Having proven herself on the international stage, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also strengthened her domestic profile Tuesday with a compromise on extending minimum wage coverage and a nursing care insurance reform. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly shown her ability to unite world leaders, most recently by reaching an agreement on fighting climate change at this month's G8 summit, but squabbling among members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their coalition partner, the Social Democrats, has hobbled the chancellor's domestic image. After taking over as the head of the grand coalition government in 2005, Merkel has had to work hard to find common ground between two parties that have been at loggerheads for the better part of 60 years. But early on Tuesday, Merkel struck a deal on the minimum wage, an issue that has strained relations between the two parties in recent weeks. The deal will see minimum wage protections extended beyond construction workers and building cleaners to another 10 to 12 industrial sectors. Merkel also brokered an agreement on raising mandatory contributions to statutory nursing care, costs which are shared by workers and employers, by 0.25 percent as of July 2008 while lowering unemployment insurance payments by 0.3 percent to 3.9 percent beginning in January.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly shown her ability to unite world leaders, most recently by reaching an agreement on fighting climate change at this month's G8 summit, but squabbling among members of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their coalition partner, the Social Democrats, has hobbled the chancellor's domestic image.
After taking over as the head of the grand coalition government in 2005, Merkel has had to work hard to find common ground between two parties that have been at loggerheads for the better part of 60 years.
But early on Tuesday, Merkel struck a deal on the minimum wage, an issue that has strained relations between the two parties in recent weeks. The deal will see minimum wage protections extended beyond construction workers and building cleaners to another 10 to 12 industrial sectors. Merkel also brokered an agreement on raising mandatory contributions to statutory nursing care, costs which are shared by workers and employers, by 0.25 percent as of July 2008 while lowering unemployment insurance payments by 0.3 percent to 3.9 percent beginning in January.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly shown her ability to unite world leaders, most recently by reaching an agreement on fighting climate change at this month's G8 summit,...
Excusez moi? Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has called on new member states to play ball at the upcoming summit on a new treaty for the bloc or risk the likely political fallout - less money from the EU coffers. Speaking on Tuesday afternoon (19 June), Mr Barroso, who has been banging the drum in favour keeping most of the rejected EU constitution but in a different form, said it was in central and eastern European member states' interests to show that the EU had not been weakened since they joined in 2004 and 2007. "I believe...it would be in their interest for them to show that their membership of the EU is not making the union's life more difficult," said the commission chief. He indicated that if the summit, which is "of special significance," were to fail "the mechanisms of coherence in the European Union...the mechanisms of solidarity will naturally be weakened," and there will be a "shadow of mistrust" cast on the
Poland was on Tuesday given a thinly veiled warning it risks losing cash and solidarity from other European Union members if it blocks a deal on a new EU "reform" treaty at a Brussels summit starting on Thursday.Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, said it was in the interests of new member states such as Poland to show that the EU's recent enlargement had not stopped the Union taking big decisions."I believe it would be in their interest for them to show that their membership of the EU is not making the Union's life more difficult," he told a press conference in Strasbourg.
Poland was on Tuesday given a thinly veiled warning it risks losing cash and solidarity from other European Union members if it blocks a deal on a new EU "reform" treaty at a Brussels summit starting on Thursday.
Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, said it was in the interests of new member states such as Poland to show that the EU's recent enlargement had not stopped the Union taking big decisions.
"I believe it would be in their interest for them to show that their membership of the EU is not making the Union's life more difficult," he told a press conference in Strasbourg.
Poles to the Rescue It would be easier to root for the Kaczynski brothers if they opposed the European Constitution on democratic principle. But a damsel in distress can't be picky and nor can Europe's citizens. If Poland's maverick twins rescue them from that wretched treaty for selfish reasons, so be it. (...) Old Europe, particularly the holder of the rotating Union presidency in Berlin, is shocked, shocked at the spectacle of a member state asserting its national interests at the EU. Granted, it's usually done more discreetly. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel insists on retaining the voting scheme mooted in the rejected Constitution, it's not because that arrangement gives her country more power. No, of course not. It's because this happens to be best for the rest of Europe. It's eerie how those interests magically align. Some (usually Germans) claim that the Kaczynski brothers are motivated by a visceral dislike of Germany and a desire to spoil Ms. Merkel's EU presidency. Well, the Poles may be emotional, but that doesn't mean they are irrational. Nor that they have forgotten that Ms. Merkel's predecessor, who pushed through a big gas pipeline that circumvents Polish territory, now works for Vladimir Putin. With former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder advising a company majority-owned by Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, Polish concerns about German voting power don't sound so unreasonable. (...) Newly expressed British concerns -- over proposals for an EU foreign minister and a Charter of Fundamental Rights -- are, however, a different matter even though the Prime Minister who is now objecting is the same man who signed the original Constitution. Tony Blair's objections are legitimate, but the Polish concerns are not. Double standards, anyone? All the fake outrage over Warsaw's demands can't hide that the Poles are just following long-established EU tradition of summit brinkmanship. This is, after all, what Brussels is about: horse-trading, petty late-night fights, veto threats, the works.
It would be easier to root for the Kaczynski brothers if they opposed the European Constitution on democratic principle. But a damsel in distress can't be picky and nor can Europe's citizens. If Poland's maverick twins rescue them from that wretched treaty for selfish reasons, so be it.
(...)
Old Europe, particularly the holder of the rotating Union presidency in Berlin, is shocked, shocked at the spectacle of a member state asserting its national interests at the EU. Granted, it's usually done more discreetly. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel insists on retaining the voting scheme mooted in the rejected Constitution, it's not because that arrangement gives her country more power. No, of course not. It's because this happens to be best for the rest of Europe. It's eerie how those interests magically align.
Some (usually Germans) claim that the Kaczynski brothers are motivated by a visceral dislike of Germany and a desire to spoil Ms. Merkel's EU presidency. Well, the Poles may be emotional, but that doesn't mean they are irrational. Nor that they have forgotten that Ms. Merkel's predecessor, who pushed through a big gas pipeline that circumvents Polish territory, now works for Vladimir Putin. With former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder advising a company majority-owned by Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, Polish concerns about German voting power don't sound so unreasonable.
Newly expressed British concerns -- over proposals for an EU foreign minister and a Charter of Fundamental Rights -- are, however, a different matter even though the Prime Minister who is now objecting is the same man who signed the original Constitution. Tony Blair's objections are legitimate, but the Polish concerns are not. Double standards, anyone?
All the fake outrage over Warsaw's demands can't hide that the Poles are just following long-established EU tradition of summit brinkmanship. This is, after all, what Brussels is about: horse-trading, petty late-night fights, veto threats, the works.
Minor kudos for reminding us that othermembers have engaged in brinkmanship before, and for pointing out that the Brits have, to say the least, a schizophrenic attitude to the EU constitutional treaty.
But that contempt for Europe and for Germany... You'd think we're still in 1945 - except that the US government in power back then was a bit smarter. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Support for the EU among the bloc's citizens has risen to the highest level since early 1990s with two thirds favouring the concept of a European constitution, but a state-like EU charter is opposed most strongly in Britain, Denmark and Sweden. According to a fresh Eurobarometer survey, to be published on Wednesday (20 June), a feeling of optimism about Europe has spread across the member states. Fifty nine percent of respondents said they consider EU membership as beneficial for their country - the highest percentage since 1991, while overall support for the union stands at 57 percent, at its highest since 1994. The Dutch (77%), Irish (76%) and Luxembourgers (74%) are the staunchest supporters of the EU, while the biggest drop of positive sentiment was recorded in the Czech Republic (from 51 percent in autumn 2006 to 46%) and in Latvia (from 43% to 37%).
Two days before the crucial summit on the EU treaty to replace the stalled constitution, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is digging in his heels. Britain, he says, will not give up any sovereignity. But he may be making life difficult for his successor. Tony Blair is playing hard ball on the EU treaty. While Europe focuses on Warsaw's intransigence over the new draft treaty to replace the failed European Union constitution, another source of dissent is coming from the other end of Europe. Britain continues to say that it is willing to block any treaty that smacks too much of a constitution and that transfers too much power to Brussels. While Poland's beef with the draft treaty is a new voting system (more...), which it claims decreases the influence of smaller countries, Britain has a whole list of key areas that it will not compromise on. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel may now have to fight the battle on two fronts if she wants to succeed in pushing through the treaty at the summit of EU leaders that begins on Thursday in Brussels.
Two days before the crucial summit on the EU treaty to replace the stalled constitution, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is digging in his heels. Britain, he says, will not give up any sovereignity. But he may be making life difficult for his successor.
Tony Blair is playing hard ball on the EU treaty. While Europe focuses on Warsaw's intransigence over the new draft treaty to replace the failed European Union constitution, another source of dissent is coming from the other end of Europe. Britain continues to say that it is willing to block any treaty that smacks too much of a constitution and that transfers too much power to Brussels.
While Poland's beef with the draft treaty is a new voting system (more...), which it claims decreases the influence of smaller countries, Britain has a whole list of key areas that it will not compromise on.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel may now have to fight the battle on two fronts if she wants to succeed in pushing through the treaty at the summit of EU leaders that begins on Thursday in Brussels.
Optimistically, including the former Soviet bloc countries is a long term play. It's possible that the plan is for them to shift towards closer integration politically over a decade or two, at the expense of some aggravation now - rather than like East Germany.
Less optimistically Brussels was tricked into expansion by the US.
Realistically I'd guess a mix of both motivations is likely.
Rumors of the political death of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi appear to be greatly exaggerated -- "Il Professore" is hanging on in office despite a razor-thin majority and a lack of vision. But are Italians tiring of their pampered political caste? DPA Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, shown here in a May 2006 file photo, hangs on in power despite continually being written off. Gravity appears to function in a similar way in Italian politics as it does in animated cartoons. In a cartoon, when the hero runs off a cliff he keeps on going as if nothing has happened, only crashing to the ground when he notices the abyss below. Romano Prodi seems to have decided not to look down. Week after week, the newspapers declare the 67-year-old Italian prime minister to be finished politically -- deceived by his allies, duped by his own intelligence services and considered completely incompetent by his fellow business professors. Last week Prodi announced, once again, that he has the government's firm support. And to those in his coalition government who were urging him to take action, he said: "Here is the push forward you are demanding." Then he announced his plan to increase the pensions of some retirees by €50-70. These are the visions of Romano Prodi.
Rumors of the political death of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi appear to be greatly exaggerated -- "Il Professore" is hanging on in office despite a razor-thin majority and a lack of vision. But are Italians tiring of their pampered political caste?
DPA
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, shown here in a May 2006 file photo, hangs on in power despite continually being written off. Gravity appears to function in a similar way in Italian politics as it does in animated cartoons. In a cartoon, when the hero runs off a cliff he keeps on going as if nothing has happened, only crashing to the ground when he notices the abyss below. Romano Prodi seems to have decided not to look down.
Week after week, the newspapers declare the 67-year-old Italian prime minister to be finished politically -- deceived by his allies, duped by his own intelligence services and considered completely incompetent by his fellow business professors.
Last week Prodi announced, once again, that he has the government's firm support. And to those in his coalition government who were urging him to take action, he said: "Here is the push forward you are demanding." Then he announced his plan to increase the pensions of some retirees by €50-70. These are the visions of Romano Prodi.
Italian politics has evolved into permanent campaigning in which otherwise non-existent media events are created daily. Prodi is systematically heckled by organized claque wherever he goes- and it gets prominent media play. When the opposition leader got heckled in Genova ten days ago, his private TV's did not show the images. The parliament has become a shameless circus with outrageous and infantile actions by the opposition.
Beyond this propaganda onslaught by an opposition that has a monopoly of national private television and a stranglehold on state television, the Prodi government has stepped back on many points in its program and pressed forward on conservative issues thus disaffecting its leftist electorate.
A major problem of the electoral system that generates dozens of minor primadonna parties.
I really don't know what Der Spiegel is getting at. It makes no sense. There are major IS scandals concerning events under the Berlusconi tenure.
Meatloaf ingredient. Give names and coalition affiliation.
A poor misrepresentation of on-going negotiations over pensions and wage hikes.
The parliament has become a shameless circus with outrageous and infantile actions by the opposition.
This is a very good description of the Spanish parliament also. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.
Not that anyone has noticed but unemployment in Italy is down to the lowest since 1992 and is expected to go under the European average by next year.
And then, yes, as I said above, there's been an unprecedented surplus in the state's balance which the government is wondering how best to redistribute. Must be due to Prodi's total incompetence. Loan it to Merkel.
PARIS: Many in Washington are now under the impression that with Nicholas Sarkozy as president of France, Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor, a presumably Atlantist Gordon Brown succeeding Tony Blair in Britain, the Kaczynski brothers in Warsaw, weakened left-wing governments in Spain and Italy, and a strengthened conservative government in Belgium, happy days are here again. This rests to a considerable extent upon the false assumption that personalities and sentiment, not interests (as they are perceived by governments and public), govern foreign policies. A certain confusion over Sarkozy's rallying to Washington was caused by Sarkozy himself, who last year performed a small grovel in Washington to get a campaign picture taken of himself with George W. Bush (a maneuver which actually damaged him at home). Confusion is also due to the defective knowledge of the United States possessed by many of those in France who deplored France and Germany's break with the United States over the Iraq invasion. Recently the French celebrity-philosopher Bernard Henri Lévy published an article that prompted a number of American, and other, conservatives to think that a neoconservative has been named to lead France's foreign policy.
PARIS: Many in Washington are now under the impression that with Nicholas Sarkozy as president of France, Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor, a presumably Atlantist Gordon Brown succeeding Tony Blair in Britain, the Kaczynski brothers in Warsaw, weakened left-wing governments in Spain and Italy, and a strengthened conservative government in Belgium, happy days are here again. This rests to a considerable extent upon the false assumption that personalities and sentiment, not interests (as they are perceived by governments and public), govern foreign policies.
A certain confusion over Sarkozy's rallying to Washington was caused by Sarkozy himself, who last year performed a small grovel in Washington to get a campaign picture taken of himself with George W. Bush (a maneuver which actually damaged him at home).
Confusion is also due to the defective knowledge of the United States possessed by many of those in France who deplored France and Germany's break with the United States over the Iraq invasion. Recently the French celebrity-philosopher Bernard Henri Lévy published an article that prompted a number of American, and other, conservatives to think that a neoconservative has been named to lead France's foreign policy.
PARIS, France (Reuters) -- President Nicolas Sarkozy reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday after losing a key minister in a parliamentary election and made former international lawyer Christine Lagarde France's first female economy minister.Just a month after naming his team, Sarkozy switched the previous economy chief Jean-Louis Borloo to run a new energy and environment mega-ministry in place of Alain Juppe who quit the government after losing his constituency in Sunday's poll."You can't refuse an offer like that," Borloo was quoted as saying by the daily Le Parisien ahead of the announcement.Borloo becomes de facto deputy to Prime Minister Francois Fillon, even though some on the center-right blame his unguarded comments on a possible value-added tax hike for their smaller-than-expected majority in the weekend election.Lagarde entered politics in 2005 as trade minister in the previous conservative administration and her assured handling of the brief meant she was given the tricky farms portfolio last month when Sarkozy unveiled his administration.Her promotion to economy minister was something of a surprise, and she must now sell economic reforms to the sceptical unions and convince EU partners that tax cuts will not stop Paris respecting the bloc's rules on fiscal discipline.
PARIS, France (Reuters) -- President Nicolas Sarkozy reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday after losing a key minister in a parliamentary election and made former international lawyer Christine Lagarde France's first female economy minister.
Just a month after naming his team, Sarkozy switched the previous economy chief Jean-Louis Borloo to run a new energy and environment mega-ministry in place of Alain Juppe who quit the government after losing his constituency in Sunday's poll.
"You can't refuse an offer like that," Borloo was quoted as saying by the daily Le Parisien ahead of the announcement.
Borloo becomes de facto deputy to Prime Minister Francois Fillon, even though some on the center-right blame his unguarded comments on a possible value-added tax hike for their smaller-than-expected majority in the weekend election.
Lagarde entered politics in 2005 as trade minister in the previous conservative administration and her assured handling of the brief meant she was given the tricky farms portfolio last month when Sarkozy unveiled his administration.
Her promotion to economy minister was something of a surprise, and she must now sell economic reforms to the sceptical unions and convince EU partners that tax cuts will not stop Paris respecting the bloc's rules on fiscal discipline.
Christine Lagarde will oversee €11bn in tax cuts Black feminist appointed to deal with troubled cities Christine Lagarde, a top lawyer and a former champion synchronised swimmer, was yesterday appointed France's first woman economy minister.She was one of several women appointed by Nicolas Sarkozy in a rethink of his cabinet and junior ministerial roles. In an attempt to confound Socialists and disprove critics who say he is divisive, the new rightwing president invited more figures from the left to join his team.He appointed an outspoken feminist campaigner of north African descent to address the fall-out from the riots on suburban housing estates.
She was one of several women appointed by Nicolas Sarkozy in a rethink of his cabinet and junior ministerial roles. In an attempt to confound Socialists and disprove critics who say he is divisive, the new rightwing president invited more figures from the left to join his team.
He appointed an outspoken feminist campaigner of north African descent to address the fall-out from the riots on suburban housing estates.
Réactions contrastées pour Amara à "Ni putes ni soumises" PARIS (Reuters) - La nomination de Fadela Amara au poste de secrétaire d'Etat en charge de la politique de la Ville suscite émoi et débats au sein de l'association "Ni putes, ni soumises" (NPNS), qu'elle préside. "J'espère qu'elle laissera le mouvement indépendant de son propre engagement", a déclaré mardi Christine Prizac, administratrice de NPNS pour le Loiret et responsable local du planning familial. "Cette nomination me pose question au regard des missions que s'assigne le mouvement. Il me semble qu'il y ait contradiction dans le fait d'appartenir à un gouvernement qui n'a rien mis en place dans les banlieues pendant ces cinq dernières années et qui, de surcroît, voit à sa tête un homme qui a tenu des propos douteux sur les jeunes issus de l'immigration", ajoute-t-elle. (...) En Seine-Saint-Denis, dans la "ceinture rouge" de Paris, la nomination de Fadela Amara semble provoquer un véritable traumatisme, certains militants parlant de "trahison". "C'est une véritable trahison, et je ne suis pas la seule à le penser", affirme Riva Gherchanoc, responsable du comité de Montreuil. "Les comités comme le mien, qui luttent toute l'année dans les cités, se trouvent décrédibilisés par cette nomination. Nous sommes sous le choc et exigeons sa démission immédiate !" Même tonalité au sud de Paris, dans le Val-de-Marne où l'association jouit également d'une importante implantation. "J'ai tout simplement l'intention de quitter le mouvement", déclare Ramata Sakho, membre du comité de Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. "Si elle avait accepté un secrétariat à la condition féminine, pourquoi pas. Mais là, elle me donne l'impression d'accepter un poste pour son seul confort», poursuit-elle.
PARIS (Reuters) - La nomination de Fadela Amara au poste de secrétaire d'Etat en charge de la politique de la Ville suscite émoi et débats au sein de l'association "Ni putes, ni soumises" (NPNS), qu'elle préside.
"J'espère qu'elle laissera le mouvement indépendant de son propre engagement", a déclaré mardi Christine Prizac, administratrice de NPNS pour le Loiret et responsable local du planning familial.
"Cette nomination me pose question au regard des missions que s'assigne le mouvement. Il me semble qu'il y ait contradiction dans le fait d'appartenir à un gouvernement qui n'a rien mis en place dans les banlieues pendant ces cinq dernières années et qui, de surcroît, voit à sa tête un homme qui a tenu des propos douteux sur les jeunes issus de l'immigration", ajoute-t-elle.
En Seine-Saint-Denis, dans la "ceinture rouge" de Paris, la nomination de Fadela Amara semble provoquer un véritable traumatisme, certains militants parlant de "trahison".
"C'est une véritable trahison, et je ne suis pas la seule à le penser", affirme Riva Gherchanoc, responsable du comité de Montreuil.
"Les comités comme le mien, qui luttent toute l'année dans les cités, se trouvent décrédibilisés par cette nomination. Nous sommes sous le choc et exigeons sa démission immédiate !"
Même tonalité au sud de Paris, dans le Val-de-Marne où l'association jouit également d'une importante implantation. "J'ai tout simplement l'intention de quitter le mouvement", déclare Ramata Sakho, membre du comité de Villeneuve-Saint-Georges.
"Si elle avait accepté un secrétariat à la condition féminine, pourquoi pas. Mais là, elle me donne l'impression d'accepter un poste pour son seul confort», poursuit-elle.
Shock and betrayal within the association "neither whores nor submissive" that Fadela Amara presided and which has been very active in fighting against discrimination (in particular of course agaisnt women) in the suburbs. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Typical of the bloody oppositional left that it would rather have powerless purity to breed yet more generations of frustrated revolutionary cadres than grasp the opportunity for real power and make a difference to the generations now suffering discrimination. No wonder some commentators wahs their hands of the tankie left, sometimes they're too stupid for words. keep to the Fen Causeway
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has turned down an invitation from the new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to discuss the future of Airbus and ownership of its parent company, EADS, at a "summit" in Toulouse next month, the Guardian has learned.Senior industry sources said Ms Merkel saw no reason to attend such a meeting when the German state had no stake in Airbus. German interests are represented by a private sector company, DaimlerChrysler, which controls 22.5% of EADS voting stock.The sources said: "No announcement has been made but Berlin feels it is inappropriate for the chancellor to attend what amounts to a shop-floor meeting in a French factory ... Why not Hamburg for that matter?"Toulouse and Hamburg are the main Airbus manufacturing sites.
Senior industry sources said Ms Merkel saw no reason to attend such a meeting when the German state had no stake in Airbus. German interests are represented by a private sector company, DaimlerChrysler, which controls 22.5% of EADS voting stock.
The sources said: "No announcement has been made but Berlin feels it is inappropriate for the chancellor to attend what amounts to a shop-floor meeting in a French factory ... Why not Hamburg for that matter?"
Toulouse and Hamburg are the main Airbus manufacturing sites.
t is a long time since Gordon Brown pledged to end "the tax abuses which reach to the heart of our public finances by indulging the super-rich at the expense of the rest of us". More than a decade later, there is a growing sense that the Brown promise has not been kept. Today will see the latest phase in a ferocious row breaking out over the privileges of a select group of multi-millionaires who dominate the financial affairs of London. Damon Buffini, 44, head of the private equity group Permira, is to appear before the Treasury Select Committee to defend his industry from allegations of excessive profiteering. Three other senior members of the industry will also be required to testify before MPs. The interrogation comes as the Liberal Democrats call for the abolition of a series of tax concessions currently exploited by some of the wealthiest businessmen in Britain. Mr Buffini is thought to be worth about £150m, while Permira has bought businesses ranging from New Look to Little Chef and Holmes Place and made a 600 per cent return from its £900m sale of a revamped Homebase group.
t is a long time since Gordon Brown pledged to end "the tax abuses which reach to the heart of our public finances by indulging the super-rich at the expense of the rest of us". More than a decade later, there is a growing sense that the Brown promise has not been kept. Today will see the latest phase in a ferocious row breaking out over the privileges of a select group of multi-millionaires who dominate the financial affairs of London.
Damon Buffini, 44, head of the private equity group Permira, is to appear before the Treasury Select Committee to defend his industry from allegations of excessive profiteering. Three other senior members of the industry will also be required to testify before MPs. The interrogation comes as the Liberal Democrats call for the abolition of a series of tax concessions currently exploited by some of the wealthiest businessmen in Britain.
Mr Buffini is thought to be worth about £150m, while Permira has bought businesses ranging from New Look to Little Chef and Holmes Place and made a 600 per cent return from its £900m sale of a revamped Homebase group.
Gordon Brown has pledged to wage a cultural war on terrorism similar to that used against communism during the cold war.Speaking to the Association of Chief Police Officers, Mr Brown said it was vital to win hearts and minds, and today's generation had to address the threat. "We must work across society to isolate the extremists from society to protect and advance the British way of life," he told the Acpo conference in Manchester. Article continues Mr Brown, who becomes prime minister next week, praised the police for the work they had done in tackling Islamist extremists and bringing them to justice.In a speech covering many aspects of law and order, Mr Brown also proposed earlier involvement with families deemed to be troublesome."We need to intervene earlier when children show the first signs of behavioural problems," he said.
Speaking to the Association of Chief Police Officers, Mr Brown said it was vital to win hearts and minds, and today's generation had to address the threat. "We must work across society to isolate the extremists from society to protect and advance the British way of life," he told the Acpo conference in Manchester.
Article continues Mr Brown, who becomes prime minister next week, praised the police for the work they had done in tackling Islamist extremists and bringing them to justice.
In a speech covering many aspects of law and order, Mr Brown also proposed earlier involvement with families deemed to be troublesome.
"We need to intervene earlier when children show the first signs of behavioural problems," he said.
Like being outraged by such words? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Karen in Austin Thence comes our true nobility by grace, It was not willed us with our rank and place. Chaucer
You don't win somebody over to the fine principles of your culture by demonstrating what a bastard it is. You win them over by making nice.
Jeez, people say he's a really intelligent guy, but sometimes he's completely dense. keep to the Fen Causeway
BlackBerry ban for French cabinet By Mark Solomons in Paris Members of the new French cabinet have been told to stop using their BlackBerries because of fears that the US could intercept state secrets. The SGDN, which is responsible for national security, has banned the use of the personal data assistants by anyone in the president's or prime minister's offices on the basis of "a very real risk of interception" by third parties. The ban has been prompted by SGDN concerns that the BlackBerry system is based on servers located in the US and the UK, and that highly sensitive strategic information being passed between French ministers could fall into foreign hands. (...) The BlackBerry has become the favoured communications accessory of bankers, journalists and others, but the government is following an example set by the French private sector. Total, the oil company, has never allowed its staff to use the BlackBerry, also for "security reasons" according to the company. "There are plenty of other perfectly good PDAs," Total said.
Members of the new French cabinet have been told to stop using their BlackBerries because of fears that the US could intercept state secrets.
The SGDN, which is responsible for national security, has banned the use of the personal data assistants by anyone in the president's or prime minister's offices on the basis of "a very real risk of interception" by third parties.
The ban has been prompted by SGDN concerns that the BlackBerry system is based on servers located in the US and the UK, and that highly sensitive strategic information being passed between French ministers could fall into foreign hands.
The BlackBerry has become the favoured communications accessory of bankers, journalists and others, but the government is following an example set by the French private sector. Total, the oil company, has never allowed its staff to use the BlackBerry, also for "security reasons" according to the company. "There are plenty of other perfectly good PDAs," Total said.
