Topic: European Union

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Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

A minister has proposed empowering Dutch law enforcement to access and control the computers of suspected cybercriminals, even if those computers are outside of the Netherlands.
Bangladesh factory collapse death toll passes 1,000

By Friday, May 10, the death toll from the Bangladesh factory collapse had reached 1,021, and more bodies are still being found. A fire at a nearby sweater factory highlighted that safety conditions in Bangladesh factories have not been improved in the two weeks since the factory collapse.
The Monitor's View Glint of a Mideast peace as Turkey-Kurd pact plays out

A peace deal to end a long, violent Middle East conflict between Turkey and its minority Kurds began Wednesday when PKK rebels began a retreat into Iraq under a cease-fire. Now Turkey must deliver its part of the bargain. Both sides recognize a new reality in the region.
Venezuela's Maduro globe trots: building regional ties or a domestic distraction?

On his first official trip abroad, Venezuela's new leader is visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. But a domestic dispute over the legality of Maduro's presidential victory drags on at home.
Donors pledge cash to Somalia to rein in terrorist threat

At a conference in London, international donors said they'd give $350 million to Somalia's new government. Most of the money would go toward beefing up the feeble security sector.
Notorious Egyptian terror group tries to carve a nonviolent path in politics

Al Gamaa al-Islamiya, which waged a deadly campaign of terror against the government for decades, says it has renounced violence and wants a spot in Egypt's fledgling democracy.
Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

The coinciding visits to Beijing of the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian Authority president this week speak to China's growing interests in the Middle East.
Hollande's popularity hits new lows after a year at France's helm

President François Hollande was expected to bring about reform and fight austerity when he took office a year ago. But his term so far has been mired in protest and scandal.
Portugal adds an hour to public employees workday as part of budget cuts

In order to meet its bailout targets, Portugal will raise the retirement age by one year to 66 and increase the workday for public employees by an extra hour. The measures will save roughly 4.8 billion euros.
Airline lipstick ban: Is red lipstick unIslamic?

Airline lipstick ban: Turkey's national airline banned red lipstick and nail polish for its flight attendants. The ban is prompting a backlash among some secular Turks.
Somali pirates have not mounted a successful hijacking for nearly a year

Somali pirates: US diplomat Donna Leigh Hopkins credits the combined efforts of international naval forces and stepped-up security on ships including the use of armed guards.
Terrorism & Security US and Britain consider arming Syrian rebels (+video)

The bar is set high, but the US could begin providing body armor, night-vision goggles, rifles, and other basic arms to Syria's rebels.
US considering arming Syrian rebels, says Hagel

The Obama administration is rethinking its decision not to arm Syrian rebels, said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today, while emphasizing that 'rethinking' mean no decision has been made.
Irish bill aims to enable life-saving abortions

Irish lawmakers presented guidelines describing when life-saving terminations could be allowed. Opponents of the bill worried it would become a platform for further expanding abortion rights in Ireland.
UK tallies the costs of an independent Scotland

Britain's international reputation – and its nuclear deterrent – are two of the concerns raised by members of Parliament , should Scotland vote for independence next year.
Iceland's anti-EU election puts Norway's Europe plans on hold

Erna Solberg, leader of Norway's pro-EU Conservatives and likely next prime minister, says that after Iceland's electoral results, Europe is not in the cards for Norway over the next few years.
The ties that bind: Obama travels to Mexico (+video)

Shared issues of border security, the economy, and immigration will likely dominate the conversation between President Obama and Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico this week.
As world dials back death penalty, Japan heads in opposite direction

Two gangsters were hanged in Japan last week. More executions are likely under new Prime Minister Abe, who has expressed strong support for the death penalty – and says the public backs him.
Focus With no jobs in the city, country life is coming back to Spain

After decades of population loss to cities, rural areas in Spain – and across Europe – have been gaining allure as havens from the ongoing recession.
Opinion Reminder from Boston Marathon bombings: A need to integrate immigrant children

The Boston Marathon bombings could not have been foreseen in the case files of 8-year-old asylum seeker, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and his 15-year-old brother, Tamerlan. What should be questioned is whether US authorities do enough to integrate immigrant children once they arrive.
Team of rivals: Italy, finally, forms new government (+video)

Center-left leader Enrico Letta will be Italy's new prime minister, after his party formed a coalition government with former Premier Silvio Berlusconi's conservatives.
Greece starts firing civil servants for first time in a century

The Greek government began its first mass-firing of public-sector workers in more than 100 years this week, part of an effort to lay off 180,000 by 2015 under Europe-imposed austerity.
Madrid ups taxes, punts on pension reform. Will Europe be satisfied?

The Spanish government hopes that its measures will be enough to convince Europe to okay a two-year extension on its deficit-reduction goals.
US considers end to tariffs in Myanmar: Too soon?

Though the country has gone through a series of reforms, Human Rights Watch has recently thrown allegations of 'ethnic cleansing' at the government.
Global News Blog Switzerland shuts the door on EU migrants: A new 'us vs. them' in Europe?

News that Switzerland is capping residence permits for Western Europeans reached the Monitor's Europe bureau chief as she was having her own intolerable immigration experience.