The Netherlands: 11 companies in the Netherlands that hire internationals

The hunt for a great, English-speaking job in the Netherlands isn’t always easy — but it’s a lot quicker if you know the right places to look.

So where should you be looking? At companies that hire expats, of course! Here are 11 of the biggest Dutch employers of internationals in the Netherlands so you can find the perfect job for you.

Read more at: 11 companies in the Netherlands that hire internationals – DutchReview

USA: 6 States See 400% Increase in COVID-19 Cases

Daily COVID-19 case rates across the country have risen in nearly all states since June as the highly contagious delta variant spreads, according to a new report from USAFacts.

Read more at: 6 States See 400% Increase in COVID-19 Cases | Best States | US News

Coronavirus lambda variant spreads across Latin America

lassified as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization (WHO) on June 17, the lambda, or C.37, variant of the coronavirus has already been detected in some US states and at least 29 nations — many of them in Latin America.

In Peru, where it was identified in August 2020, the lambda variant accounted for more than 80% of new infections in June, and it is also spreading rapidly in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.

Read more at: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-lambda-variant-spreads-across-latin-america/a-58035249

Healthcare in the Netherlands: Is it really that good?

Amazingly, the Dutch rate their health care very highly. They must have low expectations. The Netherlands was number one on the Euro Health Consumer Index in 2015 for its health care system. It has also been listed in the top 3 European countries since 2005. It may be the best system in terms of economics. However, I’m not so certain it works well for everyday patients.

Dutch huisartsen (general practitioners) are notorious for sending you home from an office visit with advice to rest and take a paracetamol. Come back in 2 weeks if you’re not feeling better. This goes for everything from a sore throat to an amputated limb (ok, that may be a slight exaggeration). You have to have one foot in the grave for your huisarts to either prescribe an antibiotic or to send you to see a specialist. Now, I am not someone who believes in prescribing antibiotics for every minor illness, but for bacterial infections they are sometimes necessary. The same goes for pain meds and anesthetics. The Dutch seem to believe one needs to suffer for a while before doing anything proactive.

Read more at: Healthcare in the Netherlands: Is it really that good? – DutchReview

US Travel Restrictions: US to keep international travel restrictions for now, citing virus surge- by Aamer Madhani

The United States will keep existing COVID-19 travel restrictions on international travel in place for now due to concerns about the surging infection rate because of the delta variant, according to a White House official.

President Joe Biden earlier this month said that his administration was "in the process" of considering how soon the U.S. could lift the ban on European travel bound for the U.S. after the issue was raised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the White House.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said while the administration understands the importance of international travel, cases are rising in the U.S. — particularly among those who are unvaccinated and will likely continue to increase in the weeks ahead.

Read more at: US to keep international travel restrictions for now, citing virus surge

The Netherlands: Dutch coronavirus average hits two-week low, but Covid hospital total still rising

New data from the RIVM showed that another 4,665 people tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection, a figure which has not below five thousand since July 7. That pushed the seven-day moving average down 11 percent in a day to 6,492.

Read more at: Dutch coronavirus average hits two-week low, but Covid hospital total still rising | NL Times

COVID-19 vaccine inequity: Inside the cutthroat race to secure doses

No one disputes that the world is unfair. But no one expected a vaccine gap between the global rich and poor that was this bad, this far into the pandemic.

Inequity is everywhere: Inoculations go begging in the United States while Haiti, a short plane ride away, received its first delivery July 15 after months of promises - 500,000 doses for a population over 11 million. Canada has procured more than 10 doses for every resident; Sierra Leone's vaccination rate just cracked 1% on June 20.

It's like a famine in which “the richest guys grab the baker,” said Strive Masiyiwa, the African Union's envoy for vaccine acquisition.

In fact, European and American officials deeply involved in bankrolling and distributing the vaccines against coronavirus have told The Associated Press there was no thought of how to handle the situation globally. Instead, they jostled for their own domestic use.

For the complete detailed report go to: COVID-19 vaccine inequity: Inside the cutthroat race to secure doses | CP24.com

Covid-19 not over yet: Surgeon General on Unvaccinated: 'I Am Worried About What Is to Come'

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that he is "worried about what is come" and the COVID-19 "pandemic is not over" amid a surge in cases, particularly among individuals who have yet to get the vaccine.

"I am worried about what is to come because we are seeing increasing cases among the unvaccinated in particular," Murthy said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, the Hill reported. "And while if you are vaccinated you are very well protected against hospitalization and death, unfortunately, that is not true if you are not vaccinated."

Read more at: https://www.businessinsider.com/surgeon-general-on-unvaccinated-i-am-worried-about-what-come-2021-7?international=true&r=US&IR=T

Covid-19 vaccines: Combatting the crooked global pharmaceutical industry: Fighting Covid-19 requires fewer patents and more state – Piergiuseppe Fortunato

apture by large companies, the system is often abused and high prices persist, granting to the privileged holders profits not justifiable by their contribution.

This is as socially inequitable as it is economically inefficient—its inadequacy dramatically exposed by the pandemic. Vaccines developed with substantial public contributions are generating hundreds of billions of dollars in sales for the pharmaceutical companies, while the coronavirus is still ravaging poorer nations which cannot afford immunisation.

The vaccine was expected to enter clinical testing by the end of the following month. At that point, it had already been almost entirely developed by the small German immunotherapy company. What Pfizer brought to the alliance was essentially funds for the clinical trials and commercial capabilities.

This is as socially inequitable as it is economically inefficient—its inadequacy dramatically exposed by the pandemic. Vaccines developed with substantial public contributions are generating hundreds of billions of dollars in sales for the pharmaceutical companies, while the coronavirus is still ravaging poorer nations which cannot afford immunisation.

Read the complete report at Fighting Covid-19 requires fewer patents and more state – Piergiuseppe Fortunato

U.S. surgeon general ‘worried’ with COVID-19 cases sharply on the rise

The U.S. surgeon general said Sunday that he’s concerned about what lies ahead with cases of COVID-19 increasing in every state, millions still unvaccinated and a highly contagious virus variant spreading rapidly.

Noting that nearly all coronavirus deaths now are among the tens of millions of people who haven’t received shots, despite widespread vaccine availability, Dr. Vivek Murthy painted an unsettling picture of what the future could hold.

Read more at: U.S. surgeon general ‘worried’ with COVID-19 cases sharply on the rise

EU _Floods: At least 60 dead, dozens missing as severe floods cause havoc across western Europe

More than 60 people have died and dozens were missing Thursday as severe flooding in Germany and Belgium turned deadly. Great damage was also done in the Netherlans and Switzerland

Recent storms across parts of western Europe made rivers and reservoirs burst their banks, triggering flash floods overnight after the saturated soil couldn’t absorb any more water.

Read more at: At least 60 dead, dozens missing as severe floods cause havoc across western Europe - National | Globalnews.ca

The Netherlands:Coronavirus cases in the Netherlands surge more than 800% in one week

The Netherlands reported more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, an eightfold increase when compared to last week after most restrictions were lifted despite the rise of the fast-spreading Delta variant.

The National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said 10,345 new cases were reported on Saturday, the biggest one-day increase since December 25. This compares to 1,146 new cases on the same day last week.

Read more at: Coronavirus cases in the Netherlands surge more than 800% in one week - BNO News

USA: Connecticut: Daily coronavirus update: State positivity steady at 0.61%, hospitalizations increase by 10

Update on Coronavirus statistics Connecticut

Read more at: Daily coronavirus update: State positivity steady at 0.61%, hospitalizations increase by 10 - Hartford Courant

CUBA: COVID: Cuba approves emergency use of own Abdala vaccine

Cuba on Friday approved its homemade Abdala coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.

The communist country is the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to successfully develop a coronavirus vaccine.

The Cuban health regulator, CECMED, approved the shot after the manufacturers announced last month that their vaccine was more than 92% effective against COVID-19 infections when three doses were given.

Read more at: COVID: Cuba approves emergency use of own Abdala vaccine | News | DW | 09.07.2021

Coronavirus Vaccine: Pfizer to ask permission to give booster shot; FDA, CDC say it’s not necessary

Pfizer announced Thursday it plans to seek Food and Drug Administration authorization for a booster shot to its two-dose vaccine that could further protect people from COVID-19 variants, the company announced Thursday.

However, a joint statement on Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA said, "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time."

Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/as-pfizer-wants-to-push-booster-shot-fda-and-cdc-say-its-not-necessary-at-this-time/ar-AALYAiU?ocid=BingNewsSearch

EU -The travel restrictions in place in every country in Europe

The EU has added the US among others to a list which recommends countries that may be able to travel to the continent.

Germany has lifted travel restrictions for visitors from UK and Portugal.

All land borders are now open.Also negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before arrival is required for all foreign nationals.

Read more at: The travel restrictions in place in every country in Europe | Euronews

Insurers mourn missed chance of EU insurance agency

An EU development insurer could also use reinsurance to mobilise substantial amounts of non-development finance institutional capital from the private insurance market and from EU export credit agencies, Mudde said.

The problem, in his view, was that in the EU discussions about the European Financial Architecture for Development (EFAD) an insurance approach, like the World bank’s MIGA, had never been considered. “There is a lack of knowledge about the success of insurance products in mobilising capital for development. Public insurance providers are more successful in mobilising capital for development than development banks,” he said. Their operational costs are in general also much lower than those of development banks. So, also from an aid efficiency and aid effectiveness point of view an insurance approach would make sense. The importance of mobilizing capital has been debated for a decade and was picked by the G20’s Eminent Persons Group in 2018 and the “Building Bridges” report of the Islamic Development Bank in 2020, which clearly set out the benefits of an insurance approach to mobilise capital for development. Although neither G20 reports has so far gained traction, Mudde said it would make a substantial contribution to the Team Europe approach. “Insurance could be used to mobilise private capital from both international and domestic banks and institutional investors,” he said. In addition, it could provide insurance to European development finance institutions (DFIs) that would contribute to a convergence of their operations, a more effective use of scarce economic development capital and reduce the competition between DFIs.

Read more at:Insurers mourn missed chance of EU insurance agency | GlobalCapital

EU says it plans more COVID-19 vaccine donations as world faces two-track pandemic

John Ryan, a senior European Commission health official, told a briefing that the bloc hoped to donate a further 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to low and middle income countries by year-end, using the COVAX facility as the main channel.

Read more at: EU says it plans more COVID-19 vaccine donations as world faces two-track pandemic

EU-approved COVID-19 vaccines protect against Delta variant, says official

Europe's drug regulator said on Thursday the COVID-19 vaccines approved in the European Union offered protection against all coronavirus variants, including Delta, but called for active monitoring by vaccine manufacturers to stay alert.

Read more at: EU-approved COVID-19 vaccines protect against Delta variant, says official | Reuters

North Korea Covid-19: outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has sacked several senior party officials over a “grave” coronavirus incident that had threatened public safety, fuelling speculation that the coronavirus has breached the country’s defences.

“In neglecting important decisions by the party that called for organisational, material and science and technological measures to support prolonged anti-epidemic work in face of a global health crisis, the officials in charge have caused a grave incident that created a huge crisis for the safety of the country and its people,” the state-run KCNA news agency quoted Kim as telling a meeting of the ruling party’s politburo.

Read more at: North Korea Covid-19 outbreak fears after Kim Jong-un warns of ‘huge crisis’ in ‘antivirus fight’ | North Korea | The Guardian