Magda Fahsi

Magda Fahsi is a Mint Press Europe correspondent and investigative reporter based in Brussels, Belgium, specializing in human rights. She is also a cross-cultural coach lecturing about intercultural management at the Vatel International Business School, and holds a postgraduate degree in Human Rights and a Ph.D. in International Relations and Diplomacy. She has published articles on a variety of topics including European affairs, the Arab world, human rights and migration and diversity issues. You can visit her website, www.magdafahsi.eu.

David And Goliath: The Marshall Islands Takes On Nuclear States

A tiny island country in the Pacific takes on the world’s nine nuclear states in unprecedented lawsuits filed with the International Court of Justice.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi
ATOM BOMB TEST

BRUSSELS --- On April 24, the Republic of the Marshall Islands filed unprecedented lawsuits with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, to hold the world’s nine nuclear-armed states -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea -- accountable for flagrant violations

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Report: Europe Facing Worst Human Rights Crisis Since Cold War

A new report reveals alarming threats to “human rights, democracy and the rule of law” in Europe.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi
Greece

BRUSSELS --- In a report published last month, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland starts by painting a grim picture of Europe today. “Human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe now face a crisis unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. Serious violations – including corruption, immunity from prosecution,

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European Court Scraps EU Data Collection Law

An EU law requiring telecom companies to store their customers’ metadata for up to two years has been ruled “invalid” by the EU Court of Justice.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi

BRUSSELS --- The Court of Justice of the European Union concluded last month that the EU law forcing telecommunication companies to retain customer data for up to two years is illegal. In a press release issued after the ruling in April, the European judges said the Data Retention Directive “interferes in a particularly serious manner with the

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Internet Access Providers May Be Ordered To Block Copyright-infringing Website, European Court Rules

The EU Court of Justice says Internet service providers can be asked to block access to websites infringing on copyrights, putting protecting copyrights over protecting privacy.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi
Alex Wilks

BRUSSELS --- In an historic ruling aimed at limiting online piracy, the European Court of Justice ruled on March 27 that Internet service providers in the EU can be ordered to block access to websites that infringe on copyrights. The Court of Justice -- competent to judge the validity of an EU law or give indications on how to interpret it -- had

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“Panda Diplomacy” And Trade Deals As Chinese President Visits Europe

From discussing major trade deals to visiting pandas recently loaned to Belgium, Chinese President Xi Jinping gets busy building ties with Europe.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi
Queen Mathilde, Peng Liyuan, Xi Jinping, King Philippe

BRUSSELS --- Some political leaders know exactly how to attract the media’s attention. Chinese President Xi Jinping is no exception: for his first visit to Belgium last week, he asked Belgian authorities to see the pandas -- Hao-Hao, a female, and Xing Hui, a male -- in Belgium on a 15-year loan from China. When the pandas arrived in early April,

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Obama In Brussels: A Charm Offensive Amid High Security

Obama’s visit brought unheard-of security measures to Brussels, inconveniencing and irritating many, but he’ll still likely be remembered as charming.

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi

BRUSSELS --- The people of Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium, will long remember President Barack Obama’s visit and the ensuing chaos. There was the guy shouting to police that he did not want to be locked up in the park with his daughter the whole afternoon, and the old lady who had to walk about 1,000 meters around the park just to

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Who Is Dmytro Firtash?

Dmytro Firtash’s recent arrest by Austrian police seems to have raised nothing but questions — most notably, “Who is Dmytro Firtash?”

Magda Fahsi
By Magda Fahsi

On March 13, Ukrainian gas tycoon Dmytro Firtash, believed to be one of Ukraine’s richest men and most influential oligarchs, was arrested in Vienna, Austria. He was released on March 21 after posting bail of 125 million euros ($174 million), but he still faces possible extradition to the United States, where he is wanted by the FBI on suspicion of

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