Mediaboss Marketing

Published January 15, 2015

An elephant poses with a circus performer during the presentation of the 39th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015.The Circus Festival takes place from Jan. 15 to Jan 25. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)(The Associated Press)

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, center left, poses during the presentation of the 39th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015. The Circus Festival takes place from Jan. 15 to Jan 25. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)(The Associated Press)

LUXEMBOURG The European Union says the tiny principality of Monaco is too famous to trademark its own name.

The EU's General Court on Thursday upheld an EU decision not to allow the wealthy enclave on France's Mediterranean coast to use its name as a trademark on products including photos, printed matter and services linked to entertainment and sporting activities.

The court says the word Monaco "corresponds to the name of a globally-known principality, not least due to the renown of its royal family, its organization of a Formula 1 Grand Prix and its organization of a circus festival."

The World Intellectual Property Organization granted Monaco an international trademark covering the European Union in 2010, but the EU in 2013 refused to accept it. The ruling can be appealed.

View post:
EU court rules that principality of Monaco is too well-known to use its name as a trademark

#39;Artificial #39; Barriers Between Russia, EU Will Be Lifted: RIA Cites Lavrov
Latvia #39;s foreign minister said on Monday, the European Union will consider lifting sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis only if there is "real progress" in implementing a four-month-old...

By: WochitGeneralNews

Read more from the original source:
'Artificial' Barriers Between Russia, EU Will Be Lifted: RIA Cites Lavrov - Video

Priority focus on "foreign fighters"

European Union governments and officials are discussing possible responsesto the deadly shooting at satirical paper Charlie Hebdo, and subsequent terrorist attacks in Paris.

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that the EUs anti-terrorism legislation needed strengthening to help counter similar attacks in the future.

Two priority tracks were identified following a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers held in Paris on 11 January:

The meeting, which brought together the interior ministers from all 28 EU countries, and the United States, committed to enhance cooperation in the field of law enforcement and implement measures to reduce the supply of illegal firearms throughout Europe. Intelligence sharing on firearms operations across Europe will be increased, the ministers announced in a statement.

They also pledged to improve the effectiveness of intelligence sharing related to the movement of foreign terrorist fighters. Cooperation within Europol, Eurojust and Interpol should also intensify, as well as the exchange of relevant information between European police forces, the ministers said.

Specific measures are also underway for the countries that are members of the border-free Schengen area.

We are of the opinion that the rules of the Schengen Borders Code should be amended in a timely fashion to allow for broader consultation of the Schengen Information System during the crossing of external borders by individuals enjoying the right to free movement, the ministers said.

Ensuring that checks on persons at external borders become more systematic or harmonised is already considered a priority by EU Interior Ministers. Some EU countries have already taken steps to investigate and prosecute foreign fighters before departure (if a crime is already in place) or upon their return.

A number have also decided to use administrative measures to prevent or disrupt travel to Syria, Yemen and other countries where would-be Jihadist can receive training.

More here:
From 9/11 to Charlie Hebdo: The EUs response to terrorism

London: Up to 5,000 European Union citizens have joined Islamic State ranks, the head of European police agency Europol told British lawmakers on Wednesday.

"We're talking about 3,000, 5,000 EU nationals," Rob Wainwright told a parliamentary committee when asked how many foreign fighters had left from Europe.

"We're dealing with a large body of mainly young men who have the potential to come back and have the potential or intent and capability to carry out attacks we have seen in Paris in the last week," he said.

Up to 5,000 European Union citizens have joined Islamic State ranks, the head of European police agency Europol told British lawmakers on Wednesday.

Wainwright also called for greater scrutiny of the use of social media by jihadist groups.

"We have to have a closer, much more productive relationship between law enforcement and technology firms.

"One of the important evolutions we're seeing right now in the current terrorist threat is the way the Internet is used, clearly much more aggressively, much more imaginatively by the networks," he added.

The European Union's counter-terrorism chief Gilles de Kerchove estimated in September 2014 that around 3,000 European citizens had joined jihadists in Syria and Iraq. De Kerchove said that around 30 per cent have returned to their EU countries.

Go here to read the rest:
About 5000 European Union nationals in Islamic State ranks, says Europol

Published January 14, 2015

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

A London taxi driver uses a bus lane on a bridge over the river Thames in central London, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news _ they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes. Drivers of London's iconic _ but expensive _ black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing them _ but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs _ to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)(The Associated Press)

LONDON A European Union court has handed London's embattled taxi drivers some good news they can keep their right to drive in bus lanes.

Drivers of London's iconic but expensive black cabs face increasing competition from cheaper private cab firms and drivers from ride-sharing apps such as Uber. One advantage is a rule allowing the black cabs but not Uber drivers or private taxis known as minicabs to move around quickly by using lanes set aside for buses.

The private taxi firm Addison Lee argued that amounted to unlawful state support and gave the black cabs an unfair advantage.

But the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice court ruled Wednesday the bus-lane rule did not use state resources to confer "a selective economic advantage" on London cabs.

Originally posted here:
European court gives London taxis a break, says it's OK to bar private rivals from bus lanes