In the race to vaccinate people across the globe, researchers from Amsterdam have cracked the code that explains one of the most troublesome symptoms of COVID-19. And through international collaboration, they have potentially made a breakthrough in treating the disease with an already approved drug.
The 2021 Eurovision song contest came to a spectacular finale on 22 May in Rotterdam as Italy’s band, Måneskin, won the contest and people’s hearts. The event’s theme #OpenUp was brought to life through rock and roll, a high-tech stage and flamboyant costumes, locking the attention of nearly 200 million viewers, united by their love of music. The event’s success is a notable accomplishment for the city of Rotterdam and partners, for hosting the world's biggest television entertainment programme and ensuring 3,500 people can celebrate safely around the main stage at Ahoy.
The Netherlands is proud that the city of Rotterdam can host the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest – live! – from 18 to 22 May. Jeangu Macrooy will represent our country with his song, ‘Birth of a New Age’. With the theme ‘Open Up’, Eurovision fans are invited to delight in the uniting power of music and open up to each other’s culture, traditions and creative expressions. With a multitude of innovative and fun activities, fans around the world can also take part in the festivities.
The virtual trade mission to China with sustainability as the central theme is led by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher. Also expected to make an appearance is the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen. The mission will be entirely virtual, with foreign participants gathering physically on locations in Shanghai, Jinan, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing and dialing in collectively for the webinars. Afterwards, they split up for tailored matchmaking sessions.
In 2050, the world population is expected to reach a total of 10 billion people. As the availability of water and fertile land becomes more scarce due to climate change, achieving food security will be even more challenging. By working together and sharing knowledge and expertise, we will be able to create ground-breaking initiatives and solutions for a sustainable future. One of them is Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW), an initiative that uses satellite monitoring and agricultural research to help smallholder farmers, pastoralists and fishermen with advice regarding weather conditions and other services including crop yield, irrigation and market, pest and disease information.
To get a good start in life, every child needs an education. However, poverty and a lack of good quality education mean that this is simply not a given for millions of children in the world. Circumstances force them into labour which compromises their own opportunities later in life. Child-labour-free zones could turn around their chances and break the cycle of poverty. In India, a child-labour-free zone has been sent up in cooperation with textile collection company Sympany with help from the Dutch Fund against Child Labour. Hopefully it may set an example for inspire textile industries and other sectors to join the efforts so that more children can go to school and have a brighter future. 2021 marks the UN International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, as part of the drive to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 to end all forms of child labour by 2025.
To feed, house and secure a growing world population, we need to rethink the way we use scarce resources. Visit the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2020 to immerse yourself in our miniature climate and to join the conversation on how we can connect minds to secure water, energy and food.