EU Commission Transparency Rules Broken in 'Pfizergate' Scandal, Court Rules

Hungary's Repressive New Law

• 🇭🇺 An independent Hungarian news site, Telix, reported on a proposed law that could allow the government to monitor, penalize, and shut down independent media and NGOs.
• 🇷🇺 This new bill, proposed by Viktor Orbán's party, is compared to laws used by Vladimir Putin to build a dictatorship in Russia.
• ⚖️ This follows a series of repressive moves, including crackdowns on journalists receiving foreign funding and a constitutional amendment banning public displays of homosexuality and gender diversity.
• 🗳️ The timing of the bill is noted by The Guardian, suggesting it's a move to crack down on dissent ahead of next year's elections, especially with the rising popularity of Peter Magyar's party.

'Pfizergate' Scandal and EU Transparency

• 🏛️ A tribunal has ruled against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the "Pfizergate" scandal.
• 📱 The scandal emerged in 2021 when The New York Times sought access to text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding a multi-billion euro COVID-19 vaccine contract.
• 🚫 The EU Commission initially refused access, offering unclear explanations such as messages having a disappearing function or being deleted without archiving.
• ⚖️ The European Union's General Court ruled that von der Leyen failed in her obligation to be transparent and that the commission was wrong to deny access to the messages.
• ❓ Politico highlights the issue of whether SMS and WhatsApp messages can be considered official documents, with the court suggesting they should be treated as such, granting public and journalist access.

Barbie's Evolving Feet and Independence

• 👠 An Australian study examined Barbie dolls from 1959 to 2024, analyzing approximately 2,750 dolls.
• 👣 Researchers found that Barbie's high-heeled feet have become flatter over the decades.
• 📈 This change mirrors societal shifts, suggesting Barbie ditched high heels as she climbed the career ladder and entered more male-dominated fields.
• 👩‍🚀 By the 2020s, only about 40% of Barbies wore heels, correlating with Barbie becoming more diverse, inclusive, athletic, and emancipated from societal constraints.