EU members call for revision of anti-deforestation law
Brussels, Belgium Reuters A group of EU countries led by Austria is calling for urgent revisions to the bloc’s anti-deforestation law set to go into effect at the end of the year, saying it could hurt European farmers, according to a document reviewed by Reuters on Monday. The EU law aims to root deforestation out […]
France’s Macron does not rule out Europeans sending troops to Ukraine
Paris, France Reuters French President Emmanuel Macron opened the door on Monday to European nations sending troops to Ukraine, although he cautioned that there was no consensus at this stage as allies agreed to ramp up efforts to deliver more munitions to Kyiv. Some 20 European leaders gathered in Paris on Monday to send Russian […]
Slovakia approves criminal law reforms that sparked protests
Reuters The Slovak parliament approved reforms scrapping a special prosecution branch dealing with high-level crime and lowering punishments for financial crimes in a fast-track procedure on Thursday, amid public protests and concerns from the European Commission. The government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who took power last October for the fourth time after a stint […]
Thousands of Slovaks continue protesting government’s criminal law reforms
Bratislava, SlovakiaReuters At least 15,000 people demonstrated in Slovakia’s capital on Tuesday as protests grew against plans of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government to fast-track criminal law changes that include scrapping a special prosecutor’s office focused on corruption. Opposition parties led protests in cities around the central European country of 5.4 million for a third […]
UN warns of unprecedented refugee challenge as West tightens borders
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The UN refugee agency is facing one of the most difficult moments in its more than 70-year history as record displacements coincide with funding shortfalls and a “short-sighted” focus on border controls, its chief said on Monday. Conflicts from Ukraine to Sudan have contributed to the displacement of some 110 million people around […]
Slovakia’s poll winner defies European consensus on Ukraine
Bratislava, SlovakiaReuters Slovakia’s pro-Russian and anti-liberal election winner Robert Fico was poised on Sunday to begin coalition talks to form a government likely to join Hungary in opposing the European Union’s military aid for Ukraine. The 59-year-old former Prime Minister’s SMER-SSD party scored nearly 23 per cent of Saturday’s parliamentary poll, earning the President’s nod […]
StrangeSights: A watery Easter gift?; animal memorials; and, why a Formosan black bear is punching Winnie…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Ukraine vows never to forget or forgive on Bucha anniversary
Bucha, Ukraine Reuters President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukraine would never forgive Russian troops responsible for alleged atrocities in Bucha as the town near Kyiv marked the anniversary of its recapture after 33 days of occupation. Ukrainian forces took back control of the small towns of Bucha and Irpin to the north-west of Kyiv […]
Ukraine vows never to forget or forgive on Bucha anniversary
Bucha, Ukraine Reuters President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday Ukraine would never forgive Russian troops responsible for alleged atrocities in Bucha as the town near Kyiv marked the anniversary of its recapture after 33 days of occupation. Ukrainian forces took back control of the small towns of Bucha and Irpin to the north-west of Kyiv […]
East Europeans prepare for possible new Ukrainian refugee wave as winter nears
Prague, Czech Republic/Budapest, Hungary/Warsaw, Poland Reuters Eastern European countries are preparing to reopen reception centres and are restocking food supplies in anticipation of a possible fresh surge in Ukrainian refugees as winter looms and Russia targets Ukraine’s power grid and heating plants. Some 6.9 million people are believed displaced internally within Ukraine, often living in […]