EU Must Call Out Rights Abuses

Ursula von der Leyen

Commission head Ursula von der Leyen says the EU must “call out ” rights abuses. In her state of the union address, she said, “We are firm believers in the strength and value of cooperating in international bodies” “It is with a strong United Nations that we can find long-term solutions for crises like Libya…

Vodafone Seeks to Help UN Address the Digital Divide

Bridging the digital divide for smartphones

A major new initiative has been launched by Vodafone Group Plc and ITU, the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies, to address the global digital divide, with the aim that an additional 3.4 billion people could have the ability to access and use the internet through a smartphone by 2030. With mobile…

Budapest Forum for Sustainable Democracies

y Karácsony and global alliance of mayors

In the margins of the Budapest Forum for Sustainable Democracies, the Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, convened a global group of mayors united to build a value-driven city network to rebuild and reinforce democracy, stand as a bulwark against the erosion of the rule of law, and fight corruption, state capture, racism and populist nationalism….

Global Methane Pledge

Global Methane emissions

The European Union and the United States have announced the Global Methane Pledge, an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to be launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in November in Glasgow.  President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged countries at the US-led Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate…

Greens Prepare for Hungarian National Elections

Gergely Karácsony

The European Green Party has endorsed Gergely Karácsony’s candidacy at the Hungarian opposition primaries.     In a unique democratic exercise, six Hungarian opposition parties have united to organise a primary election ahead of the general elections to be held in the spring of 2022.     Gergely Karácsony, the only Green candidate in this…

Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer?

Mobile Roaming Charges

Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer? Don’t bet on it, writes Zach Meyers, of the Centre for European Reform. British consumers have become accustomed to using their mobile phones without incurring any additional charges while visiting the EU. Prominent Brexiters, such as British justice secretary Dominic Raab, promised that…

EPP Calls on EU not to Recognise Russian Elections

Calls not to recognise Russia Elections

The EPP Group has called on the EU not to recognise the elections in Russia.  “What went on in Russia on 17-19 September was not elections. Russians were robbed of the possibility to have a say and freely choose their country’s destiny. The EPP Group calls on the EU and its Member States to not…

Space Traffic Becoming Dangerously Congested: Call for EU Action

Space satellite traffic congestion

The world’s leading satellite launch company has called for new rules to combat dangers posed by an “ever congested” space.” The Ariane Group says a “rules book” is needed to tackle the issue to stop space becoming “dangerously congested.” It is estimated that the average individual uses 47 satellites every day and that, by 2025, the…