Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Offbeat Jul 16, 2013
Femen-inspired stamp causes stir
A new stamp emblazoned with the face of Marianne, France’s revolutionary symbol, has caused a stir after its creator said it was inspired by a Ukrainian feminist known for topless protests. The stamp, unveiled by President Francois Hollande on Sunday’s national day, shows the ...
Offbeat Jul 12, 2013
Repeat-heavy new TV channel dismissed as second-rate by Greeks
The controversy over Greece’s shock shutdown of state broadcaster ERT took a comic twist this week when the government set up a court-ordered rival channel, airing stock footage swiftly dismissed as second-rate by viewers. The new public channel was initially called EDT (Hellenic Public ...
Crime Jul 12, 2013
Yugoslav war crimes court reinstates genocide charge against Karadzic
The U.N.’s Yugoslav war crimes court on Thursday reinstated a genocide charge against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, overturning on appeal an earlier decision by trial judges. Appeal judges said the trial chamber “erred in fact in concluding that there was no evidence” ...
Social Issues | Focus Jul 3, 2013
Portugal's baby bust feeding vicious cycle
by Anthony Faiola
For an enterprise in the business of welcoming life, the birthing ward inside Portugal’s largest maternity hospital is eerily quiet. On a recent morning, not a single expectant father nervously paced the orange laminated floors. Unhurried nurses shuffled by rows of darkened rooms with ...
Business Jul 3, 2013
Greece's ERT remains on air despite closure as employees revel in independence
Since the Greek government abruptly pulled the plug on state broadcaster ERT, the sprawling TV complex has turned into a unique experiment in self-rule, where staff are working for free but with more passion than ever. Under pressure from its international creditors to cut ...
World Jul 1, 2013
U.S. taps half-billion German phone, email links monthly: report
U.S. secret services keep tabs on around half a billion telephone calls, emails or mobile phone text messages in Germany a month, making it the most targeted among EU states, a German news magazine reported Sunday, citing secret U.S. documents. The latest allegations over ...
Politics & Diplomacy Jul 1, 2013
With Croatia's entry, EU grows to 28
by Sim Sim Wissgott
“You’ll be joining us in hell soon!” Slovenians liked to joke as neighboring Croatia prepared to enter the European Union, the first new member in six years and only the second from the former Yugoslavia. In truth, most of the 10 Eastern European countries ...
Business Jun 27, 2013
Probe launched after Anglo Irish execs' calls leaked
by Finbarr Flynn
A former executive at Anglo Irish Bank Corp. said it would be “fantastic” if the state took over the lender, as “we’d all get to keep our jobs” and sang “Deutschland uber alles” as the bank won German deposits, according to tapes of 2008 ...
Business Jun 19, 2013
Fliers without credit cards refused food, water, blankets
Norwegian Air Shuttle, Europe’s third-largest budget airline, apologized Monday for refusing passengers food, water and even blankets on its recently launched long-haul flights to New York and Bangkok. A 16-year-old spent his Oslo to New York flight freezing since he only had cash and ...
Environment | FOCUS Jun 7, 2013
Europe floods raise warming fears
Less than three months after being battered by snow and ice, Central Europe now finds itself fighting floods — and some scientists are pointing the finger at human interference with the climate system. Leading the charge is the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research ...
Business Jun 6, 2013
EU imposes import duties on Chinese solar panels
The European Commission on Tuesday imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese solar panels, defying German-led opposition and dire warnings from Beijing the move could spark a trade war. “Today, the European Commission has decided unanimously to impose (punitive) tariffs” on Chinese solar panels, ...
Business Jun 5, 2013
EU to impose duties on Chinese solar panels
The European Commission on Tuesday imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese solar panels, defying German-led opposition and dire warnings from Beijing the move could spark a trade war. “Today, the European Commission has decided unanimously to impose (punitive) tariffs” on Chinese solar panels, ...