#Europe agenda: “UK triggers Article 50: Here’s what happened…

UK triggers Article 50: Here’s what happened  BBC News | Europe | World Edition Formal proceedings to divorce the UK from the EU have begun. Moving determinedly towards the door: the UK’s Article 50 notification letter Ideas on Europe by PoliticsatSurrey Today’s an important one in the Brexit saga. With the submission of formal notification to begin … Read more

#Europe agenda: “Dutch election offers huge relief for other EU governments…

Dutch election offers huge relief for other EU governments EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev Exit polls showing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) far ahead of Geert Wilders and his Freedom Party (PVV) were greeted with relief in Brussels yesterday night (15 March), amid fears of a surge in populism in Europe, with elections in France and … Read more

#Europe agenda: Protests against corruption in Romania continue; “Steinmeier elected German president…

Debate: Protests against corruption in Romania continue euro|topics   The Romanian government has withdrawn its controversial decree decriminalising certain corruption offences. At the same time Prime Minister Grindeanu announced that a new bill with similar content would be presented to parliament. Despite the government’s climbdown hundreds of thousands across Romania demonstrated against corruption on Sunday. The … Read more

#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 -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 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

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

Cyberculture agenda: It seems Only Twitter among 9 tech companies declares to Refuse to Help Build Muslim Registry for Trump

Of 9 Tech Companies, Only Twitter Says It Would Refuse to Help Build Muslim Registry for Trump The Intercept by Sam Biddle Every American corporation, from the largest conglomerate to the smallest firm, should ask itself right now: Will we do business with the Trump administration to further its most extreme, draconian goals? Or will we … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Europe’s pupils bad at maths debated… Belgian beer culture added to UNESCO’s heritage list…

Belgian beer culture added to UNESCO’s heritage list EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev Beer culture in Belgium was inscribed yesterday (30 November) on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Debate: Why are Europe’s pupils bad at maths? euro|topics Ever four years the Timss Study tests the mathematics skills of grade four pupils around the … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Commission won’t call Castro a dictator…”French primaries…

Commission won’t call Castro a dictator  EUobserver.com – Headline News The EU executive says that a statement decribing the former Cuban leader as a “hero for many” is balanced and suggests that the use of the word dictator by a commissioner doesn’t reflect its position. France’s next President could be an Islamophobic “Thatcherite” who wants to dismantle … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: The most expensive cities in Europe: London and Copenhagen

Soft or hard Brexit: do the UK’s political parties know what they want? open Democracy News Analysis – by Kirsty Hughes On the single market, Labour, the Tories, and UKIP, appear to agree: good access to the single market not membership of it – in disagreement with the SNP, LibDems and Greens. Scottish Independence activists take … Read more

Not only the Gülen case, Turkey is also interested in Zarrab case, demanding his release…

  Turkish justice minister asks US Attorney General to release Zarrab A top Turkish government official recently met with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and told her the prosecution of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab was “based on no evidence,” according to a court filing unsealed on Nov. 15. Turkish President Erdoğan blasts foreign media outlets at TRT World … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Trump victory to spur EU military union”

Germany: Trump victory to spur EU military union  EUobserver.com – Headline News Donald Trump’s election as US president, as well as Brexit, ought to speed up plans for EU military integration, Germany’s defence chief says. Trump to model UK relations on Reagan-Thatcher EUobserver.com – Headline News Ukip leader Nigel Farage already says he is willing to help … Read more

As police raids HDP protesters, “PM Admits Deliberate Internet Cut Off”

PM Admits Deliberate Internet Cut Off Bianet :: English About Internet cut off, PM Yıldırım has said that things will return to normal “after the threat is parried”. Problems in access to social media in Turkey a ‘security measure,’ says PM The slowdown in internet connection experienced throughout Turkey are a “security measure” taken by the government, … Read more