Europe

Former jail keeps memory of Communist repression raw in Romania

"The extent of the suffering had largely been hidden. Stalinist purges in the former Soviet Union and Communist repression in Eastern Europe claimed millions of lives in the 20th century, according to historians. In Romania alone, more than 600,000 people were sentenced and jailed between 1945 and 1989 for political reasons. Stanca was one of them. 'In the jail, we suffered from hunger, we did not get any medical assistance, we were continuously humiliated,' he said. He was then sent to a labour camp to erect dikes along the Danube river. 'I think only the pyramids were built with such inhumane physical work,' he added." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer jail keeps memory of Communist repression raw in Romania

Weed War: Marijuana Plants Sprout across German City

"The German university city of Göttingen is being taken over by marijuana plants. Behind the phenomenon is a group of pro-pot activists who planted seeds around town to stir debate over the plant's illegal status. City authorities are not amused. The university town of Göttingen is getting greener and greener. But not everyone is pleased: The new plants sprouting up in parks, planter boxes and gardens across the city aren't part of an official city-beautification project. Planting the seeds was a protest against Germany's 'restrictive drug policies,' the group said, arguing that it's incomprehensible 'why cannabis, unlike alcohol, cannot be legally purchased.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWeed War: Marijuana Plants Sprout across German City

Japan warns Britain to stay in the European Union

"Japan has warned that tens of thousands of British jobs with Japanese firms could be at risk if London pulls out of the European Union, a newspaper reported on Sunday. Tokyo’s submission to a British government consultation said Japanese companies liked Britain because it offered a gateway to the European market, the Sunday Times said. Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU and then hold a referendum on membership before the end of 2017 if he is still in office. Close ally the United States has also previously warned Britain against isolating itself from the EU." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan warns Britain to stay in the European Union

Wind Energy Encounters Problems and Resistance in Germany

"Germany plans to build 60,000 new wind turbines -- in forests, in the foothills of the Alps and even in protected environmental areas. But local residents are up in arms, costs are skyrocketing and Germany's determination to phase out nuclear power is in danger. Even valuable tourist regions -- such as the Moselle valley, the Allgäu and the foothills of the Alps -- are to be sacrificed. On one side stand environmentalists and animal rights activists passionate about protecting the tranquility of nature. On the other are progressively minded champions of renewable energy and climate activists determined to secure the long-term survival of the planet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWind Energy Encounters Problems and Resistance in Germany

Leaked memo reveals big pharma’s strategy to combat publishing of drug trial results

"Drugs companies publish only a fraction of their results and keep much of the information to themselves, but regulators want to ban the practice. If companies published all of their clinical trials data, independent scientists could reanalyse their results and check companies’ claims about the safety and efficacy of drugs. Under proposals being thrashed out in Europe, drugs companies would be compelled to release all of their data, including results that show drugs do not work or cause dangerous side-effects. The latest strategy shows how patient groups – many of which receive some or all of their funding from drugs companies – have been brought into the battle." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLeaked memo reveals big pharma’s strategy to combat publishing of drug trial results

‘Sorry is not enough’: Bolivia demands EU find culprits behind aerial hijack

"EU apologies for the aerial blockade that forced the Bolivian president’s plane to land are 'not enough,' said Bolivia’s foreign minister. The presidential plane was grounded amid suspicions that NSA leaker Edward Snowden had stowed away onboard. The Bolivian Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca, confirmed on Tuesday that Bolivia had received official apologies from Italy and Portugal, adding to those of Spain and France. However, Choquehuanca stressed that the apologies were not enough and the four countries “must identify those responsible and punish them in an exemplary fashion so that such an incident does not happen again.” Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Sorry is not enough’: Bolivia demands EU find culprits behind aerial hijack

Greece May Need Billions More in Emergency EU Aid

"The Greek recovery may be facing yet another hurdle. According to German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, the beleaguered country needs another massive influx of money if it is to avoid insolvency. The paper cites an unnamed official at the European Commission as saying that the "financial gap" could be as large as €10 billion. The news comes at a difficult time for Greece and its relations with Germany. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is highly unpopular in Greece for his consistent insistence on austerity. And with German elections looming in September, it seems unlikely that additional aid money for Athens will be forthcoming anytime soon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreece May Need Billions More in Emergency EU Aid

Philip Giraldi: The Mystery of TWA 800

"In 1980 Italian domestic carrier Aerolinee Itavia Flight 870 exploded while flying from Bologna to Palermo, killing 81 passengers and crew. An exhaustive official investigation concluded that the plane was accidentally hit during a 'military interception' operation. In 2008 the Italian Prime Minister at the time of the crash said the plane had been shot down by French warplanes. In January 2013, the Italian Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appeals court, declared that it was 'abundantly clear' that the plane had been downed by a missile. France has never responded to the allegations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPhilip Giraldi: The Mystery of TWA 800

Ex-CIA agent convicted of Italian kidnapping and held in Panama being returned to US

"A former CIA base chief convicted in the 2003 abduction of a terror suspect from an Italian street is headed back to the U.S. after being arrested in Panama. Lady was detained in Panama after Italy requested his arrest for kidnapping Egyptian Muslim cleric Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr-- in one of the most notorious episodes of the U.S. program known as extraordinary rendition, according to Italian and Panamanian officials. The government of Panama, which maintains one of the region's closest relationships with the U.S., was officially silent on the case. Italy conducted an aggressive investigation and charged 26 CIA and other U.S. government employees." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-CIA agent convicted of Italian kidnapping and held in Panama being returned to US

The first Bitcoin based bank in Cyprus is coming!

"Welcome to the blog of LMB Holdings the parent company of both Ploutos (Bank) and the Pisti payment network. We are extremely proud to be in a position of providing a solution for the two biggest questions being asked currently here in Cyprus by depositors; 1. Is my money safe and will the government be taking my money? 2. Can I spend my money? With many Cypriots and international depositors losing more than 20% of their life savings to help prop up the failing banks, there has never been a more suitable time nor place to launch a genuine alternative to the mainstream banking systems." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe first Bitcoin based bank in Cyprus is coming!