Europe

Obama to EU: Get Your S__t Together; Got An Election Next Year

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Obama to EU: Get Your S__t Together; Got An Election Next Year

The White House is lobbying European governments to shut up and do something. No more disputes in public. No more disagreements over fundamental issues. The world is collapsing, and it’s time to act boldly. Hank Paulson’s extortion racket is back.

Bailout Rebellion in Germany Heats Up

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Bailout Rebellion in Germany Heats Up

Geithner gets smacked down, and Germany might be threatened by a populist movement to exit the E.U. For the first time ever, a clear majority of Germans no longer sees any benefits to being part of the Eurozone. And two-thirds reject aiding Greece and other heavily indebted countries.

China Puts The Screws To BMW

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on China Puts The Screws To BMW

And BMW blinks. With sales of new vehicles approaching 18 million units in 2011, China is the largest car market in the world, far ahead of the US. No major car maker would want to miss out on the opportunities in China. Yet, there is a problem: Pressure by the Chinese Government to transfer the newest technologies.

Germany Special: Divorce, Remarry, Get Fired

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Germany Special: Divorce, Remarry, Get Fired

The right of German religious organizations to terminate an employee for violating their moral codex, even in deeply private situations, has been affirmed by the Federal Labor Court. And they’re among the top employers in Germany! If you’re a divorcee and work for a Catholic hospital, you may get fired if you remarry. Heck, you may get fired for getting divorced.

Bailout Rebellion In Germany

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Bailout Rebellion In Germany

“We’re on the way to a worldwide financial dictatorship governed by bankers,” said Peter Gauweiler, German Member of Parliament. “We don’t support Greece. We support 25 or 30 worldwide investment banks and their insane activities.”

‘Let the Euro Die,’ Said the Woman Who Could Be the Next French President

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on ‘Let the Euro Die,’ Said the Woman Who Could Be the Next French President

Marine Le Pen, president of the Front National and one of the top contenders in the 2012 presidential election, said the unspeakable. And the media printed it. And now word is out.

Knife Drawn, the Bundesbank Attacks the ECB, and German Industrialists Tremble

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Knife Drawn, the Bundesbank Attacks the ECB, and German Industrialists Tremble

The Bundesbank lashes out at the ECB for its decision to print money and buy crappy bonds of eurozone countries that lived high on the hog for years but are crumbling under a pile of debt. This puts it on collision course with the German industrialists that got rich off those countries. Angela Merkel is caught in between.

Swiss Franc Wreaks Havoc In Switzerland

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Swiss Franc Wreaks Havoc In Switzerland

The run-up of the Swiss franc entailed a stock-market crash, gigantic hits to wealth invested overseas, and big losses in Swiss pension funds. Companies are reeling. Layoffs and a recession are next. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) flooded the market with francs, intervened in the currency markets, and forced real interest rates into negative territory. Without much success.

Chain Restaurants Are Conquering France

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Chain Restaurants Are Conquering France

And so is obesity. Good food and leisurely meals bien arrosé are considered the glue that keeps families, and French society, together. And yet, chain restaurants have elbowed their way in and now control 20% of the total restaurant market.

Germany, Model Economy Du Jour

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Germany, Model Economy Du Jour

All Tax And No Play. But they still can’t balance their budget or bail out Italy.
While we’re having all the fun.