Sep 2, 2010 

Europe's oldest integration challenge

In a post-9/11 world, the discourse on minority integration in Europe is dominated by the continent’s relatively new Muslim immigrants, with headscarf and burqa bans having emerged as the issue’s most emotive symbols.
But Europe also faces a much older integrationist challenge, one that persists unresolved over hundreds of years: the Roma. The Roma or gypsies as they are pejoratively also known, are linguistically and ethnically related to north Indians. It’s believed they left their homeland during the 11th century for reasons that remain debated, possibly a result of Muslim invasions. They never returned.


Today the Roma are estimated to number between two million and five million, the majority of whom live in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania. As new member states of the European Union, the citizens of these Eastern European countries now enjoy freedom of movement across the 27-nation bloc. As a result, the Roma are increasingly moving to the richer countries of Western Europe where despite the ingrained rhetoric of human rights, they find themselves as unwelcome as ever.

For more: Europe's oldest integration challenge

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7:36 PM | | | links to this post

 

ECB's Nowotny - no danger of double dip in Europe

"We don't see a danger of a double dip for Europe but (we see) only modest growth," Nowotny of the ECB told reporters.

For more: ECB's Nowotny - no danger of double dip in Europe | Reuters

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5:51 PM | | | links to this post

 

EU Business Group Urges China to Grant Better Market Access

A European business group urged the Chinese government to allow foreign businesses better access to its vast domestic market, arguing that regulatory barriers could threaten investment despite the economy's rapid growth. "China is still one of the most heavily controlled economies in the world," Jacques de Boisséson, the president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, told reporters Thursday. While many companies are drawn here by the prospect of China's rapid growth, numerous regulatory issues can make it hard for them to turn a profit, he said.

In its annual position paper on business conditions in China, the European Chamber pointed to several examples of stringent licensing requirements and arbitrarily-enforced legislation that creates headaches for foreign businesses. The 647-page bilingual document contains more than 380 specific suggestions on how to change Chinese regulations and practices.

For more: EU Business Group Urges China to Grant Better Market Access - WSJ.com

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6:43 AM | | | links to this post

Sep 1, 2010 

Hungary officially opens counterterrorism center

Hungary officially opened a counterterrorism center in Budapest on Wednesday when Interior Minister Sandor Pinter presented the founding document to Police Brigadier General Janos Hajdu, head of the new facility.
The new center is charged with investigating acts of terrorism, kidnappings, and the hijacking or skyjacking of trains, buses, aircraft and other vehicles used in public or cargo transport as well as with protecting the prime minister and president. It is also responsible for analyzing and evaluating the terrorism risk level in Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban addressed the first official meeting of personnel at the new center where he emphasized that a well organized, well equipped counterterrorism center with highly qualified personnel was essential to a developed and strong country. He pointed out that with its first independent counterterrorism center, "Hungary had taken another major step towards becoming a strong and modern country able to protect its citizens and gain respect for its interests."
For more: Hungary officially opens counterterrorism center

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7:36 PM | | | links to this post

 

Suriname: Newly-elected president of Suriname accused of murdering journalists

In what is widely regarded among press freedom watchdogs as a breathtaking case of impunity, Desi Bouterse was sworn in as president of the south American republic of Suriname a week ago.

During his phase as the country's dictator from 1980-87, he was accused of murdering five journalists. They were executed in 1982 along with 10 other pro-democracy activists. No independent media was permitted to operate under Bouterse in that period.

He was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison in the Netherlands in 1999 on a charge of drug trafficking. And he is still facing a 20-year prison term in Suriname if convicted of the 1982 massacre.

For more: Badge greenslade blog

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7:26 PM | | | links to this post

 

The Netherlands: Geert Wilders: victim of his own beliefs

A new book about Geert Wilders was issued yesterday by Dutch political science professor Meindert Fennema in the Netherlands called The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Although Mr Fennema has his doubts about the former apprentice (“His opinions divide Dutch society strongly”), he is certain that Mr Wilders is not a temporary phenomenon. “The issues he raises will dominate Dutch politics in the next decades. You might wonder how long Mr Wilders himself will remain a strong force in Dutch politics, but the problems he addresses are here to stay”.

At Tuesday’s book presentation, former Conservative party (VVD) leader Mr Bolkestein said Mr Wilders does not pose any threat to Dutch society. “He has said all kinds of things, but he’s never done any harm”, Mr Bolkestein said. “The threats aimed at him and his security are a much bigger threat”.

For more: Geert Wilders: victim of his own beliefs | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

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8:51 AM | | | links to this post

 

Turkish vacationers to return early for referendum

Tourism firms say a majority of Turks planning vacations for the Şeker Bayram holiday are buying their return tickets for Sept. 11 to be able to vote in the forthcoming referendum on Sept. 12.

The referendum is set for the fourth and last day of the Şeker Bayram holiday, a religious festival, and many people who are traveling for the festival are planning to return home a day early to vote NO or yes on the constitutional amendment package backed by the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.

For more: Turkish vacationers to return early for referendum - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

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6:00 AM | | | links to this post

 

USA: Obama keeps his promise and brings end to Iraq war

Last night in a speech to his nation President Obama said: "I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.

"At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families."

Mr Obama added: "Ending this war is not only in Iraq's interest — it is in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people." About 50,000 US troops will remain in the country until the end of 2011.

For more: Obama keeps promise and brings end to Iraq war | The Sun |News:

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5:27 AM | | | links to this post

Aug 31, 2010 

The Sarrazin Debate: Germany Is Becoming Islamophobic - by Erich Follath

The respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper called Sarrazin's book an "anti-Muslim dossier based on genetics." Chancellor Angela Merkel reacted with irritation. Stephan Kramer, the general secretary of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, suggested that the author consider joining the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD).

The interior minister of the city-state of Berlin, Ehrhart Körting, a member of the SPD, expects the book to trigger legal action over hate speech. "Thilo is currently drifting away," he says. "He always had a fondness for statistics. But in the integration debate he uses only those statistics that fit in with his image of the enemy."

For more: The Sarrazin Debate: Germany Is Becoming Islamophobic - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

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5:34 PM | | | links to this post

 

Insurance Industry - the Netherlands : AEGON repays EUR 500 million of government support

AEGON yesterday fulfilled its commitment to repay to the Dutch  State EUR 500 million of the 
EUR 3 billion in core capital the company secured through its largest shareholder, Vereniging
AEGON in 2008. AEGON announced its intention to repay EUR 500 million on August 17, 2010 when
it concluded the approval process with the European Commission.

With this payment of EUR 500 million, the amount repaid to the Dutch government
totals EUR 1.5 billion. The first EUR 1 billion was repaid on November 30,  2009.

For more: AEGON N.V. - AEGON repays EUR 500 million of government support | TradingMarkets.com

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5:27 PM | | | links to this post

 

Schiphol terror suspects deny involvement, doubts arise in the US

Two men arrested at Schiphol airport at the behest of the US authorities on Monday have strongly denied any involvement in terrorism, lawyer Klaas-Arjen Krikke said on Tuesday evening.

Hezam al-Murisi (37) and 48-year-old Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al-Soofi are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to 'conspiracy to a terrorist criminal act' the public prosecution department said on Tuesday.
‘He (al-Murisi) is very shocked. He does not understand what is going on and denies ever having had anything to do with terrorism,' the lawyer said in the Telegraaf. 'He is very emotional and just wantst o go back to his family and sees all this as a bad dream.'

For more: DutchNews.nl - Schiphol terror suspects deny involvement, doubts arise in the US

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5:18 PM | | | links to this post

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