In his third visit to Germany in the past year, US President Barack Obama is meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in the eastern city of Dresden before the two head off to visit the Buchenwald concentration camp. US President Barack Obama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday morning in the eastern German city of Dresden, which was flattened by Allied bombing towards the end of World War II. Obama, who has just finished a tour of the Middle East, was greeted by Merkel at his hotel in the center of the city, before they headed off on a tour of Dresden's highlights, including the Gruenes Gewoelbe museum and the recently rebuilt Frauenkirche.After their meeting, the two leaders will travel west to visit to the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, located just outside the city of Weimar, where they are expected to meet Holocaust survivors.
US President Barack Obama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday morning in the eastern German city of Dresden, which was flattened by Allied bombing towards the end of World War II.
Obama, who has just finished a tour of the Middle East, was greeted by Merkel at his hotel in the center of the city, before they headed off on a tour of Dresden's highlights, including the Gruenes Gewoelbe museum and the recently rebuilt Frauenkirche.After their meeting, the two leaders will travel west to visit to the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald, located just outside the city of Weimar, where they are expected to meet Holocaust survivors.
Prior to US President Barack Obama's trip to Dresden this week, his allegedly tense relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel had filled the headlines. But on Friday, the two were all smiles. And Obama had a message to the gathered journalists: 'Stop it!' The elderly woman in the red fleece jacket was, for a moment, disgusted. "What?" she demanded. "That was it? He's already gone?" It was shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning and the woman had just arrived at the Altmarkt square in Dresden's city center, where a band was playing "Copacabana" on a stage decorated with red, white and blue balloons. The woman was standing in front of a huge television screen that the city had mounted for the occasion, and it was showing images of the US president on the steps leading up to Air Force One. He waved quickly and disappeared into the aircraft.
Prior to US President Barack Obama's trip to Dresden this week, his allegedly tense relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel had filled the headlines. But on Friday, the two were all smiles. And Obama had a message to the gathered journalists: 'Stop it!'
The elderly woman in the red fleece jacket was, for a moment, disgusted. "What?" she demanded. "That was it? He's already gone?" It was shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning and the woman had just arrived at the Altmarkt square in Dresden's city center, where a band was playing "Copacabana" on a stage decorated with red, white and blue balloons. The woman was standing in front of a huge television screen that the city had mounted for the occasion, and it was showing images of the US president on the steps leading up to Air Force One. He waved quickly and disappeared into the aircraft.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italy, which has been under fire for its treatment of migrants in particular since in May it forcibly returned hundreds of people intercepted in its territorial waters to Libya, has called for "obligatory burden sharing" among EU member states when it comes to taking in asylum seekers. Thousands of African migrants risk their life crossing the Mediterranean to the EU every year On Thursday (4 June), EU interior ministers meeting in Luxembourg discussed how to tackle the increasing number of migrants coming from the Mediterranean, especially to particular member states such as Italy and Malta. Italian interior minister Roberto Maroni, a member of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said before the meeting that proposals made recently by the European Commission in that respect were "interesting, but ... not sufficient." "We asked for obligatory burden sharing, the proposal foresees a voluntary system ... so those who don't want to needn't take in any refugees," Mr Maroni told journalists.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italy, which has been under fire for its treatment of migrants in particular since in May it forcibly returned hundreds of people intercepted in its territorial waters to Libya, has called for "obligatory burden sharing" among EU member states when it comes to taking in asylum seekers.
Thousands of African migrants risk their life crossing the Mediterranean to the EU every year
On Thursday (4 June), EU interior ministers meeting in Luxembourg discussed how to tackle the increasing number of migrants coming from the Mediterranean, especially to particular member states such as Italy and Malta.
Italian interior minister Roberto Maroni, a member of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said before the meeting that proposals made recently by the European Commission in that respect were "interesting, but ... not sufficient."
"We asked for obligatory burden sharing, the proposal foresees a voluntary system ... so those who don't want to needn't take in any refugees," Mr Maroni told journalists.
Disquieting tensions between Slovakia and Hungary are not likely to be dispelled any time soon. Adrift in the polls, sovereigntist groups like Ján Slota's Slovak National Party and the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia led by Vladimír Mečiar are counting on Hungarian populists and a dispute about Slovakia's Hungarian minority to make up lost ground. While Hungary is preparing for the return to power of populist Viktor Orbán, in Slovakia Ján Slota has fallen on hard times. In the past, voters tolerated his brutality and his ostentatious taste for luxury, but it now seems that the favourite from the extreme right has overstepped the mark. The European Commission recently invalidated a call for tender organized by Slovakia, in which several billion euros were at stake, on the basis that the money would be distributed among Slota's friends. In recent weeks, he has also been on the receiving end of hostile attention in the media: reports on his luxury car collection have raised questions about his tax returns, and he has also been admonished for an incident in which he insulted a woman police officer.
Disquieting tensions between Slovakia and Hungary are not likely to be dispelled any time soon. Adrift in the polls, sovereigntist groups like Ján Slota's Slovak National Party and the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia led by Vladimír Mečiar are counting on Hungarian populists and a dispute about Slovakia's Hungarian minority to make up lost ground.
While Hungary is preparing for the return to power of populist Viktor Orbán, in Slovakia Ján Slota has fallen on hard times. In the past, voters tolerated his brutality and his ostentatious taste for luxury, but it now seems that the favourite from the extreme right has overstepped the mark. The European Commission recently invalidated a call for tender organized by Slovakia, in which several billion euros were at stake, on the basis that the money would be distributed among Slota's friends. In recent weeks, he has also been on the receiving end of hostile attention in the media: reports on his luxury car collection have raised questions about his tax returns, and he has also been admonished for an incident in which he insulted a woman police officer.
talian PM Silvio Berlusconi is being investigated for misuse of public funds after photos showed he had used state aircraft to fly friends to Sardinia.Mr Berlusconi confirmed on Thursday that he had been formally placed under investigation by prosecutors, but said the probe would be "swiftly shelved". He insisted he was allowed to transport "people he needs" for security reasons. Photographs of a naked man and topless women at the villa have been published by Spanish newspaper El Pais.
talian PM Silvio Berlusconi is being investigated for misuse of public funds after photos showed he had used state aircraft to fly friends to Sardinia.
Mr Berlusconi confirmed on Thursday that he had been formally placed under investigation by prosecutors, but said the probe would be "swiftly shelved".
He insisted he was allowed to transport "people he needs" for security reasons.
Photographs of a naked man and topless women at the villa have been published by Spanish newspaper El Pais.
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has reacted angrily to the publication in Spain of photographs showing topless women and a naked man at his villa.He has threatened to sue Spain's El Pais newspaper, calling the photos an invasion of privacy. The photos - banned in Italy on privacy grounds - were taken from outside Mr Berlusconi's villa in Sardinia during a party for a Czech delegation. He also faces a probe for using state aircraft to fly guests to Sardinia.
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has reacted angrily to the publication in Spain of photographs showing topless women and a naked man at his villa.
He has threatened to sue Spain's El Pais newspaper, calling the photos an invasion of privacy.
The photos - banned in Italy on privacy grounds - were taken from outside Mr Berlusconi's villa in Sardinia during a party for a Czech delegation.
He also faces a probe for using state aircraft to fly guests to Sardinia.
Singers, statesmen, a Big Brother housemate and of course, a mysterious teenage model from Naples: to be invited to parties at Silvio Berlusconi's sumptuous Sardinian home is to belong to a diverse and tight-lipped club. As the Italian Prime Minister continues to block the publication of photos allegedly showing semi-clad young women at his private villa, more accounts have emerged of his controversial parties on the Costa Smeralda. Elisa Alloro, 33, a former showgirl turned television presenter, has offered the first glimpse behind the closed gates of Villa Certosa, describing the 72-year-old billionaire as an exuberant host who likes to give the young women on his guest list tips on how to wear their hair and lectures them on botany. Her account coincides with reports by Italian media which name a former nude model, Sabine Began, as the "Queen Bee" among the succession of pretty girls at Mr Berlusconi's parties.
Singers, statesmen, a Big Brother housemate and of course, a mysterious teenage model from Naples: to be invited to parties at Silvio Berlusconi's sumptuous Sardinian home is to belong to a diverse and tight-lipped club.
As the Italian Prime Minister continues to block the publication of photos allegedly showing semi-clad young women at his private villa, more accounts have emerged of his controversial parties on the Costa Smeralda.
Elisa Alloro, 33, a former showgirl turned television presenter, has offered the first glimpse behind the closed gates of Villa Certosa, describing the 72-year-old billionaire as an exuberant host who likes to give the young women on his guest list tips on how to wear their hair and lectures them on botany.
Her account coincides with reports by Italian media which name a former nude model, Sabine Began, as the "Queen Bee" among the succession of pretty girls at Mr Berlusconi's parties.
Former EU commissioner Emma Bonino and more than 150 of her supporters are entering their third day of hunger strike in protest at what they claim is discrimination by Italian television against parties opposed to prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Bonino claims her Radical Party has not been given equal air time and that the state broadcaster RAI is failing to obey a ruling by the country's media watchdog. When the broadcaster failed to comply, Bonino, a minister under former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi, and her supporters occupied a part of the RAI studios in Rome in protest. "In Italy nobody knows what they are voting for, what is the European parliament, who is standing or on what platform," she told the Financial Times, blaming Berlusconi for undermining the debate. Silvio Berlusconi controls either directly, through his ownership of private broadcaster Mediasat, or indirectly through the state, more than 90 per cent of Italian TV. He has regularly been accused of abusing that power for both his political and business interests.
Former EU commissioner Emma Bonino and more than 150 of her supporters are entering their third day of hunger strike in protest at what they claim is discrimination by Italian television against parties opposed to prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Bonino claims her Radical Party has not been given equal air time and that the state broadcaster RAI is failing to obey a ruling by the country's media watchdog. When the broadcaster failed to comply, Bonino, a minister under former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi, and her supporters occupied a part of the RAI studios in Rome in protest. "In Italy nobody knows what they are voting for, what is the European parliament, who is standing or on what platform," she told the Financial Times, blaming Berlusconi for undermining the debate.
Silvio Berlusconi controls either directly, through his ownership of private broadcaster Mediasat, or indirectly through the state, more than 90 per cent of Italian TV. He has regularly been accused of abusing that power for both his political and business interests.
He has regularly been accused of abusing that power for both his political and business interests.
Plain facts aren't accusations. The sun has been accused of rising in the east every morning.
Yesterday Mirek Topolanek, who was the Czech Prime Minister last summer at the time that the photograph was taken, admitted that he was the man seen cavorting at the Villa Certosa, which is at the centre of the growing scandal. "It is me in the photo," said Mr Topolanek, who resigned in March after he lost a confidence vote. He said that the photographs had been doctored and accused "European socialists" of orchestrating a smear campaign. "I did not know that the [European] elections were so important for the European socialists that they would do such manipulations," said Mr Topolanek. The revelation has broadened what was an Italian scandal, about Mr Berlusconi's private life, into an international one. Many world leaders have been regular visitors to the villa; the Blairs were guests there in 2004.
Yesterday Mirek Topolanek, who was the Czech Prime Minister last summer at the time that the photograph was taken, admitted that he was the man seen cavorting at the Villa Certosa, which is at the centre of the growing scandal.
"It is me in the photo," said Mr Topolanek, who resigned in March after he lost a confidence vote. He said that the photographs had been doctored and accused "European socialists" of orchestrating a smear campaign. "I did not know that the [European] elections were so important for the European socialists that they would do such manipulations," said Mr Topolanek.
The revelation has broadened what was an Italian scandal, about Mr Berlusconi's private life, into an international one. Many world leaders have been regular visitors to the villa; the Blairs were guests there in 2004.
Excuse me but what could he possibly mean? That his dick is bigger?...
LOL. The ODS should have remained in the EPP, they fit together sooo well... *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Gordon Brown backed away from shifting Alistair Darling out of Number 11 today as he shook up his top team - and saw two more ministers resign. Mr Brown had seemed determined to make his close ally Ed Balls chancellor, but sources confirmed he will now remain as schools secretary. Mr Brown was also hit with two more Cabinet resignations. Firstly, the Defence Secretary John Hutton announced he was stepping down, although he insisted his decision to quit was taken for entirely personal reasons and pledged his support for Mr Brown from the backbenches.
Mr Brown had seemed determined to make his close ally Ed Balls chancellor, but sources confirmed he will now remain as schools secretary.
Mr Brown was also hit with two more Cabinet resignations.
Firstly, the Defence Secretary John Hutton announced he was stepping down, although he insisted his decision to quit was taken for entirely personal reasons and pledged his support for Mr Brown from the backbenches.
Caroline Flint has accused Gordon Brown of treating her as "female window dressing" as the Prime Minister announced he would "fight on" . "I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job," Mr Brown promised at a press conference. Even as the Prime Minister defended himself, it emerged that Miss Flint had become the sixth Cabinet minister to step down in the past week.
"I will not waver. I will not walk away. I will get on with the job," Mr Brown promised at a press conference.
Even as the Prime Minister defended himself, it emerged that Miss Flint had become the sixth Cabinet minister to step down in the past week.
European Tribune - Meltdown
Right so, the UK Government is falling apart at astonishing speed. Helen started to chart this in her recent diary but developments have been taking place at such a rate I feel that a round up is needed.
Debris recovered from the Atlantic by Brazilian search teams is "sea trash" and not from a lost Air France jet, a Brazilian air force official has said.Brig Ramon Borges Cardoso contradicted earlier reports, saying "no material from the plane has been recovered". Teams found buoys and a wooden pallet and spotted a fuel slick, and are now searching for an airline seat and a chunk of metal seen earlier this week. Relatives have been told that there is no hope of survivors being found.
Debris recovered from the Atlantic by Brazilian search teams is "sea trash" and not from a lost Air France jet, a Brazilian air force official has said.
Brig Ramon Borges Cardoso contradicted earlier reports, saying "no material from the plane has been recovered".
Teams found buoys and a wooden pallet and spotted a fuel slick, and are now searching for an airline seat and a chunk of metal seen earlier this week.
Relatives have been told that there is no hope of survivors being found.
An Air France memo to its pilots Friday about the crash of Flight 447 said the airline is replacing instruments that help measure airspeed on all its medium- and long-haul Airbus jets. Investigators have focused on incorrect speed readings as one potential factor in the crash. <...> One theory: the outside probes that feed speed sensors may have iced over, giving incorrect information to the plane's computers. The autopilot may have then directed the plane to fly too fast or too slow when it met turbulence from towering thunderstorms. ...
An Air France memo to its pilots Friday about the crash of Flight 447 said the airline is replacing instruments that help measure airspeed on all its medium- and long-haul Airbus jets.
Investigators have focused on incorrect speed readings as one potential factor in the crash. <...>
One theory: the outside probes that feed speed sensors may have iced over, giving incorrect information to the plane's computers. The autopilot may have then directed the plane to fly too fast or too slow when it met turbulence from towering thunderstorms. ...
The Airbus telex has revived a long-standing debate among pilots over whether the Airbus planes are overly complex. More than 300 aircraft similar to the missing Air France jet are in service worldwide. Investigators do not know if Flight AF447 was travelling at an incorrect speed as it crossed a storm cluster. An aviation expert, who declined to be named, said the plane's airspeed sensors, called pitot tubes, work on air pressure and might provide incorrect readings if they get obstructed by objects such as ice.
More than 300 aircraft similar to the missing Air France jet are in service worldwide.
Investigators do not know if Flight AF447 was travelling at an incorrect speed as it crossed a storm cluster.
An aviation expert, who declined to be named, said the plane's airspeed sensors, called pitot tubes, work on air pressure and might provide incorrect readings if they get obstructed by objects such as ice.
Finally a US President who is neither an idiot nor a sociopath. Where will it lead? Let us hope. In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
