Bulgaria's counter-intelligence service (SANS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission have launched an investigation into health rights activists advocating for the establishment of a state-run children's hospital. The move provoked an intense backlash.

The European Commission has deemed sanctions imposed by Ukraine on Russian oil producer Lukoil to be of no risk to the oil supply for Hungary and Slovakia, as they do not affect the transit of oil via Ukraine to Hungary.

A second Trump presidency would likely force Europe to up its security spending, but the German government, which wants to take more responsibility in the EU amidst a looming global power vacuum, could be too paralysed to significantly increase its share.

05 Aug 2024 17:00

Kyiv, July 30, 2024—Generation Ukraine, a community organization dedicated to empowering Ukrainian women, is hosting a discussion about women’s rights during wartime with Afghanistan’s first female Olympian athlete Friba Rezayee. Titled “Women’s Rights in Times of War,” the conversation will take place on August 5, 2024, hosted by Karina Menshikova, a member of Generation Ukraine.

The event aims to illuminate the issues of women’s rights during wartime, drawing parallels between the experiences of Afghan and Ukrainian women. In a time when both countries face significant turmoil, this dialogue seeks to highlight the resilience and strength of women in conflict zones and foster a deeper understanding of their struggles and triumphs.

Friba Rezayee: Friba Rezayee is the founder and the Executive Director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow and its leadership in sports project GOAL (Girls of Afghanistan Lead). She was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. At the age of 18, she made history by competing in Judo at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as Afghanistan’s first-ever female Olympic athlete.

Karina Menshikova: Karina is a seasoned IT professional with a rich background in the nonprofit sector. Having worked at renowned companies like Namecheap and Gameloft (where she was a part of the team that worked with Marvel), she decided to shift gears and focus exclusively on the nonprofit work to bridge the gap between technology and social change.

Event Details:

• Date: August 5, 2024
• Time: 19:00 EET
• Location: Online (Zoom) · Registration: Event Registration Link

We invite all those interested in championing human rights and women’s rights to join the discussion. Participants will gain insights into the unique challenges faced by women in war zones, strategies for advocacy and support, and the vital role of international solidarity. As Themis Sakellariou, Executive Director of Generation Ukraine, stated, "This event is a testament to the fearless spirit of women who, despite facing unimaginable hardships, continue to fight for their rights and the betterment of their societies. By bringing together voices from Afghanistan and Ukraine, we hope to inspire a global movement of support and action."

About Generation Ukraine: Generation Ukraine is a creative and business community of Ukrainian women committed to providing transformative training programs and networking opportunities. The organization strives to empower women, foster deep connections, and build a supportive and trusting community in Ukraine and worldwide.

For more information and to register for the event, visit Generation Ukraine.

Contact: Themis Sakellariou Executive Director,

Generation Ukraine Email: themis@generationukraine.org

Phone: +30 6946465224

OnlineGlobal EuropeEvent Registration LinkNGOs / Think Tanks

Austria's conservative-led coalition government is nominating conservative Finance Minister Magnus Brunner as its next European Commissioner, Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a statement on Wednesday (31 July).

Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled upfront payments for volunteers to fight in Ukraine on Wednesday (31 July), a move aimed at facilitating military recruitment but likely to create imbalances in the overheated economy.

Olympians dived into the River Seine on Wednesday (31 July) after a pre-dawn notice informed teams that its waters were safe enough to proceed with the triathlon, sparing France the embarrassment of a central Paris 2024 promise being swept away.

Potentially massive quantities of naturally produced hydrogen were discovered in France last year. Since then, prospectors across Europe have been on the lookout for more deposits and are calling for greater public support for their efforts.

Disinformation and propaganda, long mainstays of war, have been digitally supercharged in the battle for Ukraine, the biggest conflict the world has seen since the advent of smartphones and social media.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, facing mounting pressure to offer evidence his election victory was valid, said that opposition leaders should be imprisoned following deadly protests across the country.

A large fire broke out in Rome on Wednesday (31 July) on a hill near the Italian capital's court of justice and a public TV broadcasting centre, forcing the evacuation of several buildings and offices, firefighters said.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday (31 July) met with Warsaw Uprising veterans and asked for their "forgiveness" during a visit to Poland on the eve of the revolt's 80th anniversary.

The Slovak Supreme Audit Office compiled an analysis of the pandemic. The summary report highlighted the insufficiencies in the Slovak health system’s pre-pandemic preparedness and pandemic management.

Bulgarian state and municipal hospitals can now take part in a special programme of state loans to save them from bankruptcy and improve their patient services. Specialist staff at one hospital went unpaid for seven months.

Ireland has launched a public consultation to inform the development of a new National Rare Disease Strategy. The results of the consultation will be considered by a steering group tasked with developing the strategy for 300,000 patients.

Ireland’s Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced the formation of a National Clinical Trials Oversight Group. The group is tasked with developing strategies to increase the number of clinical trials conducted in Ireland.

The looming implementation of an EU law aimed at making European supply chains deforestation-free has united industry, traders, farmers, and NGOs in concern.

The European Commission has called on all parties in the Middle East to “exert maximum restraint” amid growing fears of a full-scale regional war following the assassination of a top Hamas official in Iran on Wednesday morning (31 July).

About 91.5% of ICT specialist jobs, including around 10 million jobs in the EU, may be in jeopardy because of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a study conducted by big tech multinationals published on Wednesday (31 July).  

French wheat growers are calling for the release of the EU's crisis funding, known as agricultural reserve, and increased state aid for the sector as persistent rains since last autumn are leading to poor harvests in major European grain-producing countries.