Eurotopics.net

The Finnish government granted Terrafame mining company in Kainuu permission to mine and process uranium last week. If put into practice, the decision will make Finland the only producer of uranium in the EU, but Terrafame must overcome legal hurdles before it can go ahead with the project. The country's press stresses that it's only right for such a project to be subjected to close scrutiny.

The film Parasite and its director Bong Joon-ho are the big winners of the 2020 Oscars. For the first time in the history of the world's most coveted film awards, a non-English-language film won in the main category of best picture. European media celebrate the decision.

The left-nationalist party Sinn Féin has won the most first votes in the parliamentary elections in Ireland, with 24.5 percent. Due to the complicated electoral system it is not yet clear whether Sinn Féin will also be the strongest force in parliament. Commentators wonder among other things why young voters in particular voted for the party, which is also known as the political arm of the IRA.

In Switzerland, discriminating against people on the basis of their sexual orientation will in future be a criminal offence. In a referendum on Sunday, 63 percent voted in favour of a corresponding extension of the anti-discrimination law. An initiative for more affordable housing, by contrast, was defeated. Some members of the press are sceptical about whether the results of the referendum are useful.

Coronavirus continues to spread. According to the government in Beijing the number of fatalities in China now exceeds 900. More than 40,000 cases have been registered to date. European media focus on the economic and political repercussions of the epidemic.