Uncertain future: Turkish PM returns to cheering crowd, decries ‘illegal’ protests
A supporter of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan holds his picture while others shout slogans as they wait for Erdogan’s return at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport June 6, 2013. (Reuters / Osman Orsal)
Turkey’s future hangs in the balance as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to crush the massive anti-government protests. His uncompromising stance has the potential to goad activists into more violence as they call for Erdogan’s resignation.
The prime minister was greeted with thunderous applause from supporters during a speech in which he pledged to end the “illegal” anti-government protests. He also vowed to continue with plans to… Continue reading
We DID make Greece’s debt crisis worse with brutal cuts and tax hikes, IMF admits as Greeks say they ‘can’t forgive’ officials for making recession worse
- IMF report admits fund forced austerity measures on Greece too quickly
- Fund also failed to restructure country’s debts at the start of crisis
- Greek politicians welcome IMF’s confession and call for change of course
A war of words broke out between the International Monetary Fund and the EU yesterday over its bungled bailout of Greece.
The IMF admitted to ‘notable failures’ in the handling of the Greek crisis and accused European officials of being more concerned with saving the euro than rescuing the debt-ridden country.
The Fund, headed by Christine Lagarde, said it was forced to break its… Continue reading
Istanbul Protest
‘Most violent in years’: Istanbul protests spread across Turkey
Riots, barricades, street battles as police fight protesters in Turkey
Thousands of protesters in Istanbul clashed with police in the most violent rally Turkey has seen in years. Hundreds have been injured and dozens arrested in fierce rioting which the media has dubbed the Turkish Spring as it spreads across the country.
The protests in Turkey have entered their second day Saturday morning, with thousands of demonstrators in Istanbul and Ankara being teargased and targeted with water cannons by police.
The Friday morning police crackdown on peaceful Occupy-style protesters rallying against the demolition of a landmark park in Istanbul, have over the day and night grown into massive street battles… Continue reading
UK faces EU court on migrant benefits
The European Commission is taking Britain to court for allegedly discriminating against migrants who claim social security in the country. The commission argued that Britain imposes an extra residency test on European Union (EU) nationals that does not apply to British citizens, saying the UK is breaching EU law.
The EU commission also stated that the discriminatory test could deny thousands of immigrants their right to claim unemployment and family welfare benefits to which they are entitled under European law. ”The commission asked Britain to end this discrimination against EU nationals in September 2011 but no measures have… Continue reading
German anti-capitalist movement protest eurozone debt crisis
Thousands of demonstrators from the anti-capitalist Blockupy movement have held a protest in the German city of Frankfort over the worsening eurozone debt crisis. The protesters took to the streets on Friday in a move to cut off access to financial institutions including the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Deutsche Bank headquarters in the financial district of Frankfort.
“The aim of this blockade is to prevent normal operations (at the ECB),” said Blockupy spokesman Martin Sommer.
Sommer added that the demonstrators sent home some of the people who had tried to come to work. Blockupy began after… Continue reading
Eurozone unemployment rate hits record 12.2 percent
Fresh data reveal the eurozone unemployment rate has hit a record high of 12.2 percent in April, with around 19.2 million receiving government financial assistance as recession continues to take its toll on European economies. The Eurostat data agency said on Friday that a total of 1.6 million people have lost their jobs in the eurozone during the 12 months leading to April.
The jobless rate in the eurozone has soared for the 24th consecutive month. Around 26.6 million people were out of jobs in the entire European Union in April and 19.3 million in the eurozone. … Continue reading
