Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union

The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel committee which argued that the EU had helped transform Europe “from the continent of war to a continent of peace”.

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EU report wants legislation against Israeli settlements

In a confidential report sent to Brussels this week, some EU diplomats urge the European Commission to consider drafting a legislation in order to ensure that financial transactions by EU members do not support Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem.(map from bbcimg.co.uk)

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Tens of thousands protest against new Hungarian consitution

About 30,000 Hungarians have been protesting on Monday (photo, from nytimes.com) in Hungary’s capital Budapest against the country’s controversial new constitution that came into force on January 1st.

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Britain isolated as all EU countries reach fiscal pact

The UK is the only EU member state which refused to back a tax and budget pact – known as a “fiscal compact” – aimed at tackling the eurozone debt crisis.

UK prime minister David Cameron (photo, from guardian.co.uk) said he had to protect key British interests, including its financial markets.

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Western countries angry at Israel over settlement plans

Israeli interior ministry announced on Tuesday that it had approved plans to build 1,100 new homes in Gilo (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk), a settler enclave in southeast Jerusalem, a move condemned by the European Union and the United States.

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Protesters arrested in Belarus

While Alexander Lukashenko (photo, from spiegel.de), 56, is sworn in as Belarus’ president, many opposition supporters have staged a demonstration outside the country’s Palace of the Republic.

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Schengen zone closed for Romania and Bulgaria

Bulgaria and Romania will be blocked from joining the Europe’s passport-free travel zone, following French and German interior minister declared it “premature” to let them join Schengen in March 2011. (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

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Ex-EU leaders ask for sanctions against Israel settlements

The European Union was urged by 26 ex-EU leaders to impose sanctions on Israel for continuing to build settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.

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Greece unveils austerity measures

In return of an international rescue package to get Greece out of its debt crisis, the country has revealed austerity measures that will have to be taken.

On Sunday, prime minister George Papandreou said in a cabinet meeting that Greeks would be called upon to make “great sacrifices” in return for aid. (photo from aljazeera.net)

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Jerusalem as joint capital backed by EU

Jerusalem (photo, from aljazeera.net) should be the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state, agreed European Union foreign ministers after two days of talks in Brussels.

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