European News for America

European Connections: The EU and the Internet

News Services - Deutsche Welle

Written by Alex Bakst Monday, 04 August 2008 19:29

It has been two months since Irish voters rejected plans for a stronger European government. Europeans are now debating how to move forward with the EU Reform Treaty, and part of that discussion is happening online.

The European Commission hopes to bridge the gap with citizens by promoting new platforms for cross-border dialogue. In the process, the Internet has become an important political tool.

The Barroso Commission is increasingly promoting its message of European unity online, as policymakers and citizens trade ideas on the next big European framework.

From Brussels, this report asks what the Internet can do for Europe.

Listen to this report on this week's edition of Insight on Deutsche Welle Radio!

Italy Expands Emergency Decree for Illegal Immigrants

News Services - Deutsche Welle

Written by Alex Bakst Monday, 28 July 2008 12:58

Italy has a major immigration problem. Illegal immigrants have been arriving in droves along Italy's southern shores in search of a better life in Europe. To deal with the problem, the Italian government has expanded an emergency decree to cover the entire country. Critics have accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of fear mongering. But the government says the state of emergency will allow it to step up assistance to illegal immigrants.

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This story originally aired on Deutsche Welle Radio's Newslink on Saturday, July 26.

Copyright: Deutsche Welle.

Diplomacy à la John McCain: "Fawning Germans"

Just Another Comment - USA Elections 2008

Written by Alex Bakst Monday, 28 July 2008 11:17

This weekend, a spokesman for the McCain campaign slapped the German people with an insult. Referring to the effusive welcome Obama received when speaking before a crowd of 200,000 people in Berlin last week, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds complained that Obama "prioritizes throngs of fawning Germans over meeting with wounded combat troops in Germany."

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the verb "to fawn" means "to seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior (...) as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing." Harsh! You whining, weak, toadying pinko-commi Germans!! hahaha... give me a break.

Read more: Diplomacy à la John McCain: "Fawning Germans"

Obama and the Brandenburg Gate Dilemma

Just Another Comment - USA Elections 2008

Written by Alex Bakst Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:48

Germany's coalition government can't agree whether to allow US presidential candidate Barack Obama to speak before the historic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The internal debate has been raging, irrespective of party lines, between those who say there is legitimate public interest and others who want to avoid bringing the US presidential race -- a purely domestic American affair -- to German soil.

One conservative foreign policy expert, Ruprecht Polenz, told Germany's leading online news magazine Spiegel Online, "many Germans want to get to know (Obama), not just politicians but also the broader public." Polenz says this justifies the Brandenburg Gate as a public forum for Obama's speech in Berlin.

Read more: Obama and the Brandenburg Gate Dilemma

My Very Own Stimulus Package!!

Just Another Comment - Economy, Stupid

Written by Alex Bakst Saturday, 12 July 2008 11:16

Now here's some really quirky news: I am now the proud recipient of my very own Economic Stimulus Package, courtesy of George W. Bush and the Internal Revenue Service!

Can you believe it? The United States Government is simply giving away 300 bucks to yours truly, for no apparent reason other than for me to go right out and SPEND it. It's a free lunch!! (Actually, more like 30 free lunches.)

The great irony in my particular case is, of course, that as a resident of Germany, my economic package will be more likely to stimulate the German economy than the American one! I suppose in order to keep up with my patriotic and consumerist duty, I will have to forego all .de top-level domains and shop only at Amazon.com! (Read on for a great video...)

Read more: My Very Own Stimulus Package!!

EURO 2008: Spain Is Europe's Soccer Champion!

Just Another Comment - Sports Echo

Written by Alex Bakst Wednesday, 02 July 2008 08:29

Soccer fever once again gripped all of Europe last week as the European Championship 2008 came to a close. For the first time in over 40 years, Spain has emerged as the new European Champion!

Excitement was running especially high in Germany, where the national soccer team under star coach Joachim "Jogi" Loew made it all the way to the final showdown match. But after a suspenseful 90 minutes featuring a distinctly lackluster performance by the German team, Spain emerged as the proud champion of European soccer with a 1:0 victory over their German rivals!

Read more: EURO 2008: Spain Is Europe's Soccer Champion!

Radio Feature: Reshaping German Universities

News Services - Deutsche Welle

Written by Alex Bakst Thursday, 19 June 2008 00:10

After 30 years of free higher education in Germany, public universities are bankrupt. Conservatives want to introduce a US-style system of tuition fees, but students protest.

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Get the full story on Deutsche Welle's Inside Europe

Read more: Radio Feature: Reshaping German Universities

European News Roundup: June 23rd - 29th

News Services - This Week in Europe

Written by Alex Bakst Monday, 30 June 2008 11:19

Last week, Spain won the European soccer championship 2008, Obama announced plans for a Euro trip, the European Union and the United States were reported to be nearing a deal on sharing its citizens' private data, and the German DAX stock index took a plunge down the deep end.

Read this week's European News Roundup for all the EuroNews you need in one place! Week of June 23rd through June 29th:

Read more: European News Roundup: June 23rd - 29th