#Eurosphere agenda: “Soros-linked NGOs defy Orban purge

Soros-linked NGOs defy Orban purge EUobserver.com – Headline News   Hungarian NGOs funded by philanthropist George Soros have vowed to defy prime minister Viktor Orban’s plan to “sweep them out” of the country. Malta rejects tax haven accusations EUobserver.com – Headline News   Finance minister Scicluna said that a report published by Green MEPs was “unfair” and … Read more

#EuroSphere- “Swimming lessons obligatory for Muslim girls..; “EU to debate legal status of robots…

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

In the mean time, Cyprus peace talks: “all you need to know”

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

#Eurosphere -An Al Jazeera piece on Israeli diplomats and UK politicians stirs some tension…

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

#Eurosphere – “Finland Starts Handing Out a Basic Income

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

#Eurosphere – Romania President rejects Muslim Sevil Shhaideh as PM, Romanian left proposes new PM candidate…

Romania President rejects Muslim Sevil Shhaideh as PM  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Romania’s president rejects a candidate who would have been the country’s first female, Muslim PM. [Ticker] Romanian left proposes new PM candidate EUobserver.com – Headline News   Romania’s social democrats have nominated former telecommunications minister Sorin Grindeanu for prime minister, a … Read more

#Eurosphere “A Muslim woman as Romania’s head of government?

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

#Eurosphere “Europe’s top court says UK surveillance rules are unconstitutional…

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

Bana Alabed, Aleppo’s tweeting girl, meets Turkey’s President Erdogan BUT some questions Bana’s father’s position…

Bana Alabed, Aleppo’s tweeting girl, meets Turkey’s President Erdogan BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Syrian seven-year-old Bana Alabed, who tweeted about life in Aleppo, meets Turkey’s President Erdogan. Aleppo tweeter Bana al-Abed meets Turkish president Erdogan – video World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Guardian Staff   Bana al-Abed, the Syrian girl whose Tweets from … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “EU wants to know if Facebook lied about Whatsapp…

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

Journalism agenda: 5 of the biggest fake news stories from 2016 according to Mashable….

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

Europshere agenda: Berlin lorry attack :(

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

Turkish justice: “Police who shot dead Gezi protester fined $2,800”

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

Turkey in Europe: “German school in Istanbul cancels Christmas”

‘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

Eurosphere agenda: “EU’s Galileo satellite system goes live after 17 years

EU’s Galileo satellite system goes live after 17 years  BBC News | Europe | World Edition   Europe launches its long-delayed Galileo satellite system, aiming to be the world’s most accurate. Romania: a social democratic anomaly in eastern Europe? open Democracy News Analysis – by Cornel Ban   Romania should be the ideal playground for right-populist parties, … Read more