European Union

02 October 2007 -- The euro currency used by 13 European Union countries touched record highs against the dollar for the past eight trading days. And that worries the Europeans whose exports are getting more and more expensive.

The euro has risen by 66 percent against the dollar over the past five years. In 2007 alone, the euro has gained eight percent to just under $1.43.    » read more »

Sept. 23, 2007 -- Dover – Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner is leading a Delaware delegation on a trade mission to Sweden and Amsterdam, where the group will meet with business executives, including the corporate research and development leadership of AstraZeneca, and take a look at an existing offshore wind farm.    » read more »

20 September 2007 -- Estonia has refused permission for a geological survey in its territorial waters for a proposed gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea. But the Russian-German project will likely proceed with an alternate route.    » read more »

18 September 2007 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed Tuesday to push through wide-ranging labor market reforms, including relaxing a key labor law and trimming special pension privileges for some workers.

In a speech to the French Senate Tuesday, President Sarkozy outlined a raft of areas he believe should be overhauled in France to make the country more competitive - and he argued, better attuned to workers' needs. They reforms include further easing the requirement for the 35-hour work week - considered one of the shortest in Europe.    » read more »

Statement by Microsoft Corp. Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith

LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 17, 2007 — Statement attributable to Brad Smith, Microsoft Corp. Senior Vice President and General Counsel, immediately following the Court’s ruling:

“Well, we’ve obviously only had a very short amount of time to read the decision that the court issued today, and it’s the type of decision that deserves the kind of time required to understand it thoroughly.    » read more »

BRUSSELS, September 17, 2007 —There are an estimated 191 million international migrants in the world, the majority of whom live in developed countries. And, there is growing evidence that these communities contribute to the development process of home countries through a variety of channels, be it through remittances, investments, entrepreneurial activities, or transfer of knowledge.    » read more »

17 September 2007 -- Microsoft Corporation suffered a major legal setback Monday when a European Union court rejected the software giant's appeal of a 2004 anti trust ruling. The court also upheld a record fine of more than $600 million which Microsoft has now been ordered to pay. Microsoft has not yet decided whether to appeal the new ruling.

Microsoft had asked the court to overturn a 2004 European Commission ruling that found the U.S. software giant abused its dominant market position by automatically including its media player in every Windows operating system.    » read more »

16 September 2007 -- France's foreign minister says world powers should brace for a possible war with Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on French radio and television, Bernard Kouchner said negotiations to resolve the nuclear standoff with Tehran are the top priority.

But, Kouchner said, in his own words, "We must prepare for the worst, and the worst is war."

He stressed that he does not believe war is imminent.    » read more »

Governor to Travel to Germany, Denmark and Spain Touting Renewable Energy and Highlighting Iowa’s Growing Wind Industry

September 13, 2007 -- (Des Moines) This Saturday Iowa Governor Chet Culver will leave for Europe to attend renewable energy events in Germany, Denmark and Spain. He is scheduled to deliver major speeches in front of representatives from 42 countries, including the American Wind Energy Association Panel and the Husum Wind Conference – the largest wind trade show in Europe.    » read more »

05 September 2007 -- The late Pope John Paul II's private secretary - Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz - is urging fellow Roman Catholic church leaders to take immediate action against a popular priest accused of spreading anti-Semitism and nationalist politics by Catholic radio.

In remarks published by newspapers Tuesday, the cardinal said the church cannot ignore what is happening. He said the church is on the verge of what he calls a "dangerous crisis," where someone else is trying to set the direction of Polish Catholicism.    » read more »

29 August 2007 -- Fire officials in Greece say progress is being made in fighting deadly wildfires sweeping the country but many fires are not yet contained.

With firefighting efforts concentrated Wednesday on the island of Evia, north of Athens, and on the Peloponnese Peninsula, Greek officials say there is no longer imminent danger of the fires spreading.

The fires have claimed at least 63 lives and burned numerous villages and thousands of hectares of forest.    » read more »

28 August 2007 -- Forest fires continue to rage in Greece's mountainous southern peninsula of Peloponnese. At least 63 people have died in the blazes, which are now in their fifth day. Police have charged seven people with arson and are offering a $1.4 million reward for information leading to more arrests. Greek voters go to polls in September and the fires may play a big role.

Political commentators in Athens say whether the fires will have an effect on next month's general election depends on how the public judges the government's handling of the crisis.    » read more »

Michigan-Sweden alternative energy summit planned in 2008

August 28, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said her recent investment mission to Sweden and Germany produced jobs and investment in Michigan and laid the groundwork for additional investment and jobs in the future. Granholm announced that Michigan will host a Michigan-Sweden alternative energy summit in early 2008 to accelerate investment and job creation.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner urging France to reconsider its decision not to extradite Hans Peterson, an American citizen who reportedly confessed to the 2006 murder of Dr. David Cornbleet in Chicago.    » read more »

27 August 2007 -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy is calling for a clear timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, and says Iran's nuclear program is the most serious crisis facing the international community today.

Mr. Sarkozy noted that France opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. But he said his government is ready to help find a political solution to the conflict. His comments came in his first major foreign policy speech since taking office in May.    » read more »