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North-South divide deepens in Europe; FMs’ talk fails to bear any fruit

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A talk convened for European Union finance ministers on how to help those European countries badly affected by the coronavirus epidemic – especially those in the southern region of the continent – have collapsed in the last moment.

As per a latest statement made by the European Central Bank, the European Union may need up to €1.5tn to tackle the crisis.

The talk has stalled as a severe dispute has emerged between the Southern European country of Italy and the Northern European country of the Netherlands – which is comparatively less affected by the epidemic – over how to apply the recovery fund.

As per a latest report, the negotiation process is likely to resume in few hours, as the EU is keen to find a solution to the issue as early as possible.

Earlier, a senior European minister expressed his doubt about the longevity of the economic union. He warned of serious consequences.

The union has not yet responded to any criticism. It has recently reaffirmed its commitment towards its member countries, saying that it would come up with the solution to the present crisis soon.

Whether this crisis will lead to the collapse of the decades-old union is yet to be seen.


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Israeli man booked for spying for Iran

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A man, who hails from the Middle East country of Israel, has been booked on the charge of spying for the Middle East country of Iran – which is the arch rival of Israel.

According to the preliminary information, the arrest has foiled the man’s plan to conduct serious attacks on Israel.

For a reason which remains as a secret at this moment, the identity of the man has not been released yet.

The evidences that clearly showcase his relation with the Iranian intelligence agency have been recovered, as per a report.

As per a latest report released by the concerned authority, he has been charged with the charge of the infringement of the security of Israel.

Since the 1979 – in which Israel established its presence in the Middle East region as an indispensible power, the relation between Israel and Iran are improper.


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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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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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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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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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Turkey to prosecute 20 Saudis over Khashoggi’s murder

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Turkey has filed a chargesheet against at least 20 Saudis over the brutal murder of renowned journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

As per the chargesheet developed by Turkey – which was the first country that identified the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the murder, at least eighteen of those who appear in the chargesheet have direct involvemet in the crime carried out allegedly with the blessings of the Crown Prince inside the Saudi embassy situated in Istanbul, and the rest two faces the charge of instigating the murder.

The chargesheet supports the west’s observation that the Saudi Prince or those close to the prince have a connection with the crime.

Mr. Khashoggi, who was a Saudi by origin, and who was known for his political writings about the Saudi Arabian politics, was a very vocal critic of the Saudi Crown Prince.

The last time he was seen alive was when he entered into the Saudi embassy based in Istanbul to do some paperworks for his marriage. His fiancé was outside the embassy then. She was the one who alerted the Turkey authorities about the missing.


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