30 March, 2015 - Katoikos

GM crops in Europe: divide and conquer

By Manuel Ruiz Rico

On 13 January, by a large majority, the European Parliament in Strasbourg adopted a regulation that had little impact but which is bound to change the whole picture of GM crops in Europe. The House gave the green light to Member States, empowering them individually to approve or ban the cultivation of GM crops in their national territories, rather than this being decided by the EU. Across the breadth of Europe, due to the broad social rejection of these crops, GM is virtually banned. But everything could change from now on.

Ed Sheeran surprises a couple on their wedding day

Sometimes, these things do happen. The story begins with an Australian couple who wanted to marry but didn’t have enough resources to pay for the wedding. So he goes to radio station KIIS FM 1065 to ask them if they could give him a hand with the expenses. The tale ends with the radio paying…

UK elections on 7 May 2015

Strange EU member silence on Yemen

As the Saudi-led air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen were starting on 26 March 2015, Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, issued a statement saying that she was convinced that military action was not a solution. Did anybody listen? Apparently not the UK and France, who along with the US are providing support to the Saudi-led coalition. In view, though, of the risks and inconsistencies involved, Europe should be taking the lead in bringing armed hostilities to a halt and convening the international community and the Yemeni parties for immediate negotiations within fair parameters.