Concerns Growing Over Press Crackdown in Hungary
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has urged the European Union to help end an alleged government crackdown on independent media in Hungary.
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80 Journalists Resign From Hungary’s Leading News Site
Some 80 journalists have resigned from Hungary’s leading news website Index.hu amid mounting government pressure on independent and critical media.
Europe On Edge Amid Rise Of Coronavirus Infections
Spain and several other European nations are taking new measures to halt an increase in reported coronavirus cases. The decisions come amid fresh warnings by authorities of a widespread “second wave” of infections.
German States Ask Congress Not to Remove U.S. Troops
The leaders of four German states wrote to Congress asking for a halt to Washington’s troop withdrawal plan from the country, Reuters reported Sunday.
EU Agrees On Coronavirus Fund After Disputes
Leaders of the European Union have agreed on an unprecedented 1.82 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) budget and coronavirus recovery fund after tense negotiations that included table banging and meeting walkouts.
EU Leaders Continue Corona Talks Amid Abuse and Table Banging
Leaders of the 27 European Union nations are trying to agree on a massive EU coronavirus recovery fund and a budget amid reports of quarrels. As talks entered their fourth day, there was some hope of a breakthrough. However, the European Union delegates appeared weary and even bleary as they began another round of fighting over an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget.
Israel approves next phase of massive gas pipeline to Europe
The government on Sunday approved the advancement of the Eastern Mediterranean gas pipeline project, a massive 6 million Euros ($7 billion) venture that will carry gas from Israel’s offshore oil fields to Europe, the news website The Marker reported.
Erdogan Defies the West to Make Turkey a Regional Power
When President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopens Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia for prayers next week, it will be the crowning symbol of his mission to reassert Turkey’s role as a Muslim power on the global stage. Yet Turkey’s rarely seemed more alone.
US, India Discuss ‘Possibility’ of Free Trade Pact
The U.S. and India discussed the “possibility” of a free trade pact, India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement Thursday, just days after India began free trade agreement talks with the European Union.
EU Tensions Escalate Over 2 Trillion Budget and Coronavirus Aid
European Union negotiations on an unprecedented nearly two trillion euro budget and coronavirus recovery fund entered the third day amid warnings the summit could end without an agreement.
Deadly Fight Erupts Between Azerbaijan, Armenia
Fresh fighting erupted Thursday on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, dashing hopes of an end to the worst clashes between the neighbors in years.
Pro-Western Party Wins Troubled Vote In North Macedonia
A pro-Western party in North Macedonia is trying to form a coalition government after it claimed victory in somewhat historic but troubled elections. The Balkan nation’s first national vote under a new state name faced a suspected hacking attack impacting the publishing of results.
Tensions Reignite Between Ethiopia and Egypt Over Nile Dam
New images captured in the last week by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellite suggest that Ethiopia may have started filling its massive Nile River dam, as tensions over the project continue.
EU, India move closer to free trade deal
India and the European Union have vowed to deepen trade ties on Wednesday, with the two sides agreeing to set up a high-level ministerial dialogue on trade and investment.
EU states have yet to agree on coronavirus economic stimulus package
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said a further summit of European Union member states may be required if Friday’s planned meeting fails to produce agreement on an economic stimulus package to help the bloc recover financially from COVID-19, the Washington Times reports.
France: ‘Over Eight Billion To Coronavirus-Fighting Health Workers’
The French government and unions have signed an agreement to give over eight billion euros in pay rises for the nation’s troubled health workers. France’s recently appointed Prime Minister Jean Castex said the move was overdue amid the devastating coronavirus pandemic in the European Union member state.
Poland’s President Narrowly Re-Elected But Legal Challenges Expected
Poland’s incumbent conservative President Andrzej Duda has narrowly beaten his liberal challenger Rafal Trzaskowski in Sunday’s razor-blade tight presidential election. The National Electoral Commission said Duda won with 51.2 percent of the vote.
Anti-migration Hungary Reimposes Coronavirus Measures on Selected Foreigners
Hungary’s fiercely anti-migration government warned Sunday it would reimpose far-reaching coronavirus restrictions on people arriving from nations with a moderate or high number of coronavirus infections. The measures include mandatory two-week quarantines or bans and other limitations.
Poland Voters Elect President As Country Seeks Direction
People in Poland went to the polls Sunday in what commentators called a razor-blade-close presidential election runoff amid a coronavirus pandemic. Voters were deciding whether to give another chance to the current conservative President Andrzej Duda, or to make the liberal mayor of Warsaw the next head-of-state.
Sober Ceremony Marks 25th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre
Bosnia-Herzegovina commemorated over the weekend the 25th anniversary of Europe’s worst atrocity since World War Two. Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were shot end killed by invading Serb forces in and around the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in one of the darkest episodes of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war.