Netherlands

The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize 2024 includes 5 women authors out of 6 nominees, a record for 55 years. Writers from 5 countries are represented, including a Dutch author for the first time.

The Dutch government has informed the European Commission of its intention to refuse to comply with EU migration rules. The Minister for Asylum and Migration has stated that she wants to regain control over her own asylum policy.

On October 17-18, 2024, NATO Defense Ministers will meet in Brussels. This will be the first meeting chaired by the new Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte.

The President of Ukraine accepted credentials from the ambassadors of Mexico, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands, India, and Belgium. Zelenskyy discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the countries with each ambassador.

The President of Ukraine has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on ratification of the Rome Statute of the ICC. This will strengthen Ukraine's position in the international arena and allow for more effective prosecution of Russians for their crimes.

Law enforcement officers detained two people involved in cocaine smuggling from the Netherlands to Ukraine. A kilogram of the drug worth over UAH 2.3 million was seized, and the suspects face up to 12 years in prison.

The National Museum of History of Ukraine has received three Roman silver bars dated 306-337 that were rescued from illegal sale. The ingots, each weighing 342 grams, were found in Zakarpattia, and their total value is almost UAH 3.5 million.

The Swedish prosecutor's office has closed the case against Dutch singer Justus Klein, who was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest. Investigators did not find sufficient evidence of the singer's intention to harm the photographer.

The apple harvest in key EU countries in 2024 will fall by 11% compared to the previous year. Production will also decline in Ukraine and Moldova, leading to high prices and new opportunities for exporters.

Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise cooperates with institutions in the United States, the Netherlands and Spain to document Russia's war crimes. More than 30 thousand examinations have been conducted, the results of which can be used in international courts.

The arrival of the F-16 in Ukraine could lead to the creation of new service companies, the expert believes.

RTX has signed a $478 million contract with NSPA to supply GEM-T missiles to Germany. This will restore Patriot stockpiles after the assistance to Ukraine, and Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway are also participating in the financing.

Viktor Orban has created a new far-right group in the European Parliament, strengthening his influence. This could undermine EU unity on key issues, especially support for Ukraine.

In July 2024, Ukraine exported $3 billion worth of goods, mainly to the EU and China. The most exported products were wheat, rapeseed, barley, and ores, with Poland, Spain, Germany, and China as the main partners.

Ukraine has received upgraded F-16 fighters with new avionics and radars. Training of pilots and technical personnel continues, and the transfer of aircraft from other partner countries is expected.

President Zelenskyy announced the arrival of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. He thanked the partners for their support and expressed pride in the Ukrainian pilots who have already started using the aircraft.

On August 3, Ukrainians will compete in trap shooting, cycling, swimming, fencing, gymnastics, canoe slalom, and athletics. Oleksandr Khyzhniak guaranteed Ukraine its third medal at the 2024 Olympics.

European gas prices rose by 2. 2% due to escalation in the Middle East and fears of supply disruptions. Traders are concerned about stockpiling for the winter, despite well-filled storage facilities.

In the first half of 2024, agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU increased by 5% to $8. 2 billion. Ukraine's trade surplus remained at $4.3 billion due to increased exports and imports.

The advisor to the head of the OP said that Ukraine would not comment on the information about receiving F-16s. He called it a topic where the 'fog of war' is appropriate, as it should be reflected on the battlefield.

The Times reports that six F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands have arrived in Ukraine. Several more aircraft are expected to arrive soon from Denmark, although there is no official confirmation of this information.

Ukrainian athletes in the sculls double sculls finished fifth at the Olympics in Paris with a time of 6:23. 05. The UK team won gold, the Netherlands won silver, and Germany won bronze.

The US agreed to equip Ukraine's F-16s with modern weapons, including HARM and AMRAAM missiles. Pilot training and aircraft maintenance remain challenges to the effective use of the fighters.

F-16 fighters will arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, but their number will be insufficient to have a significant impact on the course of the fighting. The planes will initially be used primarily to strengthen air defense rather than for ground attacks.

Customs officers in the port of Rotterdam found 3. 2 tons of methamphetamine hidden in sandbags. This is the largest consignment of the drug seized in the history of the Netherlands, with an estimated value of €22.4 million.

The Netherlands and Denmark have purchased 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine. The first 12 are ready for shipment, and all 14 will be delivered simultaneously by the end of the summer to support the Ukrainian army.

Most EU countries have already nominated candidates for the new European Commission. Among them are both new names and current commissioners. The key issues will be EU enlargement and negotiations with Ukraine.

Finance ministers from eight EU countries say Western sanctions have hit the Russian military machine. They call for increased pressure on the Putin regime and support for Ukraine.

German concern Rheinmetall has received an order from Ukraine to build an ammunition plant. Production is scheduled to begin within 24 months, and the project is estimated to cost between 100 and 500 million euros.

The Children's Oncology Center in the Netherlands will receive four children from Kiev's Okhmatdet hospital, which suffered a missile strike in July 2024. Children with cancer will arrive in Utrecht in the coming days.