU and the USA, than in the outdated and destructive NATO ?"
Read more at: Space telescope blasts off from French Guiana to replace aging Hubble | Euronews
12/25/21
Ukraine: Russia withdraws troops from regions near Ukraine
The pull back was announced by the Southern Military District Command, on Saturday, with Interfax reporting that forces have finished their “operational coordination” exercise. It added that more than 10,000 servicemen would now “march to their home bases from the territory of joint training ranges.”
Read more at: Russia withdraws troops from regions near Ukraine — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
Read more at: Russia withdraws troops from regions near Ukraine — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union
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