Ebusiness Source

(BRUSSELS) – The EU executive Wednesday reiterated its continuing concern over Hungary’s controversial constitutional reforms and warned of legal action should the new laws not comply with EU treaties.

Our concerns remain and will remain until the (European) Commission has completed its legal assessment of these new laws adopted by the Budapest parliament last week, Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly told a news conference.

Legal experts in the Commission were poring over official translations of Hungary’s controversial constitutional reform bills to see if the legislation was compatible both with EU law as well as basic EU values, he said.

Once the analysis is over, the Commission will decide on the next step, he added.

After tens of thousands of Hungarians poured into the street to protest Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s reforms, Brussels has been under pressure to determine whether the new constitution, as its detractors say, undermines vital checks and balances on the power of the centre-right government.

Adopted thanks to a two-thirds parliamentary majority enjoyed by Orban’s Fidesz party, critics say it tightens his grip on state bodies meant to be independent, including the judiciary and the central bank.

Bailly said the Commission had been the first to express its concerns over the planned reforms and went into lengthy detail on potential infringement proceedings should Budapest have failed to take EU notifications into account.

Infringement proceedings, that can include action before the European Court of Justice as well as fines, would take several months if initiated.

In December, the Commission and the International Monetary Fund broke off preliminary talks on a financial aid package of between 15 and 20 billion euros ($20-25 billion).

Brussels also called Wednesday on the Hungarian authorities to respect media pluralism after the country’s sole opposition radio, Klubradio, had its broadcasting licence withdrawn in December.

Neelie Kroes, the Digital Agenda Commissioner, encourages the Hungarian government to consider issuing additional radio licences and hopes that any non-successful bidders from recent and future bidding processes will find success as internet radio stations.

Were three days into the new year and I find myself thinking of some things Id like to work on this year.  Not outrageous, unattainable goals but small, minor adjustments Id like to make to my daily schedule.

Working from home, it can be so easy to get caught up in the hustle online.  It never ends.  Somewhere, anywhere, any time; something is happening.  And its so hard to pull yourself away and admit that you cant follow everything, all the time.

Over the past year, I find myself spending more and more time online.  That needs to stop in 2012.  I need to focus some of my energy onto myself instead or work, blogging and household duties.  Its really not a difficult goal, I just need to come to grips with it in my own mind.  The online world will still be there and functioning if I take an hour or two each day for myself.

I havent quite figured out what changes Im going to make yet.  But I found a realistic list of tips on the OPEN Forum by Justine Grey.  In the article, Justine gives readers 8 small things they can do during the workday to help us feel healthier mentally and physically.

Go check out Justines list and let me know if these are things you already do each day or if there are any youre going to implement in 2012.

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks said Tuesday it is raising some prices regionally as it faces rising ingredient costs.

The Seattle coffee chain is raising prices about 1 percent in the Northeast and Sunbelt regions. Starbucks wouldn’t disclose all of the states its raising prices, but the regions include New York; Washington, D.C.; and most Southern states. They exclude California and Florida.

Other cities where it will raise prices include Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and Albuquerque, N.M.

The price for a “tall” coffee will go up 10 cents in the regions, and the chain will raise prices on about six other beverages. B

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Lately small businesses have been bombarded with strategies and tricks to improve SEO efforts.

As an employee hired solely for SEO reasons, I understand the importance of organic search rankings and the excitement that comes from seeing your company pop up after a Google search.However, companies need to remember that pay per click (PPC) advertising is still an important part of the marketing process.

Even if your businesses in ranking well in organic search, PPC marketing should still be on the top of the priority list. Unfortunately, many companies toss PPC marketing to this side once SEO efforts yield positive results.

For those who are unfamiliar, PPC marketing allows a company to place little ads either on the top or on the side of search engine results pages (SERP), and each time that ad is clicked the company has to pay a certain amount of money.

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The agreement — also the Irish betting firm’s first partnership with a lottery agent — will see Paddy Power supply product, pricing and risk management services to the corporation’s online sports betting business. The partnership is scheduled formally to begin next summer.

“This is our first transaction in north America; a geography which will be of increasing strategic importance to us in the future,” Paddy Power chief executive Patrick Kennedy noted. He said the announcement provides “further endorsement of our product and partnership capabilities”.

“As the global online market continues to regulate, these qualities continue to position us strongly for future international expansion,” Mr Kennedy said.

The Corporation is the only operator permitted to offer sports betting services in British Columbia, under Canadian law. Paddy Power’s involvement was approved by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of British Columbia.

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