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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe stories: 29 news summaries

1 - 20 of 29 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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opinion

 Post-1989 Germany 
 an Unexpected Success 

Successes in Europe would boggle a 1989 mind: Applebaum

Nov 9, 09 12:42 PM CST
(Newser) - As “the exhaustive and perfectly blameless celebrations” of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall unfold, Anne Applebaum has a bone to pick. The festivities are “focusing on what didn’t happen rather than what did,” she writes, treating “the past two decades... More »

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Angela Merkel • Eastern Europe • democracy • Soviet Union • East Germany • Berlin Wall • Communism • Central Europe

party like it's 1989

 Germany Hails 
 Anniversary of  
 Berlin Wall's Fall  

Dominoes, fireworks, music help mark 20 years

Nov 9, 09 8:54 AM CST
(Newser) - Hundreds of foam dominoes will fall today in Berlin, symbolizing the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has called Nov. 9, 1989, "the happiest day in recent German history," will lead the festivities.... More »

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Hillary Clinton • Angela Merkel • Germany • Eastern Europe • Berlin • Nicolas Sarkozy • Gordon Brown • East Germany • Berlin Wall • Communism • West Germany • Lech Walesa • Brandenburg Gate

 Putin Praises US 
 for Ditching 
 Missile Shield 

But Moscow may not support nuclear sanctions against Iran

Sep 18, 09 11:08 AM CDT
(Newser) - In a development sure to further tick off President Obama's critics on the right, Vladimir Putin says he's quite pleased with the decision to scrap an American missile-defense system in Eastern Europe, the New York Times reports. “I very much hope that this correct and brave decision will be... More »

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Russia • Eastern Europe • missile shield • Poland • Moscow • Vladimir Putin • Czech Republic • Kremlin • missile defense system • Western Europe • Obama administration

(Newser) - President Obama’s decision to scrap plans for a missile defense shield is a political bombshell, writes Robin Oakley for CNN. America’s allies in Poland and the Czech Republic are left holding the bag after expending significant political capital on the unpopular system. Abandoning it might make their lives... More »

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Russia • Barack Obama • diplomacy • Eastern Europe • Poland • Czech Republic • missile defense system • Western Europe • foreign policy • Obama administration • President Obama

Hungary Fetes 1989 'Picnic' That Led to Fall of Berlin Wall

Provided escape from Communism for East Germans

Aug 19, 09 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hungary is celebrating the 20th anniversary today of its “Pan-European Picnic”: the day it opened its border with Austria, providing a pathway for hundreds of East Germans to exit Europe’s communist east. “The Soviet bloc was like an air balloon with over-pressure so it needed only a... More »

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communism • Angela Merkel • Eastern Europe • Hungary • Western Europe • East Germany • Berlin Wall

(Newser) - When CIA officials decided to build a series of secret prisons, they immediately contacted the chief of the agency's European supply base, a Frankfurt-based logistical whiz. “It was too sensitive to be handled by headquarters,” Kyle “Dusty” Foggo tells the New York Times. He called a... More »

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CIA • Eastern Europe • Morocco • secret prisons • interrogation • Romania • Kyle Foggo • enhanced interrogation techniques

(Newser) - The FTC has taken the rare step of shutting down an Internet Service Provider that it says was a haven for child pornography and malware run by Eastern European criminals, MSNBC reports. The case gives "a rare glimpse into the seediest parts of the web," writes Bob Sullivan.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • fraud • Eastern Europe • Estonia • Ukraine • child pornography • Internet service providers • Federal Trade Commission

West 'Wasted 20 Years' After Berlin Wall Fell: Gorbachev

Former Soviet states should unite, he suggests

May 13, 09 3:24 PM CDT
(Newser) - Europe has squandered two decades of potential cooperation since the Berlin Wall fell, Mikhail Gorbachev says. At a Moscow event sponsored by his foundation, the former Soviet leader criticized Western leaders who viewed the 1989 event as their victory over Eastern Europe, rather than an opportunity for common good, Reuters... More »

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Russia • Eastern Europe • European Union • Vladimir Putin • Soviet Union • Mikhail Gorbachev • Berlin Wall • United Russia • Dmitry Medvedev

Twitter Fuels Moldovan Anti-Communist Riots

Moldovan youth use social networking to mobilize against election result

Apr 8, 09 2:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - Thousands of young Moldovans have been using Twitter and other social networking sites to mobilize against the Communist Party's election victory, the New York Times reports. A crowd of some10,000 young activists, accusing the government of vote-rigging in Sunday's race, clashed with riot police outside the country's parliament yesterday,... More »

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social networking • Eastern Europe • Communist Party • protests • Twitter • Moldova

 Czech Government Falls
 on Eve of Obama Visit 

Collapse endangers plans for missile defense installation

Mar 25, 09 6:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Czech prime minister announced his resignation last night after his government lost a confidence vote in parliament, reports the New York Times. The ouster of Mirek Topolanek comes at an awkward moment: Not only do the Czechs hold the rotating EU presidency, but Barack Obama is scheduled to visit... More »

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Barack Obama • Eastern Europe • European Union • Czech Republic • missile defense system • Mirek Topolanek

Generous Pensions Toppling Hungarian Economy

Public spending dilemma threatens to engulf Eastern Europe

Mar 25, 09 4:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - Pensions are at the heart of the Hungarian financial crisis threatening to drag down the Eastern European economy, the Wall Street Journal reports. Three out of every 10 Hungarians currently collects a generous government pension, but the cost—around 10% of GDP and rising—has made the country's deficit unmanageable,... More »

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Eastern Europe • pensions • social services • Hungary • pension funds • financial crisis

Leaders Warn
of Economic
'Iron Curtain'

Eastern Europe melts down, but Western leaders refuse bailout

Mar 2, 09 7:25 AM CST
(Newser) - EU leaders meeting in Brussels yesterday rejected a Hungarian-led effort to bail out the faltering economies of Eastern Europe, leading to apocalyptic warnings of an economic "Iron Curtain," with millions of unemployed workers heading west. Countries from the Baltic states to Poland and Romania have seen their once-booming... More »

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Angela Merkel • Eastern Europe • European Union • recession • Hungary • bailout • Mirek Topolanek • Ferenc Gyurcsany



 Hungary Gets $6.7B Loan 
 to Avert Meltdown 

Budapest secures huge loan to prevent default à la Iceland

Oct 17, 08 8:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Hungarian government secured a $6.7-billion loan yesterday from the European Central Bank in an attempt to stave off an Icelandic-style national meltdown. The EU newcomer's troubles derive from loans denominated in euros or Swiss francs, rather than the softer Hungarian forint. Frozen credit markets have left Hungary's government... More »

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Eastern Europe • IMF • Hungary • credit market • default • mortgage defaults • financial crisis • Hungarian forint

EU Won't Put Ukraine on Membership Fast Track

Amid worries over Russian ambition, Sarkozy acknowledges 'European destiny'

Sep 9, 08 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Ukraine’s president left a summit with European Union leaders today without a firm promise of EU membership, the Guardian reports. While French President Nicolas Sarkozy offered Victor Yushchenko an “association agreement” and affirmed Europe’s commitment to Ukraine’s territorial rights, dissent from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands... More »

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Eastern Europe • European Union • Europe • Nicolas Sarkozy • Moscow • Ukraine • Viktor Yushchenko

 Georgian Conflict
 Highlights Eastern Anxieties 

Ex-Soviet states unite in opposition to Russia

Aug 18, 08 2:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - As Russian forces continue to roll through Georgia, both Eastern and Western nations are reconsidering their relations in the face of an emboldened and insolent Moscow. The Christian Science Monitor examines this new geopolitical reality from the perspective of ex-Soviet states determined to prevent a renaissance of Russia's hegemony over... More »

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Russia • NATO • Eastern Europe • Poland • Georgia • missile defense system

 Snail Prices Shell-Shock French  

Booming Eastern Europe having to pay harvesters better

Jul 6, 08 11:12 AM CDT
(Newser) - The French may soon be shelling out big bucks for the 14,000 tons of snails it consumes annually. Most actually originate in Eastern Europe, where growing economic development means rural families aren’t as willing to take up the demanding task of snail-gathering without better wages. And that, reports... More »

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food • Eastern Europe • France • gourmet dining • snail • escargot

As Celtic Tiger Slows, Ireland Again Empties

With Eastern Europe booming, newcomers pack bags en masse

Jun 25, 08 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - The massive Irish economic engine of the '90s brought decades of emigration to a screeching halt and hordes of EU immigrants flooding through open borders to lay claim to plentiful jobs. But as the Celtic Tiger begins to look like a kitty, the Wall Street Journal reports, many of those... More »

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immigration • Eastern Europe • European Union • United Kingdom • Ireland • Celtic Tiger

Book Reawakens Doubts About Polish Hero Walesa

Did the country's democratic pioneer collaborate with Poland's secret police?

Jun 13, 08 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser) - A new book is stirring up an old debate in Poland: Did democratic hero Lech Walesa, leader of the Solidarity union and former president, collaborate with the secret police? Walesa has successfully defended himself against the claim for 15 years, in and out of court. But historians working with police... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Eastern Europe • Poland • president • history • Communism • Lech Walesa • collaborator

 Bush Backs Ukraine's NATO Bid 

President's support sure to irk Russia

Apr 1, 08 8:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush today declared his unequivocal support for the entry of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO, a position sure to anger Russia, Reuters notes. “Your nation has made a bold decision, and the United States strongly supports your request,” Bush said, flanked by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. But... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Russia • NATO • Eastern Europe • missile defense system • Ukraine • former Soviet state • George W. Bush

Deutsche Telekom to Buy Greek Stake

Deal for 20% of Greek phone co. conditional on management control

Mar 17, 08 1:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - Deutsche Telekom plans to buy a 20% stake in Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) of Greece, for $3.92 billion. The deal is conditional on the German carrier getting management control, and the company will open talks immediately with the Greek government, the only larger shareholder. The OTE stake will let... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Eastern Europe • telecom industry • mergers and acquisitions • Greece • Deutsche Telekom • telecommunications • corporate governance • Hellenic Telecommunications Organization • OTE

1 - 20 of 29 Stories | 1 2 Next >>


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