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After months of debate over legislation that would allow European Rosé wine to be made from the mixing of red and white wines, the European Union commission has dropped its plans to vote this month on the proposed change.

Rosé is traditionally produced by leaving the skins of red wine grapes in along with the grape juice for several hours to create a rose color. The proposal, however, would have allowed European winemakers to blend red and white wine and label it Rosé — a technique used by certain producers outside of Europe. In May, the measure's opponents, which included France, Italy, Greece, and numerous European wine producers, led the fight for a veto on the legislation.

In response to the heated objections, the commission rescinded its plans to vote on allowing blended Rosés. "It's become clear over recent weeks that a majority in our wine sector believe that ending the ban on blending could undermine the image of traditional Rosé," said European agricultural commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that the commission chose to preserve the time-honored tradition of rosé winemaking over commercial growth. Would you have cared if European Rosés were a mix of red and white wines?

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The battle between Europe's rosé wine producers and the European Union remains far from over. To oppose the EU's vote next month to allow rosé wine to be made by mixing red and white wines, rosé producers from France led the fight for a veto, in conjunction with other producers from neighboring countries.

France, which reported a 10 percent drop in wine sales this year, has joined forces with winemakers from Italy and Spain to oppose the legislation, to be voted on June 19. The trio represents the world's top three winemaking countries. "If the proposal goes forward, it will be the death of the sector," said Xavier de Volontat, president of France's General Association of Wine Production.

Rosé makers have the backing of French, Italian, and Greek governments, but to stand any chance of successfully blocking the vote, would also require the support of German and Spanish governments. Otherwise, the EU has proposed a compromise wherein old-method rosés would be labeled "traditional rosé." Since I'm against this legislation, it's my hope that other European countries come around. Where do you stand on this issue?

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• EU leaders have agreed on a new climate change deal, which pledges to cut carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. — BBC News
• The White House is considering using money allocated for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout to help the ailing Big Three auto companies. The attempt at offering relief comes after the Senate failed to pass the $14 billion package.— Wall Street Journal



• Although she's not the target of the federal investigation, Illinois first lady Patricia Blagojevich is coming under fire for statements she made in recorded phone conversations, allegedly urging her husband to withhold state funds. She comes from a political family, and her father accused her husband's administration of selling state appointments a few years ago. — CNN
• The remains of a small child were found yesterday in Florida, and investigators believe them to be Caylee Anthony, the three-year-old girl whose mother has been charged with her murder. — New York Times

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Osama bin Laden took a break from condemning America, instead taking aim at the European Union and the Catholic Church. In an audio tape tentatively attributed to the fugitive terrorist, his first message of 2008, bin Laden threatened the European Union "grave punishment" for publishing offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. His new single is titled: "The Response Will Be What You See, Not What You Hear."

In 2006, 50 people were killed after a Danish newspaper republished cartoons of the Prophet with a bomb as a turban. Many saw the cartoons as an attack on Islam. Enraged by the infamous cartoons, bin Laden called them a part of a "new crusade" and accused Pope Benedict XVI of being involved.

Are you troubled by this new tape? Do you think the constant reminder that bin Laden is still at-large gives his followers motivation to keep fighting?

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Since there were so many toy recalls last year, it's no surprise that actions are being taken to try and outlaw unsafe toys. And, The European Union is at the forefront of the mission.

According to a Reuter's report,

"The European Union's industry chief is proposing a crackdown on toys containing lead paint or carcinogens across the bloc and wants to stop toys being used as gifts in food items such as confectionary and cereals. . . While exact levels for each component have yet to be formally agreed, the source said the move would all but eliminate substances such as lead and nickel from toys, much to the annoyance of industry."

To see what the toy industry's reaction was, read more

Hey Ladies!
Wanna go from an A cup to a B cup? Well book yourself on a plane to Bulgaria. Bulgarian Boza, which is made from fermented wheat flour and yeast, claims to "enhance breasts." Seriously, that's what it's famed for.

And now that Bulgaria is part of the EU, and the customs taxes have been lifted, droves of European men are heading there to buy cases for their ladies.

Constantin Barbu crossed the Danube from Romania to buy Boza in the Bulgarian border town of Ruse.

He said: "I've bought a case for my wife to try out. I really hope I see an improvement."

Funny how it's the men going the extra mile to get the product and not the ladies. Somehow that just doesn't seem to surprise me.

Source: Ananova
Photo Source: The Sun