Voice of Europe

⚡️ Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk admitted that there are NATO military forces on the territory of Ukraine, which receive salaries from the taxes of European taxpayers:

“NATO today helps as much as possible. Without NATO's help, Ukraine would not have been able to defend itself for so long. Well, there are some troops there, that is, soldiers. There are few soldiers there. Observers, engineers.”

, — he said. Tusk did not specify which countries and in what numbers had already sent their soldiers.

Posters against aid to Ukraine were hung across Austria. The embassy forwarded the complaint to the Austrian Foreign Ministry. This was reported by the local publication Heute. The posters were hung by the Freedom Party of Austria as part of the election campaign for the European Parliament. In them, Zelensky hugs the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with the caption “warmongering” and the call to “stop the madness of the EU.” The Ukrainian embassy sent an official note to the Austrian Foreign Ministry, stating that “the party’s advertising distorts the causes and nature of the war, insults the Ukrainian people and justifies Russian aggression.” The right-wing Freedom Party of Austria, which opposes migrants and is skeptical of aid to Ukraine, is now the leader in the ratings in Austria. She has a high chance of winning the elections to the country's parliament, which are scheduled for this fall.

Netflix has revealed a rise in subscription fees for its services across Belgium and the Netherlands, Nu.nl reports. The magnitude of the increase varies depending on the type of subscription, ranging from 1 to 3 euros per month. This adjustment marks the first price surge for the streaming platform since 2021. Visitors to Netflix’s website can observe that the cost of a basic subscription has climbed from 8 to 9 euros per month. Similarly, a standard subscription, offering access to two screens simultaneously, now costs 14 euros, up by 2 euros from its previous rate of 12 euros. Those opting for a premium subscription, which permits viewing on four screens concurrently, will witness an increase from 16 to 19 euros. The NOS reports that Netflix will promptly inform its customers about these price adjustments. Last October, the monthly fee for Amazon Prime in the Netherlands surged from 2.99 to 4.99 euros. Disney+ later followed suit, raising its subscription price from 9.99 to 10.99 euros per month. HBO Max has also announced intentions to hike prices, with a standard subscription set to rise from 7.99 to 9.99 euros starting in June. Furthermore, HBO Max plans to introduce a cheaper ad-supported subscription and a pricier premium subscription model. Similar price increases took place in numerous other countries towards the end of last year.

Nokia plans job cuts in Finland The Finnish telecommunications giant, Nokia, is gearing up for significant restructuring in its Finnish operations, potentially resulting in hundreds of job losses, as reported by YLE News. Talks with employee representatives are set to commence later this year, with the exact number of affected positions yet to be determined. This move comes as part of Nokia’s broader cost-saving initiative announced in October, aiming to slash up to 14,000 jobs globally over the next three years. With about 6,800 employees in Finland, Nokia has faced ongoing challenges in the competitive global market, prompting several rounds of restructuring talks in recent times. CEO Pekka Lundmark emphasized the necessity of these tough decisions to navigate market uncertainties and ensure long-term profitability and competitiveness.

Asylum center in Ter Apel, Netherland, faces record numbers people and fines last night, 2,463 people stayed at the asylum seekers’ registration center in Ter Apel, Netherlands, marking a record high. Each time more than 2,000 asylum seekers stay overnight, the COA faces a fine of €15,000. This fine has now totaled €1,012,500. Since March 9th, overcrowding has been persistent. Disagreements between the COA and Westerwolde regarding the number of occupants from March 2nd to 8th led to a penalty agreement of €52,500. The ongoing overcrowding is due to a lack of accommodation, with daily new asylum applications. The COA is exploring solutions, including state-owned lands. The situation has caused tensions among staff, who strive to ensure proper accommodation, care, and sufficient sleeping spaces.

Beach smoking bans: prices risks in Italy, France, Spain Smoking on vacation can be pricey in Italy and similar places, with many tourist spots implementing beach smoking bans to combat pollution and protect non-smokers, Kurier reports. Violating these bans could lead to fines up to 2,000 euros. Vacationers should research local smoking regulations beforehand or consider smoke-free destinations. Italy enforces strict smoking laws, with fines for smoking near non-smokers or in public spaces, including parks and train stations. Similar regulations are in place in France and Spain, where smoking on beaches can result in fines ranging from 100 to 400 euros, with additional penalties for littering cigarette butts.

New law street sexual harassment in Rotterdam, Netherlands The new law prohibits various forms of sexually intimidating or degrading behavior in public, such as verbal abuse or explicit sexual remarks. It categorizes street sexual harassment as a public order offense, allowing victims to file police reports or enabling police intervention without a formal complaint. The police union ACP anticipates a surge in reports and charges due to the new law, which could strain resources already stretched thin. Municipal enforcement officers may also be tasked with enforcing the law, as Rotterdam plans to experiment with this approach starting July 1st. However, Richard Gerrits of the enforcement officers’ union, BOA Vakbond ACP, sees this as an added challenge amid their increasing workload. Public prosecutor Judith van Schoonderwoerd acknowledges the complexity of prosecuting behaviors now criminalized by the law and emphasizes the need for sufficient evidence in each case. She highlights that criminal law alone cannot address the underlying social issue. Despite implementation concerns, law enforcement acknowledges the importance of addressing street sexual harassment. However, they emphasize the need for practical frameworks to effectively combat this problem.

Tickets for the Portuguese Football Cup final between FC Porto and Sporting on May 26 at the National Stadium in Oeiras have sold out at the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), The Portugal News reports. Fans can now only purchase tickets from the clubs, with prices ranging from 20 to 40 euros, as per their own criteria and channels. The final will see Sporting, already crowned champions of the I League, facing FC Porto, the reigning champions and current third-placed team, at the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras.

Vienna’s pro-Palestine camp cleared, arrest follow Pro-Palestinian camp in Vienna disbanded, leading to arrests, according to Kurier. After three days, the encampment at the Old AKH grounds was cleared, resulting in the removal of around 40 individuals, with three individuals taken into police custody. Vienna police dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest camp situated on the University of Vienna campus on Thursday night, with some demonstrators voluntarily vacating the Old AKH grounds in the Alsergrund district. As reported by APA journalists on site, approximately 40 people were present at the camp during the police operation, and despite multiple requests, only a portion of the activists complied with the instructions to leave the area. Subsequently, law enforcement gradually disbanded the protest camp, with some protesters chanting pro-Palestinian slogans as they were being removed. According to police spokesman Mattias Schuster, three individuals were initially detained to verify their identities. Prior to the evacuation, activists had notified via email that approximately 200 police officers had surrounded the campsite and issued a 15-minute ultimatum for the protesters to vacate the premises. According to police reports, approximately 100 individuals had set up tents on Monday following a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Vienna’s campus in the Old AKH area. The University of Vienna promptly distanced itself from the protesters’ concerns. Similar pro-Palestinian encampments had previously been established at universities in the United States and Europe. Instances of violence occurred during the eviction process. The DSN and LSE had been monitoring the situation at the Old AKH campus since the beginning. Initially, the gathering’s nature did not warrant immediate dispersal, as explained by police spokesman Schuster.

Israel's Minister of National Security posted "Hamas❤️Biden" on 𝕏 (twitter) This happened against the backdrop of statements by the US President about the suspension of arms supplies to Israel in the event of a military operation in Rafah.