China to give away over $6mn in digital currency during Lunar New Year in massive e-yuan trials

As China gets ready to celebrate one of its biggest holidays, the Lunar New Year, authorities in Beijing and Suzhou are handing out 40 million yuan ($6.2 million) in another public lottery as part of digital currency tests. … Read More >China to give away over $6mn in digital currency during Lunar New Year in massive e-yuan trials

How neoliberal EU policies are helping to create poverty (UN special rapporteur on poverty)

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty and Human Rights Olivier De Schutter. He discusses why the European Union is ‘ill-equipped’ to deal with poverty within its borders, how a decade of austerity across the EU has led to falling investment in social services and caused more poverty, how competition with the internal market keeps wages low in some countries, the effect of coronavirus on poverty across the EU, and much more! … Read More >How neoliberal EU policies are helping to create poverty (UN special rapporteur on poverty)

Thousands take to the streets as nationwide strike over pay & working conditions kicks off in France (VIDEOS)

A nationwide strike has kicked off in France, with public sector workers demanding better pay and working conditions and condemning sloppy government support amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. … Read More >Thousands take to the streets as nationwide strike over pay & working conditions kicks off in France (VIDEOS)

Sharpest decline in aviation history: Passenger traffic plunged 66% last year due to pandemic, IATA says

The number of global air passengers declined “dramatically” last year due to travel restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday. … Read More >Sharpest decline in aviation history: Passenger traffic plunged 66% last year due to pandemic, IATA says

Is Russia a ‘dying bear?’ After large population fall during 2020, demographic situation is worrying for Moscow, but not desperate

Like most of Europe, Russia is struggling with a falling birth rate. For Moscow, the problem is compounded by the demographic legacy of World War Two and the disastrous 1990s, but it’s doing reasonably well compared to others. … Read More >Is Russia a ‘dying bear?’ After large population fall during 2020, demographic situation is worrying for Moscow, but not desperate