On June 4, George Kaminis, the mild-mannered mayor of Athens, visited Greece‘s Minister of Citizen Protection, Nikos Dendias, to discuss a legislative proposal put forth by the ministry for the regulation of minor demonstrations …
Greece
Greece’s Garbage Crisis: A Stinky Metaphor for an Economy in the Dumps
It is like a dark inversion of the tourist images of Greece. Seagulls circle not over the clear blue waters of the Aegean, but a bleak, cratered landscape, swooping down to compete with human scavengers and mangy dogs for spoils …
As Greece Struggles with Debt Crisis, Its Shipping Tycoons Still Cut a Profit
On December 5 last year, the Ob River, an 288-metre LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanker with a capacity of 84,682 deadweight tonnes chartered by Russian energy giant Gazprom, arrived at the Japanese port of Tobata. The ship …
It’s Official: Eurozone Enters Second Recession In Three Years
Despite positive growth in France and Germany, official figures show the 17-nation euro bloc sinking into its second recession since 2009—with experts warning the worst is yet to come.
France ‘Biggest Problem’ in Euro Crisis, Say German Officials
France smarts at German comments despairing French economic response to the euro crisis, and media reports contending Berlin is preparing a To-Do reform list for sluggish leaders in Paris.
Is Gay Marriage Too Progressive for the French?
The leftist government of French President François Hollande tables legislation to legalize same-sex marriages and adoptions amid rising opposition and public hesitation
Reclaiming Xenophobia: The Rise of Ultra-Nationalism in Greece
Golden Dawn is not the only manifestation of paranoia stemming from the economic crisis. Anti-immigrant sentiment is now part of the political mainstream
On the Road with Golden Dawn, Greece’s Ultra-Nationalist Party
Even as it appropriates the Greek past for propaganda purposes, the far-right party has gained in popularity while espousing virulent anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric.
A Kinder, Gentler Merkel Comes Calling in Athens
The German Chancellor hasn’t given up on her austerity push, but she isn’t about to show Greece the E.U. door
Anti-Austerity Protesters Clash with Riot Policemen in Central Athens
As many as 50,000 demonstrators took the the streets of Athens in an union-organized strike against austerity measures on Sept. 26, 2012. This is the first large-scale march since Greece’s coalition government was formed in June.
In Autumn’s Challenges, a Series of Existential Crises for the Euro
The fate of the euro will be repeatedly tested in coming weeks, as the European Central Bank, markets, legal experts and politicians all weigh in from opposing sides in the struggle to preserve the tormented common currency
How Is Samaras Doing? So Far, the Euro Zone Likes the New Greek Leader
There is a lot of hardship ahead but so far Merkel and the Germans like what they hear from the Greek Prime Minister. Will the honeymoon last?
Must-Reads from Around the World
A closer inspection of Greece’s austerity program, controversial take on U.S.-Pakistan relations and Mexico’s Supreme Court pleases human rights activists