For the record; “8 funny responses to the ‘thrones’ that welcomed Merkel in Istanbul…

8 funny responses to the ‘thrones’ that welcomed Merkel in Istanbul President Erdoğan hosted German Chancellor Merkel on Oct. 18 to discuss financial aid to Syrian refugees. But the gaudy throne-like armchairs in the hall have created a social media storm Is Europe’s ‘refugee deal’ giving in to blackmail by Turkey?  EurActiv.com Two million Syrian refugees are … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “populism a ‘cancer’ spreading across Europe, says EPP leaders….

EPP leaders: populism a ‘cancer’ spreading across Europe EurActiv.com Leaders from the European Peoples Party (EPP) meeting in Madrid on Thursday (22 October) warned that populism was a “disease” spreading “like a cancer” in the EU. At least 6,000 refugees stranded in freezing rain at Croatia’s border Mashable! by Megan Specia Thousands of people spent the night stranded in the cold … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Sweden school sword attack… “The end of free movement to and from Europe?…

One dead in Sweden school sword attack  BBC News | Europe | World Edition Swedish police shoot a masked man who killed a teacher and injured at least two students with a sword in the western town of Trollhattan. Many most affected by the EU referendum will have no vote Ideas on Europe by Jon Danzig The end … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “INFOGRAPHIC: Coding at school — How do EU countries compare?

INFOGRAPHIC: Coding at school — How do EU countries compare? EurActiv.com SPECIAL REPORT / Digital competences and ICT skills are seen as key for young people to integrate in the job market. Jobseekers will have a harder time finding work without them. Experimenting with citizens’ assemblies in the UK open Democracy News Analysis – by Graham Smith … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: A project from Medium aims to find 243 people disappeared on a ship in the Mediterranean…

243 people disappeared on a ship in the Mediterranean; a new project from Medium aims to find them Nieman Journalism Lab by Laura Hazard Owen The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014 set off a worldwide search for the missing plane. How could a flight carrying 239 people just go missing? The mystery … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Row over Syria policy

MAIN FOCUS: Row over Syria policy | 30/09/2015 euro|topic The presidents of Russia and the United States met to discuss a policy on Syria at the start of the week. Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad remains the main bone of contention between the two leaders. According to some commentators Putin has pushed through his strategy of including … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Covering the refugee crisis on Snapchat and Periscope

Credit: Image by Patrick Witty for TIME. ‘A day-by-day digital documentary’: Covering the refugee crisis on Snapchat and Periscope The BBC, Bild and TIME have been using Snapchat and Periscope to broadcast raw, unedited footage of their travels with refugees during their journey through Europe… read more   Informal meeting of EU heads of state … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Volkswagen scandal… “Refugees in Edirne and İstanbul Bus Terminals…

MAIN FOCUS: Scandal over exhaust emissions at VW | 22/09/2015 euro|topics The US Justice Department is investigating German carmaker Volkswagen, according to news reports. The company admitted on the weekend that it had manipulated emissions tests for diesel vehicles in the US. Germany’s much touted reliability has been exposed as a myth, some journalists comment. Others … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Techfugees aims to crowdsource solutions to Europe’s migrant crisis

Techfugees aims to crowdsource solutions to Europe’s migrant crisis The Next Web by Amanda Connolly Over the past few weeks, we have highlighted the need for the tech community to look outside its bubble at the European migrant crisis. Today, Mike Butcher, Editor-at-large of Techcrunch, has taken this a step further and launched “Techfugees” – a … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Socialist Jeremy Corbyn, new leader of British Labour Party….”Saving Desperate Syrians in the Age of Peer-to-Peer Aid…

Socialist Jeremy Corbyn is elected as leader of British Labour Party Mashable! by Liza Hearon UPDATED: 2:15 p.m. BST, Sept. 12 Leader Corbyn vows Labour ‘fightback’ BBC News | Europe | World Edition Left-winger Jeremy Corbyn sweeps to a landslide victory in Labour’s leadership contest – promising to lead the party’s “fightback”. What are the implications of Corbyn’s … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “EU migration: Crisis in graphics…

The choice for young Syrian men: leave or learn to kill | Letters from Kate Clow, Margaret Cox, Maureen McGregor, Cath Hallam and Gina Crowley  World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk As a Turkish citizen/resident on the south coast of Turkey, I see nothing of the Syrian refugees who are living in the camps along the Syrian … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Merkel says refugee crisis tests Europe’s core ideals…

Merkel says refugee crisis tests Europe’s core ideals  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) German chancellor puts pressure on European countries who refuse to take in refugees, saying it betrays EU’s values. France: Hungary refugee fence not even fit for animals AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Paris slams Hungary, gateway to EU from eastern Europe, for erecting 175km … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Refugee crisis growing daily…

MAIN FOCUS: Dozens of refugees suffocate in lorry | 28/08/2015 euro|topics The Austrian police on Thursday discovered the bodies of more than 70 refugees in a truck abandoned on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner has said asylum seekers with a chance of being allowed to stay should be permitted … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: [Probably a futile attempt:] “Merkel, Hollande urge unified EU response to refugee crisis

Merkel, Hollande urge unified EU response to refugee crisis  EurActiv.com A new wave of migrants began entering the European Union from Serbia Monday (24 August), as the leaders of France and Germany called for a unified response to the continent’s biggest migrant crisis since World War II. Migrants in Kos Inspire Both Hospitality and Anger in Greeks … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Tsipras resigns, Syriza splits…

Syriza split: What next for Greece? BBC News | Europe | World Edition What does new election mean for Tsipras and reforms? MAIN FOCUS: Tsipras wants new elections in Greece | 21/08/2015 euro|topics Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his resignation on Thursday. New elections are expected to be held in mid-September, and Tsipras has said he … Read more