Greece was bracing for more rioting in its capital Athens and other cities on Monday after two nights of violent clashes between thousands of demonstrators and police following the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy by a police officer on Saturday night....On Sunday, protesters chanting "Cops, Pigs, Murderers" had hurled petrol bombs at ranks of Athens riot police while helicopters clattered overhead and tear gas choked the city. By Sunday night, the Athens police appeared to have exhausted its tear gas supply and resorted to hurling stones back at the masked protestors....The rioting has left the center of Athens looking like a war zone. More than 40 people have been injured, over 100 cars have been burned, and dozens of shops and bank branches have been torched. Cars and pedestrians returned to Athens streets on Monday as Greeks went back to work, but the mood was tense. More than 500 Athens city employees began removing the car wrecks from the streets. The violence left behind charred police stations, car dealerships, government buildings and private apartments.
...On Sunday, protesters chanting "Cops, Pigs, Murderers" had hurled petrol bombs at ranks of Athens riot police while helicopters clattered overhead and tear gas choked the city. By Sunday night, the Athens police appeared to have exhausted its tear gas supply and resorted to hurling stones back at the masked protestors.
...The rioting has left the center of Athens looking like a war zone. More than 40 people have been injured, over 100 cars have been burned, and dozens of shops and bank branches have been torched. Cars and pedestrians returned to Athens streets on Monday as Greeks went back to work, but the mood was tense. More than 500 Athens city employees began removing the car wrecks from the streets. The violence left behind charred police stations, car dealerships, government buildings and private apartments.
(That's far beyond anything we had in Budapest.)
Despite the arrest of police officers, the Greek Communist Party announced a mass demonstration in Athens for Monday evening and the socialist PASOK opposition, which has taken the lead in opinion polls recently, called for peaceful mass demonstrations. With a 24-hour general strike scheduled for Wednesday against pension reforms and the government's economic policies, many Greeks fear the demonstrations could last for days.
Despite the arrest of police officers, the Greek Communist Party announced a mass demonstration in Athens for Monday evening and the socialist PASOK opposition, which has taken the lead in opinion polls recently, called for peaceful mass demonstrations.
With a 24-hour general strike scheduled for Wednesday against pension reforms and the government's economic policies, many Greeks fear the demonstrations could last for days.
A group of 30 demonstrators has occupied the Greek consulate in Berlin to protest the killing of a teenager by police in Athens on Saturday night. The Berlin protesters are behaving peacefully.
(That flag is an anarchist flag.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Thousands of rioters across Greece have clashed with police in a third day of violent protests over the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy. Police used teargas against protesters roaming the streets of Athens throwing petrol bombs and setting fire to buildings, vehicles and rubbish bins. Dozens of people have been injured throughout the country and there are reports of looting in some areas. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has gone on television to appeal for calm. He said "extreme elements" were taking advantage of the situation to engage in vandalism and pledged to compensate businesses damaged.
Thousands of rioters across Greece have clashed with police in a third day of violent protests over the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy.
Police used teargas against protesters roaming the streets of Athens throwing petrol bombs and setting fire to buildings, vehicles and rubbish bins.
Dozens of people have been injured throughout the country and there are reports of looting in some areas.
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has gone on television to appeal for calm.
He said "extreme elements" were taking advantage of the situation to engage in vandalism and pledged to compensate businesses damaged.
Queues grew and tempers frayed in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport after budget airline Ryanair cancelled 56 flights as a result of the early-morning protest by Plane Stupid. Activists broke into a secure area at around 3am, forcing the runway to remain closed for three hours....Today's protest was sparked by the Government's decision to allow the expansion of the airport with a second runway.Activist Lily Kember, 21, a third-year anthropology student at Edinburgh University, said the group used bolt-cutters to get into a secure area around 55 yards (50m) from the runway.
Queues grew and tempers frayed in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport after budget airline Ryanair cancelled 56 flights as a result of the early-morning protest by Plane Stupid.
Activists broke into a secure area at around 3am, forcing the runway to remain closed for three hours.
...Today's protest was sparked by the Government's decision to allow the expansion of the airport with a second runway.
Activist Lily Kember, 21, a third-year anthropology student at Edinburgh University, said the group used bolt-cutters to get into a secure area around 55 yards (50m) from the runway.
In a Monday article in the mass-circulation tabloid Bild, Merkel said that she will not approve any European Union climate rules "that endanger jobs or investments in Germany."The Green Party in Berlin, which has for years had to stand by and watch as Merkel appropriated one of its central issues, was quick to react. "Merkel has abdicated her position as climate chancellor," said Bärbel Höhn, acting floor leader for the Greens in parliament. "The fact that the chancellor is trying to play the issue of jobs off against the environment shows her economic ignorance and her amnesia when it comes to climate issues."The environmental and development group Oxfam echoed the sentiment, saying that "with her behavior, Ms. Merkel has demonstrated to developing countries that protecting climate-harming industries in Germany is more important than preventing a global climate catastrophe."
The Green Party in Berlin, which has for years had to stand by and watch as Merkel appropriated one of its central issues, was quick to react. "Merkel has abdicated her position as climate chancellor," said Bärbel Höhn, acting floor leader for the Greens in parliament. "The fact that the chancellor is trying to play the issue of jobs off against the environment shows her economic ignorance and her amnesia when it comes to climate issues."
The environmental and development group Oxfam echoed the sentiment, saying that "with her behavior, Ms. Merkel has demonstrated to developing countries that protecting climate-harming industries in Germany is more important than preventing a global climate catastrophe."
I always viewed Merkel's greenery as phony.
(Note Bärbel Höhn is the former Northrhine-Westphalia state environment minister who long battled Wolfgang Clement, then state PM for SPD-Coal Lobby now just coal lobbyist, also see Exit Clement by nanne.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Dutch anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders confirmed Monday he would tour Britain, France and Israel in the coming months to present his controversial Islam-critical film "Fitna."The film was denounced by nations such as Iran, Jordan and Pakistan, while the Dutch national anti-terrorism coordinator said early December... "As I come to terms with the substantial level of threat during the last three years, there are underlying issues now that make it (the threat) stronger," Tjibbe Joustra was quoted as saying in an interview with Dutch daily De Volkskrant. Attempts to prosecute Wilders for alleged discrimination, racism or incitement were unsuccessful after the Dutch public prosecutor established "Fitna" did not violate national legislation.
Dutch anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders confirmed Monday he would tour Britain, France and Israel in the coming months to present his controversial Islam-critical film "Fitna."
The film was denounced by nations such as Iran, Jordan and Pakistan, while the Dutch national anti-terrorism coordinator said early December...
"As I come to terms with the substantial level of threat during the last three years, there are underlying issues now that make it (the threat) stronger," Tjibbe Joustra was quoted as saying in an interview with Dutch daily De Volkskrant.
Attempts to prosecute Wilders for alleged discrimination, racism or incitement were unsuccessful after the Dutch public prosecutor established "Fitna" did not violate national legislation.
The city council's clean-up strategy will focus on Amsterdam's internationally famous red-light district. The council aims to beautify the area and make it more fit for regular living and commerce by closing around half of the 482 prostitution windows and 76 licensed cannabis coffee shops in operation there. The plan is set to be in full swing by 2018. "The ambition is to turn (the city center) into a safer, more beautiful and liveable area," the city council said in a statement. "Although the sex industry and coffee shops will no longer dominate the area, they will not disappear altogether," it added. "This is part of Amsterdam's enormous strength, so it is important to ensure that the unique character of this district is retained." Amsterdam council has already closed 109 sex windows, from which prostitutes lure customers, since it announced its initial clean-up plans a year ago.
The city council's clean-up strategy will focus on Amsterdam's internationally famous red-light district.
The council aims to beautify the area and make it more fit for regular living and commerce by closing around half of the 482 prostitution windows and 76 licensed cannabis coffee shops in operation there.
The plan is set to be in full swing by 2018.
"The ambition is to turn (the city center) into a safer, more beautiful and liveable area," the city council said in a statement.
"Although the sex industry and coffee shops will no longer dominate the area, they will not disappear altogether," it added.
"This is part of Amsterdam's enormous strength, so it is important to ensure that the unique character of this district is retained."
Amsterdam council has already closed 109 sex windows, from which prostitutes lure customers, since it announced its initial clean-up plans a year ago.
and the cartoon controversy...
gotta keep the wogs whipped into a frenzy, business booms depend on it.
someone's getting a payoff. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
What seemed liberating when couched in the language of campaign promises now seems oppressive, now that the president's cleanup operation is affecting both France's good and bad traditions alike. While constantly citing the loftiest values, the most attractive ideals and the best motives, Sarkozy is doctoring around on the aging body of French democracy, but his incisions are now coming dangerously close to its vital organs. Suddenly such fundamental historical achievements like the separation of powers, freedom of the press and the protection of minorities are at stake in France today.
Some anecdotes:
Scene 1: Hervé Eon, a protestor who, during a Sarkozy visit to a rural area, carried a sign around his neck that read "Get lost, you imbecile" was brought to trial and found guilty of "insulting the head of state." Sarkozy, for his part, used the same words to reproach a citizen who had refused to shake his hand: "Get lost, you imbecile." Scene 2: The daily newspaper Le Figaro, owned by Serge Dassault, an arms merchant and friend of Sarkozy, published, on its front page, a retouched teaser photo of Justice Minister Rachida Dati. A €15,600 ($20,000) ring on the minister's hand was airbrushed out. Scene 3: After a demonstration by Corsican nationalists on the property of another Sarkozy's friend, actor Christian Clavier, the region's police chief was sacked, at the behest of Paris. Scene 4: A former managing editor of the leftwing daily Libération was taken away in handcuffs early one morning because of a letter to the editor published two years earlier, addressed as "scum" by police officers and subjected to multiple body searches.
More stuff you don't commonly read in non-French MSM:
...the precarious situation within the system is exacerbated by the fact that the president, upon taking office, appears to have forgotten everything he once promised to the weaker elements of society, while strictly keeping all the promises he made to society's strongest members.
But, don't celebrate too early... the article contains a lot of neolib standard wisdom on France. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
41 members of the PSD voted for negotiations with PD-L, while 17 voted against during talks today.Should such negotiations lead to the formation of a new government, it would leave out the Liberals (PNL), who came third in the general elections.According to statements made by PSD leaders over the past several days, there were two trends within party ranks - one led by PSD leader Miron Mitrea who wanted a government with PD-L and another led by Ion Iliescu and Adrian Nastase, who would like an alliance with the PNL either in power or in opposition.For his part, PD-L president Emil Boc said on Monday following a party leadership reunion that the group would continue talks with "both parties" as a new round of negotiations would start on Tuesday morning.And UDMR leader Marko Bela, quoted by Antena 3 news television, said he would not believe PD-L would drop a deal with his political group to include UDMR in a future government with PD-L participation.
Should such negotiations lead to the formation of a new government, it would leave out the Liberals (PNL), who came third in the general elections.
According to statements made by PSD leaders over the past several days, there were two trends within party ranks - one led by PSD leader Miron Mitrea who wanted a government with PD-L and another led by Ion Iliescu and Adrian Nastase, who would like an alliance with the PNL either in power or in opposition.
For his part, PD-L president Emil Boc said on Monday following a party leadership reunion that the group would continue talks with "both parties" as a new round of negotiations would start on Tuesday morning.
And UDMR leader Marko Bela, quoted by Antena 3 news television, said he would not believe PD-L would drop a deal with his political group to include UDMR in a future government with PD-L participation.
The Army's General Officer Commanding is leaving and a Brigadier will be put in charge. It will be the first time since the foundation of the State in 1921 that there has been no GOC, but the move is a clear reflection of the changed times in Northern Ireland. Major General Chris Brown packs his bags on 1 January and heads off to Iraq to take up a new command in Baghdad....Where once there were up to 30,000 soldiers on duty, there is now a peacetime garrison of just under 5,000 scattered around bases across the province.
The Army's General Officer Commanding is leaving and a Brigadier will be put in charge.
It will be the first time since the foundation of the State in 1921 that there has been no GOC, but the move is a clear reflection of the changed times in Northern Ireland.
Major General Chris Brown packs his bags on 1 January and heads off to Iraq to take up a new command in Baghdad.
...Where once there were up to 30,000 soldiers on duty, there is now a peacetime garrison of just under 5,000 scattered around bases across the province.
A major Government report today called for urgent reforms to protect primary schools struggling to cope with an overloaded curriculum. Under proposals outlined by Sir Jim Rose, the Government's top adviser on primary schools, traditional lessons such as history and geography would be axed to allow teachers greater flexibility to teach fewer subjects in greater depth.
A major Government report today called for urgent reforms to protect primary schools struggling to cope with an overloaded curriculum.
Under proposals outlined by Sir Jim Rose, the Government's top adviser on primary schools, traditional lessons such as history and geography would be axed to allow teachers greater flexibility to teach fewer subjects in greater depth.
HUH!!????? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Oh no. Certainly not that.
Topolanek successfully saw off the challenge of Prague Mayor and Klaus ally Pavel Bem in a convincing 284-162 vote. With his renewed mandate, Topolanek is now expected to put the treaty to vote in an extraordinary meeting of the Czech parliament on Tuesday. In a Prague weekend full of political intrigue, Vaclav Klaus - who founded the ODS in 1991 and served as prime minister for two terms before becoming president - resigned from the party, expressing discontent with its current direction: "These are not the policies with which I founded and led the ODS for many years," he said. Klaus' resignation took place on Saturday and is likely to have been a calculated strategy to influence Sunday's leadership contest. With this clear statement of intent, Klaus effectively made the leadership contest a single-issue ballot, based on the Lisbon Treaty. However, despite having seen his candidate defeated, Klaus may have other methods at his disposal to continue his opposition to Lisbon. He has previously threatened to refuse to sign the treaty, even if it should be approved by a parliamentary majority. The treaty requires the presidential seal for final constitutional ratification.
In a Prague weekend full of political intrigue, Vaclav Klaus - who founded the ODS in 1991 and served as prime minister for two terms before becoming president - resigned from the party, expressing discontent with its current direction: "These are not the policies with which I founded and led the ODS for many years," he said.
Klaus' resignation took place on Saturday and is likely to have been a calculated strategy to influence Sunday's leadership contest. With this clear statement of intent, Klaus effectively made the leadership contest a single-issue ballot, based on the Lisbon Treaty.
However, despite having seen his candidate defeated, Klaus may have other methods at his disposal to continue his opposition to Lisbon. He has previously threatened to refuse to sign the treaty, even if it should be approved by a parliamentary majority. The treaty requires the presidential seal for final constitutional ratification.
"Incandescent bulbs will be phased out between September 2009 and September 2012," said a spokesman for the EU Presidency. The proposals will be studied by the European Parliament and member states, and if no objection is raised, they could be adopted in a fast-track procedure by the end of March. ...The move could play into the hands of manufacturers of the most efficient CFL bulbs, mostly based in China, and could lead to the loss of 2,000 to 3,000 EU jobs, mostly in eastern Europe. But Europe could save between 5 and 10 billion euros on energy bills, which could be used to create new jobs, including in emerging green industries.
The proposals will be studied by the European Parliament and member states, and if no objection is raised, they could be adopted in a fast-track procedure by the end of March.
...The move could play into the hands of manufacturers of the most efficient CFL bulbs, mostly based in China, and could lead to the loss of 2,000 to 3,000 EU jobs, mostly in eastern Europe.
But Europe could save between 5 and 10 billion euros on energy bills, which could be used to create new jobs, including in emerging green industries.
The man suspected of being the new military chief of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in France, police say. He was arrested along with two others near Gerde in south-west France, carrying guns and fake identity papers, French police said. Spain's interior ministry said one of those held was Aitzol Irionda, thought to be Eta's new military chief. The arrests follow last week's murder of a businessman in the Basque region. It was the first attack linked to Eta since the arrest of its former military head, Mikel Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, also known as "Txeroki", last month.
The man suspected of being the new military chief of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in France, police say.
He was arrested along with two others near Gerde in south-west France, carrying guns and fake identity papers, French police said.
Spain's interior ministry said one of those held was Aitzol Irionda, thought to be Eta's new military chief.
The arrests follow last week's murder of a businessman in the Basque region.
It was the first attack linked to Eta since the arrest of its former military head, Mikel Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, also known as "Txeroki", last month.
Le diplomate en chef de l'UE Javier Solana, en marge d'une réunion des 27 ministres européens des Affaires étrangères à Bruxelles, a annoncé que l'opération Atalante, d'une durée d'un an, venait d'être officiellement "activée". Au moins huit pays - Allemagne, Belgique, Espagne, France, Grèce, Pays-Bas, Royaume-Uni et Suède, auxquels se joindra peut-être le Portugal - participeront à l'opération qui regroupera six navires de guerre et trois avions de patrouille, sous le commandement d'un officier britannique, le vice-amiral Phillip Jones. <...> "Les règles d'engagement (document confidentiel sur les conditions d'un recours aux armes ndlr)" entérinées lundi par les 27 "sont très robustes", a souligné M. Solana.Elles permettront de "recourir à tous les moyens y compris à la force pour protéger, dissuader et poursuivre en justice tout acte de piraterie", a-t-il précisé, se félicitant de la grande "clarté" du mandat de la force navale européenne."Cette opération, sous commandement britannique, permettra, je l'espère, d'établir les prémices d'un ordre international des mers qui sont vitales pour commercer autour du monde", a déclaré pour sa part le ministre britannique David Miliband.
Le diplomate en chef de l'UE Javier Solana, en marge d'une réunion des 27 ministres européens des Affaires étrangères à Bruxelles, a annoncé que l'opération Atalante, d'une durée d'un an, venait d'être officiellement "activée".
Au moins huit pays - Allemagne, Belgique, Espagne, France, Grèce, Pays-Bas, Royaume-Uni et Suède, auxquels se joindra peut-être le Portugal - participeront à l'opération qui regroupera six navires de guerre et trois avions de patrouille, sous le commandement d'un officier britannique, le vice-amiral Phillip Jones. <...>
"Les règles d'engagement (document confidentiel sur les conditions d'un recours aux armes ndlr)" entérinées lundi par les 27 "sont très robustes", a souligné M. Solana.
Elles permettront de "recourir à tous les moyens y compris à la force pour protéger, dissuader et poursuivre en justice tout acte de piraterie", a-t-il précisé, se félicitant de la grande "clarté" du mandat de la force navale européenne.
"Cette opération, sous commandement britannique, permettra, je l'espère, d'établir les prémices d'un ordre international des mers qui sont vitales pour commercer autour du monde", a déclaré pour sa part le ministre britannique David Miliband.
Sorry, just as I finished the translation, Firefox crashed on me. No time to re-do.
Very strange, but I could not find ANY coverage of this in the English press. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
According to a news byte on French/German tv station 'arte', French ships have been patrolling Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden for a number of months, now.
For further background, see here.
A European Union flotilla is deploying five days early to waters off the Horn of Africa, determined to combat piracy amid growing alarm over attacks on international shipping.On Dec. 15, four EU warships and two maritime reconnaissance aircraft will replace the four-vessel NATO flotilla that has been conducting anti-piracy patrols off the Somali coast, EU foreign ministers announced Monday during their monthly meeting.EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called it "a very important mission ... in a place in the world that everybody's looking at because of the problems related to piracy."The EU has conducted 20 peacekeeping operations so far, but this is its first naval endeavor. The task force -- codenamed Operation Atalanta -- will have the same duties as the NATO mission, including escorting ships carrying relief aid to Somalia, protecting merchant ships and deterring pirate attacks.An initial EU force will start patrolling Tuesday in the Gulf of Aden. It will be increased shortly by another aircraft and one or two more ships, officials said.
A European Union flotilla is deploying five days early to waters off the Horn of Africa, determined to combat piracy amid growing alarm over attacks on international shipping.
On Dec. 15, four EU warships and two maritime reconnaissance aircraft will replace the four-vessel NATO flotilla that has been conducting anti-piracy patrols off the Somali coast, EU foreign ministers announced Monday during their monthly meeting.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called it "a very important mission ... in a place in the world that everybody's looking at because of the problems related to piracy."
The EU has conducted 20 peacekeeping operations so far, but this is its first naval endeavor. The task force -- codenamed Operation Atalanta -- will have the same duties as the NATO mission, including escorting ships carrying relief aid to Somalia, protecting merchant ships and deterring pirate attacks.
An initial EU force will start patrolling Tuesday in the Gulf of Aden. It will be increased shortly by another aircraft and one or two more ships, officials said.
Vandals carried out a fresh attack on the graves of hundreds of Muslim war veterans in France's biggest military cemetery in an assault President Nicolas Sarkozy denounced Monday as "revolting." The graves in Notre Dame de Lorette cemetery were sprayed with graffiti on Sunday night, the eve of Islam's Eid al-Adha feast, a police spokesman said, adding that a hunt was under way to find the culprits. The cemetery, near the northern border with Belgium, commemorates the tens of thousands of victims of a series of long and bloody battles for control of northern France at the start of World War I. It had already been hit in April this year, when vandals desecrated 148 Muslim graves, hanging a pig's head from one tombstone and daubing slogans insulting France's Muslim justice minister, Rachida Dati, who is of North African descent. <...> Two young men with neo-Nazi sympathies are awaiting trial over April's desecration. They deny involvement.
It had already been hit in April this year, when vandals desecrated 148 Muslim graves, hanging a pig's head from one tombstone and daubing slogans insulting France's Muslim justice minister, Rachida Dati, who is of North African descent. <...>
Two young men with neo-Nazi sympathies are awaiting trial over April's desecration. They deny involvement.
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos will pay a working visit to Moscow on Monday, the Spanish government said in a statement. The minister is expected to arrive in Moscow on Monday afternoon, following an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels. During the visit, Moratinos will meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to discuss security, economic and energy cooperation.
The minister is expected to arrive in Moscow on Monday afternoon, following an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels.
During the visit, Moratinos will meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to discuss security, economic and energy cooperation.
There is an interview with a Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman from December 5 about the meeting which makes no mention of Lukoil, or even "energy":
Miguel Angel Moratinos will make a working visit to Moscow on December 8-9 at the invitation of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov. We note with satisfaction that this will be Moratinos's third arrival in the Russian capital since he assumed office. Thorough talks between the heads of Russian and Spanish diplomacies will constitute another link in the dynamically evolving bilateral political dialogue between Moscow and Madrid at the highest and a high level. The focus of the attention of Lavrov and Moratinos will be questions of further strengthening of Russian-Spanish cooperation in all fields. The ministers will examine a schedule of meetings at the highest level for the upcoming period, and exchange views on different aspects of the reinvigoration of bilateral interaction. Apart from the successfully maintained political contacts, they are expected to discuss the prospects for the intensification of economic and trade ties in the light of the accords reached at the sixth meeting of the Russia-Spain Intergovernmental Mixed Commission on Economic and Industrial Cooperation held in Madrid this past November. In conditions of the continuing world economic and financial crisis it appears to be fundamentally important to use the mechanisms of bilateral cooperation to mitigate its negative consequences for the economic operators and citizens of both countries.
The focus of the attention of Lavrov and Moratinos will be questions of further strengthening of Russian-Spanish cooperation in all fields. The ministers will examine a schedule of meetings at the highest level for the upcoming period, and exchange views on different aspects of the reinvigoration of bilateral interaction. Apart from the successfully maintained political contacts, they are expected to discuss the prospects for the intensification of economic and trade ties in the light of the accords reached at the sixth meeting of the Russia-Spain Intergovernmental Mixed Commission on Economic and Industrial Cooperation held in Madrid this past November. In conditions of the continuing world economic and financial crisis it appears to be fundamentally important to use the mechanisms of bilateral cooperation to mitigate its negative consequences for the economic operators and citizens of both countries.
