The current international peace system is outdated and ineffective, says Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient. Speaking in London last week to highlight the urgent need for justice and accountability, she said “We are witnessing the collapse of the world order before our eyes.” She told this site, “The…
Photo by Bruno Aguirre on Unsplash The impact of Europe’s rapidly ageing population is coming under increasing scrutiny, including by British peers. The UK House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has just concluded an inquiry into Preparing for Ageing. Britain is an ageing society, the birth rate is declining and life expectancy increasing. It can…
Photo by 1Click on Unsplash Most people familiar with EU affairs know the single market is a myth. Hailed as the bedrock of the European Union, it was never completed and is now crumbling, writes Giles Merritt Saving it is vital but difficult. The Commission has just announced a new single market strategy, although it…
Photo by Akram Huseyn on Unsplash Promoting a healthier Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system. Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Improved health results in greater well-being for the people and has ramifications for the survival and development of a country and even the world, writes…
Photo by Michael Pointner on Unsplash Europe is at a turning point in its energy future. In recent years, the war in Ukraine has cruelly exposed our dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly Russian gas. It seems as though to placate President Donald Trump’s wish for a trade war, Europe will be purchasing more LNG…
Listening to Sir Keir Starmer explaining why standing up to Russian tyranny and bending over backward to get the United States to stay engaged in Europe is like reliving the early dramas of post-war Europe 1948-51, writes Denis MacShane. Starmer’s flat, uninspiring style is almost a parody of Clement Attlee’s dull clipped upper-middle class tones…
Photo by Shayna Douglas on Unsplash.com The Kingdom of Denmarkification today announced a goodwill cultural delegation to California, led by renowned Norse explorer Leif Erikson. He will be accompanied by Thor, Shadow Secretary of Energy & Thunder, by Freya, Senior Hygge Expert at Valhalla University, and Loki, Local Security Adviser and mead enthusiast. The visit…
Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash Everyone who is single has been asked at some point: ‘So, haven’t found the one yet?’ Everyone seems to want to set you up. But do we really need someone else to be happy? A relationship is not the be-all and end-all. It is a part of life (if…
Photo by Roman Kopylov on Unsplash Europeans should forget about the two things said to worry them most – invasion by Russia and the United States’ desertion of NATO. For compelling reasons, neither of these nightmare scenarios is likely. This article examines the supposed threat of a Russian military incursion into a member state of…
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash The situation for women in Ireland is increasingly grim. Every day, we hear of violence against women: assault, rape, and even murder. Women are unsafe in their own homes, harassed in nightclubs, and assaulted on our streets. If a woman cannot be safe at home, she can be…
