United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed outgoing European Commission vice president Margot Wallstrom as his special representative for fighting sexual violence against women and children in conflict. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the selection of Margot Wallstrom for the special representative post during his opening speech at the African Union's 14th summit in Addis Ababa. Among the items topping the agenda are armed conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the brutal rape of women and children has become disturbingly common. Wallstrom reacted to the nomination on Sunday saying she would lobby for sexual violence in war to be recognised as a war crime, attacking what she said was a tendency to explain the abuse of women as "cultural."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the selection of Margot Wallstrom for the special representative post during his opening speech at the African Union's 14th summit in Addis Ababa.
Among the items topping the agenda are armed conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the brutal rape of women and children has become disturbingly common.
Wallstrom reacted to the nomination on Sunday saying she would lobby for sexual violence in war to be recognised as a war crime, attacking what she said was a tendency to explain the abuse of women as "cultural."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament is set for new political powers allowing it to seek the resignation of an individual European Commissioner, following a working relations agreement sealed earlier this week by senior MEPs and commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso. Due to be voted on 9 February, the draft power-sharing deal suggests that Mr Barroso must "seriously consider" whether to ask an individual commissioner to step down if parliament withdraws its confidence. If he chooses not to let the commissioner go he then has to explain his reasoning before MEPs. Under EU treaty rules, MEPs can censure the commission as a whole but not individual members. This new inter-institutional arrangement, while not legally binding, will further increase the political clout of the EU assembly, a trend that has been growing steadily in recent years.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament is set for new political powers allowing it to seek the resignation of an individual European Commissioner, following a working relations agreement sealed earlier this week by senior MEPs and commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.
Due to be voted on 9 February, the draft power-sharing deal suggests that Mr Barroso must "seriously consider" whether to ask an individual commissioner to step down if parliament withdraws its confidence. If he chooses not to let the commissioner go he then has to explain his reasoning before MEPs.
Under EU treaty rules, MEPs can censure the commission as a whole but not individual members. This new inter-institutional arrangement, while not legally binding, will further increase the political clout of the EU assembly, a trend that has been growing steadily in recent years.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has agreed to new terms in the European Parliament's relations with the EU executive, giving the assembly more power to scrutinise laws and raise its profile vis-à-vis member states. Leading members of the European Parliament have agreed on the assembly's future relations with the Commission under the EU's new Lisbon Treaty, which confer new powers to the Strasbourg assembly. The new 'Framework Agreement', agreed last Wednesday (27 January), will govern relations between the Parliament and the Commission for the 2010-2015 period. It will be submitted to a vote on 9 February, just ahead of a poll on the incoming Barroso II team.
Leading members of the European Parliament have agreed on the assembly's future relations with the Commission under the EU's new Lisbon Treaty, which confer new powers to the Strasbourg assembly.
The new 'Framework Agreement', agreed last Wednesday (27 January), will govern relations between the Parliament and the Commission for the 2010-2015 period.
It will be submitted to a vote on 9 February, just ahead of a poll on the incoming Barroso II team.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - US President Barack Obama is likely to skip this year's EU-US summit to be held by the Spanish presidency in Madrid, as he is focusing more on the domestic agenda, according to press reports. The White House has decided that Mr Obama will not attend the summit with the European Union in May, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials. Barack Obama will travel less this year, as he is focusing on the economic recovery. Last year, Mr Obama went to Europe six times, as he set about establishing relations with world leaders. Now that those relationships are in place, "so the demands are somewhat different," a senior administration official told the US paper.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - US President Barack Obama is likely to skip this year's EU-US summit to be held by the Spanish presidency in Madrid, as he is focusing more on the domestic agenda, according to press reports.
The White House has decided that Mr Obama will not attend the summit with the European Union in May, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials.
Barack Obama will travel less this year, as he is focusing on the economic recovery.
Last year, Mr Obama went to Europe six times, as he set about establishing relations with world leaders. Now that those relationships are in place, "so the demands are somewhat different," a senior administration official told the US paper.
Picking up on a theme I discussed earlier this week, I see that both Fred Kaplan and Matthew Yglesias conclude that a politically chastened Obama will not find any salvation in foreign policy. They both give similar reasons -- anything of significance will require Congressional approval, and Congress ain't in the giving mood. I don't really disagree with Kaplan and Yglesias, but I do think they're missing something important: with an economy shedding jobs, the last thing Obama wants to do is pump up his international profile. Even if he could claim successes, foreign policy achievements -- particularly of the non-military kind -- during an economic downturn are pretty much a dead-bang political loser. Why? Because even successes suggests that the president cares more about the rest of the world than his own countrymen. Think about it. The last time a sitting president focused on foreign affairs in the middle of a recession was George H.W. Bush. That was great from a policy perspective, but a political disaster for Bush. I won't swear to this, but my impression is that Obama's standing has taken a hit whenever he's gone overseas in the past year.
I don't really disagree with Kaplan and Yglesias, but I do think they're missing something important: with an economy shedding jobs, the last thing Obama wants to do is pump up his international profile. Even if he could claim successes, foreign policy achievements -- particularly of the non-military kind -- during an economic downturn are pretty much a dead-bang political loser. Why? Because even successes suggests that the president cares more about the rest of the world than his own countrymen.
Think about it. The last time a sitting president focused on foreign affairs in the middle of a recession was George H.W. Bush. That was great from a policy perspective, but a political disaster for Bush. I won't swear to this, but my impression is that Obama's standing has taken a hit whenever he's gone overseas in the past year.
Barack Obama has snubbed the EU amid confusion in Washington over which "president" of Europe he would be expected to meet at a trans-Atlantic summit this spring. The White House has said that the US President would not be attending the regularly scheduled EU-US talks, which have been planned to take place in Madrid in May. US officials have expressed frustration because the Lisbon Treaty, which was supposed to give the EU a single global voice, has created a number of European presidents competing for Washington's attention.
The White House has said that the US President would not be attending the regularly scheduled EU-US talks, which have been planned to take place in Madrid in May.
US officials have expressed frustration because the Lisbon Treaty, which was supposed to give the EU a single global voice, has created a number of European presidents competing for Washington's attention.
Jean-Francois Copé, a centre-Right French politician who has set his sights on succeeding President Nicolas Sarkozy, has called on David Cameron to 'join France' in Europe. Mr Copé, who has led the French campaign for a blanket ban on the burka, said he "deeply regretted" the position of "our British conservative friends" on Europe.His remarks came less than three months after France's Europe minister sparked a furore by branding Mr Cameron's pledge to reclaim EU powers as "pathetic" and "autistic".
Mr Copé, who has led the French campaign for a blanket ban on the burka, said he "deeply regretted" the position of "our British conservative friends" on Europe.
His remarks came less than three months after France's Europe minister sparked a furore by branding Mr Cameron's pledge to reclaim EU powers as "pathetic" and "autistic".
Far as he's concerned, nothing good came across the Channel unless the Royal Navy are carrying it back. keep to the Fen Causeway
The Pope has made an unprecedented attack on the human rights policies of Gordon Brown's Government, claiming that they threaten religious freedom and urging Catholic bishops to fight back with "missionary zeal". Pope Benedict XVI said that new equality legislation was unjust and violated natural law. He urged the 35 Catholic bishops from England and Wales, in Rome on a five-yearly "ad limina" visit, to make a united stand against the Equality Bill currently going through Parliament. He claimed the proposed new laws threatened "long-standing British traditions" of freedom of speech.
The Pope has made an unprecedented attack on the human rights policies of Gordon Brown's Government, claiming that they threaten religious freedom and urging Catholic bishops to fight back with "missionary zeal".
Pope Benedict XVI said that new equality legislation was unjust and violated natural law.
He urged the 35 Catholic bishops from England and Wales, in Rome on a five-yearly "ad limina" visit, to make a united stand against the Equality Bill currently going through Parliament.
He claimed the proposed new laws threatened "long-standing British traditions" of freedom of speech.
Benedict XVI says legislation safeguarding rights of same-sex couples violates 'natural law'Pope Benedict XVI has condemned British equality legislation for running contrary to "natural law" as he confirmed his first visit to the UK later this year.In a letter addressed to the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, the pope praised Britain's "firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all".However, he criticised UK legislation for creating "limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs". It is thought his comments relate to laws that came in last year preventing adoption agencies from discriminating against gay couples and also Harriet Harman's equality bill, currently going through parliament.
Pope Benedict XVI has condemned British equality legislation for running contrary to "natural law" as he confirmed his first visit to the UK later this year.
In a letter addressed to the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, the pope praised Britain's "firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all".
However, he criticised UK legislation for creating "limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs". It is thought his comments relate to laws that came in last year preventing adoption agencies from discriminating against gay couples and also Harriet Harman's equality bill, currently going through parliament.
So forcing the Church to obey employment laws that forbid expressions of hatred and discrimination against minority groups is just the most horrid thing imaginable.
As my friend Roz says;-
Someone rightly pointed out that right-wing Christianist fundie homophobes don't regard themselves as obliged to follow the purity codes of the Old Testament about mixed-textile clothing, or diet, and that this is because Paul says Christians are exempt from those codes. This does not explain why they still feel entitled to adopt Old Testament punishments, of course, so it is not quite the knock-down argument that was claimed; it would seem to me that if you are using the New Testament to govern your own behaviour, and the Old Testament to govern other people's, there is a fundamental inconsistency people should be asked to address.
Silvio Berlusconi was facing a party revolt yesterday over reported plans to field showgirls with little or no political experience as candidates in regional elections next month -- a strategy that caused uproar last year. The scheme to use attractive young women, including television hostesses, models and Big Brother contestants, as candidates in European and local elections last June was described by Veronica Lario, Mr Berlusconi's wife, as an abuse of power and "shameless trash . . . [to] amuse the Emperor". Nearly all the candidates were withdrawn after similar criticism. But amid a rise in popularity after a physical attack on him in December, the Italian Prime Minister appears to be reviving the plan.
Silvio Berlusconi was facing a party revolt yesterday over reported plans to field showgirls with little or no political experience as candidates in regional elections next month -- a strategy that caused uproar last year.
The scheme to use attractive young women, including television hostesses, models and Big Brother contestants, as candidates in European and local elections last June was described by Veronica Lario, Mr Berlusconi's wife, as an abuse of power and "shameless trash . . . [to] amuse the Emperor".
Nearly all the candidates were withdrawn after similar criticism.
But amid a rise in popularity after a physical attack on him in December, the Italian Prime Minister appears to be reviving the plan.
couldn't be much worse... they need work too, lol! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Imagine how you'd feel if you had spent years brown-nosing the party powers to get a chance at a well-paid legislative slot - only to be sidelined because your PM has a predilection for decorative airheads.
In terms of cementing party loyalty I find this rather less than astute. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
Candidates- appointees is more appropriate- for B's entity must correspond to current celebrity stereotypes. There are several other criteria, such as the "Indira Gandhi ploy" which consists of using or acquiring a famous surname or name that attracts votes. The Berlusconi variant consists of choosing people with the same name of popular sport's figure (Paolo Rossi), a prominent philosopher (Bobbio), an historical opposition leader or similar to foreign figures (Giorgio Bucci who looks and dresses just like George Bush) or look-a-likes: there is presently a candidate who looks like Tony Blair, just as there have been Ridges and Michael Jacksons (before his trials...)
In effect his political entity aspires to be an all-inclusive sit-com microcosm while in the back room his thugs engineer an authoritarian state in the name of freedoms.
B reviews candidates for their telegenic value. He substituted one of his grovelers in Umbria because his ears stick out. He gave him the name of a plastic surgeon. B describes opposition candidates as ugly and smelly as if his manic compulsion for commercial brands of cleanliness are the all-exclusive Norm of his modern Italic nation. No hairy armpits, sweat, or sagging tits for the great Italic race!
As for the "rose quota" as it's called here, the only criteria appears to be how hot they are in Putin's bed. It's definitely a slight at his ex-wife who had blocked his previous attempts to appoint his lays to power.
The "slut" factor, along with the "blackmail" factor and the "shameless groveler" factor, are the cement, the essence, of berlusconi's personal political entity. Tits and ass go a long way in Italy's present day political arena.
But I still don't understand one thing: any political operation depends on a lot of little people doing the crap, and in most countries most of them do it in the expectation of eventually earning a payoff - often a sure shot at a seat somewhere.
What's the payoff for Berlu's underlings? The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission is set to back Greek government plans to rein in public spending when the full college of 27 commissioners meets this Wednesday (3 February). In comments made to Reuters on Monday morning, and subsequently confirmed at a new conference in Brussels, EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia said the Greek spending cuts are achievable but are also surrounded by risks. The Greek government plans to sharply cut back public spending this year "What we are saying to the Greek authorities is: your stability programme has established ambitious targets and objectives and we fully endorse these ambitious objectives," Mr Almunia told the news agency. "We consider that the achievement of these objectives in the coming three years, before the end of 2012, is absolutely necessary. These objectives are achievable but they are surrounded by risks," he added.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission is set to back Greek government plans to rein in public spending when the full college of 27 commissioners meets this Wednesday (3 February).
In comments made to Reuters on Monday morning, and subsequently confirmed at a new conference in Brussels, EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia said the Greek spending cuts are achievable but are also surrounded by risks.
The Greek government plans to sharply cut back public spending this year
"What we are saying to the Greek authorities is: your stability programme has established ambitious targets and objectives and we fully endorse these ambitious objectives," Mr Almunia told the news agency.
"We consider that the achievement of these objectives in the coming three years, before the end of 2012, is absolutely necessary. These objectives are achievable but they are surrounded by risks," he added.
Member states are struggling to bring the EU Services Directive into national law while carefully watching other countries' development, a EurActiv round-up has found. The European Commission has long viewed the Services Directive as a crucial step in completing the EU's single market, but member states' failure to put it in place before the recently expired December 2009 deadline led to much hand-wringing and debate in Brussels. The argument centres on how the Commission will respond should infringement procedures be launched to force member states to speed up their efforts. The question floating around is whether a "softly-softly" approach would be more appropriate given the complexities of this troublesome dossier.
The European Commission has long viewed the Services Directive as a crucial step in completing the EU's single market, but member states' failure to put it in place before the recently expired December 2009 deadline led to much hand-wringing and debate in Brussels.
The argument centres on how the Commission will respond should infringement procedures be launched to force member states to speed up their efforts. The question floating around is whether a "softly-softly" approach would be more appropriate given the complexities of this troublesome dossier.
State aid: Commission approves second prolongation of Danish guarantee scheme for new debt ... The Commission found the second prolongation of the measures, initially approved on 3 February 2009 (see IP/09/206 ) and prolonged for a first period of six months on 17 August 2009 (see MEX/09/0817 ), to be in line with its Communication on state aid to overcome the financial crisis. ... Banking Expert Group - call for expressions of interest ... Interested candidates should apply by 28 February 2010 according to the instructions contained in the call for expression of interest and the mandate, which are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/group_of_experts/index_en.htm
... The Commission found the second prolongation of the measures, initially approved on 3 February 2009 (see IP/09/206 ) and prolonged for a first period of six months on 17 August 2009 (see MEX/09/0817 ), to be in line with its Communication on state aid to overcome the financial crisis. ...
Banking Expert Group - call for expressions of interest
... Interested candidates should apply by 28 February 2010 according to the instructions contained in the call for expression of interest and the mandate, which are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/bank/group_of_experts/index_en.htm
Paweł Samecki, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will address the Danube Region stakeholder conference in the German city of Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) tomorrow (2 February). This marks the launch of a series of consultation events aimed at shaping the Commission's plans for a European Strategy for the Danube Region. Building on the positive experience of the first 'macro-regional' strategy in the Baltic Sea Region, this latest initiative seeks to develop the huge economic potential of Europe's longest river, and improve environmental conditions in and around the wider Danube region.
Labour is closing the gap with the Conservatives amid public doubts about David Cameron's economic policies, according to a poll for The Independent. The ComRes survey found that 82 per cent of people want Mr Cameron to be clearer about what he would do on the economy - including 82 per cent of Tory supporters. Only 24 per cent believe the recession would have ended sooner if the Tories had been in power, while 69 per cent do not.
The ComRes survey found that 82 per cent of people want Mr Cameron to be clearer about what he would do on the economy - including 82 per cent of Tory supporters. Only 24 per cent believe the recession would have ended sooner if the Tories had been in power, while 69 per cent do not.
I believe in the US the NBER uses a more flexible definition of recession. See for instance:
WSJ Blogs: Is the Recession Over? Wait Until 2010 for NBER's Answer (2009 September 11)
One member of its Business Cycle Dating Committee, Northwestern University economist Robert Gordon, said he believes June will mark the trough for the recession that started in December 2007. But he expects the NBER's recession-dating panel to wait six to eight more months before voting on an end date to ensure the economy doesn't experience a double-dip recession. (Gordon stressed he was speaking for only himself, not the committee.)
A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. A recession begins just after the economy reaches a peak of activity and ends as the economy reaches its trough. Between trough and peak, the economy is in an expansion. Expansion is the normal state of the economy; most recessions are brief and they have been rare in recent decades.
I'd rephrase the normal "state" of the economy is a cycle, with more time spent in expansion than in contraction.
See the NBER's business cycles. According to the table the recession started in December 2007 and has not reached its trough yet, which means it has lasted at least 25 months. This means the current contraction in the US is now longer than the one in 1910-12. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
