Turkey’s leader rejects a report saying he was given an unfair advantage in Sunday’s referendum.
Turkey referendum: Erdogan dismisses criticism by monitors – BBC News
sigh….
Category: Europe,
Russian arrested in Spain ‘over mass hacking’
Spanish police say he ran the Kelihos botnet, hacking information and installing malicious software.
Russian arrested in Spain ‘over mass hacking’ – BBC News
hmmm
Turkey referendum: Historic vote on presidential powers under way
If Turks vote overwhelmingly yes, they will grant sweeping new powers to the country’s president.
Turkey referendum: Historic vote on presidential powers under way – BBC News
hmm
First victim of Stockholm terror attack is identified
The child is thought to have been walking home from school along Drottninggatan high street when she was mown down by the beer truck.
First victim of Stockholm terror attack is identified | Daily Mail Online
my gawd….
Dutch men hold hands to protest against homophobia
An alleged attack on a gay couple in the Netherlands has sparked a solidarity campaign on social media.
Dutch men hold hands to protest against homophobia – BBC News
cool.
Russia FINALLY condemns Idlib gas attack in Syria
At least 86 people, including 20 children, died in Tuesday’s attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province of Syria. Dozens more were left gasping for air, convulsing and foaming at the mouth.
Russia FINALLY condemns Idlib gas attack in Syria | Daily Mail Online
hmmm
Britain’s physical separation from Europe left scars on English Channel
Natural Brexit: Nearly 450,000 years ago, Britain was separated from Europe thanks to a series of catastrophic waterfalls
Natural Brexit: Britain’s original separation from Europe left scars on English Channel – LA Times
hmmm
Brexit: UK Government ‘to stand up’ for Gibraltar’s interests
Labour’s Keir Starmer says Gibraltar should not be used as a “bargaining chip” in Brexit talks.
Brexit: Government ‘to stand up’ for Gibraltar’s interests – BBC News
hmmm
Sturgeon wins vote for 2nd Scottish Independence referendum
She will now approach Theresa May for the power to trigger a vote.
Nicola Sturgeon wins vote for second Scottish referendum | Metro News
hmmm
The Balkans: Bad News Rising
Does this political instability, which is often related to ethnic rivalries, mean that the region needs new territorial solutions? Or does it mean that the problem is political, in that brain drain and demographic decline has simply left these countries in the hands of opportunists, fools or criminals unwilling and incapable of delivering a European future. It is the latter: new borders leave the same people calling the shots.
The Balkans: Bad news rising | European Council on Foreign Relations
hmmmm
Donald Trump Actually Gave a $300B “Bill” to Angela Merkel
In yet another WTF moment uncovered from President Donald Trump’s disastrous meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel last weekend, The Sunday Times is reporting that Trump actually serviced the German leader with a fake invoice for $300 billion, for NATO services. From the piece: Donald Trump handed the German chancellor Angela Merkel a bill — thought to be for more than £300bn — for money her country “owed” NATO for defending it when they met last weekend, German government sources have revealed. The bill — handed over during private talks in Washington — was described as “outrageous” by one German minister. “The concept behind putting out such demands is to intimidate the other side, but the chancellor took it calmly and will not respond to such provocations,” the minister said. To be clear, this is not how NATO works, and Germany doesn’t owe the US any such moneys. But at this point, we apparently can’t expect the president to know how NATO works at all.
Donald Trump Actually Gave a $300B “Bill” to Angela Merkel | SPIN
Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. F’ing moron!!!
Bulgaria’s Snap Election
Bulgaria’s political parties will look to form the nation’s fourth government in four years after Sunday’s vote.
What to Know About Bulgaria’s Snap Election
hmmmm
Belarus protests: Government defends mass arrests – BBC News
Hundreds were detained in protests on Saturday against the tax on “social parasites”.
Belarus protests: Government defends mass arrests – BBC News
hmmm
Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April – sources
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to skip a meeting with NATO foreign ministers next month in order to stay home for a visit by China’s president and will go to Russia later in April, U.S. officials said on Monday, disclosing an itinerary that allies may see as giving Moscow priority over them.
Exclusive: Tillerson plans to skip NATO meeting, visit Russia in April – sources | Reuters
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
London attack: The victims
Three people, plus the attacker, died and many others were injured in Wednesday’s attack in London.
London attack: The victims – BBC News
sigh…
Cross Atlantic Battle: American Tap vs Irish Step-Dance
While we’re watching Irish step dancing…
An old school tap battle between two styles – that’s just good fun!
White House: No apology to British government over spying claims
White House press secretary Sean Spicer flatly denied Friday that the White House apologized to the British government after citing an uncorroborated Fox News report to allege that a UK intelligence agency spied on President Donald Trump at the behest of former President Barack Obama.
White House: No apology to British government over spying claims – CNNPolitics.com
This WH is a pack of ignorant, irresponsible toddlers. Losers!
Trump doesn’t understand how NATO works, former ambassador says
Some foreign policy experts took issue with Trump’s assertions about contributions to NATO. Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, took to Twitter to argue that Trump didn’t seem to understand how the alliance works.
“US does provide large military commitment to NATO. But this is not a favor to Europe. It is vital for our own security,” Daalder tweeted. “All NATO countries, including Germany, have committed to spend 2% of GDP on defense by 2024.”
Daalder said America’s contribution to NATO is not to help pay for Germany’s defense or that of other European allies. “It is part of our treaty commitment,” he noted.
Trump doesn’t understand how NATO works, former ambassador says
Yup.
EU Parliament applauds as MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke is suspended for sexist comments
Antonio Tajani issued a statement apologizing to anyone who had been hurt or offended by the MEP’s outburst:
“I will not tolerate such behaviour, in particular when it comes from someone who is expected to discharge his duties as a representative of the peoples of Europe with due dignity. By offending all women, the MEP displayed contempt for our most fundamental values.”
This drew a round of applause from the entire parliament. Korwin-Mikke will lose his daily subsistence allowance for 30 days, a total of €9,180 (£8,047) intended to cover his expenses while he attends parliament. He will also be suspended from all parliamentary work for 10 days and banned from representing the parliament for a year.
EU Parliament applauds as MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke is suspended for sexist comments
hmmmm
German lessons: Angela Merkel and her press corps show how big democracies are supposed to operate
TO APPRECIATE how shocking President Donald Trump is to modern German sensibilities, consider the “America First!” slogan that so cheers his supporters. Then ponder how Germans—and indeed voters across Europe—would react if an avowed law-and-order nationalist were to seek the office of Bundeskanzler with the slogan: “Germany First!”
At an often awkward press conference in the East Room, the two leaders politely disagreed on everything from immigration to free trade and the value of seeking multinational agreements. …Mrs Merkel was every inch the cool, reserved physicist-by-training, at moments giving her American host the icy stare of a Mother Superior told a dirty joke. Mr Trump was dyspeptic, defensive and visibly irritated by press questions about his latest controversial tweets.
…Her core message to Mr Trump was that real political leadership involves seeking a co-operative solution that leaves everyone ahead, and that international relations do not have to be zero-sum.
(Like Trump has the comprehension skills for that concept)
…[Trump] has appalled the German government with his open admiration for the iron-fisted nationalism of Mr Putin, his hints that he might lift sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and his suggestions that NATO is obsolete.
…At their press conference Mrs Merkel managed to persuade Mr Trump to state his “strong support” for NATO. She also heard the American leader praise Germany’s schemes for job training and retraining, and apprenticeships in industry.
… Turning to his guest, he said: “At least we have something in common, perhaps.” The look that the chancellor shot back blended incredulity with horror. For Washington-based observers, increasingly used to the idea of an American president who makes baseless claims and attacks other leaders without shame, her dismay was a useful reminder. This is not normal.
Normal? No, it is not. So next time, vote for the clearly lesser of the two major party evils, snake oil buyers and liberal-ship-sinkers.
Angela Merkel owned Donald Trump
People have been having lots of fun with Donald Trump’s car crash of a meeting with Angela Merkel. Trump was widely criticised for refusing to shake the German chancellor’s hand when they met at the White House – he could barely bring himself to look at her
When Angela Merkel owned Donald Trump – our 10 favourite tweets | The Poke
These are priceless.
Donald Trump and Angela Merkel: Awkward!
“Joking about the US surveillance of Merkel is probably the most tone-deaf moment so far of Trump’s time on the international stage,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a scholar of the presidency and the media at Mary Washington University. “Trump needs to remember that he doesn’t need to crack jokes like he is still on reality television’s ‘The Apprentice.'”
Farnsworth pointed out that the two leaders didn’t even engage in the traditional handshake during an Oval Office photo opportunity earlier in the day. “Merkel’s offer to do so was met with an awkward silence that served as a reminder of the deep gulf between their perspectives.”
(Man, what a nebbish!)
Trump – in a noteworthy and unusual move for a US president – did not even mention the European Union once in his remarks.
(Because Trump probably doesn’t understand what the EU is…)
: Donald Trump and Angela Merkel make nice – sort of | Americas | DW.COM | 17.03.2017
What an incompetent asshole.
Donald Trump fuels diplomatic row with Britain after apology from US officials over GCHQ wiretapping claims
Donald Trump remained unrepentant amid a diplomatic row with Britain on Friday, hours after US officials made a formal apology for accusing GCHQ of helping Barack Obama spy on the then presidential candidate.
What a treasonous, lying douche-bag. Poor Merkel!
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