http://www.presseurop.eu/en The best of the European press in 10 languages enhttp://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/739811-spanish-brain-drainFri, 24 Jun 2011 17:17:27 +0100739811 http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/504671-diplomatic-war-between-france-and-mexico"Florence Cassez, an affair of state,"  announces Le Figaro in the wake of Mexico’s decision to cancel its participation in France’s “Year of Mexico” cultural programme. The crisis has been prompted by the case of Florence Cassez, a 36-year-old French woman who in April 2008 was sentenced to a 90-year jail term (later commuted to 60 years in 2009) for kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Paris, which has been demanding her transfer to a French prison for three years, recently took a harder line after her conviction was upheld by a Mexican appeal court on 10 February. "As it stands, the situation remains in deadlock," notes Le Figaro, adding that "trade between the two countries will likely suffer. The ‘Year of Mexico’ was supposed to promote commercial as well as cultural relations.”

(News in brief)]]>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:35:07 +0100504671 http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/186661-united-not-europeTue, 09 Feb 2010 15:41:12 +0100186661 http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/137941-towards-another-wasted-summitThe joint statement signed on 15 November in Singapore, endorsing a non-binding political agreement on greenhouse gas reduction based on the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December (COP15), is termed an “arrogant and dirty deal” in the Berlingske Tidende. According to the Danish daily, the deal proposed by Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and backed by the US and China will not contain any binding clauses – though the latter might be adopted at the next environmental summit in 2010 in Mexico. On his blog, Peil Meilstrup, climate expert at the Mandag Morgen think tank, finds the situation “very troubling”: “If the United States does not pledge to cut its CO2 emissions, a long list of developing countries will want to follow its example."

 

(News in brief)]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:21:12 +0100137941 http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/60281-mayor-giuliani-romeNot renowned for his multicultural susceptibilities, Rome’s mayor Gianni Alemanno on an official visit to New York has proved only too eager to recruit foreigners to his cause. After the obligatory call on incumbent mayor and business magnate Michael Bloomberg, Italy’s post-fascist first citizen high-fived with 9/11 NY mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the father of "zero tolerance", who now runs an urban counselling company. They discussed a volunteer police corps that Alemanno sees as an alternative to the Northern League-inspired new vigilante committees that evoke for him “a feeling of do-it-yourself justice". The recovery of abandoned urban zones and parks was also raised. A spokesman for Giuliani Partners sees here the seeds of a long-term collaboration. But for La Stampa, Roman citizens shouldn’t start celebrating, recalling Giuliani's failures outside the Big Apple. "When he ran NY, Giuliani was seen as an oracle on security matters. But when offered a 4,3 billion dollar contract by Mexico City, he only visited the city once and his recommendations didn't help reduce crime,” notes the Turin newspaper. “Not everything,” it concludes, “can be exported".

(News in brief)]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:28:02 +010060281 http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/59641-dont-make-recession-out-swine-fluTue, 21 Jul 2009 17:32:47 +010059641