If there is one topic which shows off German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble’s limitations, it is his idea of a financial transactions tax. He thinks it will change market behavior and inhibit speculation. Heh-heh, think again.

It is also the one issue which gets me worked up about this mediocre minister of finance the most (of many issues).

Can’t you take a hint, Mr. Schäuble? When no-one outside western Europe thinks it’s an idea worth pursuing, why do you continue to hang on to the silly tax? Forget it.

Europe desperately needs a proper German minister of finance. Come on Frau Merkel – do what you have to do.

German newspapers are full of articles on what might happen to the Greek economy should the country default on its debt and leave the EU. This is a good thing, since Greece will default sooner or later. What I find lacking, however, is that no-one studies the past for lessons on what Greece could/should do before and after the inevitable happens. [Read on]

We all know journalists live dangerously in parts of Africa (as elsewhere). It ain’t anything to chuckle about, but I just had to smile when I saw the pay-off line (slogan) of this Ugandan newspaper.