Law and Justice in Poland. But what about the EU?

Law and Justice Party (PiS) is the absolute ruler in Poland. Couple of months ago Andrej Duda, also coming from PiS, secured the presidential seat, while last Sunday in parliamentary elections Beata Szydlo, Kaczynski's political chosen one, led the party to a landslide.  ​

Especially after this year's twin win for PiS, old-school, veteran Kaczysnki is undeniably Poland's most influential leader. Appeared in the front scene in 1989 after achieving to form the first non-communist post-war government, his comeback is associated with his country's big step in Brussels' decision-making inner room. With Donald Tusk serving as President of the European Council -in spite of his political rivalry with Kaczysnki - Poland increases its influence in the European soft and power politics block. This does not go alone as during the previous years Warsaw's political leadership has proved to be a strong pro-European voice in Eastern Europe, demonstrating a bold stance during CAP talks, assuming a pro-US stance in NATO intervention in Middle East and Central Asia, while balancing efficiently between its Soviet-friendly past and the stakes of European unity when confronted with Russia's interest in the neighborhood.

Το ντοκιμαντέρ για το The Pirate Bay! Η δίκη! [Video]

Μετά από δύο χρόνια σκληρής δουλειάς, ο κινηματογραφιστής Simon Klose παρουσίασε  στο διεθνές φεστιβάλ κινηματογράφου του Βερολίνου, το ντοκιμαντέρ TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard, για το οποίο είχαμε παρακολουθήσει το teaser πριν από μερικές ημέρες. Το ντοκιμαντέρ πραγματεύεται τη δικαστική μάχη των τριών ιδρυτών του The Pirate Bay, η οποία κατέληξε με καταδικαστική απόφαση στις αρχές του 2012, και αναφέρει πολλές σημαντικές και ενδιαφέρουσες λεπτομέρειες για την πορεία της υπηρεσίας μέχρι τότε.

"Too Big to Fail has become Too Big for Trial"

Senator Elizabeth Warren asks federal bank regulators why no banks were taken to trial in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

more at http://warren.senate.gov

FT: Greek gambling plan branded ‘a disgrace’

By Roger Blitz, Leisure Industries Correspondent

Sportingbet has branded plans by Greece to award a monopoly in online gambling to state betting operator OPAP “a disgrace”, but said it would continue to take bets in the country for the time being.

The group, which is in the process of being bought by William Hill and its joint venture partner GVC Holdings, is one of 24 online gambling operators which signed interim licences to operate in Greece but which may now have to quit the Greek market. 

OPAP already enjoys a monopoly on offline betting, but the Greek finance ministry is now proposing to end the interim licences and extend OPAP’s monopoly to include online sports betting and other gambling products, with a licence to last until 2020.

Police raid Deutsche Bank in tax fraud probe: Company

According to a magazine at least 25 employees are suspected of evading hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) in tax and arrest warrants have been issued for five suspects.

German prosecutors and tax police have raided the offices of Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest lender said on Wednesday.

"As part of an ongoing investigation against individuals suspected of tax fraud connected with trading in carbon emissions certificates, prosecutors searched the premises of Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt," a bank spokesman said.

"Deutsche Bank is cooperating fully with the authorities," he added.

According to a magazine in its online edition, at least 25 employees are suspected of evading hundreds of millions of euros (dollars) in tax and arrest warrants have been issued for five suspects.

The magazine said 500 officers also raided flats and offices in Berlin and Duesseldorf.

Prosecutors in Frankfurt were not immediately available to comment.