One person has been killed and six are missing after an Airbus A320 aircraft crashed during a test flight after maintenance work, officials have said. The plane went into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France near Perpignan with seven people on board. One body has been recovered and search aircraft and ships are looking for the missing people.
One person has been killed and six are missing after an Airbus A320 aircraft crashed during a test flight after maintenance work, officials have said.
The plane went into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France near Perpignan with seven people on board.
One body has been recovered and search aircraft and ships are looking for the missing people.
There were no flames or signs of an explosion before an Airbus carrying five New Zealanders plunged into the sea off France, witnesses have said. The plane carrying four Air New Zealand staff, one CAA inspector and two German pilots crashed in the Mediterranean near Perpignan after taking off from the city for Frankfurt early this morning.
The plane carrying four Air New Zealand staff, one CAA inspector and two German pilots crashed in the Mediterranean near Perpignan after taking off from the city for Frankfurt early this morning.
Big news here today, since we're such a small country and politics is now in its off-season.
Member states of the European space agency (Esa) have agreed a 10bn-euro budget at their meeting in The Hague. The figure, which covers the next three to five years, represents a substantial increase in funding. Ministers said the investment in space would help European industry pull through the current economic downturn. The new money will help build new Earth observation satellites, maintain Esa's participation in the space station, and fund probes to the planets. "The decisions of this ministerial conference are very important just in the middle of an economic crisis," said Peter Hintze, the minister who led the German delegation. "Because money paid for high technology is good money for the European economy; and I think it will help us to leave the economic crisis [behind] and to gain new economic strength," he told BBC News.
Member states of the European space agency (Esa) have agreed a 10bn-euro budget at their meeting in The Hague.
The figure, which covers the next three to five years, represents a substantial increase in funding.
Ministers said the investment in space would help European industry pull through the current economic downturn.
The new money will help build new Earth observation satellites, maintain Esa's participation in the space station, and fund probes to the planets.
"The decisions of this ministerial conference are very important just in the middle of an economic crisis," said Peter Hintze, the minister who led the German delegation.
"Because money paid for high technology is good money for the European economy; and I think it will help us to leave the economic crisis [behind] and to gain new economic strength," he told BBC News.
Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green, was arrested earlier in connection with an investigation into a series of leaks from the Home Office. He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office," the Metropolitan Police said. He has not been charged but is still being questioned by police. The Tories say he denies any wrongdoing. It is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower.
He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office," the Metropolitan Police said.
He has not been charged but is still being questioned by police. The Tories say he denies any wrongdoing.
It is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower.
Arresting a politician for passing on leaked information in the public interest is very dubious indeed, and it makes you wonder what the hell the police were thinking.
Senior Tory sources said the arrest was linked to a string of embarrassing revelations about the Home Office which have emerged in the press in recent months and came 10 days after the arrest of a "whistleblower". It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation, which provoked fury among the Conservative high command. A senior Tory source said the party's leader David Cameron was "supportive and is angry about the way Damian Green has been treated" after he learnt about the arrest of his senior frontbencher. One source described the arrest as "Stalinesque". He said: "It's quite clear that this must have been cleared at the very top of government." Downing Street said Gordon Brown had been informed of the police operation after Mr Green's arrest. A spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been informed about it. It was the first he had heard about it. He did not have any knowledge until the police had acted. It's a matter for the police." The allegations are understood to centre on four newspaper reports which have caused considerable embarrassment to ministers in recent months. They include: the publication of a Whips' Office memo detailing Labour MPs expected to vote against plans to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge; a report in November last year that the Home Office was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers; a report in February that an illegal immigrant was employed as a cleaner in the Home Office; and a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to the Prime Minister warning that recession could lead to a rise in violent crime.
Senior Tory sources said the arrest was linked to a string of embarrassing revelations about the Home Office which have emerged in the press in recent months and came 10 days after the arrest of a "whistleblower".
It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation, which provoked fury among the Conservative high command.
A senior Tory source said the party's leader David Cameron was "supportive and is angry about the way Damian Green has been treated" after he learnt about the arrest of his senior frontbencher.
One source described the arrest as "Stalinesque". He said: "It's quite clear that this must have been cleared at the very top of government."
Downing Street said Gordon Brown had been informed of the police operation after Mr Green's arrest.
A spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been informed about it. It was the first he had heard about it. He did not have any knowledge until the police had acted. It's a matter for the police."
The allegations are understood to centre on four newspaper reports which have caused considerable embarrassment to ministers in recent months.
They include: the publication of a Whips' Office memo detailing Labour MPs expected to vote against plans to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge; a report in November last year that the Home Office was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers; a report in February that an illegal immigrant was employed as a cleaner in the Home Office; and a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to the Prime Minister warning that recession could lead to a rise in violent crime.
It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation
We're all terrorists now.™
For any reason. In any way. Using any methods.
I suppose if you're an authoritarian it makes perfect sense.
Under the Commission proposal, as of 2013 all rights to CO2 emissions in the energy sector will have to be sold at special auctions. According to a recent report from Société Générale bank, prices of CO2 emission rights will reach 80 euros per ton in 2013, or four times the current price. The bank's calculations differ considerably from estimates by the Commission, which believes that fears of impending sharp price increases are exaggerated. Commission spokesperson Barbara Helfferich says Brussels estimates prices of the mandatory emission permits will only rise a little above 30 euros. The Polish government challenges the Commission data which it regards as unreliable. According to Mikołaj Dowgielewicz, head of the Office of the Committee for European Integration, several reports have shown that if passed in its present shape, the new legislation will have a disastrous effect on electricity prices. Thus the Polish government is seeking to make some of the regulations less restrictive. "We do not want to obstruct the energy-climate package, but to help design it responsibly," Tusk said, adding that the new EU member states have joined forces in an attempt to require the EU to prevent uncontrollable price fluctuations in CO2 emission rights before the package is adopted. The new member states also want the EU to take into consideration the specific economic conditions of individual countries, especially those economies, such as Poland's, that heavily rely on coal. "We shall not pursue the spurious hope that a single country, especially in our group of countries which are poorer than the richest member states, might be able to negotiate a package that could satisfy us all," Tusk said.
http://community.newvalues.net/
"It is rumoured and whispered that something like Libertas.cz is being established under certain aegis of the president, people around him, and the CEP (the Centre for Economy and Politics think tank that Klaus established in 1998)," MEP Jan Zahradil (ODS) told the server, but he did not elaborate.
The Czech foreign minister says he has apologized to France after a magazine published the transcript of an alleged conversation between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek.
Unfortunately, the the entire alleged transcript is available only in the printed version of the magazine.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a committed EU opponent, has made headlines several times this year for likening the EU to "a communist state" and for urging skeptics across Europe to unite in opposing the Lisbon Treaty. But even in the Czech Republic, a new day might be dawning. Klaus's position as president is mostly ceremonial, and on Wednesday the highest Czech court removed a significant obstacle for the Lisbon Treaty by declaring the agreement to be compatible with the Czech constitution. If the Czech parliament manages to push it through, the treaty would still need Klaus's signature for final approval. Even the cantankerous Klaus has indicated in the past that he would sign the document if the Czech Republic were the only country left holding up the treaty's ratification. That would seem to throw the ball back into Ireland's court, but the Irish economy continuing to tank, the world may soon get to call Klaus's bluff. Europe's dream of ever-closer union might be happen sooner than we think.
But even in the Czech Republic, a new day might be dawning. Klaus's position as president is mostly ceremonial, and on Wednesday the highest Czech court removed a significant obstacle for the Lisbon Treaty by declaring the agreement to be compatible with the Czech constitution. If the Czech parliament manages to push it through, the treaty would still need Klaus's signature for final approval.
Even the cantankerous Klaus has indicated in the past that he would sign the document if the Czech Republic were the only country left holding up the treaty's ratification. That would seem to throw the ball back into Ireland's court, but the Irish economy continuing to tank, the world may soon get to call Klaus's bluff. Europe's dream of ever-closer union might be happen sooner than we think.
(the original comment is here.) Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
jv: Maybe he does not want to be remembered by the annals of history to be the One who went against the tide and killed the treaty. On the other hand, he might.
Did you see the article on Klaus that the New York Times did on Tuesday: "A Fiery Czech Is Poised to Be the Face of Europe"? Made him sound rather headstrong and ... passionate. Do you find the article to be fair? Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
I always remember one sentence from an answer he gave when he was giving a talk at some university. "Those.. HUMANISTS, they don't think in derivations"
Moscow also noticed european anti-americanism and decided to drive a wedge between transatlantic alliance. It is absolutely unacceptable for me to be the prime minister of a cabinet which compliantly shuts up and opens the door for the Russian imperialism. I do not want to repeat the mistake of refusing the Marshall Plan, which confirmed the right of Russia to decide on our behalf. On the contrary, I want instead of Russian nuclear missiles in Brdy* soldiers from a country which freed us from that slavery to be stationed there. That's the best guarantee that our sad history won't be repeated. Russians know very well, that the defense system is not and from it's nature can not even be targeted at them. Russi admitted themselves that if placed in other countries than Czech republic and Poland they would not mind it that much. That's clear example of imperial ressentiment of geopolitical connotation, it's sphere of influence. Our entry to NATO and the European Union is - and not only ours but of other countries as well - is a symbol of post-Tehran development in this part of Europe. Warsaw treaty is thing of the past and Russia must respect that.
*Brdy - the site of the XBR.
Czech Senate is an even more ceremonial body than President's office, voter participation in the second round of Senate elections could be as low as 20% (first rounds usually coincide with local and regional elections and have higher attendance rates). As a result, many formerly known people could be found there, such as remnants of proud liberal parties that split from Klaus's ODS back in 97-98 and were flushed down the toilet in national politics. There are some former dissidents who are extremely Russophobic as a result of their personal history.
The Senate is a body with a few responsibilities, not taken seriously by anyone. It is simply not representative, and it used to be heavily skewed to the ODS side (and it still is, even after the latest ODS fiasco). Problems in the lower house are much larger.
On other Czech news - Klaus did say he would support creation of a party similar to the rumored Libertas; he also issued an ultimatum to the ODS threatening to resign. The dominant version in Czech-language interpretations seems to be that both resignation from ODS and creation of a new party are just threats meant to put pressure on ODS in order to make Pavel Bem the new leader.
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Switzerland will join the European Union's passport-free travel zone next month under an agreement reached Thursday. Switzerland is not a member of the 27-nation bloc, but is almost surrounded by EU states. The EU's 27 interior ministers said Switzerland had met the necessary security standards to join the borderless zone, which already includes 24 European countries. Swiss authorities will drop identity checks at land borders on Dec. 12 and will lift controls at airports as of March 29 next year, said French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired Thursday's talks. EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot said Swiss membership in the so-called Schengen zone could be suspended next year if a Swiss referendum planned for February overturns an earlier decision to allow EU citizens in the landlocked country to live and work freely.
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Switzerland will join the European Union's passport-free travel zone next month under an agreement reached Thursday.
Switzerland is not a member of the 27-nation bloc, but is almost surrounded by EU states.
The EU's 27 interior ministers said Switzerland had met the necessary security standards to join the borderless zone, which already includes 24 European countries.
Swiss authorities will drop identity checks at land borders on Dec. 12 and will lift controls at airports as of March 29 next year, said French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired Thursday's talks.
EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Jacques Barrot said Swiss membership in the so-called Schengen zone could be suspended next year if a Swiss referendum planned for February overturns an earlier decision to allow EU citizens in the landlocked country to live and work freely.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Switzerland will join the European Union's passport-free zone on 12 December, EU ministers agreed on Thursday (27 November). But the Alpine country's participation in the "Schengen area" could be interrupted if it votes to shut out EU workers from Bulgaria and Romania in a referendum next year. Switzerland opens its borders to EU citizens, but is wary of Bulgarians and Romanians. Under the agreement, Swiss authorities will drop passport checks at the land borders to Germany, France, Italy and Austria - but would have to enhance controls at the border with Liechtenstein, which is not part of the Schengen area. Airport controls would last longer, until 29 March, when airlines switch to their summer schedule, as to allow them to re-organise terminals and boarding facilities to meet the Schengen requirements. French interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired the EU meeting, said she was "particularly happy about this decision" and congratulated the Swiss authorities.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Switzerland will join the European Union's passport-free zone on 12 December, EU ministers agreed on Thursday (27 November). But the Alpine country's participation in the "Schengen area" could be interrupted if it votes to shut out EU workers from Bulgaria and Romania in a referendum next year.
Switzerland opens its borders to EU citizens, but is wary of Bulgarians and Romanians.
Under the agreement, Swiss authorities will drop passport checks at the land borders to Germany, France, Italy and Austria - but would have to enhance controls at the border with Liechtenstein, which is not part of the Schengen area.
Airport controls would last longer, until 29 March, when airlines switch to their summer schedule, as to allow them to re-organise terminals and boarding facilities to meet the Schengen requirements.
French interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired the EU meeting, said she was "particularly happy about this decision" and congratulated the Swiss authorities.
but is almost surrounded by EU states.
"almost" - thanks to Liechtenstein. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The EU has agreed to permanently re-settle up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees currently living in camps in Syria and Jordan into Europe, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told journalists in Brussels on Thursday. Germany will take in a quarter of the number, drawn from the most vulnerable parts of the refugee population, he said after a meeting with European Union counterparts in Brussels. At the meeting, ministers debated a report from a group of EU experts who visited refugee camps in Syria and Jordan in early November, with an eye to assessing the refugees' needs.
Germany will take in a quarter of the number, drawn from the most vulnerable parts of the refugee population, he said after a meeting with European Union counterparts in Brussels.
At the meeting, ministers debated a report from a group of EU experts who visited refugee camps in Syria and Jordan in early November, with an eye to assessing the refugees' needs.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Thursday (27 November) laid out its thinking on how to allow European consumers to file collective complaints across the EU if their rights are breached. The consultation document, or Green Paper, on "Collective consumer redress" comes in a response to the observation that if several consumers are harmed by the same trader, it would be much easier for them to file a complaint together - but there are not always sufficient mechanisms in that respect, according to the commission. "There are black holes in our redress system that is leaving consumers with nowhere to go," commissioner Kuneva said. "There are too many cases where the same problem is affecting many consumers, often scattered across several countries. Now the time has come to do something about it," EU consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva told journalists in Brussels. Studies carried by the commission have found that when individual consumers try to lodge a complaint, they face several barriers, including high costs and complex and lengthy procedures.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Thursday (27 November) laid out its thinking on how to allow European consumers to file collective complaints across the EU if their rights are breached.
The consultation document, or Green Paper, on "Collective consumer redress" comes in a response to the observation that if several consumers are harmed by the same trader, it would be much easier for them to file a complaint together - but there are not always sufficient mechanisms in that respect, according to the commission.
"There are black holes in our redress system that is leaving consumers with nowhere to go," commissioner Kuneva said.
"There are too many cases where the same problem is affecting many consumers, often scattered across several countries. Now the time has come to do something about it," EU consumer affairs commissioner Meglena Kuneva told journalists in Brussels.
Studies carried by the commission have found that when individual consumers try to lodge a complaint, they face several barriers, including high costs and complex and lengthy procedures.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - As nuclear energy makes something of a comeback ready for the low-carbon age, the European Commission is dusting off its earlier failed plans to strengthen the safety of nuclear power plants operational in the EU territory. On Wednesday (26 November), EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs kicked off a lengthy legislative process aimed at setting "basic obligations and general principles for the safety of nuclear installations, while enhancing the role of national regulatory bodies." The EU as a whole is the largest nuclear electricity generator in the world According to Mr Piebalgs, legislation covering all member states is necessary in order to give legal certainty across the EU, as currently standardisation of safety requirements in the bloc have been "limited". Under the proposed rules, the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety and the 2006 International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Fundamentals - which are currently both applied only in a voluntary fashion - would form the main pillar of EU-wide rules.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - As nuclear energy makes something of a comeback ready for the low-carbon age, the European Commission is dusting off its earlier failed plans to strengthen the safety of nuclear power plants operational in the EU territory.
On Wednesday (26 November), EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs kicked off a lengthy legislative process aimed at setting "basic obligations and general principles for the safety of nuclear installations, while enhancing the role of national regulatory bodies."
The EU as a whole is the largest nuclear electricity generator in the world
According to Mr Piebalgs, legislation covering all member states is necessary in order to give legal certainty across the EU, as currently standardisation of safety requirements in the bloc have been "limited".
Under the proposed rules, the 1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety and the 2006 International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Fundamentals - which are currently both applied only in a voluntary fashion - would form the main pillar of EU-wide rules.
Pahor promised his government would create a competitive tax environment, encourage promising companies and productivity, disburden companies, streamline public finance and enhance oversight and its independence. The government would not help companies with poor prospects, but rather help retrain their employees for better paid jobs.
A left government has officially taken power in Slovenia
