SPAIN ACROSS THE YEARS. PART 2: FAULTLINES IN A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY »
Guernica, a powerful anti-war statement · Going through the battlegrounds of the Spanish Civil War where a historical walkabout could get booed · Casa Pepe, a sojourn into fascism and the Franco dictatorship · A new encounter with the Cordoba of the Three Cultures: "Relearning its exceptional period of harmony gave me hope, making my trip to Spain nothing less than epic."
THOSE MARVELOUS MILESTONES REACHED BY SPAIN’S COUNCIL OF THE EU PRESIDENCIES »
The historical milestones in European integration occurring during Spain's presidencies: the Economic and Monetary Union; the euro; Schengen; the Cohesion Funds, the Lisbon Treaty that gives the EU full legal personality vis-à-vis the world outside; the Treaty of Amsterdam that takes the EU further into supranationalism; the European Arrest Warrant, a face-off with transantional terrorism. . .
UKRAINE, EVER FIRMER FOOTHOLD IN THE EUROPEAN UNION! »
On 23 June 2022, the European Parliament called for immediately granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. The European Council granted Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the EU that same day. Today, with Ukraine’ s entry into the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility programme, the beleaguered country is that much closer to integration into the Single Market.
SHANGRI-LA SECURITY CONFERENCE: THE U.S. URGES DIALOGUE WITH CHINA »
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warns that America "will not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion.” Per a VOA News, "Perhaps the most vexing of the issues involving China is the issue of Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as its own and that it wants to bring under its rule. China has become increasingly aggressive with its moves against Taiwan, setting up a situation that could resemble Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."
STATESIDE STORIES: The G7 Supports Ukraine »
At the G7 summit, the US President has made his support of Ukraine manifest; confirmed the US will begin training Ukraine pilots on the F-16 jets which could prove a major factor in gaining air supremacy over Russia; has pledged a further $375 million dollars in military aid. He has called on Putin to stop the conflict which has cost some 200,000 casualties on the Russian side alone.
FROM UKRAINE WITH LOVE »
"When I was in Bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the battle flag. The flag of those who defend Ukraine, Europe and the world at the cost of their lives. They asked me to bring this flag to the US Congress. May God protect our brave troops and citizens! May God forever bless the United States of America! Слава Україні!"
A SECOND OPINION: The Russian Nuclear Threat »
Biden stressed that Putin is “not joking” when he talks of using nuclear weapons. Biden stressed that Putin is “not joking” when he talks of using nuclear weapons. In my opinion, Putin is obviously crazy with power and is not to be trusted not to start using nuclear warheads. And what will be President Biden’s response to a nuclear bombing by Russia?
SPAIN’S LATEST EFFORT TO HELP UKRAINE DOWN RUSSIA »
On the first week of October 2022, the Spanish Ministry of Defense sent a new land convoy of eight light vehicles, two ambulances and five tons of diverse medical material to Ukraine which were provided by the Army, the Navy, and the Military Emergency Unit (UME). The shipment will serve the logistical and health needs of Ukraine, considered by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense as the highest priority. Further shipments are scheduled in the next few days.
PICASSO, PRESUMABLY THE GREATEST ANTI-WAR ARTIST OF ALL TIME, LIVES AGAIN! »
The French Minister of Culture: "Picasso's work continues to exert a real fascination throughout the world, abundant, inventive and often radical. It never ceases to be reread, revisited and reinterpreted. This formidable posterity is what the 1973-2023 Picasso Celebration aims to explore, question and share with a new generation born in the 21st century."
IN THE FACE OF RUSSIA’S GAS WEAPONIZATION THE EU SCRAMBLES TO SECURE ENERGY SUPPLY »
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission adopted the REPowerEU Plan to end the EU's dependence on Russian fossil fuels asap. REPowerEU sets out measures on diversification of energy suppliers, energy savings and energy efficiency, and an accelerated roll-out of renewable energy. And the EU is succeeding in the attempt, too, after the Nord Stream II debacle which has sent German fuel supply, and by extension the EU's as well, into a tailspin.
