A major challenge to Europe is the increasing travel of European citizens, mostly young men to and from Syria seeking to join forces opposing the Asad regime. Many of them end up in the ranks of violent extremist groups such as al-Nusrah Front or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). These “foreign fighters” spark increasing concerns, and actions to address them, by European countries worried about the growing number of their citizens travelling to the battlefield and possibly returning radicalized.

While professing unwavering faith in a transcendent deity, radical Islam is a militant, politically activist ideology, whose ultimate goal is to create a worldwide community, or caliphate, of Muslim believers. Determined to achieve this new world order by any means necessary, including violence and mass murder, radical Islam is characterised by its contempt for the beliefs, practices, and symbols of other religious traditions. This intolerant creed is cited by Islamists as the philosophical justification for their terrorism.

Asia will once again be the engine of global GDP growth in 2015, but the picture within the region is beginning to show signs of shifting. In aggregate, we forecast that the region’s economy will expand by 4.5%, the same pace than 2014. However, as China’s economic growth rate continues to slow, other countries will begin to compete for the title of regional star performer.

On 1 December 2009, with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding on the EU institutions and national governments, just like the EU Treaties themselves.

Chapter II of the Charter pertains to Freedoms and Article 11 in particular relates to Freedom of Expression and Information.

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

Eurosta estimates that 24.423 million men and women in the EU-28 , of whom 18.394 million were in the euro area (EA-18), were unemployed in November 2014.

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.5 % in November 2014. The EU-28 unemployment rate was 10.0 % in November 2014.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.9 %) and Germany (5.0 %), and the highest in Greece (25.7 % ) and Spain (23.9 %).

Charlie Hebdo’s attack  is an attack on the media and freedom of expression. The world community cannot allow extremists to silence the free flow of opinions and ideas.

No journalists should face violence for what they publish and any attack on journalists is an attack on freedom of expression.

Journalists should have the right to publish offensive material without fear of violent retribution. They should have the right to publish it, and others should have the freedom to criticise it. Let’s defend those rights.

The Latvian Presidency will focus on three overarching priorities: Competitive Europe, Digital Europe and Engaged Europe.

The destabilizing potential of Greek elections for the euro area should be taken seriously. They will have a significant impact on this year's elections in Spain and Portugal, and could also lead to the reshuffling of political decks in Italy, France and Germany.

Crude oil now trades at below $50 , another psychological threshold for the market. Experts now predict oil could go as low as $40 or even $ 30 a barrel. While that's great for U.S. consumers, there comes a point when sustained low prices begin to really hurt energy company stocks and jobs in the U.S. and other countries around the world. Lower prices are also pinching the oil industry, including the previously red –hot Texan economy and high-cost U.S. shale and Canadian oil sands producers. Several thousand layoffs in the energy sector have already been announced.

Russia relies on oil and gas for half its tax revenue and needs the price of a barrel to be at $100 to balance its books. Instead, the price is closer to $60. The value of the rouble has plummeted pretty much in tandem, leading to a sense of panic in the markets.

 Russia's Main Economic Problems?