Eurosphere roundup: “The sanctions on excessively high budget deficits are to be suspended…

MAIN FOCUS: EU wants to give deficit sinners more time | 30/05/2013 The EU Commission wants to give six euro countries more time to reduce their debts, allowing them to introduce growth-stimulating reforms. The sanctions on excessively high budget deficits are to be suspended, Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn announced on Wednesday. Some commentators welcome … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: China warns EU of a trade war…

Worrying future for innovation in Europe The region?s share of global manufacturing and R&D is falling. And the number of patent applications registered in Europe has also gone down   MAIN FOCUS: Weapons embargo against Syria expires | 28/05/2013 The EU foreign ministers did not reach a joint position on a weapons embargo against Syriaon … Read more

As the world seems to be back in the old Cold War game, Turkey also assumes its older role… A FP roundup…

Back to the old Cold War game With the upcoming lifting of the arms embargo for Assad regime opponents in Syria we are back to the old game: Cold War –  the USA and the former Soviet Union both offering advanced weapon systems to the belligerent parties (visual montage) . MAIN FOCUS: Fears that the … Read more

Hell yeah! WordPress Is 10 Years Old

WordPress Is Now 10 Years Old Ten years ago today, the first public release of WordPress became available. Initially started as a fork of the little-known blogging platform b2/Cafelog, WordPress has grown to be the largest CMS in the world, powering an astounding 18% of the web   WordPress is 10 years old today: Here?s … Read more

U.S. Senator John McCain in Southern Turkey… A FP roundup…

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is pictured with U.S. troops at a Patriot missile site in southern Turkey on May 27, 2013 in this picture released via McCain’s Twitter account. McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate and one of the loudest voices calling for military aid to the Syrian opposition, met with some of the … Read more

Europe needs money. So no more arms embargo agains Syrian rebels. Eurosphere roundup…

EU ends arms embargo against Syrian rebels The European Union agreed Monday to lift its embargo against arming Syrian rebels. Britain, France block renewed weapons embargo against Syria (News) Britain and France are free to supply weapons to Syrian rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad starting in August, after attempts to renew an EU arms embargo … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: Apple under antitrust probe pressure

Europe quizzes operators over Apple sales practices, hinting at plans for antitrust probe European regulators are looking into the possibility that Apple is employing anti-competitive tactics to give it an unfair advantage in mobile markets across the continent. How Apple’s Alleged Tax Avoidance Changed Its Image   The U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations claims … Read more

Europshere roundup: Murder sparks anti-Muslim backlash…

Murder sparks anti-Muslim backlash There has been a huge increase in anti-Muslim incidents since the murder of a British soldier in London, an inter-faith charity says. MAIN FOCUS: Soldier killing shocks Britain | 24/05/2013 After the allegedly Islamist motivated murder of a soldier in London, security has been increased around military installations there. The authorities … Read more

Barometer report: EUROPEAN YOUTH: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC LIFE

full report here. EUROPEAN YOUTH: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC LIFE INTRODUCTION The primary objective of the Flash Eurobarometer survey ?European Youth: Participation in Democratic Life? (No 375) was to study young EU citizens? participation in society, with special reference to attitudes towards participation in elections and intentions to participate in the European elections in 2014. Only … Read more

“Unholly alliance”: Saudi Arabia, Turkey solidify Syria policy… a FP roundup..

Saudi Arabia, Turkey solidify Syria policy Turkey and Saudi Arabia reiterated their common understanding on the civil war in Syria…     Turkey seals border crossing with Syria Turkey has closed a border gate with Syria following two deadly bomb attacks in Turkey?s southern province of Hatay Syria opposition open key talks in Istanbul Syria’s … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “Stockholm riots spread around city…

Stockholm riots spread around city A fourth night of unprecedented riots in Stockholm sees unrest spread around the city, with a restaurant and up to 40 cars burnt. Wait, there are riots in Sweden? You’ve read the stories about Sweden’s excellent health care system, innovative gender-neutral day care centers, and generous parental leave policies. But … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “Candidates for President of the European Council…”EU poised to blacklist Hizbollah army

EU poised to blacklist Hizbollah army Hope that a formal request by UK, ahead of a foreign ministers? meeting in late June, will open way for sanctions of Hizbollah?s European activity Desegregating Roma and Croat schoolchildren: what has been done? Three years after the ECHR’s decision in Or?u? and Others v. Croatia found “separate but … Read more

“Marissa Mayer?s first 300 days as Yahoo?s CEO… A cyberculture roundup…

Turnaround: Marissa Mayer?s first 300 days as Yahoo?s CEO Yahoo has been plagued by leadership changes among its C-level positions for years. Many of its CEOs have been struggling to find ways to either cut down on cost or innovate on products, but none appear to have been able to turn the company?s performance and … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: The New Sick Man of Europe, Hollande’s offensive…

The New Sick Man of Europe: the European Union Source: Pew Research Center From Overview: The European Union is the new sick man of Europe. The effort over the past half century to create a more united Europe is now the principal casualty of the euro crisis. The European project now stands in disrepute across … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: Neo-Nazi trial, EU member states stand on bank bail-in plans, Cameron on EU exit…

Neo-Nazi probe is a peerless failure: German report An interim parliamentary inquiry report called the National Socialist Underground (NSU) Neo-Nazi trial: Woman ?part of kill squad? German prosecutors May 14 charged that a woman at the center of a landmark trial over a neo-Nazi   Iceland?s election is a signal to Europe Taking tough measures … Read more