Новости за 01.09.2021

A surge in coronavirus infections coupled with a slowing uptake of vaccinations due to "lack of access to vaccines in some countries" and "vaccine scepticism and science denial" in others could see 236,000 more Covid-linked deaths in Europe by the end of the year, the World Health Oragnisation's Europe director, Hans Kluge, has said, in a situation he called "deeply worrying", especially in low-income countries in central and eastern Europe.

Poland has declared a state of emergency in a 3km-zone covering 183 towns along its border with Belarus, giving security forces more powers to keep out migrants being pushed across by Belarus authorities in retaliation at EU sanctions. "No trips, no happenings, and demonstrations will be able to be organised along this border zone," Polish interior minister Mariusz Kamiński said, referring to previous visits by pro-refugee NGOs to the area.

Germany rebuked Luxembourg for being too soft on Afghan asylum seekers, while Austria and Denmark bluntly told refugees to "stay there".

The minister-president of the Brussels region, Rudy Vervoort, wants to agree with the other Belgian regions to create a Covid Safety Ticket for congresses, fairs, nightclubs and discos, De Standaard reports. Vervoort hopes this will be possible by 1 October. "We don't oblige other regions to do the same, but autonomy means we should be able to do ourselves," Vervoort said, adding it is needed for the economy.

Croatian police robbed and illegally pushed back dozens of refugees fleeing from Afghanistan back into neighbouring Bosnia between 6 and 29 August, according to witness testimonies collected by The Guardian newspaper and a report by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an NGO. Half of the 60 or so people involved were minors. "We are calling for the EU to ensure dignified reception at the borders," the DRC said.

German chancellor Angela Merkel said the possibility that Social Democrat Olaf Scholz could try to form a coalition with the far-left Linke party after the September election was one "huge difference" between them, Reuters writes. "With me as chancellor there would never be a coalition in which the Linke is involved, and whether this (stance) is shared by Olaf Scholz or not remains open," Merkel said.

The Taliban celebrated the departure of Western "occupiers", hours after the last US plane left Afghanistan, but also said they wanted to have good diplomatic relations with the United States and the rest of the world, Deutsche Welle reports. US defeat in Afghanistan is a "big lesson for other invaders and for our future generation," a Taliban spokesperson said, adding "it is also a lesson for the world."

There was no evidence that Russian state agents were guilty of murdering human rights activist Natalia Estemirova in 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg ruled Tuesday, but Russia did fail to investigate the case properly and should pay her family €20,000 compensation, it said. Her daughter, Lana, called the judgment "upsetting and infuriating". Russia has a track record of never paying ECHR court fines.

Poland's Constitutional Tribunal has delayed a ruling on the primacy of the country's constitution over the European Union, following a long-standing dispute between the European Commission and Poland's right-wing ruling party over judicial independence. A new date is now set for 22 September, reporters Reuters.

The digital industry now has more lobbying power than pharmaceutical, fossil fuels, financial, or chemical sectors - spending annually over €97m to influence EU decision-making, according to a new report.

The political group leaders in the European Parliament decided to pass the ball to the legal affairs committee - which will now draw up a recommendation to the parliament president, David Sassoli.

Around 70 percent of adults in the EU are now fully-vaccinated against Covid. But some member states - like Bulgaria and Romania - are falling behind, for a mix of reasons.

Better migration management is important and long overdue. But as the drawbridge goes up again, years of Europe's hard work in Afghanistan and elsewhere will perish in the shadow of Fortress Europe.

Chemical companies are watching the raw materials they need for future production go up in flames as the Fit for 55-package continues to support the burning of trees as a 'renewable' form of energy.