Europe

The EU Joins the Syrian War More Directly

"U.S. Secretary of State Kerry went to Europe urging that the European Union drop its embargo on shipments of heavy arms into the hands of the Syrian rebels. Are we surprised that the EU has now done exactly that? The article says 'British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the amended embargo puts pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to seek a non-military solution to more than two years of fighting.' Remember that a political process occurred in February of 2012 when a new Syrian constitution was passed overwhelmingly. The EU's decision affirms that the EU intends violently to overthrow Assad in violation of their oaths in the U.N." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe EU Joins the Syrian War More Directly

Paris retailers complain street crime is chasing off cash-flush Chinese tourists

"A leading association that counts Chanel and Dior as members urged the authorities to take action on the climate of insecurity which it said could keep cash-flush tourists away. France’s luxury industry makes a large portion of its profits from tourism, particularly from the newly rich from emerging countries such as China, where a rising middle class likes to splash out when travelling abroad. The Chinese embassy recently reported an increase in the number of complaints regarding muggings and other thefts on their nationals, who are known for carrying big sums of cash, making them prime targets for criminals." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingParis retailers complain street crime is chasing off cash-flush Chinese tourists

Parents patrol immigrant suburbs to deter Stockholm youth from rioting

"Parents and volunteers have been patrolling the streets of Stockholm’s immigrant-heavy suburbs to help quell riots that have raged for almost a week, serving as a successful deterrent to troublemakers and winning praise from police. 'They have helped a lot in reducing the unrest,' Stockholm police spokeswoman Karin Solberg told Swedish news agency TT. Sweden has since the 1980s had a network of volunteers called 'Nightwalkers', usually made up of parents who walk the streets of their own suburbs in groups on weekend nights, talking to youngsters and simply making their presence known." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingParents patrol immigrant suburbs to deter Stockholm youth from rioting

Parking Tickets Issued on Wrecks while Stockholm Burns

"While the Stockholm riots keep spreading and intensifying, Swedish police have adopted a tactic of non-interference. 'Our ambition is really to do as little as possible,' Stockholm Chief of Police Mats Löfving explained to the Swedish newspaper Expressen on Tuesday. Swedish parking laws, however, continue to be rigidly enforced despite the increasingly chaotic situation. Early Wednesday, while documenting the destruction after a night of rioting in the Stockholm suburb of Alby, a reporter from Fria Tider observed a parking enforcement officer writing a ticket for a burnt-out Ford." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingParking Tickets Issued on Wrecks while Stockholm Burns

Eleven people across UK arrested for making ‘racist or anti-religious’ comments on Facebook

"The murder of soldier Lee Rigby has provoked a backlash of anger across the UK, including the attacking of mosques, racial abuse and comments made on social media. Eleven people have been arrested around Britain for making 'racist or anti-religious' comments on Twitter following the brutal killing in Woolwich on Wednesday. The incident has also prompted a huge increase in anti-Muslim incidents, according to the organisation Faith Matters, which works to reduce extremism. Before the attack about four to eight cases a day were reported to its helpline. But the group said about 150 incidents had been reported in the last few days, including attacks on mosques." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEleven people across UK arrested for making ‘racist or anti-religious’ comments on Facebook

Merkel, the Red footsoldier: Photos of German chancellor’s Communist uniform released

"She denies she was close to the Communist rulers in East Germany, where she grew up. So this 1972 photo of her in military-style uniform has left German Chancellor Angela Merkel ‘not amused’. Then called Angela Kasner and aged 17, she is shown happily involved in a civil defence exercise under the gaze of an East German officer. Drills included first aid and preparing for nuclear attack. Mrs Merkel is also alleged to have been a propaganda secretary for the youth movement, the FDJ. The photo was found by an old schoolfriend, Sonja Felssberg, 58, and handed to a German newspaper." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMerkel, the Red footsoldier: Photos of German chancellor’s Communist uniform released

Europe Opens $80 Trillion Shadow Banking Pandora’s Box: Will Seek To Collapse Repo “Collateral Chains”

"Banks and brokers face a clampdown on using assets they hold for clients as collateral for their own trades as part of European Union moves to bolster market stability and rein in shadow banking. The handing over of collateral is an integral part of repurchase agreements, or repos -- one of the activities under review by global regulators as part of their efforts to regulate shadow banking. The reuse of clients’ assets poses a potential threat to financial stability should one of a chain of firms that handled the securities go bankrupt, according to the document prepared by commission officials and dated May 15." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEurope Opens $80 Trillion Shadow Banking Pandora’s Box: Will Seek To Collapse Repo “Collateral Chains”

The Dark Side of Liberation: Rape By American Soldiers In WWII France

"The soldiers who landed in Normandy on D-Day were greeted as liberators, but by the time American G.I.’s were headed back home in late 1945, many French citizens viewed them in a very different light. In the port city of Le Havre, the mayor was bombarded with letters from angry residents complaining about drunkenness, jeep accidents, sexual assault — 'a regime of terror,' as one put it, 'imposed by bandits in uniform.' Ms. Roberts also found a desperate letter from the mayor in August 1945 urging American commanders to set up brothels outside the city, to halt the 'scenes contrary to decency' that overran the streets, day and night." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Dark Side of Liberation: Rape By American Soldiers In WWII France

The Best Quality Of Life In The World: Residency & Citizenship In Austria

"This country offers an excellent quality of life as well as a safe and healthy environment. In fact, Austria boasts one of the highest standards of living of any country in the world. The Mercer Consulting group, in particular, has ranked Vienna, as the city with the world’s highest quality of life for the past three years running. Note that Austrian residency and citizenship bring other, more practical advantages. Austria is one of 25 European states that are part of the 'Schengen agreement.' A resident or citizen of one Schengen country enjoys visa-free travel to all other Schengen countries. In addition, an Austrian passport has a very good global reputation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Best Quality Of Life In The World: Residency & Citizenship In Austria