How Panama became a tax haven to the world – ‘This has been going on for so long, and is so obvious and problematic, that the question is, “How come nothing was done about it before?”’

By Alan Gomez10 April 2016 MIAMI (USA TODAY) – Anyone familiar with Panama’s economic history isn’t surprised by revelations of shell companies and hidden assets created by a law firm based in the small nation. “I’ve been screaming about it for decades,” said Jack Blum, an attorney and former U.S. Senate staffer who focused on […]

Photo gallery: Hundreds hurt as migrants confront Macedonia border police – Macedonia forces retaliate with ‘indiscriminate use of chemicals, plastic bullets, and stun grenades against vulnerable people’

By Costas Kantouris and Nick Dumitrache10 April 2016 IDOMENI, Greece (Associated Press) – Migrants waged running battles with Macedonian police Sunday after they were stopped from scaling the border fence with Greece near the border town of Idomeni, and aid agencies reported that hundreds of stranded travelers were injured. Macedonian police used tear gas, stun […]

Greece begins refugee deportations under EU plan

ATHENS, Greece, 4 April 2016 (Associated Press) – Under heavy security, authorities on the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios deported 202 migrants and refugees on boats bound for Turkey — the first to be sent back as part of a controversial European Union plan to limit the amount of migration to Europe. The operation […]

Shifting path of refugees through Russia stokes Europe’s fears

By Andrew Higgins2 April 2016 KANDALAKSHA, Russia (The New York Times) – So many decrepit Soviet-era cars carried migrants into Europe from this frozen Russian town in recent months that border officials in Finland, who confiscate the rust-bucket vehicles as soon as they cross the frontier, watched in dismay as their parking lot turned into […]

Refugees protest on Greek island of Chios against deportations – ‘A historic blow to human rights’

3 April 2016 (FRANCE24) – Migrants waving signs that read “We want freedom” protested on the Greek island of Chios on Sunday, a day before a controversial EU deal that will see hundreds of people deported back to Turkey was due to come into effect. An estimated 750 people will be sent back to Turkey […]

Researchers find plastic, nets in stomachs of dead sperm whales

By Helena Horton29 March 2016 (The Telegraph) – The heartbreaking effect of human waste was discovered when a post-mortem was conducted on 13 beached sperm whales. The plastic we discard into the ocean often makes its way into the mouths and stomachs of sea creatures. A post-mortem of the creatures, found ashore near the town […]

Poland approves large-scale logging in Europe’s last primeval forest

25 March 2016 (AFP) – Poland has approved large-scale logging in Europe’s last primeval woodland in a bid to combat a beetle infestation despite protests from scientists, ecologists and the European Union. The action in the Białowieża forest is intended to fight the spread of the spruce bark beetle. “We’re acting to curb the degradation […]

UN rights chief concerned over ‘collective expulsion’ of migrants after EU-Turkey deal – ‘If the EU starts to circumvent international law, there could be a deeply problematic knock-on effect in other parts of the world’

GENEVA, 24 March 2016 (UNHCR) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Thursday expressed serious concerns about the recent agreement between the European Union and Turkey, pointing to what he termed “a contradiction at  the heart of the agreement,” as well as raising concerns regarding  arbitrary detention of refugees […]

Ash tree set for extinction in Europe – ‘Between the fungal disease and a bright green beetle called the emerald ash borer, it is likely that almost all ash trees in Europe will be wiped out’

By Claire Marshall23 March 2016 (BBC News) – The ash tree is likely to be wiped out in Europe, according to a review of the evidence. The trees are being killed off by the fungal disease ash-dieback along with an invasive beetle called the emerald ash borer. According to the research, published in the Journal […]

In Greece, UN envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt shines light on emergency response for thousands of refugees – On eve of migration summit, UN rights expert urges EU countries to revisit border controls

16 March 2016 (UN) – Making Turkey the “gatekeeper’ does not absolve Europe from its responsibility of welcoming migrants, a United Nations human rights expert today, warning that the only way for Europe to secure its borders is to offer safe and regular channels for mobility. “European member states once responsible for drafting key legislation […]

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