Ten economic charts which nobody seems to want to read, but should.
Note EU-Digest: a scary scenario, which could also very well happen in Europe. Let us hope someone among Europe's political elite, who usually do not look further than their "nationalistic self centered noses", will sit up and take notice.
For more: What Is Wrong With The U.S. Economy? Here Are 10 Economic Charts That Will Blow Your Mind | Benzinga.com
2/16/11
20% unemployment in the 16- 35 age group in U.K. as January unemployment claims unexpectedly rise further - by Svenja O’Donnell
U.K. unemployment claims unexpectedly rose in January, underlining the fragility of the labor market a year after the economy emerged from recession and as public-spending cuts start in earnest.
The number of people receiving unemployment benefits rose 2,400 to 1.46 million, the Office for National Statistics in London said today. The median of 25 forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey was for a drop of 3,000. Unemployment based on International Labour Organization methods rose by 44,000 in the fourth quarter to 2.49 million.
Prime Minister David Cameron is counting on hiring at private companies at a time when his government embarks on budget cuts that will cost 330,000 public-sector jobs over the next four years. Bank of England Governor Mervyn King presents new economic forecasts today as soaring inflation sharpens divisions among policy makers over whether to raise interest rates.
Note EU-Digest: Most countries in Europe which copied more opportunist US style economic policies, including Britain, Ireland, Spain, Italy and some Eastern European nations, to solve their problems as a result of the economic crises, are today suffering more than those which opted for austerity measures, and fiscally responsible economic corrective measures. Greece in this respect does not fit any of these categories, because it is presently trying, with great difficulty, to turn the page from an historically structurally flawed economic and social system to a more responsible one.
Optimistic economic news coming out of America from the financial industry controlled press should also be taken with a grain of salt. Reading between the lines of these optimistic reports the figures show that the so-called "real" unemployment number in the US-- which takes into account a broad swath of the working-age population -- remains above 16 percent. The US Department of Commerce also reported last week that the trade deficit increased 5.9 percent in December to $40.6 billion regardless of the fact that exports increased. The US Debt now amounts to more than 14 trillion dollars. Not since World War II has the federal budget deficit made up such a big chunk of the U.S. economy. And within two or three years, economists fear the result could be sharply higher interest rates that could cause a domino effect of economic bad tidings..
For more: U.K. January Unemployment Claims Unexpectedly Rise - Businessweek
Optimistic economic news coming out of America from the financial industry controlled press should also be taken with a grain of salt. Reading between the lines of these optimistic reports the figures show that the so-called "real" unemployment number in the US-- which takes into account a broad swath of the working-age population -- remains above 16 percent. The US Department of Commerce also reported last week that the trade deficit increased 5.9 percent in December to $40.6 billion regardless of the fact that exports increased. The US Debt now amounts to more than 14 trillion dollars. Not since World War II has the federal budget deficit made up such a big chunk of the U.S. economy. And within two or three years, economists fear the result could be sharply higher interest rates that could cause a domino effect of economic bad tidings..
Italy: Casanova reincarnated: Silvio Berlusconi 'entertained woman at Roman castle' - by Nick Squires
But he was also throwing "two or three dinners" a week at the 15th century Castello di Tor Crescenza on the outskirts of the capital, according to telephone calls which were intercepted by Milan prosecutors in the course of their investigations into his alleged payment of an under age prostitute.
The allegations further broaden the scope of Berlusconi's network of female groupies, with investigators examining whether there is any evidence of "aiding and abetting" prostitution at the castle, according to reports in the Italian press. The wire taps suggest that the circle of young women who attended parties at Mr Berlusconi's Milan residence were jealous of the frequency of the dinners held at the castle outside Rome.
For more: Silvio Berlusconi 'entertained woman at Roman castle' - Telegraph
Weak EU growth reveals the price of austerity
A clear pattern seems to be emerging after the European Union’s statistics office, Eurostat, released its figures showing that the eurozone economy grew by a lower than expected 0.3 per cent in Q4 2010, with the growth figure for the EU as a whole 0.2%. This meant that total GDP growth in both the EU and the eurozone was 1.7% - sluggish but not entirely unexpected after a turbulent year.
So, what does the data mean? The pattern is that the harsher the austerity program the weaker the economic performance. While the economic powerhouses of Germany and France are seeing higher levels of exports and investment, most other EU countries will probably continue to struggle, even though eurozone inflation is, at 2.4%, almost half the rate in the UK.
Weak EU growth reveals the price of austerity | Left Foot Forward
So, what does the data mean? The pattern is that the harsher the austerity program the weaker the economic performance. While the economic powerhouses of Germany and France are seeing higher levels of exports and investment, most other EU countries will probably continue to struggle, even though eurozone inflation is, at 2.4%, almost half the rate in the UK.
Weak EU growth reveals the price of austerity | Left Foot Forward
Clashes at funeral of Iran protest victim
Clashes erupted between regime backers and “apparent” supporters of Iran’s opposition at a funeral in Tehran Wednesday of a person killed in anti-government protests, state television reported.
For more: Clashes at funeral of Iran protest victim: TV | World | DAWN.COM
For more: Clashes at funeral of Iran protest victim: TV | World | DAWN.COM
2/15/11
EU, IMF auditors should learn their place says Greece
Greece on Monday kept up the heat on auditors from the European Union and the IMF who said the government should sell 50 billion euros in state assets to lessen the country's runaway public debt
.
"They have no right to announce government decisions," state spokesman George Petalotis said as the authorities struggled to convince critics that the huge asset sale was the Greek government's own idea.
"It is our decision to aim for a target of 50 billion euro ($68 billion). We are talking about exploitation (of our resources)... not a sellout," Petalotis said.
Note EU-Digest: Greece, which has been living beyond their means for years gets upset today when they are told how to manage their finances by their partners in the EU, who are bailing them out of the financial crises they created for themselves. Experts believe that one way to cut their deficit would be to slash their army budget in half. Greece, one of the smaller countries in the European Union, spends more than any other country in the EU on defense as a percentage of its GDP: 3.3%. By comparison, Germany, the most populous country in the EU spends less than 2% of its GDP on defense. There is absolutely no need for their huge army and their argument that they need it to protect them from Turkey, lacks not only common sense, but is also ridiculous.
For more: AFP: EU, IMF auditors should learn their place: Greece
.
"They have no right to announce government decisions," state spokesman George Petalotis said as the authorities struggled to convince critics that the huge asset sale was the Greek government's own idea.
"It is our decision to aim for a target of 50 billion euro ($68 billion). We are talking about exploitation (of our resources)... not a sellout," Petalotis said.
Note EU-Digest: Greece, which has been living beyond their means for years gets upset today when they are told how to manage their finances by their partners in the EU, who are bailing them out of the financial crises they created for themselves. Experts believe that one way to cut their deficit would be to slash their army budget in half. Greece, one of the smaller countries in the European Union, spends more than any other country in the EU on defense as a percentage of its GDP: 3.3%. By comparison, Germany, the most populous country in the EU spends less than 2% of its GDP on defense. There is absolutely no need for their huge army and their argument that they need it to protect them from Turkey, lacks not only common sense, but is also ridiculous.
For more: AFP: EU, IMF auditors should learn their place: Greece
Deal reached to boost eurozone bail-out fund - by Peter Spiegel and Stanley Pignal
European finance ministers agreed Monday that their new rescue system forstruggling eurozone economies would be able to lend €500bn ($675bn) for any future bail-outs, but deferred all decisions on how they will ensure the fund can achieve that level of financial firepower.
The size of the fund is identical to the current, temporary rescue system - Brussels stands by wider EFSF scope temporary rescue system – made up of €440bn from a eurozone fund and another €60bn from an European Union-wide facility – that has been plagued by doubts over whether it is big enough to handle the expanding number of countries that may need assistance.
But Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister who heads the group of 17 eurozone countries, said that unlike the current system, the new fund would be able to lend all €500bn it will have under its control. The current fund can only lend about €250bn because of complex rules that require it to maintain cash buffers in order to reassure financial markets of its creditworthiness.
For more: FT.com / Brussels / Economy - Deal reached to boost eurozone bail-out fund
The size of the fund is identical to the current, temporary rescue system - Brussels stands by wider EFSF scope temporary rescue system – made up of €440bn from a eurozone fund and another €60bn from an European Union-wide facility – that has been plagued by doubts over whether it is big enough to handle the expanding number of countries that may need assistance.
But Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister who heads the group of 17 eurozone countries, said that unlike the current system, the new fund would be able to lend all €500bn it will have under its control. The current fund can only lend about €250bn because of complex rules that require it to maintain cash buffers in order to reassure financial markets of its creditworthiness.
For more: FT.com / Brussels / Economy - Deal reached to boost eurozone bail-out fund
No one watches out for taxpayers - by Christine P. Ries
Proposals for tax reform are sweeping the US and Europe. In the US top down and bottom up, tax reform is one of the few issues that could win bipartisan support in the Congress. A growing list of nations and states are pursuing reform by cutting spending and trying to grow their way out of their deficit dilemmas — cut government spending to reduce the draw of resources out of the private sector and restructure the way you tax in order to "incentivize" the growth of existing business and attraction or creation of new businesses.
The US in particular is in this fix because of their deficits. Special-interest groups have captured both political parties; the system in Washington ( and in some cases Europe) rewards those who trade in “special interests.”
U.S. corporate income tax rates are highest in the world after decades of excess spending and raising taxes in attempts to reduce deficits by raising tax rates, especially on corporations. Germany (30 percent), Taiwan (17 percent) and South Korea (25 percent) have already led the way. When Japan cuts its rate this year, the U.S. moves to the number one spot (39.2 percent, combined state and federal.)
In the decade leading to 2007, the 10 states with the lowest corporate income tax rates (2.8 percent on average) saw state personal income grow by 82 percent. That’s against 58 percent for the 10 highest taxing states.
Voting with their feet, Americans looking for jobs and opportunity move to the low tax rate states.
Right now no one is watching out for the most special interest group of all — the taxpayer. In America politicians bring home the bacon while the deficit soars.
For more: No one watches out for taxpayers | ajc.com
The US in particular is in this fix because of their deficits. Special-interest groups have captured both political parties; the system in Washington ( and in some cases Europe) rewards those who trade in “special interests.”
U.S. corporate income tax rates are highest in the world after decades of excess spending and raising taxes in attempts to reduce deficits by raising tax rates, especially on corporations. Germany (30 percent), Taiwan (17 percent) and South Korea (25 percent) have already led the way. When Japan cuts its rate this year, the U.S. moves to the number one spot (39.2 percent, combined state and federal.)
In the decade leading to 2007, the 10 states with the lowest corporate income tax rates (2.8 percent on average) saw state personal income grow by 82 percent. That’s against 58 percent for the 10 highest taxing states.
Voting with their feet, Americans looking for jobs and opportunity move to the low tax rate states.
Right now no one is watching out for the most special interest group of all — the taxpayer. In America politicians bring home the bacon while the deficit soars.
For more: No one watches out for taxpayers | ajc.com
2/14/11
China's economy hasn't overtaken Japan's – at least, not in a way that matters – by Daniel Knowles
Type “China overtakes Japan” into Google and look at the first two results. They’re both from the Guardian, and they both have exactly the same headline: “China overtakes Japan as world’s second-largest economy”. Except that while one is dated from today, the other one is from August 16 last year.
This is not necessarily a mistake by the Guardian – nor is it the only publication to have made it. GDP statistics are notoriously inaccurate, and early estimates are prone to huge revisions later (as George Osborne will be hoping). China’s economy could easily “overtake” Japan’s several times as the data change. China’s rise is not an event that can be reported on the day it happens; it is something that takes years. The Guardian can be forgiven for using today’s figures as an excuse to report it.
But even if the Chinese economy is now larger than Japan’s, this still isn’t really news, for two reasons. First, when comparing countries, it is normal to adjust for purchasing power parity – a measure of how much things actually costs that is best explained by the Economist’s Big Mac Index. When you adjust the figures, you see that China actually overtook Japan years ago.
Second, using any measure of total GDP as a measure of the success of an economy is absurd. Even Sarah Palin would understand that the only really informative measure is GDP per capita. China has a population of approximately 1.3 billion people, so its average income per person is about $7,400 – or a sixth of that of Japan. So when the Japanese economy minister, Kaoru Yosano, said “As an economy, we are not competing for rankings but working to improve citizens’ lives” he was subtly reminding us that, even after two decades of stagnation, Japan’s economy is still way ahead of most of its Asian rivals.
For more: China's economy hasn't overtaken Japan's – at least, not in a way that matters – Telegraph Blogs
This is not necessarily a mistake by the Guardian – nor is it the only publication to have made it. GDP statistics are notoriously inaccurate, and early estimates are prone to huge revisions later (as George Osborne will be hoping). China’s economy could easily “overtake” Japan’s several times as the data change. China’s rise is not an event that can be reported on the day it happens; it is something that takes years. The Guardian can be forgiven for using today’s figures as an excuse to report it.
But even if the Chinese economy is now larger than Japan’s, this still isn’t really news, for two reasons. First, when comparing countries, it is normal to adjust for purchasing power parity – a measure of how much things actually costs that is best explained by the Economist’s Big Mac Index. When you adjust the figures, you see that China actually overtook Japan years ago.
Second, using any measure of total GDP as a measure of the success of an economy is absurd. Even Sarah Palin would understand that the only really informative measure is GDP per capita. China has a population of approximately 1.3 billion people, so its average income per person is about $7,400 – or a sixth of that of Japan. So when the Japanese economy minister, Kaoru Yosano, said “As an economy, we are not competing for rankings but working to improve citizens’ lives” he was subtly reminding us that, even after two decades of stagnation, Japan’s economy is still way ahead of most of its Asian rivals.
For more: China's economy hasn't overtaken Japan's – at least, not in a way that matters – Telegraph Blogs
The US Dollar Does Not Deserve To Be The World Reserve Currency: Bernanke the Alchemist - Nickolai Hubble
If you are, consider changing your passport color. Apart from the tough times ahead for the world, things are already looking particularly troubling for those stuck in the States. You might recall the media reporting that international (read Swiss) banks were considering whether to cease serving US clients because of various new laws.Goldman Sachs has decided to make its offering of Facebook stock unavailable to Americans! An American investment bank, an American company, but no Americans allowed. Goldman blames it on securities law. The key point is that America is falling apart law by law. Not just dollar by dollar.
By taking the world off the gold standard and making US dollars an unbacked global reserve currency, you have a new revelation. Nations other than the US need to buy US dollars to trade. They'd agree to this (or have so far) because everyone else used the dollar to. It was convenient (liquid) and with the largest economy in the world for many years, the U.S. currency was also the most stable and reliable store of value.
The flaw in the design of the dollar standard system is that the US Federal Reserve can simply print more dollars to pay for its overseas spending sprees. This is convenient, as it costs nothing to create US dollars. The American economy cannot run out of what needs to be handed over when it runs trade deficits. It simply prints more dollars. Charles De Gaulle is said to have called this an "exorbitant privilege".
For more: Bernanke the Alchemist
Iran: Cyber Virus Stuxnet scored quick hit on first target, says researcher
On Friday, Symantec published new information on Stuxnet, the worm that most suspect was aimed at Iran's nuclear program, including the uranium enrichment centrifuges at its underground Natanz facility.
In its newest Stuxnet analysis, Symantec said that 10 original infections in three waves over an 11-month period had targeted five domains linked to organizations within Iran. Symantec has declined to name the organizations, saying only that all five were involved in industrial processing.
As the worm spread, those 10 infected PCs later hijacked about 12,000 Iranian computers.
For more: Stuxnet scored quick hit on first target, says researcher - Computerworld
In its newest Stuxnet analysis, Symantec said that 10 original infections in three waves over an 11-month period had targeted five domains linked to organizations within Iran. Symantec has declined to name the organizations, saying only that all five were involved in industrial processing.
As the worm spread, those 10 infected PCs later hijacked about 12,000 Iranian computers.
For more: Stuxnet scored quick hit on first target, says researcher - Computerworld
Turkey's Gul, in Iran, urges respect for people power
Turkish President Abdullah Gul used a news conference with his Iranian counterpart on Monday to call on Middle Eastern governments to listen to the demands of their people.
Gul's first official visit to Tehran coincided with a planned opposition demonstration, in support of popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, which organisers hoped would revive Iran's reformist "Green" movement.President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, which considers the Green movement "seditionist" after protests against his 2009 re-election, has not authorized the rally.
At a joint news conference, both presidents spoke of their countries' close relations, but Gul went on to comment on the rise of popular discontent in the Middle East. "My view is that what is happening should in no way be regarded as a surprise. In this age of communication, in an age where everybody is aware of each other, the demands and desires of the people are very realistic," Gul said, in response to a question about the state of Middle East affairs.
Note EU-Digest: Mr. Gul should be complimented for taking a stand on Democracy and People Power while in Iran.
For more: Turkey's Gul, in Iran, urges respect for people power | News by Country | Reuters
Gul's first official visit to Tehran coincided with a planned opposition demonstration, in support of popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, which organisers hoped would revive Iran's reformist "Green" movement.President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, which considers the Green movement "seditionist" after protests against his 2009 re-election, has not authorized the rally.
At a joint news conference, both presidents spoke of their countries' close relations, but Gul went on to comment on the rise of popular discontent in the Middle East. "My view is that what is happening should in no way be regarded as a surprise. In this age of communication, in an age where everybody is aware of each other, the demands and desires of the people are very realistic," Gul said, in response to a question about the state of Middle East affairs.
Note EU-Digest: Mr. Gul should be complimented for taking a stand on Democracy and People Power while in Iran.
For more: Turkey's Gul, in Iran, urges respect for people power | News by Country | Reuters
Second Iranian opposition leader under house arrest - Middle East, World - The Independent
Mr Karroubi had joined another leading opposition figure, Mirhossein Mousavi, in asking the government for permission to hold a rally on 14 February.
State prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehi rejected the demand on Wednesday and warned of repercussions if the rally takes place. Instead, those seeking to show solidarity with Egyptian protesters should join a state-organised rally marking the 32nd anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution on Friday, he said.
Egypt Revolution Comments Slip Past China's Web Police
The Chinese government maintained a tight grip on news and discussion of the Egyptian president's dramatic downfall—an event that could send a subversive message to its own population—but some Internet users managed to evade censors to celebrate. "A victory for democracy!" wrote one anonymous Internet user from Henan in an online forum. "The trend of democracy is unstoppable! There is no exception for China!"
Beijing's sensitivity to coverage of the Egyptian uprising has spurred new questions about the prospects of U.S. social-networking services entering the country.
Protesters in Egypt had mobilized support using popular local websites and Facebook, a website blocked in China. It is the type of rebellion that Chinese authorities have long feared could challenge the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
On Sina Weibo and other Chinese Twitter-like micro-blogging services, discussions of the massive protests that brought down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak were partly hidden, with searches for "Egypt" returning messages saying results couldn't be found or couldn't be displayed, a mechanism commonly used by Chinese websites to comply with censorship orders.
For more: Egypt Comments Slip Past China's Web Police - WSJ.com
Beijing's sensitivity to coverage of the Egyptian uprising has spurred new questions about the prospects of U.S. social-networking services entering the country.
Protesters in Egypt had mobilized support using popular local websites and Facebook, a website blocked in China. It is the type of rebellion that Chinese authorities have long feared could challenge the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
On Sina Weibo and other Chinese Twitter-like micro-blogging services, discussions of the massive protests that brought down Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak were partly hidden, with searches for "Egypt" returning messages saying results couldn't be found or couldn't be displayed, a mechanism commonly used by Chinese websites to comply with censorship orders.
For more: Egypt Comments Slip Past China's Web Police - WSJ.com
RT Expands Its Reach and Presence In Major U.S. Cities
RT, an international Russian TV news channel, has launched its English-language feed, 24x7, on San Francisco's major cable provider, Comcast, which brings it to approximately 4 million viewers in the San Francisco metro area.
In the U.S., RT is carried by cable networks in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; and in Los Angeles, CA.
A recent Nielsen survey revealed that TV viewers in Washington, DC, and in New York city metro prefer RT to other major international news channels as their source of daily information.
In the U.S., RT is carried by cable networks in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; and in Los Angeles, CA.
A recent Nielsen survey revealed that TV viewers in Washington, DC, and in New York city metro prefer RT to other major international news channels as their source of daily information.
Double jobs make PVV Wilders MPs among the best paid politicans in the Netherlands
Ten MPs and MEPs for the anti-Islam Wilders PVV party plan to combine their membership of parliament with membership of a provincial council, the Volkskrant reported on Friday.
This will place them among the best-paid politicians in the country, with an MP’s salary of €90,000 a year plus upwards of €10,000 from the province.
Two of the 26 PVV MPs Raymond de Roon and Richard de Mos already have double jobs because they also have seats on Almere and The Hague city council. They earn €24,000 and €30,000 a year for their council duties. De Roon is also campaigning for election to the provincial government.
For more: DutchNews.nl - Double jobs make PVV MPs among the best paid politicans in the Netherlands
This will place them among the best-paid politicians in the country, with an MP’s salary of €90,000 a year plus upwards of €10,000 from the province.
Two of the 26 PVV MPs Raymond de Roon and Richard de Mos already have double jobs because they also have seats on Almere and The Hague city council. They earn €24,000 and €30,000 a year for their council duties. De Roon is also campaigning for election to the provincial government.
For more: DutchNews.nl - Double jobs make PVV MPs among the best paid politicans in the Netherlands
European backlash over multiculturalism
European leaders are one by one denouncing the policy of multiculturalism. The latest “fail” stamp came from French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who said he does not want people to pray in an “ostentatious way” in the street. As popular unrest stirs up Northern Africa, there are fears of a fresh wave of immigrants flocking to the EU and the Old World is not waiting for them with open arms. The concept of multiculturalism seems to be failing all around Europe.
The one who started the trend was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This approach has failed, utterly,” she said. Then British Prime Minister David Cameron weighed in, saying, “We failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong.”
The heads of state have only now realized what many observers and radicals have been saying for quite some time. “Multiculturalism will only function if people coming to the country will have a job, have their own money and feel responsible for the community,” says immigration officer Arnold Mengelkoch from Copenhagen. “Otherwise, they are jobless people who lead a passive life with social welfare.”
For more: European backlash over multiculturalism — RT
The one who started the trend was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “This approach has failed, utterly,” she said. Then British Prime Minister David Cameron weighed in, saying, “We failed to provide a vision of society to which they feel they want to belong.”
The heads of state have only now realized what many observers and radicals have been saying for quite some time. “Multiculturalism will only function if people coming to the country will have a job, have their own money and feel responsible for the community,” says immigration officer Arnold Mengelkoch from Copenhagen. “Otherwise, they are jobless people who lead a passive life with social welfare.”
For more: European backlash over multiculturalism — RT
2/13/11
Turkey is the cradle of Christianity - by Christy Smith
This is the land of Helen of Troy, Alexander the Great, Constantine and the Ottoman Empire. Its boundaries hold the remains of castles, ancient battlegrounds, remnants of the Roman Empire and the palaces of some of the grandest dynasties in the world's history.
Straddling both Europe and Asia and surrounded by the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black seas. ( Picture insert: Ephesus) Turkey is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.
It is also arguably the holiest site on the planet outside of Israel.
For more: Turkey is the cradle of Christianity - Life - The Charleston Gazette - West Virginia News and Sports -
2/12/11
Turkey: Majority believes Turkey does not need European Union
Turks don’t think Turkey needs to join the European Union for economic prosperity, nor do they believe that membership in the increasingly anti-Turkish bloc is possible, a recent survey conducted by the Turkish-German Foundation for Education and Scientific Research (TAVAK) has shown.
TAVAK, headed by Professor Faruk Şen, conducted surveys across six Turkish provinces in January. The results were published yesterday in the Akşam daily. The study found that a majority of Turks are skeptical about the need to join the EU for economic reasons, while they also say they don’t have faith in the process, which has so far proven to be simply drudging and extremely unpleasant for Turkey.
The provinces included in the study were İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Artvin, Diyarbakır and Kayseri, where a total of 22 million reside. Artvin was chosen for having the highest rate of literacy in Turkey, Diyarbakır for being the biggest metropolitan area in the Southeast and Kayseri for its religious conservatism and for being the province with the most trade with EU countries. A total of 540 respondents participated in the survey aged between 18 and 60.
For more: Majority believes Turkey does not need European Union
TAVAK, headed by Professor Faruk Şen, conducted surveys across six Turkish provinces in January. The results were published yesterday in the Akşam daily. The study found that a majority of Turks are skeptical about the need to join the EU for economic reasons, while they also say they don’t have faith in the process, which has so far proven to be simply drudging and extremely unpleasant for Turkey.
The provinces included in the study were İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Artvin, Diyarbakır and Kayseri, where a total of 22 million reside. Artvin was chosen for having the highest rate of literacy in Turkey, Diyarbakır for being the biggest metropolitan area in the Southeast and Kayseri for its religious conservatism and for being the province with the most trade with EU countries. A total of 540 respondents participated in the survey aged between 18 and 60.
For more: Majority believes Turkey does not need European Union
2/11/11
"Middle East Freedom Express": Monday Next Stop Iran - end theocratic dictatorship
Iran's pro-democracy Green Movement has called people to the streets in solidarity with protestors in Egypt and Tunisia, as the call gained momentum on blogs and social networking sites, with over 30,000 people pledging to participate on one protest group's Facebook page.
Iranian youth activists got a boost from Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and Egyptian protest leader, who showed up on Tahrir Square wearing the signature green wrist band of Iran's opposition. "I tell all Iranians that you should learn from Egyptians because we learned from you," Mr. Ghonim told an Iranian human rights group on Thursday. His comments and picture were widely posted on opposition websites and blogs.
Today the Iranian theocratic dictatorship commemorated the 32nd anniversary of its Islamic Revolution on Friday with poorly attended so-called victory parades, as it tried to squelch counter demonstrations planned across the country for Monday.
EU-Digest
Iranian youth activists got a boost from Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and Egyptian protest leader, who showed up on Tahrir Square wearing the signature green wrist band of Iran's opposition. "I tell all Iranians that you should learn from Egyptians because we learned from you," Mr. Ghonim told an Iranian human rights group on Thursday. His comments and picture were widely posted on opposition websites and blogs.
Today the Iranian theocratic dictatorship commemorated the 32nd anniversary of its Islamic Revolution on Friday with poorly attended so-called victory parades, as it tried to squelch counter demonstrations planned across the country for Monday.
EU-Digest
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