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☆ Stocks maintain November reign, oil hit by OPEC doubts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Bull statues are placed in font of screens showing the Hang Seng stock index and stock prices outside Exchange Square, in Hong Kong, China, August 18, 2023. Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) is nearing a fresh high for 2023, with the S&P 500 and MSCI's all-country world index (.MIWD00000PUS) both up more than 8% this month alone. For MSCI world that is the best showing since November 2020 when markets got a major shot in the arm from COVID vaccine hopes. Germany's 10-year bund , the benchmark for the Europe, was fractionally higher on the day at 2.57% having touched 3% last month. Bitcoin fell by 0.77% on Thursday to $37,337 after it rose nearly 5% on Wednesday.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Geert Wilders, Robert Alster, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Marc Jones, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, PMI, ECB, Oil, Traders, Asset Management, European Union, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, European, HK, Reuters, Treasury, UK Finance, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Exchange, Hong Kong, China, Europe, U.S, EU, Germany, Holland, Ukraine, Turkey, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Brent, Bitcoin

Wilders' win sent a warning shot to mainstream parties across Europe ahead of European Parliament elections next June, which will likely be fought on the same issues as the Dutch election: immigration, cost of living and climate change. A fan of former U.S. President Donald Trump and Hungary's eurosceptic Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Wilders is openly anti-Islam, and anti-EU and said "the Netherlands will be returned to the Dutch." "I would be very happy to become the Dutch prime minister, of course," Wilders told party members who welcomed him with champagne and cake, adding that he was willing to negotiate. "But the first thing is a significant restriction on asylum and immigration," Wilders said. "The high level of support for anti-European forces in the Netherlands is bitter," Germany's EU Minister Anna Luehrmann said.

Persons: Wilders, eurosceptics, Geert Wilders, We've, Herman Borcher, Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Mark Rutte, Yves Herman Acquire, Rene Cuperus, It's, Cuperus, Anna Luehrmann, Muhsin Koktas, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Johnny Cotton, Toby Sterling, Petra Wischgoll, Alvise Armellini, Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar, Ingrid Melander, Bernadette Baum, Toby Chopra Organizations: Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Coalition, REUTERS, Statistics, Clingendael Institute, EU, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Europe, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Enschede, The Hague, Statistics Netherlands, Ukraine, Moroccan, Amsterdam

☆ Far-right anti-Islam candidate clinches shock Dutch election win. Here's what comes next
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Dutch voters have gone to the polls today in one of the most tightly contested general elections in recent years. Next stepsForming a coalition in the 150-seat Dutch parliament is typically lengthy and difficult, even where the victor is not a political pariah. There is still no guarantee Wilders will become the new prime minister, even with his Freedom Party (PVV)'s 37 seats. On fiscal policy, Wilders' party has a "clear populist" bent, said Ester Barendregt, chief economist at Rabobank. Certainly one wish of Geert Wilders is to pay less to Europe.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Carl Court, shockwaves, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Sarah de Lange, Pieter Omtzigt's, de Lange, CNBC's, Ester Barendregt, Barendregt, Liza Mügge Organizations: Party for Freedom, Getty, European Union, Freedom Party, Department of Political Science, University of Amsterdam, Party, Rabobank Locations: SCHEVENINGEN, NETHERLANDS, Dutch, Scheveningen , Netherlands, Netherlands, Brussels, Ukraine, policymaking, U.S, China, Europe

☆ Dutch shock points to tremors in Europe’s core
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Rebecca Christie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders speaks to the press following the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The results add to the sense that Europe’s core is starting to rot. Even if Wilders drops his most radical ideas, mainstream conservatives, who won 24 seats, may have reservations about supporting his cause. The Dutch results, combined with German political turmoil, likely put paid to hopes of a deal on Europe’s fiscal rules by year-end. Europe’s core, the bloc’s lynchpin during the euro zone crisis, is now a shaky foundation.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman, Mark Rutte, Wilders, won’t, Giorgia Meloni, ’, Rutte, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, EU, Party, Freedom Party, Labour, Italian, Green, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Rights BRUSSELS, Wednesday’s, Hague, Europe, Ukraine, Israel, France, Germany, Dutch, Belgium

☆ Dutch election: what's at stake for markets after far-right Wilders' victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Dutch politician Geert Wilders, the leader of the PVV party, speaks during the final debate between the lead candidates in the Dutch election before polls open on Wednesday, in The Hague, Netherlands, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A shock win for Geert Wilders's far-right, anti-EU Freedom Party in Dutch elections has set the stage for months of uncertainty. However, Wilders took a more pragmatic approach during the campaign and he will need to collaborate with pro-EU parties if he wants to govern. Opponents of a critical pension fund reform, which went into effect in July, now have a majority in parliament. There is broad support for raising taxation on banks, including from Wilders' party, which also backs taxing lenders' windfall profits from higher interest rates.

Persons: Geert Wilders, de, Geert Wilders's, Mark Rutte, Wilders, Marcel Klok, Klok, WILDERS, Rutte, van Zanden, Rabobank's van Zanden, Banks, ING's Klok, Joost Beaumont, Yoruk, Amanda Cooper, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, Party, ING, European Union, Rabobank, ABN AMRO, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Dutch, Europe

☆ Far-Right's Wilders Seeks to Form Dutch Govt After Shock Election Win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The historic election victory that the PVV achieved on Wednesday exceeded all expectations," Dutch center-right daily NRC said. Wilders' win comes two months after the return to power of the equally anti-EU populist Robert Fico in Slovakia, who has pledged to halt military aid to Ukraine and cut immigration. Last year, Italy formed its most right-wing government since World War Two after the election victory of Giorgia Meloni. CONCERNIslamic and Moroccan organisations expressed concerns about Wilders' victory. "The distress and fear are enormous," Habib el Kaddouri, who heads an organisation representing Dutch Moroccans, told Dutch news agency ANP.

Persons: Bart H, Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Ingrid Melander AMSTERDAM, Geert Wilders, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Orban, Pen, Rutte's, Habib el Kaddouri, party's Omtzigt, Dilan Yesilgoz, wouldn't, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Ingrid Melander Organizations: Hungary's, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, NRC, VVD, Dutch, ANP Locations: EU, Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Hague, Slovakia, Italy, France, Moroccan

[1/2] Supporters of Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party Geert Wilders react to the exit poll and early results in the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. The historic election victory that the PVV achieved on Wednesday exceeded all expectations," Dutch center-right daily NRC said. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections," Orban said late on Wednesday. CONCERNIslamic and Moroccan organisations expressed concerns about Wilders' victory. "The distress and fear are enormous," Habib el Kaddouri, who heads an organisation representing Dutch Moroccans, told Dutch news agency ANP.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman Acquire, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Pieter Omtzigt, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Orban, Pen, Rutte's, Habib el Kaddouri, party's Omtzigt, Dilan Yesilgoz, wouldn't, Bart Meijer, Charlotte van Campenhout, Anthony Deutsch, Ingrid Melander Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hungary's, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, NRC, VVD, Dutch, ANP, Thomson Locations: Dutch, The Hague, Netherlands, EU, Europe, Ukraine, Hague, Slovakia, Italy, France, Moroccan

☆ Geert Wilders: A ‘Trump moment’ in the Netherlands shows that Europe still has a populist problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The shock election results in the Netherlands have taken Europe by surprise, and left many onlookers unsure exactly what happens next. Far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) are now seeking to form a government after an unexpected win in Wednesday’s national vote. It would be very unusual for a party that comprehensively won the most seats to be locked out of government. Beyond those immediate concerns, there are questions as to what Wilders’ victory means for the direction of Dutch and European politics more broadly. Congratulations to Geert Wilders on winning the Dutch elections,” Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Geert Wilders, “, Donald, Trump, ” Catherine de Vries, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Robert Fico, Giorgia, Tiziana Fabi, Viktor Orban, Marine Le Pen, Carl Court, Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni, Nigel Farage, Farage Organizations: CNN, Freedom Party, Wednesday’s, Italy’s Bocconi University, European Union, Democracy Party, VVD, New, Labour, Green, Italy's, Albania's, Edi, Getty, –, EU, ”, Conservative, firebrand, Conservatives, Conservative Party Locations: Netherlands, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Slovakia, Rome, AFP, EU, Brussels, ” Hungarian, France, United Kingdom

☆ Stocks maintain November reign, oil nagged by OPEC doubts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, November 22, 2023. Traders were getting their moves in despite the annual U.S. Thanksgiving holiday scything volumes but there was plenty to keep them busy while they did it. Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) is nearing a fresh high for 2023 and both it and MSCI's all-country world index (.MIWD00000PUS) are both up more than 8% this month alone. For the MSCI world index, that is the best showing since November 2020 when COVID-19 vaccine hopes were driving markets wild. Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Christina Fincher and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Robert Alster, Viktor Orban, Wilders, Mark Rutte, Tayyip Erdogan, Sterling, Jeremy Hunt, Changpeng Zhao, Marc Jones, Christina Fincher, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, PMI, ECB, Oil, OPEC, Traders, Asset Management, Freedom Party, Labour, Green, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, European, U.S, HK, Reuters, Europe, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Europe, U.S, European, France, Holland, Ukraine, Asia, Pacific, Japan, COVID, Brent, Bitcoin

☆ Muslims in shock over anti-Islam party's Dutch poll win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Bart H. Meijer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People walk past shops in Kanaleneiland, an immigrant-dominated area of the central Dutch city of Utrecht, Netherlands November 23, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw Acquire Licensing RightsTHE HAGUE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Dutch Muslims expressed shock on Thursday at the election win of far-right populist Geert Wilders, who has previously called for mosques and the Koran to be banned in the Netherlands. "These election results are shocking for Dutch Muslims. Muslims make up around 5% of he Dutch population of almost 18 million people. After his surprise win, Wilders said he wanted to be prime minister for all Dutch people, but that appeared to do little to assuage concerns about what he might do later.

Persons: de Wouw, Geert Wilders, Wilders, Mark Rutte's, Muhsin Koktas, Mehdi Koc, Taheri, Koc, Kemal Yildiz, Yildiz, Stephanie van den Berg, Bart Meijer, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, HAGUE, Freedom Party, Labour, The Hague, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Kanaleneiland, Dutch, Utrecht, Netherlands, The

☆ Dutch vote in tight election with far right set for gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Dutch voters cast their ballots on Wednesday in a nail-biting election in which opinion polls show at least three parties - including the far right -could hope for the top spot. ”I hope I don’t wake up tomorrow and we have Wilders as a prime minister. Mark Rutte will be leaving the post of prime minister after 13 years. A hard-right coalition could also soften plans to reduce livestock and fertilizer use, which are strongly opposed by farmers. Rutte will remain in a caretaker role until a new government is installed, likely in the first half of 2024.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Mark Rutte, Wilders, That’s, ”, Arie van der, Nicolas Economou, Rutte, Frans Timmermans, It’s, ” Wilders, Dilan Yesilgoz, Pieter Omtzigt Organizations: CNN, Freedom Party, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, ”, Christian Democrats, NOS Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Turkish

☆ Tough coalition talks ahead after far right’s Dutch election win
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Bart Meijer Tosterling | Bart Meijer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Yves Herman Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Nov 22 (Reuters) - With the Dutch election over, attention will now turn toward forming a new government. Coalition building in the fractured Dutch political landscape always takes months, and this time will likely be no exception. Wilder has also in the past said he wanted to quit the European Union and close Dutch borders. BROAD MAJORITY COALITIONYesilgoz has other options if talks to form a hard-right coalition fail. A broad coalition would be more willing to invest in the energy transition than a right-wing government would be.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Yves Herman Acquire, Mark Rutte's, Dilan Yesilgoz, Pieter Omtzigt, Wilders, Wilder, Frans Timmermans, Yesilgoz, Omtzigt, Rutte's, Bart Meijer Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Coalition, Party, European Union, Labour, Israel, NSC, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Ukraine

☆ Far-Right Icon Predicted to Win Dutch Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Claire Moses | More About Claire Moses | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Netherlands on Wednesday took a startling turn in national elections with the potential to ripple through Europe, as Dutch voters threw most support behind the party of a far-right icon with an incendiary reputation who had campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform. Geert Wilders, a political provocateur long known for his anti-Islam and anti-Europe stances, appeared poised to come out significantly ahead with the most parliamentary seats, according to some early results and exit polls, which were expected to be dependable, especially given the margin of victory they indicated. “The Dutch voter has spoken,” Mr. Wilders said in a speech on Wednesday night, declaring himself the winner. “The voter has said, ‘We are fed up.’” He added that he wanted to return “the Netherlands to the Dutch.”If the preliminary results hold up, the Netherlands will be at the threshold of uncertain new political terrain after 13 years of stewardship by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a stalwart of Dutch politics and a dependable presence on the E.U.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Mr, Wilders, “, ‘, Mark Rutte Organizations: Wednesday Locations: Netherlands

[1/9] People cast their votes during the Dutch parliamentary elections in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 22 2023. Only one thing is certain: the Netherlands will get its first new prime minister in over a decade, after Rutte resigned in July as his fourth coalition government collapsed, ending a 13-year tenure. Restricting immigration - the issue that triggered the collapse of Rutte's last cabinet - has been a key issue in the campaign. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz, a Turkish immigrant tough on immigration and Rutte's successor at the helm of the VVD, who is hoping to become the country's first woman prime minister, responded:"I don't think anyone believes Wilders would be a prime minister for all. The party that wins the most seats traditionally takes a lead in negotiations and provides the prime minister, but even that is not guaranteed under the Dutch system.

Persons: de Wouw, Geert Wilders, Mark Rutte, Rutte, It's, Wilders, Dilan Yesilgoz, Frans Timmermans, Pieter Omtzigt, Johnny Cotton, Toby Sterling, Bart Meijer, Stephanie van den Berg, Charlotte van Campenhout, Ingrid Melander, Sharon Singleton, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Freedom Party, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Labour, Green, NOS, Christian Democrats, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, AMSTERDAM, Turkish, The Netherlands, North

Voters choices could be critical to the country's immigration and climate change policies, and its relations with European Union partners. A poll published on the eve of the election showed anti-Islam firebrand Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) tied for the lead with the conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, followed closely by a joint Labour/Green ticket. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz, a Turkish immigrant tough on immigration, who took over from Rutte at the helm of VVD, is hoping to become the country's first woman prime minister. [1/10]Dutch far-right politician and leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders votes during the Dutch parliamentary elections, in The Hague, Netherlands November 22, 2023. "I hope I don't wake up tomorrow and we have Wilders as a prime minister.

Persons: Geert Wilders, Mark Rutte, It's, Wilders, Anne Frank, Van, Dilan Yesilgoz, Maria Tolman, Pieter Schilperoort, Yves Herman Acquire, Hungary's Victor Orban, Ria van der, That's, Arie van der, Pieter Omtzigt, We've, we'd, Rutte, Johnny Cotton, Toby Sterling, Bart Meijer, Stephanie van den Berg, Charlotte van Campenhout, Ingrid Melander, Toby Chopra, Angus MacSwan Organizations: European Union, Freedom Party, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Labour, Green, Others, REUTERS, Amsterdam, Christian Democrats, NOS, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Van Gogh, Amsterdam, Turkish, Rutte, Yesilgoz, The Hague, Ukraine

☆ Dutch candidates snipe, scramble for undecided voters in race to deliver PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Major issues for Dutch voters include how to respond to climate change, the rising cost of living, and a desire to restrict immigration. Analysts said that with large numbers of undecided voters, much will depend on debate performances, including a final clash scheduled for Tuesday night. Yesilgoz, who had not ruled out a coalition with Wilders and had focused on Timmermans as her main opponent, has begun backtracking. On Tuesday she ruled out serving in a cabinet in which Wilders is prime minister. The party that wins the most seats traditionally takes a lead in negotiations and provides the prime minister -- but that is not guaranteed under the Dutch system.

Persons: Frans Timmermans, Geert Wilders, Wilders, Dilan Yesilgoz, Mark Rutte's, Yesilgoz, Timmermans, Rutte, Geert Wilders you'll, Toby Sterling, William Maclean Organizations: Party, Labour, Green Left, Research, Timmermans, Freedom Party, New, Analysts, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

☆ The Man Looking to Upend an Unpredictable Dutch Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Claire Moses | More About Claire Moses | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Yet it is one that does not pit the elite against the common man in the way populist parties often do, political analysts said. The Dutch election is shaping up as one of the most significant and competitive in years. Mr. Rutte, who is serving as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed, was considered a mainstay of Dutch politics. Mr. Rutte was also a strong voice for fiscal restraint inside the European Union, especially after the British exit, allowing the Netherlands to punch above its weight on E.U. Those are big political shoes to fill, and the race remains unpredictable, analysts said, with three or four parties closely jockeying near the top of polls in the homestretch.

Persons: Rutte, ” Organizations: European Union Locations: Groningen, Netherlands

☆ What's at stake in the Netherlands' election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsWhat's at stake in the Netherlands' electionPostedThe Dutch go to the polls next week without caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte's name on the ballot for the first time in a decade, with voters citing the economy, climate change, and reducing immigration as their top concerns. Isaine Blatry has more.

Persons: What's, Mark Rutte's, Isaine Blatry Locations: Netherlands

☆ Explainer: What's at stake in the Netherlands' Nov. 22 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte attends a joint news briefing with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Dutch will elect a new parliament on Nov. 22 in an election that will bring the Netherlands its first new prime minister in over a decade, and determine how conservative the country's new cabinet may be. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right government collapsed in July over differences in how to reduce the flow of asylum-seekers entering the country. Rutte, the country's longest-serving prime minister, has lost popularity and promised not to stand again. Dilan Yesilgoz, who leads Rutte's conservative VVD Party, herself a Turkish immigrant who would be the Netherlands' first woman prime minister.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Viacheslav, Mark Rutte's, Dilan Yesilgoz, Rutte's, Frans Timmermans, Pieter Omtzigt, Geert Wilders, Rutte, Toby Sterling, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Dutch, Conservative, Union, Party, Labour and Green Left, Democrat, NOS, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Ukraine, Kyiv, Dutch, North, Rutte, Turkish

☆ Dutch far-right candidate Baudet assaulted two days before election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dutch politician Thierry Baudet of the Forum for Democracy speaks after announcement of exit polls results of European elections in Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Eva Plevier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Thierry Baudet, the leader of a far-right political party in the Netherlands, was assaulted during a campaign event two days before a national election, his party said. In a statement, Baudet's Forum for Democracy (FvD) said he had been struck in the back of the head with a beer bottle and struck on his temple. The assault drew condemnation as "totally unacceptable" from outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is not a candidate in the Nov. 22 election. Baudet's FvD Party is known as Euro-sceptic, Dutch nationalist and anti-immigration.

Persons: Thierry Baudet, Eva Plevier, Baudet, Mark Rutte, Baudet's, Toby Sterling, Chizu Organizations: Forum, Democracy, REUTERS, Rights, for Democracy, Baudet's FvD, Dutch, Thomson Locations: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Groningen

VOORBURG, Netherlands (AP) — Cans of fish, jars of pasta sauce and bags of beans are stacked in blue crates. Meat, dairy and bread are kept cold in a huge freezer and a walk-in refrigerator in this affluent Dutch town. “There is a long list of things we need to do to challenge that cost-of-living crisis,” he told reporters at a campaign event. That shot up to 250 as a cost-of-living crisis swept across the world and did not spare the wealthy Netherlands. The Leidschendam-Voorburg food bank Kuipers oversees estimates that the true number of people eligible for food aid could be two to three times higher.

Persons: ”, Rob Kuipers, Maurice Crul, Pieter Omtzigt, Mark Rutte —, “, Frans Timmermans, Kuipers Organizations: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Democrat, People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, Union, . Locations: Netherlands, Leidschendam, The Hague

Scholz, who has visited Africa several times since taking office in late 2021, will hold bilateral talks with several African countries on Sunday, before hosting a German-African investment summit at Berlin's Marriott Hotel on Monday morning. African countries have long complained that while Europe talks about investment, China actually provides financing without any moral lecturing. Still, Chinese lending in Africa is in decline, while European interest is rising as it seeks to diversify supply chains. Nearly two thirds of German companies want to expand their business in Africa, according to a study by KPMG and the German-African Business Association. The member countries of the G20 Compact are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia.

Persons: jostling, Scholz, Macron, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Mark Rutte, Olaf Scholz, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Mike Harrison Organizations: Africa, Dutch, African Union, KPMG, African Business Association, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Africa, Macron BERLIN, Germany, Berlin's, Europe, United States, Russia, China, Asia, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia

☆ Estonian PM Kallas Signals Interest in Top NATO Job -Politico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO (Reuters) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said late on Tuesday she would like to be considered for the job of NATO secretary general once Jens Stoltenberg steps down, Politico reported. Speaking at a Politico conference in Washington, Kallas responded "yes" when she was pressed on whether she'd like to be considered for the role, according to the report. NATO diplomats have said, however, Kallas may be regarded as too hawkish by some members of the Western defence alliance. Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has also said he would be interested in the job of leading NATO.

Persons: Kaja Kallas, Jens Stoltenberg, Kallas, Stoltenberg, Mark Rutte, Terje Solsvik, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Estonian, Politico, European Union, NATO, Dutch Locations: OSLO, Washington, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Ukraine

☆ EU sees pragmatist in Brexit vote instigator Cameron on his return
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

As prime minister, Cameron called the referendum on European Union membership in 2016, although he campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU. "Welcome back David Cameron," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, soon after Cameron was appointed as Foreign Secretary in a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Another EU diplomat said Cameroon's absence from politics for seven years meant he was partly an unknown quantity, but felt he was more a pragmatist than not. Cleverly's term as foreign minister, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, led to a turnaround in post-Brexit EU-UK ties, thawing from stubborn, bitter stand-offs to pragmatic negotiations yielding results. Sefcovic credited his past year working with Cleverly with "putting EU-UK relations back on track", adding that he looked forward to continuing this work with Cameron.

Persons: David Cameron's, Cameron, David Cameron, Mark Rutte, Rishi Sunak, Maros, James, Sefcovic, Philip Blenkinsop, Andreas Rinke, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: European Union, Britain, Twitter, Conservative, EU, European, NATO, Russia, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Britain, EU, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Berlin

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine tries to rally troops, urging them to resist being 'burned out' as counteroffensive drags
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit the Transfiguration Cathedral damaged during summer by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine October 13, 2023. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there will be no easy victories in the counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory, amid concerns over the relatively slow progress it has made to recapture land. "Now the colossal things that our people, all our warriors are doing, are taken for granted," he added. Ukraine is under pressure to deliver tangible results in its counteroffensive, which it launched in June, but its the front line spanning from southern to eastern Ukraine has not changed substantially. There are also concerns that military aid for Kyiv could decline, particularly given rising disaffection and war fatigue among Western publics and some politicians, and as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Dutch, Ukraine Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Odesa, Russia, Kyiv, Israel

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