This week, more batches of FFP2 and FFP3 protective masks are being distributed to Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia from rescEU – the common European reserve of medical equipment set up this year to help countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “We are delivering more masks from the rescEU reserve of medical equipment to help the national authorities in…
Year: 2020
Hoteliers fight back to control “catastrophic” impact of coronavirus
EU Recovery Fund
Europe “limping off the pitch has never been on the cards”, declared Christian Ehler, the EPP Group Spokesman in the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He was reacting to the recent EU Council Summit deal on the EU long-term Budget and Recovery Fund. “The announced severe cuts on research, innovation, health and climate…
Internet Access for All
European Parliament President David Sassoli has responded to former EU commission chief Romano Prodi on the importance of internet access for all. Sassoli said, “More than ever in these months of lockdown, many millions of people in Europe and around the world have been forced to rely on an internet connection to work, study, buy…
Oppression against the Roma. What has changed?
On the occasion of the anniversary of Nazi genocide of Roma 76 years ago, Roma activists call for a robust fight against the rise of far-right populism. They implore that Roma history and Roma genocide be taught across schools in Europe so that young people can understand and fight against existing fascism and racism in society. …
Human Rights in Azerbaijan
The S&D Group vice-president, Kati Piri has voiced concern at “unsettling developments” on human rights in Azerbaijan: She told this website, “We are alarmed by credible reports of severe torture inflicted by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies on Fuad Gahramanli, the deputy chair of the opposition People’s Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) party. “Gahramanli is one among dozens of…
Sir David’s Namesake
Good news! Belgian scientists have described a new genus of large and robust praying mantis from Asia – including this beautiful new species of Titanodula Attenboroughi, named after … Sir David Attenborough! They would like to thank him for his lifelong work in disseminating and accessing knowledge about living nature, and his efforts to advocate…
Call for Tax Transparency
German Greens MEP Sven Giegold has written an pen letter to the EU residency called for an end to the “German blockade of tax transparency.” The letter, seen by this website, reads, “We can no longer afford tax dumping in the interest of large companies in Europe. Public funds are and will remain heavily strained…
Is Brazil a Token Democracy Under Bolsonaro?
By Luiz Eduardo and Pedro Abramovay. Soldiers can be angels of mercy or weapons of tyranny. In Brazil, in 2016, when Zika virus swept through Brazil, the country deployed 220,000 soldiers to hand out educational material to citizens on how to combat the new virus that was ravaging the country, a strategy that proved effective in mitigating the spread of the…
Omar Radi: Unfounded allegations of judicial harassment
Moroccan journalist Omar Radi exercises his profession freely. As such he has never been worried or questioned in any way in the course of his work or activities, or even in his public positions. Until the end of 2019 he had never complained of any infringement or restriction in this regard, either to the competent…