European Union

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US Backs Sham Democracies, Watchdog Says

Western powers allow autocrats to pay lip service to ideals

(Newser) - Human Rights Watch says Western powers accept too many sham democracies out of political convenience, the BBC reports. The group's annual report slams the tendency of the US and EU governments to allow autocrats to claim “the mantle of democracy" without granting authentic political freedom. It also said the...

Econ Crash Could Deflate Climate Crusade

Governments could be 'distracted' by market woes, UN officials warn

(Newser) - As the global economy panics, leaders are in danger of abandoning lofty climate-change goals, top UN climate gurus warned today. At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the Guardian reports, the pair urged politicians not to be “distracted” by the crisis. “This is the time to be bold...

Musharraf Courts Wary Europeans
Musharraf Courts Wary Europeans
Jan 22, 2008 12:32 PM CST

Musharraf Courts Wary Europeans

Pledges free elections, nuclear security, no coddling Al-Qaeda

(Newser) - Pervez Musharraf visited Brussels yesterday and Paris today, reassuring leaders that Pakistan will hold fair elections and promising complete security for the nation's nuclear arsenal. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned the Pakistani president that future cooperation between the EU and his government is contingent on those criteria, reports...

EU Frets Over Fallout From US Economy's Slide

Subprime woes spread across Atlantic; euro drops

(Newser) - Stock markets around the world continued to hemorrhage today on worries the US would slide into recession, prompting finance ministers to warn that the slump is threatening EU growth. They revised forecasts downward for the 15-member EU, reports Bloomberg. “There is great concern about the financial crisis,” said...

Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo
Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo
Jan 21, 2008 11:11 AM CST

Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo

Looming declaration of independence may sway presidential voting

(Newser) - On the verge of declaring independence, Kosovo is the key in this year’s Serbian election, the Guardian reports. Tomislav Nicolic, a Russian-aligned Serbian nationalist, won the first round of the presidential elections last night, defeating moderate incumbent Boris Tadic 39% to 35%. Seven other candidates, many pro-Western, are out...

Polls Close in Tight Serbian Election

EU ties hang in balance as Kosovo split roils hopefuls

(Newser) - Polls have closed in Serbia in a tight presidential race between a Euro-friendly incumbent and a pro-Russian nationalist, the BBC reports. Neither pro-Western Boris Tadic nor rival Tomislav Nikolic—or any of seven other hopefuls—is expected to win a first-round majority. The election, which has sparked debates about Kosovo...

EU Countries Critical of Climate Plan

Economic concerns could undermine Europe's green resolve

(Newser) - The European Commission is set to unveil broad new climate change legislation next week, but the measures have been criticized by member countries and trade organizations that fear adverse effects on European business. France is worried about effects on its nuclear industry, Der Spiegel reports; Germany and Spain have raised...

Kenyan Police Fire on Protesters
Kenyan Police Fire on Protesters
Jan 17, 2008 8:39 AM CST

Kenyan Police Fire on Protesters

Odinga says 7 killed, calls for sanctions

(Newser) - Kenyan police clashed with protesters in the streets of Nairobi today; opposition leader Raila Odinga claims seven were killed as police fired on angry crowds protesting president Mwai Kibaki’s disputed reelection. One witness said police fired live rounds “indiscriminately,” despite assurances that only batons and teargas were...

EU Goes After Microsoft (Yes, Again)

New investigation comes just months after court victory over company

(Newser) - The European Commission today again took aim at Microsoft, launching its first new antitrust investigations since the 1990s. Two probes will expand the principles of the last EU court victory over Microsoft—which a court upheld 4 months ago—to Office, Microsoft’s email tools, and Internet Explorer, reports the...

Apple to Charge Fewer Pence per Song

Price of iTunes tracks will correspond between UK and EU

(Newser) - Apple has vowed to ease up on British purses, cutting the price for iTunes downloads so UK fees will match those in the rest of Europe. EU regulators have been probing Apple since a consumer group complained about its policies in 2004; the new settlement comes after direct talks between...

Britain, Spain Soften Over Rock
Britain, Spain Soften Over Rock
Jan 9, 2008 11:12 AM CST

Britain, Spain Soften Over Rock

Settling of dispute over Gibraltar means EU can sign long-delayed treaties

(Newser) - Britain and Spain have worked out a compromise on Gibraltar that will pave the way for the EU to sign some important treaties, Reuters reports. Treaties on child protection and aviation had been held up for years because Spain balked at plans to let officials in the British enclave administer...

Intel Answers Antitrust Charges
Intel Answers Antitrust Charges
Jan 9, 2008 7:36 AM CST

Intel Answers Antitrust Charges

Chip maker requests hearing

(Newser) - Intel has filed a response to the European Union antitrust objections, reports Ars Technica. While the contents have been kept under wraps, Intel did confirm that it is seeking a hearing before the European Commission. Intel has been under investigation since 2005 for practices including offering heavy discounts to retailers...

Cloned Meat, Milk Near Nod
Cloned Meat, Milk Near Nod
Jan 4, 2008 6:45 AM CST

Cloned Meat, Milk Near Nod

FDA is about to approve clones, despite industry opposition

(Newser) - The Food and Drug Administration is expected to clear the way for milk and meat from cloned animals to be sold in US supermarkets by declaring the products safe as early as next week, reports the Wall Street Journal. Cloning companies are poised to begin churning out animals once a...

Smoke-Free Paris Clears the Air
Smoke-Free Paris Clears the Air
Jan 3, 2008 10:35 AM CST

Smoke-Free Paris Clears the Air

Smoking ban ends French tradition

(Newser) - The hazy, brooding atmosphere of Parisian cafes and bars has changed overnight with a French ban on smoking in public places. Clouds of smoke from scores of Gauloises and Gitanes cigarettes, which once hung over France's most celebrated salons and dining rooms, have wafted away. Similar bans are already in...

Olmert Nixes Hamas Truce: 'This War Will Continue'

Says Palestinian militants must first cease attacks, recognize Israel

(Newser) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today refused to consider a truce with Hamas until the militant Palestinian group recognizes Israel and halts attacks in Gaza, reports the BBC. Olmert told government officials that Israel is gaining ground in stopping rocket attacks, of which 1,000 have hit Israel since Hamas...

Europe's Border Set to Move Farther East

Passport-free zone adds 9 nations—and some new worries

(Newser) - The Iron Curtain moves east Friday as nine countries in Eastern Europe join the no-passport-needed Schengen travel zone, allowing citizens to travel from Estonia to Portugal. As many of the new EU member states join the zone, the Times of London travels to the Slovenia-Croatia border, one of the spots...

EU Leaders Sign New Treaty
EU Leaders Sign New Treaty
Dec 13, 2007 9:58 AM CST

EU Leaders Sign New Treaty

But some clamor for referendum

(Newser) - Two years after the French and Dutch rejected the European Constitution, leaders of the 27 EU nations are signing the new Treaty of Lisbon today, aimed to strengthen union decision-making. Unlike the previous document, this one does not require nation-by-nation referendums to be ratified. That's caused a tremendous political headache...

Gore Points Finger at US in Bali
Gore Points Finger at US in Bali
Dec 13, 2007 9:03 AM CST

Gore Points Finger at US in Bali

Nobel laureate says Bush and company stonewalling in Bali

(Newser) - Al Gore’s latest inconvenient truth: the US is stonewalling the UN climate conference. “My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here,” the Nobel laureate raged today in Bali. The US, along with Japan and several other nations, refuses to accept a specific...

Bali Eco Summit Nears Collapse
Bali Eco Summit Nears Collapse
Dec 13, 2007 4:00 AM CST

Bali Eco Summit Nears Collapse

US, EU in standoff over new carbon limits

(Newser) - A face-off between American and European environment officials has pushed the Bali climate change talks to the breaking point, with United Nations officials warning that the summit could collapse "like a house of cards." Delegates in Bali are sharply divided over the guidelines for the next two years...

Arresting Sight in West Bank
 Arresting Sight in West Bank
Dec 13, 2007 3:20 AM CST

Arresting Sight in West Bank

First Palestinian policewomen start work

(Newser) - The first Palestinian policewomen have begun working in the West Bank city of Ramallah—directing traffic, making security checks, conducting house searches, and turning heads. They're the first women to complete training programs sponsored by the European Union, the AP reports. They sport uniforms of navy pants and light blue...

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