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☆ Dutch intelligence tipped CIA on alleged Ukraine plan to attack Nord Stream -NOS
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, June 13 (Reuters) - A Dutch intelligence agency tipped off the CIA about an alleged Ukrainian plan in June 2022 to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline, Dutch national broadcaster NOS reported on Tuesday. The NOS report, which was compiled with help from leading German media outlets, did not identify its sources. It said that the Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD had warned the CIA of the existence of such a plan, leading to a warning from Washington to Kyiv not to attack the pipeline. Unexplained explosions ruptured both Nord Stream 1 and the newly built Nord Stream 2 pipelines, carrying gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, in September. Moscow accused investigators of dragging their feet and trying to conceal who was behind the attack.

Persons: MIVD, Toby Sterling, Conor Humphries Organizations: CIA, Dutch, NOS, NATO, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Dutch, Washington, Kyiv, Russia, Germany, Baltic, Sweden, Denmark, Moscow, Ukraine

Pig prices soared in Europe last year as output was cut by farms squeezed by high grain and energy costs. The EU pork industry has been buffeted in the past decade by a Russian trade embargo, the westward spread of African swine fever and the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're continuing to add costs to the overall pork production chain," Justin Sherrard, global strategist for animal protein at Rabobank, said. That may mean EU pork exports, whose share of production more than doubled to 21% between 2000 and 2020, have peaked. But an inflationary economy may make consumers less ready to accept rising pork prices and deepen a shift towards chicken as a cheaper, more convenient option.

Persons: Carole Joliff, Joliff, Jean, Paul Simier, AKI, We're, Justin Sherrard, slaughterhouses, Klaus Kaiser, FICT, Rabobank's Sherrard, jamon serrano, prosciutto, Tim Koch, Gus Trompiz, Forrest Crellin, Michael Hogan, Johannes Birkebaek, Emma Pinedo, Toby Sterling, David Evans Organizations: European Union, Commission, Rabobank, BLE, Danish Crown, AMI, Thomson Locations: PARIS, Brittany, Europe, Russian, Hungarian, China, Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, Danish, France, Brazil, United States, Germany, EU, Paris, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Madrid, Amsterdam

☆ Wingtech-owned Nexperia denied German subsidy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, June 8 (Reuters) - Computer chip maker Nexperia, which is headquartered in the Netherlands and owned by a Chinese company, has been denied a request for a subsidy in Germany. A spokesperson for Nexperia, based in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and owned by China's Wingtech (600745.SS), said the company had not been given an explanation for the rejection. Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad initially reported the news, citing a European Commission document. Nexperia has had several plans for projects in Europe disrupted by government concerns in the past year over its Chinese ownership. Nexperia is the former Standard Products division of chipmaker NXP (NXPI.O), spun off in 2016 and acquired by Wingtech in 2018.

Persons: China's Wingtech, Nexperia, chipmaker, Toby Sterling, Leslie Adler, Mark Porter Organizations: European, British, Standard Products, Wingtech, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Germany, Nijmegen , Netherlands, Europe, Delft, Newport , Wales

☆ Eneco to build 50 MW battery storage plant in Belgium using Tesla batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, June 7 (Reuters) - Dutch energy company Eneco said on Wednesday it would build a 50 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage project in Belgium using Tesla battery packs, its largest such project to date. The project in Ville-sur-Haine will consist of 53 "Megapack" battery units from Tesla, able to deliver power for 4 hours or 200 megawatt-hours in all. Such storage projects are expected to become increasingly important in coming years as increasing amounts of electricity is being generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind. Eneco is controlled by Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.T)Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eneco, Toby Sterling, Jason Neely Organizations: Japan's Mitsubishi Corp, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Belgium, Ville

☆ Dutch privacy watchdog seeks information from OpenAI, flags concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, June 7 (Reuters) - Dutch privacy watchdog DPA said on Wednesday it is "concerned" about the use of personal data by software makers developing artificial intelligence (AI) and it has sent a letter to Microsoft-backed OpenAI seeking more information. Governments including the European Union are considering how to regulate the technology after OpenAI's ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in history. "The DPA is concerned about how organizations that make use of so-called 'generative' artificial intelligence treat personal information," the agency said. As a first step we have asked OpenAI by letter to clear up some things about ChatGPT." DPA said it was seeking information about how the company has gathered the data it used to create its software and how it stores data, including information gleaned from user questions.

Persons: OpenAI's ChatGPT, Toby Sterling, Sriraj Organizations: Microsoft, European, DPA, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, European Union

☆ Dutch government introduces 'investment screening' for sensitive tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, May 31 (Reuters) - A Dutch law giving the government power to review foreign technology investments and block takeovers on national security grounds is set to go into effect this week, the government said on Wednesday. Economic Affairs Minister Micky Adriaansens, who will oversee the new Investment Review Office, said in a statement she has also opened a portal for Dutch companies to learn what foreign firms they may securely do business with and where they may legally export sensitive technologies. Though the investment screening law has been under consideration for years, its enactment comes ahead of new restrictions on exports of Dutch semiconductor technology to China under pressure from the United States. We "have agreed that Dutch business interests and national security shall be better protected," it said. "The ministers can then attach conditions to the investment or in the utmost case, forbid it," it said.

Persons: Micky Adriaansens, Nobel, Toby Sterling, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Economic, Investment, Unilever, High Tech, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, China, United States, London, Eindhoven

☆ Dutch parliament chair calls on Twitter to prevent threatening messages on platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, May 31 (Reuters) - The chairwoman of the Dutch parliament on Wednesday called on Twitter to act to stop threats being broadcast on the social media platform against the country's lawmakers. The leader of the Netherlands' anti-Islam Freedom Party, Geert Wilders, has been the frequent target of death threats on Twitter for more than a decade. Musk, a self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist," has said he bought Twitter to prevent the platform from becoming an echo chamber for hate and division. Although she is not a member of parliament, the Netherlands' Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag of the centre-left D-66 Party has also been subjected to online and offline threats. Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vera Bergkamp, Geert Wilders, Elon Musk, Bergkamp, Sigrid Kaag, Kaag, Toby Sterling, Toby Chopra Organizations: Twitter, . company's Global Affairs, Freedom Party, company's Global Affairs, Netherlands ' Finance, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

☆ EU must build cutting-edge computer chips - industry chief Breton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ANTWERP, May 16 (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Tuesday touted the European Chips Act passed last month, saying Europe must manufacture its own cutting-edge computer chips and not be relegated to a position on research or in building relatively older chips. The Chips Act is Europe's answer to similar plans to encourage the manufacture of semiconductors in the U.S. and China, as well as in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. He also rejected the idea that Europe should only focus on existing strengths in making relatively older chips, mostly for its car industry. He was speaking at an event hosted by Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), one of Europe's top semiconductor research firms. He noted that the Chips Act has led to new projects planned by Intel, Infineon, STMicroelectronics and Global Foundries.

☆ ECB's Knot says rate hikes are working, more needed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, May 7 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank's interest rate hikes are starting to have an effect, but more will be needed to contain inflation, Dutch Central Bank President Klaas Knot said on Sunday. Knot, who is also on the ECB's governing council and is known as a hawk, said he had agreed with the ECB decision on Thursday to slow the speed of rate hikes to 25 basis points, or 0.25%But, speaking on Dutch television, he said he still could support the lifting of rates to 5% from the current 3.25%, or even higher - if inflation proves more persistent than he expects. "Our policy works with a certain delay, so the biggest effects of what we have done so far are still in the pipeline," Knot said in interview on the programme Buitenhof. Reporting by Toby SterlingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Dutch government sources estimate the deal at 20 billion euros ($22 billion) or more, but German industry sources say it may be less. TenneT had a book value of 7.3 billion euros at the end of 2022, on a balance sheet of 38.5 billion euros. TenneT's German grid alone has liabilities of 21.6 billion euros, nearly three times that of the Dutch network. TenneT's 19 billion euros of outstanding bonds, issued when interest rates were lower, are another issue, the people said. Dutch pension fund PGGM, one of TenneT's bondholders, expects such an outcome in the event of a sale.

☆ ASML CEO says politics will lead to slower semiconductor advances
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, April 26 (Reuters) - National security plans and geopolitical tensions including those between the United States and China will have ripple effects through the semiconductor industry, the chief executive of ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) said on Wednesday. Speaking at ASML's annual meeting, CEO Peter Wennink said it was "logical" that China would seek to develop its own technologies, including semiconductor equipment, when it is restricted from purchasing products made abroad. ASML dominates the market for lithography tools, important equipment needed in computer chip manufacture, and Wennink said he was not worried rivals anywhere are close to being able to develop and build competing top-end commercial products. Reporting by Toby Sterling, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NXP CEO applauds EU Chips Act, seeks clarity on China restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Conor Humphries | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ENNISKERRY, Ireland, April 19 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Dutch-headquartered computer chip maker NXP Semiconductors (NXPI.O) on Wednesday applauded the passage of the EU Chips Act this week, but said the industry could use more clarity on export restrictions to China. Kurt Sievers said his company, which makes chips for the automotive industry as well for 5G telephone base stations, had been hit by successive rounds of U.S. export restrictions on China's Huawei. Around 38% of NXP's sales are to Chinese manufacturers, about half of which are processed and then re-exported to Western buyers. "A lot of that going forward could eventually move out of China, which doesn't harm us," he said. "I think it would be fantastic if there was a lot of synchronization between the U.S. Chips Act and the European Chips Act in terms of what to support such that it will be complementary," he said.

☆ ASML beats earnings estimates despite signs of weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ASML posted a threefold jump in net profit to 1.96 billion euros ($2.15 billion) on revenue up 91% at 6.74 billion euros. Analysts had forecast net profit of 1.62 billion euros on revenue of 6.31 billion euros, Refinitiv data shows. The outlook for ASML remains strong despite belt-tightening among its client base, ASML said. "Overall demand still exceeds our capacity for this year and we currently have an (order) backlog of over 38.9 billion euros," CEO Peter Wennink said in a statement. ASML maintained a forecast for 25% sales growth this year, with sales of between 6.5 million and 6.7 billion euros in the second quarter.

☆ ASML China sales dip in Q1 but seen stronger next nine months
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, April 19 (Reuters) - Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) expects sales to mainland China to pick up for the remainder of 2023 following a dip in the first quarter, it said on Wednesday. ASML's sales in mainland China, its third biggest market after Taiwan and South Korea, have been the subject of a high profile geopolitical tug-of-war. Dassen reiterated that would affect one slice of potential exports to mainland China, but demand from chip makers who make slightly older chips remains strong. "Domestic China accounts for more than 20% in our backlog," despite a dip in first quarter sales to about 8% of the company's total, he said in a statement accompanying the earnings. "That means you will see a significant pick up of the sales into domestic China for the quarters to come this year."

☆ ASML reports better than expected first quarter sales, profit -statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AMSTERDAM, April 19 (Reuters) - ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS), a key supplier to computer chip makers, on Wednesday reported first quarter earnings of 1.96 billion euros ($2.15 billion) on revenues of 6.74 billion euros, besting expectations. Analysts had forecast net profit for the three months ended March 31 of 1.62 billion euros on revenue of 6.31 billion euros, according to Refinitiv data. In the same period a year ago, ASML had net profit of 695 million euros on revenue of 3.53 billion euros. ($1 = 0.9118 euros)Reporting by Toby Sterling Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The size of subsidies under the EU Chips Act, which aims to tempt the world's top chipmakers to build factories in the bloc and double its share of global output to 20% by 2030, lags the $52 billion CHIPS for America Act. Taiwan accounts for more than 60% of global chip production and concerns are growing about heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing. But Europe's relatively modest subsidies could put a brake on its ambition, said Richard Windsor of research company Radio Free Mobile. GOOD STARTThe EU Chips Act is a good start given the EU has little choice but to join the subsidy race, but the bloc should play to its chipmaking strengths, said Christopher Cytera, research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis. Catching up on the chips race is more than just building factories and the Chips Act acknowledges this with its focus on developing skilled labour for the future, said Anielle Guedes, senior research analyst at IDC Technologies.

☆ European privacy watchdog creates ChatGPT task force
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, April 13 (Reuters) - The body that unites Europe's national privacy watchdogs said on Thursday it had set up a task force on ChatGPT, a potentially important first step toward a common policy on setting privacy rules on artificial intelligence. The move by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) follows a unilateral move by Italy last month to curb ChatGPT - a stance that Germany's commissioner for data protection said could be followed in Europe's biggest economy. Spain's AEPD watchdog said on Thursday that it too would launch a preliminary investigation into potential data breaches by ChatGPT. "The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities." The EDPB is an independent body that oversees data protection rules in the European Union, and it is composed of national data protection watchdogs.

☆ European Data Protection Board creates ChatGPT task force
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, April 13 (Reuters) - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on Thursday moved to create a task force on ChatGPT, the agency said in a statement. The EDPB is an independent body that oversees data protection rules in the European Union, composed of national data protection watchdogs. "The EDPB members discussed the recent enforcement action undertaken by the Italian data protection authority against OpenAI about the Chat GPT service," the statement said. "The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities." A source at one national watchdog said member states hoped to align on policy following Italy's move to curb ChatGPT but that would take time.

☆ Dutch online bank Bunq applies for U.S. banking licence
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, April 4 (Reuters) - Bunq BV, a prominent European online banking start-up, formally filed for a banking licence with U.S. regulators on Tuesday, the company's CEO told Reuters in an interview. Bunq raised $228 million at a $1.9 billion valuation in 2021. Bunq, which competes with Britain's Revolut and Germany's N26, said that as of March 14, it had deposits of around 2.3 billion euros, up 27% from 1.8 billion euros at the end of 2023. Bunq offers savers in its native Netherlands 1.56% interest on deposits, a percentage point above rates offered by the three big banks that dominate Dutch banking, ING, ABN Amro and Rabobank. Bunq makes some mortgage loans but keeps more than half of its reserves at the European Central Bank's deposit facility, which Niknam said should reassure depositors.

☆ Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to cut late-night flights -Het Parool
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Climate activists protest against environmental pollution from aviation at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, in Schiphol, Netherlands November 5, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka van de WouwAMSTERDAM, April 3 (Reuters) - Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport plans to cut late-night flights as part of attempts to reduce noise pollution, newspaper Het Parool reported on Monday, citing the airport's CEO. Plans for the airport to be rolled out in the coming two years include closing it almost completely between midnight and 5 a.m., the report citing CEO Ruud Sondag said. A spokesperson for Schiphol could not immediately be reached to confirm the report, which said the airport is also planning to ban noisier airplanes and private jets. But airlines including Air France's (AIRF.PA) Dutch subsidiary KLM have mounted a legal challenge to the plan, while Schiphol itself is pushing for a 460,000 limit.

☆ TenneT awards $25 bln in contracts to build North Sea-to-shore connections
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Tosterling Muhammed Husain | Muhammed Husain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, March 30 (Reuters) - Dutch state-owned electric grid company TenneT (IPO-TTH.AS) has awarded 11 contracts worth a combined 23 billion euros ($25 billion) to build systems connecting wind farms in the North Sea to shore, it said on Thursday. The contracts are being awarded to consortia led by Hitachi Energy and by General Electric, and caused shares in Petrofac (PFC.L), part of the Hitachi group, to spike as much as 73%. TenneT is spending tens of billions of euros over the next decade to connect North Sea wind farms to the electric grid in Germany and the Netherlands. The other consortium of Hitachi Energy (6501.T) and London-based Petrofac Ltd said it had signed a 13 billion euro agreement for six projects. The Dutch and German governments are in talks for Germany to buy TenneT's German operations in light of the company's massive investment needs, estimated at over 100 billion euros in the coming decade.

☆ Burrowing badgers threaten to undermine Dutch rail system
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Piroschka Van De Wouw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Rebecca Naden/File PhotoAMSTERDAM, March 22 (Reuters) - Badgers have dug out a home underneath a major rail line in the Netherlands, leaving tens of thousands of passengers facing delays. But the company that maintains the country's rail network says the badgers are protected by law and must be removed before repairs can begin. The Dutch government on Wednesday said that 50,000 people per day use the affected train line. Badgers, not an endangered species, nearly died out in the Netherlands in the 1980s but have since made a strong recovery. "I have asked ProRail to keep a close watch on the activities of badgers," Heijnen said.

☆ Fashion retailer Scotch & Soda seeks bankruptcy for Dutch operations - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Reuters) - Privately held retailer Scotch & Soda, which is based in Amsterdam, has filed a bankruptcy request for its Dutch operations, newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad (FD) reported on Monday, citing a company statement. Scotch & Soda and owner Sun Capital could not immediately be reached for comment. Scotch & Soda Global BV distributes its clothes and has around 225 retail stores globally, including 70 franchise outlets, according to filings at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The FD reported the company had sales of 342.5 million euros in the twelve months ended May 30, 2022, citing a lawyer who has been appointed curator. Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Putin is just the third head of state to be indicted by the International Criminal Court while still in power. The ICC accuses Putin of responsibility for the war crime of deporting Ukrainian children - at least hundreds, possibly more - to Russia. TRAVEL ABROADThe ICC's 123 member states are obliged to detain and transfer Putin if he sets foot on their territory. Kenya's President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta were both charged by the ICC before they were elected. Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, one of Milosevic's adversaries in the 1990s Balkan wars, left office after being indicted for war crimes by the Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

☆ Dutch court finds Facebook misused data in class action suit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Personal information was given to third parties without Facebook users being informed and without there being a legal basis to do so." The decision was directed at Facebook Ireland because it is the part of the company that oversees the processing of Dutch user data. A spokesperson for the plaintiff, Data Privacy Stichting, said the group now hopes to sit down with Facebook to negotiate a settlement. "We think this is a very strong signal not only to Facebook but to all companies that are unrightfully using their users' data." The Data Privacy group was launched in 2020 as a partnership between a group of law firms and the Dutch Consumers' Association to try to seek damages.

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