The Closer
NEW
ROUND-UP The FT’s markets round-up: “Stocks and commodities sold off as fears over the outlook for global growth mounted after weak manufacturing data from Germany...
The Moody’s bank downgrades
NEW
New York, June 21, 2012 — Moody’s Investors Service today repositioned the ratings of 15 banks and securities firms with global capital markets operations. The long-term...
Transforming Us Regally Using Hair Extensions
NEW
One amazing thing about women is how they managed to take care of themselves most particularly their appearances. While most of us are already aware of the fashion brilliance of women as everything they wear is guaranteed to capture our attention and...
An EU referendum is coming, but when and on what terms?
NEW
An EU referendum is starting to look inevitable. As the great Finkelstein put it the other day: The question of whether there will be, or should be, a referendum on our continued membership and the terms of that membership is the hottest topic in pol...
Civil Society and Democracy Building: The youth perspective
NEW
Reblogged from mariepaz: The civil society or alternatively the third sector is an important stakeholder in the society because it gives voice to the citizens by empowering various social structures. … Continue reading →...
Mrs Merkel's Germany is Europe's one musketeer | Josef Joffe
NEW
The German chancellor's critics should stop accusing her of Teutonic arrogance. Why should she take on everyone's debts?Kaiser Bill would approve. A hundred years after he tried and failed, his heirs – a woman on top – have achieved mastery over...
There is nothing wrong with tax avoidance.
NEW
Reading about the whole Jimmy Carr tax hoo-hah today I came across an online remark where he was called a “parasite”. Now, this caught my eye, because even if he had just paid 1% tax on £4 million quid, which are the figures being bandie...
Looking for Buttons? A Charming Book
NEW
I don’t often review a book, but I thought it was worth reviewing this one. (Image copyright J Hayes) Cards on table, the author is one of my good friends – we’ve known each other about 20 years, and at … Continue reading U...
‘The AAA almost unreachable’
NEW
We’re waiting for Moody’s to come out and downgrade 15 global banks at pixel time. All well-flagged, obvs. Everyone’s watching the collateral calls.This isn’t...
PECH Committee put downs ‘a clear marker’ for a sustainable fishery
NEW
According to the EP Fisheries Committee, EU fishermen's organisations should be empowered to help promote sustainable fishing, reduce unwanted catches and combat illegal fishing. Following the vote on the first draft regulation in the commo...
Europe's environmental plans to face challenges
NEW
According to an article by EurActiv, Europe will face difficulties regarding its plan for strengthening global environmental governance at the upcoming sustainable development conference this week. “I think this is really going to be one of the...
You take the plane, and I'll take the train - on uniform passenger rights
NEW
Since I've been mostly travelling in the past month (the photo is one of the favourite ones I took in Mexico City), it's nice to find more EC news on consumer travel. While I mostly used air planes, there were also some buses and railways involved he...
Scott Walker's Recall Vote in Perspective: A Massive Victory for America's Taxpayers
NEW
My article explaining the Scott Walker recall to the French is up at Le Cri du Contribuable (The Taxpayer's Cry), with background and context related to the Tea Party movement (if you have the time, and the inclination, please give the article 5 star...
Saving the E.U.: Beyond the Squabbles
NEW
During the G-20 meeting in Mexico in June 2012, the E.U.’s financial mess was front and center. Francois Hollande wanted the European Central Bank to issue euro bonds and be able to loan directly to banks and to the European bailout funds. In gener...
And next at the NY Fed markets desk is… Simon Potter
NEW
Just in time to take the reigns of Operation Twist 2…The Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced today that Simon M. Potter, executive vice president and co-head of...
Belgian Soccer Fans Turn Czech
NEW
Belgian soccer fans saw their own team eliminated from Euro 2012 in qualifying. They put their affections up for sale and were bought by the Netherlands, which exited the competition with nul points. Now what?
'We should go back to just being a common market'
NEW
Sounds attractive doesn't it? I don't mean just leave the EU, I mean that the EU be dismantled and that the whole thing just become a common market again, without anything more (just leaving the EU has other issues).But there is a problem in my view.
It’s time to (campus) party!
NEW
Today and tomorrow I’m involved in two very interesting events – the EU’s own Digital Agenda Assembly and the TechAllStar awards - which reward entreprenuers we have in Europe. It’s a great time to be asking what ideas Europea...
Europarl Committee Rejects ACTA, Tor anonymity, Linus Torvalds reflects on Linux and more.. A cyberculture roundup..
NEW
TweetFinal Europarl Committee Rejects ACTA: Internet-Lobbyists, 5-0. from TorrentFreak by Ernesto A lot of prestige had been building up toward today’s vote in the International Trade committee (INTA), which was about to give its recommendation to...
AGRI committee brings to light preliminary plans on farm policy
NEW
Suggestions for making direct payments for farmers fairer across the EU and simplifying checks on how the money is spent were presented by Agriculture (AGRI) Committee MEPs. Although, proposals to prolong wine planting rights and sugar quotas we...
AG Kokott on Multilingualism
NEW
Given that I already blogged twice in recent weeks about multilingualism, why not make it three? Today, in Italy v. Commission, AG Kokott sided with the Italians and told the Commission to redo their homework. Just because a job requires excellent k...
Folk the Banks: Occupy London movement’s debut album
NEW
The suitably titled debut album of Occupation Records was released online on 4 June. Founded by members of Occupy London, the new label’s premier release, is intended to raise funds for the movement. The download is available on a ‘pay what you c...
Belgrade: urban spaces, alternative faces feed modern Serbian identity
NEW
Belgrade, which means ‘the white city’ in Serbian, is an artistic and cultural hub thanks to an active minority that has created an alternative culture by developing public places no longer in use. This new generation of NGOs, cultural centres an...
Scottish PSC: “a bit anti-Jewish”
NEW
By Dale Street (cross-posted from Workers Liberty) Why do some people think that campaigning in solidarity with the Palestinians is “a bit anti-Jewish”? This is the question (supposedly) addressed by an article in the spring newsletter of the Sc...
The Strange Case of Conflict of Interest in the European Medicines Agency
NEW
Thanks to friends in HAI for telling me about a bizarre case before the European Ombudsman. It is a complaint from an employee of the European Medicines Agency, alleging that the agency is guilty of maladministration in forcing her to sell her shares...
Lunar investing scheme eclipsed* by reality, SEC
NEW
Awesome…The primary principle underlying Persaud’s trading strategy was that the gravitational pull between the moon and Earth affects mass human behavior, which...
Challenges of air travel
NEW
Most of us take it for granted that we can reach any destination within a frame of few hours, making use of advanced air travel options. However, for many disabled consumers air travel still is associated with lots of problems and unfair treatment. I...
Has Germany been the winner of the euro?
NEW
Dr. Gunnar Beck When William Rees-Mogg wrote in the Times on 8th June that he could ‘not see how German policy on the single currency can be defended. They enjoyed the restaurant meal but they do not want to pay … Continue reading →...
The collective good of demand needs YOU!
NEW
From HSBC’s Global Macro Economics team on Thursday:Matters are being made worse because the world’s savers would rather buy Treasuries than global goods. Quite. So...
