The blasphemy law in Pakistan

Contemptuous

For once, the government pushes back on intolerance

Sep 8th 2012 | ISLAMABAD | from the print edition

The Economist

Edito 404

Του Φώτη Γεωργελέ, από τον ιστότοπο athensvoice.gr

Νύχτα, το αυτοκίνητο παίρνει αργά τις στροφές στο σκοτεινό δρόμο. Μέσα στο αμάξι, τσακωνόμαστε. Θέμα, το αγαπημένο των διακοπών. Οι αποδείξεις. Πάλι δεν μας έδωσαν, πάλι ακούσαμε το αντιμνημονιακό ποίημα.

Greece's budget gap narrows in January-August, but revenues off track

11 SEP, 2012, 05.57PM IST, REUTERS

Economic Times

ATHENS: Greece's budget deficit narrowed by 34 per cent year-on-year between January and August, helped by cuts in public spending and investment, the finance ministry said on Tuesday.

Greece's lenders object to parts of its austerity plan

By Lefteris Papadimas

ATHENS | Sun Sep 9, 2012 4:24pm EDT

(Reuters) - Greece's foreign lenders have rejected parts of a nearly 12-billion-euro austerity package prepared by the government, Greek officials said on Sunday as the two sides resumed talks after a month-long hiatus.

Αλέξης Τσίπρας: Μας οδηγείτε σε κατάσταση χειρότερη από την Αργεντινή

 (Σημ. του blog. Το άρθρο είναι από την εφημερίδα ΑΥΓΗ. Είναι η επίσημη εφημερίδα του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ. Η φράση του κ. Τσίπρα έγινε αφορμή για καταγγελίες για «διαστρέβλωση» των όσων είπε. Στο άρθρο θα βρείτε την εκδοχή της δήλωσης που, κατά τεκμήριο υποστηρίζει την επίσημη άποψη του κόμματος. Δεν θα βρείτε πουθενά την διατύπωση του τίτλου του άρθρου … Μας οδηγείτε σε κατάσταση χειρότερη από την Αργεντινή… γιατί απλούστατα ποτέ δεν διατύπωσε ο κ. Τσίπρας μια τέτοια άποψη. Οι οπαδοί του κ. Τσίπρα, φυσικά, είναι ελεύθεροι να πιστεύουν ότι μπορεί να μην το είπε αλλά σίγουρα το εννοούσε…Θα βρείτε όμως το περίφημο …Μακάρι να είχαμε γίνει Αργεντινή… γιατί απλούστατα αυτό είπε! Τα σχόλια είναι  ευπρόσδεκτα!)

Is Grexit the new Y2K?

From http://www.mindfulmoney.co.uk

At first glance it seems that a 50 page plus academic paper from the University of Chicago -Booth School of Business - is a statement of the obvious. Tax evasion is rife in Greece and it is led by doctors, engineers, private tutors, financial services agents, accountants and lawyers - all occupations where there is substantial self-employment and limited or non-existent paper trails.

U.S. Companies Brace for an Exit From the Euro by Greece

3-9-12

The New York Times

Even as Greece desperately tries to avoid defaulting on its debt, American companies are preparing for what was once unthinkable: that Greece could soon be forced to leave the euro zone.

Ο Βαγιωνάς δίνει τροφή στο Μανδραβέλη να συνεχίζει να λέει αυτά που λέει..

Ο κοινωνικός ρόλος στη διατίμηση

Tου Πασχου Mανδραβελη / pmandravelis@kathimerini. gr

German lawmakers say "Grexit" not just economic risk

By Matthias Sobolewski

BERLIN | Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:01pm EDT

(Reuters) - Germany's raucous internal debate on whether to keep Greece in the euro zone is too narrowly focused on financial factors and should also weigh up the wider geopolitical risks of a "Grexit", senior officials in Chancellor Angela Merkel's party say.

Europe drawn back to its first problem: Greece

(Reuters) - The euro zone debt crisis was born in Greece. Nearly three years and two bailouts on, Europe must decide whether to give the country yet more help or cut it loose.

France, Germany Unify Approach to Greek Talks

By WILLIAM BOSTON

The Wall Street Journal

BERLIN—The leaders of Germany and France on Thursday agreed to speak to Greece with one voice in meetings with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras this week, a German government official said.

Greece to Seek Further EUR2 Billion in Budget Cuts - Source

By Nektaria Stamouli

The Wall Street Journal

ATHENS--Greece is seeking to slash government spending more drastically than previously announced to compensate for tax revenue that will probably be lost to austerity economics, a finance ministry official said Tuesday.

Ο «σκληρός πυρήνας» της διαφθοράς

Καθημερινή 19-7-2012

Αποκαλυπτική η απολογία του Ν. Ζήγρα, ο οποίος έσπασε τη σιωπή του και κατονομάζει τους αποδέκτες των εκατ. του μαύρου χρήματος

Της Ιωαννας Μανδρου

The parable of the four-engined planes

Jul 18th 2012, 11:53 by I.C.

The Economist

AN OLD friend in the aviation business, with years of experience with Greek clients, told me a story that serves as a parable for how the country got into its current state.

Greek Disaster Averted Points To ERF’s Bridge For All Concerned

Bloomberg

While debt sharing in the euro area to stem the financial crisis has never been closer, German Chancellor Angela Merkel may keep it out of reach.

Greek Coalition Sets Austerity Plan

The Wall Street Journal

By STELIOS BOURAS and PHILIP PANGALOS

ATHENS—Greece's three coalition partners Wednesday agreed on a basic outline of a plan regarding €11.5 billion euros ($14.1 billion) of spending cuts to be implemented over the next two years but have pushed back final decisions on the belt-tightening measures, pending discussions with international creditors.

Madrid Austerity Plan Boosted to $80 Billion

The Wall Street Journal

MADRID—Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced new austerity measures Wednesday that should help Madrid cut its budget deficit by €65 billion ($80 billion) through to 2015, and warned the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy may not grow at all next year.

Κάντο όπως στην... Κολομβία

01/07/2012

Του Τ. Τέλλογλου, από τον δικτυακό τόπο www.protagon.gr

«Δεν μπορούμε να τον λαδώσουμε, ας τον δείρουμε, δεν μπορούμε να τον δείρουμε ακόμα ας τον παρακολουθήσουμε και να δώσουμε χρήματα στο αφεντικό του».

Are state-led economies better?

By Ian Bremmer JULY 3, 2012

This piece originally appeared in Reuters Magazine.

As Europe’s leaders struggle to restore confidence in the single currency and America’s economy limps ahead at a painfully slow pace, China’s economy continues to power forward at its now characteristically strong clip.

Wealth and power

It's a family affair

Jun 30th 2012, 13:54 by The Economist | BEIJING

IN RECENT years China’s leaders have become increasingly concerned that the public’s awareness of the growing wealth gap could lead to social instability.