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European ministers sign joint defense pact

23 European Union countries signed an agreement on Monday to boost defense spending, jointly purchase and develop military equipment, and coordinate military missions. The initiative, known as Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), is being hailed by supporters as the most significant step in European defense policy in decades.

The signing of the pact was motivated in part by United States President Donald Trump’s uncertain support for the NATO alliance and repeated calls for Europe to do more for its own security. Britain’s impending exit from the EU made it easier for the pact to be approved; Britain has opposed similar proposals in the past, saying that they would duplicate NATO. A primary goal of the PESCO agreement is to make European defense spending more efficient by coordinating arms purchases and eliminating duplicate purchases by individual countries.

Ireland, Denmark, Portugal, Malta, and Britain are the only five EU nations not to sign the pact, which could be formally launched next month. EU Commission chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas referenced the moon landings in describing the pact’s significance, calling it a “small step for Brussels, a giant leap for Europe.”

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Australians vote to legalize same-sex marriage

The results of an Australian national poll released yesterday show widespread support for legalizing gay marriage in the country. According to the results, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 61 percent voted to allow same-sex marriage, while 38 percent voted against.

Following the results, a bill to change Australia’s current marriage law was introduced in the senate late yesterday. The bill will now be debated for amendments. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said his government aims to pass legislation to allow same-sex marriage by Christmas, adding that Australians had “voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love, and now it is up to us… to get on with the job the Australian people have tasked us to do.”

The results follow a long campaign by activists for marriage equality, which is already law in most English-speaking countries. The marriage bill is expected to pass in parliament, though it includes religious protections for those who conduct marriages, but do not want to officiate same-sex ceremonies.

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As “Me Too” movement gains momentum, questions emerge about its lasting impact

Since the hashtag #MeToo went viral one month ago, more than 1.7 million people in 85 countries have used it to share their experiences of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. Last Sunday, hundreds participated in a Me Too Survivors’ march in Los Angeles. Yet despite the current momentum, many people are asking whether the movement will result in any long-term change.

The hashtag was first posted on Twitter on October 15^th by American actress Alyssa Milano, shortly after allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein went public. Since then, the list of directors, actors, and powerful men in other fields that have been accused of sexual harassment has quickly grown. Versions of the #MeToo movement have emerged in other countries including Italy, where women use the hashtag #QuellaVoltaChe (#TheTimeThat), and in France, where women have described their experiences with the hashtag #BalanceTonPorc (#DenounceYourPig).

Early steps have been taken to transform the #MeToo phenomenon into lasting change. In the U.S., for example, a social media campaign called #IWillSpeakUp that was launched last week encourages men to denounce instances of harassment when they see them.

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Poles encouraged to “breed like rabbits” in new video campaign

Poland’s government is suggesting a solution for the country’s shrinking population. Two new videos produced by the country’s Ministry of Health praise rabbits for producing many offspring -- and urge young citizens to follow the rabbits’ example.

The videos are the latest step that the conservative government has taken to try to boost the country’s birth rate since it took power in late 2015. It also pays 500 złoty ($137.50) per child per month to families with more than one child. According to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, Poland’s population -- currently around 38 million -- will decrease by almost 6 percent by 2040, and by 24 percent by 2080.

In the new videos, rabbits eat lettuce and carrots while a narrator reveals the animals’ secrets to having large families: exercise, a healthy diet, little stress, and avoidance of alcohol. Viewers are advised to follow this example if they want to become parents. The Polish government is said to have invested almost 3 million złoty ($833,947) into the campaign.