French air safety authorities are investigating what caused a Ryanair 737-800 jet carrying 168 passengers to lose cabin pressure while it was 30,000ft over France. Officials from the Paris-based BEA are going over the aircraft at Limoges international airport. It has been suggested that a faulty air valve may be involved. Air is sucked into the cabin by the engines and its flow is regulated by an outflow valve. If the air supply is disrupted by a malfunctioning valve or a hole in the aircraft, the pilot has only a short time to bring the plane down to an altitude where the air is breathable -- around 8,000ft.It was this rapid, controlled descent in response to a cockpit warning signal that led some passengers on board flight FR9336 from Bristol to Barcelona Girona to believe that the aircraft was plunging to the ground as freezing air whistled through the cabin.
French air safety authorities are investigating what caused a Ryanair 737-800 jet carrying 168 passengers to lose cabin pressure while it was 30,000ft over France.
Officials from the Paris-based BEA are going over the aircraft at Limoges international airport. It has been suggested that a faulty air valve may be involved.
Air is sucked into the cabin by the engines and its flow is regulated by an outflow valve. If the air supply is disrupted by a malfunctioning valve or a hole in the aircraft, the pilot has only a short time to bring the plane down to an altitude where the air is breathable -- around 8,000ft.
It was this rapid, controlled descent in response to a cockpit warning signal that led some passengers on board flight FR9336 from Bristol to Barcelona Girona to believe that the aircraft was plunging to the ground as freezing air whistled through the cabin.
Amid increasing signs of a worsening European economy, a survey has found that citizens in large EU countries are mainly blaming their own governments, but the European Central Bank is also becoming a target for discontent. The IMF is to shave its July estimate for the eurozone's growth this year from 1.7 percent to 1.4 percent in its autumn World Economic Outlook due in October, according to an official quoted by Reuters, while cutting its 2009 forecast from 1.2 percent to 0.9 percent. On a global basis, the Washington-based body predicts the world economy will slow down further in the second half of the year and achieve a growth rate of only 3.9 percent rather than 4.1 percent as earlier expected. While the US forecast was left unchanged for this year, the IMF also suspects a further downturn in 2009, shaving its outlook to 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, a survey by the Harris agency conducted for Financial Times and published on Tuesday (26 August) showed that citizens in countries most affected by the economic downturn overwhelmingly put the blame on their own governments. German leaders received the toughest criticism, with 74 percent of Germans polled saying their government held "complete" or "a lot of" responsibility. While 63 percent of Brits thought the same about their decision-makers, in Spain the figure was lowest, at 53 percent.
Amid increasing signs of a worsening European economy, a survey has found that citizens in large EU countries are mainly blaming their own governments, but the European Central Bank is also becoming a target for discontent.
The IMF is to shave its July estimate for the eurozone's growth this year from 1.7 percent to 1.4 percent in its autumn World Economic Outlook due in October, according to an official quoted by Reuters, while cutting its 2009 forecast from 1.2 percent to 0.9 percent.
On a global basis, the Washington-based body predicts the world economy will slow down further in the second half of the year and achieve a growth rate of only 3.9 percent rather than 4.1 percent as earlier expected.
While the US forecast was left unchanged for this year, the IMF also suspects a further downturn in 2009, shaving its outlook to 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Harris agency conducted for Financial Times and published on Tuesday (26 August) showed that citizens in countries most affected by the economic downturn overwhelmingly put the blame on their own governments.
German leaders received the toughest criticism, with 74 percent of Germans polled saying their government held "complete" or "a lot of" responsibility. While 63 percent of Brits thought the same about their decision-makers, in Spain the figure was lowest, at 53 percent.
Western leaders have condemned strongly Russia's decision to recognise the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. US President George Bush warned his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, that his "irresponsible decision" was exacerbating tensions in the region. Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force". Earlier, Mr Medvedev told the BBC that Russia had been obliged to act because of Georgia's "genocide" of separatists.
Western leaders have condemned strongly Russia's decision to recognise the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
US President George Bush warned his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, that his "irresponsible decision" was exacerbating tensions in the region.
Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force".
Earlier, Mr Medvedev told the BBC that Russia had been obliged to act because of Georgia's "genocide" of separatists.
Russia's relations with the west plunged to their most critical point in a generation today when the Kremlin built on its military rout of Georgia by recognising the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Declaring that if his decision meant a new cold war, then so be it, President Dmitri Medvedev signed a decree conferring Russian recognition on Georgia's two secessionist regions. The move flouted UN Security Council resolutions and dismissed western insistence during the crisis of the past three weeks on respecting Georgia's territorial integrity and international borders. Tonight, Medvedev accused Washington of shipping arms to Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid... "We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a new cold war," Medvedev said. "Russia is a state which has to ensure its interests along the whole length of its border. This is absolutely clear."
Declaring that if his decision meant a new cold war, then so be it, President Dmitri Medvedev signed a decree conferring Russian recognition on Georgia's two secessionist regions. The move flouted UN Security Council resolutions and dismissed western insistence during the crisis of the past three weeks on respecting Georgia's territorial integrity and international borders.
Tonight, Medvedev accused Washington of shipping arms to Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid...
"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a new cold war," Medvedev said. "Russia is a state which has to ensure its interests along the whole length of its border. This is absolutely clear."
As for Iraq... Since 2003: Chirac and Villepin are gone, replaced by Sarkozy l'Americain; Schroeder is gone, replaced by Merkel; Prodi has come and gone, and Burlesconi is back in the hot seat; Colin Powell is gone, with his misgivings; Rumsfeld was sacrificed in 2006; it seems Bush won. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Russia warns NATO over build-up of warships in Black Sea Russia's military says it is bewildered by the build-up of NATO's naval force in the Black Sea - and scoffed at claims the warships were delivering humanitarian aid. Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff, Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, told a media briefing that there are currently ten NATO warships with cruise missiles in the area, and eight more are expected to arrive there shortly. "These ships are very seriously armed," Nogovitsyn said. "As far as cruise missiles are concerned, they are strategic arms and have a range of 2,500 km. The Black Sea is just a pool for them." The Colonel General added it's very hard to believe these ships have arrived just to bring humanitarian aid.
"These ships are very seriously armed," Nogovitsyn said. "As far as cruise missiles are concerned, they are strategic arms and have a range of 2,500 km. The Black Sea is just a pool for them."
The Colonel General added it's very hard to believe these ships have arrived just to bring humanitarian aid.
Short answer : Being stupid in an infantile sandpit kind of way.
Long answer : Is the above but in a lot of geo-political weasel words keep to the Fen Causeway
Russia mobilized part of the fleet toward Georgia's rebel Abkhazia region. "We have been notified that Russia has plans to move elements of its Black Sea fleet to Abkhazia, to Ochamchira, ostensibly to protect their civilians ... a couple of cruisers, or large scale naval vessels," said the official, asking to remaining anonymous. Recently, in a skirmish with the Georgian Navy, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that this part of the fleet was attacked by a Georgian missile boat, which the Black Sea fleet sunk. The other Georgian ships accompanying the sunken vessel retreated soon afterwards. According to some reports, the cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, was damaged in the engagement. As the of result the Georgia-Russia conflict, Ukraine has announced that the Black Sea Fleet will need permission to cross the Ukrainian border and go to Sevastopol, its base. In return, Russia has stated that the commander of the Black Sea Fleet is the President of the Russian Federation and that Ukrainian laws do not apply to what happens to the Black Sea Fleet.
But this is more about the domestic politics of the Ukraine. Yushchenko is losing his grip on the reins of power and so is trying to stir up NATO and the EU to come to his aid. This gesture will make things worse for him, not better. keep to the Fen Causeway
Yushchenko falsified session of National Security Council that allegedly made decision on Russian Black Sea Fleet -- Timoshenko
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Tuesday rejected Russia`s recognition of two breakaway regions of Georgia and called for an international coalition to counter it, according to Reuters. "Today`s announcement by President (Dmitry) Medvedev that Russia will recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable," Miliband said in a statement. "I am holding talks today with international partners and will be visiting Ukraine tomorrow to ensure the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia," he added.
"Today`s announcement by President (Dmitry) Medvedev that Russia will recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable," Miliband said in a statement.
"I am holding talks today with international partners and will be visiting Ukraine tomorrow to ensure the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia," he added.
We have evidence of genocide - Russian investigators Russian investigators say they have found evidence of genocide by the Georgian military against South Ossetians. The Head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, said that witnesses reported that Georgian soldiers were throwing cluster bombs into shelters where civilians were hiding. He also said that investigators came across the body of a pregnant women shot in the head.
He also said that investigators came across the body of a pregnant women shot in the head.
Georgians slaughtering S Ossetians and Russians slaughtering Georgians; individually, in families and possibly in large grops of whoever could be rounded up in small villages. This is more or less what we expect in these war-lets these days. Official militaries and militias seem to believe they more or less have the right to do whatever they want to whoever they want for any reason whatsoever until somebody orders them to become civilised again.
We know it goes on, the public know it goes on. And and the politicians who never ordered the atrocities ? They knew it would happen too, and didn't actually mind if the "de-humanised other" got a bit of a lesson in power politics. In their eyes it's war and war is hard and necessary if you're doing it to someone else, and an atrocity if it's done to you.
Is it morally any different than destroying an entire village with a lser guided bomb in Afghanistan on the off-chance it might be used by al-Qaeda is something you can argue. Although in my opinion I'd have to say no. It's a discussion that maybe we ought to have.
But this constant complaint of yours that Serbia never did anything to anyone guv, totally inncent of everything, betrays a staggering ignorance of how war is waged and an incredible attitude to evidence.
Recently you said of the claim that there are 8,000 dead in bosnia that less than 500 died in reality. Even assuming that the murder of 500 civilians makes it okay and just a harmless bit of fun, the fact that over 1,000 bodies have recieved official identification and re-burial kinda undermines your claim and says more about your personal prejudice than the reality of what went on in the former Yugoslavia. keep to the Fen Causeway
you're saying Serbs never did anything wrong, not even the nasty ultra-nationalists you have said elsewhere you never supported. Milosevic is a martyr, and Karadzic is only called a "war criminal" because he was on the losing side. ...But this constant complaint of yours that Serbia never did anything to anyone guv, totally inncent of everything, betrays a staggering ignorance of how war is waged and an incredible attitude to evidence.
Where did you people read that in my posts??? I never said that! All I am saying is that your media for the purpose of propaganda war against Serbia / and now Russia is falsifying NUMBERS and even events sometimes (like Racak, Markale etc.) They start with a huge numbers of victims in order to shock your public and to show brutality and uncivilized behavior of who ever they do not support and when real data comes it's already too late, public already have their opinion engraved in their brains.
Recently you said of the claim that there are 8,000 dead in bosnia that less than 500 died in reality. Even assuming that the murder of 500 civilians makes it okay and just a harmless bit of fun, the fact that over 1,000 bodies have recieved official identification and re-burial kinda undermines your claim and says more about your personal prejudice than the reality of what went on in the former Yugoslavia.
Why you are putting in my mouth words that I never said???
This is what I said:
People still believe that Serbs unlawfully killed thousands (4500) on Kosovo...and it turned out as around 500. Ask anyone and they'll swear that there was 8000 victims of Srebrenica...they can hardly prove more then 1500...Don't get me wrong , every single life is precious but I am really sick of western lies and propaganda.
Which part of it you don't understand? Just the opposite of what you are accusing me I never said Serbs are innocent. I was just trying to say what you said: It's a war, people kill each other in a war...but from your media we only learned that Serbs were animals on a killing spree. When it comes to the other side even if they mention their killings of the Serbian civilians it is always coming with a grain of the sympathy...because they are somehow good guys.
Now (I presume) you may think (cause your media is totally silent about it) that Russian sources are not credible when the say that 2000 Ossetians were killed by Georgians. Ok. They, Russians may exaggerate numbers because they learned about propaganda war too. But where are western forensics to tell us their truth? OK they may not be able to go to a territory where Russian military operates but Georgians clamed that Russians killed huge number of Georgians and west is accusing Russia for the unproportioned use of force...where are forensics to show us mass graves on Georgian territory? And if they are talking about infrastructure, Georgians were lucky to deal with "humanitarian" Russians comparing to Serbs having to deal with uncivilized NATO that totally ruined country's infrastructure killing unselectively civilians in the process. That my friend is what I am talking about. There was no one happier then me when I saw Milosevic striped of his power. But after what I`ve learned lately about international justice and legality (Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia...) I tend to think that Milosevic is just a small figure criminal ...nothing like "Balkan's butcher" as you called him. Now I see the butchers of universal proportions hiding behind words like "democracy" "peace" "security"...and they are not only free. They are leaders of the " free world". Free world- what an illusion... So I am simply comparing and learning in the process. Looks like most of you here still think that "Kosovo is an exception". For the starters Russians have news for you. It's not! Do not believe everything your shity media is trying to engrave in your brain. I KNOW ABOUT WAR MUCH MORE THEN YOU. And you are lucky for that matter.
same difference
Recently you said of the claim that there are 8,000 dead in bosnia that less than 500 died in reality.
I said that western media claims 8000 dead in Srebrenica ONLY, not in Bosnia , and that as by now (10 years later) as far as I understand (corect me with new evidence if I am wrong) there is EVIDENCE for about 1500 dead. Huge difference of 6500 people. And even biger difference in propaganda purposes.
Again Helen said:
Even assuming that the murder of 500 civilians makes it okay and just a harmless bit of fun
What Helen is "assuming" is definitely not what I said .To be precise I said that I regret every single life lost in those conflicts... Now this is exactly what your western propaganda is made of.Falsification of numbers and false assumptions... No hard feelings guys.
When I was talking about Kosovo I said:
People still believe that Serbs unlawfully killed thousands (4500) on Kosovo...and it turned out as around 500.
I think I even linked somewhere before where I found that Milosevic was accused of some 560 dead on Kosovo or so.
Direct me please where to find EVIDENCE that will support western media statements.
Here I found interesting article:
http://www.david-morrison.org.uk/kosovo/kosovo-real-story.htm
that is also telling how truth is distorted by this time British Bulshit Corporation...
Hey, now you're asking for impossible tasks... Plus, have we actually quoted the media on this?
How about everyone just looks at figures from the UN and other presumably respectable organizations before quoting a death toll? A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Then we might as well stop debating numbers... A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6666
American Council for Kosovo documents 8 years of ethnic cleansing against Serbs WASHINGTON - United Nations forces moved into Kosovo in 1999 to "stop genocide." But, according to a blistering new report from the American Council for Kosovo, U.N. troops have aided and abetted the deliberate, systematic and nearly complete ethnic cleansing of the mostly Christian Serb population by mostly Muslim ethnic Albanians. "Every facet of the way of life of the Serbs of Kosovo is threatened by the new reality established since June 1999 under KFOR (the NATO Kosovo Force) and the U.N. and therefore the very existence of the Serbs there is threatened," says the report "Hiding Genocide in Kosovo."
WASHINGTON - United Nations forces moved into Kosovo in 1999 to "stop genocide." But, according to a blistering new report from the American Council for Kosovo, U.N. troops have aided and abetted the deliberate, systematic and nearly complete ethnic cleansing of the mostly Christian Serb population by mostly Muslim ethnic Albanians. "Every facet of the way of life of the Serbs of Kosovo is threatened by the new reality established since June 1999 under KFOR (the NATO Kosovo Force) and the U.N. and therefore the very existence of the Serbs there is threatened," says the report "Hiding Genocide in Kosovo."
The American Council for Kosovo is an activity of Squire Sanders Public Advocacy, LLC, and Global Strategic Communications Group, which are registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as agents for the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija. Additional information with respect to this matter is on file with the Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the Department of Justice in Washington DC.
Paid propagandists and lobbyists for the Serbian government are not a credible source any more than the US government is on Iraq.
This is telling me that actually you BELIEVE them.
I don't know which blog you've been reading, but I don't think it's ET.
You're undermining your own case.
Germany's economy appears to be headed for trouble, according to key business and consumer sentiment indicators published on Tuesday. Analysts say the job market will be affected as firms cease hiring. Germany's business sector is growing increasingly pessimistic about its economic outlook, according to the key business sentiment index which declined in August for the third consecutive month. "The German economy is encountering an increasingly more difficult situation," Hans-Werner Sinn, president of the Ifo institute that calculates the monthly index based on a survey of around 7,000 companies, said in a statement. The business climate index fell by far more than expected to 94.8 in August from 97.5 in July. Economists polled by Reuters had on average predicted a slight drop to 97.1.
Germany's business sector is growing increasingly pessimistic about its economic outlook, according to the key business sentiment index which declined in August for the third consecutive month.
"The German economy is encountering an increasingly more difficult situation," Hans-Werner Sinn, president of the Ifo institute that calculates the monthly index based on a survey of around 7,000 companies, said in a statement.
The business climate index fell by far more than expected to 94.8 in August from 97.5 in July. Economists polled by Reuters had on average predicted a slight drop to 97.1.
Commerzbank, Germany's second-largest private sector bank, is far along in talks to take over Dresdner Bank. Analysts say it's high time Germany's banks consolidate to make up ground lost to foreign competitors in recent years. It would be a breakthrough after years of hesitation -- Germany's second-largest bank Commerzbank is about to take over its rival Dresdner Bank, the third-largest, according to media reports. The basics of the transaction have already been ironed out and a decision is expected before the end of August, insiders say. The deal could trigger a much-needed reorganization of Germany's entire banking sector. It would create a second national banking champion alongside market leader Deutsche Bank and put other players under pressure to follow suit. Analysts say that in the medium term, Dresdner and Commerzbank could join up with Postbank, a major retail bank owned by Deutsche Post, provided that Deutsche Bank doesn't snap up Postbank first in a pre-emptive strike. A merger would kick-start long-overdue consolidation in the German banking sector, say banking analysts. Germany's banks are dwarfs in comparison with giants such as China's ICBC with a market capitalisation of $248 billion or Britain's HSBC with $189.9 billion. In terms of its market value, Deutsche Bank ranks 32nd in the world, with Commerzbank in 84th place.
It would be a breakthrough after years of hesitation -- Germany's second-largest bank Commerzbank is about to take over its rival Dresdner Bank, the third-largest, according to media reports. The basics of the transaction have already been ironed out and a decision is expected before the end of August, insiders say.
The deal could trigger a much-needed reorganization of Germany's entire banking sector. It would create a second national banking champion alongside market leader Deutsche Bank and put other players under pressure to follow suit. Analysts say that in the medium term, Dresdner and Commerzbank could join up with Postbank, a major retail bank owned by Deutsche Post, provided that Deutsche Bank doesn't snap up Postbank first in a pre-emptive strike.
A merger would kick-start long-overdue consolidation in the German banking sector, say banking analysts. Germany's banks are dwarfs in comparison with giants such as China's ICBC with a market capitalisation of $248 billion or Britain's HSBC with $189.9 billion. In terms of its market value, Deutsche Bank ranks 32nd in the world, with Commerzbank in 84th place.
Georgians raise tension in conflict zone South Ossetian authorities say Georgian troops and police have been building up in close-to-border villages on the Georgian side on Sunday. Moreover, at weekend Georgian sabotage groups have fired on several settlements in Leningorsky and Znaursky districts of South Ossetia, bordering with Georgia, and wiped out livestock of the locals there. As Irina Gagloeva from the Committee for Information and the Press in South Ossetia said, Georgian military have again started threatening the inhabitants of South Ossetian villages Orsochan, Abrev and Tsinaghar, and the latter had to be hiding in the woods during the night. She said the pull-back of Russian troops from the area of the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict is aggravating the situation.
As Irina Gagloeva from the Committee for Information and the Press in South Ossetia said, Georgian military have again started threatening the inhabitants of South Ossetian villages Orsochan, Abrev and Tsinaghar, and the latter had to be hiding in the woods during the night.
She said the pull-back of Russian troops from the area of the Georgia-South Ossetia conflict is aggravating the situation.
The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, has revealed that he will run for the leadership of the French Socialist Party, setting the stage for a showdown with former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal. The Socialists have been divided and rudderless since Mme Royal was soundly beaten by Nicolas Sarkozy in May 2007 and have failed to mount an effective opposition.Party members are due to choose a new leader in November. Mme Royal said in May that she would stand and M. Delanoë, who is seen as her most serious rival, had been under pressure to launch his own bid. "Yes, I will put all my energy at the service of my beliefs," the mayor told Le Monde when asked if he would run.An openly gay politician who has given Parisians free bikes-for-hire and fake beaches along the river Seine, M. Delanoë is seen by some Socialists as their best chance of breathing new life into the party.
The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, has revealed that he will run for the leadership of the French Socialist Party, setting the stage for a showdown with former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal.
The Socialists have been divided and rudderless since Mme Royal was soundly beaten by Nicolas Sarkozy in May 2007 and have failed to mount an effective opposition.
Party members are due to choose a new leader in November. Mme Royal said in May that she would stand and M. Delanoë, who is seen as her most serious rival, had been under pressure to launch his own bid. "Yes, I will put all my energy at the service of my beliefs," the mayor told Le Monde when asked if he would run.
An openly gay politician who has given Parisians free bikes-for-hire and fake beaches along the river Seine, M. Delanoë is seen by some Socialists as their best chance of breathing new life into the party.
Britain will overtake Germany and France to become the biggest country in the EU in 50 years' time, according to population projections unveiled yesterday. A survey of demographic trends finds Britain's positive birth rate contrasting strongly with most other large countries in Europe.The impact of population shrinkage, coupled with the ageing of key European societies, spells big problems for pensions, health and welfare systems across much of the union, says the report, published by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European commission. But Britain, it says, is likely to suffer less because of its strong population growth and the younger average age of British society.Immigration is singled out as the sole mitigating factor, seen as crucial to maintaining population growth. But the report says this probably will not be enough to reverse the trend of population decline in many countries.
Britain will overtake Germany and France to become the biggest country in the EU in 50 years' time, according to population projections unveiled yesterday. A survey of demographic trends finds Britain's positive birth rate contrasting strongly with most other large countries in Europe.
The impact of population shrinkage, coupled with the ageing of key European societies, spells big problems for pensions, health and welfare systems across much of the union, says the report, published by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European commission.
But Britain, it says, is likely to suffer less because of its strong population growth and the younger average age of British society.
Immigration is singled out as the sole mitigating factor, seen as crucial to maintaining population growth. But the report says this probably will not be enough to reverse the trend of population decline in many countries.
The survey predicts that Britain's population by 2060 will increase by 25% from the current figure of just over 61 million to almost 77 million. Germany is the biggest country in the EU, with more than 82 million people, but it is likely to shed almost 12 million by 2060, says the report. The widely praised family policies and support of working women in France means that the French population will rise to almost 72 million by 2060.
Germany is the biggest country in the EU, with more than 82 million people, but it is likely to shed almost 12 million by 2060, says the report. The widely praised family policies and support of working women in France means that the French population will rise to almost 72 million by 2060.
As noted recently, the central French population scenario is now to have 75M by 2050. But despite its "widely praised policies", the UK still must do better! And it turns me into SuperDupont to react to that, especially when there are errors in the article, like this one:
With the British birth rate now at its highest in a generation - 1.91 children per woman according to the Office for National Statistics last week (...) Of the biggest six EU countries (Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Spain and Poland) Britain has by far the greatest birth rates.
Of the biggest six EU countries (Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Spain and Poland) Britain has by far the greatest birth rates.
Hmmm. France's was 2.00 in 2006 and 1.98 in 2007. Can't they even use actual facts before bragging?
Sigh. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The survey predicts that Britain's population by 2060 will increase by 25% from the current figure of just over 61 million to almost 77 million.
What it doesn't predict is that most of them will be trying desperately to move somewhere else.
The UK is overcrowded enough as it is, and except for the bobbly-headed noobs in the City, it's hardly the most pleasant or profitable place in Europe to make a living.
Also, it only needs a 1m rise in sea levels to put most of Lincolnshire and some of Somerset underwater.
In any case, there's a good chance we'll either have something not unlike a unified EU by then, or smouldering craters where cities used to be.
Either way, this is another silly piece of non-journalism.
Nato commanders are waiting anxiously to see if Russia intends to scrap its offer to allow civilian supply convoys to use Russian land routes into Afghanistan. This is far from the only element of Nato/Russian military co-operation now at risk, however, because of the row over Georgia. Several areas of joint activity and assistance include: -- Training and exercises so that Russian and Nato troops can engage in joint operations. -- Counter-narcotics training by Russian specialists in Afghanistan to address the threat of trafficking in central Asia. Co-ordinating with Russian ships in Nato's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. Russia sent a frigate in 2006 and more warships were supposed to be on offer this year. -- Developing search and rescue co-operation. In 2005 Russia took part in Nato's biggest such exercise. -- Joining in crisis management exercises, and co-operating over terrorist air threats. Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
This is far from the only element of Nato/Russian military co-operation now at risk, however, because of the row over Georgia. Several areas of joint activity and assistance include:
-- Training and exercises so that Russian and Nato troops can engage in joint operations.
-- Counter-narcotics training by Russian specialists in Afghanistan to address the threat of trafficking in central Asia. Co-ordinating with Russian ships in Nato's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. Russia sent a frigate in 2006 and more warships were supposed to be on offer this year.
-- Developing search and rescue co-operation. In 2005 Russia took part in Nato's biggest such exercise.
-- Joining in crisis management exercises, and co-operating over terrorist air threats. Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
BRUSSELS: European Union diplomats backed plans Tuesday for a civilian monitoring mission to Georgia but rejected the deployment of a military peacekeeping force there without an international agreement. The decision was part of an emerging EU strategy designed to increase engagement in Georgia and other countries neighboring Russia, rather than seeking open confrontation with Moscow In advance of a special one-day summit meeting of European leaders called for next Monday by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, officials were scrambling to find a coherent policy response to Russia's actions in Georgia. On Tuesday both the EU and NATO rejected Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But the meeting Tuesday of senior diplomats in Brussels points to a cautious European approach, with officials mindful that their options for punitive action against Moscow are limited.
BRUSSELS: European Union diplomats backed plans Tuesday for a civilian monitoring mission to Georgia but rejected the deployment of a military peacekeeping force there without an international agreement.
The decision was part of an emerging EU strategy designed to increase engagement in Georgia and other countries neighboring Russia, rather than seeking open confrontation with Moscow
In advance of a special one-day summit meeting of European leaders called for next Monday by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, officials were scrambling to find a coherent policy response to Russia's actions in Georgia.
On Tuesday both the EU and NATO rejected Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
But the meeting Tuesday of senior diplomats in Brussels points to a cautious European approach, with officials mindful that their options for punitive action against Moscow are limited.
Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
Seriously deeply stupid. We are almost entirely dependent upon Russian gas, while our ties to the US give us nothing but grief. Yet they cannot break the apron strings of their youth. keep to the Fen Causeway
The end of the Cold War was supposed to usher in a new age in which the major powers would no longer dictate to their neighbors how to run their affairs. That is why Russia's invasion of Georgia is so tragic and so potentially ominous. Russia is now on watch: Will it continue to rely on coercion to achieve its imperial aims or is it willing to work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus?
Moscow's ruthless attempt to suborn, subdue and subordinate this tiny, independent democracy is reminiscent of Stalin's times. The assault on Georgia is similar to what Stalin's Soviet Union did to Finland in 1939: in both cases, Moscow engaged in an arbitrary, brutal and irresponsible use of force to impose domination over a weaker, democratic neighbor. The question now is whether the global community can demonstrate to the Kremlin that there are costs for the blatant use of force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals. This conflict has been brewing for years. Russia has deliberately instigated the breakup of Georgian territory. Moscow has promoted secessionist activities in several Georgian provinces: Abkhazia, Ajaria and, of course, South Ossetia. It has sponsored rebellious governments in these territories, armed their forces and even bestowed Russian citizenship on the secessionists. These efforts have intensified since the emergence in Georgia of a democratic, pro-Western government. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's resentment toward Georgia and its President, the U.S.-educated Mikheil Saakashvili, has seemingly become a personal obsession.
This conflict has been brewing for years. Russia has deliberately instigated the breakup of Georgian territory. Moscow has promoted secessionist activities in several Georgian provinces: Abkhazia, Ajaria and, of course, South Ossetia. It has sponsored rebellious governments in these territories, armed their forces and even bestowed Russian citizenship on the secessionists. These efforts have intensified since the emergence in Georgia of a democratic, pro-Western government. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's resentment toward Georgia and its President, the U.S.-educated Mikheil Saakashvili, has seemingly become a personal obsession.
The question now is whether the global community can demonstrate to the Kremlin that there are costs for the blatant use of force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals.
There are certainly going to be costs to the US if it tries to use blatant force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals in the area.
Again.
And who is the imperialist power is in the eye of the beholder, it seems. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
It's not as if our brave boys and girls were winning decisively anyway. Without supplies, Afghanistan is over.
Longer term - what does Russia really want? Does anyone know? Do the Russians?
now, provoked by senile rapturists, russia is reverting to cold war methods of gaining international respect, and domestic rallying of nationalist sentiments.
i wouldn't put it past putin to 'get tougher', and if it stymies our efforts to keep afghanistan rubble and poppy fields, tant pis.
putin cannot be seen as weak, and now we're waving red rags at him, all bets are off, until or unless someone gets a major clue.
milliband, merkel, bushcain and condi are like fuel on the fire.
this is appalling diplomacy, rotten statesmanship, and moronic in its recycling of the 50's.
cui bono? as per, the death merchants who hold our western governments in hock, and electorates in a state of well-mediated shock, fear and disbelief. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
On the other hand, he is a Pole whose family origins are in what was Eastern Poland, and whose class/professional family background is government officialdom - i.e. lots of victims of Russian imperialism, and he's old enough to remember those deaths.
A delegation of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, headed by acting top deputy FM of Ukraine Yuri Kostenko, has canceled its visit to the Russian Federation over the recent decision of Moscow to recognize the independence of the Georgian rebel states of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The delegation was due to visit the Russian Federation for political consultations on invitation of the Russian side on August 27.
