Category: Blogs

China’s buying spree raises hope, and fear in Europe

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  On his tour of Europe this month, China’s vice-premier, Li Keqiang, announced his country’s plan to buy cheap European government bonds, as Chinese companies purchased shares in European petrochemical ventures, tens of thousands of cars and even a few million euros’ worth of Spanish wine and ham to top off the […]

Bulgarian lawmakers push to have 35 ambassadors with KGB past fired

By RIA Novosti

Prime Minister Claims Power in Tunisia as President Flees

By David D. Kirkpatrick, the New York Times

Is Germany Out Growing the Franco-German Partnership?

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  While the agonies of the European Union — sovereign defaults, deficits and bubbles — unfold like a great wonk drama, at their core is something more intimate: the fractured tale of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Crew of Danish ship missing after pirate attack

By Tom Maliti, the AP

Russia’s Parliament Amends START to Highlight Withdrawal Option

By Steve Gutterman, Reuters

NATO’s Existential Question

By  Rabah Ghezali, the Huffington Post 

From Rabah Ghezali, the Huffington Post :  The conventional wisdom at the end of the Cold War was that NATO needed to find an appropriate common threat to replace the former Soviet Union.

Making Europe Count in the Caspian

By Borut Grgic

After a along period of political neglect the EU is finally responding to its critics by sending the President of the EU Commission, Mr. Barroso on a Caspian tour. The choice of countries is especially important – Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Clearly, energy is at the forefront of Mr. Barroso’s agenda. European Union is expecting to […]

Estonia develops volunteer cyber defense force and considers drafting techies

By Tom Gjelten, National Public Radio