Netherlands - Italy’s budget plans boosted as 2021 economic growth figure is revised upwards



The Netherlands, commonly referred to as Holland, is a small but vibrant country located in Western Europe. The country borders the North Sea to the north and west, Germany to the east, and Belgium to the south. The Netherlands has a long and fascinating history, a rich cultural heritage, and is known for its open-mindedness and tolerance.

History:

The history of the Netherlands dates back to the prehistoric times when the region was inhabited by indigenous tribes. Throughout the centuries, the region was influenced by various peoples and cultures, including the Romans, the Franks, and the Vikings. By the 16th century, the region had formed into a unified country under the leadership of William of Orange.

During the 17th century, the Netherlands experienced a golden age of trade, art, and science. This period saw the rise of the Dutch Republic as a global superpower, with Amsterdam emerging as a major economic and cultural hub. The country also played a significant role in the colonization of various parts of the world, including Indonesia, Suriname, and South Africa.

In the 20th century, the Netherlands underwent a significant transformation, with the country developing into a modern, progressive society known for its liberal policies and social welfare measures. The country also played a significant role during World War II, with its resistance movements contributing to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

Geography:

The Netherlands is a small country covering an area of approximately 41,543 km2. The country is predominantly flat, with the highest point being the Vaalserberg at 322 meters. The country is famous for its network of canals, dikes, and polders that were constructed to reclaim land from the sea and prevent flooding. The country also has an extensive coastline, which is a popular tourist destination.

Culture:

The Netherlands has a rich cultural heritage, with a diverse range of art, literature, music, and architecture. The country is famous for its Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh, as well as its contemporary artists and designers. The Dutch are also known for their love of cycling, with the country having an extensive network of cycling paths and infrastructure.

The Netherlands is a diverse and multi-cultural society, with a large population of immigrants from various parts of the world. This has resulted in a melting pot of cultures, traditions, and beliefs. The country is known for its open-mindedness and tolerance, with progressive policies regarding LGBT rights, drug use, and euthanasia.

Economy:

The Netherlands has a highly developed and diversified economy, which is the fifth-largest in the European Union. The country is known for its innovative and technology-driven industries, including agriculture, IT, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. The country is home to a number of multinational companies, including Philips, Shell, and Unilever.

The Netherlands is also a major player in international trade, with Rotterdam serving as one of the largest ports in the world. The country is a member of the European Union, and the Euro is the official currency.

Tourism:

The Netherlands is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. The country is famous for its picturesque landscapes, historic cities, and vibrant culture. Some of the most popular tourist attractions include the canals of Amsterdam, the windmills of Kinderdijk, and the Keukenhof Gardens. The country is also known for its festivals, including King’s Day, Carnival, and the Rotterdam Film Festival.

Conclusion:

The Netherlands is a unique and fascinating country, with a rich history, diverse culture, and innovative economy. The country’s open-mindedness and tolerance, as well as its social welfare policies, have made it a model for progressive societies. The country’s picturesque landscapes, historic cities, and vibrant culture, combined with its modern infrastructure, make it a top destination for tourists from around the world.


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Pro-nuclear countries pitch atomic role in Europe's green transition

Reuters

23-05-16 11:34


A group of 16 pro-nuclear countries, including France, Poland, and the Czech Republic, has called on the EU to provide more support for nuclear energy in its policies to meet climate commitments. The EU is divided over nuclear energy, with this year's debate deepening on whether low carbon nuclear power should count towards renewable energy goals. The disagreements intensified after Germany, Europe's largest energy consumer, shut down its last nuclear reactors last month. Proponents of nuclear energy, which generates baseload CO2-free electricity, argue that it is a way for countries to phase out fossil fuels.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/pro-nuclear-countries-pitch-atomic-role-europes-green-transition-2023-05-16/
China sees the Netherlands as priority partner in EU - Chinese Premier Li

Reuters

23-05-16 10:56


Chinese premier Li Qiang has reportedly said that the Netherlands is a priority partner in the EU and China is willing to promote cooperation between the two nations on a range of issues. Li urged Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to maintain a smooth flow in the global supply and industrial chain and also asked the Netherlands to safeguard their shared interests.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-sees-netherlands-priority-partner-eu-chinese-premier-li-2023-05-16/
The U.S. needs higher taxes. Hear me out

The Globe and Mail

23-05-16 09:30


The looming debt-ceiling crisis in the US has been labelled a "manufactured crisis" by Eric Reguly in The Globe & Mail. The Republican party is refusing to raise the government's borrowing limit without a promise of big spending cuts. If the debt is defaulted upon, Reguly warns of its side effects: "blowing up the banking system and paralysing the global economy". Despite US President Donald Trump's endorsement of the move, it is unlikely to cause a crisis as it has in Clinton's time, as Republicans had to compromise.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-us-taxes-debt-ceiling-crisis/
Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine

CSIS

23-05-17 14:00


A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.

https://www.csis.org/events/allied-burden-sharing-ukraine
Folarin Balogun, a high-scoring multinational star, chooses USMNT over England

Washington Post

23-05-16 15:35


Brooklyn-born forward Folarin Balogun has made the decision to play for the US men's national soccer team. FIFA granted Balogun's one-time switch request clearing the way for him to debut at the Concacaf Nations League finals. He is eligible to play for the US, England and Nigeria, but he had already accepted a US call-up to a U18 training camp in 2018 and had recently met US players and coaches at training camp in Orlando. 21-year-old Balogun had previously played for England at youth level.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/05/16/folarin-balogun-usmnt/
Sunak’s hope to make migration focus at European gathering dampened by host

The Independent

23-05-16 14:19


The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has warned that the international system for policing human trafficking is “not working”. He also criticised the rules that have prevented the UK’s first scheduled deportation flight from taking asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, Iceland’s foreign affairs minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir suggested these issues would not be top of the agenda at the Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik at which Sunak is due to speak. Instead, Gylfadottir said the discussions would focus on other issues such as the environment and artificial intelligence, although “migration is an issue for Europe”.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/iceland-prime-minister-ukraine-ursula-von-der-leyen-council-of-europe-b2339896.html
Column: Lead's balancing act still depends on China's exports

Reuters

23-05-16 13:15


The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) has predicted that the global refined lead market will be balanced between supply and demand in 2022, following a significant 141,000 tonne shortfall in 2021. The revised shortage forecast of 20,000 tonnes is significant compared to the 12 million tonne global market. However, the physical market in Europe and the US remains tight and heavily reliant on exports from China. Despite China serving as a net importer for most of 2017–20, it was a net exporter of lead last year, shipping 116,500 tonnes.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/leads-balancing-act-still-depends-chinas-exports-2023-05-16/
Council of Europe leaders gather to show united face against Russia

RFI

23-05-16 13:06


The Council of Europe (CoE) summit, being held in Reykjavik, Iceland, has considered holding Russia legally responsible for the death and destruction caused by its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The summit, only the fourth in the CoE’s 70-year history, has seen the suspension of Russia’s membership as a direct result of the invasion. Attendees have discussed possible measures against Russia, including the creation of a dedicated tribunal to try leaders and commanders in The Hague, and the establishment of a register to record the damage caused by Russia.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20230516-council-of-europe-leaders-gather-to-show-united-face-against-russia
Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine

CSIS

23-05-17 14:00


A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.

https://www.csis.org/events/allied-burden-sharing-ukraine
Germany: Reading skills below European average, and dropping

Deutsche Welle

23-05-16 19:31


German schoolchildren's reading skills have reportedly fallen over the past 20 years, with one in four kids failing to reach required standards, according to the 2021 PIRLS international results in reading study. German education minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger said that one-quarter of fourth-grade children considered to be weak readers was an "alarming" statistic that should act as a "wake-up call." Schoene from the opposition CDU said that specific measures needed to be taken, while Nina Stahr from the Greens said the study was "yet another warning signal for educational politics at all levels."

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-reading-skills-below-european-average-and-dropping/a-65649180
The world’s best hotels opening in 2023

The Independent

23-05-16 16:50


Travelers looking for new and exciting travel experiences in 2023 have a lot of options with newly opened boutique hotels, well-established names, and newcomers. London has a bumper crop of big-brand openings set to become the capital’s latest it spots. Leading the trend is The Peninsula London overlooking Hyde Park and Wellington Arch, promising to become the desired afternoon tea spot with Cantonese cuisine, fine dining rooftop restaurant, a 25m pool, and a colonnaded lobby. Also opening is Raffles London in the former Old War Office, with 120 rooms boasting a spirit of mosaic floors, chandeliers, oak paneling, nine restaurants, and a wellness space. Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is bringing 50 elegant rooms, Akira Back restaurant, and urban spa to Hanover Square. 1 Hotel Mayfair offers sustainable luxury, with bedrooms featuring local wood and a Tom Sellers restaurant. Six Senses London debuts later this year, with 100 rooms, co-working space, courtyard seating, and spa. The Signet Collection’s Barnsdale Lodge has fantastic views of Rutland Water, featuring 46 rooms, conservatory, croquet lawn, and haute cuisine. New seaside stays for summer include 21-room No. 42 Margate and The Gallivant Littlestone Beach, with a 1920s East Coast American style. Several hotels are opening in Scotland, with Virgin Hotels in Glasgow, House of Gods, and The Hoxton’s 10 Georgian townhouses, while 100 Princess Street in Edinburgh offers 30 rooms with an Alexander McQueen-style gothic luxuriousness and Wilderness vibes at The Bracken Hide on the Isle of Skye with 45 cabins.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/best-hotels-opening-2023-b2339662.html
Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine

CSIS

23-05-17 14:00


A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.

https://www.csis.org/events/allied-burden-sharing-ukraine
Slurping Spaghetti and other food photo contest winners

BBC

23-05-16 23:32


The Candy Man by Jon Enoch won top prize in the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition. The photograph of a Mumbai candy seller was taken as part of a personal project, capturing the colourful displays of Indian vendors hoping to attract buyers. Other winners included images of life in Vietnam, chef Adua’s kitchen in Italy and the process of pulling sugar in China. The exhibition of winners can be seen at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol from 20 May to 11 June.

https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-65549869
Ukraine says it shot down Russian Kinzhal missiles. What is the hypersonic weapon?

CBC

23-05-16 22:08


Ukraine has reportedly shot down Russia's Kinzhal missile, which flies at least five times faster than the speed of sound and is said to be able to penetrate both current and future missile defence systems. According to Ukraine, the US-supplied Patriot missile defence system was used to thwart some or all of the attempted strikes. The interception of such a sophisticated missile, if confirmed, would be a major breakthrough in air defence. Kinzhal is launched from an eight-metre missile that is airborne, with Russia using a modified MiG-31 fighter jet to launch it.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-kinzhal-missiles-1.6845097
Biden Will Find That Breaking Up With China Is Hard to Do

Bloomberg

23-05-16 22:00


The Biden administration intends to prioritize a “precise, limited” approach to decoupling from China that will protect US interests in key areas while keeping the larger economic bonds between the two nations mostly intact. Washington will deploy financial sanctions and export controls to reshape the economic relationship if necessary, acting with key partners and allies if possible, but it will apply these tools narrowly to limit spillover into non-strategic areas. Some American lawmakers have criticized the Biden administration’s approach. China is also moving to reduce its vulnerability to US sanctions by establishing dominance in areas ranging from critical minerals to telecommunications.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-05-16/biden-s-economic-decoupling-plan-with-china-won-t-work?srnd=next-china
Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine

CSIS

23-05-17 14:00


A conversation on Allied Burden Sharing in Ukraine, between the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development and the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, has discussed the role of European partners in supporting Ukraine. While the US is the world's largest financier of foreign aid and military assistance for Ukraine, the country's European partners are contributing similar amounts on a per capita basis, with the US ranking tenth overall. European burden-sharing has also been substantial on energy and trade, with the continent suffering from vulnerability to global market dynamics and reductions in energy consumption, and potential trade disruption in areas such as food. To ensure Ukraine emerges victorious, the US and Europe will need to collectively carry these burdens.

https://www.csis.org/events/allied-burden-sharing-ukraine
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund set to boost spending in year ahead

Financial Times

23-05-17 04:20


Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund has said it is gearing up to increase spending this year due to the rise of the nation's significance in the green energy transition and metrics pushing investors to diversify away from China. Indonesian Investment Authority (INA) had deployed just over $2bn by the end of April, but its CEO Ridha Wirakusumah said that it will have disbursed $3bn by the end of the year. President Joko Widodo launched INA in February 2021 to enable global institutions to access potentially higher returns in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

https://www.ft.com/content/5e170ec5-0d25-4a12-8407-f39480e563d7
Ukraine re­ceives jet fight­er sup­port pledge from UK, Nether­lands

Al Jazeera

23-05-17 02:44


The UK and the Netherlands have agreed to create an "international coalition" to offer fighter jet support for Ukraine. The agreement marks a key advance in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's attempt to obtain military assistance from countries aligned to the West to fight against Russian forces. The provision of advanced fighter aircraft has been a contentious issue, with many Western countries hesitant about offering them to Ukraine, fearing their continued use could accelerate the conflict further. French President Emmanuel Macron has also said his country has opened the door to training Ukrainian fighter pilots.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/17/ukraine-receives-jet-fighter-support-pledge-from-uk-netherlands
UK, Netherlands are working to procure F-16 fighters for Ukraine, Downing Street says

CNN

23-05-17 02:25


The UK and the Netherlands are attempting to build an "international coalition" to help Ukraine purchase F-16 jets, with training for Kyiv pilots, as Russia intensifies its aerial strikes. Belgium has also offered to train Ukrainian pilots. Britain does not have F-16s in its air force, but the Netherlands and Belgium do, while the US Air Force has nearly 800 F-16s. Despite Ukraine's repeated pleas for F-16s, many have been reluctant to supply weapons that can reach Russian soil.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/16/europe/uk-netherlands-ukraine-f-16-fighters-intl-hnk/index.html