No prizes for predicting that apathy and ignorance will ensure yet another record low turnout in this week’s European elections — just at the moment when 350-million people across the continent are eligible to vote. And that’s not only in the veteran European Union member states but, alarmingly, also in several of the eastern newcomers.
Marc Dutroux launched a final tirade on Thursday at his trial in Belgium for the rape, abduction and murder of several girls, denouncing ”liars and manipulators” and insisting he did not act alone. He was giving his closing address before the jury retires to consider its verdict next week.
Lobbyists for the computer industry insisted on Sunday that a European Union decision finding Microsoft guilty of anti-competitive behaviour must stand, ahead of an expected appeal by the United States software giant. The Computer and Communications Industry Association said the March ruling by the European Commission was fair.
The European Union’s executive commission might launch an antitrust action against United States soft-drink giant Coca-Cola even as it seeks a settlement with the group, a commission spokesperson said on Tuesday. ”We have decided that both ways are possible,” said a spokesperson.
Two young women who are the only surviving victims of alleged Belgian child killer Marc Dutroux are to relive on Tuesday the nightmare they endured at his hands when they visit the house where he held them captive and raped them as children. Both girls were rescued when Dutroux led police to the house following his arrest in 1996.
The European Commission announced plans on Thursday to invest more than -million in transport and internet access for poor African nations. The new aid will help build roads and bridges in Uganda, Mali and Niger, and fund the installation of internet-capable computers in East and Southern Africa.
The European Union declared Microsoft guilty on Wednesday of abusing its "near monopoly" with Windows to squeeze competitors in other markets and levied a record fine of 497,2-million euros ($613-million). The EU’s antitrust authority is also demanding changes in the way the United States software company operates.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=33115">Microsoft rivals hail decision</a>
The European Union promised action on Tuesday to curb unsolicited bulk e-mails in a new sign of international determination to stop ”spam” messages. EU telecommunications ministers meeting in Brussels promised to speed up slow implementation of an EU-wide law agreed two years ago banning commercial spam.
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/ 10 February 2004
The European Union is set to agree this month to roll over for a third year sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe, notably extending a list of officials banned from the EU, diplomats say. The sanctions were first slapped on the regime of President Robert Mugabe in 2002.
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/ 28 January 2004
European Union foreign ministers are poised to extend sanctions against Zimbabwe next month, reports said on Tuesday. The ministers, due to meet in Brussels on February 23, will approve the renewal of targeted sanctions on leaders of Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party, diplomats have confirmed.
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/ 11 November 2003
Microsoft is to launch a last-ditch effort on Wednesday to avoid harsh penalties in Europe for alleged monopoly behaviour that could force it to change the way it sells its ubiquitous Windows software. Microsoft’s underlying aim is likely to be sniffing out the prospects for a damage-controlling settlement with the European Union.