DPRK isolated as the EU imposed new sanctions

Tougher restrictive measures adopted in response of Kim Jong-un's aggressive policy

by Emanuele Bonini

The Council of the EU decided to isolate North Korea by approving new sanctions aiming to stop the aggressive policy of Pyongyang. Kim Jong-un's military regime  of the  «constitute a grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond», in the eyes of the 28 EU member States, who gave green light to a further expansion of its restrictive measures targeting the nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Europe cut all ties with the Asiatic country by closing all the air and sea ways. No planes will be allowed neither to fly nor to land in the EU skies, no ships will be allowed to enter in the European harbours. Stop to the investment plans, as well as to import-export: the EU Council imposed sanctions in trade, finance, investments and transport. Here all the decisions in detail:
- trade sector: prohibition of the import of petroleum products and luxury goods from the DPRK, prohibition of the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of additional items, materials, equipment relating to dual-use goods and technology and ban on any public financial support for trade with the DPRK;
- financial sector: prohibition of transfers of funds to and from the DPRK, unless for certain predefined purposes and authorised in advance;
- investment: prohibition of all investment by the DPRK in the EU; prohibition of investment by EU nationals or entities in the mining, refining and chemical industries sectors as well as in any entities engaged in the DPRK's illegal programmes;
- transport sector: prohibition on any aircraft operated by DPRK carriers or originating from the DPRK from landing in, taking off or overflying EU territory; prohibition on any vessel owned, operated or crewed by the DPRK from entering EU ports.
EU restrictive measures against the DPRK were introduced for the first time on 22 December 2006. Prohibitions on the export and import of arms, goods and technology that could contribute to nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, and other restrictions in the financial, trade and transport sectors were already in force.

«No Muslims in Europe», warned the Slovakian premier

The government led by Robert Fico will guide the EU during the summer, when an increase of migrant is expected due to good season

Robert Fico

by Emanuele Bonini

Migration, there we go again. The European Union is very close to experience another big crisis over the migratory phenomenon, with the Slovakian prime minister, Robert Fico, reiterating that «Islam has no place» in the country. As Slovakia is holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU the 1st of July, it appears clear the dossier is going to encounter the political block from the eastern European countries led by Slovakia until the end of the year, in a moment of a possible new emergency given the good weather. The European Commission made a proposal to set up a binding permanent mechanism of relocation of asylum seekers, amid the contrariety of the same Slovakia whose government had announced to refer the European Commission decision to the European Court of Justice. «I think it is the duty of politicians to talk about this openly and clearly. I do not wish tens of thousands of Muslims coming here and promoting their own stuff», said Fico. According to him the real problem is posed by the cultural difference of coming people, and he used the Joseph Muscat's to express it. «I talked about it several times with the Maltese prime minister and he said the problem was not in migrants coming in, but rather in them changing the face of the country». Not a good mood for Europe, considering that Malta will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU immediately after Slovakia. Considering also the unpredictable Turkish leader, always capable to change his mind and put in question the EU-Turkey deal on migration, perspectives are not the best ones for Europe. The never ending story of migration could offer a new chapter very soon.

Harry Potter really existed, and was a muggle

English version of the article written for laStampa.it

Harry Potter was a muggle, and played football. Real Potter's untold story is very much different from that one reported in books and movies. He had no magical powers, he couldn't make any spell, and he drank common normal beer instead of Polyjuice potion. Potter was an English man living in the United Kingdom like his homonym, and he dressed in yellow and red. These are not the Gryffindor colours, but those of Bradford City Football Club, the still existing team where Harry Potter got a trophy. Harry Potter was thus nothing but a muggle, an ordinary human being with all the passions an ordinary human being can have. Like many others, he left to fight in the Great War without coming back home. Harry Potter didn't fight against you-know-who, he fought against who all we know: the German empire. He did it in Ypres, symbolic site of European destruction and reconstruction, and for this reason chosen to hold an extraordinary European Council meeting the 26th of 2014, on the eve of the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of WWI.

The Harry Potter phenomenon. Seven book translated in 77 different languages, for 450 million copies sold worldwide: there is no doubt that Harry Potter has been the literary phenomenon of end 20th century-beginning 21st century. Started in England at the end of 90's, in 2001 the character created by Joanne Kathleen Rowling's pen had already conquered the entire globe. In the same year the Hollywood cinema industry released Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone, first of the eight-film saga shot on the young wizard. Thanks to the magic of the big screen, Harry Potter's myth has grown so much that today when we name him everybody think immediately to the fictional boy from Little Whinging (imaginary town south of London) and the Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.

The real Harry Potter. Harry Potter really existed. He was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the 24th of November 1884. A great passion for football, Potter was a part-time player in the Bradford City Football Club, the team of his hometown.

FACT SHEET/ UK oversea territories

(click to enlarge)

Involved by, but not involved in: Brexit & oversea Brits

The stay-in or stay-out referendum will take place only in United Kingdom and Gibraltar, despite consequences for British EU citizens across the world

by Emanuele Bonini

Live or leave. Should I stay or should I go? British citizens have been called to vote The United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. The 23rd of June the they'll decide whether remain in the EU or not, although nearly a quarter million of people won't be allowed to express their opinion. Only Brits in UK and Gibraltar will vote the 2016 referendum, which means the almost 250.000 people living across the fourteen British Overseas Territories (BOTs) will be out of public consultation. Having a look to the map, it could make sense. We are talking about territories far far away from the European continent and, as a consequence, from the European Union. Nevertheless, all people of the British overseas territories were granted full British citizenship by the British Overseas Territories Act 2002, and are consequently citizens of the European Union. Conditions are clear: only Commonwealth and BOTs citizens «resident in the UK» are allowed to vote. This is because British living in BOTs have a special status: British and EU citizenships but in third or associated countries. That's why Europe consider the 14 British Overseas Territories. Thus, all the other voters living far from the mother-country cannot express their opinion. This means that descendants of mutineers from the Bounty are remaining at home (or on the beach) in the Pitcairn Islands. Maybe a good choice, who knows? Should the British crown trust those whose fathers acted against the king in XVIII century? The over 50.000 people living on the Cayman Islands could be tempted of voting for a Brexit after the decision of the European Union to declare war to tax heavens. That would be a problem for Mr. David Cameron who is calling for staying in. Same situation would be in Bermuda and Anguilla, other British Overseas Territories considered a tax heaven and for this reason blacklisted by some countries across the world. It's easy to understand what both British Bermudians and British Anguillians could vote in case of participation. The so called «twin pillars» of the economy of the British Virgin Islands are tourism and financial services, so British citizens here would live or would leave?

What April 25 is for Italians?

It should be a symbolic day for the Country, and in fact it is. The symbol of national ignorance

"Before April 25 dictatorship was there"

by Emanuele Bonini

It could seem a joke, but it is not. Italians don't know they had a liberation day. Maybe they simply don't remember, but what is worst between ignorance and amnesia? In every case there no is self-consciousness, and that's something not good. Having no memories means deny the and history. If there is nothing to be remembered, then nothing happened. In the occasion of the celebration of the latest Liberation Day, some journalists went up and down Italy to ask new generations which anniversary marks the 25th of April. The outcome was embarrassing. Of course we can imagine a lot of answers were cut in order to give the idea of general environment. There are still those know what Nazi-fascism was, but the reportage has shown a lot of people admitting to don't know the answer. It sounded weird listening to a young man saying «there's nothing to celebrate since I didn't want to be freed», because at that time he wasn't born yet. Despite the political ideas, Italians are a people with no memory and a people with no memory is a people doomed to have no future. Who was Adolph Hitler? What was Nazism? What was the WWII the result of? Ignoring what the 25th of April means, means no lesson was learnt. Without that, can a people be considered as really free? Apparently the Liberation day was there for Italy, not for the Italians.


Related articles:

Italy is a non-country

FACT SHEET/ Nuclear power plants in Belgium

(click on picture to enlarge)

Are the Belgian nuclear reactors really safe?

Pressed by Germany and Luxembourg, the central government of Brussels replied by announcing distribution of anti-radiation pills

by Emanuele Bonini

What to do in case of criticism over the national nuclear power plant? The question was probably asked in Belgium, where the answer was definitely not the best one among all those possible. The federal government of smallest kingdom in Benelux is considering handing out iodine tablets to citizens in the event of a nuclear emergency. The pills are used to lessen the impact of radiation on the thyroid gland, and can reduce the risk of thyroid cancer after exposure. Not a bad idea at all, unless your country is under attack for safety risks related to nuclear technologies. Earlier previous month the German minister for Environment, Barbara Hendricks, said Belgium should take offline the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, which are close to the German border, because of safety concerns. The same did the government of Luxembourg for the same reason. As answer, the Belgian minister for Health, Maggie De Block, decided to announce the intention of distributing the iodine tablets. A clear way to ensure that everything is under control and everything is going to be all right. The Belgian side said there is nothing strange in providing the pills, but the decision appears to have been taken in the wrong moment with the effect of giving the wrong message. Answering with anti-radiation pills when asked about the reliability of nuclear system, it's not the way to give assurances. So, those who were thinking that Belgian power plants are a risk, are now more sure to be right. Are the Belgian nuclear reactors really safe? If that was the question, the same question is still there. Especially after the political answer arrived from Brussels.