European Union

The Paralympic Games in Tokyo opened on Tuesday with a spectacular show. Sports events for athletes with disabilities have long since left the shadows and entered the spotlight, some commentators rejoice. Others, however, note that despite the new brilliance of the Paralympics, many inequalities still exist.

Some MEPs described the commission chief's letter as a "provocation" and "hair-splitting" on a rule-of-law mechanism that was meant to stop democratic backsliding in EU states.

A number of countries say there is a high threat of a terrorist attack at Kabul airport and have warned their citizens not to travel there, the BBC reports. Australia, the US, and UK have issued alerts to their citizens. Those already outside the airport are advised to leave the area immediately. More than 82,000 people have been airlifted from Kabul, which fell to the Taliban 10 days ago.

Europe experienced its hottest year on record last year with the average temperature almost 2°C higher than the period from 1981 to 2010, The Times writes. The UK Meteorological Office said last year was about 0.5°C warmer than the continent's previous warmest year, 2015. Europe's five warmest years on record have all occurred since 2014. Many countries reported their highest annual average temperatures, including France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The European Court of Human Rights has requested that Poland and Latvia provide aid for dozens of Afghan and Iraqi migrants stranded on the EU border with Belarus, Deutsche Welle writes. A group of migrants has been stuck on the borders of the two EU countries for around 14 days, with security forces preventing them from entering and making asylum claims.

Russia will have to split up control of its new gas pipeline to Germany under EU anti-trust rules, in a court ruling seen as a victory by Ukraine.

The former EU trade commissioner, now an economics professor, Cecilia Malmström, has warned Australia is becoming "more and more isolated" on climate action, The Guardian reports. Malmström told a webinar hosted by the Australia Institute that climate change was "the most urgent global crisis we are finding ourselves." "Australia is a big economy, a big emitter, you need to do more – we all need to do more," she added.

The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a complaint by French firefighters against mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations, Euronews writes. More than 670 professional and volunteer firefighters had complained about compulsory vaccines and said the measures violated their privacy rights. The Court said that the complaint fell outside its scope, but did not rule out future cases on the matter if mandatory vaccinations cause "a real risk of irreparable damage."

Ukraine's future lies in the hands of its citizens - the vast majority of whom believe a stronger democracy and a better future are best ensured by greater EU integration.

Crises have a knack for felling leaders. Not Chancellor Angela Merkel. During 16 years in power, the veteran navigated Germany through the 2008 financial turmoil and ensuing eurozone debt crisis, the 2015 refugee emergency and now the coronavirus pandemic. “Merkel...

As the debate on renewable energies and nuclear rages across France, nuclear proponents, environmentalists, scientists and politicians will have to set aside their differences in order to advance the energy transition. EURACTIV France reports.

The UK hydrogen strategy, unveiled last week (17 August), has many similarities with the EU’s own blueprint presented one year before, analysts say. Some consider that the UK is likely to become a rule-taker at the end of the day.

The United States and allies urged people to move away from Kabul airport due to the threat of an Islamic State terror attack as Western troops hurry to evacuate as many Afghans as possible before the 31 August deadline.

The European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday (25 August) told Poland and Latvia to provide aid and care for dozens of Afghan and Iraqi migrants stranded on the border with Belarus.

Turkey said Wednesday (25 August) it had started pulling troops out of Afghanistan, apparently abandoning plans to help secure Kabul's strategic airport.