Martin Schulz’s rapid rise from Brussels man to chancellor candidate EurActiv.com by Albrecht Meier Martin Schulz is known in Germany mainly as a European politician and an ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. But later this year they will face off in the country’s leadership race. Trump will be a gift to Europe’s lost unity EurActiv.com by … Read more
Facebook to roll out fake news tools in Germany BBC News | Europe | World Edition Facebook is rolling out new tools in Germany to help combat the spread of fabricated news stories. Defeat of Davos BBC News | Europe | World Edition Brexit, Donald Trump, and the rise of populism have left the world’s … Read more
Debate: Swimming lessons obligatory for Muslim girls euro|topics The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Muslim girls must take part in mixed school swimming lessons before they reach puberty. With this ruling the court rejected a complaint brought by Muslim parents living in Switzerland. Commentators welcome the decision but warn that its … Read more
Cyprus peace talks – all you need to know World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor Rival leaders of the Mediterranean island, which has been split since 1974, are meeting in Geneva for a summit The purpose of the Geneva talks is to end the partition of the island between the predominantly Turkish … Read more
Israelis parliamentary plot against UK politicians AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Al Jazeera reveals discussions of Israel diplomat and British civil servant to ‘take down’ anti-settlement politicians. Deadly icy spell grips much of Europe, including Greek islands BBC News | Europe | World Edition Plunging temperatures in Europe claim 20 lives, as even the … Read more
Finland Starts Handing Out a Basic Income MIT Technology Review A few unemployed Finns are receiving a monthly check with no strings attached—but it’s unlikely to tell us whether universal basic income is a good idea. Eurozone inflation surges to 1.1% in December BBC News | Europe | World Edition Eurozone inflation surges to 1.1%, … Read more
Romania readies itself for first female and first Muslim prime minister EurActiv.com by Samuel Morgan Romania could appoint its first female and first Muslim prime minister after the Social Democratic Party (PSD) put its support behind Sevil Shhaideh, in a shock move following the Eastern European country’s 11 December elections. EurActiv Romania reports. Debate: A Muslim … Read more
Europe’s top court says UK surveillance rules are unconstitutional Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow Last July, the European Court of Jutice’s Advocate General ruled that the UK’s mass surveillance regime was unconstitutional, triggering an appeal to the ECJ itself, which has affirmed that under European law, governments cannot order retention of all communications data; they … Read more
EU wants to know if Facebook lied about Whatsapp EUobserver.com – Headline News Facebook said in 2014 that linking WhatsApp’s phone numbers with Facebook was not possible. In 2016, it became possible, and it happened. Idiocraski: the apocalyptic situation in Poland after a year of trumpism Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow It’s been a year … Read more
5 of the biggest fake news stories from 2016 Mashable! by Gianluca Mezzofiore We live in a ‘post-truth’ era, or at least according to Oxford Dictionaries which named it ‘word of the year’ in its annual poll. Tip: Bookmark this list of affordable 360-degree cameras Journalism.co.uk If you want to get started with 360-degree photos … Read more
Berlin lorry attack: Man films chaos moments after truck hits BBC News | Europe | World Edition An eyewitness describes filming “horrible scenes” moments after a lorry ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin. Berlin Christmas market attack ‘affects all Europe’ EurActiv.com by Frédéric Simon French President François Hollande and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker sent … Read more
Police who shot dead Gezi protester fined $2,800 Hurriyet Daily News A court in Istanbul has fined a police officer who shot dead a protester during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Turkey’s high court receives 60,000 applications since July 15 coup attempt: Top Judge Hurriyet Daily News Some 60,000 individual applications have been made to … Read more
‘OUTRAGEOUS!’ Germany’s fury as teachers ‘banned from even MENTIONING Christmas in class’ Express.co.uk Usually the Istanbul Lisesi holds a small celebration for Christmas and teaches its pupils, who are both German and Turkish, about the Christian … German school in Istanbul cancels Christmas – Deutsche Welle German School in Istanbul Forced to Deny ‘Banning’ Christmas – … Read more
Murder in Istanbul BBC News | Europe | World Edition Twelve men from the countries of the former USSR have been assassinated in Turkey, and there’s evidence that some of the hitmen were from Russia. Istanbul’s housing prices decline amid oversupply Hurriyet Daily News Property prices have dropped up to 20 percent in several parts … Read more
European judiciary network votes to suspend observer status of Turkey’s HSYK The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) on Dec. 8 decided to suspend the observer status of the Turkish High Council for Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), citing concerns that the body is no longer sufficiently independent from the state’s executive and legislature branches. … Read more