cafebabel.com

French caricaturist on satire magazine petrol bombing

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:56:56 -0000

On 2 November the Paris HQ of Charlie Hebdo, a French weekly satire magazine, were completely burnt in a Molotov cocktail attack at the next day's planned release of the paper called 'Charia Hebdo', dedicated to Tunisia's moderate islamist election victory. One French cartoonist replies

WikiLeaks: Europe’s ruling class according to Washington

('victor escandell',) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:30:00 -0000

The whistleblowing site has turned the skin of international politics inside-out so people can see its capillaries, arteries and cartilages. This bloody network - 250, 000 documents have been taken from the American state department - includes natural portrayals of many European leaders. From the complex and absolutist Sarkozy to Berlusconi’s hangovers, a review of Europe through Uncle Sam’s eyes

Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:01:16 -0000

More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community

Young Poles react: Lech Kaczynski death, 'second Katyn tragedy'

('Hanna Sankowska',) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:13:38 -0000

In the same place where the Polish elite was executed 70 years ago, a new Polish elite dies in a horrid aircrash, that leaves Poles at home and abroad in a state of shock. Young Poles across Europe help demystify the tragedy

Historical dinner live: on the menu, one president

('Arnaud Houdmont',) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:32:18 -0000

Tony Blair? (or David Miliband?) Herman van Rompuy? Peter Balkenende...? The culmination of a long, outdrawn and rather undemocratic process that is shaping the future of Europe is nigh; 19 November, to be precise, and the cafebabel.com Brussels team are invited - check their blog out this evening

Snap elections in Greece snap the conservatives out

('Georgios Kokkolis',) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:46:58 -0000

What led Costas Karamanlis to provoke a snap election when defeat was certain on 4 October? The picture in Zappeion Hall is in complete antithesis with that of the 2007 election, where he was a ‘rock star' prime-minister

Libertas' Declan Ganley comeback against ‘democracy-hating’ Lisbon treaty

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 -0000

He opposed the Lisbon treaty. He got 600 candidates to run for his party across all the 27 member states in 2008; yet only one was (re-)elected in Hungary. The Galway multimillionare, 41, resigned from politics after his failure. But the Libertas leader is back to push for a second Irish No

The Sound of Silvio: 'I never understood what the satisfaction is when you are missing the pleasure of conquest'

('euro topics',) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:14:48 -0000

Escort girl Patrizia D'Addario, 42, told investigators that she spent the night of Barack Obama's victory at the Italian PM's private residence in Rome. In an interview with Chi magazine on 24 June, Berlusconi talks of defamation: 'I have never paid a woman'. Quotes from the Greek, Finnish and Italian press

The Sound of Silvio: 'I'll continue to work as ever for the good of this country'

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:17:09 -0000

Nothing keeps Europe's mediatic hills more alive than the sound of Silvio Berlusconi's music. His colourful quips, defences and actions are fast becoming cult in the field of national politics. On 18 June, the Italian prime minister, 72, cranks up the sound of showgirls and showdowns. Quote of the day

34 swine flu cases in UK: is Europe prepared?

('Kate Robinson',) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:29:06 -0000

The highly contagious respiratory disease has infected hundreds of people and led to 29 deaths in Mexico alone. Cases have also been confirmed in a number of European countries, including France, Germany and Spain. Is Europe properly prepared to face a pandemic?

Europe's 'cyberella' girls to get more IT skills

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:23:13 -0000

The European commission is sticking to its pledge to promote information and communication technologies (ICT) among females. Its latest move on 3 March was to oversee the signing of a code of best practices for women and ICT by five major companies, including Motorola and Microsoft

Bloggers and facebookers want president Barroso out

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:10:32 -0000

'We don't care who, but the commission needs a new president in 2009'. Members of the 'Anyone But Barroso' campaign are none too keen on the current chief of the EU commission. Can it influence the European elections in June? Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Architecture: sex up Brussels' EU quarter!

('Darren Thompson',) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:15:00 -0000

Remodelling plans hope to humanise Brussels' European quarter over the next fifteen years. Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Minute by minute: we stalk Hillary Clinton in Brussels

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:00:00 -0000

What relationship will Barack Obama's new America have with Europe? At a debate at the European parliament in Brussels on 5 March, the new secretary of state will chat to 150 young Europeans - including us. Follow it live from 10 to 11am on cafebabel.com - hit the refresh button as you go!

Brian Wheeler on an MEP's life

('Daiva Repe\xc4\x8dkait\xc4\x97',) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:15:08 -0000

The BBC political reporter Brian Wheeler shadowed British MEPs for a week, believes that the life of an MEP is “not as we know it”.

Ten EU member states sanctioned to save the environment

('Paulina Dominik',) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The plenary session of the European parliament on 4 February regarding climate change will not get off on the right foot. A couple of days before it, the EU was obliged to sanction ten of its 27 members for not having fulfilled the community legislation concerning the quality of the air. Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Europeans can expect a John McCain victory

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:15:33 -0000

Don’t draw parallels between the republican candidate’s political ideals and those of his predecessor George Bush, perceived as largely negative by most

Meanwhile, Obama Hallowe’en masks outsell McCain

('Anna Patton',) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:46:34 -0000

The moment of truth from the US elections, bickering Polish politicians and the return of the Euromed – weekly newsbites from Brussels

Mick Jagger advises the EU commission

('Hayley Worsley-Carter',) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:28:00 -0000

Regulating internet music sales and multimedia content on the web, counterfeit medicine and parliament television – the latest news from Brussels. Weekly edition

Ireland stamps its Eurosceptic foot

('Stella Willborn',) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:01:24 -0000

A low turnout, but a seismic result that raises more questions than it answers about Europe’s future direction. This and much, much more in our weekly round up from Brussels.

Climate panade in parliament

('John Smith',) — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Honour the sea, do your climate work and let Dominique Strauss-Kahn through - the latest news from Brussels

Brussels: parliament rift over Tibet

('Annika Thornton',) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

To boycott or not to boycott the Peking Olympic Games, Europe's MEPs ask, a mozzarella crisis and Sarkozy honeymooning at 10 Downing Street - it's your latest from Brussels

An Oscar for Geert Wilders please

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:31:00 -0000

'Fitna' the film means evil, European parliament has a fake birthday and ousted gay Iranians - it's your latest news from Brussels

Zapatero celebrates a complicated victory in Spain

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:43:00 -0000

On 9 March, the socialist prime minister won another four year term in office, but his margin of alliances is limited with the rise of the right. A 75.3% participation rate quashed the nationalist pole, allowing for an English–style two-party system

Cervantes institute premieres on TV

('Rebecca Caulfield',) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The academic institution, dedicated to promoting Spanish language and culture around the world, has just launched an internet TV channel

Brussels: commissioners play musical chairs

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Frattini and Kyprianou to jump ship? Internal stories of fraud, external stories of fraud and far too few children born in Europe - it's the latest news from the EU capital

EU frames Kosovo's independence

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Unemployment, professional opportunities and the Lisbon treaty: the latest news from Brussels, where all eyes are on the world's newest state

EU: the text messaging war

('Sarah Gray',) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The French are told to pull their socks up, European businesses face the economic effects of global warming – it's your latest news from Brussels

Ireland: 64% unsure on ratifying Lisbon treaty

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Debates continue in the EU - to partner or accede Turkey? Plus a new 'Justice Forum' from the European commission - the latest news from Brussels

Why the EU aims to liberalise postal services

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Plus answers to the question 'how much do you get charged for making a bank transfer?' and more in our weekly newsbites from Brussels

Italy: what a waste

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Slovenia vs a Mediterranean Union and their 'friends in Paris', friction in the air for the EU – your dosage of the latest news from Brussels

Videos: Bottle of vodka for the fallen Kaczynskis

('Rebecca Caulfield',) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Dutch MP Pier Anne Nawijn dancing, that Bush-Merkel massage and Finnish MP Alexander Stubb fights for vodka in the European parliament

Apple gets fair on UK music downloads

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Portuguese no to reform treaty referendum, the pan-EU music marketplace and Sarkozy’s press conference

Nuclear energy: new wave in Europe

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Brussels goes far east, caps the CAP and ideologises nuclear energy in the first EU forum - take a bite of the latest news from Brussels