First Russia said they couldn't supply gas without a turbine from Canada. Now they're saying they can't do so because they need parts from the West. Russia is forcing Europe to undermine its own sanctions.
Britain is still importing oil directly from Russia. It's just that Russian oil is mixed with Kazakh oil during transit, so importers can say it's from Kazakhstan. This is basically 'Covid theatre' for geopolitics.
The European Parliament has voted to approve an EU Commission proposal to renew the EU Digital Covid Certificate for another year, despite 99% of the responses to the public consultation being opposed.
Inflation in Europe is soaring. Germany's rate is the highest in 40 years. The major culprit is the rising cost of energy – a trend which began last year, and has been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The EU is to approve a gas sharing plan should Russia cut supplies, under which member states will have to share gas as well as ration energy in a way that doesn’t favour those member states with alternative suppliers.
Face masks will no longer be mandatory in airports and on flights in Europe from May 16th amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions in European countries.
Mask-wearing had no discernible impact on the spread of COVID-19 in Europe during winter 2020-21 and may actually have increased mortality, a study has found.
The people who push for energy sanctions against Russia tend to view the economy as they view the theatre of battle: as a simple conflict. They hit us, we hit them. But this is not how the economy works.
Why was the outbreak in Wuhan so much deadlier than any in the surrounding countries? Why two months later did far nastier outbreaks occur in Europe? Many questions about the start of the pandemic remain unanswered.
Deaths are running high across Europe this winter. But it's not all Covid. As many as half of the excess deaths are from something else. But what?
