What do Kazakhstan, Israel and the north-eastern corner of South America have in common? Some people count them as European. So why do other countries fail to make the grade? Kazakhstan, despite being in Central Asia, is a member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Israel is in both UEFA and the Eurovision Song Contest -- competing in the latter rather more successfully in recent years than, say, France or Britain. And the South American area of French Guyana is legally a province of France, which makes it officially a part of the European Union. Of course, critics would say that it takes a lot more than just joining a European organization to count as properly "European."
Kazakhstan, despite being in Central Asia, is a member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Israel is in both UEFA and the Eurovision Song Contest -- competing in the latter rather more successfully in recent years than, say, France or Britain.
And the South American area of French Guyana is legally a province of France, which makes it officially a part of the European Union.
Of course, critics would say that it takes a lot more than just joining a European organization to count as properly "European."
BERLIN: With Britain and Poland calling for a tough response and the German government divided, European Union countries prepared for a bitter exchange at an emergency summit meeting Monday on how to respond to Russia's invasion of Georgia and its subsequent recognition of the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The crisis in the Caucasus has rocked the political establishment in Berlin. The German government - a coalition of conservatives led by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Social Democrats - is split over how to deal with Russia, ending several weeks of unity. The divisions in the country, which has close economic and political ties with Russia, mean that the government will be torn between taking a tough line against the Kremlin in Brussels on Monday and maintaining a dialogue with Moscow that would not please Britain or Poland, diplomats said. London and Warsaw want to send a clear signal to Russia that the relationship between Moscow and the European Union will be placed under review. Other countries, particularly Spain and Italy, have adopted a conciliatory approach toward Russia, which analysts said only confirmed the impossibility of adopting a strong and coherent stance toward the crisis in Georgia.
BERLIN: With Britain and Poland calling for a tough response and the German government divided, European Union countries prepared for a bitter exchange at an emergency summit meeting Monday on how to respond to Russia's invasion of Georgia and its subsequent recognition of the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The crisis in the Caucasus has rocked the political establishment in Berlin. The German government - a coalition of conservatives led by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Social Democrats - is split over how to deal with Russia, ending several weeks of unity.
The divisions in the country, which has close economic and political ties with Russia, mean that the government will be torn between taking a tough line against the Kremlin in Brussels on Monday and maintaining a dialogue with Moscow that would not please Britain or Poland, diplomats said.
London and Warsaw want to send a clear signal to Russia that the relationship between Moscow and the European Union will be placed under review. Other countries, particularly Spain and Italy, have adopted a conciliatory approach toward Russia, which analysts said only confirmed the impossibility of adopting a strong and coherent stance toward the crisis in Georgia.
Vladimir Putin has warned Europe that Russia's energy reserves will flow to the Far East if the continent's leaders seek to punish his country for invading Georgia. The Russian prime minister travelled to Siberia to demand that work on a new pipeline to supply oil to Asia is speeded up. In an echo of the photographs released last year that showed the bare-chested leader in a series of macho hunting poses, Mr Putin posed with a rifle for the cameras as scientists tranquilised a tiger at the Ussuri reserve. The announcement on the eve of an emergency European Union summit in Brussels on Russia's occupation of Georgia put EU states on notice that Moscow is developing an alternative client base in the Far East. Mr Putin lashed out at the European summit, defending the country's incursion into Georgia. "The truth is on our side," he told Vesti-24 television.
The Russian prime minister travelled to Siberia to demand that work on a new pipeline to supply oil to Asia is speeded up.
In an echo of the photographs released last year that showed the bare-chested leader in a series of macho hunting poses, Mr Putin posed with a rifle for the cameras as scientists tranquilised a tiger at the Ussuri reserve.
The announcement on the eve of an emergency European Union summit in Brussels on Russia's occupation of Georgia put EU states on notice that Moscow is developing an alternative client base in the Far East.
Mr Putin lashed out at the European summit, defending the country's incursion into Georgia. "The truth is on our side," he told Vesti-24 television.
And what prevents the construction of the pipeline to China is that there is no buyer yet for the gas, because the Chinese refuse to commit longterm to pay the price that would make the project bankable. So Putin admonitions are of little use or significance for hte pipe. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Beware the announcement of some bellicose "NATO" policy. A sound distraction from failed domestic policies in UK and a ratings bump for McCain. I hope Putin just laughs at them. keep to the Fen Causeway
The announcement on the eve of Monday's Brussels summit on Russia's occupation of Georgia put European states on notice that Moscow is developing an alternative client base in the Far East.To stave off tough measures, including possible sanctions, Moscow has sent a variety of signals that it will use its energy clout to retaliate against any European reprimand for its refusal to implement a ceasefire with Georgia.Russia's Asian pipeline is a technically challenging effort to link the oilfields of Eastern Siberia to Russia's Pacific coast thousands of miles to the east. Mr Putin visited Kozmino, a giant oil terminal, where the resources will be loaded for transportation to China and Japan.The two-stage pipeline has been delayed by a year and building costs have soared as constructors grapple with the harsh conditions of the Siberian tundra, where temperatures regularly fall to -50 C and infrastructure is nonexistent.When it is inaugurated the Kremlin will have succeeded in diversifying its financial dependence on energy sales to the European Union.
The announcement on the eve of Monday's Brussels summit on Russia's occupation of Georgia put European states on notice that Moscow is developing an alternative client base in the Far East.
To stave off tough measures, including possible sanctions, Moscow has sent a variety of signals that it will use its energy clout to retaliate against any European reprimand for its refusal to implement a ceasefire with Georgia.
Russia's Asian pipeline is a technically challenging effort to link the oilfields of Eastern Siberia to Russia's Pacific coast thousands of miles to the east. Mr Putin visited Kozmino, a giant oil terminal, where the resources will be loaded for transportation to China and Japan.
The two-stage pipeline has been delayed by a year and building costs have soared as constructors grapple with the harsh conditions of the Siberian tundra, where temperatures regularly fall to -50 C and infrastructure is nonexistent.
When it is inaugurated the Kremlin will have succeeded in diversifying its financial dependence on energy sales to the European Union.
NATO is no longer part of my beat as a journalist, but let me remind those breezily pushing for an extension of the North Atlantic pact to Georgia and Ukraine what this actually means. It exposes Britain and other Western powers to a high risk of war with Russia. It entangles us in ethnic disputes of enormous complexity deep inside the Kremlin sphere of influence, against a formidable military power, along supply lines that we cannot possibly defend.Nato is not a golf club, or the plaything of neo-con adventurers. Article 5 obliges us to fight and die for the alliance. "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." advertisement The Bush administration wants to extend this guarantee to both Georgia and Ukraine. So does John McCain, with even greater vehemence. Britain has gone along, against the better judgment of the Foreign Office. Fortunately for all Britons of military age, this foolish demarche was stalled by Germany and France in April.
NATO is no longer part of my beat as a journalist, but let me remind those breezily pushing for an extension of the North Atlantic pact to Georgia and Ukraine what this actually means.
It exposes Britain and other Western powers to a high risk of war with Russia. It entangles us in ethnic disputes of enormous complexity deep inside the Kremlin sphere of influence, against a formidable military power, along supply lines that we cannot possibly defend.
Nato is not a golf club, or the plaything of neo-con adventurers. Article 5 obliges us to fight and die for the alliance. "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." advertisement
The Bush administration wants to extend this guarantee to both Georgia and Ukraine. So does John McCain, with even greater vehemence. Britain has gone along, against the better judgment of the Foreign Office. Fortunately for all Britons of military age, this foolish demarche was stalled by Germany and France in April.
If only such was being dripped into the ears of our political masters. keep to the Fen Causeway
FINLAND: Finland's foreign minister wants calm reflection on the Georgian conflict, writes Derek Scally FINLAND: FINLAND HAS rejected the idea of sanctions against Russia ahead of this morning's emergency EU summit on the Georgian conflict. A war of words has followed the short conflict, with western condemnation of Moscow's decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia followed by the Russian description of the Georgian conflict as a "US ploy". "There's a little too much testosterone flying around in many of the comments," said Finland's foreign minister Alexander Stubb to The Irish Times. "I attribute that to being a part of the war propaganda. I don't think it benefits the calm solution of conflict."
FINLAND: Finland's foreign minister wants calm reflection on the Georgian conflict, writes Derek Scally
FINLAND: FINLAND HAS rejected the idea of sanctions against Russia ahead of this morning's emergency EU summit on the Georgian conflict.
A war of words has followed the short conflict, with western condemnation of Moscow's decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia followed by the Russian description of the Georgian conflict as a "US ploy".
"There's a little too much testosterone flying around in many of the comments," said Finland's foreign minister Alexander Stubb to The Irish Times. "I attribute that to being a part of the war propaganda. I don't think it benefits the calm solution of conflict."
With the Socialists in disarray, a young firebrand is now the best opponent of the French presidentSeldom have France's opposition Socialists seemed in a more pitiful state. Overtaken long ago by the right, they were also being outflanked by the left last week as the public fell under the dubious spell of "the red postman". Olivier Besancenot, the charismatic postal worker from Neuilly, an affluent suburb of Paris, has emerged as an icon of the French left, whose growing popularity has been an embarrassment to the mainstream Socialist leaders. They met yesterday in the western port of La Rochelle for an annual "summer university" debate to help to find a new leader. The fact that Besancenot, leader of the Communist Revolutionary League, was in the throes of establishing an "anticapitalist" party committed to toppling the French state did not seem to damp enthusiasm among the public. Polls showed the radical firebrand to be more popular than most of the Socialist leaders, and he is ranked as the "best" opponent of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Seldom have France's opposition Socialists seemed in a more pitiful state. Overtaken long ago by the right, they were also being outflanked by the left last week as the public fell under the dubious spell of "the red postman".
Olivier Besancenot, the charismatic postal worker from Neuilly, an affluent suburb of Paris, has emerged as an icon of the French left, whose growing popularity has been an embarrassment to the mainstream Socialist leaders. They met yesterday in the western port of La Rochelle for an annual "summer university" debate to help to find a new leader.
The fact that Besancenot, leader of the Communist Revolutionary League, was in the throes of establishing an "anticapitalist" party committed to toppling the French state did not seem to damp enthusiasm among the public. Polls showed the radical firebrand to be more popular than most of the Socialist leaders, and he is ranked as the "best" opponent of President Nicolas Sarkozy.
London Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled a draft plan Friday to help the city mitigate and adapt to climate change. Johnson put special attention to water conservation, calling for mandatory metering, increased efficiency, improved drainage, and rainwater harvesting. He also envisions more trees and green space. Environmentalists said the adaptation strategy was a good step, but said measures to cut carbon emissions were missing from the equation. "It is essential that the capital prepares for the impacts of climate change," says one Friends of the Earth campaigner. "But Boris Johnson is also committed to cutting London's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent by 2025 in order to prevent dangerous climate change, and has so far failed to explain how he will achieve this." Some 15 percent of London is estimated to be at high risk of flooding from rising seas -- an area housing 1.25 million people, 480,000 buildings, 441 schools, 75 transit stations, 10 hospitals, and an airport.
Ryanair pilots have denounced as "insane" attempts to pressurise them into flying with less fuel by imposing a cap on their safety reserves. The low-cost airline is saving money by curbing the discretionary rights of pilots to request extra fuel. The disclosure, made in internal company documents seen by The Sunday Times, has led to claims that the safety of passengers is being compromised as the price of oil soars. Details of Ryanair's policies emerged as the Civil Aviation Authority revealed that the number of emergencies declared in British airspace because of fuel shortages had doubled in five years. Last year, 27 planes were given the right to make priority landings, up from 11 in 2003.
The low-cost airline is saving money by curbing the discretionary rights of pilots to request extra fuel.
The disclosure, made in internal company documents seen by The Sunday Times, has led to claims that the safety of passengers is being compromised as the price of oil soars.
Details of Ryanair's policies emerged as the Civil Aviation Authority revealed that the number of emergencies declared in British airspace because of fuel shortages had doubled in five years. Last year, 27 planes were given the right to make priority landings, up from 11 in 2003.
The owner of the embattled opposition web site Ingushetiya.ru was killed Sunday after being detained by police, and his supporters promised massive protests that could lead to a sharp escalation in violence in the restive region. Magomed Yevloyev, a prominent opposition member and staunch critic of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, was detained in Ingushetia's main city of Nazran as he stepped off a plane from Moscow, his lawyer and friend Kaloi Akhilgov said by telephone. He said Yevloyev had flown in business class with Zyazikov, a retired general from the Federal Security Service, and suggested that the two might have quarreled during the flight.
Magomed Yevloyev, a prominent opposition member and staunch critic of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, was detained in Ingushetia's main city of Nazran as he stepped off a plane from Moscow, his lawyer and friend Kaloi Akhilgov said by telephone.
He said Yevloyev had flown in business class with Zyazikov, a retired general from the Federal Security Service, and suggested that the two might have quarreled during the flight.
I was a bit shocked when I read the headlines about Russia assuming it had happened in Moscow or something, but Ingushetia is not exactly the epitome of political stability... 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
