Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
Israel has reacted angrily to the issuing by a British court of an arrest warrant for the former Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni.The warrant, granted by a London court on Saturday, was revoked on Monday when it was found Ms Livni was not visiting the UK. Ms Livni was foreign minister during Israel's Gaza assault last winter. It is the first time a UK court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Israeli minister. Ms Livni said the court had been "abused" by the Palestinian plaintiffs who requested the warrant.
Israel has reacted angrily to the issuing by a British court of an arrest warrant for the former Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni.
The warrant, granted by a London court on Saturday, was revoked on Monday when it was found Ms Livni was not visiting the UK.
Ms Livni was foreign minister during Israel's Gaza assault last winter.
It is the first time a UK court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Israeli minister.
Ms Livni said the court had been "abused" by the Palestinian plaintiffs who requested the warrant.
The Irish parliament is to review its rules of conduct after a lawmaker swore heavily during a budget debate.MP Paul Gogarty of the Green Party - a junior partner in the Irish government - used the F-word after being heckled by the Labour opposition. He immediately apologised for the rant, which he admitted was "the most unparliamentary language". It has emerged that the F-word is not on the list of banned words, unlike brat, buffoon, rat and scumbag.
The Irish parliament is to review its rules of conduct after a lawmaker swore heavily during a budget debate.
MP Paul Gogarty of the Green Party - a junior partner in the Irish government - used the F-word after being heckled by the Labour opposition.
He immediately apologised for the rant, which he admitted was "the most unparliamentary language".
It has emerged that the F-word is not on the list of banned words, unlike brat, buffoon, rat and scumbag.
But swear ? Oh, no, no, no. We're gentlemen keep to the Fen Causeway
Nuke social investment - epic win. Make millions homeless - no problem. Say 'Fuck' in parliament - outrage!
Maybe if he'd only said it once he might have gotten away with it.
great comment, it really bites. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
The number of Chinook helicopters to support British troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere is to increase from 38 to 70, and the historic RAF base at Cottesmore, in Rutland, will close as part of measures being announced by the defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth, today.The number of RAF personnel and civilians will be cut, Harriers from Cottesmore will be moved to nearby RAF Wittering, and the number of Harriers and Tornado jets will be reduced. These are the key elements of the package, to be unveiled in the Commons, which will cut an estimated £1.5bn from the RAF's existing expenditure.However, much more - £6bn in total - will be spent on helicopters, defence officials say.
The number of Chinook helicopters to support British troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere is to increase from 38 to 70, and the historic RAF base at Cottesmore, in Rutland, will close as part of measures being announced by the defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth, today.
The number of RAF personnel and civilians will be cut, Harriers from Cottesmore will be moved to nearby RAF Wittering, and the number of Harriers and Tornado jets will be reduced. These are the key elements of the package, to be unveiled in the Commons, which will cut an estimated £1.5bn from the RAF's existing expenditure.
However, much more - £6bn in total - will be spent on helicopters, defence officials say.
the chances of a defence review that is both realistic about the actual threats the UK faces and our capacity to defend them are so slim as to be vanishingly small. We wouldn't have nuclear arms if we were being honest, but we will keep them because our masters are delusional about what consitutes "defence of the realm". keep to the Fen Causeway
Sir John Chilcot, chairman of the Iraq inquiry, cut the live video of today's hearings, raising fears that he is suppressing evidence on grounds of embarrassment rather that any damage to national security."I interrupted the broadcast because of a mention of sensitive information," he said after hearing evidence from Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's UN ambassador before the invasion and special envoy in Baghdad afterwards.The broadcast was stopped as Greenstock was speaking about how the US drew up plans on the basis of a "best-case scenario" in Iraq. Immediately before being cut off he said: "When I talked to other members of the American team, when I talked informally to the military, to the intelligence agencies, to other people who were operating, I found a very much more gloomy prognosis of what was going on than I felt or understood ambassador Bremer [Paul Bremer, the chief US civil administrator in Baghdad] was reporting back to the Pentagon."
Sir John Chilcot, chairman of the Iraq inquiry, cut the live video of today's hearings, raising fears that he is suppressing evidence on grounds of embarrassment rather that any damage to national security.
"I interrupted the broadcast because of a mention of sensitive information," he said after hearing evidence from Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's UN ambassador before the invasion and special envoy in Baghdad afterwards.
The broadcast was stopped as Greenstock was speaking about how the US drew up plans on the basis of a "best-case scenario" in Iraq. Immediately before being cut off he said: "When I talked to other members of the American team, when I talked informally to the military, to the intelligence agencies, to other people who were operating, I found a very much more gloomy prognosis of what was going on than I felt or understood ambassador Bremer [Paul Bremer, the chief US civil administrator in Baghdad] was reporting back to the Pentagon."
The man arrested over the attack that left Silvio Berlusconi with a broken nose and two broken teeth has apologised to the Italian prime minister.In a letter sent through his lawyers on Tuesday, 42-year-old Massimo Tartiglia said that the assault with a souvenir statuette was a "superficial, cowardly and inconsiderate act". "I don't recognise myself," Tartaglia, who is reported to have a history of mental illness, said.He said he "acted alone [with no] form of militancy or political affiliation."
The man arrested over the attack that left Silvio Berlusconi with a broken nose and two broken teeth has apologised to the Italian prime minister.In a letter sent through his lawyers on Tuesday, 42-year-old Massimo Tartiglia said that the assault with a souvenir statuette was a "superficial, cowardly and inconsiderate act".
"I don't recognise myself," Tartaglia, who is reported to have a history of mental illness, said.He said he "acted alone [with no] form of militancy or political affiliation."
In his first message since an attack that left him in hospital, the Italian prime minister has told his supporters that love always triumphs over hate.The brief message from Silvio Berlusconi was posted on the website of his People of Freedom party. Mr Berlusconi, struck in the face by a model replica of Milan's cathedral after a rally in the city on Sunday, is to leave hospital on Wednesday. The object, flung from from close range, broke his nose and two teet
In his first message since an attack that left him in hospital, the Italian prime minister has told his supporters that love always triumphs over hate.
The brief message from Silvio Berlusconi was posted on the website of his People of Freedom party.
Mr Berlusconi, struck in the face by a model replica of Milan's cathedral after a rally in the city on Sunday, is to leave hospital on Wednesday.
The object, flung from from close range, broke his nose and two teet
In berlusconismo love-hate plays a key, paranoid role. Any criticism of Berlusconi is categorized as hate. Berlusconi only accepts unconditional love- and there are plenty of brainless or opportunistic fans eager to adore him.
This polarization of the body politics leaves no space for argumentation, critical thought or negotiated solutions. Berlusconi constantly argues that he will not speak to "an opposition that hates him" where he is the sole arbitrator of what defines love-hate. He is the sole custodian of the Truth.
Because of his legal trials, for which he is accused of grave crimes, he has increased the virulence of his attacks, culminating in his frankly seditious speech before the EPP Congress recently in which he claimed an absolute sovereignty to govern based on his fictitious popularity.
This evening his majority whip, Fabrizio Cicchitto, denounced " a network of hate" that armed the would-be assassin's hand, on the floor of parliament. He fingered out by name the purported conspirators in this imaginary plot. It's a list of proscription, enemies singled out by a P2 member and brandished in parliament. My solidarity goes to them for their vital, lucid, polemical stance in the defense of public reason and information.
TONY Blair deployed "alarming subterfuge" to mislead the British people over the war in Iraq, one of his top law officers has said. Sir Ken Macdonald, who was director of public prosecutions at the time of the invasion, launched a devastating attack on the former prime minister, accusing him of acting like a "narcissist" as he tried to justify his actions.Mr Blair had exhibited "sycophancy" towards Washington in the run up to the war in March 2003, Sir Ken said.His intervention came after Mr Blair, who is due to give evidence in the new year to the Chilcot inquiry, defended his actions in a weekend television interview with former This Morning host Fern Britton.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has unveiled details of a 35-billion-euro "grand loan" that will be invested in green technologies and universities in a bid to boost the national economy.AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday that France would take out a loan to finance a 35-billion-euro spending spree aimed at boosting competitiveness and funding the best universities in the world. "Today, we must prepare France for the challenges of tomorrow so that our country can fully benefit from the recovery, so that it is stronger, more competitive, so that it creates more jobs," he said. Sarkozy argued that by borrowing and spending 35 billion euros (52 billion dollars), France could generate 60 billion euros' worth of state and private investments and leave its year-long recession in better shape than before.
AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday that France would take out a loan to finance a 35-billion-euro spending spree aimed at boosting competitiveness and funding the best universities in the world.
"Today, we must prepare France for the challenges of tomorrow so that our country can fully benefit from the recovery, so that it is stronger, more competitive, so that it creates more jobs," he said.
Sarkozy argued that by borrowing and spending 35 billion euros (52 billion dollars), France could generate 60 billion euros' worth of state and private investments and leave its year-long recession in better shape than before.
Bananas will likely be a few cents cheaper for European shoppers as a result of the settlement of the 'banana war' between Latin American banana exporters and the EU. The longest trade dispute between the European Union and Latin American countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was settled on Tuesday. Since 1993, the EU had discriminated against Latin American growers, favoring bananas from former European colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific - a bloc known as the ACP states. The so-called "banana dispute" focused on the import tariffs on bananas and other tropical fruits that the EU had imposed on Latin American banana imports, while fruit from former European colonies in ACP countries came to Europe tariff-free. The European Union confirmed on Tuesday that it had clinched a deal with Latin American countries to end a long-running trade war over banana tariffs.
The longest trade dispute between the European Union and Latin American countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was settled on Tuesday.
Since 1993, the EU had discriminated against Latin American growers, favoring bananas from former European colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific - a bloc known as the ACP states.
The so-called "banana dispute" focused on the import tariffs on bananas and other tropical fruits that the EU had imposed on Latin American banana imports, while fruit from former European colonies in ACP countries came to Europe tariff-free.
The European Union confirmed on Tuesday that it had clinched a deal with Latin American countries to end a long-running trade war over banana tariffs.
will get around 200 million euros ($293.3 million) in compensation for the negative effects the pact may have on the preferential treatment given to them by Brussels, diplomats said. (...) Although the United States does not export bananas, it is a party to the agreement because several big distributors and processors such as Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte are US corporations and are likely to benefit from the deal. Irish company Fyffes, a major European distributor, will also gain from the new agreement.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Leaders of the four largest political groups in the European Parliament on Tuesday (15 December) called for transparency and complete information about the commissioner candidates ahead of the January hearings, with the Bulgarian nominee emerging as the most controversial. Microphones in the European Parliament are ready for the new commissioners hearings "The hearings are a very powerful tool in the hands of the Parliament to check the skills and competences of commissioner candidates," Socialist group leader Martin Schulz said at a press conference. The three-hour hearings for each of the 26 commissioner candidates are to begin on 11 January and take place in Brussels and Strasbourg in the parliamentary committees dealing with topics related to the nominee's portfolio. MEPs sitting in the specialised committees can push for a reshuffle of candidates or even for some competences to be given from one to another portfolio, if they are not "properly structured," said Mr Schulz.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Leaders of the four largest political groups in the European Parliament on Tuesday (15 December) called for transparency and complete information about the commissioner candidates ahead of the January hearings, with the Bulgarian nominee emerging as the most controversial.
Microphones in the European Parliament are ready for the new commissioners hearings
"The hearings are a very powerful tool in the hands of the Parliament to check the skills and competences of commissioner candidates," Socialist group leader Martin Schulz said at a press conference.
The three-hour hearings for each of the 26 commissioner candidates are to begin on 11 January and take place in Brussels and Strasbourg in the parliamentary committees dealing with topics related to the nominee's portfolio.
MEPs sitting in the specialised committees can push for a reshuffle of candidates or even for some competences to be given from one to another portfolio, if they are not "properly structured," said Mr Schulz.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU's newest member states are under-represented in the bloc's diplomatic service and among senior EU commission officials, Estonian president Toomas Ilves has said, urging the union's new leadership to alter the situation. "So as not to be subjective, let's look at the figures. Out of 158 so-called European Union embassies, only one is headed by a diplomat from a new member state," Mr Ilves said in an interview with Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza on Monday (14 December). The Estonian president (right) is unhappy about the under-representation of his region Mr Ilves was referring to Herman Janos, the head of the EU's delegation to Norway since spring this year. The 57-year old is a Hungarian diplomat who studied in Budapest and in the Soviet Union, graduating in 1975 from the Moscow State University for International Relations. The rest of the EU's top diplomats around the world come primarily from France, Germany, the UK and Spain. A pattern is visible so that EU delegations in former French colonies such as the Ivory Coast or Algeria are headed by French nationals, while Spaniards are sent to Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU's newest member states are under-represented in the bloc's diplomatic service and among senior EU commission officials, Estonian president Toomas Ilves has said, urging the union's new leadership to alter the situation.
"So as not to be subjective, let's look at the figures. Out of 158 so-called European Union embassies, only one is headed by a diplomat from a new member state," Mr Ilves said in an interview with Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza on Monday (14 December).
The Estonian president (right) is unhappy about the under-representation of his region
Mr Ilves was referring to Herman Janos, the head of the EU's delegation to Norway since spring this year. The 57-year old is a Hungarian diplomat who studied in Budapest and in the Soviet Union, graduating in 1975 from the Moscow State University for International Relations.
The rest of the EU's top diplomats around the world come primarily from France, Germany, the UK and Spain. A pattern is visible so that EU delegations in former French colonies such as the Ivory Coast or Algeria are headed by French nationals, while Spaniards are sent to Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Colombia.
Sweden's EU Presidency will mainly be remembered for the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, but Fredrik Reinfeldt and his team also made progress on more low-profile technical issues. Dagens Nyheter presents an inventory of the achievements of what it deems to be a globally positive six-month term in office. Exceeding the expectations of many commentators, Sweden's EU presidency was marked by serious commitment on a number of fronts, a flexible and democratic management style, the avoidance of major setbacks, and a decision procedure that proved to be efficient, even if decision makers were not always inspired. With so much press devoted to the end of suspense on Lisbon, it is perhaps easy to overlook the Stockholm Programme (on immigration issues as well as police and civil law cooperation), the Baltic Sea Strategy and the new directives on the monitoring of European financial markets--all of which were adopted since Sweden took over in July. And while the skeptics may point to the absence of agreement on a future internal medical services market, let's not forget Iceland's successful bid to join the EU, the settlement of the maritime border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, and the new chapter which has now been opened in accession negotiations with Turkey. In spite of what you may have been told, European enlargement has not ground to halt, and Sweden should take some credit for this positive news.
Sweden's EU Presidency will mainly be remembered for the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, but Fredrik Reinfeldt and his team also made progress on more low-profile technical issues. Dagens Nyheter presents an inventory of the achievements of what it deems to be a globally positive six-month term in office.
Exceeding the expectations of many commentators, Sweden's EU presidency was marked by serious commitment on a number of fronts, a flexible and democratic management style, the avoidance of major setbacks, and a decision procedure that proved to be efficient, even if decision makers were not always inspired. With so much press devoted to the end of suspense on Lisbon, it is perhaps easy to overlook the Stockholm Programme (on immigration issues as well as police and civil law cooperation), the Baltic Sea Strategy and the new directives on the monitoring of European financial markets--all of which were adopted since Sweden took over in July. And while the skeptics may point to the absence of agreement on a future internal medical services market, let's not forget Iceland's successful bid to join the EU, the settlement of the maritime border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, and the new chapter which has now been opened in accession negotiations with Turkey. In spite of what you may have been told, European enlargement has not ground to halt, and Sweden should take some credit for this positive news.
