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Europe: Coronavirus outbreak exposes North-South divide

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The coronavirus outbreak has exposed a rift exist between the Southern Europe and Northern Europe.

Italy and Spain – the worst hit countries – are angry with the northern nations, which is led by Germany and the Netherlands, as the latter has done not much to support the former.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has warned of serious consequences. As per his statement, if the EU fails to come up with a applicable plan to surmount the financial burden fallen up on the worst hit countries, the European Union economic bloc will fall apart.

As an attempt to cool down the tension, some EU frameworks have assured that they would come up with a powerful plan soon.

Unfortunately, a meeting happened two weeks ago to discuss this matter miserably failed to bear any fruit.

What Italy, Spain, France and some other EU states want is to share out coronavirus-incurred debt in the form of “coronabonds” – mutualised debt that all EU nations help pay off.

The problem here is that not all countries – especially some powerful countries in the northern part of Europe like Germany – are happy with the mutualised dept idea.

Whether this crisis contributes to the collapse of the decades-old Economic Union exist in the continent of Europe is yet to be seen.


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Pegasus to sell three promising beauty brands by auction

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Event production conglomerate Pegasus is preparing to sell its three promising beauty contest brands, Miss Asia, Miss South India and Miss Tamil Nadu, by auction.

The company has pledged to contribute at least fifty per cent of what it receives from the auction (after the necessary tax reduction) to the Prime Minister Relief Fund.

The details regarding the auction have been publicised by Pegasus Chairman Dr. Ajit Ravi through his social media post.

In his post, he says that it is his genuine care for his fellow countrymen that has brought him to this unusual decision to sell the three valuable brands.

He adds that if his contribution helps the government to wipe the tears of poor and encourage many to follow this step to support the nation at the time of this coronavirus crisis, it will be the greatest reward that his hard decision can receive.

As per the statement, the minimum bid that the company expects is not less than Rs. 10 crore.

Those who are interested to be a part of this auction – thus to be a part of a big humanitarian move, kindly contact: chairman@pegasusindia.org


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Germany accuses US of ‘Modern Piracy’

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The European country of Germany has accused the North American country of the United States of America of ‘Modern Piracy’, as the latter has been provocatively redirected 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use.

As per a report, the shipment of FFP2 masks from the US which was supposed to reach Germany was interrupted in Bangkok and was redirected to the US.

The masks were ordered for the Berlin police department.

A senior minister based in Berlin has lashed out at the US for its provocative act at the time the world is undergoing a serious crisis. His assumption is that the masks were directed at the behest of the US government.

The US recently invoked a Korean-War-era law which makes the country easier to control how the companies operate in the country function.

The US has not yet commended on this matter. It is unclear at this moment how the move is going to affect the relation between Germany and the United States.


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ECJ pulls up Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic over refugee issue

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The European Court of Justice has pulled up Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic as It has found these countries have failed to respect the EU law as it has not taken in refugees under an agreement reached by the EU leaders to ease the burden faced by Italy and Greece.

The agreement was supposed to benefit 160,000 refugees – especially those from the embattled country of Syria, and was supposed to bring a huge relief to overcrowded camps in Italy and Greece.

Now, the EU Commission is free to impose fines over these countries for the crimes they have committed by disrespecting the EU law.

The court has declined to accept these countries’ argument that the acceptance of refugees would create huge security issues in their country.

So far, the Czech Republic has accepted not more than 12 of the 2,000 refugees it had been asked to take in, while Hungary and Poland have not taken in a single person yet.


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Lockdown to remain in Italy till Easter

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The European country of Italy, one of the worst coronavirus affected countries in the continent of Europe, has extended its lockdown until Easter.

A ray of hope has emerged in Italy lately – like the one emerged in Spain recently, as a sharp decline in the infection rate has been reported from the country.

The number of new coronavirus infections reported is around 1,648, as against over 3,815 the previous day.

Nonetheless, the death toll has raised again, with over 812 deaths, as against not more than 756 the previous day.

The country knows very well that it is about to meet the peak of the present crisis in a week’s time. It is at present in a highly active mode, ready to confront any crisis with full power.

Unfortunately, Italy is one of the worst affected countries in the entire world in terms of number of deaths.

As many as 11,591 have died in the country due to the coronavirus outbreak so far.


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Hungary in severe political crisis

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The European country of Hungary is at present in serious political crisis. The ruling wants unrestricted power in their hands to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the opposition stays committed to oppose with tooth and nail any attempt to place more power in the hands of the ruling.

The matter is now under the consideration of the Hungarian Parliament. With an impressive majority in the Parliament, it will not be difficult for the ruling to pass the bill in the Parliament.

Recently, a petition, with more than one lakh signatories, was made to oppose the attempt to offer more power in the hands of the ruling.

The population of the country has a mixed opinion on the matter. A section supports the logic put forth by the ruling that with less power on their hand the ruling has many limitations to confront this medical emergency at present. Meanwhile, some are worried about the threat posed by the expansion of power on the democratic framework of the country – particularly on the freedom of speech and expression (in other words, the freedom of press).

It is hard to believe that the ruling will misuse the situation. At the same time, considering its recent records, it is not easy to believe it will not misuse it either.


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Things to return to normal in Spain soon

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A ray of hope has emerged in the European country of Spain, as the latest figures show that the upward momentum of the coronavirus death rate and the coronavirus infection rate has been curtailed.

Many see the latest from Spain as a good sign. A senior Spanish minister has expressed happiness in the new development.

Spain is the second worst affected regions in the continent of Europe, after Italy – where the things have not yet been reached to a satisfactory level.

Recently, Spain has confirmed over 6,398 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to around 85,195.

Actually, the total number of confirmed cases in the European country of Spain is far higher than the total number of confirmed cases in the Asian country of China – where the disease originated several months before.

It is hoped that the ray of hope that has emerged in Spain will spread to all other affected regions across the world.


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No respite in Spain

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Spain has seen a serious increase in the death toll, leaving the country brutally in a state of total despair. It has witnessed a rise of seventeen per cent in the time frame of last twenty four hours.

The death toll in Spain now stands at 5,600. Meanwhile, the total number of infected cases now is over 72,248 at present.

Spain is one of the worst affected regions in Europe. It stands in the second position after the European country of Italy.

A new report indicates that not everything is worrisome for Spain. Paving way for the rise of the ray of hope, the recovery rate has marked a tremendous increase lately. So far, as many as 12,285 have recovered from the virus – at least 2,928 in the recent past. The recovery rate has marked a sharp rise of thirty one per cent.

Spain has recently stepped up its efforts to counter the virus – which has brought havoc to the world.


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Kosovo Govt. collapsed

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The Kosovo government has collapsed as its Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has failed to pass a non-confidence motion triggered against him by a junior coalition partner of his government.

More than 80 parliamentarians in the 120-member Kosovo parliament have voted against the Prime Minister.

The ouster has pushed the country into a pit of political uncertainty. The country’s health department has warned of serious consequences, when it has mentioned how difficult it is to confront a health emergency like situation without the guidance or support of a democratically elected leadership.

The ruling party is not likely to open up any new effort to form a government in the country. It knows very well that what is waiting for the party in the future is not different from what has just happened.

Kosovo, with nearly 70 Covid-19 cases and one Covid-19 death, needs a serious attention. The political uncertainty is to be addressed immediately if the country does not want to follow the path of Italy and Span – where hundreds die daily of this disastrous virus.


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Kidnapped French charity workers released in Iraq

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At least four members of a charity group based in France, who were kidnapped in January, have tasted the sweetness of freedom.

The release has come a day after France announced its decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The charity group, which works for the betterment of people of a particular religious community, has expressed its happiness in the release of its members.

At this moment, it remains unclear why the members of the group were kidnapped. It is also unclear who carried out the act.

Notably, no group has so far claimed responsibility of the kidnap. As the decision has come after the French government’s decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq, it is assumed that the kidnap has some links with the stationing of the French troops in the Iraqi soil.

The information of the release has been publicised by the French government. It said it had done everything possible to achieve this release. It has also thanked the Iraqi government.


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