Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
Who were those students seen behind David Cameron on Monday while he made his speech on constitutional matters at the University of East London (UEL)? "They weren't our students," my source at UEL tells me. "We were puzzled when we saw the pictures on TV because there were so many white faces. Whereas the population of UEL is much more black and Asian." And I'm also told that when the Student Union President Joseph Bitrus was asked on LBC radio today why the student audience looked so bored with the speech, Mr Bitrus too expressed puzzlement, and said that they weren't his students.
Who were those students seen behind David Cameron on Monday while he made his speech on constitutional matters at the University of East London (UEL)?
"They weren't our students," my source at UEL tells me. "We were puzzled when we saw the pictures on TV because there were so many white faces. Whereas the population of UEL is much more black and Asian."
And I'm also told that when the Student Union President Joseph Bitrus was asked on LBC radio today why the student audience looked so bored with the speech, Mr Bitrus too expressed puzzlement, and said that they weren't his students.
Election counts will have to begin within four hours of polls closing under proposals backed by Jack Straw.The justice secretary has thrown his weight behind a cross-party campaign to save the traditional election night. He told MPs he was concerned about the "growing trend by returning officers" to begin counts the following day "for their own convenience". He said he was confident MPs would back an amendment to the Constitutional Reform Bill when they vote on it later. MPs will be given a free vote on the issue. It is far from certain that the bill will become law before a general election but Mr Straw said he wanted to "send a message" to returning officers.
Election counts will have to begin within four hours of polls closing under proposals backed by Jack Straw.
The justice secretary has thrown his weight behind a cross-party campaign to save the traditional election night.
He told MPs he was concerned about the "growing trend by returning officers" to begin counts the following day "for their own convenience".
He said he was confident MPs would back an amendment to the Constitutional Reform Bill when they vote on it later.
MPs will be given a free vote on the issue.
It is far from certain that the bill will become law before a general election but Mr Straw said he wanted to "send a message" to returning officers.
Of course this was before electronic voting and "Programs for victory"! As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new 27-strong team of European commissioners.Each commissioner had previously faced a hearing in the European Parliament. The Commission is the EU's executive arm, responsible for drafting EU laws and ensuring that the 27 member states comply with the EU treaties. Bulgaria's first nominee, Rumiana Jeleva, failed to convince MEPs about her suitability for the job, so she was replaced by Kristalina Georgieva. MEPs cast 488 votes in favour of the Commission, 137 against and there were 72 abstentions
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the new 27-strong team of European commissioners.
Each commissioner had previously faced a hearing in the European Parliament.
The Commission is the EU's executive arm, responsible for drafting EU laws and ensuring that the 27 member states comply with the EU treaties.
Bulgaria's first nominee, Rumiana Jeleva, failed to convince MEPs about her suitability for the job, so she was replaced by Kristalina Georgieva.
MEPs cast 488 votes in favour of the Commission, 137 against and there were 72 abstentions
For him, clearly. In the land of the blind... 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
Supporters of defeated Ukrainian election candidate Yulia Tymoshenko say they want to challenge the results of Sunday's vote in court.An MP from her electoral bloc said that it suspected vote-rigging in 1,000 polling stations. Mrs Tymoshenko has reportedly told allies she will "never" accept Viktor Yanukovych as the winner of the poll. However, with nearly 100% of the votes counted, foreign monitors are saying the election was free and fair.
Supporters of defeated Ukrainian election candidate Yulia Tymoshenko say they want to challenge the results of Sunday's vote in court.
An MP from her electoral bloc said that it suspected vote-rigging in 1,000 polling stations.
Mrs Tymoshenko has reportedly told allies she will "never" accept Viktor Yanukovych as the winner of the poll.
However, with nearly 100% of the votes counted, foreign monitors are saying the election was free and fair.
The SDLP was the only party to nominate a candidate for the job of justice minister at a meeting of Stormont party leaders on Tuesday morning.The new leader of the party, Margaret Ritchie, put forward the name of North Belfast MLA, barrister Alban Maginness. The most likely party to provide the new minister, Alliance, declined to nominate its leader David Ford. It instead published a number of proposals on justice policy which it would like to see implemented.
The SDLP was the only party to nominate a candidate for the job of justice minister at a meeting of Stormont party leaders on Tuesday morning.
The new leader of the party, Margaret Ritchie, put forward the name of North Belfast MLA, barrister Alban Maginness.
The most likely party to provide the new minister, Alliance, declined to nominate its leader David Ford.
It instead published a number of proposals on justice policy which it would like to see implemented.
A man branded a "wannabe suicide bomber" by prosecutors will not face a retrial on terrorism charges.Mohammed Atif Siddique, 24, a student from Alva, Clackmannanshire, was found guilty under terrorism laws in 2007. But Appeal Court judges in Edinburgh said on 29 January he had suffered a "miscarriage of justice" on one of the charges and quashed the conviction. The Crown Office has said it does not wish to seek a fresh prosecution. Siddique has now been released.
A man branded a "wannabe suicide bomber" by prosecutors will not face a retrial on terrorism charges.
Mohammed Atif Siddique, 24, a student from Alva, Clackmannanshire, was found guilty under terrorism laws in 2007.
But Appeal Court judges in Edinburgh said on 29 January he had suffered a "miscarriage of justice" on one of the charges and quashed the conviction.
The Crown Office has said it does not wish to seek a fresh prosecution. Siddique has now been released.
Yarl's Wood immigration centre near Bedford is the UK's main removal centre for women and families. It can hold 405 people in four wings. A hunger strike that started on Friday quickly spread. Some women, angry at being separated from their children, refused food. It is thought most of the women are Jamaican, Nigerian and Chinese, but others joined their protest. On Monday, day four of the hunger strike, a group of about 50 women tried to move around the centre and were locked in a corridor. The women say they were held there for hours on end without water or access to a toilet. They told campaigners some of them had fainted. Most of the women returned to their room without staff using force. But four women were taken away by police
Yarl's Wood immigration centre near Bedford is the UK's main removal centre for women and families. It can hold 405 people in four wings.
A hunger strike that started on Friday quickly spread. Some women, angry at being separated from their children, refused food.
It is thought most of the women are Jamaican, Nigerian and Chinese, but others joined their protest.
On Monday, day four of the hunger strike, a group of about 50 women tried to move around the centre and were locked in a corridor. The women say they were held there for hours on end without water or access to a toilet. They told campaigners some of them had fainted.
Most of the women returned to their room without staff using force. But four women were taken away by police
Away from the calamity and misery Blair's government visited upon brown people, have you seen the misery and calamity his successor's is visiting upon brown people?
Tim Montgomerie was quick out of the traps last night on Joanne Cash's shock resignation from as PPC for Westminster North.But judging from her Tweets today, it looks as though Ms Cash may still be up for the fight. "Go go go people!" she says. I'm told by senior Tory sources that "discussions are ongoing" as to her future. I wouldn't be surprised if she is back by the end of the day. Yet the longer the delay, the more chaotic it all looks. What's the betting that Labour's Karen Buck will put out leaflets this weekend declaring that the Tory candidate is more focused on petty squabbles in the local party than on the needs of the voters of Westminster North?
Tim Montgomerie was quick out of the traps last night on Joanne Cash's shock resignation from as PPC for Westminster North.
But judging from her Tweets today, it looks as though Ms Cash may still be up for the fight. "Go go go people!" she says.
I'm told by senior Tory sources that "discussions are ongoing" as to her future. I wouldn't be surprised if she is back by the end of the day. Yet the longer the delay, the more chaotic it all looks.
What's the betting that Labour's Karen Buck will put out leaflets this weekend declaring that the Tory candidate is more focused on petty squabbles in the local party than on the needs of the voters of Westminster North?
Former European Commissioner Günter Verheugen, whose 10 years in office ended Tuesday, talks to SPIEGEL ONLINE about EU-US relations, the prospect of a common EU military and the union's lack of vision. SPIEGEL ONLINE: The new European Commission was approved Tuesday, thereby ending your 10 years as a commissioner in Brussels. Is the EU still an alliance of nations on the way to an ever-closer union, or is it just a bigger club with the same old problems? Günter Verheugen: With the 27 members that it has today, compared to the 15 that it had back then, the EU has obviously changed dramatically. We have achieved much in those 10 years, but a few fundamental questions remain open: There seems to be no vision within the Union of where we are heading. There is no consensus over where the borders of the EU should lie in the future, and there is no consensus over how we should define our role in the world.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: The new European Commission was approved Tuesday, thereby ending your 10 years as a commissioner in Brussels. Is the EU still an alliance of nations on the way to an ever-closer union, or is it just a bigger club with the same old problems?
Günter Verheugen: With the 27 members that it has today, compared to the 15 that it had back then, the EU has obviously changed dramatically. We have achieved much in those 10 years, but a few fundamental questions remain open: There seems to be no vision within the Union of where we are heading. There is no consensus over where the borders of the EU should lie in the future, and there is no consensus over how we should define our role in the world.
More like [inconvenient truth™ alert]? 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
I do care that the EU is not living up to the expectations set by Delors. 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
I think it is realistic to imagine a pan-European common market that includes the entire continent and also our Mediterranean neighbors. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Are you trying to make us really afraid now? Verheugen: On the contrary, I am thinking of your future. We are already in direct competition with economies such as China and India and in the near future Latin America. They are all much bigger than us and are continuing to grow dramatically. If we want to be competitive, we will need a larger European market. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Together with Russia? Verheugen: Absolutely.
I think it is realistic to imagine a pan-European common market that includes the entire continent and also our Mediterranean neighbors.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Are you trying to make us really afraid now?
Verheugen: On the contrary, I am thinking of your future. We are already in direct competition with economies such as China and India and in the near future Latin America. They are all much bigger than us and are continuing to grow dramatically. If we want to be competitive, we will need a larger European market.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Together with Russia?
Verheugen: Absolutely.
WTF?
They are afraid of a pan-European market? 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
could work i guess...
with big enough solar sahara projects.
ultimately they will want to run their own white goods/armaments businesses, after they suss the intellectual property and 'management methods'.
in a perfect world, everyone gets a solar fridge and we move towards economic parity with our perennially impoverished (by euro standards) southern neighbours, who then don't die trying to boat across to mythical streets of gold.
how can we help people understand it's in their interest to spread the wealth? ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
Germany's highest court on Tuesday declared unconstitutional the country's controversial social benefits known as Hartz IV. Millions of German families on welfare could now receive more assistance. The Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has ruled that a five-year-old social welfare program known as Hartz IV is unconstitutional. The ruling means that the current benefits paid out to those who qualify, including child dependents, must be adjusted. At present, adults receive 359 euros ($495), and children, depending on their age, between 215 euros and 287 euros. The court gave lawmakers until the end of 2010 to come up with new guidelines for Germany's 6.7 million Hartz IV recipients. About 1.7 million children under the age of 14 are among those affected. The court said that the rules were not transparent enough and did not ensure at least a "dignified minimum" income. The court's decision was well received by a number of politicians, including German family minister Kristina Koehler. "With its verdict, the court has established clarity and at the same time has considered the actual experience of many families with children, who are dependent on Hartz IV," said Koehler in a press release. "It is important and right, since it guarantees that the needs of children in families dependent on state benefits are appropriately considered."
The Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has ruled that a five-year-old social welfare program known as Hartz IV is unconstitutional.
The ruling means that the current benefits paid out to those who qualify, including child dependents, must be adjusted. At present, adults receive 359 euros ($495), and children, depending on their age, between 215 euros and 287 euros.
The court gave lawmakers until the end of 2010 to come up with new guidelines for Germany's 6.7 million Hartz IV recipients. About 1.7 million children under the age of 14 are among those affected. The court said that the rules were not transparent enough and did not ensure at least a "dignified minimum" income.
The court's decision was well received by a number of politicians, including German family minister Kristina Koehler.
"With its verdict, the court has established clarity and at the same time has considered the actual experience of many families with children, who are dependent on Hartz IV," said Koehler in a press release. "It is important and right, since it guarantees that the needs of children in families dependent on state benefits are appropriately considered."
We have to wake up and realize that this is a competitive globalized world!
OMG!
It's not as if the European economy depends on the largesse of US$ creditors to function. 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
Lieber Herr Minischdrpräsident, nach fünf Jahr als Landesvadder verlassed Sie jetz onser Muschdrländle, um zur EU nach Brüssl zom ganga. A bissle wehmüdig semmer zwar scho. Andererseits ischs doch au schee: Oinr von uns Schwaba darf raus in die große Welt - ond des, obwohl die älle immr übr uns lachet und auf unsram Dialekt rumhamplet. [...] Sie sehet scho, des kann was werra, mit Brüssl ond Ihne. I seh Sie scho mit dr Silvana Koch-Mehrin und am Edmund Schdoibr a Viertele in so ra kloina Brasserie schlotza. Und falls Ihne des älles doch zu bled wird, odr die Leit da droba Ihr Englisch oifach net verschdanda wellet, dann vrsuchet se's doch oifach beim Quatsch Comedy Club. Der Rosina-Witz kommt da sicher toll a. Abr da denget mir jetz no net dra. Jetzt ganget Se erschtamol zur EU. D'Donauschwoba, die Sie emmr so gern zitieret, die henns sogar bis nach Brasilien gschafft. Da isch Brüssl ja n Katzaschprung drgega.
nach fünf Jahr als Landesvadder verlassed Sie jetz onser Muschdrländle, um zur EU nach Brüssl zom ganga. A bissle wehmüdig semmer zwar scho. Andererseits ischs doch au schee: Oinr von uns Schwaba darf raus in die große Welt - ond des, obwohl die älle immr übr uns lachet und auf unsram Dialekt rumhamplet.
[...]
Sie sehet scho, des kann was werra, mit Brüssl ond Ihne. I seh Sie scho mit dr Silvana Koch-Mehrin und am Edmund Schdoibr a Viertele in so ra kloina Brasserie schlotza. Und falls Ihne des älles doch zu bled wird, odr die Leit da droba Ihr Englisch oifach net verschdanda wellet, dann vrsuchet se's doch oifach beim Quatsch Comedy Club. Der Rosina-Witz kommt da sicher toll a. Abr da denget mir jetz no net dra. Jetzt ganget Se erschtamol zur EU. D'Donauschwoba, die Sie emmr so gern zitieret, die henns sogar bis nach Brasilien gschafft. Da isch Brüssl ja n Katzaschprung drgega.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has lost a bid to prevent the disclosure of secret information relating to the alleged torture of a UK resident.Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed says UK authorities knew he was tortured at the behest of US authorities during seven years of captivity. Mr Miliband had said releasing the material would harm national security. Judges ruled redacted paragraphs, which say his treatment was "cruel, inhuman and degrading", should be released. The judgement was delivered by the three most senior Court of Appeal judges in England and Wales. The key details are contained in a seven-paragraph summary of what the CIA told their British intelligence officials about Mr Mohamed's treatment in 2002.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has lost a bid to prevent the disclosure of secret information relating to the alleged torture of a UK resident.
Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed says UK authorities knew he was tortured at the behest of US authorities during seven years of captivity.
Mr Miliband had said releasing the material would harm national security.
Judges ruled redacted paragraphs, which say his treatment was "cruel, inhuman and degrading", should be released.
The judgement was delivered by the three most senior Court of Appeal judges in England and Wales.
The key details are contained in a seven-paragraph summary of what the CIA told their British intelligence officials about Mr Mohamed's treatment in 2002.
The government launched a successful last-minute bid to persuade the court of appeal to erase the most damning details of MI5's complicity in torture from its decision in the Binyam Mohamed case - but has been unable to suppress a letter that details some of the contents of the original draft ruling.On Monday, Jonathan Sumption QC wrote to the court warning that the paragraph in question was "likely to receive more public attention than any other parts of the judgments".This, Sumption pointed out, was because the paragraph would state that MI5 did not operate in a culture that respected human rights or renounced "coercive interrogation techniques".The letter also reveals that the judgment, before being rewritten, said this was particularly true of the MI5 officer known as Witness B who gave evidence in the case - and that this man's conduct was characteristic of MI5 as a whole.
The government launched a successful last-minute bid to persuade the court of appeal to erase the most damning details of MI5's complicity in torture from its decision in the Binyam Mohamed case - but has been unable to suppress a letter that details some of the contents of the original draft ruling.
On Monday, Jonathan Sumption QC wrote to the court warning that the paragraph in question was "likely to receive more public attention than any other parts of the judgments".
This, Sumption pointed out, was because the paragraph would state that MI5 did not operate in a culture that respected human rights or renounced "coercive interrogation techniques".
The letter also reveals that the judgment, before being rewritten, said this was particularly true of the MI5 officer known as Witness B who gave evidence in the case - and that this man's conduct was characteristic of MI5 as a whole.
Der deutsche Steuersünder Elmar S. will die Klage gegen die frühere LGT Treuhand in Vaduz an das fürstliche Obergericht weiterziehen. Er fordert 13 Millionen statt bloss 7,5 Millionen Euro an Schadenersatz.
What a relief to see Elfyn Llwyd in the House yesterday, still alive and asking questions. He's always more interesting than he looks. Tiny Plaid Cymru are a great parliamentary asset. Blair and Mittal's £2m, that was them. They kicked off Cash for Honours. The Blair Impeachment project, they did that too. Llwyd and Adam Price (they are two-thirds of their party) have probably had more effect on Parliament than the entire Liberal Democrats. He was suggesting to Jack Straw that half the women in prison shouldn't be there (did you know women have gone to jail for not paying their television licence?). Leave aside his imprisoned women, Elfyn has another fish on the line.Four years ago, he received a document - top secret, unsigned. From whom? I don't know. Why did he get it? Don't know that either. What's in it? Ah yes, it details, he says, our leader's conversation at the famous Crawford meeting a year before the Iraq war started. It is, he tells me, "evidence of a done deal between Bush and Blair" and shows that in the light of Blair's subsequent answers on the subject that "the depth of the deceit is astonishing". So that's why it's nice to see him kicking and swinging - and not from underneath Blackfriars Bridge. Why he has taken four years to bring it up I can't say but the news has been taken seriously enough to bring in interviewing officers from Special Branch and the Met. Over a week ago he offered the document to the Chilcot inquiry and he hasn't heard back. We'll just have to wait and see.
What a relief to see Elfyn Llwyd in the House yesterday, still alive and asking questions. He's always more interesting than he looks. Tiny Plaid Cymru are a great parliamentary asset. Blair and Mittal's £2m, that was them. They kicked off Cash for Honours. The Blair Impeachment project, they did that too. Llwyd and Adam Price (they are two-thirds of their party) have probably had more effect on Parliament than the entire Liberal Democrats.
He was suggesting to Jack Straw that half the women in prison shouldn't be there (did you know women have gone to jail for not paying their television licence?). Leave aside his imprisoned women, Elfyn has another fish on the line.
Four years ago, he received a document - top secret, unsigned. From whom? I don't know. Why did he get it? Don't know that either.
What's in it? Ah yes, it details, he says, our leader's conversation at the famous Crawford meeting a year before the Iraq war started. It is, he tells me, "evidence of a done deal between Bush and Blair" and shows that in the light of Blair's subsequent answers on the subject that "the depth of the deceit is astonishing".
So that's why it's nice to see him kicking and swinging - and not from underneath Blackfriars Bridge. Why he has taken four years to bring it up I can't say but the news has been taken seriously enough to bring in interviewing officers from Special Branch and the Met. Over a week ago he offered the document to the Chilcot inquiry and he hasn't heard back. We'll just have to wait and see.
Ein weiterer Vorwurf: Die Bank solle P.S. mit Tarnkonstrukten und einem Scheinwohnsitz in Zürich beim deutschen Fiskus in Schwierigkeiten gebracht haben. Bei der UBS richten sich die Augen auf Jürg Zeltner: Er war zu jener Zeit in der Verantwortung.
Vizekanzler und Finanzminister Josef Pröll (ÖVP) betonte, dass Österreich in der Frage der Steuer-CD nicht selbst aktiv werden müsse. Wenn Deutschland die Daten ankaufen sollte und darauf auch österreichische Steuerpflichtige aufscheinten, sei Deutschland aufgrund der EU-Amtshilferichtlinie ohnedies verpflichtet, die Daten unverzüglich an Österreich weiterzuleiten. Sollten sich Namen von Österreichern auf der Steuer-CD finden, gebe es dringenden Handlungsbedarf, meinte Pröll im Ö1-,,Morgenjournal". Den Aufkauf gestohlener Daten sieht Pröll kritisch. Justizministerin Claudia Bandion-Ortner meinte, Steuer- und Abgabenhinterziehung seien keine ,,Kavaliersdelikte".
Im Bundesland Niedersachsen sind nach Angaben einer Sprecherin des Finanzministeriums 98 Selbstanzeigen eingegangen. Die nicht versteuerten Einnahmen könnten auf 21,6 Mio. Euro und die Mehrsteuern auf rund 7,7 Mio. Euro geschätzt werden. In Hessen liegen nach Angaben des Finanzministeriums 27 Selbstanzeigen vor. Im Freistaat Bayern zeigten sich nach Angaben des Finanzministeriums weniger als 20 Personen selbst an, seit die erste CD aufgetaucht ist.
In der Affäre um deutsche Steuersünder in der Schweiz geht es offenbar um wesentlich mehr Geld als bisher bekannt. Die «Süddeutsche Zeitung» beziffert den eintreibbaren Betrag in ihrer Online-Ausgabe auf 400 Millionen Euro. Unterdessen bleibt unklar, von welcher Schweizer Bank die Daten stammen, die der Bundesregierung zum Kauf angeboten wurden.
