European countries, led by Germany and Italy, are against arming the rebels and regard the peace talks as an opportunity to resolve the civil war in without any form of Western military intervention.
“The consensus is, as the song goes, 'give peace a chance’,” said an EU diplomat. “That makes sense for most countries particularly when most of them are against the idea of arming rebels.
Last week, in a confidential diplomatic document, Britain proposed lifting legal obstacles to arming the rebels because it would allow an immediate response to a “likely” chemical weapons attack by the Syrian regime.
The proposal encountered stiff resistance amid deepening concerns in Italy and Germany that rebel groups re not trustworthy and arming them could plunge the whole region into war.
Read more: EU to block arming of Syrian rebels - Telegraph
5/20/13
Denmark - Immigrants: Highest number of asylum seekers in over a decade - by Peter Stanners
The number of asylum seekers travelling to Denmark in 2013 is expected to be the highest in 12 years and opposition parties say the reason for the influx is the government’s introduction of more humanitarian living conditions.
According to the Justice Ministry, the number of migrants applying for asylum in Denmark is expected to rise above 7,000, the highest number since 2001 when over 12,000 applied.
Both Dansk Folkeparti (DF) and Venstre blame the rise on the government’s improvement of living conditions for asylum seekers. These include the right to live and work outside asylum centres after six months as long as the applicant demonstrates a willingness to co-operate with repatriation if their application fails.
Read more: Highest number of asylum seekers in over a decade | The Copenhagen Post | The Danish News in English
According to the Justice Ministry, the number of migrants applying for asylum in Denmark is expected to rise above 7,000, the highest number since 2001 when over 12,000 applied.
Both Dansk Folkeparti (DF) and Venstre blame the rise on the government’s improvement of living conditions for asylum seekers. These include the right to live and work outside asylum centres after six months as long as the applicant demonstrates a willingness to co-operate with repatriation if their application fails.
Read more: Highest number of asylum seekers in over a decade | The Copenhagen Post | The Danish News in English
France: European Aircraft Industry: Airbus A350 zooming toward Paris Air Show flyover
 |
| the new Airbus A350 makes its first apearance |
With just a few hours in the air, industry sources say it is unlikely that the first completed A350, rolled out of the Airbus paint shop only last week, would land at the show.
But if the first handful of flights go to plan, a 600-km (400-mile) trip to Le Bourget for a brief roar over its American rivals would ratchet up the PR war just as Boeing aims to recover from a three-month grounding of its 787 Dreamliner.
Airbus reiterated it plans to fly the A350 around the middle of the year and declined further comment on the plane's debut.
Read more: Airbus A350 zooming toward Paris Air Show flyover - chicagotribune.com
New EU law to mean no more taxpayer bailouts
A European Union law up for a vote today will only fully shield taxpayers from bailing out troubled banks if there is a global framework as well, a top UK regulator said.
Bank of England Deputy Governor Paul Tucker said the EU law on bank recovery and resolution would be a milestone towards a global system and help convince markets that governments were no longer willing to rescue "too big to fail" lenders.
Since governments had to shore up banks during the 2007-09 financial crisis, regulators have wanted to stop markets assuming big banks would not be allowed to go out of business.
The European Parliament's economic affairs committee holds a first vote in Strasbourg, France at 1830 GMT. It has joint say with EU states on the law that gives regulators powers to impose losses on creditors, replace management and take other steps when a bank gets into trouble.
Read more: BUSINESS WORLD - EU law to mean no more taxpayer bailouts
Bank of England Deputy Governor Paul Tucker said the EU law on bank recovery and resolution would be a milestone towards a global system and help convince markets that governments were no longer willing to rescue "too big to fail" lenders.
Since governments had to shore up banks during the 2007-09 financial crisis, regulators have wanted to stop markets assuming big banks would not be allowed to go out of business.
The European Parliament's economic affairs committee holds a first vote in Strasbourg, France at 1830 GMT. It has joint say with EU states on the law that gives regulators powers to impose losses on creditors, replace management and take other steps when a bank gets into trouble.
Read more: BUSINESS WORLD - EU law to mean no more taxpayer bailouts
Gay movement: Russia: No more rainbows: anti-gay sentiment rises in Russia - by Kristen Blyth
"Homosexuality is not a perversion. Perversion is hockey on grass and ballet on ice!" reads one picket sign, held aloft by a middle-aged man. "Against all forms of discrimination," proclaims another, held by a young woman. "My gender is my choice," says a third.
The scene was Moscow Pride. The year was 2007. This parade for recognition and celebration of gay rights was later violently attacked by anti-gay activists - a scene which has repeated itself basically every year since the event was first organized in Moscow in 2006.
The 2007 Pride rally, like every other year's gay rights event, was unauthorized. Moscow city officials have consistently refused to approve annual gay pride parades, and 2013 is no exception.
Authorities announced last Wednesday that they will not approve gay rights activists' request to hold a parade in the capital on May 25, saying the event would undermine morality and patriotic values. Applications to hold gay rights events in the designated free speech zones in Sokolniki Park and Gorky Park were also turned down.
The government's refusal to allow gay pride events is just one symptom of a broad movement against homosexual rights underway in Russia. Anti-gay sentiment has grown increasingly hostile in recent years, to a point which some critics label it a violation of human rights.
Read more: No more rainbows: anti-gay sentiment rises in Russia | RUSSIA | The Moscow News
The scene was Moscow Pride. The year was 2007. This parade for recognition and celebration of gay rights was later violently attacked by anti-gay activists - a scene which has repeated itself basically every year since the event was first organized in Moscow in 2006.
The 2007 Pride rally, like every other year's gay rights event, was unauthorized. Moscow city officials have consistently refused to approve annual gay pride parades, and 2013 is no exception.
Authorities announced last Wednesday that they will not approve gay rights activists' request to hold a parade in the capital on May 25, saying the event would undermine morality and patriotic values. Applications to hold gay rights events in the designated free speech zones in Sokolniki Park and Gorky Park were also turned down.
The government's refusal to allow gay pride events is just one symptom of a broad movement against homosexual rights underway in Russia. Anti-gay sentiment has grown increasingly hostile in recent years, to a point which some critics label it a violation of human rights.
Read more: No more rainbows: anti-gay sentiment rises in Russia | RUSSIA | The Moscow News
Electric Cars: Thanks to Tesla, electric car in passing lane to the future - by Don Pittis
 |
| Car of the year Tesla S, Electric |
I am convinced that today the future of the electric car has suddenly been transformed. Two nearly simultaneous events suggest electric vehicles have smashed through a crucial roadblock, and that you will likely be driving one in your lifetime.
The first significant event was the announcement yesterday that Tesla Motors, the all-electric upstart automaker run by Elon Musk — a real-life Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) — has had its first ever quarterly profit.
The second significant event is a review today in the highly credible Consumer Reports magazine that called the Tesla Model S "the best car we've ever tested."
Read more: Don Pittis: Thanks to Tesla, electric car in passing lane to the future - Business - CBC News
British business leaders make 'overwhelming' EU argument
A group of business leaders from the UK wrote in the left-leaning Independent newspaper on Monday that anyone arguing in favor of an EU exit was "putting politics before economics," saying there was a clear economic incentive for Britain to stay in the bloc.
"The economic case to stay in the EU is overwhelming," the group wrote. "To Britain, membership is estimated to be worth between 31 billion pounds (36.7 billion euros, $47.1 billion) and 92 billion pounds per year in income gains, or between 1,200 and 3,500 pounds for every household."
The signatories included the previous and current presidents of the Chamber of British Industry, as well as Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and the chairmen of Deloitte, telecommunications firm BT and Lloyds. They supported Cameron's stated aim to revise the terms of EU membership, saying some alterations were needed to support the country's financial sector, but concluded that such change was best secured from within.
Read more: British business leaders make 'overwhelming' EU argument | News | DW.DE | 20.05.2013
"The economic case to stay in the EU is overwhelming," the group wrote. "To Britain, membership is estimated to be worth between 31 billion pounds (36.7 billion euros, $47.1 billion) and 92 billion pounds per year in income gains, or between 1,200 and 3,500 pounds for every household."
The signatories included the previous and current presidents of the Chamber of British Industry, as well as Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson and the chairmen of Deloitte, telecommunications firm BT and Lloyds. They supported Cameron's stated aim to revise the terms of EU membership, saying some alterations were needed to support the country's financial sector, but concluded that such change was best secured from within.
Read more: British business leaders make 'overwhelming' EU argument | News | DW.DE | 20.05.2013
Europe's EUR 500 Billion Ticking NPLTime Bomb
Europe's non-performing loan problem is such an issue that there is increasing bluster that the ECB may take this garbage on to its balance sheet since policymakers realize that bad debts and non-performing loans (NPLs) reduce the capacity of banks to lend, hindering the monetary policy transmission mechanism.
Bad debts consume capital and make banks more risk averse, especially with respect to lending to higher risk borrowers such as SMEs. With Italy (NPLs 13.4%) now following the same dismal trajectory of Spain's bad debts, the situation is rapidly escalating (at an average of around 2.5% increase per year).
As we discussed in detail here, the bottom line is that at its core, it is all simply a bad-debt problem, and the more the bad debt, the greater the ultimate liability impairments become, including deposits. As we answered at the time - the real question in Europe is: how much impairment capacity is there in the various European nations before deposits have to be haircut? With Periphery non-performing loans totaling EUR 720bn across the whole of the Euro area in 2012 and EUR 500bn of which were with Peripheral banks, it seems the Cyprus deposit haircut non-template may indeed become the key template.
Simply put, the greater the unemployment the more the strain on banks to generate "profits" by any means possible (GGBS?) to cover the capitalization shortfall from NPLs until at some point liability haircuts have to begin.
Read more: Europe's EUR 500 Billion Ticking NPLTime Bomb | Zero Hedge
Bad debts consume capital and make banks more risk averse, especially with respect to lending to higher risk borrowers such as SMEs. With Italy (NPLs 13.4%) now following the same dismal trajectory of Spain's bad debts, the situation is rapidly escalating (at an average of around 2.5% increase per year).
As we discussed in detail here, the bottom line is that at its core, it is all simply a bad-debt problem, and the more the bad debt, the greater the ultimate liability impairments become, including deposits. As we answered at the time - the real question in Europe is: how much impairment capacity is there in the various European nations before deposits have to be haircut? With Periphery non-performing loans totaling EUR 720bn across the whole of the Euro area in 2012 and EUR 500bn of which were with Peripheral banks, it seems the Cyprus deposit haircut non-template may indeed become the key template.
Simply put, the greater the unemployment the more the strain on banks to generate "profits" by any means possible (GGBS?) to cover the capitalization shortfall from NPLs until at some point liability haircuts have to begin.
Read more: Europe's EUR 500 Billion Ticking NPLTime Bomb | Zero Hedge
5/19/13
EU-Digest poll shows only 40% of people polled say royalty is still relevant in Europe
 |
| Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima |
Ten percent said outright it was not. Twenty percent found it was too costly and should be abolished, while 30% said Royalty and Palaces should be transformed into a "Disney-like theme park concept" and become self-sufficient.
This month's poll covers obesity and cost as it requests your input on the question: "Should obese people be charged for an additional seat on Airplanes, Buses and Trains?
EU-Digest
Sweden - Song Festival: Eurovision song festival won by Emmelie de Forest from Denmark
 |
| Emmelie de Forest from Denmark |
What an evening it has been!! 26 wonderful acts sang their hearts out on stage, competing for the ultimate prize; the title of winner of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
However, there could be just one winner and that was Emmelie de Forest from Denmark who stormed to victory with 281 points!
Here is the link to Emmelie's winning performance on stage in Malmö during the Grand Final:.
To listen to all the contestants : click here
In its almost 60 years of history, the Eurovision Song
Contest and its participants broke many records and enriched us with
countless fait divers. Eurovision.tv highlights the most remarkable and
impressive records.
More than 1,000 songs
already have taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2006, the
song of Ireland's Brian Kennedy was number 1,000. In 2003, Cyprus
delivered the 900th song for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1999,
Lydia's No Quiero Escuchar was the 800th song.Some other points of interest about the Eurovision song festival :
- Most winning songs were performed in English - songs (mostly) in English won 24 times. French is also popular, with 14 victories. Dutch and Hebrew songs won 3 times each
- Six different systems were used over the past decades to pick the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
- ABBA is the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winner. The Swedish pop band won the contest in 1974 and has enjoyed phenomenal success ever since
- The most covered Eurovision Song Contest song is Domenico Mudugno's Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu, also known as Volare. The song has been covered by famous stars such as Dean Martin, Cliff Richard, David Bowie and many more
Fears grow of clash between Israel and Syria - by Edmund Sander
Fears about a possible escalation of violence between Israel and Syria grew Sunday amid renewed Israeli threats to destroy Syrian weapons caches and Syria's warnings of retaliation.
After decades of relative calm along the two nations’ borders, some Israeli officials say tensions with Syria have reached one of the highest points since the 1973 Yom Kippur war.
During a Cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to act to prevent Syria’s advanced weapons from falling into the hands of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah or other organizations deemed to be terrorists.
“The Middle East is in one of its most sensitive periods in decades with the escalating upheaval in Syria,’’ Netanyahu said. “We are monitoring the changes there closely and are prepared for any scenario.”
Israel has been accused of launching three air strikes this year against Syrian weapons stockpiles and convoys, though officially the Israeli government has not acknowledged its responsibility.
But Israeli officials have said repeatedly they will not hesitate to attack if they fear weapons, including chemical stockpiles, are at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
In response, Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose regime did not retaliate for the previous three attacks, has signaled that he will not tolerate a fourth strike.
Read more: Fears grow of clash between Israel and Syria - latimes.com
After decades of relative calm along the two nations’ borders, some Israeli officials say tensions with Syria have reached one of the highest points since the 1973 Yom Kippur war.
During a Cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to act to prevent Syria’s advanced weapons from falling into the hands of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah or other organizations deemed to be terrorists.
“The Middle East is in one of its most sensitive periods in decades with the escalating upheaval in Syria,’’ Netanyahu said. “We are monitoring the changes there closely and are prepared for any scenario.”
Israel has been accused of launching three air strikes this year against Syrian weapons stockpiles and convoys, though officially the Israeli government has not acknowledged its responsibility.
But Israeli officials have said repeatedly they will not hesitate to attack if they fear weapons, including chemical stockpiles, are at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
In response, Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose regime did not retaliate for the previous three attacks, has signaled that he will not tolerate a fourth strike.
Read more: Fears grow of clash between Israel and Syria - latimes.com
Insurance Industry and climate change:: 'Heavily Dependent On Scientific Thought,' See Rising Climate Costs - by Ryan Koronowski
The insurance industry believes climate change is a serious threat to people and property, yet only some companies advocate climate solutions. [New York Times]
If there were one American industry that would be particularly worried about climate change it would have to be insurance, right?
From Hurricane Sandy’s devastating blow to the Northeast to the protracted drought that hit the Midwest Corn Belt, natural catastrophes across the United States pounded insurers last year, generating $35 billion in privately insured property losses, $11 billion more than the average over the last decade.
And the industry expects the situation will get worse. “Numerous studies assume a rise in summer drought periods in North America in the future and an increasing probability of severe cyclones relatively far north along the U.S. East Coast in the long term,” said Peter Höppe, who heads Geo Risks Research at the reinsurance giant Munich Re. “The rise in sea level caused by climate change will further increase the risk of storm surge.” Most insurers, including the reinsurance companies that bear much of the ultimate risk in the industry, have little time for the arguments heard in some right-wing circles that climate change isn’t happening, and are quite comfortable with the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is the main culprit of global warming.
Yet when I asked Mr. Nutter what the American insurance industry was doing to combat global warming, his answer was surprising: nothing much. “The industry has really not been engaged in advocacy related to carbon taxes or proposals addressing carbon,” he said. While some big European reinsurers like Munich Re and Swiss Re support efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, “in the United States the household names really have not engaged at all.” Instead, the focus of insurers’ advocacy efforts is zoning rules and disaster mitigation.
Read more: May 15 News: Insurance Industry 'Heavily Dependent On Scientific Thought,' See Rising Climate Costs | ThinkProgress
If there were one American industry that would be particularly worried about climate change it would have to be insurance, right?
From Hurricane Sandy’s devastating blow to the Northeast to the protracted drought that hit the Midwest Corn Belt, natural catastrophes across the United States pounded insurers last year, generating $35 billion in privately insured property losses, $11 billion more than the average over the last decade.
And the industry expects the situation will get worse. “Numerous studies assume a rise in summer drought periods in North America in the future and an increasing probability of severe cyclones relatively far north along the U.S. East Coast in the long term,” said Peter Höppe, who heads Geo Risks Research at the reinsurance giant Munich Re. “The rise in sea level caused by climate change will further increase the risk of storm surge.” Most insurers, including the reinsurance companies that bear much of the ultimate risk in the industry, have little time for the arguments heard in some right-wing circles that climate change isn’t happening, and are quite comfortable with the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is the main culprit of global warming.
Yet when I asked Mr. Nutter what the American insurance industry was doing to combat global warming, his answer was surprising: nothing much. “The industry has really not been engaged in advocacy related to carbon taxes or proposals addressing carbon,” he said. While some big European reinsurers like Munich Re and Swiss Re support efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, “in the United States the household names really have not engaged at all.” Instead, the focus of insurers’ advocacy efforts is zoning rules and disaster mitigation.
Read more: May 15 News: Insurance Industry 'Heavily Dependent On Scientific Thought,' See Rising Climate Costs | ThinkProgress
After the Jelly Beans Are All Gone Comes Pentecost - Annie Dillard
This Sunday, May 19, Christians celebrate Pentecost, the middle child of Christian holidays, wedged between Christmas and Easter. Pentecost doesn't call attention to itself. There's no tinsel, no pastel colored eggs.
There is, however, a distinctive magic to Pentecost -- full-blown ecstasy, an almost illicit experience of God.
That first Pentecost, after tongues as of fire rested on everyone and Jesus' friends and family spoke in other tongues, people gathered around to watch at nine in the morning. What they saw didn't look like many Sunday morning church services.
What they saw looked more like the aftermath of a party. "All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' But others sneered and said, 'They are filled with new wine'" (Acts 2:13). They weren't drunk, of course, but they looked like it.
Wouldn't that be something, to be so taken up with God that onlookers think we're drunk with sweet wine? Wouldn't it be remarkable to ride the edge of ecstasy? "Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke?" Annie Dillard asks.
Pentecost. Crash helmets. Signal flares -- tongues as of fire falling on each of us.
Yet that's only half the story of Pentecost. When Jesus' friends and family spoke up, ecstasy became acuity, drunkenness took shape in deliberate truth-telling. "Amazed and astonished," jaw-dropped onlookers asked, "How is it that ... in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's praiseworthy acts" (Acts 2:11). God's praiseworthy acts is shorthand for God's eager participation in history. At the heart of Jewish Torah, Moses encouraged the Israelites to "acknowledge God's praiseworthy acts, God's mighty hand and God's outstretched arm" (Deuteronomy 11:2). In profound ancient poetry, we discover the words, "Sing to God, sing praises to God; tell of all God's praiseworthy acts" (Psalm 105:1-2).
Read more: Jack Levison: After the Jelly Beans Are All Gone Comes Pentecost
There is, however, a distinctive magic to Pentecost -- full-blown ecstasy, an almost illicit experience of God.
That first Pentecost, after tongues as of fire rested on everyone and Jesus' friends and family spoke in other tongues, people gathered around to watch at nine in the morning. What they saw didn't look like many Sunday morning church services.
What they saw looked more like the aftermath of a party. "All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' But others sneered and said, 'They are filled with new wine'" (Acts 2:13). They weren't drunk, of course, but they looked like it.
Wouldn't that be something, to be so taken up with God that onlookers think we're drunk with sweet wine? Wouldn't it be remarkable to ride the edge of ecstasy? "Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke?" Annie Dillard asks.
Pentecost. Crash helmets. Signal flares -- tongues as of fire falling on each of us.
Yet that's only half the story of Pentecost. When Jesus' friends and family spoke up, ecstasy became acuity, drunkenness took shape in deliberate truth-telling. "Amazed and astonished," jaw-dropped onlookers asked, "How is it that ... in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's praiseworthy acts" (Acts 2:11). God's praiseworthy acts is shorthand for God's eager participation in history. At the heart of Jewish Torah, Moses encouraged the Israelites to "acknowledge God's praiseworthy acts, God's mighty hand and God's outstretched arm" (Deuteronomy 11:2). In profound ancient poetry, we discover the words, "Sing to God, sing praises to God; tell of all God's praiseworthy acts" (Psalm 105:1-2).
Read more: Jack Levison: After the Jelly Beans Are All Gone Comes Pentecost
Consumer Privacy - Google Glass: A Privacy Concern?
Perhaps you’ve seen them already—people walking around with glasses that don’t resemble eyeglasses, with a tiny little box on one side. While they may look funny and awkward, many people are very nervous about what Google Glass means for your privacy.
As wearable technology goes, Google Glass is exciting. The idea of wearing a computer that you can tell it what to do, get the answers you need, and be able to engage with friends over social media effortlessly seems like something out of the future. With Google Glass, wearers can surf the Web and look up answers to questions, take pictures and record video and upload them to Google+ and YouTube, initiate a Hangout, and get turn-by-turn navigation directions. Initial reports from people who are testing the headgear report a surprisingly comfortable fit and smooth online experience.
But as all things Google, there are some people increasingly worried about the erosion of privacy. It’s one thing for Google Glass wearers to agree to share more of their information—where they go in the physical and virtual world and what pictures they are taking—with Google. But it’s a whole new level of privacy concerns when taking pictures and taking video may violate someone else’s privacy.
Read more: Google Glass: A Privacy Concern? - ZoneAlarm Blog
As wearable technology goes, Google Glass is exciting. The idea of wearing a computer that you can tell it what to do, get the answers you need, and be able to engage with friends over social media effortlessly seems like something out of the future. With Google Glass, wearers can surf the Web and look up answers to questions, take pictures and record video and upload them to Google+ and YouTube, initiate a Hangout, and get turn-by-turn navigation directions. Initial reports from people who are testing the headgear report a surprisingly comfortable fit and smooth online experience.
But as all things Google, there are some people increasingly worried about the erosion of privacy. It’s one thing for Google Glass wearers to agree to share more of their information—where they go in the physical and virtual world and what pictures they are taking—with Google. But it’s a whole new level of privacy concerns when taking pictures and taking video may violate someone else’s privacy.
Read more: Google Glass: A Privacy Concern? - ZoneAlarm Blog
5/18/13
Angelina Jolie’s leadership lessons: Obama, are you listening? by Tony Burman
Unlike Jolie’s take-charge approach, the Obama administration appears weak and reactive in face of IRS, Benghazi missteps.
Read more: Angelina Jolie’s leadership lessons: Obama, are you listening? Burman | Toronto Star
On Tuesday, a day which saw the Obama administration stumbling and fumbling in response to a series of political embarrassments, the Oscar-winning actress and director wrote a remarkable essay in the New York Times that ended with a simple but powerful sentiment: “Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”
Jolie, a mother of six, revealed she underwent a preventive double mastectomy because she carried a rare defective gene that made it virtually certain she would one day develop breast or ovarian cancer. Her odds are now less than 5 per cent.
Jolie’s action was bold and proactive — “I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer” — and her decision to make it public was selfless and strategic. It was an intimate message to other women “who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer” that this disease can be beaten. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”
Read more: Angelina Jolie’s leadership lessons: Obama, are you listening? Burman | Toronto Star
France: Cannes Film Festival hit by $1 million jewellery theft
Jewels worth $1 million in total were stolen from a hotel room in Cannes during the southern French city's famous film festival, French police said on Friday. The jewels were to be lent to movie stars.
Read more: : Cannes Film Festival hit by $1 million jewellery theft - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
Read more: : Cannes Film Festival hit by $1 million jewellery theft - FRANCE - FRANCE 24
Merkel and Pope Talk About a 'Strong' Europe
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mindful of the weight of Christian voters in September elections, made a quick trip to Rome Saturday for a private meeting with Pope Francis, focusing on how Europe's struggling economy should be at the service of the people.
Merkel spoke privately for 45 minutes with the pope at the Apostolic Palace, after exchanging cordial greetings in Germany.
Her Christian Democrat party depends heavily on support from Protestant and Catholic voters, and the chat and photo opportunity could be a welcome campaign boost for a leader largely identified by Europe's economically suffering citizens as a champion of debt reduction even at the cost of painful austerity across much of the continent.
On Thursday, Francis blasted what he called a "cult of money" in a global financial system that ends up tyrannizing, not helping, the world's poor.
Read more: Merkel and Pope Talk About a 'Strong' Europe - ABC News
Merkel spoke privately for 45 minutes with the pope at the Apostolic Palace, after exchanging cordial greetings in Germany.
Her Christian Democrat party depends heavily on support from Protestant and Catholic voters, and the chat and photo opportunity could be a welcome campaign boost for a leader largely identified by Europe's economically suffering citizens as a champion of debt reduction even at the cost of painful austerity across much of the continent.
On Thursday, Francis blasted what he called a "cult of money" in a global financial system that ends up tyrannizing, not helping, the world's poor.
Read more: Merkel and Pope Talk About a 'Strong' Europe - ABC News
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)