Catherine Ashton, the EU's recently-appointed foreign policy chief, will be able to trim her busy work schedule and counter criticism of her lack of visibility thanks to the assistance of three EU commissioners, who will act as her deputies. Štefan Füle, the Czech commissioner for enlargement, Andris Piebalgs, his Latvian colleague responsible for development, and Kristalina Georgieva, the Bulgarian commissioner for humanitarian aid, will all assist Ashton, a Commission official said. Catherine Ashton has endured attacks from several quarters, including French ministers, for not flying the EU flag at hotspots such as earthquake-hit Haiti or being unable to attend European gatherings.
Štefan Füle, the Czech commissioner for enlargement, Andris Piebalgs, his Latvian colleague responsible for development, and Kristalina Georgieva, the Bulgarian commissioner for humanitarian aid, will all assist Ashton, a Commission official said.
Catherine Ashton has endured attacks from several quarters, including French ministers, for not flying the EU flag at hotspots such as earthquake-hit Haiti or being unable to attend European gatherings.
Sixty-nine suspected Georgian mafia members have been arrested in a co-ordinated operation across Europe. Twenty-four of them were detained in Spain, mainly in Barcelona and Valencia, as part of Operation Java, Spanish police said. The arrests are the result of a year-long investigation initiated by Spanish police. The other arrests took place in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Twenty-four of them were detained in Spain, mainly in Barcelona and Valencia, as part of Operation Java, Spanish police said.
The arrests are the result of a year-long investigation initiated by Spanish police.
The other arrests took place in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy.
Catherine Ashton, the European Union's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, has kicked off her first official trip to the Middle East with tough talk for Israel. Addressing members of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, Ashton voiced her disapproval of Israel's decision last week to approve the construction of 1,600 new homes in West Bank settlements, just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reluctantly agreed to begin indirect peace talks. Those talks have since been put on the backburner. EU foreign policy chief Catherine AshtonBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton's speech in Cairo was seen a major test for the EU's new foreign policy chief She said the move "endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks."
Addressing members of the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, Ashton voiced her disapproval of Israel's decision last week to approve the construction of 1,600 new homes in West Bank settlements, just two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had reluctantly agreed to begin indirect peace talks. Those talks have since been put on the backburner.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine AshtonBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Ashton's speech in Cairo was seen a major test for the EU's new foreign policy chief
She said the move "endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks."
A Dutch political party formed by self-described pedophiles has voted to disband itself after failing for the second time to participate in national elections in June. The group, which sought to lower the age of sexual consent to 12, says it could not get the 600 signatures necessary to win a place on the ballot in a country of 16.5 million. It would need 60,000 votes to win a seat in the 150-member Dutch parliament.
The group, which sought to lower the age of sexual consent to 12, says it could not get the 600 signatures necessary to win a place on the ballot in a country of 16.5 million. It would need 60,000 votes to win a seat in the 150-member Dutch parliament.
Amid record voter apathy, France's Socialist Party have triumphed over the ruling right-wing UMP party in regional elections. The far-right National Front made significant headway while the centrist MoDem party suffered a spectacular defeat.
Opponents said the president's decision to start a high-profile discussion about issues including immigration, the burka and social cohesion led voters to back Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front (FN). The near-bankrupt FN had been written off after a disastrous showing in the 2007 presidential elections, but on Sunday scored almost 12 per cent in the first round of regional elections.
The near-bankrupt FN had been written off after a disastrous showing in the 2007 presidential elections, but on Sunday scored almost 12 per cent in the first round of regional elections.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party won in the eight regions that held elections in Russia on Sunday with between 43 and 70 percent of the votes cast. But it saw support fall by between nine and 24 percentage points in six regional parliaments compared to national election results in 2007, when it scored a landslide victory. Opposition parties said the elections were marred by widespread voting violations and complained that President Dmitry Medvedev had failed to follow through on a pledge for free and fair elections.
Opposition parties said the elections were marred by widespread voting violations and complained that President Dmitry Medvedev had failed to follow through on a pledge for free and fair elections.
NYT: Kremlin Sweeps Regional Elections
MOSCOW -- The pro-Kremlin party, United Russia, has again dominated regional elections, according to preliminary results released Monday, though opposition parties have made slight gains in a vote that has been seen as a test of President Dmitri A. Medvedev's call for greater political plurality in Russia. Voters chose new legislatures in eight regions on Sunday, and regional and municipal elections were held in 76 of Russia's 83 regions. United Russia, which is headed by the country's preeminent leader, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, chalked up landslide victories in all eight legislative elections and won four of five mayoral races. The party held large victory rallies throughout the country on Monday, including one in Moscow attended by 15,000 people, the party said.
Voters chose new legislatures in eight regions on Sunday, and regional and municipal elections were held in 76 of Russia's 83 regions.
United Russia, which is headed by the country's preeminent leader, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, chalked up landslide victories in all eight legislative elections and won four of five mayoral races. The party held large victory rallies throughout the country on Monday, including one in Moscow attended by 15,000 people, the party said.
The Commies did rather well, and continue to be the most viable opposition party. When the Western papers clamor for more democratic polls in Russia, to allow opposition parties more power, is it the Communist Party they envision as harbingers of a vibrant democracy, I wonder? "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
In other words, it's a totally harmless and useless opposition party, even if it's the only one to actually be organised and to fight for a few thing on behalf of its (aging) voters... Wind power
The Communist Party is at least a genuine party seeking to provide a center left alternative to the center right UR. They are a hell of a lot more of a "legitimate" opposition than the disorganized micro-parties which have little to no popular support but are most vocal in their opposition to the Kremlin. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Cooked meat manufacturer Forza AW, a major supplier of the Asda supermarket chain, has turned down British workers for factory jobs because they don't speak Polish, it's claimed. The government's equality watchdog says it plans to contact the firm regarding allegations of discrimination against British jobseekers. An emailed advert for factory work on Forza's East Anglia production line, sent out via employment agency OSR Recruitment this month, reads: ''Immediate factory work available!!!! "If you are available or have any friends available, work is starting tomorrow for induction training. ''Transport provided. Applicants must speak Polish. Please call asap!!!!!!''
The government's equality watchdog says it plans to contact the firm regarding allegations of discrimination against British jobseekers.
An emailed advert for factory work on Forza's East Anglia production line, sent out via employment agency OSR Recruitment this month, reads: ''Immediate factory work available!!!!
"If you are available or have any friends available, work is starting tomorrow for induction training.
''Transport provided. Applicants must speak Polish. Please call asap!!!!!!''
