Break-through Time: Catalonia Bans Bull-fighting …

July 29th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

Parliament in the large Spanish region of Catalonia has banned bull-fighting. … Read More »

“Stress Test”: EU Banks “Resilient”

July 24th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

“The results confirm the overall resilience of the EU banking system to negative macroeconomic and financial shocks, and are an important step forward in restoring market confidence” – the dry statement of approval (23.7.10) from European banking authorities, after running their open financial tests on 91 banks. … Read More »

More Winners ! Ole!

July 12th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

Spain have won the World Cup in Football this day (11.7.10) at Johannesburg, defeating The Netherlands 1-0 in extra time … Elsewhere Mark Webber has won the British Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing, and Cadel Evans has hit the front in the Tour de France. … Read More »

Winners

July 11th, 2010
Posted by Lee Duffield

Political winners of the month have included Bronislaw Komorowski (picture), elected President of Poland; and among sports winners: England defeating Australia in one-day cricket, two tennis veterans wrapping-it-up at Wimbledon, and the World Cup Football, once again a European festival. … Read More »

Mark Webber: Crash In Valencia

June 28th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber is considering himself “lucky to be in one piece” as his spectacular crash in Sunday’s European Grand Prix (27.6.10) is now replayed globally on television screens. … Read More »

Tennis: Roland-Garros And Shades Of Past Glory …

May 30th, 2010
Posted by EUEditor

This year’s French Open Tennis is providing another reminder that while the classic tournaments remain — Australian Open, America, Wimbledon – the founding players, though far from gone, have had to make way for all comers. … Read More »

Banking And Finance: EC Sets Out Moves …

May 28th, 2010
Posted by Lee Duffield

COMMENTARY:

A round of budget cuts in European capitals, (on Thursday in Spain, the parliament approving a €30-billion reductions plan – A$43.7bn, dcerates.com, 28.5.10), is being described as a response to “pressure from the market”.

That has gone down badly in many segments, as with the Spanish parliamentarians who voted “no”, losing by one vote; or union protestors taking to the streets on Friday, in France.

(The Spanish austerity package includes wage cuts of at least 5% for public servants and reduces public investment).

Not least, the European Commission has responded to the question of who rules, (elected governments, or “markets”?), bringing forward a plan to cause banks to provide enduring funding against a down-turn. … Read More »