Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel's tax cuts are being criticized by her political rivals as unrealistic. Germany's political parties are trying to win voters' favor ahead of national elections in September. In the election program that Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) presented in Berlin on Monday, one particular issue has caused heated discussion: tax cuts. Merkel's current coalition partners, the Social Democrats SPD, have sharply criticized the program. The SPD's secretary general Hubertus Heil said the agenda "was not credible." He warned that "Merkel is either trying to pull the wool over the voter's eyes, or there really is no sound concept behind the whole thing." He said that the CDU's election program did not contain ideas on how to shape the country's future. With the country's budget set for a record deficit, any promise to lower taxes was simply "unrealistic."
In the election program that Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) presented in Berlin on Monday, one particular issue has caused heated discussion: tax cuts.
Merkel's current coalition partners, the Social Democrats SPD, have sharply criticized the program. The SPD's secretary general Hubertus Heil said the agenda "was not credible."
He warned that "Merkel is either trying to pull the wool over the voter's eyes, or there really is no sound concept behind the whole thing."
He said that the CDU's election program did not contain ideas on how to shape the country's future. With the country's budget set for a record deficit, any promise to lower taxes was simply "unrealistic."
Ever since the German presidential election result was posted on Twitter before being announced officially there has been growing concern that the September election could be influenced by leaked exit polls. Politicians and opinion pollsters are demanding pledges of secrecy and there are even calls to ban exit polls altogether. It was just after five o'clock in the evening when Chancellor Angela Merkel gathered the members of the executive committee of her conservative Christian Democrats in Berlin. The polling stations were still open, but the head of the party already knew that she had missed her election target. "We can safely assume that there will be no black-yellow majority," she said, referring to her preferred coalition of the CDU with the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP). At the same time she gave the troops their orders for the hours to come. "We have the mandate to form the government."
Ever since the German presidential election result was posted on Twitter before being announced officially there has been growing concern that the September election could be influenced by leaked exit polls. Politicians and opinion pollsters are demanding pledges of secrecy and there are even calls to ban exit polls altogether.
It was just after five o'clock in the evening when Chancellor Angela Merkel gathered the members of the executive committee of her conservative Christian Democrats in Berlin. The polling stations were still open, but the head of the party already knew that she had missed her election target. "We can safely assume that there will be no black-yellow majority," she said, referring to her preferred coalition of the CDU with the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP). At the same time she gave the troops their orders for the hours to come. "We have the mandate to form the government."
While the central election commission in Albania has not made any announcements, exit polls conducted by three firms appear to indicate a win for Prime Minister Sali Berisha's Democratic Party. Hours after the polls closed, there is still no official announcement from election officials, but independent exit polls by US based Zogby, Italy's IPR Marketing and Kosovo based Gani Bobi all seemed to indicate that Prime Minister Sali Berisha was headed for another term. The projections from the three polls only differed slightly on the margin of Berisha's win. "I can't say that these elections were perfect, because no election process is perfect, but these elections were far better than any before." said Berisha once voting had concluded. Though the campaign had been marred by violence, including two deaths, the day passed without any of the problems that many had feared. Some voters also complained of pressure to sway their votes. Additionally, more than 200,000 of the 3 million voters had problems casting ballots because they did not have new identity cards.
Hours after the polls closed, there is still no official announcement from election officials, but independent exit polls by US based Zogby, Italy's IPR Marketing and Kosovo based Gani Bobi all seemed to indicate that Prime Minister Sali Berisha was headed for another term.
The projections from the three polls only differed slightly on the margin of Berisha's win.
"I can't say that these elections were perfect, because no election process is perfect, but these elections were far better than any before." said Berisha once voting had concluded.
Though the campaign had been marred by violence, including two deaths, the day passed without any of the problems that many had feared.
Some voters also complained of pressure to sway their votes. Additionally, more than 200,000 of the 3 million voters had problems casting ballots because they did not have new identity cards.
The two main rivals in Albania's closely fought general election have appealed for calm before results are announced on Monday. The poll is seen as crucial for the country's hopes of one day joining the European Union. AFP - Albanians face a tense wait Monday for results of closely fought general elections that passed off smoothly, a crucial improvement in a country where violence has marred post-communist polls. Exit polls from Sunday's elections gave a slight lead to the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which his rival Edi Rama of the Socialist Party played down. Both appealed for calm until results are announced, but several dozen Berisha supporters gathered in front of his party's headquarters in the capital Tirana, some driving along streets honking car horns. "I call on Albanians to follow the results (of the ballot count) with maturity, without evoking ideas of those triumphing or those losing," said Berisha. His rival Rama, the mayor of Tirana, urged voters to "wait for the results and do not join in the game of (exit) polls as long as the process continues." "The real result is still in the ballot boxes, patience is needed," Rama stressed. Commission spokesman Leonard Olli said the official count would only begin as late as midnight. Preliminary official results are due to be announced at a media conference at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday. Around 3.1 million voters were eligible for the election seen as crucial for the European future of the Balkan state. It comes almost three months after Albania joined the NATO military alliance and took its first steps towards joining the EU by filing for membership. Opinion polls had shown the race was too close to call between the governing Democratic Party of Berisha and Rama's opposition Socialist Party.
AFP - Albanians face a tense wait Monday for results of closely fought general elections that passed off smoothly, a crucial improvement in a country where violence has marred post-communist polls. Exit polls from Sunday's elections gave a slight lead to the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, which his rival Edi Rama of the Socialist Party played down. Both appealed for calm until results are announced, but several dozen Berisha supporters gathered in front of his party's headquarters in the capital Tirana, some driving along streets honking car horns. "I call on Albanians to follow the results (of the ballot count) with maturity, without evoking ideas of those triumphing or those losing," said Berisha. His rival Rama, the mayor of Tirana, urged voters to "wait for the results and do not join in the game of (exit) polls as long as the process continues." "The real result is still in the ballot boxes, patience is needed," Rama stressed. Commission spokesman Leonard Olli said the official count would only begin as late as midnight. Preliminary official results are due to be announced at a media conference at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday. Around 3.1 million voters were eligible for the election seen as crucial for the European future of the Balkan state. It comes almost three months after Albania joined the NATO military alliance and took its first steps towards joining the EU by filing for membership. Opinion polls had shown the race was too close to call between the governing Democratic Party of Berisha and Rama's opposition Socialist Party.
International lenders have met in Brussels in an attempt to come up with a rescue plan to help Ukraine to pay its upcoming gas bill, avoiding a gas cut off such as the one that left millions in the cold last winter. Representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are meeting in Brussels with the vice presidents of Russian gas giant Gazprom and Ukraine's gas monopoly Naftogaz to discuss how to best come up with enough money for Ukraine to pay its upcoming gas bill. The talks, hosted by the European Commission, are taking place less than a week before Kiev will be expected to hand over three billion euros ($4.2 billion) to Russia for gas that it has started to store for the coming winter. A dispute over payment earlier this year led to Russia shutting off gas supplies to Ukraine, which affected not only citizens there, but also those living in parts of the European Union which depend on gas coming from pipelines running through Ukraine.
Representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are meeting in Brussels with the vice presidents of Russian gas giant Gazprom and Ukraine's gas monopoly Naftogaz to discuss how to best come up with enough money for Ukraine to pay its upcoming gas bill.
The talks, hosted by the European Commission, are taking place less than a week before Kiev will be expected to hand over three billion euros ($4.2 billion) to Russia for gas that it has started to store for the coming winter.
A dispute over payment earlier this year led to Russia shutting off gas supplies to Ukraine, which affected not only citizens there, but also those living in parts of the European Union which depend on gas coming from pipelines running through Ukraine.
France's far-right National Front party, led by the controversial Jean-Marie le Pen and seconded by his daughter Marine (pictured), took 39% of the town council vote Sunday in the town of Henin-Beaumont. AFP - France's far-right National Front party was Monday in pole position to take its first town council in more than a decade after winning the first round of voting in Henin-Beaumont. Jean-Marie Le Pen's party list took 39 percent of the vote Sunday in the northern town, far ahead of a left-wing list on 20 percent. The second round of the by-election takes place next Sunday.
AFP - France's far-right National Front party was Monday in pole position to take its first town council in more than a decade after winning the first round of voting in Henin-Beaumont. Jean-Marie Le Pen's party list took 39 percent of the vote Sunday in the northern town, far ahead of a left-wing list on 20 percent. The second round of the by-election takes place next Sunday.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Searching for a phone charger that works with your phone will soon be a thing of the past, as the world's ten major mobile phone manufacturers have agreed to produce a harmonised charger for users across Europe, with the first such chargers expected to be introduced on the EU market next year. A universal charger should be introduced on the EU market next year "Major producers of mobile phones have agreed to harmonise chargers in the EU," the European Commission announced on Monday (29 June). The companies in question - which include Apple, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson - represent 90 percent of Europe's mobile phone market. The phone manufacturers submitted a memorandum of understanding to the commission after Brussels had called on them to come forward with a voluntary proposal in order to avoid legislation. The agreement is not legally binding, however.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Searching for a phone charger that works with your phone will soon be a thing of the past, as the world's ten major mobile phone manufacturers have agreed to produce a harmonised charger for users across Europe, with the first such chargers expected to be introduced on the EU market next year.
A universal charger should be introduced on the EU market next year
"Major producers of mobile phones have agreed to harmonise chargers in the EU," the European Commission announced on Monday (29 June).
The companies in question - which include Apple, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson - represent 90 percent of Europe's mobile phone market.
The phone manufacturers submitted a memorandum of understanding to the commission after Brussels had called on them to come forward with a voluntary proposal in order to avoid legislation.
The agreement is not legally binding, however.
Even as Silvio Berlusconi prepared yesterday to relaunch himself as a world statesman before the G8 summit, Italian prosecutors were suggesting that the Prime Minister could be questioned in a drugs and prostitution inquiry. Mr Berlusconi will try to put two months of scandals behind him with a press conference today on a cruise ship off Naples to outline his agenda for the summit on July 8-10. On Wednesday he is due to travel to Libya to meet Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who made a controversial trip to Rome less than three weeks ago to seal accords on trade and illegal immigration. However, prosecutors in Bari, in southern Italy, were reported as saying that he could be summoned as a witness as their inquiry continued into Giampaolo Tarantini, a local businessman at the centre of a scandal involving women sent to parties hosted by the Prime Minister.
Even as Silvio Berlusconi prepared yesterday to relaunch himself as a world statesman before the G8 summit, Italian prosecutors were suggesting that the Prime Minister could be questioned in a drugs and prostitution inquiry.
Mr Berlusconi will try to put two months of scandals behind him with a press conference today on a cruise ship off Naples to outline his agenda for the summit on July 8-10.
On Wednesday he is due to travel to Libya to meet Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who made a controversial trip to Rome less than three weeks ago to seal accords on trade and illegal immigration.
However, prosecutors in Bari, in southern Italy, were reported as saying that he could be summoned as a witness as their inquiry continued into Giampaolo Tarantini, a local businessman at the centre of a scandal involving women sent to parties hosted by the Prime Minister.
The party of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel has declared that its countrymen expelled by Poland after the Second World War have a `right to a homeland' and said the deportations should be condemned under international law. Wartime animosity between Poland and Germany could resurface after a new election manifesto published by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pledged to promote the cause of those expelled. In 1945 millions of ethnic Germans were forced from their homes after a redrawing of the border resulted in their lands becoming part of Poland.
Wartime animosity between Poland and Germany could resurface after a new election manifesto published by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pledged to promote the cause of those expelled.
In 1945 millions of ethnic Germans were forced from their homes after a redrawing of the border resulted in their lands becoming part of Poland.
Interestingly, the only "manifesto" I could turn up (in an admittedly cursory search) was from last March or so and is extremely anodyne in what it actually says.
It's really just pandering to the base. But this is a total hotbutton issue for the Poles, so I'm not surprised that the Telegraph dateline is Poland and not Germany. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
As I usually say, if some German aristocrats want the old manor back, they need just go to Poland and buy it.
But that costs money, and shouldn't the Germans be compensated for having their homes expropriated 60 years ago?
No. When a person commits a crime, he is punished. The same is true for nations. The expropriation can well be considered a fine on a national scale.
And the fact of the matter is that Germans are much richer than Poles, so it shouldn't be terribly expensive to buy the old places back. The fact that it's not happening en masse shows that this issue is mainly hot air. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Wartime animosity between Poland and Germany could resurface
Ffs!
Shall we have a photo of Merkel with a tiny moustache giving a Nazi salute next?
Two rail wagons filled with gas exploded at the station in the Tuscan seaside city of Viareggio, killing 13 people and wounding dozens, local officials say. AFP - Two rail tankers filled with gas exploded in a fireball after a derailment in the northern Italian city of Viareggio, engulfing nearby homes and killing at least 13 people, firefighters said Tuesday. Fifty people were also injured in the accident, 35 of them described as serious or critical, many with burns to much of their bodies, according to the firefighters' coordination centre in Rome. The explosion happened just before midnight when one wagon in a 14-wagon train transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) came off the rails in the coastal city of 50,000 residents 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of Pisa.
AFP - Two rail tankers filled with gas exploded in a fireball after a derailment in the northern Italian city of Viareggio, engulfing nearby homes and killing at least 13 people, firefighters said Tuesday. Fifty people were also injured in the accident, 35 of them described as serious or critical, many with burns to much of their bodies, according to the firefighters' coordination centre in Rome. The explosion happened just before midnight when one wagon in a 14-wagon train transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) came off the rails in the coastal city of 50,000 residents 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of Pisa.
Silvio Berlusconi arriva nel pomeriggio a Viareggio, la città colpita dal disastro. Accolto dalla contestazione di un gruppo di persone, con fischi e urla di "buffone".
The Pirate Bay also confirmed the buyout this morning in a blog post on its website. "We've been working on this project for many years. It's time to invite more people into the project, in a way that is secure and safe for everybody. We need that, or the site will die. And letting TPB die is the last thing that is allowed to happen!", it said. The co-founders of The Pirate Bay were fined $3.6m in the recent court case. Meaning, on the face of it, they stand to make a profit. Not that they were ever in it for the money.
"We've been working on this project for many years. It's time to invite more people into the project, in a way that is secure and safe for everybody. We need that, or the site will die. And letting TPB die is the last thing that is allowed to happen!", it said.
The co-founders of The Pirate Bay were fined $3.6m in the recent court case. Meaning, on the face of it, they stand to make a profit. Not that they were ever in it for the money.
Germany's highest court ruled today that the Lisbon Treaty was compatible with German law, but demanded changes to domestic legislation before the treaty can be formally ratified. The decision by the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe removes a hurdle for the treaty, which aims to give the bloc stronger leadership, a more effective foreign policy and a fairer decision-making system. "To sum up, the Basic Law says 'yes' to the Lisbon Treaty but demands a strengthening of parliamentary responsibilities at the national level," presiding judge Andreas Vosskuhle said. The German legal challenge came from more than 50 deputies in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, among them members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and the far-left "Linke", or Left party.
The decision by the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe removes a hurdle for the treaty, which aims to give the bloc stronger leadership, a more effective foreign policy and a fairer decision-making system.
"To sum up, the Basic Law says 'yes' to the Lisbon Treaty but demands a strengthening of parliamentary responsibilities at the national level," presiding judge Andreas Vosskuhle said. The German legal challenge came from more than 50 deputies in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, among them members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and the far-left "Linke", or Left party.
