China Boycotts Western Companies Over Uyghurs
The Chinese government is boycotting Western clothing retailers for expressing concerns about forced labor in Xinjiang, China’s biggest region.
China’s Threat to Free Speech in Europe
The current standoff is, in essence, about the future of free speech in Europe. If notoriously feckless European officials fail to stand firm in the face of mounting Chinese pressure, Europeans who dare publicly to criticize the CCP in the future can expect to pay an increasingly high personal cost for doing so.
Denmark Cracks Down on “Parallel Societies”
The Danish government has announced a package of new proposals aimed at fighting “religious and cultural parallel societies” in Denmark.
Denmark Bans Foreign Funding of Mosques
The Danish Parliament has approved a new law that bans foreign governments from financing mosques in Denmark. The measure is aimed at preventing Muslim countries, particularly Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, from promoting Islamic extremism in Danish mosques and prayer facilities.
Switzerland: Voters Approve ‘Burqa Ban’
Switzerland now joins Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden, all of which currently have full or partial bans on religious and non-religious face coverings.
Europe Divided Over Covid Passports
European leaders are considering a proposal to introduce a common EU-wide Coronavirus vaccination passport. The so-called Covid passports would permit those who have been vaccinated to travel freely within the European Union without the need for quarantining and testing.
The Win-Win Infuriating Iran
Morocco recently established full diplomatic relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords, an effort by the United States to forge normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states to build a united front against Iran.
Germany: Covid-19 Triggers New Wave of Anti-Semitism
The number of anti-Semitic hate crimes in Germany surged to a two-decade high in 2020. The anti-Semitism is being fueled by far-left anti-Israel activists, by mass migration from the Muslim world and by far-right conspiracy theorists, who are blaming the Coronavirus pandemic on both Jews and Israel.
EU’s Covid-19 Vaccination Debacle: “Epochal Failure”
The European Union’s vaccination rollout has been plagued by bureaucratic sclerosis, poorly-negotiated contracts, penny-pinching and blame shifting — all wrapped in a shroud of secrecy. The result is a needless and embarrassing shortage of vaccines, and yet another a crisis of legitimacy for the EU.
Denmark: “Our Goal is Zero Asylum Seekers”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced her intention to significantly limit the number of people seeking asylum in Denmark. The aim, she said, is to preserve “social cohesion” in the country.
Germany: Meet Angela Merkel’s Second Successor
Armin Laschet, premier of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, has been chosen as the new leader of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He is now in a position to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor after general elections this September.
EU-China Investment Deal: “It Spits in the Face of Human Rights”
The European Union has negotiated a controversial trade deal with China. The pact has been widely criticized because European leaders, in their apparent rush to reach an agreement, have sacrificed their professed concern for human rights on the altar of financial gain.
