Month: May 2023

Rollicking Falstaff Concludes Palm Beach Season

In addition to being Verdi’s last work, Falstaff has also been widely considered his least characteristic composition. Its memorable scenes and lively characters have allowed it to hold the stage ever since its 1893 premiere.

Democracy Without Parties

In this small Spanish municipality, neighbors have banished political parties from local elections.

Green Sleaze in Germany

Green Sleaze in Germany

In Europe, the eco-‘woke’ movement is nowhere as strong as it is in Berlin. But after a nepotism scandal was exposed, Germany’s Greens have gone on the defense.

May 24, 2023
Bulgaria: Protesters Vandalize EU Building Over Ukraine War

Bulgaria: Protesters Vandalize EU Building Over Ukraine War

The demonstration was organized by the right-wing Vazrazhdane (Revival) party and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the successor to the former Communist Party, which together occupy 25% of seats in Bulgaria’s 240-seat parliament.

May 24, 2023
Tribute to French Historian Dominique Venner Banned in Paris

Tribute to French Historian Dominique Venner Banned in Paris

Since 1881, the idea of preventing future crimes by censoring ideas or events were supposed to have disappeared from French law—but the cancellation of the commemoration proves it is still very much alive.

Austria: Large Uptick in Criminal Offenses at Asylum Centers 

Austria: Large Uptick in Criminal Offenses at Asylum Centers 

The Austrian interior ministry recorded 1,183 criminal offenses—including crimes like rape, sexual abuse of children, physical harm, murder, document forgery, fraud, and theft—that took place at asylum centers in 2022, a year-over-year increase of 57.5%.

May 24, 2023
EU To Reorganize Budget To Fit in New Foreign Missions

EU To Reorganize Budget To Fit in New Foreign Missions

Balancing geopolitical ambitions with budgetary realities, the EU not only keeps existing foreign missions but also tries to add new ones, while calling for 40% female participation and 100% member state-funded personnel.

May 24, 2023
As the EU Neglects Its Core Business, EU Regulation Gets Out of Control

As the EU Neglects Its Core Business, EU Regulation Gets Out of Control

Fundamentally, the core of the problem is the EU’s adherence to the precautionary principle, which comes with a deeply unscientific intolerance for any risk.

May 24, 2023
Turkish ‘Kingmaker’ Backs Erdoğan in Run-Up Election

Turkish ‘Kingmaker’ Backs Erdoğan in Run-Up Election

With 5% of the votes in the first round, Sinan Oğan is the one to potentially break the tie in Turkey’s presidential race. And although it broke his alliance, the ‘kingmaker’ chose to help Erdoğan secure another turn.

May 23, 2023
Meta To Cough Up € 1.2 Billion for Breach of Privacy Laws

Meta To Cough Up € 1.2 Billion for Breach of Privacy Laws

It is the heftiest fine an EU watchdog has ever imposed on a tech firm, with Amazon being the previous record holder.

Apple and EU Clash Over €14 Billion Tax Dispute

Apple and EU Clash Over €14 Billion Tax Dispute

In the latest battle between EU regulators and U.S. tech firms, Brussels claims that Apple benefited from tax breaks from the Irish government while Dublin struggles to keep both sides happy.

May 23, 2023
Austria and Hungary Clash Over Released Human Smugglers

Austria and Hungary Clash Over Released Human Smugglers

Despite the outrage in Vienna, Budapest thinks it’s unfair that Hungarian taxpayers pay for the prison costs of foreign human traffickers, who make up 13% of the entire prison population.

May 23, 2023
The Impeachment of Geir H. Haarde, Part II: <br>A Flawed and Biased Process

The Impeachment of Geir H. Haarde, Part II: <br>A Flawed and Biased Process

In Part II of this series, Hannes Gissurarson lays out the case that Geir Haarde was unfairly singled out and blamed for the bank collapse in a flawed and biased process.

Northern Ireland: Sinn Féin Advances in Local Elections

Northern Ireland: Sinn Féin Advances in Local Elections

The results paint a picture of a region in transition: Sinn Féin steps up to the plate as a moderate party of government while unionists face uncertainty triggered by post-Brexit realities.

May 23, 2023