Click below to watch the full second edition of the Apocalypse Weekly live stream I’m doing with Rob Duffy and Kevin Flanagan.
Using a crisis to push unpopular policies: Coronavirus-edition
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect European countries – and the most affected countries are simultaneously the more indebted Eurozone countries, the issue of mutualized debt has once again been put on the agenda. Spain and Italy argue that the 19 eurozone countries should endorse so-called Coronabonds. These bonds would be issued conjointly with all nations […]
In Africa, a locust plague is seriously endangering food security
As Europe is dealing with Coronavirus, Africa is looking at the most devastating locust plague in decades. Europeans are panic-buying in the supermarkets around the continent – toilet paper, pasta, and many other items that people fear will soon be out of stock. The retailers are being overrun, but the only real shortage is that […]
Coronavirus has strengthened the surveillance state
Mass surveillance is only ever in the news for two reasons—either because a whistleblower has exposed structural government overreach (as happened with Edward Snowden) or because nations are readying to fight a common threat. Over the past two decades, those threats have usually come either from migration or terrorism.
No crisis unused: Eurocare argues for ban on alcohol sponsorship in sports
While the world is battling the Coronavirus crisis, the European Alcohol Policy Alliance (EUROCARE) is facing a different goliath: alcohol sponsorship… in sports? A head-scratcher of sorts, especially given that the sports industry will fall on hard times this year if COVID-19 drags on. With cancelled events and games, cutting the sports industry off from […]
When will the UK get started on vital reforms in the interests of farmers and consumers?
Love or hate it, Brexit offers many opportunities for regulatory overhaul. The recently released UK budget gets rid of the tampon tax, a financial instrument long criticised by the feminist movement (and rightfully so). Another tool of regulation which the European Union has long imposed on Britain should now also be axed: the 2001 directive on […]
Coronavirus: Hungary descends into institutional authoritarianism
European nations have responded to coronavirus in varied ways. Italy and Spain put their countries on lockdown to help deal with having the highest number of cases on the continent. Others like Germany and France have followed suit, even though Berlin seems to have a better approach, seeing fewer deaths than in other nations. The United Kingdom […]
[Video] Consumer Choice Center Coronavirus live stream
On Friday, the Consumer Choice Center hosted a live stream on Facebook with the entire staff team (which is all confined in one way or another due to the Coronavirus). We all gave our updates, and you can watch the entire stream down below. My bit is at 20:00.
Europe loses unity over Coronavirus
“Papiere bitte!” (Papers please!) is an order that hasn’t been uttered in a long time at the border with Germany, but as a citizen of Luxembourg (a small monarchy between Germany, France, and Belgium) I would now hear it if I were trying to enter. Berlin has ordered the closure of the borders to Luxembourg, […]
The structural evil of the German far-left
Germany remains a political barometer for Europe. Following the happenings in Berlin and the 16 German state governments can give you a good idea of where the continent will be heading. During the sovereign debt crisis, German criticism of the euro as a common currency opened the floodgates for mainstream opposition (that ultimately did not […]
Bill Wirtz 