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☆ Dutch pick for EU climate job to face tough hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hoekstra needs to win a positive assessment from the EU Parliament and pass a potentially close vote in the assembly with majority support. If appointed, Hoekstra is expected to assume responsibility for climate change policies in the EU Commission. He belongs to the Dutch Christian-Democratic CDA party, part of the European People's Party group in the EU Parliament. Bas Eickhout, a Green EU lawmaker, said Hoekstra would need to prove his commitment to Europe's climate change agenda. He'll have a tough time convincing the European Parliament that he's the right man for the job," said Paul Tang, a Dutch Socialist member of the EU Parliament.

Persons: Wopke Hoekstra, Hoekstra, Frans Timmermans, Timmermans, Maros Sefcovic, Eickhout, Hoekstra's, Paul Tang, Kate Abnett, Bart Meijer, Giles Elgood Organizations: EU, Parliament, Dutch Christian, Democratic CDA, European People's Party, EPP, EPP Group, Green Deal, European, Socialist, Dutch Finance, Socialists, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Netherlands, Dutch, Europe, EU, The Hague, New EU, Bas, Southern Europe, Spain, Italy

☆ Ukraine is closer to having F-16s, but don't expect them to suddenly start 'taking down' Russia's formidable air defenses, top US general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Christopher Woody | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In addition to anti-radar missiles, Ukrainian jets have employed US-made guided bombs, which Russia has countered with electronic warfare. While F-16s would allow Ukraine to better employ those weapons, Hecker said Russia's military will continue to adapt and adjust. "It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots. Although the timeline has been somewhat unclear, Denmark — one of 11 countries in the coalition — announced on Friday that it would start training pilots later this month. But training and equipping Ukrainian airmen to operate F-16s and other sophisticated jets will be a long-term project, Hecker said Friday.

Persons: Ukraine's, James Hecker, " Hecker, JOHN THYS, Hecker, It's, you'll, Beata Zawrzel, Kajsa Ollongren, Wopke Hoekstra, Antony Blinken, Pat Ryder, Yasuo Osakabe, US Air Force Hecker, they're, that's, it's Organizations: Service, US Air Force, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Siauliai, NATO, Getty Images, SA, NATO Summit, Defense, —, Pentagon, Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Alpha Jet Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Denmark, Netherlands, Europe, Romanian, Lithuania, AFP, Russia, Ukrainian, Vilnius, Japan, France

☆ Dutch polls, first in years without PM Rutte at VVD helm, set for November
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People sit on benches with a view of the parliament building in The Hague, Netherlands March 9, 2021. Rutte announced his imminent departure from politics on Monday, three days after he had handed in the resignation of his fourth coalition government. Other major parties will also have new leaders, as Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra have also said they won't run in the elections. Rutte's four-party coalition will stay on as caretaker government until a new administration is formed after the election. Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart Meijer; Editing by Alison Williams, Devika Syamnath nd Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: de, Mark Rutte, Rutte, Sigrid Kaag, Wopke Hoekstra, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Bart Meijer, Alison Williams, Devika, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Bruins, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, AMSTERDAM

☆ Factbox: Countries rush to evacuate foreign citizens from Sudan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday some 16,000 people had crossed from Sudan to Egypt, including 14,000 Sudanese citizens. The foreign ministry said those evacuated included not only French nationals but also Britons, Americans, Canadians, Ethiopians, Dutch, Italians and Swedes. Cyprus said it had activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism at Britain's request to let third countries use it for reception and repatriation of foreign citizens evacuated from Sudan. NETHERLANDSAbout 100 Dutch nationals have been evacuated from Sudan since Sunday, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said. IRANIran's foreign minister said on Saturday 65 Iranian citizens had left from Port Sudan, through Jeddah, to Iran.

☆ U.N. aviation council votes to hear MH17 case against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTREAL, March 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations aviation council on Friday voted to hear a case against Russia over the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the foreign ministers of Australia and the Netherlands said. Australia and the Netherlands initiated the action over MH17 last year at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO upheld its jurisdiction to hear the matter during a session on Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a written statement. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra called the decision to hear the case "an important step towards establishing the truth, justice and accountability". In October, Russia failed to win enough votes at ICAO's triennial assembly to keep its council seat.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to end the war and urged Moscow to reverse its suspension of the New START nuclear treaty, a senior U.S. official said. The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Blinken spoke "on the move" for less than 10 minutes at the end of the closed-door session, and did not engage in any negotiations, Russian news agencies reported. Blinken later told a news conference he had told Lavrov to engage in diplomacy during the unscheduled encounter. [1/6] U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken (top L) walks past Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (lower) during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on March 2, 2023. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said the war in Ukraine had hurt "almost every country on the planet, in terms of food, energy, inflation".

[1/6] A man arranges the flags kept outside the venue for G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, India, March 2, 2023. The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Blinken spoke "on the move" but did not hold negotiations or a meeting, Russian news agencies reported. News of the exchange came at the end of the day-long G20 meeting which, as expected, was overshadowed by the Ukraine war. "Unfortunately, this meeting has again been marred by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine," Blinken said. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said the war in Ukraine had hurt "almost every country on the planet, in terms of food, energy, inflation".

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Situation 'critical' in Bakhmut as retreat contemplated; Russia and U.S. keep their distance at G-20
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There will be consequences if countries choose to give weapons to Russia to help it prosecute the war in Ukraine, the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra told CNBC Thursday. There will be consequences if countries choose to give weapons to Russia to help it prosecute the war in Ukraine, the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra told CNBC Thursday. There have been concerns that China is contemplating giving Russia weapons to help it continue its war in Ukraine, although Beijing has rebuffed those claims. Ukraine would be discussed, he noted, saying "we all are facing the effects of this tremendous crisis for which Russia, and Russia alone, is responsible." Asked when he believed the war could end, Hoekstra was pessimistic it could come to a conclusion anytime soon.

☆ Netherlands orders Russian embassy to downsize, Moscow says it will respond
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The Dutch government on Saturday said it would close its consulate in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and that it would limit the number of Russian diplomats allowed at the Russian embassy in The Hague. "At the same time Russia refuses to give visas to Dutch diplomats who would work at the consulate in St Petersburg or the embassy in Moscow." In Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry said it would respond to the move, RIA news agency reported. The Dutch government said it had decided to limit the number of diplomats at the Russian embassy in The Hague to match the number of those at the Dutch embassy in Moscow. "A number of diplomats shall therefore have to leave the country within two weeks," The Foreign Affairs ministry said in a statement, without giving a specific number.

☆ Dutch host first summit on 'responsible' use of AI in the military
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Tosterling Stephanie Van Den Berg | Stephanie Van Den Berg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We're taking the first step in articulating and working toward what responsible use of AI in the military will be." The event may be an early step toward someday developing an international arms treaty on AI, though that is seen as far off. Some 2,000 people including experts and academics are attending a conference alongside the summit, with discussion topics including killer drones and slaughter bots. Hoekstra said the summit will not replace that debate but will look at other aspects of military AI. Examples include definition of terms, how AI could safely be used to accelerate decision-making in a military context, and how it could be used to identify legitimate targets.

☆ China foreign minister seeks stronger economic ties with Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Jan 31 (Reuters) - China's new foreign minister Qin Gang wants to build stronger ties with Saudi Arabia and set up a China-Gulf free trade zone "as soon as possible", according to a ministry statement published late on Monday. In addition, Qin pressed for continuously strengthening the China-Gulf strategic partnership and building "the China-Gulf Free Trade Zone as soon as possible". Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia regards relations with China as an important cornerstone of foreign relations, and that Saudi Arabia fully adheres to the one-China principle, according to the statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. Qin, who just wrapped up a tour to several African countries, also had telephone conversations with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafierro, according to state media. Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netherlands summons Iranian ambassador again over executions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Dutch government will summon the Iranian ambassador to the Netherlands for the second time in a month to voice its deep concerns over the execution of demonstrators, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Saturday. "Appalled by the horrible executions of demonstrators in Iran. I will summon the Iranian ambassador to underline our serious concerns and I call upon EU Member States to do the same," Hoekstra said in a tweet. Hoekstra said these actions underlined the need for the European Union to impose stronger sanctions on Iran than are currently being considered. The Netherlands also summoned the Iranian ambassador in The Hague last month to protest against the execution of demonstrators in the country.

☆ 5 ways grocery stores get you to pay more — and how to outsmart them
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She asked experts about the sneaky ways grocery stores get customers to buy and pay more. I asked five experts, from recipe developers to nutritionists, to share how I can outsmart grocery stores and lower my bill every week. Grocery stores target your cell phoneOne long-standing tradition I have is hunting for coupons before heading to the grocery store. To prevent this, York advises to only use the grocery store app after your shopping cart is complete to avoid giving into any tempting deals. Veronica Rouse, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, explained how grocery stores manipulate customers into buying certain items just through the setup of the store.

[1/4] U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends the "Foreign Ministers of Partners at Risk of Russian Disinformation and Destabilization" session at the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Bucharest, Romania, November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan NenovBUCHAREST, Nov 30 (Reuters) - NATO foreign ministers will on Wednesday seek to reassure fragile countries in Russia's neighbourhood that they fear could be destabilised by Russia as the conflict in Ukraine drags on, squeezing energy supplies and pushing up prices. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told reporters that NATO wanted to be ensure that, after the war in Ukraine, Russia would have "no chance to dictate security options and a way of life to its neighbours". Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic, invited to join the NATO meeting, said she was concerned about Russia's intentions for her country. "The stability in western Balkans is important for peace," Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani said.

☆ Netherlands protests 'despicable' Russian response to MH17 verdict
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Dutch government said on Friday it had summoned the Russian ambassador in the Netherlands over what it called Moscow's "utterly despicable" response to the verdict in the trial over the 2014 downing of Flight MH17. Russia said on Thursday the Dutch court's decision to convict two former Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader for shooting down the Malaysian airliner "neglected impartiality". Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said these remarks by Russia, which invaded Ukraine nine months ago, were "utterly despicable" and totally removed from reality. We can't let this pass ... and have to show that we do respect the rule of law and do have an independent judiciary," Hoekstra told Dutch newspaper AD. Reporting by Bart Meijer and Stephanie van den Berg Editing by Mark Potter and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russian missiles cross into Poland during strike on Ukraine, U.S. official tells AP
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A second person confirmed that apparent Russian missiles struck a site in Poland about 15 miles from the Ukrainian border. It was Russia's biggest barrage yet, and some of the missiles crossed into Poland, where two people were killed, according to a U.S. official. A Russian missile barrage on the Ukrainian power grid sent the war spilling over into neighboring countries Tuesday, hitting NATO member Poland and cutting electricity to much of Moldova. It reported massive power outages after the strikes knocked out a key power line that supplies the small nation, an official said. At least a dozen regions reported power outages, affecting cities that together have millions of people.

☆ Guvernul Olandei demisionează ca urmare a scandalului alocațiilor
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-15 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +3 min

Guvernul Olandei a demisionat ca urmare a scandalului legat de miile de părinți acuzați pe nedrept de fraudă de către autoritățile fiscale. Rutte a spus, anterior, că se opune dizolvării coaliției, motivând că țara are nevoie de stabilitate și de guvern pe perioada pandemiei de coronavirus. Un raport parlamentar, intitulat „Nedreptate fără precedent”, a fost publicat luna trecută, după o anchetă legată de scandalul alocațiilor pentru copii care a inclus interogarea publică a numeroși oficiali, inclusiv a premierului Rutte. Guvernul și-a cerut scuze pentru metodele autorităților fiscale și a constituit anul trecut provizioane de peste 500 de milioane de euro pentru compensații, în jur de 30.000 de euro pentru fiecare familie. Autoritățile fiscale au recunoscut și că 11.000 de familii formate din persoane cu dublă naționalitate au fost evidențiate pentru a fi verificate mai amănunțit.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Willem - Alexander, Rutte, Miniștri, Tamara van Ark, Eric Wiebes Organizations: Partidul Libertății Locations: Olandei, Olanda

Un raport parlamentar, intitulat „Nedreptate fără precedent", a fost publicat luna trecută, după o anchetă legată de scandalul alocațiilor pentru copii care a inclus interogarea publică a numeroși oficiali, inclusiv a premierului Rutte. Aproximativ 20.000 de familii au fost urmărite penal pentru fraudă, au fost obligate să restituie alocațiile pentru copii încasate și li s-a încălcat dreptul de a face apel în instanță, timp de mai mulți ani, începând cu 2012. Guvernul și-a cerut scuze pentru metodele autorităților fiscale și a constituit anul trecut provizioane de peste 500 de milioane de euro pentru compensații, în jur de 30.000 de euro pentru fiecare familie. Autoritățile fiscale au recunoscut și că 11.000 de familii formate din persoane cu dublă naționalitate au fost evidențiate pentru a fi verificate mai amănunțit. Douăzeci de familii implicate au acționat în instanță miniștri din trei partide din coaliția lui Rutte pentru rolul deținut în scandal.

Persons: Lodewijk Asscher, Rutte, Mark Rutte, Tamara van Ark, Eric Wiebes Organizations: Sociale Locations: laburist, Olanda, olandez

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