Westerners Don’t Believe Climate Change is Critical

New research in Europe and the United States shows that large portions of the public still do not accept the urgency of the climate crisis, and only a minority believe it will impact them and their families severely over the next fifteen years.  The survey, which was commissioned by the Open Society and the European Policy Institute, forms…

Puppy Smuggling Peaks

Dogs Trust gave evidence at a special session of The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee this afternoon (Tuesday 24 November) on puppy smuggling.  EFRA announced the one-off evidence session at the end of last week. It explored how demand for dogs in the UK has surged as a result of Covid-19 lockdown measures, further…

Anti-COVID Clinical Trials in Africa

The Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, thirteen African countries and an international network of research institutions have joined forces to launch the largest COVID-19 clinical trial in Africa. The ANTICOV clinical trial will focus on mild-to-moderate outpatients and aims to respond to the urgent need to identify treatments that can be used to…

Need to Link Aid to Migration Policy

The European Parliament has voted to make development aid conditional on cooperation with the EU on migration management.  This is a notable shift in the approach to development policy showing that the majorities in Parliament have changed. The EPP Group has been calling for such a conditionality for years. “We need to make better use…

For Roman Bondarenka

On Thursday, Parliament will debate and then vote on the Resolution condemning the continuous violations of human rights in Belarus as well as the murder of Roman Bondarenka. The 31 year-old art teacher died after being in police custody for his opposition to Alexander Lukashenko. “It is Europe’s duty to take action when human rights…

Taiwan is crucial to the global fight against cybercrime

Taiwan’s national anti-pandemic and cybersecurity teams are playing a crucial role of global significance, writes Huang Ming-chao. Since emerging in late 2019, COVID-19 has evolved into a global pandemic. According to World Health Organization statistics, as of September 30, 2020, there were more than 33.2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 1 million related…

Vodafone Aims for Net Zero Emissions by 2040

Vodafone, the largest mobile and fixed network operator in Europe, says it has committed to reducing the company’s total global carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2040. It also confirmed on 23 November that its 2030 carbon reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as in line with reductions required to keep…

Inaugural U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue

The Office of the State Department of the USA issued the following press statement. “The close relationship between the United States and Taiwan is rooted in our commitment to the defense of freedom and the promotion of democratic values. Our partnership is built on economic investment and shared people-to-people ties, and we share a vision…

Soft Drinks With Less Sugar

Europe’s soft drinks industry has reduced added sugars in its drinks across Europe by an average of 14.6% between 2015 and 2019. UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe, representing soft drinks producers across the EU, is committed to creating healthier and more sustainable food environments. It is determined to support consumers in managing their intake of added sugars…