It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, August 22, 2025
DESANTISLAND
Pulse Memorial's rainbow crosswalk removed overnight in Orlando, Florida
Brooke Sopelsa Thu, August 21, 2025
Pulse Memorial's rainbow crosswalk removed overnight in Orlando, Florida
A rainbow crosswalk in Orlando, Florida, that was part of the city’s Pulse Memorial was painted over by the state late Wednesday night.
The memorial honored the 49 people fatally shot by a gunman at the Pulse LGBTQ nightclub in 2016, in what was the largest mass shooting in the country at the time.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer criticized the removal of the crosswalk on social media, calling it a “cruel political act.”
“We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue,” he wrote. “This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honor the 49 lives taken.”
Dyer added that the crosswalk adheres to safety standards and was actually installed by the state. It was created in 2017.
Brandon Wolf, one of the Pulse shooting’s surviving victims, said the removal was a desecration of the deceased victims’ memories.
“In the dark of night, they came to erase our show of solidarity, our declaration that we will never forget,” Wolf wrote on X. “The cowards who feel threatened by our lives should feel lucky they didn’t have to bury the ones they love — then watch the state come & desecrate their memory.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis commented Thursday afternoon on X. In response to a video of Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith criticizing the rainbow crosswalk’s removal, DeSantis wrote: "We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes."
The state Transportation Department and DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The crosswalk’s removal follows a directive last month from President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, Sean Duffy. On July 1, Duffy sent a letter to all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, about roadway safety that stressed “consistent” roadway markings that are “free from distractions.” In a social media post that same day, Duffy shared the letter along with a message taking direct aim at rainbow crosswalks, which are typically intended to symbolize LGBTQ Pride.
“Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks,” he wrote. “Political banners have no place on public roads. I’m reminding recipients of @USDOT roadway funding that it’s limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else. It’s that simple.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Gene sequencing uncovers differences in wild and domesticated crops
Can understanding these differences help researchers breed better crops suited for a changing climate?
This diagram illustrates the methodology of a meta-analysis comparing gene expression data between wild relatives and domesticated species. Using public gene expression databases and computer-based methods, researchers analyzed data from rice, tomato, and soybean to identify differentially expressed genes and common expression changes associated with domestication.
With climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, researchers predict that global yields of important crops like maize, rice, and soybeans could decline by 12 to 20% by the end of the century. To prepare, plant scientists are hoping to find ways to improve yields and grow hardier varieties of these crops. New insights into the genetic makeup of wild varieties of common crops show how domestication has changed crop traits over time and propose a new cultivation method to improve genetic diversity. The research was shared in a paper published in Life on July 11.
“While domesticated species have originally been bred by cultivating wild species, the resulting reduction in genetic diversity can damage all individuals by exposing them to diseases and environmental stresses. To solve this problem, we set out to identify differences in crop traits between wild relatives and domesticated species and to contribute to the selection of new breeding candidate genes. The introduction of useful traits, especially those found in wild relatives, may provide hints for the development of new useful varieties,” said Hidemasa Bono, a professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life in Hiroshima, Japan.
The researchers used RNA sequencing data from public databases, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus and published studies online. They focused on crops with wild relatives that had widely available RNA sequencing data: tomatoes, rice, and soybeans. The gene expression data of the wild varieties was then compared to the domesticated varieties. To evaluate the data, researchers classified all genes into three groups: upregulated, unchanged, and downregulated.
By understanding the gene expression comparison between the wild varieties and the domesticated varieties, researchers could understand differences in how the plants respond to stressors. “Wild relatives have high environmental stress tolerance with the potential to respond to climate change and severe changes in the natural environment, which has been an issue in recent years,” said Bono.
The researchers found 18 genes that were upregulated in the wild relatives and 36 genes that were upregulated in the domesticated species. Wild species were found to have genes related to environmental stress responses while domesticated species had more genes related to the hormone regulation and chemical compound export and detoxification. For example, a gene called HKT1 affects salt stress response and salt tolerance was found to be upregulated in wild varieties. This could be an opportunity to develop crops that can grow in soil with more saline. Researchers also found genes that were upregulated in wild varieties that helped with drought stress (RD22), water stress (HB-12), leaf development and photosynthesis promotion (HB-7), and osmotic stress response and wound signaling (MYB102).
In domesticated plants, researchers also found beneficial genes that were upregulated compared to wild varieties. Several genes help detox the plants and remove chemicals found in soil. One gene (ALF5) improves the plant’s resistance to tetramethylammonium, and another (DTX1) manages cadmium and toxic compounds. These genes and others can help plants grow in soils that have been contaminated by chemicals. Researchers suspect this may have become beneficial for plants because of increased pesticide and chemical fertilizer use.
“The three wild species used in this analysis—rice, tomato, and soybean—had in common high expression levels of genes that contribute to stress responses, such as drought, osmotic pressure, and wound stress. The high expression levels of genes that contribute to stress tolerance that these three less closely related species have in common suggest that wild species of other species are likely to have useful traits as well,” said Bono.
Looking ahead, researchers hope to learn even more about these essential differences between wild relatives and domesticated species to improve breeding. “In addition, we would like to collect and reanalyze data used in crop breeding research to construct a database that will contribute to the promotion of digital breeding of crops,” said Bono.
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The other contributor to this research was Makoto Yumiya of the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life at Hiroshima University.
The Center for Bio-Digital Transformation (BioDX), COI-NEXT, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) supported this research.
This paper received funding from Hiroshima University to cover open access fees.
About Hiroshima University
Since its foundation in 1949, Hiroshima University has striven to become one of the most prominent and comprehensive universities in Japan for the promotion and development of scholarship and education. Consisting of 12 schools for undergraduate level and 5 graduate schools, ranging from natural sciences to humanities and social sciences, the university has grown into one of the most distinguished comprehensive research universities in Japan. English website: https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en
Different forms of seven-week-old Arabidopsis thaliana plants: the wild type (left) compared with a plant lacking RE1 (right). The characteristic “reticulated” leaf form is clearly visible in the right-hand plant – the leaf tissue is lighter due to a lack of mesophyll cells, while the leaf veins appear greener due to a greater number of chloroplasts. (Image: HHU/Franziska Kuhnert)
Plants produce all amino acids essential for human life. This commonly occurs in specialised cell organelles, so-called plastids. A research team headed by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has now decoded the mechanism by which the plants distribute these amino acids within their organisms. In the scientific journal Nature Plants, the researchers describe the mechanism and the class of transport proteins used for this process. The findings could potentially contribute to breeding crop plants with a higher content of essential amino acids and thus improved nutritional quality.
Proteins – the fundamental building blocks of every organism – are large molecules, which are made up of many so-called amino acids. Humans can produce some of these amino acids themselves, but others – the “essential amino acids” – must be obtained from food. Plants synthesise all 20 “proteinogenic” amino acids – from which proteins are comprised – themselves, making plants the ideal supplier of amino acids for the human diet.
However, plants do not produce the amino acids in all areas. Nine of these molecules, including important building blocks such as lysine and arginine, are only produced in the plastids. “Chloroplasts”, in which photosynthesis takes place, are also plastids. Until now, it was unknown how the amino acids are transported from the plastids to other parts of the plant.
The research group headed by Professor Dr Andreas P. M. Weber from the Institute of Plant Biochemistry at HHU has now attributed the function of transporting amino acids through chloroplast membranes to a class of transport proteins called RETICULATA1 (for short: RE1). This enables them to be exchanged within the plant.
Professor Weber, corresponding author of the study, which has now appeared in Nature Plants: “The molecular function of RE1 has been a mystery for decades, even though it was known that mutations in this gene cause conspicuous leaf shapes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress). We now show that RE1 is a specialised transporter for basic amino acids such as arginine, citrulline, ornithine and lysine.”
Plants lacking RE1 not only have a characteristic “reticulated” leaf shape, but also only contain small amounts of basic amino acids in their leaves and chloroplasts. Lead author Dr Franziska Kuhnert: “This indicates a disrupted amino acid distribution in the plant. A complete loss of RE1 and its closest relative RER1 (RETICULATA-RELATED1) is even lethal to the plant, underscoring the essential role of these proteins.”
The research team was also able to demonstrate that the loss of RE1 reduces the biosynthesis of basic amino acids and impairs the balance of amino acid pools between plastids and cytosol – the fluid within the cells.
Kuhnert: “RE1 and related proteins are found exclusively in organisms that contain plastids. Since all plants and photosynthetic algae possess RE proteins, these proteins must be old in evolutionary terms and have originated from an era when plastids were formed through ‘endosymbiosis’ – the absorption of previously independent cells into other cells. RE1 may have made an important contribution to this evolutionary development of plants.”
“Our results provide crucial insights into the complex connection between the transport of amino acids into plastids and leaf development, as well as nutrient distribution in plants,” summarises Weber, adding: “The discovery opens up new perspectives for plant breeding and enables the development of crops with a higher content of essential amino acids. This can contribute to global food security.”
The research work was carried out at HHU within the framework of the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence and the collaborative research centres CRC1208/2 and 1535/1. All projects received funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). In addition, co-author Dr Peter K. Lundquist received an Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Original publication
Franziska Kuhnert, Philipp Westhoff, Vanessa Valencia, Stephan Krüger, Karolina Vogel, Peter K. Lundquist, Christian Rosar, Tatjana Goss and Andreas P. M. Weber. RETICULATA1 is a Plastid-Localized Basic Amino Acid Transporter. Nature Plants XXX (2025).
The world will warm more than expected due to future changes in ozone, which protects Earth from harmful sun rays but also traps heat as it is a greenhouse gas.
While banning ozone-destroying gases such as CFCs has helped the ozone layer to recover, when combined with increased air pollution the impact of ozone could warm the planet 40% more than originally thought.
A new study led by the University of Reading found that from 2015 to 2050, ozone is expected to cause 0.27 watts per square meter (Wm⁻²) of extra warming. This figure - which measures how much extra energy gets trapped per square metre of Earth's surface - would make ozone the second largest contributor to future warming by 2050 after carbon dioxide (1.75 Wm⁻² of extra warming).
Professor Bill Collins, lead author from the University of Reading, said: “Countries are doing the right thing by continuing to ban chemicals called CFCs and HCFCs that damage the ozone layer above Earth. However, while this helps repair the protective ozone layer, we have found that this recovery in ozone will warm the planet more than we originally thought.
“Air pollution from vehicles, factories and power plants also creates ozone near the ground, causing health problems and warming the planet.”
Simulating the atmosphere
The research, published today (Thursday, 21 August) in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, used computer models to simulate how the atmosphere will change by the middle of the century. The models followed a scenario with low implementation of air pollution controls, but with CFCs and HCFCs being phased out as mandated by the Montreal Protocol (1987).
The findings show that stopping CFC and HCFC production - done mainly to protect the ozone layer - provides less climate benefit than previously calculated. CFCs and HCFCs are greenhouse gases that warm the planet. Countries banned them to save the ozone layer, expecting this would also help fight climate change. But as the ozone layer heals, it creates more warming that cancels out most of the climate benefits from removing CFCs and HCFCs.
Countries that reduce air pollution will limit some ozone formation near the ground. However, the ozone layer will continue repairing itself for decades regardless of air quality policies, creating unavoidable warming.
Protecting the ozone layer remains crucial for human health and preventing skin cancer. The ozone layer shields Earth from dangerous ultraviolet radiation that can harm people, animals and plants. However, the research suggests climate policies need updating to account for ozone's larger warming effect.
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Italy's Ventina glacier has melted so much geologists now can only monitor it remotely
Copyright Lombardy Glaciology Service via AP
By SILVIA STELLACCI with AP Published on 19/08/2025 -
After 130 years of direct measurement, the retreat of Italy’s Ventina glacier will now be tracked by drones due to rapid melting and unstable terrain.
Italy’s Ventina glacier, one of the biggest in northern Lombardy, has melted so much due to climate change that geologists can no longer measure it the way they have for the past 130 years.
After this year’s hot summer, geologists discovered that the simple stakes used as benchmarks to measure the glacier’s retreat each year are now buried under rockslides. Debris has made the terrain too unsteady for future in-person visits.
The Lombardy Glaciological Service said Monday that it will now use drone imagery and remote sensing to keep track of the ongoing shrinkage of the glacier, which is located near Sondrio, in the same general area of northeast Lombardy that is hosting some 2026 Winter Olympics events.
An overview of the Ventina glacier, near Sondrio, northern Italy in 1985. Lombardy Glaciology Service via AP
Geologists say that the Ventina glacier has already lost 1.7 kilometres in length since the first measuring benchmarks were positioned at the front of the glacier in 1895.
The melting has accelerated in recent years, with the glacier losing 431 metres in the last 10 years, nearly half of that since 2021, the service said. It's another example of how accelerating global warming is melting and shrinking Europe’s glaciers, causing a host of environmental and other impacts.
A combo image of an overview of the Ventina glacier, near Sondrio, northern Italy, in 2009, above, and same view on Wednesday 13 August 2025. Lombardy Glaciology Service via AP
“While we could still hope until the 1980s that there would be normal cycles (of retraction) or at least a contained retraction, in the last 40 years something truly striking has occurred,” said Andrea Toffaletti, a member of the Lombardy Glaciological Service. Hot summers and less snow are melting Italy's glaciers
Italy’s mountain glaciers, which are found throughout the Alps and Dolomites in the north and along the central Apennines, have been receding for years, thanks to inadequate snowfall in the winter and record-setting hot summers.
Glaciers always melt some in summer, with the runoff fueling mountain streams and rivers.
But the hot summers are “no longer able to guarantee the survival of the winter snowpack,” which keeps the glacier intact, Toffaletti said.
“In order to regenerate and remain in balance, a certain amount of residual snow from the winter must remain on the glacier's surface at the end of the summer. And this is happening less and less frequently,” said Toffaletti.
According to the Lombardy service, the Alps represent a climate hotspot, recording double the global average of temperature increases since pre-industrial times, resulting in the loss of over 64 per cent of the volume of Alpine glaciers.
In February, the journal Nature reported on a study showing the world’s glaciers lost ice at the rate of about 231 billion tonnes annually from 2000 to 2011, but that quickened to about 314 billion tonnes annually over about the next decade.
Crackdown on 'forever chemicals' expands ahead of EU rules overhaul
As the EU prepares a broader reform of its chemical legislation, the European Chemicals Agency has updated its proposal to restrict “forever chemicals,” adding new sectors to the scope of its planned ban.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on Wednesday expanded its proposal to restrict so-called “forever chemicals” from eight new industrial and commercial sectors as the long-awaited revision of the EU’s flagship chemical safety law, REACH, continues to gather pace.
First manufactured in the 1940s, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are prized for their water, grease, and heat resistance, making them essential in everything from non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing to semiconductors and firefighting foams.
However, their extreme persistence in the environment has earned them the label “forever chemicals.”
Studies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health conditions, including liver disease, hormonal disruption, and certain cancers, raising alarm among scientists and regulators alike.
A restriction proposal of these chemicals was originally submitted in January 2023 by five European authorities—Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
The group of countries, collectively known as the ‘dossier submitter’, revised its plan targeting over 10,000 PFAS substances after evaluating more than 5,600 comments gathered during a public consultation.
New sectors under review
The ECHA's expanded proposal now covers printing, sealing, and machinery applications, as well as certain medical uses such as immediate packaging and pharmaceutical excipients.
Military and explosives applications are also added, alongside technical textiles and broader industrial uses, such as solvents and catalysts.
These sectors join a growing list of industries facing possible restrictions under what could become the world’s most comprehensive ban on PFAS.
While the central thrust of the proposal remains a broad ban, ECHA has also assessed more flexible regulatory options.
These include allowing continued use of PFAS in certain industries (such as electronics, energy, and transport) provided that risks can be adequately controlled.
Another updated document detailing these scenarios now serves as the basis for opinions by ECHA’s scientific committees, which may further refine the plan.
The road to REACH reform
The ultimate goal is a near-total phaseout, with time-limited derogations for essential applications in healthcare, defence, and high-tech sectors where no alternatives currently exist.
The broader revision of REACH is expected in December 2025, when the European Commission will present a formal legislative proposal, setting the course for Europe’s chemicals policy in the decades to come.
This review is expected to modernise and simplify EU rules, introducing changes such as time-limited registration validity, mandatory dossier updates, digital safety data sheets, and stronger enforcement measures.
Early drafts were already shared with national experts in April 2025, marking the final stages of internal consultation.
The Commission has already confirmed on several occasions that the REACH revision will include provisions clarifying the regulation of PFAS, though a universal restriction is expected to follow separately.
In parallel, sector-specific measures, such as the existing ban on PFAS in firefighting foams, continue to advance under the current framework.
The updated ECHA proposal marks a decisive step in what could become one of the most significant chemical regulatory efforts in Europe’s history.
Cheetah cubs destined for the illegal trade in exotic wildlife rescued in Somaliland Copyright CRCC via AP
By EVELYNE MUSAMBI with AP Published on 21/08/2025 -
One eight-month-old cub was unable to walk after being tied up for six months, while a five-month-old was “very malnourished".
Ten cheetah cubs held in captivity since birth and destined for international wildlife trade markets have been rescued in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia
Laurie Marker, the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which is caring for the cubs, said Wednesday they were all in a stable condition despite all of them having been undernourished and limping due to being tied in captivity for months.
She said one eight-month-old cub was unable to walk after being tied up for six months, while a five-month-old was “very malnourished (a bag of bones), with sores all over her body and full of botfly maggots which are under the skin.”
“But with cubs like this, we need to start them onto on food slowly due to refeeding syndrome, similar to people in starvation,” she added.
One of 10 cheetah cubs rescued from the illegal wildlife pet trade receives treatment at the Cheetah Rescue and Conservation Centre. CRCC via AP
Two people who were in possession of the cubs were arrested during a 14 August operation in the northern Sallahley District. The authorities have urged the public to report suspected wildlife trade activities.
Environment Ministry Director Abdinasir Hussein Said told journalists that the cheetah cubs have joined a group of 109 others rescued in similar operations. A transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade
Somaliland is a major transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade. Hundreds of cheetahs and leopards from the Horn of Africa have been transported to Gulf countries through the Gulf of Aden.
Possession of wildlife is illegal in Somaliland, and police often crack down on suspected traders.
“We encourage the people of Somaliland to protect wildlife in their natural habitats, as their best interests lie there,” said Hussein. “We can imagine the distress of a mother being separated from her young.
"These animals are currently suffering due to being separated from their mothers, which may lead to the mothers experiencing stress and potentially dying. Once again, we emphasise the importance of protecting wildlife in their habitats.”
Conservationists in the Horn of Africa have previously expressed concern over the rise in demand for exotic pets in Gulf countries and the resulting illegal trade affecting ecosystems in Horn of Africa nations.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Telefonica renewed one Huawei 5G contract in Spain until 2030, report says
VivaTech conference dedicated to innovation and startups in Paris
Reuters Thu, August 21, 2025
MADRID (Reuters) -Telefonica renewed a contract with Chinese manufacturer Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G mobile core network for retail customers in Spain until 2030, El Pais newspaper reported on Thursday, citing unnamed industry sources.
Telefonica renewed that contract in late 2024 and, in early 2025, it awarded to rival manufacturer Nokia a contract for 5G core for its service to companies and government institutions, El Pais said.
Telefonica's Chief Operating Officer Emilio Gayo told Reuters last month that the company was "reducing its exposure to Huawei" in Spain to comply with EU recommendations to telecom operators to phase out Huawei-made devices over concerns they pose a potential security risk.
A spokesperson for Telefonica said the company would not comment on individual contracts and Gayo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Huawei declined to comment.
Some European countries, including Germany, have passed outright bans on the use of Huawei gear, while Spain has not.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Paul Sandle; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
US lawmakers urge investigation into Spain's deal with Huawei amid national security concerns
Copyright Paul White/Copyright 2019 The AP. All rights reserved
American lawmakers accused Spain of putting US national security at risk by contracting Chinese tech giant Huawei to handle sensitive data.
A pair of American lawmakers have accused the Spanish government of putting US national security at risk by contracting the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to handle sensitive data.
Pedro Sánchez's government has been facing backlash for weeks over the multimillion-euro deal, which would see Huawei manage and store sensitive data related to judicial wiretaps.
US President Donald Trump's administration has demanded that Sánchez cancel the agreement, threatening to cut off intelligence cooperation. The US considers Huawei an extension of the Chinese state and a potential instrument of espionage.
The Spanish government has kept publicly quiet amid the criticism.
Now, two US Congressmen are raising their own concerns. In a letter to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick dated August 8, they said the plan has serious implications for US digital security, privacy, and commercial interests, and that it would hurt US workers.
Reps. Richard Hudson and Gus Bilirakis, both Republicans, cited Huawei's ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and noted that Trump previously banned Huawei and another Chinese firm, ZTE, from US telecommunications infrastructure in 2019.
The key American concern is that Huawei will be forced to share data under the mandate of Xi Jinping's Chinese government, and that this sensitive information will fall into the hands of the CCP.
In the letter, Hudson and Bilirakis accused the EU and especially Spain of having a double standard, restricting data transfers with the US on privacy grounds, but allowing the free flow of data to China. They said the US-EU Data Privacy Framework (DPF) has been invalidated several times by the EU, creating legal uncertainty for US companies.
The lawmakers called on the US Commerce Department to investigate decisions by Spain and other EU governments that may adversely affect US digital commerce.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, has also raised concerns over Huawei and ZTE.
In 2023, the Commission said member states would be "justified" in restricting or excluding the Chinese companies from their 5G networks because they come with "materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers".
Europeans back minimum tax for large multinationals and the super-rich Copyright EuronewsBy Carolina Cardoso & Loredana DumitruPublished on 21/08/2025
The majority of EU citizens are willing to increase environmental taxes, and most support the introduction of a minimum tax for the super-rich.
The latest Eurobarometer survey on taxation shows that citizens are open to policy shifts that would make taxes fairer and greener.
In 2024, 80% of respondents agreed that large multinational companies should pay a minimum tax in every country where they operate.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents support the introduction of a tax for the wealthiest individuals (the top 0.001%) to ensure they pay a minimum level of taxes. Support is highest in Hungary (78%), Bulgaria (71%) and Croatia (71%).
Those who oppose such a tax are concerned about competitiveness, investment, and potential capital flight.
When it comes to fairness, only one in five European Union citizens believes that tax contributions in their country are proportional to income and wealth "to a large extent", with most respondents being more sceptical.
The system is considered most fair in Finland and Luxembourg, while Latvia, Czechia, Lithuania and Poland are ranked lowest when it comes to taxation fairness.
Among those who agree with higher taxes for improved public services, nearly half would first target tobacco and alcohol, and one-third would increase taxes on investment income like interest or rent.
Nearly six in ten EU citizens favour using fiscal measures to discourage the usage or consumption of environmentally harmful goods and polluting energy. Most would prioritise taxes on non-recyclable or hard-to-recycle products, followed by plastics and greenhouse gas emissions.
As for what citizens want the EU to prioritise in terms of taxation issues, the number one issue is tackling tax avoidance and evasion, which costs member states billions of euros each year. The second priority is preventing double taxation between EU countries.
In the EU, nearly 90% of the revenue available to national governments comes from taxes.
