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e-mail to:"euro-ombudsman@europarl.eu.int."e-mail

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Swedish EU-Presidency

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TO TOP OF PAGETO TOP OF PAGE
"For Freedom, Parliamentary Democracy, Social Justice and the Competitive Market Economy in a European Union of Nation States according to European statute laic law"

PRO-EUROPEAN LINKS

1. EUROPEAN MOVEMENT - CLICK HERE:European Movement

2. BRITAIN IN EUROPE PRESS ROOM - CLICK HERE:Britain in Europe Press Room

3. EUROPEAN FEDERALIST FORUM:
"Federal Constitution for Europe" CLICK HERE:Federal Constitution for Europe"


NEWS UPDATE:

Whereas we shall strive to maintain constant news updates, this may not always be possible. The following links, therefore, are recommmended for those seeking their own instant updates:

apassociated press

BBCbbc

afpafp

interfaxinterfax

euronews-linkseuronews-links



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"EURO-NEWS-MAGAZINE" CLICK HERE:EURO-NEWS-MAGAZINE
Webpage INDEX:
1. COMMENT - FOOT-AND-MOUTH
2. THE QUESTION OF VACCINATION OF THE HERDS AND FLOCKS
3. THE BURNING OF ANIMAL CARCASSES AND HYGIENE
4. BURIAL OF ANIMAL CARCASSES AS AN ALTERNATIVE
5. ON THE ORIGIN AND CHAIN OF INFECTION
6. "MANAGING FOOT-AND-MOUTH" by Mark Woolhouse & Alex Donaldson
7. "KURSK REPORT"
8. ADDRESS OF GERMAN PRESIDENT JOHANNES RAU TO EU-PARLIAMENT "A PLEA FOR A EU-CONSTITUTION" 4.4.2001
9. DELEGATION OF THE EU COMMISSION IN RUSSIA - LINKS TO TEXTS
10.FOCUS MAGAZINE:TRANSLATED TEXT RE:ENGHOLM, DATED 7.04.2001
11.EU'S INTRUSIVE LEGISLATION TO CONTROL CYBERSPACE By BBC News Online technology correspondent Mark Ward - For more information CLICK HERE:BBC and Cyber Space Law
12.LINK TO PRIME MINISTER, FRENCH REPUBLIC, WEBSITE - ENTIRE EUROPE SPEECH TO PRESS CLUB IN PARIS 28.05.2001 IN FRENCH CLICK HERE:Discours sur l'Europe
13.HUNTING BIN LADEN - INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER CIA FIELD OFFICER IN AFGHANISTAN: MILTON BEARDEN - CLICK HERE:CIA field officer Afghanistan
14.UK BIN LADEN DOSSIER IN FULL- CLICK HERE:UK bin Laden dossier
15."HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT" THE FOILED ATTEMPT TO ARREST KARADZIC:
16."LE MONDE" INTERVIEW WITH THE GRAND MUFTI OF MARSEILLE, SOHEIB BENCHEIKH (IN FRENCH)-CLICK HERE:Grand Mufti of Marseille
17.JANES REPORT: April 11, 2002 /incorrectly dated 2001 "Strikes target Bin Laden networks in Europe" CLICK HERE:Strikes target Bin Laden networks in Europe
18.INSIDE THE KGB MUSEUM - CLICK HERE:KGB on exhibition
19.CANADIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER BILL GRAHAM TEMPERS CRITICISM OF US OVER OPPOSITION TO NEW INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT:CLICK HERE:
Globe and Mail(FOI CENTER):Bill Graham speech to UN
20.TEXT OF PM TONY BLAIR'S INTELLIGENCE REPORT ON IRAQ CLICK HERE:Intelligence Report on Iraq
21. ABU BAKAR BASHIR - LEADING INDONESIAN CLERIC - ARTICLE:TIDES WORLD PRESS UPDATE:2.05.2002 COMPLETE TEXT CLICK HERE:ABU BAKAR BASHIR
22. WHAT IS THE IBDA/C? - Radical Front of the Pioneers for a Greater Islamic Orient
23. MADRID TRAIN-BOMBING (March 11, 2004)
24. ALEX SALMOND SPEECH IN AVIEMORE, 28.10.2007, REGARDING SCOTLAND'S INDEPENDENCE. WHAT ABOUT SCOTLAND'S EU-RELATIONSHIP? euro-news-clip ASKS THE SNP, THE SNP REPLIES.

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-LINK TO CNN IN ARABIC - CLICK HERE:CNN Arabic
COURT IN THE HAGUE - CLICK HERE:Bavarian C-Int Report
-GERMAN FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFICE (BKA):WANTTED LIST OF ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS/Hamburg,Marienstrasse CLICK HERE:wanted terrorists
-FBI MOST WANTED TERRORISTS:CLICK HERE:Binn LadenLaden
-CLICK HERE:Atef:Atef/Reported by FBI as deceased
-CLICK HERE:Atef:Atef
-CLICK HERE:Zwahari:Zwahari
-EU-COMMISSION REGULATION OF 4 July 2001 CCCONCERNING PERSONS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE TALEBAN WHOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN FROZEN - ALSO ALPHABETICAL - CLICK HERE:LEADING TALIBAN CHECKLIST
-ANALYSIS - BIN LADEN'S NUCLEAR THREAT - CLICK HERE:BBC Report on Al Qaeda Nuclear Threat
-GIMF - GLOBAL ISLAMIC MEDIA FRONT - Al Qaaida inspired propaganda in English, German and French similar to material first released on the internet around 1995. CLICK HERE:GIMF
(This is not to be construed in any way as endorsement of, or agreement with any of the ideas, or images presented within its website or in its links. WARNING! Unauthorized downloading may be prohibited in your country of access, and could lead to legal prosecution.)

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"BY THE WAY"


1.If the effects of global warming are considered to be a serious threat to mankind and the natural environment,an event of even greater significance may well be the calculated terrestrial impact of a 2 kilometer diameter asteroid scheduled for February 1st 2019. The last known substantial Western European meteorite impact was in the Chiemgau area of Bavaria south of Munich, Germany, with craters of from 3 meters to 400 meters diameter. This meteorite impacted around 465 BC causing considerable destruction of the Celtic settlement of the area.CLICK HERE: IN GERMANThe Chiemgau Comet

2. The webmaster highly recommends:EUobserver.com - CLICK HERE:EU observer.com
3. "O Flower of Scotland" - text and music - CLICK HERE:O Flower of Scotland


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POLITICAL CARTOON GALLERY:
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 1.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 2.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon" Fidel Castro 1959-2008
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 3.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 4.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 5.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon
euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon"# 6.CLICK HERE:euro-news-clip "The Political Cartoon


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EURO-NEWS-CLIP BULLETIN BOARD:- ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION "ENDURING FREEDOM" CLICK HERE:Operation Enduring Freedom

PLEASE NOTE: GOOGLE automatic selection programs sometimes refer to persons and subjects which, while appearing on the same page, have no thematic connection, contrary to what might be suggested by the syntax of web-page "subject summaries".


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EU-DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND WEBSITE















FOR EU-DIRECT WEBSITE ACCESS CLICK HERE:TO EU-DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND WEBSITE INFO IN YOUR LANGUAGE


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LINK to "EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESS SERVICE"CLICK HERE:European Parliament Press Service


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LINK to "EUROPEAN BLOGOSPHERE"CLICK HERE:European Blogosphere


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"EU IS LAICLAW - IUNCTUS EUROPE EST LAIC LEX""EU IS LAICLAW - IUNCTUS EUROPE EST LAIC LEX"

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"HYDROGEN-POWERED COMBUSTION ENGINE REQUIRED-EXAMPLE: "The Scorpion features a modified 3.5-liter Acura V6 that has hydrogen injected into it. Where does the hydrogen come from? Using a process similar to electrolysis, water is zapped with electricity in order to create a hydrogen gas that is then pumped into the engine.(Attention Detroit, Wolfsburg, Sindelfingen, Munich, Mulhouse, Gothenburg: Required urgently, a road-tested hydrogen-powered combustion engine. The high capacity battery is just not enough)CLICK HERE:Hydrogen combustion engine


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REQUIRED READING REFERENCE IRISH NO VOTE, THE DECLAN GANLEY ENTERPRISES AND THE CZECH CONNECTION: CLICK HERE:DECLAN GANLEY ACTIVITIES


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22.10.2009 Brussels, Belgium - RUSSIA RIGHTS GROUP WINS EU PRIZE - Russian rights group Memorial has won the European Parliament's annual Sakharov Prize, in memory of murdered activist Natalya Estemirova. Estemirova was found dead in July in the Russian republic of Ingushetia after being abducted in Chechnya. A Moscow court recently ordered Memorial to retract its accusation that the Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was responsible for her murder. Memorial campaigns against abuses in countries of the former Soviet Union. Awarding the prize, the European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said people who defended human rights must be free to express themselves. He said the assembly hoped "to contribute to ending the circle of fear and violence surrounding human rights defenders in the Russian Federation". CLICK HERE:Russia rights group wins EU prize

London, England - BBC DEFENDS BNP MOVE AMID PROTEST - Deputy director general Mark Byford has said it is not the BBC's role to censor the BNP as criticism mounts ahead of the party's Question Time appearance. He said the BNP's Euro vote meant the BBC had to allow it on as part of its "responsibility of due impartiality". Cabinet minister Peter Hain had asked the BBC to rethink its invitation to the whites-only political party. Ex-London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the BBC would bear moral responsibility for any "spike" in racist attacks, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission said the party's membership rules were currently illegal and it should not be regarded by the BBC "as equivalent to other political parties which abide by the law". Some protesters have already gathered outside BBC Television Centre in London ahead of the appearance of British National Party leader Nick Griffin, who is a Euro MP, on the hour-long flagship BBC political program Question Time.CLICK HERE:BBC defends BNP move amid protest
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: BNP leader Nick Griffin survived the first round of his self-imposed BNP-bashing ordeal of public scourging. Griffen's tactic is to curry favor as martyr, paving the way for other more benign or even more virulent individuals.)

Paris, France - SARKOZY SON PULLS OUT OF JOB BID - The 23-year-old son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he is withdrawing from a bid to run the country's top business district. The bid by Jean Sarkozy, who is yet to complete his law studies, had triggered accusations of nepotism. In an interview with French TV he said he would still seek election to the board of La Defense, in Paris. He also said he had been subjected to a campaign of "manipulation and disinformation" against him. "I do not want a victory stained by doubt," he said. Jean Sarkozy is currently a councillor for the wealthy Parisian district of Neuilly.CLICK HERE:Sarkozy son pulls out of job bid


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21.10.2009 Warsaw, Poland - POLAND SIGNS UP TO NEW US SHIELD - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared his country ready to take part in a revised US missile defence plan. Mr Tusk told visiting US Vice-President Joe Biden that Poland was "ready to participate". Poland will now host a small US base equipped with short-range missiles. It replaces a much bigger system favoured by former President George W Bush. Mr Biden insisted the new system was better than the old version and would mean "better security for Poland". President Barack Obama's decision to scrap Bush-era plans to build a defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic caused some alarm in those countries. The White House's decision to reset its relations with Moscow, which had vehemently opposed the plan, led some to wonder whether Washington was still listening to Central and Eastern Europe's concerns about Russia, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Poland. Mr Biden's visit is meant to reassure those countries that America's commitment is unwavering, our correspondent says. He will travel from Poland on to Romania and the Czech Republic. CLICK HERE:Poland signs up to new US shield

NY,NY - AFGHAN OPIUM 'FUNDING TERRORISM' - Afghanistan has a monopoly on illegal opium production that has devastating global consequences, a UN report says. UN findings say an opium market worth $65bn (£39bn) funds global terrorism, caters to 15 million addicts, and kills 100,000 people every year. Afghanistan produces 92% of the world's opium, with the equivalent of 3,500 tonnes leaving the country each year. The UN says corruption, lawlessness and uncontrolled borders result in only 2% of Afghan opiates being seized. Most of the opium that leaves Afghanistan makes its way through Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran, leaving a trail of addiction, criminality and death in its wake, according to the report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), but just a tiny percentage of what is produced is seized on route. Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UNODC, said Afghanistan's opium production could create a "perfect storm" in the region. "The Afghanistan/Pakistan border region has turned into the world's largest free-trade zone in anything and everything that is illicit - drugs of course, but also weapons, bomb-making equipment, chemical precursors, drug money, even people and migrants," he said. "We have identified the global consequences of the Afghan opium trade. "Some are devastating but expected; others seem surprising, yet they are very real. He also had some difficult words for those nations currently involved in Afghanistan: "I urge the friends of Afghanistan to recognise that, to a large extent, these uncomfortable truths may be the result of benign neglect." The report highlights a number of key factors as to why Afghanistan's illegal drugs trade has such an impact around the world. "The Taliban's direct involvement in the opium trade allows them to fund a war machine that is becoming technologically more complex" One significant reason is that "lawlessness, corruption and uncontrolled borders" are resulting in very limited seizures by the Afghan authorities. Just 2% of drugs are seized per annum, as compared with Colombia's 36% annually, the report says. Seizure rates are thought to decline as the drugs move closer to more lucrative key markets, with the value of the drugs doubling with every border crossed. One gram of heroin worth $3 in Kabul is worth up to $100 on the streets of London, Milan or Moscow, it is estimated. The UNODC is calling for more international resources to tackle the problem at source - in Afghanistan and surrounding areas - where law enforcement costs are cheaper. CLICK HERE:Afghan opium 'funding terrorism'


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20.10.2009 London, England - BNP HITS BACK AT GENERALS' ATTACK - BNP leader Nick Griffin has attacked distinguished former generals who had criticized "extremists" for hijacking military symbols. Former army leaders had signed a letter saying the forces' reputation was being tarnished by right-wing groups. Comparing them to Nazi military chiefs who faced trial at Nuremberg Mr Griffin said they had pursued "illegal wars". He later told the BBC it had been "black humor" but the Tories said his comments were "absolutely despicable". The BNP has been using military symbols, including a picture of a Spitfire alongside the words "Battle for Britain" which featured in the party's recent European election campaign. CLICK HERE:BNP hits back at generals' attack
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: Nick Griffin's political legitimation as MEP was not so much the product of a rising tide of xenophobia, but rather the dubious isolationist activities pursued by the arch-Eurosceptics above all in UKIP, and also in rank and file of today's Conservative Party.)

Strasbourg, France - The European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, has faced a grilling by MEPs in a first question and answer session in Strasbourg. The Q&A session was based on Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons. Representatives of the parliament's main groupings each had the chance to ask any question they wanted. MEPs are hoping the sessions will liven up the parliament's proceedings and add a touch of spontaneity. As much as they may complain about the "Punch and Judy" nature of Prime Minister's Question Time, British MPs know the weekly session at Westminster is envied in many other countries. This Q&A session in the European Parliament was the first of around 12 to take place every year - each time MEPs meet in Strasbourg. The format means Nigel Farage, head of the UK Independence Party, and of the Independence/ Democracy group in the European Parliament, will play a regular role. Mr Farage has welcomed the move, saying that in the past the parliament has been far too sterile but he admits that it is difficult to get the element of theatre seen in the UK House of Commons. "You've got 22 official languages, that's the first problem," said Mr Farage. CLICK HERE:Barroso faces EU 'question time'

Istanbul, Turkey - TURKISH JUDGE ORDERS PKK RELEASE A Turkish judge has ordered the release of five Kurdish rebels who crossed into the country from Iraq as part of a 34-strong "peace group". The Kurdistan Workers Party members were charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation. The PKK is banned in Turkey, but the judge ruled that they should not be held in custody as they had returned of their own free will. Others from the group who entered Turkey on Monday were released earlier. The group was made up of both PKK fighters from their stronghold in Iraq's Qandil mountains, and refugees from the Makhmour camp south of Mosul. Turkey's Interior Minister Besir Atalay said the government expected up to 150 more ethnic Kurds to return in small groups.CLICK HERE:Turkish judge orders PKK release


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19.10.2009 Carnac, France - FRANCE DETAINS 'TOP ETA LEADER' - French police have arrested two suspected Eta members, including a senior political leader of the Basque separatist group, officials say. Aitor Elizaran Aguilar is a joint political chief of the group, Spanish anti-terrorism experts say. He was arrested with another senior member, Oihana San Vicente, in the north-western seaside town of Carnac. Eta is blamed for more than 820 deaths during its 41-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland. Spain and France have been working closely to crack down on the separatists. The pair were reported to be carrying handguns at the time of their arrest, officials said. Mr Elizaran is regarded as the co-leader of the political apparatus of the group, and a member of its executive committee, Spanish anti-terrorism sources told the media. He was "elevated" to Eta's political leadership when the group's previous number one, Francisco Javier Lopez Pena - known as Thierry - was arrested in May 2008, sources told Spanish news agency Efe.CLICK HERE:France detains 'top Eta leader

Rome, Italy - FURY AS BERLUSCONI JUDGE FILMED - Fury as Berlusconi judge filmed - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has come under fire after a TV channel he owns secretly filmed a judge who ruled against him in a bribery case. Mr Berlusconi's Canale 5 channel aired footage of the judge taking a walk, smoking and visiting a barber shop. A lawyers' association reported the incident to Italy's privacy watchdog and declared a "state of protest". Earlier this month, Judge Raimondo Mesiano found Mr Berlusconi "co-responsible" of bribing legal officers. In the hidden camera footage - which was aired on Thursday - the narrator calls the judge's behaviour "eccentric". He points to him smoking the "umpteenth" cigarette, and calls his turquoise socks "strange".The narrator adds: "He's impatient... he can only relax at the barber's". CLICK HERE:Fury as Berlusconi judge filmed

Istanbul, Turkey - PKK 'SURRENDER'TESTS TURKEY PLAN - Eight Kurdish rebels have crossed into Turkey from Iraq to give themselves up in a sign of support for peace efforts. The PKK militants left their refuge in the Qandil mountains and were joined by 26 other Kurds, including refugees from a camp in Iraq, before entering Turkey. They were met near Silopi by a Turkish judge and five prosecutors to determine whether they had committed any crimes. Turkey has been working on a peace plan to end a 25-year conflict with rebels who want autonomy in south-east Turkey. The PKK - or Kurdistan Worker's Party - this year marked the 25th anniversary of its fight for autonomy, which has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths. The government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently seeking opposition support for a negotiated settlement to end the insurgency. Ahmet Turk, chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Turkey's only legal Kurdish party, said Monday's move by the rebels "shows that the PKK is insisting on peace not war", Reuters reported. CLICK HERE:PKK 'surrender' tests Turkey plan


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18.10.2009 Reyjavik, Iceland - ICELAND REACHES SAVER'S AGREEMENT - The Icelandic government says it has come to a new agreement with the governments of the Netherlands and the UK over the repaying of $5bn (£3bn). A law to reimburse funds paid out by the two governments to those who lost money when online bank Icesave's owner collapsed in 2008 was passed in August. The UK and Netherlands disagreed with the terms, meaning a new bill will go before Iceland's parliament on Monday. About 400,000 savers lost money when Icesave owner Landsbanki collapsed. The Icelandic government said in a statement published on its website: "An understanding has been reached with the UK and the Netherlands." Iceland's Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir said the government believed the new law would be adopted by parliament. At a press conference, she said a review by the IMF of its $10bn bail-out programme would take place before the end of the month. There has been particular anger that the UK used anti-terror laws to freeze Icelandic banking assets in the UK when the crisis began last year. CLICK HERE:Iceland reaches savers' agreement


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17.10.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - CZECH LEADER RESIGNED TO TREATY - Czech leader resigned to treaty - Czech President Vaclav Klaus has compared the Lisbon Treaty on EU reform to an unstoppable speeding train, suggesting he may have to sign it. A staunch opponent to the treaty, he said even if it did come into force, it would not be "the end of history". He was speaking in an interview with Saturday's Lidove Noviny newspaper. His signature is now virtually the last hurdle before full ratification of the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining the 27-member EU's decision making. "I do not consider the Lisbon Treaty to be a good thing for Europe, for the freedom of Europe, or for the Czech Republic," Lidove Noviny quoted Mr Klaus as saying. "However, the train has already travelled so fast and so far that I guess it will not be possible to stop it or turn it around, however much we would wish to." Although Mr Klaus has fought tooth and nail against the treaty, which he sees as endangering Czech sovereignty, there are increasing signs coming from Prague Castle that this battle may be lost. The country's caretaker government is busy trying to deal with the president's latest demand for an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights - which will become law as soon as the treaty is ratified. Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to prevent Czech courts being circumvented, mentioning the prospect of ethnic Germans - 2.5m of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after the war - trying to win back their property, but on this point too Mr Klaus appeared to offer concessions, telling Lidove Noviny that a legal guarantee similar to that given to Ireland might be sufficient - in other words a solution that would not require ratification by all 27 EU members. The Czech president cannot actually sign the treaty until his country's constitutional court rules on a legal challenge filed by a group of senators. The court is due to meet on 27 October. If the senators' complaint is rejected, it is decision time for Mr Klaus. CLICK HERE:Czech leader resigned to treaty
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: The EU should be prepared to meet and satisfy all Czech legal demands regarding national sovereignty in par with all other EU members.)

Madrid, Spain - More than a million people are said to have taken part in a march in Madrid to oppose government plans to liberalize Spain's abortion law. Several dozen center-right opposition party joined the demonstration, which was backed by Roman Catholic bishops. Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero wants to introduce abortion on demand. At present, a pregnancy can only be terminated in mainly Catholic Spain under specific circumstances. It is the latest in a series of ethical issues which have pitted the Catholic right against the government, which has legalised gay marriage and made divorce easier. Police estimates put the crowd at 250,000, but the regional government said that over a million had turned out, with the organisers claiming a turnout of two million. Saturday's march, called Every Life Matters, has brought together more than 40 religious and civil society groups. They are demanding that the government withdraw the draft law currently before parliament, which would introduce abortion on demand within the first 14 weeks of a pregnancy. It would also permit girls aged 16 and 17 to have an abortion without their parents' knowledge. CLICK HERE:Big anti-abortion rally in Spain


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16.10.2009 Sarajevo, Bosnia - BOSNIAN SERB JAILED FOR GENOCIDE - Bosnian Serb jailed for genocide - A former Bosnian Serb army officer has been sentenced to 30 years in jail over the massacre of Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) in Srebrenica in 1995. Bosnia's top war crimes court said Milorad Trbic took part in planning to capture, detain, execute and bury Bosniaks "with genocidal intent". In all, as many as 8,000 men and boys were killed in a week in Srebrenica. The court in Sarajevo has already jailed a number of other people for their role in the massacre. Srebrinica: Muslim enclave in Serb-held territory; Declared UN "safe area" in April 1993; Bosnian Serb forces overrun the area in 1995; 23,000 women and children deported; Up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys killed. CLICK HERE:Bosnian Serb jailed for genocide

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA SEIZES STALIN-ERA RESEARCH - Russia seizes Stalin-era research - A Russian academic investigating the fate of ethnic Germans deported by Stalin during World War II has had his research seized by security services. History professor Mikhail Suprun was briefly arrested in the far north of Russia last month, but the incident has only now come to light. Prof Suprun told the BBC he has been ordered not to comment on the case. Thousands of ethnic Germans were sent to remote areas far from the war front after Hitler attacked the USSR in 1941. Although they had lived in southern Russia for generations - mostly along the River Volga - Soviet leader Joseph Stalin did not trust them. Prof Suprun had managed to track down the files of 5,000 deportees and had interviewed hundreds of their descendents, but now the documents he had collected over 10 years, his computer and all his hard drives have been seized by the FSB - the powerful successor to the KGB. Although he has been ordered not to comment on the case, a few days ago he described the seizure as absurd. He said it was part of a Russian government attempt to control how the history of World War II is told. CLICK HERE:Russia seizes Stalin-era research

Moscow, Russia - DEMOCRACY 'NOT NEEDED' IN RUSSIA - Democracy 'not needed' in Russia - A growing number of Russians believe their country does not need democracy, a nationwide survey by one of Russia's leading polling agencies suggests. The poll by the Levada-Center showed that 57% of those questioned considered that Russia needed democracy - the lowest number since 2006. It said 26% believed that democratic governing was not suitable for Russia. Nearly 95% of respondents said they had little or no influence on what was happening in the country. Levada-Center said 1,600 people across Russia had been questioned in the poll which was released on Friday. CLICK HERE:Democracy 'not needed' in Russia

London, England - DUTCH MP HAILS UK VISIT 'VICTORY' - Controversial Dutch MP Geert Wilders has hailed his arrival in the UK as a "victory for freedom of speech". He told a packed press conference in Westminster he was "proud of the UK asylum and immigration tribunal" for overturning the ban, and he repeated his criticism of Muslim ideology and defended his call for the Koran to be banned in Holland. His press conference was moved inside amid angry scenes, with demonstrators chanting "Wilders go to hell". About 40 Muslim protesters gathered outside the Abbey Gardens buildings, opposite the Houses of Parliament, where the hastily rearranged press conference was held. Held back by a police line, and surrounded by camera crews from around the world, they chanted slogans such as "Sharia for the UK" and "Freedom go to hell" and held up placards saying: "Sharia for the Netherlands" and "Islam will be superior". One protester, Sayful Islam, said they wanted to see Mr Wilders "tried in an Islamic court" for "insulting the Prophet", adding: "We need to put this dog on a leash". CLICK HERE:Dutch MP hails UK visit 'victory'


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15.10.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - HAVEL ATTACKS KLAUS ON EU TREATY - Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has said his successor Vaclav Klaus is damaging the country's name in Europe by refusing to sign the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Havel, who is credited with toppling communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, said Mr Klaus's attitude was dangerous. President Klaus has so far not publicly responded to Mr Havel's comments. The Czech Republic is the only EU state yet to ratify the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions in the 27-member bloc. Last week, Mr Klaus said he wanted his country to have an exemption from the Charter of Fundamental Rights before he would sign the treaty. The demand threatens a further delay over the reform treaty, correspondents say. Speaking in Prague, Mr Havel said his successor's refusal to sign the treaty showed a lack of understanding of the Czech Constitution. Mr Havel also said the president's attitude was "irresponsible" and "harming this republic". The two men have in the past frequently clashed with on both domestic and foreign policy, but this was Mr Havel's harshest attack in years, the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says. The two men hold diametrically opposed views in many areas of life, reflecting the deep divisions in modern Czech society, our correspondent says. He adds that on the Lisbon Treaty, however, the Czech public seems rather confused: many share Mr Klaus's concerns over European integration and respect his decision to defy it; but neither do they want their president to lead them into isolation. CLICK HERE:Havel attacks Klaus on EU treaty

London, England - ITALY FURY AT 'TALIBAN PAY' - Italy has angrily denied a UK newspaper report that it paid Taliban fighters in Afghanistan to keep the peace. Italy's defense minister said his country was planning to sue the Times newspaper over the claims. French forces took over the area unaware of the policy, leaving them unaware of the risks, the paper says. Ten soldiers were killed within weeks. In France, opposition socialists demanded the defense minister should answer questions on the claims. The Times' report, quoting Western military officials, says the policy was operated by Italian secret services in Afghanistan's Sarobi area, east of Kabul. "A lot of Nato countries with troops operating in the rural areas of Afghanistan pay the insurgents so not to be attacked" Warlords as well as Taliban commanders were paid, the paper says, with the amounts running to tens of thousands of dollars. France took over control of the region in 2008, apparently believing it to be a low-risk area, the paper says, as only one Italian had died in the previous year, but within a month of the French take-over, 10 soldiers were killed and 21 injured in a mountain ambush. An unnamed Afghan army officer also told French news agency AFP that Italy had paid the Taliban to avoid casualties. "We knew that Italian forces were paying the opposition (fighters) in Sarobi so they would not be attacked. We have information on similar agreements made in the western Herat province by Italian soldiers under Nato command there," he said. "A lot of Nato countries with troops operating in the rural areas of Afghanistan pay the insurgents so not to be attacked." CLICK HERE:Italy fury at 'Taliban pay' claim


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14.10.2009 Rome, Italy - BERLUSCONI BACKS BLAIR FOR EU JOB -Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed Tony Blair as his preferred candidate to be president of the European Union. Mr Blair had "the right credentials" and should get the job as soon as "legally and politically possible", he wrote to Italian newspaper Il Foglio. Mr Berlusconi also said changes to the way the EU is run would leave a "great political legacy" for Europe. Mr Blair, UK prime minister until 2007, is currently a Middle East peace envoy. The presidency would be created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which still has to be ratified by the Czech Republic. There has long been speculation that Mr Blair would apply but he has not confirmed his intentions. EU heads of government will choose who gets the post. Mr Berlusconi has previously described Mr Blair as having the "ideal personality" for the job. In his letter to Il Foglio, he says: "Tony Blair has all the right credentials for becoming the first president of the European Council in the terms enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty, and to be appointed to that post as soon as it is legally and politically possible to give the go-ahead to the implementation of the clause renewing the union's governance." In July the then Europe minister Baroness Kinnock said the UK would support Mr Blair, adding that he had the "strength of character" and "status" to be a success. French President Nicolas Sarkozy had backed Mr Blair, but senior sources told the BBC last year that he had changed his mind following a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. CLICK HERE:Berlusconi backs Blair for EU job

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN MP'S MAKE ELECTION PROTEST - Russian opposition parties have walked out of parliament and threatened to raise mass demonstrations in protest at local elections they say were rigged. Official results showed PM Vladimir Putin's United Russia party winning nearly every poll by a wide margin. Some 135 out of 450 MPs walked out of parliament - the Duma - in a rare show of anger against the Kremlin. "We will not sit in a room with fraudsters. We are leaving the room!" declared one opposition party leader. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, head of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, demanded a recount at every polling station, after accusing United Russia of having "fraudulently appropriated" his party's votes.CLICK HERE:Russian MPs make election protest

Brussels, Belgium - MACDEDONIA 'IS READY FOR EU TALKS - The European Union should open talks aimed at welcoming Macedonia as a member, the European Commission says. The former Yugoslav republic had made "convincing progress" in areas like police reform, corruption and human rights, the Commission said. In its annual report on the progress of aspiring members, the Commission also said Croatia should complete entry talks next year, but it said Turkey and other Balkan states were making uneven progress. Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo are all hoping to be put formally on the path to EU membership. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Macedonia "has made convincing progress and substantially addressed reform priorities", and that formal membership talks should begin. CLICK HERE:Macedonia 'is ready for EU talks'

Cambridge, England - MUSSOLINI WORKED FOR MI5 AGENTS - Benito Mussolini may be among history's most notorious fascist dictators, but evidence suggests he worked for British secret services during World War I. Historian Dr Peter Martland says MI5 records show it paid "Il Duce" £100 per week, about £5,000 today,to spread pro-war propaganda via his newspaper. The Cambridge University academic made the discovery while studying the papers of former agent Sir Samuel Hoare MP. However, Dr Martland believes Mussolini probably spent the cash on womanising. "Mussolini was the ace womaniser and of course, he's spent most of it on his women," he suggests. Dr Martland said the payments were agreed in 1917, after Russia collapsed into the Bolshevik revolution and Italy was "smashed" at the Battle of Caporetto. CLICK HERE:Mussolini worked for MI5 agents


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13.10.2009 Brussels, Belgium - BARROSO RAISES PRESSURE ON CZECHS - The Czech Republic should sign the Lisbon Treaty and not erect "artificial obstacles" to ratification, says EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso. Mr Barroso was speaking after meeting Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer in Brussels. The Czech Republic is the only EU member still to ratify the treaty, which is meant to reform the bloc. Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus last week demanded fresh concessions before he would sign it. Mr Klaus demanded an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights, similar to opt-outs agreed previously for the UK and Poland. Mr Klaus raised fears about possible property claims by Germans expelled from the then Czechoslovakia after World War II, but Mr Barroso said: "We certainly hope that no artificial obstacles are raised at this time. "We expect the Czech Republic to honour the commitment it has taken. It is in the interests of nobody, least of all the interests of the Czech Republic, to delay matters further. "Good faith and loyal co-operation are principles of European law and international law." Since the Irish people voted to support the treaty in a referendum earlier this month, the spotlight has turned on the Czech Republic. Even though the government supports the treaty and parliament has ratified it, Mr Klaus is holding out. However, he could not sign it right now even if he wanted to, since the country's Constitutional Court is considering a legal challenge mounted by Eurosceptic senators. The court announced on Tuesday that it would hold a hearing on the complaint on October 27. Prime Minister Jan Fischer has said he will take Mr Klaus' demand for an opt-out to European leaders when they meet in Brussels on October 29 - provided Mr Klaus guarantees he will then sign the treaty without delay. CLICK HERE:Barroso raises pressure on Czechs

Moscow, Russsia - DON'T PRESSURE IRAN - Pressuring Iran and threatening further sanctions over its nuclear program would be counter-productive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says. Speaking after talks in Moscow with US counterpart Hillary Clinton, Mr Lavrov said every effort should be made to continue negotiations. His comments appeared to fall short of the tougher commitment sought by Washington towards Iran, but Mrs Clinton praised Russia for its help on the issue. The US secretary of state, in Moscow at the end of a five-day European tour, told a joint news conference with Mr Lavrov that Russia had "been extremely co-operative in the work that we have done together" on Iran. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes, but the US and other Western nations believe it is seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran revealed last month that it had a second uranium plant, further raising questions about the nature of its nuclear ambitions. CLICK HERE:Don't pressure Iran, says Russia

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN COURT REJECTS STALIN CASE - Russian court rejects Stalin case - A Moscow court has rejected a lawsuit filed by the grandson of Joseph Stalin claiming a Russian newspaper had defamed the Soviet dictator. Yevgeny Dzhugashvili said an article published in Novaya Gazeta claiming Stalin personally ordered the deaths of Soviet citizens was a lie. He had requested a public apology and damages from the opposition newspaper, but the court rejected his petition. Russian media said its reasons would be made public later. The Novaya Gazeta had published a piece referring to declassified death warrants, which it said bore Stalin's personal signature. Mr Dzhugashvili had argued that this was a lie and that Stalin never directly ordered any deaths. The case was seen by many as part of a Kremlin-backed campaign to rehabilitate Stalin's reputation, correspondents say. Mr Dzhugashvili has five days to appeal against the ruling. He was not in court for the verdict, but it was greeted with applause by some present, and shouts of "shame" from others, Russian state-owned news agency Ria Novosti reported. CLICK HERE:Russian court rejects Stalin case

Bucharest, Romania - ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT FALLS ON VOTE - The government of Romania has fallen after losing a vote of no confidence, the first such a measure since the end of Communist rule in 1989. Parliament voted 254-176 to oust Prime Minister Emil Boc's government, which lost its majority when its coalition allies pulled out earlier this month. Romania has been hard-hit by the global economic recession and is dependant on an IMF loan to pay state salaries. The vote followed the collapse of the ruling coalition 10 days ago. Mr Boc has been struggling to pass economic and social reforms which were a condition of the IMF loan. CLICK HERE:Romanian government falls on vote


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12.10.2009 London, England - BROWN TO REPAY £ 12,415 EXPENSES - Prime Minister Gordon Brown will repay £12,415 after an independent audit of all MPs' expenses claims since 2004. Downing Street confirmed he would repay the money, largely for cleaning and gardening, even though the claims had been within the rules at the time. It said auditor Sir Thomas Legg had "deemed" that any annual claims above £2,000 for cleaning and £1,000 for gardening should be repaid. Some MPs are annoyed that new limits are being applied retrospectively. Conservative leader David Cameron has been asked by Sir Thomas to provide more information about payments for which he over-claimed in 2006 when he changed his mortgage. He had already repaid £218. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is to repay £910 of the £3,900 he claimed for gardening between 2006 and 2009. CLICK HERE:Brown to repay £12,415 expenses

Paris, France - SCIENTIST ON FRENCH TERROR CHARGE - Anti-terrorism magistrates in Paris have filed preliminary charges against a French physicist arrested last week on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda. The 32-year-old man of Algerian descent works at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern), Europe's main centre for studying particle physics. He was one of two brothers detained in the town of Vienne on Thursday. Officials said he had been in contact with people linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and planned attacks. The researcher had been working on an experiment at the Cern laboratory which houses the giant Large Hadron Collider, designed to recreate the conditions that existed just after the Big Bang. It is located on the Swiss-French border. After his arrest, Cern was quick to stress that his job "did not bring him into contact with anything that could be used for terrorism". On Monday, spokesman James Gillies said the man had not been seen at work for most of the year because he was ill, but that he had been in touch via e-mail. CLICK HERE:Scientist on French terror charge

Moscow, Russia - CLINTON TO PRESS RUSSIA ON IRAN - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Moscow on the final leg of her European visit. Mrs Clinton is due to hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday. She is said to be hoping to win Russian support for the US government's stances on Iran's controversial nuclear program and global arms control. On Sunday, Mrs Clinton warned Iran the world would "not wait indefinitely" for proof it is not making nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. CLICK HERE:Clinton to press Russia on Iran


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11.10.2009 Zurich, Switzerland - AZERBAIJAN CONDEMNS TURKISH PACT - Azerbaijan has criticised an agreement between Turkey and Armenia, saying it raises doubts about regional stability. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry said Turkey should not have normalized ties without a deal over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. During the war there in 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia out of solidarity with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's government wants Armenia to withdraw troops from Nagorno-Karabakh and return land. Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord on Saturday, paving the way for the opening of their shared border. On Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the opening of his country's border with Armenia would be tied to progress on the disputed region. "We want all the borders to be opened at the same time," Mr Erdogan was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "But as long as Armenia has not withdrawn from Azerbaijani territory that it is occupying, Turkey cannot have a positive attitude on this subject." CLICK HERE:Azerbaijan condemns Turkish pact


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10.10.2009 Moscow, Russia - CONCERN OVER 'RIGGED' RUSSIA ELECTION - Opposition parties in Russia have alleged that local elections across the country were marred by fraud. Mayoral, regional and district council votes were held across Russia on Sunday, with some 30 million people eligible to vote, but opposition parties say they were refused registration to take part and were denied media access. Votes were held in almost all regions, including Chechnya and Ingushetia, with United Russia likely to dominate. One official from United Russia, the party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and which backs President Dmitry Medvedev, said it won "practically every race it ran in", Reuters reported. Vladimir Churov, chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission, praised the electoral process. "The elections were recognised valid and were well organised, with a quite high turnout," he told Itar-Tass. CLICK HERE:Concern over 'rigged' Russia election

Zurich, Switzerland - AZERBAIJAN CONDEMNS TURKISH PACT - Azerbaijan has criticized an agreement between Turkey and Armenia, saying it raises doubts about regional stability. The Azerbaijani foreign ministry said Turkey should not have normalized ties without a deal over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. During the war there in 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia out of solidarity for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan's government wants Armenia to withdraw troops from Nagorno-Karabach and return land. Turkey and Armenia signed a historic accord on Saturday, paving the way for the opening of their shared border. On Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the opening of his country's border with Armenia would be tied to progress on the disputed region. CLICK HERE:Azerbaijan condemns Turkish pact


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9.10.2009 Warsaw, Poland - POLISH LEADER RATIFIES EU TREATY - Polish President Lech Kaczynski has signed the European Union's much-delayed Lisbon Treaty. His signature means the treaty, which is intended to streamline decision-making, remains un-ratified by only one country, the Czech Republic. It must be ratified by all 27 member states before it can come into force. Mr Kaczynski, a noted Eurosceptic, said he was convinced the treaty would be successful but that the EU should remain a union of sovereign states. The treaty's prospects of coming into force received a major lift last week when Irish voters approved it in a second referendum, but the Czech President Vaclav Klaus then raised fresh doubts when he said he would not sign the treaty unless his country was granted an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. Mr Klaus raised fears about possible property claims by Germans expelled from the then Czechoslovakia after World War II. CLICK HERE:Polish leader ratifies EU treaty

Zurich, Switzerland - ARMENIA AND TURKEY OFFICIALLY NORMALIZE RELATIONS - Armenia and Turkey normalise ties - Turkey and Armenia have signed a historic accord normalising relations after a century of hostility. The deal was signed by the two foreign ministers after last-minute problems delayed the ceremony in Switzerland. Under the agreement, Turkey and Armenia are to resume diplomatic ties and re-open their shared border. The accord has been met by protests in Armenia, where many people say it does not fully address the 1915 killing of hundreds of thousands of Armenians. Armenia wants Turkey to recognise the killings as an act of genocide, but successive Turkish governments have refused to do so. The agreement calls for a joint commission of independent historians to study the genocide issue. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Armenian counterpart, Edward Nalbandian, signed the protocols in Switzerland after a delay of more than three hours. CLICK HERE:Armenia and Turkey officially normalise ties

London, England - PM BROWN CLEARS EYE TEST - Eyesight tests have found Gordon Brown has two minor tears in his right retina but he will not be undergoing further operations, Downing Street has said. A spokesman said Mr Brown had an eye check in the summer which was fine, and later had his retina examined. Surgeons found it had two minor tears, but there had been no further deterioration in his sight. Another check-up on Friday found no change. The prime minister lost the sight in his left eye in a teenage accident. "Yesterday Mr Brown visited Moorfields Hospital as part of regular checks on his eyes and this check was also fine," Downing Street said. CLICK HERE:PM Brown clears eye test


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8.10.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - CZECH LEADER WANTS TREATY OPT-OUT - The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, says he wants his country to have an exemption from a key EU charter before he will sign the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Klaus demanded an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights, similar to opt-outs agreed previously for the UK and Poland. The demand threatens a further delay over the treaty, correspondents say. Poland's president is expected to sign the treaty on Saturday. That would leave only Mr Klaus still to sign. Mr Klaus raised fears about possible property claims by Germans expelled from the then Czechoslovakia after World War II. On Thursday Mr Klaus had called for a Czech "footnote" to be added to the treaty, without specifying what it was. He held talks in Prague on Friday with the president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. There is an element of farce creeping into the drama of the Czech Republic and the Lisbon Treaty. We now know what President Klaus's conditions are for signing the treaty - or rather I think we do. To start with, he did not intend to reveal his hand today. He feels he was pushed into it. The Czech president is clearly irritated that, in his view, the Swedish prime minister disclosed a confidential conversation they had yesterday... CLICK HERE:Czech leader wants treaty opt-out

Oslo, Norway - OBAMA WINS 2009 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE - US President Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee said he won it for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples". The committee highlighted Mr Obama's efforts to support international bodies and promote nuclear disarmament. Mr Obama - woken up with the news early on Friday - said in an address at the White House that he was "surprised and deeply humbled" by the award. He said he did not feel he deserved to be in the company of some of the "transformative figures" who had previously received the award. Speaking outside the White House, he said he would accept the prize as a "call to action". There were a record 205 nominations for this year's peace prize. Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Chinese dissident Hu Jia had been among the favourites. Instead the committee chose Mr Obama, who was inaugurated less than two weeks before the February 1 nomination deadline. CLICK HERE:Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Vienne, France - ' AL-QAEDA LINK' - CERN WORKER HELD - France has arrested a researcher at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern) for suspected links with al-Qaeda, officials have said. The 32-year-old man of Algerian descent was one of two brothers detained in the south-east town of Vienne on Thursday. Police believe they had been in contact over the internet with people linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and had been planning attacks in France. Cern's Large Hadron Collider is aiming to recreate conditions of the Big Bang. The organization confirmed that a physicist working at its site had been arrested "under suspicion of links to terrorist organisations", and said it was helping the French police with their investigation. "Perhaps we have avoided the worst" Brice Hortefeux the French Interior Minister said. "He was not a Cern employee and performed his research under a contract with an outside institute. His work did not bring him into contact with anything that could be used for terrorism," it said.zThe suspect had been working on the LHC Beauty (LHCb) experiment, which is investigating the slight differences between matter and anti-matter by studying a type of particle called the "beauty quark". Cern, a civilian organization backed by 20 member states, is Europe's leading laboratory for the study of the fundamentals of sub-atomic physics. It is based on the Franco-Swiss border just outside Geneva. The two brothers were detained for questioning on Thursday in Vienne, a town on the River Rhone about 100km (65 miles) south-west of Cern's laboratory, by security service officers acting on a warrant from an anti-terrorist magistrate. Judicial sources told the AFP news agency on Friday that agents had come across the men during a separate inquiry into the recruitment of would-be Islamist militants who wanted to fight in Afghanistan. The physicist had exchanged messages over the internet with people known to be close to the organisation al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and expressed a desire to carry out attacks, but had "not got to the stage of carrying out material acts of preparation", one said. It is not yet known to what extent, if any, his 25-year-old brother was involved. Two computers, three hard drives and several USB storage devices were removed from the brothers' home after their arrest. "The inquiry will doubtless establish what the targets were in France or elsewhere, and perhaps indicate that we have avoided the worst," French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux told journalists. "We are in a situation of permanent alert. We follow statements made by the leaders of certain organisations day by day. We never let our guard down. The danger is permanent," he added. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb emerged in early 2007, after the Algerian militant group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), aligned itself with Osama Bin Laden's international network. The group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at the French embassy in Mauritania in August which wounded three people.CLICK HERE:'Al-Qaeda-link' Cern worker held


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7.10.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - The Czech PM, Jan Fischer, has told EU leaders he fully expects his country to ratify the EU's Lisbon Treaty by the end of this year. The Czech Constitutional Court is studying a complaint against the treaty and the Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, has not yet signed it. Lisbon cannot take effect unless all 27 EU countries ratify it. All but the Czech Republic and Poland have done so.The UK Conservatives want to put it to a referendum if elected next spring. The treaty aims to streamline EU decision-making and boost the EU's role globally. Politicians across Europe want Lisbon ratified swiftly so as to get the new structures within it up and running, and to eliminate the possibility that any new British government might reverse the UK's ratification of the treaty, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports from Brussels.,The Czech Republic's Europe Minister, Stefan Fule, told the BBC he thought the Czech ratification could come in "weeks rather than months". He said it was not a question of "if the treaty was signed, but when". CLICK HERE:Czechs 'to back treaty this year'

Moscow, Russia - MILIBAND DIASPORA - Britain's young minister for energy and climate change, Ed Miliband, had come to Russia to talk about global warming. Little did he know he would end up meeting a long-lost member of his family.,It came in the middle of a phone-in program on the popular Moscow radio station "Ekho Moskvy". As the fresh-faced Mr Miliband prepared to answer questions on CO2 emissions and melting permafrost, the voice of an elderly woman came on the line."I am Sofia Davidovna Miliband, I am your relative; I am the only one left." As the British minister looked on bemused,the host of the show cut her off - clearly worried she was a hoaxer, but it was no hoax. The British ambassador and dozens of invited guests (and the BBC) were left stranded at an embassy reception as Mr Miliband raced off to meet his long-lost kin. It turns out that Sofia Davidovna Miliband is an 86-year-old academic. She was once a leading expert on Iran at the Moscow School of Oriental Studies. "I've always slightly wondered about her ever since I was a kid, it was amazing for me to come face to face with her" Ed Miliband said. After much translation and a call to his mother in the UK, the British minister - whose brother David, is the UK's foreign secretary - worked out that his great- great grandfather was the brother of Sofia's grandfather. Both of them had been born in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw in Poland. Ed Miliband's grandfather fled Poland in the 1920s and ended up in Belgium. He fled again ahead of Hitler's invading army and made it to Britain on forged papers with his son, Ed and David Miliband's father. Unknown to them another part of the Miliband clan had come east to Moscow. CLICK HERE:Miliband Diaspora

Rome, Italy BERLUSCONI IMMUNITY LAW OVERRULED - Italy's Constitutional Court has overturned a law granting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi immunity from prosecution while in office. The move opens the possibility that Mr Berlusconi, 73, could stand trial in at least three court cases, including one in which he is accused of corruption. The judges said immunity violated the principle that all citizens were equal. Mr Berlusconi said he had expected the ruling as the court was dominated by left-wing judges, and would not resign."We have a very organized minority of red [left-wing] magistrates who use justice for a political fight," he told reporters outside his residence in Rome. "We must govern for five years with or without the law."CLICK HERE:Berlusconi immunity law overruled


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7.10.2009 Stockholm - MUELLER WINS NOBEL LITERARY PRIZE - German author Herta Mueller has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature, the academy in Stockholm has announced. The Romanian-born writer follows last year's French winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, while British writer Doris Lessing won in 2007. Mueller, born in 1953, is renowned for her depiction of the harsh conditions under Nicolae Ceausescu's regime. She said she was "stunned and still cannot believe it".The Swedish academy praised Mueller for both her poetry and prose. It said the writer had an ability to "depict the landscape of the dispossessed" and wrote "with the concentration of poetry and the frankness of prose". Mueller was born to a family from Romania's German minority and her mother was deported to a labour camp in the Soviet Union after World War II. "A bit like Franz Kafka writing in German in Prague, Mueller saw in her mother tongue a direct and poignant expression of alienation" CLICK HERE:Mueller wins Nobel literary prize

Zurich, Switzerland ZURICH ALLOWS ANTI-MINARET POSTER - Switzerland's biggest city, Zurich, has allowed the use of a controversial poster which urges a ban on the building of minarets in the country. The poster shows a woman dressed in a burka in front of black minarets standing on a Swiss flag, but Zurich city council said campaign posters were protected by free speech. The advert is being used by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) ahead of next month's referendum on whether to ban the building of new minarets. The Swiss Federal Commission Against Racism said earlier this week that the poster was "tantamount to the denigration and defamation of the peaceful Swiss Muslim population".Some media reports have said the minarets resemble missiles.Zurich city council said on Thursday that although it disapproved of the "negative and dangerous" poster, it had to be accepted as part of political free speech ahead of the 29 November national referendum. CLICK HERE:Zurich allows anti-minaret poster

PAris, France - FRENCH 'BOY SEX'MINISTER DEFIANT - A French politician has refused to resign over comments that he enjoyed paying for "young boys" in Thailand. Frederic Mitterrand, 62, the culture minister, denied that passages of his book, The Bad Life, described sexual encounters with underage boys. Interviewed on French TV, he condemned sex tourism and pedophilia, saying he had only paid for sex with men his age. Mr Mitterrand, nephew of late President Francois Mitterrand, faced criticism from left and right in recent weeks. CLICK HERE:French 'boy sex' minister defiant


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6.10.2009 Athens, Greece - PROFILE: GEORGE PAPANDREOU - George Papandreou, leader of Greece's Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok), is the scion of Greece's premier socialist dynasty. The son and grandson of two former prime ministers, his surname harks back to old times, but the 57-year-old needs a radical new plan to overhaul Greece's financial woes. Speaking in Athens after his party's emphatic victory - one of the worst electoral defeats for the conservatives - Mr Papandreou promised to revive the country's ailing economy with a 3bn-euro ($4.4bn: £2.7bn) stimulus package. He is committed to transforming the country so that well-educated, enterprising Greeks no longer feel they have to move abroad to achieve success. He has promised to root out government corruption and boost public investment. He replaced former Prime Minister Costas Simitis as Pasok's leader in 2004. Despite the personal popularity of its new leader extending beyond grassroots socialists, Pasok lost that year's general elections. Pasok had ruled Greece for almost 20 years but its old guard was tainted by allegations of sleaze and complacency. In opposition, Mr Papandreou pledged to clean Pasok's house. CLICK HERE:Profile: George Papandreou


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5.10.2009 London, England - PHISHING ATTACK TARGETS HOTMAIL - Thousands of accounts on web-based e-mail system Hotmail have been compromised in a phishing attack, software giant Microsoft has confirmed. BBC News has seen a list of more than 10,000 e-mail accounts, predominantly originating from Europe, and passwords which were posted online. Microsoft said it had launched an investigation. Phishing involves using fake websites to lure people into revealing details such as bank accounts or login names. "We are aware that some Windows Live Hotmail customers' credentials were acquired illegally and exposed on a website," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "Upon learning of the issue, we immediately requested that the credentials be removed and launched an investigation to determine the impact to customers."...Technology blog neowin.net was the first to publish details of the attack. It said the accounts were posted on October 1 - to pastebin.com, a website commonly used by developers to share code. CLICK HERE:Phishing attack targets Hotmail

Manchester, England - NO RIFT OVER EU TREATY - CAMERON - Leader David Cameron has played down suggestions of a rift over Conservative policy towards an EU Treaty referendum. Mr Cameron has promised a referendum if his party wins power before the treaty is ratified by all 27 EU states, but Ireland's "yes" vote means he is under pressure to say what he would do if it is in force before the election. Mr Cameron also rejected talk of splits with Boris Johnson, who says British people should be "consulted" on parts of the treaty even if it is ratified. The issue threatens to dominate the first day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, where Mr Cameron and senior ministers have been setting out plans to reform welfare policy. Mr Johnson told the BBC it was "bizarre" that people had no say about the prospect of former prime minister Tony Blair becoming president of the EU - a move made possible because the treaty, which aims to streamline decision making in an enlarged EU, creates a President of the European Council. CLICK HERE:No rift over EU Treaty - Cameron

Prague, Czech Republic - CZECH LEADER STRUGGLES TO DEFY EU - Now the Irish have ratified the Lisbon Treaty, and with Poland expected to follow suit, all eyes are on one man - President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic. The Czech parliament has approved the treaty, but Mr Klaus, a harsh critic of the European Union, has so far refused to sign it. Czech ratification is currently on hold pending a new legal challenge to Lisbon, but the Czech president has given the first hint that his battle against Lisbon may finally be lost. At the stroke of midnight on 30 April 2004, the Czech Republic joined the European Union. Fireworks lit up the night sky over Prague, their reflections shimmering on the River Vltava. "After today's Irish referendum there will never be another referendum in Europe", Vaclav Klaus said. Politicians in tuxedos gathered in the gilded splendour of the National Theater to clink champagne glasses and celebrate the crowning achievement of Czech foreign policy since 1989. Vaclav Klaus, however, was not among them. CLICK HERE:Czech leader struggles to defy EU

London, England - JACK JONES 'WORKED FOR KGB' IT WAS CLAIMED - Jack Jones 'worked for KGB' claim - Trade union leader Jack Jones was briefly considered by the Soviet KGB as one of their agents, according to an official history of MI5. The book says he only passed on Labour party documents, not secrets, and was last paid by the Russians in 1984. Jones, who died earlier this year, always denied working for the KGB. The book - Defence Of The Realm - also found that British intelligence could barely cope with the number of Soviet spies in the UK during the Cold War. Jack Jones was leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1969 to 1978, and a veteran of the Spanish Civil War. The book says the head of MI5 told the cabinet secretary in 1985 that he last received money from his case officer the year before. That case officer was Oleg Gordievsky, who was working for British intelligence. Gordievsky had previously claimed that Jones had accepted money. CLICK HERE:Jack Jones 'worked for KGB' it was claimed


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4.10.2009 Manchester, England - CAMERON 'WORKING FOR EURO VOTE' - Tory Euro MP Daniel Hannan has said David Cameron is "working privately to get a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty". The Tory leader has said he does not want to prejudice debate in countries who have yet to ratify the Treaty. However his office admitted Mr Cameron had written to the president of one of those countries - the Czech Republic - setting out his opinion on the Treaty. A Yes vote on the Treaty in Ireland has ensured it has dominated the eve of the party's conference in Manchester. It also re-ignited Tory opposition to former Prime Minister Tony Blair becoming the European Union's first president. Mr Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum on the Treaty in the UK if it has not been ratified, should the Conservatives win the next general election, which is widely expected to be in May. He has so far declined to say what the Conservatives would do if the Treaty has been ratified - and he is under pressure from the Eurosceptic wing of his party to hold a referendum no matter what. One Eurosceptic backbencher, Richard Shepherd, said he believed the party was "committed to it". CLICK HERE:Cameron 'working for Euro vote'


London, England - SECRET AGENTS' MEMORIAL UNVEILED - A memorial to honor secret agents who worked for the Allies in World War II is unveiled in London, featuring a carving of captured and executed Violette Szabo. They came from all generations of the military - veterans of World War II, serving men and women, and young military cadets - all gathered on London's South Bank to see the new memorial officially unveiled. The bust gazing out across the Thames depicts Violette Szabo, one of Britain's more extraordinary under-cover agents.Daughter of a French mother and English father, Violette grew up in Brixton, South London, but when her husband was killed fighting in North Africa, she volunteered for under-cover operations in France. The first mission was a complete success, organizing resistance and sending back intelligence from behind enemy lines, but when she returned again, shortly after D-day, Szabo was captured by the Germans, tortured and killed. "She was young and absolutely fearless," Lord Selborne said at today's ceremony. He had been invited because his grandfather was in overall charge of her mission....The memorial commemorates all members of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the wartime unit of which she was a member....It was wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill who dreamed up the SOE, a collection of agents from various countries which would, he promised "set Europe ablaze". With this mission statement, it carried out reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and outright sabotage across the continent. When the war ended, the SOE was wound up, its operations subsumed into other departments, and it was not until the new bust of Szabo was made that the SOE had a dedicated public memorial. CLICK HERE:Secret agents' memorial unveiled

Edinburgh, Scotland - SNP SIGNALS DEBATE LEGAL THREAT - The SNP may take legal action if Alex Salmond is not allowed to take part in a UK party leader TV debate ahead of the next General Election. The BBC, ITV and BSkyB jointly proposed three live debates between the Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders. SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney said going to court was not being ruled out, but said it was more preferable to come to an agreement with the broadcasters. Opposition parties accused the SNP of bullying tactics. Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have welcomed a TV debate, while Gordon Brown has now said he was willing "in principle" to take part. Mr Cameron has told the BBC he wants a respected independent figure to oversee the negotiations for the TV debates.CLICK HERE:SNP signals debate legal threat

Athens, Greece - GREECE'S SOCIALISTS WIN SNAP ELECTION - Greece's opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) has won the country's snap general elections. Outgoing PM Costas Karamanlis has congratulated Pasok leader George Papandreou and resigned as leader of the conservative New Democracy party. With some 40% of ballots counted, the socialists had more than 43% of the vote, to 35% for New Democracy. Pasok needs 43% to win an absolute majority in parliament. It has been in opposition for more than five years. Evangelos Venizelos, a senior Pasok member and former minister, said the result was "a historic victory" which "means great responsibility". In a televised address, Mr Karamanlis said: "I assume responsibility for the result and will launch procedures for the election of a new party leader." Mr Karamanlis called the election in early September, half way through his four-year term. CLICK HERE:Greece's Socialists win snap election


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3.10.2009 Dublin, Ireland - IRELAND BACKS EU'S LISBON TREATY - Irish voters have strongly endorsed the European Union's Lisbon Treaty - 16 months after their first vote rejecting it plunged EU reforms into deadlock. About 67% voted "Yes", official results from the latest referendum showed. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen hailed a "clear and resounding" endorsement. The EU Commission called it a "vote of confidence" in the EU. Nearly all member states have ratified Lisbon. The treaty is aimed at streamlining decision-making in the 27-nation bloc. "The Czech president today sent a message that in a sense was telling the Tories not to depend on a Czech delay" According to final results, 67.1% of Irish voters approved it, while 32.9% voted "No". Turnout in the three-million electorate was 58%. The treaty cannot take effect until all member states ratify it. The only other countries yet to ratify Lisbon are the Czech Republic and Poland. CLICK HERE:Ireland backs EU's Lisbon Treaty


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2.10.2009 Dublin, Ireland - IRISH EU TREATY REFERENDUM CLOSES - Voting has closed in the Republic of Ireland's second referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty - a vote that may decide long-delayed EU changes. They previously rejected the treaty in a June 2008 referendum, by a margin of almost 7%. This time opinion polls suggest the Yes camp will win. The Republic of Ireland is the only one of the EU's 27 member states to put the treaty to a referendum. Ireland's economy has been hit hard by recession since the last vote was held. The treaty, aimed at streamlining decision-making in the enlarged bloc, cannot take effect unless all the member states ratify it. CLICK HERE:Irish EU treaty referendum closes

Berlin, Germany - TORIES' GERMAN ALLIANCE STRAINED - Germany's Christian Democrat CDU party, triumphant in the country's recent general election, has downgraded relations with the Conservatives. The change follows David Cameron's decision to remove his party's MEPs from the center-right European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. David Cameron (left) and Peter Altmaier. Joint policy groups have been scrapped and an annual meeting has been cancelled. The changes have left critics of the EPP move to claim their prediction - that the Tories would lose influence in Europe - has been fulfilled. "The fact that the Conservatives have decided to leave our family of course has some institutional aspects that cannot be neglected," said the senior CDU MP, Peter Altmaier. Mr Altmaier was co-chairman of one of three joint working groups, set up with some fanfare by David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 to discuss policies. He added: "When you're no longer a sister party you have a different type of relationship. This is something that has automatic consequences....David Cameron pledged to cut the Conservatives' ties with the center-right grouping during his 2005 Conservative leadership campaign. A new group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, which includes 55 MEPs from across eight member states, was formed after June's elections to the European Parliament. Mr Altmaier acknowledged that the working groups had concluded their work, but added that when the time came to form new ones the CDU would be looking to their partners in the EPP. A senior German source who was closely involved in establishing the working groups was more candid: "We knew the Tories would pull out of the EPP in 2009, so we saw no reason to continue with the groups." He added that, for the same reason, no Tory MPs had been invited to come to Germany as observers during the recent election campaign, as they usually would have been. "We actually have more in common than ever before, but it's overshadowed by the European situation," the source said. Another example of the changing bilateral relationship is the annual gathering on the shores of Lake Como in Italy. These have been taking place at the former summer residence of Germany's first post-war leader, Konrad Adenauer, since 1985. This year it was cancelled - another victim of the split. The Tory grandee and former European Commissioner Lord Brittan believes the importance of such gatherings should not be underestimated. He said: "They are important, because how do you get influence in the European Union? You do it by building up alliances, by talking to people and you don't do it overnight."You can't just turn up at a meeting and say: 'This is what I want'. Whether you are likely to get it depends on the kind of relationship you have built over a long period of time. "So if the number of links are reduced and there's a feeling of ill-will, that gives you a mountain to surmount." Britain's former ambassador to Berlin, Sir Peter Torry, believes the Cameron-Merkel personal relationship has been rocky ever since he won the leadership of the party. They disagree fundamentally over the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which Mr Cameron wants to put to a referendum."The Germans wouldn't see him," he said. "The damage is there... but there are important areas where we need the Germans" Sir Peter Torry, former UK ambassador to Germany stated: "They saw the decision (to leave the EPP) as contrary to their interests and they made their displeasure clear by not meeting him for quite some considerable period of time." In fact, Mr Cameron only finally met Mrs Merkel in September 2007, two years after he was elected Tory leader."Certainly the damage is there," added Sir Peter. "Mrs Merkel and her team view this as something of a hostile act."I think if you look ahead a lot will depend on Lisbon, but leaving that aside there are important areas where we need the Germans: reform of the EU budget, forming a sensible EU energy policy, Afghanistan… and tension at the top makes it that much more difficult to achieve all these objectives." Nevertheless, the Conservative leadership has always insisted good relations can be maintained and that outside the EPP they are "happier neighbors rather than unhappy tenants" of their political allies. The Tory MP Steven Dorrell, a member of the all-party British-German parliamentary group, agrees and argues that the spat over the EPP is "ephemeral". "The CDU do have a desire to re-activate relations," he said. "In opposition we're a junior partner. But once in government, we're natural allies." Others, including those on the pro-European wing of the party such as Lord Brittan, agree that the realities of being in government could improve the relationship. "I am told that the leadership is trying to repair the damage and stressing their wish to have closer links with the CDU. "But they've got to work that much harder." CLICK HERE:Tories' German alliance strained
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: The general British electorate is so tired of the "Tweedledum and Tweedledee" of Labour and Tory political behaviorism that they would gladly pass the keys of office to a lean, mean and pro-European Liberal Democrat majority, if that party would only get its act together.)

Frankfurt, Germany - GERMANY ARRESTS AL-QAEDA SUSPECT - Germany arrests al-Qaeda suspect - A German-Turkish citizen is being held in Germany on suspicion of preparing explosive devices and posting al-Qaeda propaganda on the internet, police say. They said the 24-year-old, named only as Adnan V, was arrested on Thursday. A small amount of explosives and a suspected detonator were also seized in two police raids in the Frankfurt area. The suspect was not immediately linked to videos that emerged ahead of last Sunday's elections threatening al-Qaeda attacks within Germany. Those videos, made by al-Qaeda's media production arm, warned of an impending attack within two weeks of the elections if German troops were not withdrawn from Afghanistan. Germany has some 4,000 troops based in northern Afghanistan. Some 35 have died and a recent poll showed 55% of Germans wanted a pullout. The videos prompted heightened security measures in Germany's tourist spots, airports and main train stations. CLICK HERE:Germany arrests al-Qaeda suspect


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1.10.2009 Bucharest, Romania - ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT FALLS APART - Romania's coalition government has collapsed after the Social Democrat Party (PSD) resigned, officials say. The leftist coalition partner said it had pulled out in protest against the sacking of the interior minister. The PSD's Dan Nica was this week fired by centrist PM Emil Boc after he made comments about the potential for fraud in presidential elections next month. Party leader Mircea Geoana said all PSD ministers in government were resigning to protest against his dismissal. Although Mr Boc's Liberal Democrats (PD-L) can rule as a minority government for a few weeks, they will have to seek parliament's approval for the appointment of new ministers. The crisis has raised the prospect of the country failing to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for emergency aid worth 20bn euros (£18.4bn; $27bn). Romania, which has been hard-hit by the global economic recession, is dependant on an IMF loan to pay state-sector salaries, and has seen recent protests by railway workers and magistrates. CLICK HERE:Romanian government falls apart

Moscow, Russia - ISRAEL ENVOY IN RUSSIA SENT HOME - An Israeli diplomat has left his post in Russia after being accused of "unlawful activities", reports say. Shmuel Polishuk, the first secretary of Israel's Moscow embassy, was reportedly detained in the city last week. Russian intelligence agents questioned him on suspicion of spying, Israel's Maariv newspaper reported. "Shmuel Polishuk was caught red-handed in Moscow," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. "He has already left for home." After discussions between Russia and Israel, it was decided the diplomat would not be declared persona non grata - the term usually applied to expelled spies - but would have to leave the country, Maariv reported. A spokesman from the Israeli embassy said the two countries were working to solve what he called a "misunderstanding", dismissing suggestions the diplomat had been expelled on espionage charges, AP reported.CLICK HERE:Israeli envoy in Russia sent home


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30.09.2009 Brussels, Belgium - GEORGIA STARTED 'UNJUSTIFIED WAR' - The war in Georgia last year was started by a Georgian attack that was not justified by international law, an EU-sponsored report has concluded. However, the attack followed months of provocation, and both sides violated international law, the report said. Russia said the report delivered an "unequivocal answer" on the question of who started the conflict; but Georgia said the investigation proved that Russia had been preparing for war all along. The report said about 850 people were killed in the August 2008 war, and that more than 100,000 fled their homes, about 35,000 of whom are still displaced. "Continued destruction which came after the ceasefire agreement was not justifiable by any means". ... It was commissioned by the Council of the European Union, and written by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, with the help of 30 European military, legal and history experts. CLICK HERE:Georgia 'started unjustified war'

Paris, France - FORMER FRENCH PM TAKES THE STND - Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has taken the stand in a Paris court, denying any role in a plot to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy. It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy's chances of winning the 2007 presidential election. In court, Mr de Villepin categorically denied sending forged documents to a French judge to implicate Mr Sarkozy. He also said ex-President Jacques Chirac played no part in any smear bid. "The trial of the decade" - as it has been labelled by some French media - opened last Monday with Mr de Villepin accusing his arch-rival Mr Sarkozy of being determined to see him in the dock. The case dates back five years, when both men were leading conservative contenders to succeed then-President Jacques Chirac. CLICK HERE:Former French PM takes the stand

Paris, France - CHIRAC CHARGES COULD BE DROPPED - French prosecutors say corruption charges against former French President Jacques Chirac should be dropped. Two years ago Mr Chirac was put under preliminary investigation for misusing public funds while he was mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.It is alleged millions of euros were used to provide bogus jobs to political associates and their relatives. The public prosecutor's office now says it is not worth pursuing the case. Mr Chirac has always denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors say that the statute of limitations has expired for alleged crimes committed before 1992, and that for those after that time, there is insufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution. The decision on whether to follow the recommendation, or to put Mr Chirac and several others on trial, now rests with the investigating judge, Xaviere Simeoni. The bogus jobs investigation is only one of several involving Mr Chirac, however. Judges will continue to investigate other allegations of misuse of public funds dating from his time as Paris mayor. CLICK HERE:Chirac charges could be dropped


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30.09.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - NEW CZECH MOVE TO BLOCK EU TREATY - Czech senators opposed to the EU's Lisbon Treaty have filed a new complaint against it with the country's constitutional court. The complaint could create a new delay to treaty ratification, even if Irish voters back the treaty in a referendum on Friday. Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a Eurosceptic, says he will not sign the treaty until the court decides. The treaty cannot take effect unless all 27 EU member states back it. The Czech court has rejected previous complaints about the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve decision-making in the enlarged bloc, but it could take the court as long as six months to deliver its verdict on the new complaint, the BBC's Rob Cameron reports from Prague. Seventeen Eurosceptic senators signed the latest petition, despite the fact that the Czech parliament has approved the treaty. CLICK HERE:New Czech move to block EU treaty
Gordon Brown has insisted Labour is "not done yet" and would "change the world again", in his crucial speech to the party's annual conference.
Brighton, England - WE'RE NOT DONE YET - He said voters at the election, due to be held by next June, would have the "biggest choice for a generation". He said Labour would call a referendum on electoral reform and offer more free childcare for poorer families. Opposition parties said the speech was "tired" and "lacked vision". The Sun on Wednesday backs a Tory election win. The Sun's front page headline claims "Labour's Lost It", withdrawing the paper's support for the party that goes back to 1997. CLICK HERE:We're not done yet, insists Brown
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: There is definitely a hidden agenda here, just a couple of days prior to the Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum. While the Pope is trying to pacify Eurosceptic sentiments in the Czech Republic, the new editor of Rupert Murdoch's UK tabloid flagship, George Pascoe-Watson, has suddenly withdrawn support for Gordon Brown in the run up to the general election, and announced support for the Conservatives. The real reason is not to support a party slated to win anyway, but to prosecute Murdoch's insidious Eurosceptic campaign to destroy the Lisbon Treaty and more even, because for all its faults, and there are many, the Labour Party is still staunchly pro-European.

Prague, Czech Republic - POPE TREADS CAREFULLY ON CZECH VISIT - With Europe becoming less religious, the Pope faces a dilemma whenever he visits - how far to push the sort of big Catholic issues that might meet a hostile response. David Willey follows Benedict XVI to the Czech Republic, and sees him play it safe. People dressed in traditional costumes wait for the Pope Benedict XVI to attend a ceremony at the end of his visit to the Czech Republic at Ruzyne airport, Prague, September 28, 2009. This was Benedict's second visit to the dominions of the former Austro-Hungarian empire. His first was to Austria two years ago, where he found a strongly critical and somewhat apathetic Catholic flock. In order not to antagonize his Czech hosts the Pope deliberately chose not to mention some common contentious issues of Catholic teaching such as that on abortion, or same-sex marriages, or the problems of dealing with paedophile priests and compensating their victims, which have dominated his visits to other parts of the world. During his three-day visit to the Czech Republic, he had to tread carefully through difficult historical, political and linguistic minefields. Because of persisting bad memories of the country's World War II Nazi occupation he could not use his native German in public - except for a few words addressed quite properly to a group of German pilgrims who crossed the border to see him. Without his predecessor John Paul II's broad knowledge of Slavonic languages, in order to maintain political correctness Pope Benedict decided to speak in English or in Italian most of the time. At his final Mass near Prague - attended by tens of thousands of young Czechs, most of whom had memories neither of German nor Communist rule before the Velvet Revolution of 1989, he started the liturgy in Latin, and the congregation quickly took up the responses in Czech. CLICK HERE:Pope treads carefully on Czech visit

Dublin, Republic of Ireland - YES TO LISBON EU TREATY - A few hundred early voters on islands off the west coast of Ireland will soon hold the attention of the Republic's business leaders, who have urged people to vote "Yes" to the EU's Lisbon Treaty. The Irish hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty this Friday, but Wednesday is polling day for 742 registered voters living on the rocky Atlantic outcrops of Arranmore, Gola, Inishbofin, Inishfree and Tory Island. The architects of the Lisbon Treaty will be watching anxiously as the Irish take a second look at a deal designed to reshape the continent's institutions for the next few decades. The spectre of recession has returned to haunt the Irish people, who may fear that now would be a very bad time to upset the power-brokers in Brussels - those big neighbors who might still be called on to bail out the Republic's economy. As the country fights a deep recession, the message from Ireland's business elite could be summed up with the phrase "careful now", a line from Father Ted, a popular comedy show featuring the escapades of a priest who lived on the mythical Craggy Island. Businesses - both home-grown and foreign - are lining up to educate voters on the benefits, as they see it, of voting "Yes". The head of Intel in Ireland, Jim O'Hara, told his bosses in Silicon Valley that he was getting off the sidelines to call for a "Yes" vote. CLICK HERE:Yes to Lisbon EU Treaty


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28.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL PLEDGES SPEEDY TRANSITION - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined plans to form a swift coalition with the Free Democrats (FDP) after a major win in Sunday's election. Mrs Merkel said the result was a great vote of trust, and that a government would be formed by November 9. She said a coalition between the pro-business FDP and her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc would have the momentum to tackle Germany's challenges. Germany has been enduring its most severe recession since World War II. While business confidence has improved and Europe's largest economy has returned to growth, output is still set to be down by around 5% this year, and the country's unemployment level and budget deficit are rising. Mrs Merkel said she would hold "swift and decisive" talks with FDP leader Guido Westerwelle, emphasising that a new coalition would be in place at the latest by November 9, when Germany marks 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. "Of course quality comes before speed, but I think Germany is entitled to have a new government quickly," she said. "We have many tasks ahead of us." The two met for an hour in Berlin's chancellery on Monday afternoon, where an FDP spokesman described the mood as excellent. Mr Westerwelle has been tipped by some to be Germany's next foreign minister after his party achieved its best-ever election result, but he refused to be drawn on the details of his discussion with the chancellor. CLICK HERE:Merkel pledges speedy transition

Lisbon, Portugal - PORTUGUESE SOCIALISTS RE-ELECTED - Portugal's governing Socialist Party has been re-elected, but has lost its overall majority. Final results from Sunday's general election gave PM Jose Socrates 36% of the vote, seven points ahead of the centre-right Social Democrats. The election campaign was dominated by disagreements over how to deal with Portugal's economic crisis. Mr Socrates promised large-scale public works while Social Democrats advocated moves to boost private investment. After the results were announced, the prime minister told cheering supporters in Lisbon: "The Socialist Party has achieved an extraordinary electoral victory tonight," but correspondents say Mr Socrates faces hard choices about whether to try to form a coalition or rule with a minority government. CLICK HERE:Portuguese Socialists re-elected

Moscow, Russia - DAGESTAN OFFICIAL SHOT DEAD IN MOSCOW - Dagestan official shot in Moscow - The head of a district in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan has been killed in Moscow, officials say. Alimsultan Alkhamatov was shot dead on Sunday evening as he was getting out of his car, prosecutors said. His driver was badly wounded. A man has been arrested in connection with the attack, the latest against a North Caucasus official. Dozens of militants and members of the security forces have been killed in the region in the last few months. Earlier on Sunday, two senior police officers were shot dead in an attack in Dagestan. "There is a real hunt on for high-ranking officials in Dagestan," a security source was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. The influential head of a region east of Dagestan's capital Makhachkala, Mr Alkhamatov had reportedly been the target of three previous assassination attempts, the agency added. In June the republic's interior minister was shot dead. Two weeks later, the president of nearby Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was critically injured by a car bomb in an apparent assassination attempt. Russian forces have fought two wars against separatists in the mainly Muslim republic of Chechnya since 1994. The conflicts claimed more than 100,000 lives and left it in ruins. Chechnya has in recent years been more peaceful, but the fighting has spread to Dagestan and Ingushetia, where correspondents say a violent Islamist insurgency is growing. CLICK HERE:Dagestan official shot in Moscow


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27.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL 'HEADS FOR' NEW COALITION - Chancellor Angela Merkel has been returned to power in Germany, exit polls suggest, after her conservative bloc won more than 33% of the vote. Mrs Merkel told supporters they had achieved "something magnificent", but said she wanted to be a chancellor of all Germans at a moment of crisis. Mrs Merkel's bloc now looks set to form a centre-right alliance with her preferred partner, the pro-reform FDP. She says the alliance will get Germany out of its worst crisis in 60 years. Her rival, SPD leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier, admitted a "bitter defeat". He said his party would be "vigilant in opposition". "The voters have decided and the result is a bitter day for German Social Democracy ... there is no way of talking it up - the result is a bitter defeat," the SPD leader said. Still, in the "Elefantenrunde" debate that traditionally follows the German election, involving each of the party leaders (the "elephants"), Mr Steinmeier said it "would not be very sensible" to resign and vowed "to go on fighting". Exit polls in Germany, Europe's largest economy and the biggest member of the European Union, are generally considered to be extremely reliable. ... The SPD have shared power with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU in an awkward grand coalition since the last elections in 2005. An exit poll for ZDF television gave the CDU/CSU 33.5%, SPD 23.5% and the FDP, Mrs Merkel's preferred partners, 14.5%. CLICK HERE:Merkel 'heads for' new coalition

London, England - UK CONSERVATIVES TO 'KILL-OFF'THE LISBON TREATY - Speaking with Adam Boulton on Sky News September 27, the UK Shadow Foreign Secretary, Conservative William Hague, claimed that a future Conservative government would call for an early referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, in order "to kill it off once and for all."

London, England - STRAW JOINS DEBATE ALONGSIDE BNP - Justice Secretary Jack Straw has agreed to take part in a debate alongside the British National Party on the BBC's Question Time program. Mr Straw told the BBC he would join a panel which will include BNP leader Nick Griffin, the Tories and Lib Dems, in London on October 22. He said the BNP were defeated when Labour "fought them hard". Labour has previously refused to debate with the BNP, and some activists have branded the policy change "a disgrace". The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had already said they would take part in the program. Speaking on the Politics Show in the North West, Mr Straw said: "Wherever we have had BNP problems in my area and when we have fought them hard, we've pulled back and won the seats back. "And that's what we have to do. We've got to make the argument for people and I am delighted to do so." The BBC had already confirmed that it may invite Mr Griffin, who was elected as an MEP in June, to appear on a future edition of the Question Time, saying it was bound by the rules to treat all political parties with "due impartiality". CLICK HERE:Straw joins debate alongside BNP

London, England - UK SPEAKER HALTS EXPENSES LEAK PROBE - The House of Commons speaker has said he will halt an investigation into who leaked details of MPs' expenses to the Daily Telegraph. The Sunday Telegraph had said John Bercow was "privately overseeing" an inquiry by a former intelligence officer into the source of the leak, but Mr Bercow said he had never been asked to approve the continuation of any investigation. He said the inquiry had been launched before he became Speaker. In his statement Mr Bercow said he was "deeply disturbed" to discover more resources had been devoted to it. He said: "I do not believe that one moment of public time or one penny of public money should be wasted on such a cause. "A witch-hunt of this kind is wrong in principle and offers the impression that MPs, not taxpayers, are the victims in this expenses affair - a view that is manifestly mistaken." CLICK HERE:UK Speaker halts expenses leak probe


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26.09.2009 Hamburg, Germany - The German news magazine "Der Spiegel" has published on line a video message of AL Qaeda leader Bin Laden addresssed to "the People of Europe".CLICK HERE:Bin Laden message 'To the People of Europe!
(in German and English)

Berlin, Germany - FINAL RALLIES BEFORE BEFORE GERMAN VOTE - Chancellor Angela Merkel and challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier have appealed to voters on the economy on the eve of Sunday's national poll. The parties of the two rivals have shared power for the last four years. Mrs Merkel's conservatives are now hoping to win by enough to rule without Mr Steinmeier's Social Democrats. The campaign has been overshadowed by security concerns following a series of al-Qaeda messages warning Germany over its role in the war in Afghanistan. All flights have been banned over the Oktoberfest in Munich, the traditional beer festival expected to attract millions of visitors, and armed police are guarding airports, train stations and city centres across the country. CLICK HERE:Final rallies before German vote


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25.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - MAN ARRESTED OVER GERMAN THREATS - A man has been arrested in Germany over the emergence of videos threatening al-Qaeda attacks on the country just days before the general election. Police in Stuttgart said the 25-year-old Turkish man is suspected of posting a video on the internet. He is not, however, thought to have produced the video, which said Germany would be punished unless it withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. Security has been stepped up in Germany after three different videos emerged. They feature Bekkay Harrach, a 32-year-old German of Moroccan descent, who uses the name Abu Talha al-Almani (the German). Mr Harrach, who studied laser technology in Germany, is believed to have travelled to wage violent jihad in the West Bank, Iraq and the Pakistani region of Waziristan. Analysts say the videos appear to be trying to exploit the difference between political and public opinion over the Afghan war. Germany has 4,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the international force there, and 35 have died. CLICK HERE:Man arrested over German threats

Paris, France - SARKOZY IN DISPUTE OVER ALLEGED'SMEAR'TRIAL - Lawyers for the former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, say they will sue President Nicolas Sarkozy for having called him "guilty". Mr Sarkozy is accused of violating the principle of presumption of innocence. Mr de Villepin, an arch-rival of Mr Sarkozy, went on trial on Monday over the so-called "Clearstream" affair. It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy's chances of winning the 2007 presidential election. Asked for a comment on the trial, Mr Sarkozy told French television on Wednesday: "After a two-year investigation, two independent investigating judges ruled that the guilty parties should be tried before a criminal court."Correspondents say that, as president, Mr Sarkozy enjoys immunity from prosecution, but that the defence team may use the "guilty" comment to bolster an appeal on behalf of Mr de Villepin. They could argue that Mr Sarkozy is using political influence to pervert the course of justice. "This is a scandalous violation of fundamental principles," said defence lawyer Henri Leclerc. CLICK HERE:Sarkozy in row over allged 'smear' trial


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Staffordshire Anglo-Saxon gold hoard 24.09.2009 Birmingham, England - HUGE ANGLO-SAXON GOLD HOARD FOUND - The UK's largest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure has been discovered bur ied beneath a field in Staffordshire. Experts say the collection of 1,500 gold and silver pieces, which may date to the 7th Century, is unparalleled in size and worth "a seven figure sum". It has been declared treasure by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh, meaning it belongs to the Crown. Terry Herbert, who found it on farmland using a metal detector, said it "was what metal detectorists dream of". It may take more than a year for it to be valued. CLICK HERE:Huge Anglo-Saxon gold hoard found

Istanbul, Turkey - 'LAST OTTOMAN DIES IN ISTANBUL - Ertugrul Osman - the would-be sultan known in Turkey as the "last Ottoman" - has died in Istanbul at the age of 97. Osman would have been sultan of the Ottoman Empire had Turkey's modern republic not been created in the 1920s. As the last surviving grandson of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II, he would have been known as his Imperial Highness Prince Shehzade Ertugrul Osman Effendi. Born in Istanbul in 1912, Osman spent most of his years living modestly in New York. He was a 12-year-old at school in Vienna when he heard the news that his family was being expelled by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the soldier who founded the modern Turkish republic out of the ashes of the old empire. Osman eventually settled in New York, where for more than 60 years he lived in a flat above a restaurant. Always insisting he had no political ambition, he only returned to Turkey in the early 1990s at the invitation of the government. During the visit, he went to Dolmabahce - the palace by the Bosphorus where he had played as a child.CLICK HERE:'Last Ottoman' dies in Istanbul


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23.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - GERMAN 'RACE HATE' LETTERS PROBED - German police are investigating whether a string of letters from the far-right NPD party to politicians from immigrant backgrounds have incited racial hatred. Dozens of politicians of foreign descent are running as candidates in Germany's election this Sunday. The NPD reportedly sent 30 of them letters advising them to "go home". One recipient said the two-page letter contained a "five-point plan" for "moving foreigners gradually back to their home countries" The letters were signed by a non-existent "commissioner for the repatriation of foreigners". "We are investigating whether there is a suspicion of inciting racial hatred," said Martin Steltner, spokesman for the Berlin state prosecutor's office, quoted by Reuters news agency. The National Democratic Party (NPD) leader in Berlin, Joerg Haehnel, defended the letters, which were sent at the weekend. CLICK HERE:German 'race hate' letters probed

Brussels, Belgim - EU UNVEILS NEW 'SUPER-REGULATORS' EU - The European Union (EU) has unveiled plans for new "super-regulators" across the banking sectors in Europe. The proposals include a European Systemic Risk Board to warn of future risks, and watchdogs over banks and insurers across the EU's 27 nations. The EU said it was necessary to prevent another financial crisis, and even suggested deeper reforms. "The European system can also inspire a global one and we will argue for that in Pittsburgh," it said. Leaders of the G20 are meeting in Pittsburgh later this week. The reforms, unveiled by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, are the first attempts to create supra-national regulators that can overrule local watchdogs. As well as a new systemic risk board, which would be staffed by the European Central Bank and based in Frankfurt, the EU has proposed three new bodies to watch banks, insurers and exchanges. "Our aim is to protect European taxpayers from a repeat of the dark days of autumn 2008, when governments had to pour billions of euros into the banks," Mr Barroso said. Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England. The UK, with London as the largest financial centre, has signalled unease to giving up some powers to Brussels. Reports have suggested that the UK is proposing that Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, should be the deputy chief of the new board to make it more palatable, but a Bank of England spokesman told the BBC that these stories were incorrect, and discussions were still in too early a stage over the final form of any pan-European regulator. CLICK HERE:EU unveils new 'super-regulators'

Stockholm, Sweden - HELICOPTER USED IN SWEDEN ROBBERY - Swedish police are hunting for robbers who used a stolen helicopter to raid a cash depot in the capital, Stockholm. The thieves lowered themselves onto the roof before smashing their way in early on Wednesday, police said. Loud explosions were heard before the men were seen stashing what were believed to be bags full of cash into the helicopter. A suspicious bag placed at the police heliport prevented officers from using their helicopters to chase the gang. It is not yet clear how much money was stolen. An abandoned helicopter believed to be the one used in the raid was found by police later in a forest north of Stockholm. CLICK HERE:Helicopter used in Sweden robbery

Valencia, Spain - 'DIRTY WAR PILOT' HELD IN SPAIN - Dirty war pilot' held in SpainA commercial airline pilot has been arrested in Spain over his alleged role in Argentina's 1976-1983 "Dirty War". Julio Alberto Poch, a Transavia airline pilot, was held at Valencia airport as he was about to fly a passenger plane to Amsterdam, Spanish officials say. Mr Poch is wanted in Argentina for allegedly flying planes used to dump political opponents of the country's military regime into the sea. Some 30,000 people disappeared or died during the junta's rule in Argentina. Mr Poch was held during a short stopover at Valencia's Manises airport on Tuesday, Spanish officials said. CLICK HERE:'Dirty war pilot' held in Spain


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22.09.2009 Calais, France - POLICE CLEAR FRENCH MIGRANT CAMP - French police have moved in to dismantle a makeshift camp set up by migrants near the port of Calais. French officials said 278 migrants had been held in the operation at the camp known as "the jungle". More than 1,000 were thought to have already left. Rights protesters scuffled with police and some arrests were reported. UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson said reports Britain would be forced to take some of the migrants were wrong but that it would help "genuine refugees". Rights activists initially formed a human chain as the operation began early on Tuesday. Not long after sunrise, French police headed to the camp known as "the jungle". Around 600 officers sealed off the site and started to move in. A group of local protesters had gathered campaigning for the rights of the migrants. Some of them clashed with police as they began to clear the site. There were some scuffles and a few people were arrested but the migrants mostly stood silently, some of them crying. They held banners saying, "the jungle is our house, please don't destroy it", but in truth this is a dirty, squalid camp of makeshift tents and shelters and it had become a magnet for migrants desperate to reach British shores. CLICK HERE:Police clear French migrant camp

Prague, Czech Repunlic - CZECH MOVE COULD DELAY EU TREATY - Czech senators opposed to the EU's Lisbon Treaty could delay adoption of it for months, a Czech constitutional court spokesman has told the BBC. At least 17 Eurosceptic Czech senators have signed a petition against the treaty, which they plan to submit to the court at the end of September. The spokesman, Vlastimil Gottinger, told the BBC that a full treaty review might take as much as nine months. "But I would guess three or four months - it depends on the petition," he said. A further threat to Lisbon would emerge if it is not ratified in time for the UK general election, expected next April or May, which the British Conservatives are favourites to win. They have pledged to put Lisbon to a UK referendum if it is not yet in force. The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, has been quoted as saying he will not sign the treaty until the constitutional court has considered the senators' petition. His signature is necessary to complete Czech ratification. The treaty - aimed at streamlining EU decision-making - cannot enter into force until all 27 EU member states have ratified it. Nearly all of them have done so. CLICK HERE:Czech move could delay EU treaty

Moscow, Russia - TEENAGED RACISTS JAILED IN RUSSIA - A gang of racist youths have been sent to jail for a string of brutal attacks on foreigners in the Russian capital Moscow in 2008. Terms of between eight and 10 years were handed down to the teenaged ringleaders, including a 17-year-old girl, Yevgenia Zhikhareva. Several younger members of the gang got lighter sentences because of their age. The gang were accused of attacking foreigners at random on the streets of Moscow. One was killed. The victims were from China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. They were attacked in February and March 2008. The gang members were accused of four attempted murders and one actual murder. The dead man was an 18-year-old from Kyrgyzstan. He was stabbed eight times by Ilya Shutko, 19, who was jailed for 10 years. Human rights groups have documented increasing numbers of attacks on foreigners in Russia, especially in and around Moscow. A group of skinheads were jailed for up to 20 years last year after killing 18 foreigners in Moscow in little more than a year. CLICK HERE:Teenaged racists jailed in Russia


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21.09.2009 Paris, France - FRENCH EX-PM ON TRIAL OVER SMEARS - The former French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, has gone on trial charged with plotting to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy. It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy's chances of winning the 2007 presidential election. If found guilty, Mr de Villepin could face up to five years in jail and a 45,000 euro (£41,000) fine. The former prime minister denies any wrongdoing. "I am here because of one man's will. I am here because of the dogged determination of one man, Nicolas Sarkozy, who is also president of the French republic," he told journalists before entering the courtroom. The languid figure of Dominique de Villepin arrived at the court surrounded by well-wishers and gave a characteristically eloquent statement of what will amount to his defense. His was a political trial, he said, and one taking place thanks to the obsession of one man - President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two men once shared government together but to describe them as political rivals would be something of an understatement. Their mutual hatred has long seethed behind the scenes, and now this unprecedented court case has brought it to the surface. CLICK HERE:French ex-PM on trial over smears

Valetta, Malta - protected birds killed in malta - While many were clearly killed some time ago, others had reportedly been shot as recently as the weekend. BirdLife Malta said it was disappointed police had not taken more action to limit the hunt. "This is a major crime scene and the police have not even cordoned it off," said Dr Andre Raine, conservation manager for BirdLife Malta. "It's an embarrassment to have one of the main hunting areas littered with dead bodies... This place is literally a bird cemetery." The group has called on Malta's government to give the island's police force more resources to combat illegal hunting. Many more carcasses of protected birds were expected to be found as only one-third of the hunting area in the Mizieb woodland had been searched, Dr Raine told the BBC. Malta's autumn hunting season lasts for five months from September 1. Traditionally, the Maltese government has allowed hunters to shoot migratory quails and turtle doves for limited periods during the spring and autumn. The spring hunting season was halted early in 2007 after a flock of honey buzzards was shot dead, and was not reopened in either 2008 or 2009. Although the autumn hunt remains legal, the EU Birds Directive rules that member states are obliged to protect wild birds as well as their eggs, nests and habitat. Malta, which joined the EU in 2004, has since been warned by the European Commission for breaching the directive and allowing hunters to shoot migrating birds during the prohibited period. BirdLife Malta had invited birdwatchers from across Europe to visit the island during the annual shoot to monitor hunting activity. The Federation for Hunting and Conservation on Malta (FKNK) has previously condemned the illegal killing of birds, warning that it would disqualify any members convicted of any "serious crime". Neither the FKNK, nor the Maltese government, were available for comment on Monday. CLICK HERE:Protected birds killed in Malta


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20.09.2009 Washington, BC - OBAMA REJECTS RUSSIA MISSILE LINK - The US president says his decision to shelve a missile defense plan was not dictated by Russian opposition. "The Russians don't make determinations about what our defense posture is," Barack Obama told CBS television. "If the by-product of it is that the Russians feel a little less paranoid... then that's a bonus," Mr Obama said. US conservatives have criticized the decision to scrap the plan to deploy interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic. Mr Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, had argued that the system was necessary to deal with potential threats from Iran. CLICK HERE:Obama rejects Russia missile link
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:The US announcement of its planned replacement of medium-range missiles to be stationed in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic with sea-based interceptor missiles has already met with a planned reciprocal change in Russia plans for stationing medium-range missiles in the Kaliningrad Baltic enclave.)


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19.09.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA HAILS US MISSILE OVERHAUL - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed as "positive" the US decision to shelve controversial missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. Mr Medvedev said there were now "good conditions" for US-Russia talks on tackling missile proliferation. US President Barack Obama had earlier announced there would be a shift in US missile defense strategy, following a review of the threat posed by Iran. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said it was a "correct and brave" move. However, US Republicans have called the decision "short-sighted" and "harmful". Some said it was a concession to Moscow with nothing in return. CLICK HERE:Russia hails US missile overhaul


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18.09.2009 Brussels, Belgium - NATO CHIEF REACHES OUT TO RUSSIA - Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for a new strategic partnership with Russia. In his first major foreign policy address as Nato chief, Mr Rasmussen called for a "joint review" with Moscow of global security challenges. Mr Rasmussen was speaking in Brussels after the US announced it was shelving plans for controversial missile defence bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. He urged the US, Nato and Russia to study a joint missile defense system. "We should explore the potential for linking the US, Nato and Russia missile defense systems at an appropriate time," he said. "I would like Russia and Nato to agree to carry out a joint review of the new 21st Century security challenges, to serve as a firm basis for our future co-operation." The former Danish prime minister, who took over as Nato's head in August, also called for Moscow's co-operation on Afghanistan and Iran. A revitalized Nato-Russia Council would provide "a forum for serious dialogue", he said. Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to Nato, welcomed Mr Rasmussen's remarks as "very positive, very constructive". CLICK HERE:Nato chief reaches out to Russia

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA HAILS US MISSILE OVERHAUL - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed as "positive" the US decision to shelve controversial missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. Mr Medvedev said there were now "good conditions" for US-Russia talks on tackling missile proliferation. US President Barack Obama had earlier announced there would be a shift in US missile defense strategy, following a review of the threat posed by Iran. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said it was a "correct and brave" move. However, US Republicans have called the decision "short-sighted" and "harmful". Some said it was a concession to Moscow with nothing in return. CLICK HERE:Russia hails US missile overhaul


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17.09.2009 Washington, DC - OBAMA SHELVES EUROPE MISSILE PLAN - Obama shelves Europe missile plan - US President Barack Obama has shelved plans for controversial bases in Poland and the Czech Republic in a major overhaul of missile defense in Europe. The bases are to be scrapped after a review of the threat from Iran. Mr Obama said there would be a "proven, cost-effective" system using land- and sea-based interceptors against Iran's short- and medium-range missile threat. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed the US decision, calling it a "responsible move". Russia had always seen the shield as a threat. However, there has been criticism of the decision in conservative circles in the US. The US signed a deal in August 2008 with Poland to site 10 interceptors at a base near the Baltic Sea, and with the Czech Republic to build a radar station on its territory. CLICK HERE:Obama shelves Europe missile plan

Dublin, Ireland - LISBON 'FINE WITH US' SAYS BISHOP - Lisbon 'fine by us' says bishop - A senior Irish Catholic bishop has said Roman Catholics can vote "Yes" to the Lisbon Treaty "in good conscience". The EU treaty does not affect the legal position of abortion in the Republic of Ireland, Bishop Noel Treanor said. Ireland's rejection of the treaty in a referendum last year was attributed in part to voters' concern that Lisbon might soften Irish anti-abortion laws. A second Irish referendum will take place on October 2. Nearly all the 27 EU member states have ratified Lisbon. Rev Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, told an Irish parliamentary committee on Wednesday that "a Catholic can, without reserve and in good conscience, vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty". "There are no grounds to justify a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty on the basis of specifically religious or ethical concerns. "The Lisbon Treaty does not alter the legal position of abortion in Ireland. This is further assured by the legal guarantees (which will become protocols) secured by the Irish government," he said. Bishop Treanor told the committee he had represented the Irish Bishops' Conference in Brussels for almost 20 years and was speaking with the support of Catholic primate Cardinal Sean Brady. Since the last referendum the EU has provided legally binding "guarantees" that Lisbon will not affect Irish sovereignty over taxation, "family" issues - such as abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage - and the traditional Irish state neutrality. Polls suggest most Irish voters will back the treaty second time round. All EU member states must ratify the treaty for it to come into force. The treaty is aimed at streamlining EU institutions, to improve decision-making in the enlarged 27-member bloc. Opponents say it undermines national sovereignty and concentrates too much power in Brussels. CLICK HERE:Lisbon 'fine by us' says bishop

Brussels, Belgium - EU TO URE BANK BONUS 'SANCTIONS' - EU to urge bank bonus 'sanctions'- European Union leaders meeting later are to urge the threat of "sanctions" for banks that pay excessive bonuses. Speaking ahead of the meeting, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there was broad backing for bonus restrictions. The EU leaders will also urge the Group of 20 (G20) richest nations to maintain stimulus spending that has prompted some signs of global recovery. Many countries in the EU want to regulate how bonuses are paid at banks, blamed for helping to cause the crisis. "I believe that people have been appalled by the suggestion in some institutions and their practices that they simply want to return to the policies of the past," Mr Brown said. "There is no support in any part of the world for failing to take the action that is necessary and I believe that we will be able to agree on a structure for how bonuses should be examined in the future," but the US and UK have rejected calls for mandatory caps on bonuses. "The G20 should commit to agreeing to binding rules for financial institutions on variable remunerations backed up by the threat of sanctions at the national level," said the draft statement, which may still change. CLICK HERE:EU to urge bank bonus 'sanctions'


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16.09.2009 Strasbourg, France - EURO MPS GIVE BARROSO NEW MANDATE - The powerful European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, has won a second term of office after a majority of Euro MPs voted for him. Mr Barroso, 53, was the only candidate in the European Parliament vote. A former Portuguese prime minister, he will serve a new five-year term. In the secret ballot 382 MEPs voted for him, 219 against and 117 abstained. The Commission president heads the EU's executive arm. Leaders of the 27 member states have already backed Mr Barroso. He faced some opposition from Socialists and others on the left in the 736-seat parliament. A total of 718 MEPs took part in Wednesday's vote. The Commission drafts EU laws, which then go to the parliament and member states' governments for approval. The parliament is the only directly elected EU institution. In his acceptance speech, Mr Barroso said that as head of the Commission "my party is going to be Europe". "Anyone who wants to come on board for this exciting journey, that is the construction of a united Europe, it is with them that I would like to build the necessary consensus to strengthen the European project," he told MEPs. He now faces the task of assembling a new team of 26 other commissioners, who will take office on January 1, but these appointments cannot begin until Irish voters give their verdict on the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum on October 2. Mr Barroso is the first Commission president to be re-elected since Jacques Delors, who spearheaded EU integration from 1985 to 1994. Critics accuse Mr Barroso of pandering to national governments and of promoting market liberalism which contributed to the financial crisis. He pitched openly for the votes of left-wing and liberal MEPs in a speech in Strasbourg on Tuesday. He emphasized his commitment to social policy, including equal pay for women. He pledged to look again at existing laws to ensure that established workers were not undercut by cheap labour from other EU states. Mr Barroso also promised a new post of commissioner for civil liberties and minority rights. The largest group of MEPs, the center-right European People's Party (EPP), voiced support for Mr Barroso, but its leader Joseph Daul warned him that "this is not a blank cheque and you will have to fulfil our expectations". The leader of the Socialist group (S&D), Martin Schulz, instead called for "a real change of direction in the EU". The S&D includes the British Labour group, whose leader Glenis Willmott called for more concrete proposals from the Commission to address the economic crisis. "Frankly, we are disappointed with what he is currently proposing," she said in a statement. "We want action to create employment, new and better jobs, fight mass unemployment, especially youth unemployment, promote equal pay and improve workers' rights." The liberal group ALDE said it would support Mr Barroso, but urged him to beef up banking supervision. The leader of the Conservative MEPs, Timothy Kirkhope, said Mr Barroso was "the only credible candidate". The Conservatives are in a new bloc called European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). "Whilst not perfect, and whilst we have had disagreements with Mr Barroso in the past, and are bound to again in the future, he impressed us when he spoke to our group with his candour, his no-nonsense approach and his commitment not to be swayed by dogmatic socialist ideology," he said. A prominent Greens/EFA leader, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, voiced opposition to Mr Barroso, saying "we think we deserve somebody better". He added that the vote should have been postponed until after the Irish referendum on October 2. CLICK HERE:Euro MPs give Barroso new mandate

Paris, France - FRANCE TO CLOSE MIGRANT 'JUNGLE' - France has said it intends to close the camp in Calais known as "the jungle", where migrants gather to try to reach the UK. Immigration Minister Eric Besson told French television that the illegal gathering of tents and shelters should close imminently. The jungle has replaced official camps like Sangatte as a gathering point. Mr Besson said the closure would send a strong message that people traffickers could no longer use Calais. Mr Besson is due to hold talks on the issue with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Thursday. He said it would be the local Calais authorities who would set the exact date for clearing the makeshift camps near the port but added that in any case it would be closed before the end of next week. Some 1,500 migrants are now living in insanitary settlements in Calais and neighbouring areas, hoping to cross to Britain. The minister promised that the operation would be carried out humanely and that each illegal immigrant would be offered the chance to apply for asylum or to return voluntarily to their country of origin. Many of the migrants come from Iraq and Afghanistan. The minister insisted they would not be forcibly returned. CLICK HERE:France to close migrant 'jungle'
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:THis promise is regularly made at semi-annual intervals.)
London, England - CONSERVATIVES EXPEL DEFIANT MEP - The Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has been expelled from the party. The MEP was suspended in July after he stood for vice-president of the European Parliament in defiance of party instructions. He was criticised for challenging a Polish MEP, one of the Tories' new allies in Brussels, for the role. The Conservatives said they were "disappointed" by the MEP's behavior but Mr McMillan-Scott, who once led the Tory group in Brussels, is to appeal. He said he would not be made a "scapegoat" for widespread criticism of the Conservatives' decision to forge a new alliance in Brussels after June's elections. David Cameron pulled the Tories out of the center-right group of MEPs, where they sat alongside governing parties in Germany, Italy and France, saying he did not share its federalist views. He re-aligned them within the European Conservatives and Reformist Party group, made up of parties from central and eastern Europe, including Poland and the Czech Republic.CLICK HERE:Conservatives expel defiant MEP
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:The UK Conservatives have officially become, under the leadership of David Cameron, a doctrinaire Eurosceptic)

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15.09.2009 Paris, France - FRENCH FIRM PLANS SUICIDE HOTLINE - France Telecom has promised to set up a free hotline for workers suffering from stress after the 23rd suicide by one of its employees in 18 months. The move followed a crisis meeting between the French Labour Minister, Xavier Darcos, and France Telecom's chief executive, Didier Lombard. Both the government and the company have begun to take industrial suicide seriously, says a BBC correspondent. Mr Lombard said "the infernal spiral" of copycat suicides must be broken. Mr Darcos pressed France Telecom to tackle the problem and to listen to its workers. Unions have blamed tough management methods at the multinational, which was privatised in 1998, but France Telecom says the rate of suicides is statistically not unusual for a company with a 100,000 workforce. CLICK HERE:French firm plans suicide hotline

Oslo, Norway - NORWAY'S GOVERNMENT IS RE_ELECTED - Norway's center-left ruling coalition has won a narrow victory in general elections, near-complete results show. With 99% of votes counted from Monday's poll, PM Jens Stoltenberg's Labour- led coalition secured 86 seats in the 169-seat parliament. If confirmed, it would be the first time a government in the oil-rich Scandinavian country has survived an election in 16 years. A total of 85 seats are needed for an absolute majority. The center-right opposition parties were expected to win 83 seats. Final results are expected later on Tuesday. "All the votes have not been counted and it is close," Mr Stoltenberg said. "But the way it seems now, it looks like we can continue," he added and he the jubilant prime minister told his supporters at a rally in Oslo: "Four more years!" Siv Jensen, the leader of the right-wing opposition Progress Party, said: "Everything suggests that... Jens Stoltenberg and Labour have won the election". Mr Stoltenberg, in power since 2005 at the head of a three-party coalition, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis. CLICK HERE:Norway's government is re-elected

Genoa, Italy - MAFIA "SANK NUCLEAR WASTE SHIP" - Mafia 'sank nuclear waste ship'A shipwreck that could contain nuclear waste is being investigated by authorities in Italy amid claims that it was deliberately sunk by the mafia. An informant told a judge the ship was one of a number he blew up as part of an illegal operation to bypass rules on the disposal of toxic waste. The sunken vessel has been found 30km (18 miles) off the south-west of Italy. Murky pictures taken by a robot camera show the vessel intact and alongside it are a number of yellow barrels. Labels on them say the contents are toxic. The informant said the mafia had muscled in on the lucrative business of nuclear waste disposal, but he said that instead of getting rid of the material safely, he blew up the vessel out at sea, off the Calabrian coast. He also says he was responsible for sinking two other ships containing toxic waste. CLICK HERE:Mafia 'sank nuclear waste ship'

Madrid, Spsin - SPAIN URGED TO END DETENTION LAWS - Spain must end the practice of holding suspects incommunicado, without access to lawyers of their choice and without telling their families, activists say. Spain's criminal law allows suspects to be held incommunicado for five days. Amnesty International says it is among the strictest systems in Europe, facilitates torture and breaches international human rights standards. The Spanish government says its system is no more restrictive than in other countries, and is overseen by judges. It has previously defended its program is a necessary counter-terrorism measure. Amnesty says that under the law, detainees cannot: 1. Contact their own lawyer, but can only receive legal assistance from an appointed lawyer; 2. Consult any lawyer in private; 3.Have their family informed that they have been detained or where they are held, while foreign nationals cannot inform their embassy; 4.Choose to be examined by their own doctor, but can only use a state-appointed one. CLICK HERE:Spain urged to end detention law

Strasbourg, France - BARROSO ASKS MEPS FOR NEW MANDATE - Barroso asks MEPs for new mandateThe European Commission president has appealed to EU lawmakers to grant him a second five-year term in office. Jose Manuel Barroso, a former prime minister of Portugal, faces a decisive vote on his bid on Wednesday. EU member state governments are backing him. Mr Barroso comes from the right of the political spectrum, but in Strasbourg he pitched openly for the votes of left-wing lawmakers and liberals. He emphasized his commitment to social policy, including equal pay for women. He pledged to look again at existing laws to ensure that established workers were not undercut by cheap labour from other EU states. Mr Barroso promised a new post of commissioner for civil liberties and minority rights. By non-too-subtly courting his political opponents, Mr Barroso is expected to win the simple majority he needs to secure five more years at the Commission. But he will hope to go further in Wednesday's vote, by securing the absolute majority which would enhance his political credibility. During the debate, Mr Barroso was strongly criticised by Martin Schulz, the leader of the parliament's opposition Socialist group. He accused the Commission president of serving the interests of EU member governments, which have unanimously backed his reappointment. Other leftists said Mr Barroso represented the political approach which had caused the economic crisis. CLICK HERE:Barroso asks MEPs for new mandate


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14.09.2009 Oslo, Norway - NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT AHEAD IN ELECTION - Norway's centre-left coalition government looked set for a narrow victory in the general election. Two exit polls and official projections suggested PM Jens Stoltenberg's Labour-led coalition would win about 86 seats in the 169-seat parliament. Mr Stoltenberg, in power since 2005, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis. His main challenger Siv Jensen, of the right-wing Progress Party, campaigned on a platform of lower taxes. She also wants to see tighter immigration, and stoked controversy by claiming Norway is being "Islamified". More than 10% of Norway's residents have foreign origins. They include many asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. Mr Stoltenberg's government is hoping to be the first to be re-elected in 16 years. Two exit polls published on television, after voting ended at 2100 (1900 GMT), predicted a slim victory for the government. CLICK HERE:Norwegian government ahead in election

Woolwich, England - AIRLINE PLOT TRIO GIVEN LIFE SENTENCES - Airline plot trio get life terms - Three men who plotted to blow up liquid bombs on flights from the UK to North America have been jailed for life, with minimum terms of up to 40 years. Ringleader Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, was jailed for at least 40 years. Plot "quartermaster" Assad Sarwar, 29, must serve at least 36 years, while Tanvir Hussain, 28, was jailed for at least 32 years at Woolwich Crown Court. Their aim was a terrorist outrage to "stand alongside" the 9/11 attacks on the US in history, the judge said.Mr Justice Henriques called the plot "the most grave and wicked conspiracy ever proven within this jurisdiction". Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the sentences "reflected the severity of this horrendous plot to kill and maim thousands of people". "I'm very pleased the jury gave a sentence that was proportionate to this potential crime," he said. "Our police and our national security service is a national asset, they've proven that again today." The trial heard that at the time of his arrest, Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, east London, had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights that were to be attacked within a two-and-a-half-hour period. "I'm satisfied that there is every likelihood that this plot would have succeeded but for the intervention of the police and the security service," he said. "Had this conspiracy not been interrupted, a massive loss of life would almost certainly have resulted, and if the detonation was over land, the number of victims would have been even greater still." CLICK HERE:Airline plot trio given life sentences

The Hague, Netherlands - HAGUE OFFICIAL GUILTY OF CONTEMPT - A former official at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague has been convicted of contempt of court. French journalist Florence Hartmann - the court's spokeswoman for six years - was fined 7,000 euros (£6,100). She was found guilty of disclosing the existence of confidential documents on Serbian government involvement in the Bosnian war of the 1990s. The documents were discussed in a book and article published by Ms Hartmann. The confidential documents in question were only released by Belgrade for the trial of the former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.CLICK HERE:Hague official guilty of contempt


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13.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL FACES RIVAL IN TV DEBATE - There are exactly two weeks to go before Germans go to the polls in a national election. On Sunday evening Chancellor Angela Merkel squares up to her main rival Frank Walter Steinmeier in a live 90-minute TV debate. Twenty million Germans are expected to watch the encounter. Opinion polls ahead of the duel suggest that Mrs Merkel's centre-right bloc will get enough votes in the election to allow her to remain chancellor. Mr Steinmeier has his work cut out to ensure that, at the very least, his Social Democratic Party stays on as junior partner in the government. On the face of it, Merkel v Steinmeier does not make for gripping television. First, neither of the candidates for chancellor is known for being particularly charismatic or telegenic. German Foreign Minister and vice-chancellor Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) greets the public at an election rally in Mainz, western Germany, on September 8, but, more crucially, even though the two political heavyweights are fighting it out now, for the last four years they have been rubbing shoulders in the cabinet room. Their parties have been sharing power and responsibility in a grand coalition, taking joint decisions on everything from health care reform to how to tackle the financial crisis. CLICK HERE:Merkel faces rival in TV debate
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: The message and the body language seemed to characterize a duet rather than a duel. Both leaders, CDU/CSU Merkel and SPD Steinmeier, have a two-layered voter potential. At the first level as the largest and second largest parties, they need to establish their maximal voter potential in their own right. The CDU­/CSU faces a possible SPD, which could be tolerated by a growing Left. Failure of the Left and other smaller parties to reach a suitable majority, the CDU/CSU and SPD can continue in coalition, business as usual so to speak. Both the CDU/CSU and SPD can be expected to lose voters to the FDP, Greens and above all to the Left.)


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12.09.2009 Moscow, Russia - GAZPROM CONCERN AT UKRAINE BILL - The head of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, has expressed concern that Ukraine might not be able to pay its gas bills beyond 2010. Mr Miller said Ukraine was currently fulfilling all its obligations, using funds from its currency reserves, the IMF and other sources. However, he said it was unclear if the reserves would cover the next Russian gas bill, due on February 7, 2010. He also expressed concern about Ukraine's presidential elections. They are due to be held in January 2010, and could introduce political risks. Describing the current payment situation, Mr Miller said it looked as though the reserves were sufficient to pay Gazprom until the end of December. CLICK HERE:Gazprom concern at Ukraine bill


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11.09.2009 Moscow, Russia - PUTIN HINTS AT PRESIDENTIAL BID - Russian PM Vladimir Putin has given the clearest indication yet that he might run again for the Russian presidency. Mr Putin did not commit himself, but hinted that he is thinking of coming back in 2012 when President Dmitry Medvedev's current term expires. The two leaders would not compete, but Mr Putin said: "We'll reach an agreement." He was speaking in Moscow to the so-called Valdai Club of foreign academics and journalists. The club holds a series of briefings with senior Russian politicians every year. Mr Putin tried to downplay any suggestion of rivalry, insisting that whatever happened would be as the result of a deal which they came to jointly. "Did we compete against each other in 2007 [before the last presidential election]?... No, we didn't. And so we won't in 2012 either. We'll reach an agreement," he said. "We're people of the same blood, with the same political views.... When it comes to 2012, we'll work it out together, taking into account the current reality, our own plans, the shape of the political landscape, and the state of United Russia, the ruling party." As ever sensitive to how his behaviour might look to critical outsiders, Mr Putin drew an analogy with the UK, defending the notion of one politician handing the baton of leadership on to a close collaborator without wider consultation. "When my friend Tony Blair retired, Gordon Brown immediately became prime minister," he said. "Were the people of Great Britain consulted on this? No, there was a change of leadership in the country and it was the two of them who decided it." "When my term expired," he went on, "I supported Dmitry Medvedev because I thought he was the best person to be the country's leader, and I was right," and now, he seemed to be hinting, the time might come when President Medvedev would be asked to return the favor. If Mr Putin were to stand again, it would probably come as little surprise to most Russians. His popularity in opinion polls is helped by his high visibility in Russia, which he seems to make a high priority. CLICK HERE:Putin hints at presidential bid

Stockholm, Sweden - SLOVENIA UNBLOCKS CROATIAN EU BID - Slovenia says it is ready to lift its block on Croatia's bid to join the European Union. The announcement came after talks between Prime Minister Borut Pahor and his Croat counterpart Jadranka Kosor. They also said they had agreed that a continuing 18-year-old border dispute would not prejudice Croatia's accession talks with the EU. Slovenia had blocked Croatia's EU negotiations since December because of the border dispute. Prime Minister Pahor said the government would immediately propose to parliament that "Slovenia removes restraints for Croatia's EU negotiating process". For her part, Croatia's prime minister said she had faxed a letter to the Swedish EU presidency saying they had "reached an agreement on the continuation of talks with the EU and continuation of the border talks". "No document can be prejudicial to the final border solution," Ms Kosor added. Croatia had hoped to complete accession talks with the EU this year, and become the 28th member of the bloc by 2010 or 2011. CLICK HERE:Slovenia unblocks Croatian EU bid


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9.09.2009 Moscow, Russia - 'ISRAEL LINK'IN ARTIC SEA CASE - Israel was linked to the interception of the missing cargo ship Arctic Sea last month, a senior figure close to Israeli intelligence has told the BBC. The source said Israel had told Moscow it knew the ship was secretly carrying a Russian air defence system for Iran. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed speculation that S-300 missiles were on board the ship. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has denied making a secret visit to Moscow on Monday. Mr Netanyahu's office says he was visiting an Israeli security installation when he vanished from public view for much of the day. A BBC correspondent points out that the claim of a secret arms shipment come as Israel seeks to highlight the threat posed by Iran. Tehran faces a deadline to open talks on its nuclear programme or face possible sanctions from the UN. The Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea and its 15 Russian crew vanished in July days after leaving Finland with an apparent cargo of timber destined for Algeria. It was found on August 16off West Africa. Moscow announced that the Russian navy had captured the hijackers and rescued the crew. Eight men were later charged with hijacking and piracy. However, the Israeli source told the BBC that the piracy story was a cover and that Israel told Moscow it was giving officials time to stop the shipment before making the matter public. On Tuesday, Mr Lavrov called media speculation that S-300 missiles were on board the Arctic Sea "groundless". He also promised a "transparent" investigation into the disappearance of the ship. Israeli media are linking the Arctic Sea incident to reports in the Hebrew language daily Yediot Aharonot of a clandestine visit by Mr Netanyahu to Moscow on Monday. The prime minister's office insisted that he had been visiting a "security installation inside Israel". The Kremlin press service said "nothing is known" about the reports, AP news agency reported. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, added that he had no information about any visit by Mr Netanyahu, Russia's Interfax news agency said. CLICK HERE:'Israel link' in Arctic Sea case

Madrid, Spain - SPANISH JUDGE FACES SUPREME COURT - Spanish judge faces Supreme Court Spain's most famous judge has testified in the Supreme Court over claims that he overreached his judicial powers. In October 2008 Baltasar Garzon launched a controversial inquiry into atrocities committed during the four-decade rule of Gen Francisco Franco. The court is hearing a complaint by a right-wing group that the judge knowingly exceeded his official remit. In the past, the judge's indictments have targeted the likes of Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden. Mr Garzon was met by a small crowd of supporters as he arrived at the Madrid courtroom, among them veterans of the civil war. Gervasio Puerta, 88, who spent eight years in prison after fighting against Franco, told the AP news agency: "It is an injustice to try a person who wants to defend those of us who suffered under Franco." In a blaze of publicity last October, Mr Garzon pledged to investigate what he called "crimes against humanity" committed during the Franco era. CLICK HERE:Spanish judge faces Supreme Court

Reykjavik, Iceland - NO SHORTCUT FOR ICELAND - The EU's enlargement commissioner says Iceland is already deeply integrated with the EU, but insists "there is no shortcut to EU membership". Olli Rehn's comments came in a speech at the University of Reykjavik on Wednesday. He is in Iceland for talks on the country's EU membership bid. Mr Rehn has given Iceland's government a huge questionnaire to fill in. Iceland, reeling from the collapse of its major banks, submitted its EU application on July 23. Iceland's responses to the European Commission questionnaire will help shape a commission opinion on the membership bid. That opinion will then be presented to the EU member states - a necessary step before accession negotiations can begin. The North Atlantic island, home to 320,000 people, is already in a club called the European Economic Area and applies about two-thirds of EU laws. Icelanders can also travel without restrictions across the EU. CLICK HERE:No shortcut for Iceland, says EU


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8.09.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL REGRETS AFGHAN RAID DEATHS - Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths -Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says she "deeply regrets" any loss of innocent life, after civilians were killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but Mrs Merkel told parliament that Germany's mission in Afghanistan remained necessary. There has been heavy criticism of the strike, ordered by a German commander. The chief of international forces in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has visited the scene and concluded that civilians were killed. The incident happened on Friday, when US jets, responding to a German request, bombed two oil tankers that had been hijacked by the Taliban. Many people nearby were killed. Mrs Merkel said in a speech to parliament on Tuesday: "Every innocent person killed in Afghanistan is one too many. Three weeks before Germany's general election, no single topic has dominated the campaign or managed to grab the public's interest. Until now. The Kunduz air strike has made Germany's mission in Afghanistan a key election issue. In parliament Mrs Merkel expressed her "deepest regret" but backed Germany's role in the Nato mission, arguing that it was in the interests of national security. CLICK HERE:Merkel regrets Afghan raid deaths

Berlin, Germany - GERMAN MP'S REVISIT LISBON TREATY - German MPs revisit Lisbon Treaty - Germany's lower house of parliament is to vote shortly on legislation that should pave the way for ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. The legislation is designed to strengthen the parliament's influence over EU matters that concern Germany. In June the German Constitutional Court called for these changes as a condition for ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. Nearly all the EU member states have ratified the treaty, but a second Irish referendum next month is a big hurdle. The treaty is aimed at streamlining EU institutions, to improve decision-making in the enlarged 27-member bloc. Opponents say it undermines national sovereignty and concentrates too much power in Brussels. German MPs are now considering legislation that would give them a vote on any changes to the Lisbon Treaty, or any expansion of EU competencies that impacts on German sovereignty. EU governments are anxious to get the treaty ratified as soon as possible. It was originally supposed to take effect in January this year. The presidents of the Czech Republic and Poland have refused to sign it until voters in the Republic of Ireland make their choice on October 2. CLICK HERE:

London, England - BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINAL IN UK JAIL - A former Bosnian Serb leader convicted of crimes against humanity in the Bosnian war has been sent to the UK to serve his 20-year sentence. Momcilo Krajisnik, 64, was jailed for the deportation, forcible transfer and persecution of non-Serbs in the war. A 27-year term was cut when convictions for murder, extermination and persecution were overturned on appeal. The UK takes Krajisnik as part of support for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Krajisnik, a former speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament and close aide to ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, was sent to Britain on Monday, the tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague said. He founded the nationalist Serbian Democratic Party with Karadzic and later became president of the Bosnian Serb Assembly. Krajisnik was jailed in September 2006 for crimes against humanity, but in March had seven years cut from his sentence after some of his convictions, including murder and extermination, were overturned. CLICK HERE:Bosnian war criminal in UK jail


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German MPs revisit Lisbon Treaty 7.09.2009 Woolwich, England - THREE GUILTY OF AIRLINE BOMB PLOT - Three men have been found guilty of plotting to kill thousands of people by blowing up planes flying from London to America with home-made liquid bombs. A Woolwich Crown Court jury convicted Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, Tanvir Hussain, 28, and Assad Sarwar, 29, of conspiring to activate bombs disguised as drinks. Four other men were found not guilty of involvement in the suicide bomb plot. The men's arrests in August 2006 led to new airport restrictions on liquids and brought chaos to travellers. The jury heard that at the time of his arrest, plot ringleader Ahmed Ali had identified seven US and Canada-bound flights to blow up over the Atlantic within a two-and-a- half-hour period. They were flights from London's Heathrow airport to San Francisco, Washington, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. His so-called "quartermaster", Sarwar, had secured bomb ingredients at his home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and a flat in the Walthamstow area of east London had become the bomb factory. There the men put together a special mixture of chemicals that they planned to take onto planes in ordinary sports drinks bottles stored within hand luggage. "This was a calculated and sophisticated plot to create a terrorist event of global proportions", said Sue Hemming, Crown Prosecution Service. Ahmed Ali, of Walthamstow, Hussain, of Leyton, east London, and Sarwar had been found guilty previously of a conspiracy to murder involving liquid bombs, but the jury in that first trial could not decide whether their plans extended to detonating the devices on planes. Now a second jury has decided that such a scheme did exist. The plot is believed by intelligence sources to have been directed by al-Qaeda. The BBC understands that the key contact for the plotters in Pakistan was a British man, Rashid Rauf. He was reported to have been killed in November 2008 by a US missile strike against militants in Pakistan. CLICK HERE:Three guilty of airline bomb plot

Brussels, Belgium - GOOGLE MODIFIES EUROPE BOOK PLANS - Google modifies concessions to European publishers who are concerned about the Internet giant's plans to put books into a massive online library. Material which is out of print in the US, but still available for sale elsewhere, will not be added to Google Books, unless consent is granted. Google has already digitised millions of out-of-print titles. The European Commission wants concerted action to allow more books in Europe's national libraries to be scanned. Only 1% of the holdings in national libraries across the 27 EU members states have been digitized, and complex copyright laws are partly blamed. "We also need to take a hard look at the copyright system we have today in Europe," said a statement from the European Commission, as hearings got under way in Brussels to assess the latest Google plans. The Google scanning project has so many more titles than any comparable scheme that many publishers and booksellers fear it will exploit a monopoly position. CLICK HERE:Google modifies Europe book plans

"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: Freedom of the press must also mean free access to scanned literature, paid for by commercial advertising.)
The European Union is in danger of breaking its promise that Turkey will eventually be granted membership, an influential group has warned.
Brussels, Belgium - The FORMER FINNISH PRESIDENT AHTISAARI ADVOCATES TURKEY EU MEMBERSHIP -The Independent Commission on Turkey accuses some European leaders of trying to derail Turkey's membership bid. Behind the carefully balanced language of diplomacy is a hard hitting report, a BBC correspondent says. It points the finger most firmly at France, whose President Nicolas Sarkozy is strongly opposed to Turkish entry. "France has publicly declared that it will not allow five key areas of the negotiations to go forward, specifically because the current French leadership opposes Turkish accession," the report says. The Independent Commission on Turkey is made up of senior European politicians and academics, and is led by the former Finnish President and Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari. Its report says negative statements from some leaders, and efforts to substitute full membership for some other kind of privileged partnership or special relationship, are putting the EU's credibility at stake. "In 1999. .. we said that Turkey is a candidate state destined to join the union on the basis of the same criteria as apply to other candidate states. So it's the credibility of the EU [at stake]," Mr Ahtisaari said. CLICK HERE:Former Finnish President Ahtisaari advocates Turkey EU memberships

London, England - TORY RATIONS MP DUNCAN DEMOTED - Alan Duncan, the senior Conservative secretly filmed complaining that MPs were expected to live on "rations", has been demoted from the shadow cabinet. He goes from being shadow leader of the Commons to shadow prisons minister. Mr Duncan, who was responsible for the Tories' position on MPs' expenses, said it was a "sensible decision" and he was "very happy" to do a new job. The Rutland and Melton MP agreed to leave the shadow cabinet after a meeting with Tory leader David Cameron. A replacement shadow leader of the Commons is to be announced on Tuesday, the same day as Mr Cameron is expected to announce proposals to "cut the cost of politics", in a policy speech in London. In a statement on his demotion on Monday, Mr Duncan said: "This is a sensible decision. You have to be realistic about how difficult the expenses issue has been. "What matters most is winning the election and David Cameron becoming the prime minister. "I don't want to be a brake on that by making a difficult issue more problematic. I am very happy to get stuck into another job." Mr Cameron said: "I'm grateful for Alan's work as shadow leader of the House and I'm sure he will continue to make a valuable contribution as shadow justice minister." Mr Duncan was secretly filmed in July by Heydon Prowse, of Don't Panic magazine, complaining about changes to the system of MPs' expenses. A video shows the MP on the House of Commons terrace saying: "No-one who's done anything in the outside world or is capable of doing such a thing will ever come into this place ever again the way we're going." Going on to use strong language, he adds: "Basically it has been nationalised. You have to live on rations and you are treated like shit." After the footage was made public last month, Mr Duncan offered an "unreserved" apology. CLICK HERE:Tory 'rations' MP Duncan demoted


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6.09.2009 Berlin, German - BROWN BACKS BID FOR LIBYA PAY_OUT - Brown has confirmed that the UK will support compensation claims being made against Libya by the families of IRA victims. The government has been criticized for closer ties with Libya by victims of the IRA - the organisation was supplied with explosives by Tripoli. Mr Brown insisted his government's priority had been to ensure Libya renounced terror and nuclear weapons. He said a "dedicated" team of officials would now help seek compensation. Mr Brown was speaking after talks in Berlin with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, about the economy. Mr Brown said he thought the IRA victims themselves, not the government, stood the best chance of persuading Libya to compensate them. He said: "I desperately care about the impact of all IRA atrocities on the victims, their families and communities. "The Libyans have refused to accept a treaty or normal intergovernmental agreement on this issue. "As a result, our judgement has been that the course more likely to bring results is to support the families and their lawyers in their legal representations to the Libyan authorities. CLICK HERE:Brown backs bid for Libya pay-out


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5.09.2009 London, England - G20 PROPOSES CURB ON BANK BONUSES - G20 proposes curb on bank bonuses - Bankers' bonuses should be deferred in order to reward long-term success rather than short-term risk-taking, G20 finance ministers have suggested. In a draft proposal agreed in London, ministers backed the idea from the UK as an alternative to a formal cap on bonuses sought by some countries. Ministers also said they would continue financial support for the global economy despite some signs of recovery, and they agreed to give emerging economies more say on the world stage. CLICK HERE:G20 proposes curb on bank bonuses


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4.09.2009 Dublin, Ireland - IRISH TREATY VOTE WILL BE TIGHT - PORTUGAL PM IN CENSORSHIP DISPUTE - The Irish government faces a tough battle to get the EU's Lisbon Treaty ratified in a referendum next month, the country's foreign minister says. Micheal Martin was speaking after a new opinion poll suggested a drop in support for the treaty. "I was never under any illusion but that it would be difficult to secure this, but I do think we can do it," Mr Martin said on Ireland's RTE radio. The treaty was rejected in a referendum in the Republic of Ireland last year. Ireland is the only one of the EU's 27 member states to put the treaty to a referendum. The complex document, drawn up after years of negotiation, is aimed at streamlining EU institutions. Mr Martin stressed that the government had "succeeded in ensuring every country retains a commissioner" in the EU. "There is a very significant challenge ahead, it's going to be a very tight campaign and it will demand all of the resources, conviction, politics and passion of all of those on the Yes side," he said. CLICK HERE:Irish treaty vote 'will be tight'

Magas, Ingushetia - TOP INGUSH MILITANT SHOT DEAD - Police have shot dead the man accused of being behind an attempt to assassinate the head of the Russian republic of Ingushetia, officials say. Rustam Dzorotov was said to have planned a suicide bomb attack in June which badly wounded Ingushetia's president, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov. Two men travelling with Mr Dzorotov were also killed after police stopped their vehicle, reports say. Ingushetia has faced increasing violence in recent months. The Federal Security Service told the Russian news agency, Tass, that Mr Dzorotov and two other men opened fire on security officers who had stopped their car on Friday near the city of Magas. The two other men died at the scene, but Mr Dzorotov escaped after a gunfight. However, his body was later found nearby, officials say. President Yevkurov has only recently returned to work after the attempt on his life which left him with head and chest injuries. Last month Russia began a security shake-up in Ingushetia after a suicide bombing killed 20 people at a police station. CLICK HERE:Top Ingush militant 'shot dead'

Lisbon, Portugal - Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates is embroiled in a row after a national TV channel shelved a programme dealing with alleged government corruption. Chief editors of the privately run TVI channel resigned after the broadcast - due on Friday - was dropped. Its owners said the cancellation was due to scheduling priorities. Opposition politicians have accused the ruling Socialists of censorship, but Mr Socrates, who is running for re-election, denies influencing TVI. The shelved programme dealt with the so-called Freeport case, involving claims that government officials took bribes during the construction of a shopping mall south of Lisbon in 2002. Mr Socrates, who was environment minister at the time, has denied any wrongdoing. Mr Socrates is now campaigning in the run-up to a general election on September 27, with his Socialist Party's absolute majority in parliament at stake. CLICK HERE:Portugal PM in 'censorship' dispute


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3.09.2009 Edinburgh, Scotland - SNP OUTLINES PLANS FOR INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM - Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has announced an independence referendum bill as the centrepiece of the SNP's plans for the coming year. The Scottish Government wants to stage the independence referendum in 2010. However, the minority administration's plan faces being rejected because of a lack of parliamentary support. Mr Salmond revealed details of a total of 13 bills, including minimum alcohol pricing, marking the start of the SNP's third legislative session. The first minister told MSPs there was a "consensus for change" on Scotland's constitutional status. He said: "I want Scotland to have the same responsibilities and opportunities as similar nations. "Until we can use all the economic and financial levers available to every other government in the world, Scotland will always be at a competitive disadvantage." CLICK HERE:NP outlines plans for independence referendum

Southport, England - UKIP FARAGE CHALLENGES UK SPEAKER - UKIP leader Nigel Farage is to stand against Commons Speaker John Bercow at the next general election. Mr Farage told the BBC he was standing because MPs "have broken the trust" of the British people and Mr Bercow "represents the worst" of the Commons. Convention rules that Speakers stay out of party politics. Labour and the Lib Dems will not stand against Mr Bercow in his Buckingham constituency. Mr Bercow said he was "more than happy" to be judged on his record as an MP. He was returned as Conservative MP for Buckingham, which he has represented since 1997, with a majority of 18,000 at the last general election.'Continuing commitment'Mr Farage, speaking as UKIP's annual conference got under way at Southport, Merseyside, said he had chosen to stand against the Speaker for a number of reasons. While Mr Bercow had himself been "embroiled" in the expenses row earlier this year, Mr Farage said he was also the "symbolic" head of a Parliament which had ceded powers to Brussels. CLICK HERE:UKIP Farage chsllenges UK speaker

Rome, Italy - ITALY EDITOR QUITS OVER PM _ The editor of Avvenire, a leading Italian Catholic newspaper, has quit in a bitter row involving the country's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Dino Boffo said his family and professional life had been "raped" in a "barbaric" attack by Il Giornale, a newspaperpaper owned by Mr Berlusconi's family. It claimed Mr Boffo was gay and involved in a harassment court case.As Avvenire's editor, Mr Boffo had criticised Mr Berlusconi for his alleged relationships with young women. In one editorial, the newspaper, which speaks for Italy's Catholic bishops' conference, spoke of how Catholics were mortified by Mr Berlusconi's behaviour. Last week, Il Giornale hit back with an article seeking to expose what it called Mr Boffo's double standards. In a rebuttal of the accusations published in Avvenire on Thursday, Mr Boffo admitted being fined in a harassment case, but said he was not at fault, and denied suggestions of a homosexual relationship. He said he was resigning because of the damage to his family and newspaper by Il Giornale. CLICK HERE:Italy editor quits in row over PM

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA SHIP MYSTERY EDITOR FLEES - A journalist has fled Russia after suggesting the Arctic Sea cargo ship that was apparently hijacked in July may have been carrying illegal weapons. Mikhail Voitenko said he had been told to leave Moscow or face arrest. The editor of Sovfracht, an online maritime journal, fled on Wednesday, saying he may not be able to return as his life would be in danger. Eight men, mainly from Estonia, have been charged with hijacking and piracy over the case. The men are suspected of seizing the ship and its 15-man Russian crew after raiding it disguised as police. The alleged hijackers were taken to Russia after the ship was spotted 300 miles (480km) off the west coast of Africa on August 16. CLICK HERE:Russia ship mystery editor flees

Moscow, Russia - NEW POLITKOVSKAYA PROBE ORDERED - Russia's Supreme Court has ordered a new effort to catch those who planned and carried out the killing of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Three men were acquitted of involvement in the murder in February, but have since been sent for retrial, but lawyers say that case will now be halted and merged with the hunt for the killer and the mastermind. Ms Politkovskaya won international renown for her dogged investigation of Russian abuses in Chechnya, but her reports, highly critical of the then-President Vladimir Putin and the Chechen leadership, angered many in authority. She was shot dead in Moscow in 2006. CLICK HERE:New Politkovskaya probe ordered


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2.09.2009 Amsterdam, Netherlands - ARABS CHARGED OVER DUTCH CARTOON -An Arab organisation is to be put on trial in the Netherlands over its publication of a cartoon deemed offensive to Jews, prosecutors say. The cartoon, published by the Arab European League (AEL) on its website, questions the Holocaust. It said the decision to prosecute illustrated bias against Muslims. It said the same standards were not applied to the Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who made a film including cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Last month prosecutors said they would not put the far-right MP on trial for distributing the controversial Danish cartoons, which caused a storm of protest after their publication in 2005."Freedom of expression is only a pretext to make life bitter for Muslims" Abdoulmouthalib Bouzerda, AEL chairman, said. However, he is still being investigated separately for inciting hatred against Muslims by making statements comparing Islam to Nazism, but Dutch prosecutors said the AEL cartoon was "discriminatory" and "offensive to Jews as a group... because it offends Jews on the basis of their race and/or religion". CLICK HERE:Arabs charged over Dutch cartoon

Brussels, Belgium - EU PLANS TO ADMIT MORE REFUGEES - The European Commission has unveiled plans to allow more refugees from conflict zones and poor nations into European countries. The scheme is aimed at discouraging immigrants, mainly from Africa, from attempting to reach Europe illegally. Many risk their lives as they try to enter the EU, often on rickety boats, relying on human traffickers. The UN says 65,596 refugees were resettled worldwide last year, but the EU accepted just 4,378, or 6.7%. The Commission, the EU's executive arm, says this "contrasts sharply with the numbers taken in by many other countries in the industrialized world, particularly the US, Canada and Australia". The Commission's new "Joint EU Resettlement Program" concerns only the resettlement of refugees currently living outside the EU. It is separate from proposals aimed at easing transfers of refugees from one EU member state to another - known as "burden-sharing". CLICK HERE:EU plans to admit more refugees

Athens, Greece - GREECE PM CALS A SNAP ELECTION - Greece's PM Costas Karamanlis has called a snap general election, although no date has yet been set. "I am seeking a fresh political mandate," Mr Karamanlis said on TV. There had been speculation that the conservative prime minister would go to the polls early given the wafer-thin majority he has in parliament. The government has been hit by a number of financial scandals and recent destructive wildfires have also hit its popularity. Mr Karamanlis said in his address: "We have to clarify the political landscape and proceed with a series of essential measures to emerge from the downturn. "The year 2010 will be a difficult and decisive one, and so the Greek people must choose a government that can lead the country out of this crisis," he said.Mr Karamanlis will meet President Karolos Papoulias on Thursday after which the date of the election is likely to be announced. It is expected to be October 4. CLICK HERE:Greece PM calls snap election

Copenhagen, Denmark - DENMARK DEPORTS GROUP OF IRAQIS - A plane carrying the Iraqis - 21 men and one woman - left Odense airport early on Wednesday. The plane is reported to be heading for Baghdad. Most of the Iraqis had sought refuge at Brorson's Church in Copenhagen in May, but they were evicted by police amid angry protests in August.They left "without incidents", an airport official said. They had been held at a detention centre. Denmark's Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech defended the deportation, saying the Iraqis were "not personally persecuted". A Danish support group, Kirkeasyl, says it is trying to get asylum for 125 Iraqis who remain in Denmark. A Danish activist supporting the Iraqis, Rosa Lund, said it was "totally inhuman to send people home to an uncertain future", the Associated Press reported. Clashes broke out between protesters and police outside Brorson's Church last month during the eviction of the asylum seekers.The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Amnesty International have criticised the Danish government's policy of sending the Iraqi refugees home. They argue that the situation is still too unstable in several regions.CLICK HERE:Denmark deports group of Iraqis


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1.09.2009 Gdansk, Poland - POLAND ANGRY AT SOVIET WAR ROLE - Polish President Lech Kaczynski has voiced his anger at the Soviet role in World War II at commemorations marking the beginning of the global conflict. In front of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other world leaders, Mr Kaczynski said the 1939 Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact had divided Europe. At an earlier event in the port city of Gdansk, he had described Russia's actions as a "stab in the back". Mr Putin said all pacts with the Nazis were "morally unacceptable".The day of ceremonies began at the exact time and location where, on September 1, 1939, the German battleship, "Schleswig-Holstein" fired at a Polish fort on Westerplatte peninsula, the first shots of World War II. Speaking at the dawn ceremony, Mr Kaczynski, referring to the occupation of eastern Poland by Soviet forces a fortnight later, said: "On 17 September... Poland received a stab in the back... This blow came from Bolshevik Russia."CLICK HERE:Poland angry at Soviet war role


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31.08.2009 Khasavyurt, Dagestan - RUSSIA KILLS AL-QAEDA OPERATIVE - Russian forces have killed an al-Qaeda militant in the increasingly volatile North Caucasus region of Dagestan, officials say. The Algerian national, known as "Doctor Mohammed", was killed when police stormed a house near Chechnya on Sunday night, an unidentified official said. Correspondents say a violent Islamist insurgency is growing in the region. The official announced the deaths in a televised address, dressed in combat gear with his back to the camera. "A representative of an international terrorist organisation in the North Caucasus tasked to oversee terrorist acts in Dagestan was neutralised during a combat operation," he told Russia's Vesti-24 news channel. A second militant was also killed as police raided the house in Khasavyurt, near the border with Chechnya, he added. Violence has flared in the North Caucasus in recent months, with dozens of militants and members of the security forces being killed in Dagestan, neighboring Chechnya and Ingushetia. Russia says the insurgency is being funded by foreign-based extremist Islamist organiations. CLICK HERE:Russia 'kills al-Qaeda operative'

Moscow, Russia - PUTIN CONDEMNS NAZI-SOVIET PACT - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has condemned the Nazi-Soviet pact signed a week before Germany's 1939 invasion of Poland as "immoral".In a piece for the Polish paper Gazeta Wyborcza, he also expressed sorrow over the massacre of Polish army officers by Soviet forces at Katyn in 1940. His words are seen as a bid to ease tensions with Poland over World War II, but he also argued the Munich agreement signed by France and Britain wrecked efforts to build an anti-Nazi alliance."A year earlier France and England signed a well-known agreement with Hitler in Munich, destroying all hope for the creation of a joint front for the fight against fascism," Vladimir Putin, Russian prime minister, said. Mr Putin is among several statesmen attending a service in the Polish port city of Gdansk on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of Poland's invasion. "Our duty is to remove the burden of distrust and prejudice left from the past in Polish-Russian relations," said Mr Putin in the article, which was also published on the Russian government website. "Our duty... is to turn the page and start to write a new one." CLICK HERE:Putin condemns Nazi-Soviet pact


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"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: Only a strong CDU, Green Party, and Liberal Party (FDP) showing in the next 30 days will be able to stop the further advance and possible chancellorship of this man, Gert Schroeder's former absconding Finance Minister, Oskar Lafontaine, the leader of the reformed Communists.)
30.08.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL FACES STATE POLL SETBACKS - Initial results in the regional polls in Germany suggests a setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel a month before the country's general election. Counting so far indicates her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) may lose control of two states - Saarland in the west and Thuringia in the east.The CDU may hold on to control in Saxony, the partial results suggest. The vote is being closely watched for clues as to how the chancellor's party will perform nationally. The CDU is still enjoying a 15-point opinion poll lead over the Social Democrats for the national election. In Saarland and Thuringia, the CDU vote is said to be 10 percentage points down on the last election, although how new coalition governments will be formed there may not be decided for a number of weeks. CDU general secretary Ronald Pofalla has already expressed disappointment at the elections, but he said: "We remain the only people's party in Germany." Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, of the Social Democrats, was upbeat. "Those who said that the [national] election was already decided have made a big mistake."The general election will be held on September 27. CLICK HERE:Merkel faces state poll setbacks

Tripoli, Libya - ITALY PM TO MEET GADDAFI IN LIBYA - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is to go to Libya to celebrate the anniversary of a friendship pact signed last year, but he will not attend events marking the 40th anniversary of the military coup d'etat that brought Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to power in 1969.Italy occupied the North African country between 1911 and World War II. Mr Berlsuconi's government has agreed to pay $5bn in the next 20 years to compensate Libya for wrongs committed during its colonial occupation. The two countries have agreed to put behind them the memories of injustices suffered by Libya in the early part of the 20th Century, and the subsequent painful expulsion of tens of thousands of Italian settlers.During his one-day stay in Tripoli, Mr Berlusconi was to lay the foundation stone of a new super highway linking Tunisia to Egypt and running along the entire 2,000km (1,240 miles) of Libya's Mediterranean coastline.CLICK HERE:Italy PM to meet Gaddafi in Libya
"euro_news_ clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:Is there nobody who remembers Col Gaddafi's two disastrous state unions with Egypt?)

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29.08.2009 Lisbon, Portugal - GUANTANAMO INMATES' PORTUGAL MOVE - Two Syrian nationals held at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay have been transferred to Portugal. The two detainees from the Cuban facility, who arrived in Portugal on Friday, have not yet been named. The US has asked European countries to accommodate former inmates who cannot return to their countries of origin because of the risk of persecution. France, Germany and Italy are among some of the countries that have agreed to take them in. The two Syrian detainees "are not subject to any charge, they are free people and are living in homes provided by [the] state," Portuguese officials were quoted as saying by AFP news agency. US President Barack Obama has promised to close Guantanamo Bay facility by January 2010. It was opened by the Bush administration in 2002 to house suspected terrorists. Although more than 540 detainees have departed Guantanamo for other countries, some 220 reportedly remain in the Cuban facility. CLICK HERE:Guantanamo inmates' Portugal move



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28.08.2009 Berlin, Germany - RED ARMY FACTION MEMBER ARRESTED - German police have arrested a former member of the extreme-left militant group the Red Army Faction for links to three murders 30 years ago. Verena Becker had played a crucial role in planning and carrying out the murder of Siegfried Buback, prosecutors said. The chief West German federal prosecutor was shot dead along with his driver and guard on 7 April 1977. DNA evidence implicating Ms Becker was found on a letter in which her group claimed responsibility, police said. The three victims were shot dead by two people on a motorcycle as their car stopped at a traffic lights on route to a Berlin court. Ms Becker, 57, was arrested in Berlin on Thursday on suspicion of playing "an active role" in the attack, prosecutors said, although there was no suspicion that she fired the fatal shots. Although Ms Becker was arrested the month after the Buback assassination, after a shoot-out with police, there was insufficient evidence at the time to convict her of his murder. CLICK HERE:Red Army Faction member arrested

Brussels, Belgium - EUROPE LOOKS TO BUYING SOYUZ SPACECRAFT - Europe is seeking to maintain flight opportunities for its astronauts by buying Soyuz spacecraft from Russia. The European Space Agency (Esa) has asked Moscow if it is possible to increase the production of the craft from four to five a year. Esa could then buy its own vehicle, perhaps with the Canadians who are also looking for more seat opportunities. The expected retirement of US shuttles in 2010/11 means fewer humans will be going into space in the coming years. The venerable Soyuz craft will be the only way of getting to the International Space Station (ISS), certainly in the short term. Simonetta Di Pippo, the director of human spaceflight at Esa, told BBC News she was hopeful a deal on Soyuz could be put in place for 2013. CLICK HERE:Europe looks to buying Soyuz spacecraft

Edinburgh, Scotland - MURDOCH JUNIOR: DOMINANT BBC BEHAVING ANALOG IN A DIGITAL ZONE - New Corporation's James Murdoch has said that a "dominant" BBC threatens independent journalism in the UK. The chairman of themedia giant in Europe, which owns the Times and Sun, also blamed the UK government for regulating the media "with relish". "The expansion of state-sponsored journalism is a threat to the plurality and independence of news provision," Mr Murdoch said. He was giving the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival. Mr Murdoch said that organizations like the BBC, funded by the license fee, as well as Channel 4 and Ofcom made it harder for other broadcasters to survive. "The BBC is dominant," Mr Murdoch said. "Other organisations might rise and fall but the BBC's income is guaranteed and growing." CLICK HERE:Muroch junior: Dominant BBC behaving analog in a digital zone

Rome, Italy - BERLUSCONI SUES MEDIA FOR LIBEL - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is launching legal action against media outlets across Europe for their coverage of his private life. Mr Berlusconi has been at the centre of a number of alleged scandals in the past few months. His lawyers say he has been subjected to an intolerable campaign of slander and is now fighting back. Mr Berlusconi has in his sights publications in Spain, France, Britain and here in Italy. His lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, says they are suing for libel over a series of stories that has involved teenage models and paid escorts. Mr Ghedini said among those being targeted were the French weekly Nouvel Observateur for publishing a story called "Sex, Power and Lies", and the Spanish newspaper El Pais, for showing photos of naked guests at Mr Berlusconi's villa in Sardinia. Mr Ghedini would not say which British publications could face action, though Mr Berlusconi has accused fellow media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch, of mounting a personal attack on him via the London Times, which Mr Murdoch controls. CLICK HERE:Berlusconi sues media for libel


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27.08.2009 Moscow, Russia - ARCTIC SEA'S HIJACKER'S CHARGED - Eight men accused of hijacking the Arctic Sea cargo ship have been charged with hijacking and piracy, Russian prosecutors have said. The men are suspected of seizing the ship and its 15-man Russian crew after raiding it disguised as police. The ship vanished last month days after leaving Finland with a cargo of timber. The alleged hijackers, mainly from Estonia, were taken to Russia after the ship was found nearly three weeks later off the west coast of Africa.It was spotted up 300 miles (480km) off Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean on 16 August. Observers have questioned why the alleged hijackers would risk seizing the Arctic Sea in one of Europe's busiest shipping lanes for a relatively inexpensive cargo. There has been speculation that the ship, which was scheduled to travel to the Algerian port of Bejaia, may have been carrying an illicit cargo, possibly arms. CLICK HERE:Arctic Sea's 'hijackers' charged

Berlin, Germany - MERKEL WARNS IRAN ON SANCTIONS - Iran could face new sanctions if it does not show a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear program, the German chancellor has said. Angela Merkel was speaking after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin. She also called on Israel to freeze its settlement construction for the sake of progress in peace talks. In London on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu suggested Israel was close to an agreement on settlements. During his visit to Germany, the Israeli prime minister has also been given original blueprints of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. The plans, which date from 1941-2, were found in a Berlin flat last year and include technical drawings for a gas chamber and crematorium - a symbol of the difficult history which connects Germany with the Jewish state created after the Nazi Holocaust. US President Barack Obama has warned that harsher penalties could be imposed on Iran if it does not take up an offer of talks on trade benefits in exchange for shelving its nuclear program."If there is no positive answer by September we will have to consider further measures," said Mrs Merkel. CLICK HERE:Merkel warns Iran on sanctions
24.09.2009 Tel Aviv, Israel - NETANYAHU ENTERS SWEDEN ORGAN ROW - Israel's prime minister has urged the Swedish government to condemn a Swedish newspaper article that claimed Israeli troops killed Palestinians for organs. Benjamin Netanyahu joins broad Israeli criticism of the Aftonbladet paper over the claims troops took organs to sell. An Israeli official quoted him saying: "Statements in the Swedish press were outrageous. We are not expecting an apology - we expect condemnation." Sweden has refused to condemn the article, citing freedom of expression, but Mr Netanyahu reportedly compared the claims to medieval "blood libels", which alleged that Jews used the blood of Christian babies during religious ceremonies. Israel's Interior Ministry has said it is freezing new visas to Swedish journalists, although those already in Israel can continue working. Ikea boycott mooted Israeli finance minister Yuval Steinitz said if Sweden would not condemn the story, Israel might cancel a visit by the Swedish foreign minister planned for September. CLICK HERE:Netanyahu enters Sweden organ row

Kiev, Ukraine - RUSSIA ACCUSES UKRAINE ON GEORGIA - Ukrainian troops fought alongside Georgian forces in the brief conflict last August between Georgia and Russia, Moscow prosecutors say. Regular soldiers, as well as 200 members of a Ukrainian nationalist group, took part in the fighting, the prosecutor general's office said. The statement comes amid worsening relations between Moscow and Kiev. Ukraine denied it helped Georgian attempts to re-assert control over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. It is believed to be the first time a Russian official has made such a direct accusation in a long war of words between Moscow and Kiev about the conflict, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow."Soldiers from Ukraine's regular defence ministry detachments and at least 200 members of the UNA-UNSO nationalist organisation took part in the armed aggression against South Ossetia," the Russian prosecutor general's office said in Monday's statement. A spokesman for the office said Ukrainian anti-aircraft weapons had been seized, and went on to name individual UNA-UNSO members involved. He also claimed to have evidence including uniforms, photographs and other personal belongings. CLICK HERE:Russia accuses Ukraine on Georgia


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23.08.2009 Edinburgh, Scotland - MINISTERS DEFEND MEGRAHI RELEASE - The Scottish Government has defended its decision to release the Lockerbie bomber, amid mounting criticism on both sides of the Atlantic.It follows an attack by the head of the FBI, who said freeing Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi made a "mockery of justice". Scotland's former first minister Jack McConnell said it was a "grave error of judgment", but First Minister Alex Salmond said releasing Megrahi on compassionate grounds was the "right decision".He said Scotland had a "strong" and "enduring" relationship with the US, but it did not "depend on us always coming to agreement"."We understand the upset. We understand the disagreement, but we have to do what is right in terms of our legal system, that is what we are duty-bound to do," he said."No-one, I think, seriously believes that we made any other decision except for the right reasons," he added. CLICK HERE:Ministers defend Megrahi release

London, England - LEGAL ACTION OVER BNP MEMBERSHIP - The UK's equalities watchdog has begun legal action against the British National Party over concerns about ethnic restrictions on its membership. The Equality and Human Rights Commission said limiting membership to those of an "ethnic origin" described as "indigenous Caucasian" was illegal. It has issued proceedings against BNP leader Nick Griffin and two officials. The party called this a "pathetic attempt" by the commission to divert attention from its own problems, but equality minister Harriet Harman said: "No party should be allowed to have an apartheid constitution in 21st Century Britain. I welcome the action." The commission has issued county court proceedings against the BNP after voicing concerns in June. In a statement it said: "The BNP's membership criteria appear to restrict membership to those within what the BNP regards as particular 'ethnic groups' and those whose skin colour is white. This exclusion is contrary to the Race Relations Act."The commission believes the BNP's constitution and membership criteria are discriminatory and, further, that the continued publication of them on the BNP website is unlawful. CLICK HERE:Legal action over BNP membership


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22.09.2009 Washington, DC - FBI BOSS ATTACKS MEGRAHI RELEASE - The head of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a scathing attack on Scottish government over the release of the Lockerbie bomber.In a letter dated 21 August, Robert Mueller said the decision had made "a mockery of justice" and given "comfort to terrorists around the world". Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has received a hero's welcome in Libya.The Scottish government replied that it had consulted widely in the US and UK and had made the right decision. Megrahi, the only person convicted in connection with the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, was found guilty of 270 counts of murder in 2001. He was given a life sentence. But on Thursday the Scottish government freed the 57-year-old, who is dying from cancer, citing compassionate grounds.CLICK HERE:FBI boss attacks Megrahi release

Budapest, Hungary - ARRESTS IN HUNGARY OVER ROMA MURDERS Hungarian police say they have detained four men suspected of a series of attacks on Roma (Gypsy) settlements in which six people have been killed. The attacks have sown terror among the Roma, who make up around 7% of the Hungarian population. The men - aged 28 to 42 - were arrested at a nightclub in the eastern city of Debrecen in the early hours of Friday. Evidence found at their homes and the crime scenes linked them to the killings, police said in Budapest. The national police chief, Lt Gen Jozsef Bencze described the attacks as the "biggest, most complicated and most serious series of murders" in Hungarian history. Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom said the whole country can now breathe a sigh of relief. CLICK HERE:Arrests in Hungary over Roma murders

EURONEWSCLIP COMMENT: "euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: After an interruption in reporting lasting over five weeks, the webmaster has decided to no longer use Internet Explorer 8 (IE6 and IE7 are even worse ) for collection and collation owing to a serious, persistant CSC (client-side caching) error. Offline temporary files just no longer materialize. Firefox is now used for the above collection activity, while Internet Explorer 8 is employed exclusively for uploading, due to the incompatability of past Microsoft files when displayed in a Firefox file code environment. An absurd situation in this day and age. It might even be a legally-dubious case of proxy-mirroring by server.


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08.08.2009 Moscow, Russia - WEB ATTACK BLOGGER ATTACKS RUSSIA - A blogger who was targeted in a co-ordinated attack against websites such as Facebook and Twitter has told the BBC he blames Russia for the assault.The pro-Georgian blogger, known as Cyxymu, said he had been targeted for "telling the truth about the Russian-Georgian war" in his writings. The attack caused a blackout of Twitter for about two hours on Thursday. Despite the blogger's claims, security researchers say there is "no suggestion the attack was state-endorsed". Google, Facebook and blogging platform Live Journal, all sites where Cyxymu had accounts, were also affected. "I write the truth about the Russian-Georgian war and somebody did not like these truths, these people in Russia," the blogger told BBC News. "I don't know which people," he added. The blogger, real name Georgy, has posted videos and blogs which criticize Russia over its conduct in the war over the South Ossetia region, which began one year ago. "It's a big surprise to me that my blog has meant that 250m people have not been able to enter Facebook," he said. Graham Cluley, of security firm Sophos, told BBC News there was no suggestion the attack against the blogger was state-endorsed. "It was almost certainly an individual who took objection to his blogs," he said. "They took internet vigilantism into their own hands to try to blast him off the web, but in the process blasted Twitter off instead."'Fragile service'Facebook had previously confirmed to BBC News that the attacks were directed at an individual who had "a presence on a number of sites, rather than the sites themselves". "A botnet was directed to request his pages at such a rate that it impacted service for other users," the spokesperson said. DOT.LIFE BLOG" 'Up is down, left is right and black is white,' a chief security researcher told me. 'These attacks do not make sense'"Read Maggie Shiels blog Botnets are networks of computers under the control ofhackers. The machines were used to mount a so-called denial-of-service (DOS) attack on Thursday. DOS attacks take various forms but often involve a company's servers being flooded with data in an effort to disable them. "Attacks such as this are malicious efforts orchestrated to disrupt and make unavailable services such as online banks, credit card payment gateways and, in this case, Twitter, for intended customers or users," wrote Twitter co-founder Biz Stone on his blog. Twitter was knocked out by the attack for around two hours, while Facebook said its service had been "degraded". The affect on Live Journal is unclear. Only Google seems to have escaped unscathed from the attack. "Google systems prevented substantive impact to our services," the company said in a statement. Sudden realization. The company has not confirmed which services were targeted in the attack, but it is thought that its e-mail service Gmail and video site YouTube were under fire. "We are aware that a handful of non-Google sites were impacted by [an]... attack this morning, and are in contact with some affected companies to help investigate this attack," the company said. All of the affected services were keen to stress that users' data had not been put at risk in the attacks. "Please note that no user data was compromised in this attack," wrote Twitter's Biz Stone. "This activity is about saturating a service with so many requests that it cannot respond to legitimate requests thereby denying service to intended customers or users." The blogger said he first noticed that things were not right when he realised his Live Journal page was not working."After, I entered Facebook to say Live Journal was not working and Facebook was down," he told BBC News. "So I entered Twitter to say that Live Journal and Facebook were not working, and Twitter was down. "And so I understood that it was under attack. It is not possible that these three services were all down at one time." He told the BBC that he still did not have access to his blog or profile pages on any of the services. However, he said, he had set up a new blog to continue his writings. CLICK HERE:Web attack blogger blames Russia
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: The decision of MS to engage in hot-pursuit of "illegal" users of now outdated retailer-loaded operating systems have rendered some bloggers easy targets of well-organized cyber attacks. ie 7 appears to be under persistent attack. Even ie8 set-up cabs appear to have been tampered with."CSC" "Client-side-caching is still down on ie7 as of 8.08.2009.)

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14.07.2009 After a period of intensive application, lasting almost one month, the WIN XP PRO "CSC" "Client-side-caching" reversal was briefly corrected. The "regedit" value for "cache net" ENABLED is D_DWORD 0x00000001(1). This fault has occurred on several occasions in the past, and obviously represents a serious interruption, the correction of which is practically ignored by MS help. THE CSC reversal fault provides an easy target for activating a resistant offline display shut-down.

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We regret the continuing technical interruption. The problem is being processed as a matter of urgency.

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19.06.2009 London, England - UK POLICE TO INVESTIGATE MP EXPENSE _ Scotland Yard has decided to launch an investigation into the alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers, the BBC has learned. Police say officers from their economic and specialist crime command will conduct the investigation. Labour's David Chaytor has confirmed he is one of the MPs under scrutiny, and the BBC understands his party colleague Elliot Morley will also be interviewed. It follows a public outcry about the way some MPs used their allowances. The decision to launch an investigation follows several weeks of preliminary inquiries by a team of police investigators, prosecutors and legal experts, but two weeks ago Scotland Yard had said it was highly unlikely anyone would face prosecution. Mr Chaytor said his solicitor had been contacted by the police. He said he would co-operate fully with the investigation once he was invited for an interview. "I want to explain my case, explain what happened. I've acknowledged that there is an error here and I want to clear my name," he told the BBC. In a statement, the Labour Party said: "It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation; however we always expect all Labour Party representatives and members to cooperate fully with the police. "The Labour Party has already taken tough action on expenses, including barring MPs found to have broken the rules from standing as Labour candidates at the next general election." The Conservative Party has declined to comment. CLICK HERE:UK Police to investigate MP expenses


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REPORTING HAS BEEN DISUPTED DUE TO AN OFFLINE VIEWING FAULT

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16.06.2009 Washington, DC - ITALY TO ACCEPT GUANTANAMO INMATES - Italy has agreed to take three detainees from the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, US President Barack Obama has said. He announced the agreement after talks on Monday with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the White House. The US wants other countries to accept Guantanamo detainees so the camp can be closed down, as Mr Obama has pledged. The European Union earlier endorsed a deal with Washington to transfer some inmates to Europe. "I... thanked the prime minister for his support of our policy of closing Guantanamo," Mr Obama said after meeting Mr Berlusconi. "This is not just talk. Italy has agreed to accept three specific detainees." The identities of the prisoners have not been disclosed. CLICK HERE:Italy to accept Guantanamo inmates

London, England - UK UN AMBASSADOR TO BECOME NEW MI6 CHIEF - Britain's ambassador to the United Nations is to become the new chief of MI6, Downing Street has announced. Sir John Sawers, 52, will head the overseas Secret Intelligence Service in November, replacing Sir John Scarlett. The departing boss spent more than five years in the post, having switched from his role leading the Joint Intelligence Committee just before the Iraq war. Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said the departing Sir John had done "an important and valuable job". CLICK HERE:UK UN ambassador to become new Mi6 chief

Ankara, Turkey - TURKEY PROBES NEW ANTI-PM PLOT Turkey's prime minister has had a special meeting with the country's military chief to discuss an alleged plot to discredit the ruling AK Party. PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged civilian and military investigators to find out who was behind the alleged plan. It was reported by the Taraf daily on Friday. According to Taraf, officers plotted to "break popular support" for the AKP, which has its roots in Islam. A separate probe into an alleged anti-AKP plot has led to dozens of arrests. Gen Ilker Basbug did not comment on his talks with Mr Erdogan on Tuesday. But earlier he said the military was investigating whether the reported anti-AKP plan was authentic. Along with the AKP, it also allegedly targeted a Muslim brotherhood led by a cleric, Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish daily Hurriyet says a senior naval officer, Dursun Cicek, is accused of having drawn up the anti-AKP document in April. The plan reportedly set out ways to combat fundamentalist Islam and curb religious movements. CLICK HERE:Turkey probes new anti-PM plot

Aengelholm, Sweden - GM AGREES SALE OF SAAB TO KOENIGSEGG - General Motors has reached a tentative agreement to sell Saab to the Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg. GM said that as part of the deal there would be $600m (£367m) of funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB), guaranteed by the Swedish government. It is the latest part of GM's reorganisation, which is also set to see the Opel and Vauxhall brands going to Canada's Magna. Saab filed for reorganization under Swedish law on 20 February. Koenigsegg produces 18 cars a year and employs 45 people, and there has been some doubt as to whether it has the expertise to run Saab, which sold 93,000 cars in 2008. Saab employs about 3,400 people in Sweden and about 12,000 other jobs in the country are dependent on Saab and its suppliers. CLICK HERE:GM agrees sale of SAAB to Koenigsegg


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15.06.2009 Nottingham, England POLICE DOUBLE-TASER ARREST PROBED - Video footage of a man being shot twice with a Taser gun has been passed to the police complaints body. The man was filmed struggling during the incident on Sunday night in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, as four officers attempted to arrest him. A large group appeared and some people remonstrated with officers. Nottinghamshire Police said no complaint had been made but they have referred the footage to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The footage shows two officers trying to arrest the man who is lying in the road outside Nottingham's Theatre Royal, but when they encounter difficulty, the officer with the Taser orders his colleague to let go of the man. He then fires the Taser, which consists of two darts on the end of wires containing a 50,000 volt shock. The two male officers were joined by two other officers who ordered the man to put his hands out. When he failed to do so, the officer with the Taser fires it again, shouting: "Taser, Taser, Taser." A crowd of 30 to 40 people quickly gathered and questioned the police's tactics. The video was given to local radio station Trent FM and has also been posted on YouTube. CLICK HERE:Police double-taser arrest probed
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:The aired video in question appears to show a scenario of police brutality whereby four officers subject an inebriated and prostrated man to two taser shocks and repeated punches in a initial failed attempt to apply andcuffs.)

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14.06.2009 Nottingham, England - ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TORY EU POLICY BUT AFRAID TO ASK - Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke says the Tories will not reopen negotiations on the Lisbon Treaty if the Irish back it in a new referendum. The Irish Republic rejected the treaty last year, but could hold another vote. The Tories have said they will call a referendum if they win power before all EU states ratify it, but have not said what happens if the Irish vote yes. Tory party central office denied its position had changed but Labour said Tory policy was "in disarray". Tory leader David Cameron has previously only said that if the treaty is ratified by all EU member states before a Conservative government comes to power he would "not let matters rest". His party argues that the treaty was an EU Constitution in all but name, but in an interview with BBC One's The Politics Show, Mr Clarke, one of the party's most prominent supporters of Europe, said: "If the Irish referendum endorses the treaty and ratification comes into effect, then our settled policy is quite clear that the treaty will not be reopened. "But it has also been said by David Cameron, and he means it, that it will not rest there, and he will want to start discussions on divisions of competence between national states and the centre of the EU." "Ken Clarke has just let the cat out of the bag. The Conservatives have no intention of holding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty" He said the party would want to open negotiations about a "return of some responsibilities, particularly in employment law, to individual nation states". He added: "We are not talking about a solemn treaty renegotiation. We are talking about sensible discussions about the proper division of responsibilities between nations and the EU in limited areas." BBC Political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said: "I think, in a sense, he's [Ken Clarke] freelancing here a little bit. "The party was quick to say there had been no change in policy. The sources that we have spoken to believe that this was a bit of a gaffe." A Conservative Party spokesman contacted after Mr Clarke's appearance said: "There is no change to Conservative policy. "As Ken Clarke explained if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified and in force across the EU by the time of the election of a Conservative government, we have always made clear that we would not let matters rest there," but Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Conservative policy on Europe was "in disarray". "Kenneth Clarke knows that Tory policy 'not to let matters rest' on the Lisbon Treaty is hare-brained and dangerous for British business, but his leader and shadow foreign secretary are committed to it," he said. "The country deserves a clear answer: has Conservative policy flip-flopped, or are the Conservatives just divided and incredible in their foreign policy?" UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said: "Ken Clarke has just let the cat out of the bag. "The Conservatives have no intention of holding a referendum on the Lisbon treaty and all their promises during the European election campaign about holding one can now be seen to be sheer, brass-necked dishonesty, " And Eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash demanded to know on what authority the shadow business secretary was speaking. He said: "It appears that Kenneth Clarke has reinvented unilaterally Conservative Party policy on the whole of the Lisbon Treaty and European policy." Ireland was the only one of 27 EU member states to hold a referendum on the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve decision-making in the enlarged bloc. MPs rejected a Conservative motion to put the Lisbon Treaty to a UK-wide referendum in March 2008 and it was ratified in July 2008. The three main UK political parties promised a public vote on the EU Constitution in their 2005 general election manifestos, but the constitution was rejected at referendums by Dutch and French voters later that year, the Lisbon Treaty was drawn up to replace it. CLICK HERE:All you wanted to know about Tory EU policy but afraid to ask


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12.06.2009 Valencia, Spain - SPAIN TO PUNISH BARBARIC BAKERY - A Spanish bakery accused of barbaric behavior towards an illegal worker will face "the full weight of the law", the government has vowed. The statement comes amid shock over the case of a Bolivian worker whose arm was cut off in an accident at work. Bosses at the bakery in Valencia are accused of dumping him 100m (330 feet) from the hospital entrance and throwing the severed limb in a rubbish bin. A Spanish trade union has lodged a complaint against the bakery. The union, the Workers Commissions (CCOO),claims that in the early hours of May 28, the arm of Franns Rilles was severed in a kneading machine while he was working. It was allegedly dumped in a rubbish bin and only discovered by police the following day, by which time it was too late to reattach it. Mr Rilles was allegedly warned by the son of the bakery owner not to tell doctors where his accident had taken place, and was left a distance of some 100m from the hospital entrance, while bleeding heavily. Mr Rilles, 33, had worked 12-hour days at the bakery, earning 23 euros a day (£20; $32) under no contract, for about a year and a half, the union says. He is recovering in hospital, reported Spanish news agency Efe. Police are investigating allegations of mistreatment. The case has made national headlines, and on Thursday Work and Immigration Minister Celestino Corbacho vowed that "the weight of the law" would come down on the bakery if the allegations are substantiated. Mr Corbacho said abusive practices were on the rise as workers' vulnerability jobs increased amid the economic downturn. The bakery has reportedly been shut down and two bosses detained. The government is considering granting Mr Rilles temporary residency in Spain on exceptional humanitarian grounds, Spain's El Pais newpaper reported. CLICK HERE:Spain to punish barbaric bakery

Vknkus, Latvia - LATVIA IS SAVED FROM BANKRUPTCY - Latvia's prime minister says that he has saved the country from bankruptcy. Valdis Dombrovskis told public radio that the decision late on Thursday to cut 500m lats ($1bn; £607m) from the budget was "very difficult".but the cuts were needed for the country to receive the next installment of its European Union bail-out loans. The country agreed a 7.5bn euro ($10.5bn; £6.4bn) loan package in December, but must cut the budget deficit to receive the loans. "The signals we have been getting from the European Commission are positive," he said. The five-party coalition government agreed to a series of measures with unions and employers. The cuts will include reducing old age pensions by 10% and cutting public sector salaries by 20%, but they decided against increasing income taxes. Parliament will vote on the changes next week. Latvia's currency is pegged to the euro, but the recession has hit Latvia so badly that many analysts believe it will have to devalue the lat. Latvia's central bank has been intervening to support the currency this week. CLICK HERE:Latvia is saved from bankruptcy

Makhachkala, Dagestan - POLICEMEN KILLED IN DAGESTAN ATTACKS - Two police officers have been killed and two others wounded in a series of attacks in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, officials say. In the first incident, a police major was shot in the head while on his way to work in the capital, Makhachkala. Another officer who had taken part in an operation to arrest gunmen suspected of killing a policeman three days ago later died in a gun battle in the city. Police chief Shamil Guseinov said two militants involved were then shot dead. Overnight, two other policemen were wounded when their car was attacked by gunmen on a road in Dagestan. The Caucasus republic has long been plagued by violence often linked to Muslim separatist rebels in neighbouring Chechnya. CLICK HERE:Policemen killed in Dagestan attacks

Sarejevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina - BOSNIAN SERB JAILED FOR MASSACRE - A court in Sarajevo has imprisoned a former Bosnian Serb officer for 25 years for ordering the 1995 shelling of Tuzla, an attack that killed 71 people. Novak Djukic was found guilty of war crimes against civilians. A single shell was fired at the centre of the mainly Muslim town of Tuzla on 25 May 1995, despite it having been declared a United Nations "safe zone". Gen Djukic, who became the Bosnian Serb army's chief of staff, retired in 2005 and was arrested two years later. The war crimes department of the Court of Bosnia-Hercegovina found that, as a regional commander during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, he had been responsible for ordering an artillery unit stationed on nearby Mount Ozren to shell Tuzla. CLICK HERE:Bosnian Serb jailed for massacre

London, England - LADY THATCHER HOSPITALIZED- Former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher is under observation in hospital after breaking her arm. The 83-year-old suffered the injury in a fall at home but is said by her office to be "recovering well". She had been due to return home after treatment but doctors at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital have decided to keep her in overnight. Britain's first woman prime minister celebrated the 30th anniversary of her election victory earlier this week. Lady Thatcher's office said there were no complications or other health issues to be concerned about, following her accident. CLICK HERE:Lady Thatcher hospitalized


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11.06.2009 Rome, Italy - STUDENTS PROTEST GADDAFI VISIT - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been heckled by students at Rome University, where he was taking part in a debate. Italian students jeered, let off smoke bombs and hurled paint, in protest at his human rights record and a deal with Italy to return African migrants. A smaller group of about 50 Kurds applauded his visit. Earlier Col Gaddafi denounced the US in a speech to Italian senators, saying the 1986 bombing of Tripoli was no better than attacks by al-Qaeda. Col Gaddafi is on his first visit to Italy, Libya's former colonial power and now biggest trading partner, since he took power in a coup 40 years ago. Relations between the two countries have been difficult but in recent years they have flourished and even turned to friendship. They have been angered in particular by a bilateral agreement signed between Rome and Tripoli to intercept and forcibly repatriate immigrants arriving in Italy from Africa. Human rights organisations have condemned the agreement as a means for Italy to evade its obligations to migrants and asylum seekers. Earlier Col Gaddafi addressed senators, although he was prevented by left-wing senators from speaking in the main Senate chamber. In front of the speaker, he lashed out at the US, urging the world to understand the reasons which motivate terrorists. In what he admitted was a provocative sally, he asked what was the difference between al-Qaeda's attacks and the US bombing of Tripoli in 1986, in which one of his own children was killed. "If [al-Qaeda leader Osama] Bin Laden has no state and is an outlaw, America is a state with international rules," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. He added that the US was responsible for letting al-Qaeda into Iraq, which under Saddam Hussein was a "fortress against terrorism". Libya's decision to give up ambitions to have weapons of mass destruction had not been appreciated, he added. CLICK HERE:Students protest Gaddafi visit
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Belgrade, Serbia - BOSNIAN TV PUBLISHES MLADIC IMAGES - Bosnia's Federation TV has broadcast what it says are videos of the fugitive former Bosnian Serb army chief, Ratko Mladic, filmed over the past 10 years. One video allegedly showed Gen Mladic standing with two unidentified women during the winter of 2008. He is wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on war crimes charges in connection with the Bosnian civil war. A Serbian minister said it was "simply impossible" there was video from 2008. "The material that was shown last night was seized in Mladic's house in December 2008 and handed to the Hague Tribunal in March this year," said Rasim Ljajic, the chairman of the Serbian National Council for Co-operation with the ICTY. "Not a single shot is less than eight years old." Mr Ljajic said he believed the videos had been released to increase the political pressure on Serbia days before EU foreign ministers are due to discuss its progress towards co-operating with the tribunal. CLICK HERE:Bosnian TV publishes Mladic images


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10.06.2009 London, England - MP'S EJECT EARLY ELECTION MOTION - A motion to dissolve the UK Parliament and pave the way for an immediate general election has been rejected by MPs. Plaid Cymru and the SNP tabled the motion, backed by the Conservatives and Lib Democrats, saying that the government had lost authority. SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson called for an "historic, reforming election" to rebuild trust in politics in the wake of the expenses scandals, but Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said an early poll would "trigger instability". The motion was rejected by 340 votes to 268. The debate was scheduled before last week's conflict within Labour over Gordon Brown's leadership. CLICK HERE:MP's reject early election motion

Washington, DC - CHRYSLER AND FIAT COMPLETE DEAL - Fiat and Chrysler have completed the strategic alliance that will put Chrysler's good assets into a new firm. Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne will take control of the new company, which will begin operating immediately. Fiat is not paying any money for its 20% of the new firm but will contribute technology to make smaller Chryslers. The deal was completed on Wednesday after the US Supreme Court dismissed an appeal against it from three Indiana state pension and construction funds. "This is a very significant day, not only for Chrysler and its dedicated employees, who have persevered through a great deal of uncertainty during the past year, but for the global automotive industry as a whole," said Mr Marchionne. The deal paves the way for Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy protection. Fiat's shareholding will expand to 35% if certain targets are met. The United Auto Workers union gets 55% of the new company, while the US and Canadian governments will take stakes of 8% and 2% respectively.CLICK HERE:Chrysler and Fiat complete deal


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9.06.2009 Brussels, Belgium - EU HEAD BARROSO SEEKS SECOND TERM - Jose Manuel Barroso has declared his candidacy for a second five-year term as the European Commission's president. Mr Barroso was formally asked to stand again by Czech PM Jan Fischer during talks in Brussels following the results of the European Parliament elections. Correspondents say his position has been strengthened by the strong showing of centre-right parties which back him. The former Portuguese prime minister has led the European Commission, the EU's executive body, since 2004. The leaders of all 27 member states and a majority of the European Parliament must agree on the choice of a new commission president. Some countries hope to achieve this before a summit in Brussels next week, but Mr Barroso's current term does not end until October. CLICK HERE:EU head Barroso seeks second term

Frankfurt, Germany - ARCANDOR FILES FOR CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Germany's Arcandor, which owns 53% of Thomas Cook, has filed for bankruptcy protection after the German government rejected a request for loan guarantees. Arcandor, which employs about 70,000 people, had sought 650m euros ($930m; £561m) of guarantees because about 600m euros of its loans need refinancing. Arcandor said its bankruptcy filing covered German retailer Karstadt and its mail-order businesses. However, it added that Thomas Cook would "remain unaffected". Thomas Cook is the only profitable part of Arcandor, and the German firm's 52.8% stake in the travel firm is worth about 1bn euros. CLICK HERE:Arcandor files for chapter thirteen

London, England - BROWN ACCUSED OF GERRYMANDERING HIS POSSIBLE RE-ELECTION - Gordon Brown will announce plans to examine a new Westminster voting system, the BBC understands. Mr Brown will make a statement to MPs on Wednesday about his reform plans in the wake of the expenses scandal. Ministers have discussed an alternative vote system to choose MPs to replace the first past the post method, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said. A Tory spokeswoman said: "The prime minister is trying to change the rules because he thinks he will lose." She added: "If the prime minister is so concerned about democratic renewal there is an easy way to fix that and that is to have a general election." CLICK HERE:Brown accused of gerrymandering his possible re-election

London, England - BNP LEADER PELTED WITH EGGS BY ILL-WISHERS - BNP leader Nick Griffin has been pelted with eggs and forced to abandon a press conference outside Parliament. Dozens of protesters disrupted the event, which follows the British National Party winning its first two seats in the European Parliament. Chanting anti-Nazi slogans and holding placards they surrounded Mr Griffin as he was bundled into a car. Mr Griffin was elected for the North West region - a result condemned by parties across the political spectrum. Mr Griffin and Andrew Brons, who was elected in the Yorkshire and Humber region, staged a press conference on College Green, opposite the Houses of Parliament. The BNP leader began the event by holding up copies of national newspapers and talking about what he said were media lies about him and his party. He denied he had past links with Oswald Mosley, as the former fascist leader "was very hostile to the National Front from which I am from". He had been speaking for about two minutes when about 50 to 100 protesters marched towards him chanting slogans and throwing eggs. ...There was a brief scuffle as Mr Griffin was jostled by protesters, and a scrum of cameramen, before the BNP leader was bundled into the back seat of a waiting car by his security men. CLICK HERE:BNP leader pelted with eggs by ill-wishers


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7/8.06.2009 Brussels, Belgium VOTERS STEER VOTERS TO RIGHT - Center-right parties have done well in elections to the European Parliament at the expense of the left. Far-right and anti-immigration parties also made gains, as turnout figures plunged to 43% - the lowest since direct elections began 30 years ago. The UK Labour Party, Germany's Social Democrats and France's Socialist Party were heading for historic defeats. The center-right European People's Party (EPP) looks set to continue to hold power in the parliament. Jose Manuel Barroso, who seems set for a second term as European Commission president following the center-right success, thanked voters and assured them their voices would be heard. Falling turnout: 1979 - 62%; 1984 - 59%; 1989 - 58%; 1994 - 57%:; 1999 - 50%; 2004 - 45%; 2009 - 43%. CLICK HERE:Voters steer voters to right

Brussels, Belgium - Center-right parties have triumphed over their left-wing opponents in the 2009 European Parliament elections. There were victories too for far-right and anti-immigrant parties, but the turnout was a record low of 43%.The results allow the center-right European People's Party (EPP) to cement its position as the largest bloc in the European Parliament.Here we take a more detailed look at the results from some of the largest countries in the European Union. FRANCE - 72 SEATS It was a good night for President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party, which took 28.5% of the vote, leaving the opposition Socialists trailing with 17%. The result was even more welcome for the president as he has faced increasing public anger in recent months over his handling of the economic crisis. The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris said voters decided instead to punish the Socialist Party, which has been plagued by bitter in-fighting. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the strong showing by the green Europe Ecologie party, which took third place with 16%. Turnout was the lowest ever in France for a European election. Only 40% of the 44 million electorate cast their vote. GERMANY - 99 SEATS Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives trounced their centre-left rivals in what is being seen as a big test of public opinion before September's general election. Mrs Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party won nearly 38% of the vote, down from 44.5% in the 2004 EU election. But the Social Democrats (SPD) took just 21%, their worst ever result. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will be the SPD's candidate for chancellor in September, admitted the result was "disappointing". The bigger winners of the night were the smaller parties, with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) taking 12%, up from 6% last time, and the Greens taking 11% of the vote. Just over 42% of Germany's electorate voted for the 99 seats in the European parliament. ITALY - 72 SEATS Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party took around 35% of the vote, securing him victory but well below his target of 40%. The anti-immigration Northern League - an ally of PDL - saw a boost in support, claiming 11% of the vote compared with 8.3% in last year's general elections. The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) came in second with around 28% of the vote. The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome said the result was not quite the decisive blow Mr Berlusconi - who has been hit by a series of personal scandals in recent weeks - had hoped for. But Italians still appear to be more comfortable with Mr Berlusconi's centre-right agenda, particularly on immigration, our correspondent adds. Turnout was one of the highest in Europe, at around 65%. POLAND - 50 SEATS The ruling centre-right Civic Platform was the big winner, securing around 45% of the vote. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his government had been given "a new vote of confidence". Correspondents say Poland has so far been affected by the global economic crisis much less than the rest of Europe so far. The BBC's Allan Little in Warsaw says Civic Platform's strong performance will give it a powerful position within the EPP, the main bloc in the parliament. The Eurosceptic opposition Law and Justice party took nearly 30% of the votes, while the leftist Social Democratic Alliance came third with 12%. The turnout was reported to be 27%, up from 20% in 2004 but nowhere near the 53.8% in the last general election. SPAIN - 50 SEATS Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is coming to terms with his first ever election defeat in a nationwide poll. His ruling Socialist Party took 38.5% of the vote, beaten by the opposition conservatives who took 42.25%. The remaining six seats in the European Parliament will be taken up by smaller parties and nationalist groupings such as the Catalans and the Basques. The key factor in the election is the economy, the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid reports. Spain has the highest unemployment in Europe and the recession is said by some to be the deepest since the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The one consolation for the prime minister is that the next general election is still three years away, by which time he will be hoping that the economy has recovered, our correspondent says. UK - 72 SEATS It was a terrible night for the ruling Labour Party, which took just 15.3% of the vote, its worst result since World War II. The party came third behind the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which campaigns for Britain's withdrawal from the EU, which took 17.4% of the vote. One of the significant results of the night was the success of the far-right British National Party, which gained two seats in Brussels - its first wins in national elections. The centre-right Conservative Party was the overall winner with 28.6% of the vote - increasing its share by just over 1% - while the Liberal Democrat party came fourth. The results are likely to pile further pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is facing growing calls from within his party to step down. CLICK HERE:Voters steer Europe to right

London, England - LABOUR SLUMPS TO HISTORIC DEFEAT - Labour has suffered its worst post-war election result as it was beaten into third place by UKIP and saw the BNP gain its first seats at Brussels. Labour's share of the vote at the European elections was just 15.3% - worse than party bosses had feared. The Tories won with 28.6%, beating Labour in Wales but failing to increase their total share significantly. The results have sent shockwaves through UK politics and led to renewed calls for Gordon Brown to quit as PM. The BNP gained a seat in Yorkshire and Humberside and in the north west of England, where party leader Nick Griffin was elected, the first time the anti-immigration party has won seats at national elections. Their result was condemned across the political spectrum, with both the Tories and Labour calling it a "sad day" for British politics. Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "The BNP is like the ultimate protest vote. It is how to deliver the establishment a two-fingered salute. I think largely it is a comment on Westminster politics," but in his victory speech, Mr Griffin said he was "absolutely delighted," adding "it will be a huge change in British politics". He said "The most demonised and lied about party in British politics has made a massive breakthrough. The public have had their say in a democratic election and we should respect that." With results in Northern Ireland still to come, it is clear that Labour suffered one of its most abject results of all time. CLICK HERE:Labour slumps to historic defeat
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:Conservative leader David Cameron has said he is "delighted with the results." In actual fact the election results are a disaster. The Labour party has degenerated into a one-man show, the Conservatives have been indoctrinated into regid Euroscepticism, while enjoying an entente cordiale with UKIP, and the BNP genie is out of the bottle.We have the same old constellation as the early 1930's. Only the despot is momentarily missing! )

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6.06.2009 Arromanche, France - Allied leaders have been paying tribute to veterans of D-Day, as they mark the 65th anniversary of the landings at a series of events in Normandy. US President Barack Obama said the bravery and selflessness of a few changed the course of a whole century. He was speaking alongside French, Canadian and UK leaders at the American cemetery near Omaha Beach, scene of fierce fighting on 6 June 1944. The Allies suffered 215,000 casualties on D-Day and in the Normandy campaign. Germany suffered similar losses as the Allies fought desperately up the beaches and into the French countryside to form a bridgehead. Speaking at the US war cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach, Mr Obama said it was the sheer improbability of the D-Day victory that had made it so memorable. CLICK HERE:Leader's tribute to D-Day heroesLEADERS' TRIBUTE TO D-DAY HEROES

Burnopfield, England - PAIR QUESTIONED OVER RICIN FIND - A father and son are being questioned by anti-terrorism officers following the discovery of the poison ricin at a house in County Durham. The find is connected to a police inquiry into alleged extreme right-wing activity. Ian Davison, 41, and his son, Nicky, 18, were arrested on Tuesday in raids at their homes in County Durham. The ricin, said to be 6,000 times more toxic than cyanide, will be analyzed at the Porton Down government laboratory. Police have halted their search of Mr Davison's home in Myrtle Grove, Burnopfield, until tests on the substance, found in a sealed jam jar, have been completed. CLICK HERE:Pair questioned over ricin find

London, England - UK MINISTER ACCUSED OF LETTING DOWN TROOPS - Departed UK Defense Secretary John Hutton has been accused of a "dereliction of duty" by a senior military figure, because UK troops are at war. Mr Hutton resigned his post on Friday, saying he was leaving frontline politics but supported Gordon Brown. Field Marshal Lord Bramall, in a letter to the Times, said Mr Hutton's timing could not be worse, with funding problems facing troops in Afghanistan. Former Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth is the new defense secretary. CLICK HERE:UK minister accused of letting down troops

London, England - MS FLINT CRITICIZED IN SEXISM DISPUTE -Labour MP Caroline Flint has been criticized for her attack on Gordon Brown's style of government and his treatment of female ministers. Ms Flint resigned as Europe minister on Friday, claiming he operated a "two-tier" government via an "inner" circle. Senior female figures were regarded as "little more than window dressing" by the prime minister, Ms Flint argued. Fellow MP Geraldine Smith said Ms Flint would "regret" her comments, saying she should have thought twice about them. In her resignation letter, Ms Flint said Mr Brown's government was not "inclusive" and suggested she had been ignored when she attended cabinet meetings. "Several of the women attending cabinet, myself included, have been treated by you as little more than female window dressing." Ms Flint stated.CLICK HERE:Ms Flint criticized for in sexism dispute

London, England - PM BROWN IS FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND - Gordon Brown says he will not be diverted by leadership speculation from his efforts to clean up politics and tackle the recession. Mr Brown said there were ups and downs in politics but he was focused on "the task in hand", including reform of Parliament and public services. Senior MPs have urged Labour colleagues to rally round Mr Brown after a week of turmoil for the party. Meanwhile, Labour is nervously awaiting Sunday's European election results. If Labour fares badly in these polls, after damaging defeats in English council elections announced on Friday, backbench MPs could yet try to move against the prime minister. Mr Brown sought to reassert his authority with a cabinet reshuffle on Friday after the resignation of a handful of senior ministers fuelled talk about his position. CLICK HERE:PM Brown is focused on the task at hand


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5.06.2009 Buchenwald, Germany - US PRESIDENT VISITS NAZI-ERA CAMP - US President Barack Obama has paid a visit to the Nazi concentration camp in Buchenwald during his trip to Germany. He and German Chancellor Angela Merkel toured the site, where some 250,000 prisoners were held from 1937 to 1945. The camp has personal significance for Mr Obama as his great-uncle, Charles Payne, helped liberate Ohrdruf, a satellite camp of Buchenwald. Mr Obama ended his day by flying to France and was due to meet his wife and daughters in Paris on Friday evening. He will join in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Allies' D-Day invasion on Saturday. CLICK HERE:US president Barack Obama visits Nazi-era camp

Dagestan, Russia - SENIOR DAGESTAN OFFICIAL KILLED - The interior minister of the troubled Russian region of Dagestan has been shot dead, officials say. Adilgerei Magomedtagirov died in hospital after the shooting, which took place outside a wedding reception in the capital, Makhachkala. At least four other people were wounded in the incident, including the father of the bride, a senior policeman. Dagestan has long been plagued by violence often linked to separatist rebels in neighbouring Chechnya. The killing of Mr Magomedtagirov, 52, who had been interior minister since 1998, follows that of a senior police investigator last month, who was shot dead as he emerged from his house. Seifutdin Kaziakhmedov had reportedly received death threats for his work combating organized crime and Islamist militancy. CLICK HERE:Senior Dagestan official killed

Kiev, Ukraine - UKRAINE MP'S DISMISS DEFENSE MINISTER - Ukraine's parliament has dismissed the country's defense minister, Yuri Yekhanurov, by a large majority over allegations of financial mismanagement. Mr Yekhanurov was seen as an ally of President Viktor Yushchenko. The motion for his dismissal was put forward by MPs loyal to Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a former ally turned rival of the president. Ms Tymoshenko had accused the defense ministry of corruption, allegations which Mr Yekhanurov has denied. "Yekhanurov is a gaping hole in Ukraine's defense capability and it must be plugged," said Oleh Lyashko, a senior member of Ms Tymoshenko's bloc. The dismissal leaves Ukraine without foreign, defense and finance ministers. CLICK HERE:Ukraine MP's dismiss defense minister


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4.06.2009 London, England - UK PM TOLD TO GO AS MINISTER QUITS - James Purnell has stepped down from the cabinet and told Prime Minister Gordon Brown to "stand aside" as leader. In a letter to several newspapers, the work and pensions secretary said Mr Brown's continued leadership made a Tory victory "more, not less likely". He is the third cabinet member in three days to say they are standing down. Downing Street said Mr Brown was "disappointed" but would be getting on with the job but David Cameron said the government was "falling apart". Mr Brown was set to reshuffle his team within days as he fights to hang on to his tenure as prime minister, but in his letter to Mr Brown, published in Friday's newspapers, Mr Purnell said he owed it to the Labour Party to "say what I believe no matter how hard that may be". He wrote: "I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less likely. That would be disastrous for our country." CLICK HERE:UK PM told to quit as minister quits

The Hague, Netherlands - DUTCH FAR RIGHT GAIN IN EU ELECTIONS -Far right-wing Dutch lawmaker's party has made big gains in European Parliament elections, exit polls suggest. They say Geert Wilders' Freedom party will win four of the 25 Dutch seats in the parliament, just one behind the country's Christian Democrats. Dutch and British voters were the first to go to the polls to elect the EU's most powerful legislative body. Some 375 million people in 27 member states are eligible to vote. Most will cast their ballots over the weekend. CLICK HERE:Dutch far right gain in EU elections

London, England - UKIP OUTRAGED BY UNFOLDED BALLOTS - The UK Independence Party has called for the elections minister to resign in a row over folded ballot papers. UKIP says hundreds of people could not find the party's box as it was hidden under a small fold at the bottom of the list of European election candidates. The party says it may challenge the result and says minister Michael Wills did not do enough to sort it out. The government says returning officers run elections and an alert had been put out once the problem emerged. In a letter to Mr Wills, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "We are outraged that today's European election have not been contested on a free and fair basis. "We have been swamped with upset voters who failed to find us on the ballot paper. In many cases they have voted for other parties such as NO2EU and even the BNP." CLICK HERE:UKIP outraged by unfolded ballots


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3.06.2009 London, England - PM BROWN UNDER PRESSURE AFTER BLEARS QUITS - Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has quit the cabinet, increasing pressure on UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Her departure is the second top-level resignation on the eve of the European and English local elections. It led to stormy Commons scenes as Mr Brown denied his government was in "meltdown" and rejected calls for an immediate general election. Health Secretary Alan Johnson has been forced to deny he is ready to take over amid reports of a backbench plot. Mr Johnson told the BBC: "He is doing the job and there is absolutely no one who could do that job better." He said Mr Brown's performance at prime ministers' questions had shown he had the "courage and tenacity" to lead the country "under circumstances made difficult for him". Other cabinet ministers, including Hilary Benn, Andy Burnham and Lord Mandelson, have also rallied round the prime minister and attempted to calm speculation he will be forced to quit. CLICK HERE:PM Brown under pressure after Blears quits

Nuuk, Greenland - OPPOSITION WINS GREENLAND ELECTION - The left-wing Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People, IA) party has won Greenland's parliamentary elections, official results show. The party ousted the Social Democratic Suimut Party, which has governed the territory for 30 years. With all districts counted, the IA had nearly 44% of the vote and Suimut just over 26%, the election commission said. IA will be the first party to govern the semi-autonomous Danish territory under an expanded home rule agreement. IA leader Kuupik Kleist told supporters celebrating in the capital Nuuk: "Greenland deserves this." Current Prime Minister Hans Enoksen had called the election early, after Greenland voters approved plans in November to give their government more powers. He said he had wanted to give islanders the chance to decide who would be leading them into the "new era". Under the new status, Greenlanders will be able to make decisions on most issues, but the authorities will continue to negotiate with Denmark on defense and foreign affairs. Correspondents say the polls were seen as a turning point in Greenland's path to partial independence from Denmark. CLICK HERE:Opposition wins Greenland election


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2.06.2009 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - PLANE-CRASH DEBRIS ALLEGEDLY SIGHTED - Debris spotted by planes in waters 650km (400 miles) off Brazil's coast belongs to a missing French airliner, the Brazilian government has confirmed. Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said he had no doubt the debris was wreckage from the Air France jet which was carrying 228 passengers and crew. A Brazilian search plane saw a band of wreckage along a 5km (3m) strip, he told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. Flight AF 447 was heading from Rio to Paris when it was lost early on Monday. The discovery of the debris confirmed "that the plane went down" in the area, Mr Jobim said. CLICK HERE:Plane-crash debris allegedly sighted

Nuuk, Greenland - GREENLANDERS VOTE IN LANDMARK ELECTION - The people of Greenland are voting in parliamentary elections seen as a turning-point on the territory's path to partial independence from Denmark. Greenland is the world's largest island - larger than all of Europe combined, but has just 39,000 eligible voters. Last year, Greenlanders approved plans to give their government more powers. Greenland receives large subsidies from Denmark, but the retreat of its ice-cap because of global warming is opening up gas and oil exploration opportunities. CLICK HERE:Greenlanders vote in landmark election

London, England - HOME SECRETARY SMITH TO RESIGN POST - Jacqui Smith is to stand down as home secretary in the cabinet reshuffle, sources close to her have told the BBC. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is set to shake up his cabinet after Thursday's European and English local elections. The source said she was stepping down for her family, who had been "at the forefront" of a row over her expenses. Ms Smith, who wants to remain an MP, was criticised for listing her sister's London house as her main home - and her husband's claim for an adult movie. It is understood Ms Smith, the first woman home secretary, intends to defend her Redditch seat at the next election. CLICK HERE:Home Secretary Smith to resign post

Gdansk, Poland - EU TO BACK PLAN TO SAVE GDANSK - European Union Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes says she is confident the EU will back a plan to rescue Poland's ailing Gdansk shipyard. She said she was satisfied the plan would save the yard, which symbolised the struggle against communism. The decision would mean Gdansk would not have to return hundreds of millions of euros in illegal state aid. Later this week, Poland will celebrate the 20th anniversary of elections that heralded the end of communist rule. Gdansk has been under investigation by the European Commission over its receipt of state aid since 2005. CLICK HERE:EU to back plan to save Gdansk


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31.05.2009 Tbilisi,Georgia - NATO GEORGIA EXERCIsE NEARING END - A month of Nato exercises in Georgia are coming to an end amid continuing Russian anger over the drills. Russia, which fought a short war with Georgia last year, has condemned the exercises as "provocative". The drills have been taking place close to South Ossetia, where Russian troops remain based following the war. Within South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia recognized as independent by Russia, parliamentary elections are taking place on Sunday. Officials in the South Ossetia were quick to suggest Nato's military exercises had ulterior motives. "We do not rule out that the Nato-led exercises in Georgia are deliberately held in order to thwart the election in South Ossetia," Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev said on Friday. CLICK HERE:Nato Georgia exercise nearing end

South Ossetia - DISPUTED SOUTH OSSETIA ENCLAVE HOLDS ELECTIONS - Elections are taking place in South Ossetia, the disputed breakaway region of Georgia. The polls are the first held since the territory declared independence from Georgia last August with Russian help. Georgia regards the elections as illegal; it sees the territory as still part of Georgian sovereign territory. Some observers say the poll is an opportunity for the South Ossetian leader, Eduard Kokoity, to tighten his grip on power. Only a few hundred ethnic Georgians remain in South Ossetia, a mountainous region of 70,000 people north of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and there is only one Georgian on the list of parliamentary candidates With just 34 seats at stake, Sunday's elections, though small, are important for the self-proclaimed republic, says the BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi. They are also a test of democracy in a region financially dependent on Russia, our correspondent adds. South Ossetia declared independence after a five-day war between Russia and Georgia last August, but only Russia and Nicaragua have recognized its declaration. CLICK HERE:Disputed South Ossetia enclave holds elections


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30.05.2009 Stockton-on-Tees, England - LABOUR MP ALLEGEDLY CLAIMED £5 CHURCH OFFERTORY - Labour MP Frank Cook claimed on expenses for a £5 church donation he made at a Battle of Britain memorial service, the Sunday Telegraph reports. The MP for Stockton-on-Tees submitted the 2006 claim with a handwritten note, but it was later rejected by the Commons Fees Office, the paper says. Mr Cook said he did not recall the claim and described it as "a mistake". The news came as David Miliband called for a "new approach to politics" in the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal. In its latest expenses revelations, the Sunday Telegraph says the handwritten note attached to Mr Cook's donation claim read: "Battle of Britain church service, Sunday 17.09.06. £5 contribution to offertory on behalf of Frank Cook MP." CLICK HERE:Labour MP allegedly claimed £5 church offertory

Sardinia, Italy - BERLUSCONI WINS PARTY PHOTOS BAN - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has succeeded in blocking the publication of potentially embarrassing photos of young women at his new year's party. Mr Berlusconi, 72, is under pressure to explain his relationship with 18-year-old Noemi Letizia, who was among the guests. He denies having an affair. Local media say some of the photographs show young women in bikinis or topless. Prosecutors ordered the seizure of about 700 images in total, taken at the new year's party and other occasions. The pictures were taken from outside Mr Berlusconi's villa on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia by a Sardinian photographer, Antonello Zappadu, using a powerful lens. In a letter to the Italian data protection agency, Mr Berlusconi complained that the photographer had intruded on his guests' privacy. Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Serra described some of the images as showing "bikini-clad or topless girls" relaxing in the gardens or taking showers. In a letter published in the paper, Mr Zappadu denied violating the guests' privacy, saying his pictures were taken while they were outside in the villa's grounds....The age of consent in Italy is 16, but people under 18 are considered minors. CLICK HERE:Berlusconi wins party photo ban


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29.05.2009 Stone, England - LEADING MAASTRICHT TREATY OPPONENT DEFENDS HIS MP-EXPENSES - Conservative MP Bill Cash has said he does not intend to stand down over his expenses claims for rent on a "second home" owned by his daughter. Party leader David Cameron has said Mr Cash faces "serious questions" for claiming over £15,000 in rent, when he owned his own flat near Westminster, but the MP said his claims were within the rules, not extravagant and had not disadvantaged the taxpayer. He said he would repay it, if judged to have "transgressed" the rules. However, the MP for Stone in Staffordshire said he wanted to explain his side of the story in a "rather different environment to that which is going on at the moment" and believed it would become "better understood". In a statement, the MP said was prepared to repay the money "in the context of having a fair hearing of the scrutiny committee and due process" but he believes that "if this process is properly conducted, his actions will be seen to be reasonable in the circumstances". CLICK HERE:Leading Maastricht Treaty opponent defends his MP-expenses
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Berlin, Germany - MAGNA CLOSE TO GM DEAL - Canadian car parts maker Magna International is the preferred bidder for GM Europe, owner of Opel and Vauxhall, Lord Mandelson has said. The UK business secretary said a deal between Magna and GM was "pretty near". He was speaking after reports that Magna had reached an agreement in principle to rescue GM Europe. The other potential bidder, Fiat, did not attend Friday's talks with the German government, saying Berlin's position was "unreasonable". GM in the US is expected to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. A meeting is underway in Berlin, attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel, other German ministers and officials from the German states that contain GM plants, to discuss whether to approve the offer from Magna.CLICK HERE:Magna close to GM deal

Shchuchye, Russia - RUSSIA OPENS WMD DISPOSAL PLANT - Russia has opened a facility in the Ural Mountains that will decommission vast stocks of its chemical weapons. It has been part-funded by the US as part of a program to dismantle what was the world's biggest arsenal of chemical and biological weapons. The factory at Shchuchye is to dispose of 5,500 tonnes of chemical weapons, including the nerve gases VX and Sarin. The gases will be neutralised, before being sent for long-term storage in concrete-lined underground bunkers. Scientists and officials from Russia, the US, the UK, France and Canada attended Friday's ceremony to open the Shchuchye chemical weapons decommissioning facility, which is the size of a small town. CLICK HERE:Russia opens WMD disposal plant

Berlin, Germany - GERMAN CORPSE MAY BE LUXEMBURG - An unidentified corpse found in the basement of a Berlin hospital could be that of murdered revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg, say German authorities. A pathologist at Berlin's Charite hospital told Der Spiegel magazine the headless corpse bore "striking similarities" to the left-wing icon. Ms Luxemburg was murdered by right-wing paramilitaries in 1919 at the age of 47 and thrown in an icy canal. Months later, a body thought to have been hers was retrieved and buried. The grave, in Berlin's Freidrichsfelde cemetery, has since become a place of pilgrimage for communists, feminists and left-wing activists, but Michael Tsokos, head of the hospital's Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensics Science department, told Der Spiegel that he doubted the identity of the corpse that was buried there. CLICK HERE:German corpse may be Luxemburg


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28.05.2009 Bromgrove, England - UK MP'S KIRKBRIDE AND MORAN TO QUIT - Tory MP Julie Kirkbride and Labour's Margaret Moran are standing down at the election after expenses revelations. Ms Kirkbride had faced a welter of claims about her expenses claims and said she "must take into account the effects on my family" of the row. Ms Moran, who has been under pressure over her £22,000 dry rot claim, said she was quitting "with great sadness". Tory MP Christopher Fraser said he will also step down - but insisted it was not connected to his expenses claims. In a letter to Mr Cameron, Ms Kirkbride, 48, said she wanted the Conservatives to have a "great result" at the next election. She added: "My principal concern has to be for my very loyal local supporters in Bromsgrove whose trust in me has been very humbling in the last few weeks. CLICK HERE:UK MP'S Kirkbride and Moran to quit


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27.05.3009 Brussels, Belgium - EU'S BRUSSELS HQ EVACUATED AGAIN - A fire alarm has triggered another evacuation of the European Commission in Brussels, just nine days after a blaze damaged part of the building. This time there was some flooding on the 13th floor, apparently caused by a faulty boiler, firefighters said. At least four fire engines drew up outside the Berlaymont building, as staff crowded the pavements. The 2,000 Commission staff had only returned to their desks on Monday. No one was hurt in the 18 May fire. The latest alert interrupted a news briefing by the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. The fire on May 18 was confined to a vertical shaft housing cables. It spread up from the basement. CLICK HERE:EU's Brussels HQ evacuated again

MIlan, Italy - ITALY'S EX-INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DENIES CIA ROLE - The former head of Italy's military intelligence agency has told a court he knew nothing about theGM DEAL kidnapping of an Egyptian imam in Milan six years ago. Nicolo Pollari, who resigned over the affair, said documents showing he had no involvement in the CIA kidnapping were classified under secrecy laws. "The documents show irrefutably that... I never gave any moral, material or any other support to the crime," he said. Six other Italian defendants refused to answer prosecutors' questions. They are on trial, along with 26 Americans being tried in absentia, for their role in orchestrating the kidnapping of Abu Omar. Abu Omar, whose real name is Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, was kidnapped in daylight on a Milan street in 2003. CLICK HERE:Italy's ex-intelligence chief denies CIA role


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26.06.2009 London, England - TELEGRAPH MP EXPENSES INVESTIGATION (THE FOURTH ESTATE EXPOSES THE THIRD) - All of the MP's named by the Telegraph's investigation. MP's expenses investigation in depth: Gerry Adams and four other Sinn Fein MP's claimed more than £500,000 over five years even though they refuse to attend Parliament Adam Afriyle has not made any claims on his second home allowance Douglas Alexander.spent more than £30,000 doing up his constituency home – which then suffered damage in a house fire. Claimed the cost of hiring a "media trainer" on his office expenses. Spent taxpayers’ money on advertising at football and rugby league matches. Michael Ancram put the cost of having his swimming pool boiler serviced on his parliamentary allowances. He has agreed to repay the money and written to supporters to apologize. James Arbuthnot claimed from the public finances for cleaning his swimming pool at a country residence. He has agreed to repay the money. Hilary Armstrong was told that allowing the Labour Party to pay for and run a computer at her taxpayer- funded home could make her “politically vulnerable” Ian Austin split a claim for stamp duty on buying his second home in London into two payments and tried to claim it back over two financial years. John Austin claimed more than £10,000 for redecorating his London flat, which was 11 miles from his main home, before selling it for a profit. Vera Baird claimed the cost of Christmas tree decorations. Ed Balls and wife Yvette Cooper “flipped” the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years. Mr Balls, the Schools Secretary, also attempted to claim £33 for poppy wreaths. Norman Baker asked if he could claim for a bicycle and a computer so he could listen to music and email family and friend. Greg Barker made a £320,000 profit selling a flat the taxpayer had helped pay for. He has agreed to repay £19,000.. Margret Becket made a £600 claim for hanging baskets and pot plants. Alain Beith claimed £117,000 in second home allowances while his wife, Baroness Maddock, claimed £60,000 in House of Lords expenses for staying at the same address. Hilary Benn claimed only £42,113 on his second homes allowance in four years, faces questions over party funding after it emerged he paid rent to the Labour Party from expenses. Claimed for party political propaganda. Richard Benyon did not claim on his second homes allowance in 2007/08 John Bercow “flipped” his second home from his constituency to a £540,000 flat in London and claimed the maximum possible allowances for it. Bercow a candidate for next Speaker, "repaid" £6,500 capital gains tax on the sale of two properties Sir Paul Beresford, who works up to three days a week as a dentist, designated his west London property, which includes his surgery, as his second home on his parliamentary allowances Liz Blackman went on last-minute shopping sprees before the end of each financial year, in an apparent attempt to make sure she claimed as close to maximum expenses as possible Tony Blair re-mortgaged his constituency home and claimed almost a third of the interest around the time he was buying another property in London Hazel Blears did not pay capital gains tax on a property she sold despite having told the Commons authorities it was her second home. She has since agreed to paid the tax but denied any wrongdoing. Claimed the costs of accountancy advice using expenses intended to fund their parliamentary and constituency offices. Bought expensive gadgets. Claimed for party political propaganda Crispin Blunt told to stop claiming Commons allowance on his home because his children live there Tim Boswell claimed only £22,230 on his second homes allowance between 2004 and 2008 Ben Bradshaw used his allowance to pay the mortgage interest on a flat he owned jointly with his boyfriend Tom Brake did not claim on his second home allowance between 2004-8 Kevin Brennan had a £450 television delivered to his family home in Cardiff even though he reclaimed the money back on his London second home allowance James Brokenshire claimed just £368 on his second homes allowance in 2007/8 and nothing in the preceding three years Gordon Brown's house swap let the PM claim thousands Nick Brown claimed £18,800, without receipts, in expenses for food over four years amid total expenses of £87,000 Russell Brown reclaimed the maximum allowed under the Commons expenses system for his bathroom to be refurbished at his rented designated second home in London Angela Browning's £10,000 for a website over-the-odds according to experts, but it was the taxpayer who settled the bill Malcolm Bruce was able to claim thousands of pounds towards the running of both his London flat and his constituency home. Chris Bryant changed second home twice in two years to claim £20,000 Andy Burnham had an eight-month battle with the fees office after making a single expenses claim for more than £16,500. The Culture Secretary also avoided paying tax on a £16,600 property windfall. Claimed for party political propaganda David Burrowes did not claim for the second home allowance at all Paul Burstow doesn't claim for a second home although he is entitled to Alistair Burt claimed £1,000 too much in expenses for his rent, but was allowed to keep the money. Dawn Butler, the Labour whip, over-claimed £2,600 in rent on her constituency home. Stephen Byers claimed more than £125,000 for repairs and maintenance at a London flat owned outright by his partner, where he lives rent-free Vince Cable forgoes the second home allowance, but asked whether he could claim backdated payments of the London supplement instead David Cameron limited his claims to mortgage interest payments and utility bills. He will repay the only maintenance bill he claimed - £600 for the removal of wisteria Menzies Campbell hired a top interior designer to refurbish his small flat in central London at taxpayers’ expense. He will repay the £1,490.66 cost of an interior designer Ronnie Campbell claimed a total of £87,729 for his London flat. He has agreed to repay £6,000 for furniture he bought for it. Ben Chapman deliberately over-claimed for interest on the mortgage of his London house by about £15,000 with the approval of the fees office, documents seen by the Telegraph suggest. He is facing possible suspension from the PLP David Chaytor admits claiming almost £13,000 in interest payments for a mortgage that he had already repaid. He has been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party Christoper Chope transported a sofa from his second home in London to a tradesman near his main residence in his constituency of Christchurch, Dorset, to be repaired at a cost of £881 Michael Clapham, a Labour backbencher, submitted a receipt for the pair of glasses bought for his wife James Clappison owns 24 houses but billed more than £100,000, including thousands for gardening and redecoration Kenneth Clarke managed to avoid paying the full rate of council tax on either of his two homes by effectively claiming that neither is his main residence. He has agreed to pay the full rate in future but defended his past behaviour. He last year claimed for purchasing Windows XP for Dummies. Nick Clegg claimed the maximum allowed under his parliamentary second home allowance David Clelland claimed for the cost of “buying out” his partner’s £45,000 stake in his London flat Geoffrey Clifton-Brown “flipped” his second home designation from London to his Gloucestershire home, before buying a £2,750,000 house Harry Cohen claimed thousands of pounds for redecorating his second home before selling it and charging taxpayers £12,000 in stamp duty and fees on a new property Michael Connarty sold some of the contents of his London home to Jim Devine, a close colleague, before charging the taxpayer thousands of pounds for goods delivered to addresses in Scotland. Derek Conway, whose payments to his two sons first highlighted the abuse of the MPs expenses system, claimed for office 270 miles from constituency Yvette Cooper and husband Ed Balls “flipped” the designation of their second home to three different properties within two years. Cooper bought expensive gadgets and claimed for party political propaganda Stephen Crabb claimed his “main home” was a room in another MP’s flat, after buying a new house for his family at taxpayers’ expense Jim Cunningham shunned the opportunity to buy furniture and his expenses were in the bottom 40 of any MP Tam Dalyell attempted to claim £18,000 for bookcases two months before he retired as an MP Alistair Darling's stamp duty was paid by the public. Claimed the costs of accountancy advice using expenses intended to fund their parliamentary and constituency offices vIan Davidson paid £5,500 to a family friend to renovate his flat and then took him shooting with members of the House of Lords Quentin Davies repaired window frames at his18th-century mansion, charging £10,000 to expenses David Davis spent more than £10,000 of taxpayers’ money on home improvements in four years, including a new £5,700 portico at his home in Yorkshire. Jim Devine bought Michael Connarty's furniture on expenses Jonathan Djanogly , the millionaire shadow business minister, claimed £5,000 to have electric gates installed at his Huntington home Pat Doherty and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than £500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament Nadine Dorries , who claimed the expenses expose was a “McCarthy­ite witch hunt”, disowned by David Cameron David Drew used to own a home in London but decided to forgo it in favour of staying in hotels while in the capital Alan Duncan spent thousands from his allowance on gardening, including repairs to his lawnmower. He has agreed to repay £5,000. He also claimed £19.55 in office expenses for biscuits, tea, coffee and mints. Ian Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, claimed no second home expesnes in the last year, commuting from his outer London constituency Philip Dunne has not made any claims on his second home allowance since 2005/06 Angela Eagle claimed just £155 a month mortgage interest on her second home for a period and even underclaimed for council tax Maria Eagle claimed thousands of pounds on refurbishing a bathroom at one of her flats just months before switching her designated second home to a property with a higher mortgage Natascha Engel went on a shopping spree within months of being elected, spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ cash Lynne Featherstone did not claim on her second homes allowance in between 2004 and 2008 Frank Field claimed just £44,338 on his second home allowance between 2004 and 2008 Caroline Flint claimed £14,000 for fees for new flat Barbara Follett used £25,000 of taxpayers' money to pay for private security patrols at her home Christopher Fraser claimed more than £1,800 to buy 215 trees and fencing to mark out the boundary of his house. Andrew George used parliamentary expenses for a London flat used by his student daughter. He also claimed hundreds of pounds for hotel stays with his wife. He has said he will repay £20 for a hotel breakfast Neil Gerrard made no claims against the second home allowance Ian Gibson claimed almost £80,000 in four years for mortgage interest and bills on a London flat which was the main home of his daughter Michelle Gildernew and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than £500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament Cheryl Gillan bought dog food using her allowance but agreed to pay it back after being contacted by the Telegraph Linda Gilroy said that she was paying back £1,891 Paul Goggins, the Northern Ireland Minister, claimed almost £45,000 for a "second home", while a friend lived there rent-free Julia Goldsworthy spent thousands of pounds on expensive furniture just days before the deadline for using up parliamentary allowances. She has promised to pay back £1,005 for a leather rocking chair Helen Goodman claimed for a week's stay in a cottage in her constituency over a bank holiday Michael Gove spent thousands on his London home before "flipping" his Commons allowance to another address. He has agreed to repay £7,000. He also claimed for office expenses including a mug from the Tate Modern Chris Grayling claimed for a London flat even though his constituency home is only 17 miles from the House of Commons. He has agreed to stop doing so James Gray successfully claimed £2,000 for the future redecoration of his “second home” on the day that he moved out. John Gummer's gardening, including the removal of moles from his lawn, cost the taxpayer £9,000 Mike Hall claimed thousands of pounds in expenses for the cost of cleaners, cleaning products and laundry bills for his London home Patrick Hall's second home costs were a modest half of the total allowance Fabian Hamilton declared his mother’s London house as his main residence while over-charging the taxpayer by thousands of pounds for a mortgage on his family home in Leeds Mike Hancock was ranked 548 out of 645 MPs, claiming only £10, 859 of his scond home allowance in 2007-08 Harriet Harman hired Scarlett MccGwire for “consultancy” services on the public purse. Claimed for party political propaganda and bought expensive gadgets. Nick Harvey had to be reminded twice by parliamentary officials to submit receipts with his expenses claims Alan Haselhurst charged the taxpayer almost £12,000 for gardening bills at his farmhouse in Essex, his expenses claims show. David Heathcoat-Amory’s gardener used hundreds of sacks of horse manure and the MP submitted the receipts to Parliament Nick Herbert charged taxpayers more than £10,000 for stamp duty and fees when he and his partner bought a home together in his constituency Douglas Hogg included with his expenses claims the cost of having the moat cleared, piano tuned and stable lights fixed at his country manor house. He has agreed to repay £2,200 for the moat clearing Jimmy Hood used his second homes allowance to claim up to £1,000 per month without providing receipts Geoff Hoon established a property empire worth £1.7 million after claiming taxpayer-funded expenses for at least two properties. He also did not pay capital gains tax on the sale of his London home in 2006. Claimed the costs of accountancy advice using expenses intended to fund their parliamentary and constituency offices. Bought expensive gadgets, including digital cameras and camcorders Phil Hope spent more than £10,000 in one year refurbishing a small London flat. He has promised to pay back £41,000 to the taxpayer Kelvin Hopkins claims just a fraction of the available second-home allowance by taking the train to Westminster from his home town Stewart Hosie made thousands of pounds of expense claims for furnishings, including £160 for scatter cushions David Howarth has not made any claims on his second home allowance since 2004/05 Chris Huhne regularly submits receipts for bus tickets and groceries including pints of milk, fluffy dusters, lavatory rolls and chocolate HobNobs. He has promised to pay back £119 for a trouser press John Hutton faces questions over party funding after it emerged that he was paid rent to the Labour Party. Spent taxpayers’ money advertising at football and rugby league matches. Used his office expenses to pay for a degree studied by a member of his staff Glenda Jackson did not claim on her second homes allowance between 2004 and 2008 Stewart Jackson claimed more than £66,000 for his family home, including hundreds of pounds on refurbishing his swimming pool. He has agreed to repay the costs associated with his pool Bernard Jenkin rents his sister-in-law's farmhouse as a second home and charged £50,000 to his expenses Brian Jenkins claims little or no mortgage interest for his property in London Alan Johnson claimed just £43,596 for his second home in 2004-8 Diana Johnson claimed nearly £1,000 to cover the cost of hiring an architect for a decorating project at her second home Helen Jones claimed £87,647 in second home allowances for her London flat between 2004 and 2008 Gerald Kaufman charged the taxpayer £1,851 for a rug he imported from a New York antiques centre and tried to claim £8,865 for a television Alan and Ann Keen claimed almost £40,000 a year on a central London flat although their family home was less than 10 miles away Ruth Kelly has claimed more than £31,000 to redecorate and furnish her designated second home in the past five years. She claimed thousands of pounds in expenses to pay for damage caused to her home by flooding, although at the time she had a building insurance policy Fraser Kemp made repeat purchases of household items over the space of several weeks David Kidney said he was were paying back £2,450 Julie Kirkbride's husband Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that the two MPs were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money. She claimed £1,000 to pay for computer equipment bought by her brother, who lives rent-free at her 'second home' Greg Knight, an MP with a collection of classic cars, claimed £2,600 in expenses for repair work on the driveway at his designated second home Susan Kramer did not claim on her second home allowance between 2004-8 Andrew Lansley spent more than £4,000 of taxpayers’ money renovating his country home months before he sold it. He will repay £2,600 of decorating fees Bob Laxton insisted he was 'too busy' to shop around when he attempted to claim £1,049 for a TV David Lepper he was placed 545th out of 645 MPs in 2007-08, claiming only £11,175 of his second home allowance Oliver Letwin repaired a pipe beneath his tennis court using taxpayers' money. He has agreed to repay the money David Lepper he was placed 545th out of 645 MPs in 2007-08, claiming only £11,175 of his second home allowance Julian Lewis attempted to claim £6,000 in expenses for a wooden floor at his second home David Lidington charged the taxpayer nearly £1,300 for his dry cleaning and claimed for toothpaste, shower gel, body spray and vitamin supplements on his second home allowance Ian Lucas made £45,000 profit when he sold a London flat on which he had claimed second home expenses Peter Luff bought three toilet seats, three food mixers, two microwaves and 10 sets of bed linen while kitting out his country house and London flat at taxpayers’ expense Lord Mandelson faces questions over the timing of his house claim which came after he had announced he would step down Andrew Mackay resigned as David Cameron's aide after it emerged that he and his wife Julie Kirkbride were making claims that meant they effectively had no main home but two second homes, both funded with public money. David Maclean spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money renovating a farmhouse before selling it for £750,000. Angus MacNeil, the MP whose police complaint triggered the cash-for-peerages inquiry, tried to charge the taxpayer for his drinks bills, a chocolate bar and hundreds of pounds of "petty cash". Fiona MacTaggart claimed just £3,392 on her second homes allowance in 2007/08 Khalid Mahmood enjoyed nine nights with his girlfriend at a luxury London hotel, costing the taxpayer £175 a night Anne Main allowed her daughter to live rent-free at a flat paid for by taxpayer-funded second home allowances Shahid Malik claimed £66,000 on his second property while paying less than £100 a week for his main house. He has resigned as justice minister pending an investigation Judy Mallaber rarely claims for food John Maples declared a private members’ club as his main home to the parliamentary authorities. He claimed the maximum second home allowance on his family house while apparently not having a “main” property to maintain Bob Marshall-Andrews claimed £118,000 for expenses at his second home, including stereo equipment, extensive redecoration and a pair of Kenyan carpets. Rob Marris claimed just £11,973 on his second homes allowance in 2007/08 Gordon Marsdon claimed just £9,739 on his second homes allowance in 2007/08 Michael Martin used taxpayers' money to pay for chauffeur-driven cars to his local job centre and Celtic's football ground Francis Maude claimed almost £35,000 in two years for mortgage interest payments on a London flat when he owned a house just a few hundred yards away. He has agreed to stop claiming for a second home. A claim for a laptop computer was refused Theresa May claimed just £4,288 on her second home allowance in 2007/08 Tommy McAvoy claimed £86,565 in second home allowances between 2004 and 2008 for his flat in Westminster Steve McCabe over-claimed on his mortgage by £4,059 during the course of two years Sarah McCarthy-Fry tried to claim a pair of £100 hair straighteners on her parliamentary expenses. Ian McCartney spent £16,000 furnishing and decorating his designated second home but paid the money back two years later. McCartney, a former Labour Party chairman, will not stand at general election, citing "health reasons" Martin McGuinness and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than £500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament Patrick McLoughlin, the senior MP asked by David Cameron to scrutinise Tory expenses, claimed £3,000 for new windows at his second home. He also tried to recoup £158.63 for the removal of a wasps’ nest from his home. Michael Meacher claimed just £32,825 on his second homes allowance between 2004-8 David Miliband's spending was queried by his gardener. Faces questions over party funding after it emerged he paid rent to the Labour Party from expenses. Claimed for party political propaganda and was one of at least five ministers who paid a Labour MP's husband for personal tax advice Ed Miliband claimed just £7,670 on his second home allowance in 2007/08. Ed Miliband claimed just £7,670 on his second home allowance in 2007/08. Hired Scarlett MccGwire for “consultancy” services on the public purse Ann Milton did not make any claims on her second home allowance in 2007/08 Austin Mitchell claimed for security shutters, ginger crinkle biscuits and the cost of reupholstering his sofa. He has offered to donate his old sofa coverings to make amends Laura Moffatt has given up a riverside apartment she used to pay for on her parliamentary expenses in favour of a camp bed in her House of Commons office. Madeleine Moon spent thousands in furniture shops near her Welsh constituency house and claimed the money back on her London designated second home allowance Margaret Moran switched the address of her second home, allowing her to claim £22,500 to fix a dry rot problem. She has agreed to repay the money while insisting she acted within the rules. She could face an investigation for allegedly using Commons stationery to keep neighbours away from her fourth property in Spain. She also billed the taxpayer for nearly £4,000 in legal fees in settling a dispute with one of her staff and faces a challenge at the next general election from Esther Rantzen . Julie Morgan makes do with a small flat in south London costing the taxpayer less than 10,000 a year Elliot Morley claimed parliamentary expenses of more than £16,000 for a mortgage which had already been paid off George Mudie claimed £62,000 in expenses for his London flat in four years, while having a mortgage of just £26,000. Chris Mullin, a former minister, watches a 30-year-old black and white television at his second home and claims the £45 cost of the licence on his expenses Meg Munn's husband has been paid more than £5,000 in parliamentary expenses to provide personal tax advice to at least five ministers, including David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary. Conor Murphy and four other Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than £500,000 over five years even though the Sinn Fein MPs refuse to attend Parliament Paul Murphy had a new plumbing system installed at taxpayers’ expense because the water in the old one was “too hot” Lembit Opik had to pay £2,499 for a 42-inch plasma television after purchasing it while Parliament was dissolved George Osborne was rebuked by the Commons authorities for using public money to fund his "political" website. He also claimed money for a chauffeur-driven car which he has agreed to repay Mike Penning , a shadow health minister, charged the taxpayer £2.99 for a stainless steel dog bowl Eric Pickles claimed for £200 in petty cash monthly between 2005 and the middle of 2008 John Prescott claimed for two lavatory seats in two years James Purnell avoided paying capital gains tax on the sale of his London flat after claiming expenses for accountancy advice. Bought expensive gadgets. Spent taxpayers’ money advertising at football and rugby league matches John Redwood has admitted being paid twice after submitting an identical £3,000 decorating bill on his second home allowance Alan Reid claimed more than £1,500 on his parliamentary expenses for staying in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts near his home John Reid used his allowance to pay for slotted spoons, an ironing board and a glittery loo seat Angus Robertson successfully appealed to the fees office when they turned down his claim for a £400 home cinema system Geoffrey Robinson has not made any claims on his second home allowance since 2004/05 Peter and Iris Robinson both claimed expenses based on the same £1,223 bill when they submitted their parliamentary claims in 2007 David Ruffley claimed for new furniture and fittings after “flipping” his second home from London to a new flat in his constituency Joan Ryan spent thousands of pounds on repairs and decorations at her constituency home before switching her designated second home to a London property Alex Salmond claimed £400 per month for food when the Commons was not even sitting Martin Salter has not made any claims on his second home allowance since 2004/05 Grant Shapps claimed just £7,269 on his second homes allowance in 2007/08 Jim Sheridan used his allowances to reclaim the cost of a 42-inch plasma TV, leather bed and hundreds of pounds worth of furniture. Clare Short claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to which she was not entitled within months of standing down as a Cabinet minister Keith Simpson has claimed almost £200 for light bulbs on his expenses Andrew Smith spent more than £30,000 of taxpayers’ money giving his house a makeover Angela Smith sought payment for four beds for a one-bedroom London flat Jacqui Smith claimed the costs of accountancy advice using expenses intended to fund their parliamentary and constituency offices. Bought expensive gadgets including an iPhone for her husband. Michael Spicer claimed for work on his helipad and received thousands of pounds for gardening bills Sir Peter Soulsby fell behind with the rent at his offices but when the £472 bailiffs bill arrived he billed the taxpayer Anthony Steen claimed £87,000 on country mansion with 500 trees. He has announced he will step down at the next election Jack Straw only paid half the amount of council tax that he claimed on his parliamentary allowances over four years but later rectified the over-claim. Used his office expenses to pay for a degree studied by a member of his staff Jo Swinson included receipts for eyeliner, a “tooth flosser” and 29p dusters with her parliamentary expenses claims Robert Syms claimed more than £2,000 worth of furniture on expenses for his designated second home in London, but had it all delivered to his parents’ address in Wiltshire Sarah Teather did not claim on her second homes allowance between 2004 and 2008 Mark Todd defended his expenses claims as "essentials" but included a marble table and an espresso coffee machine Don Touhig spent thousands of pounds redecorating his constituency home before “flipping” his allowance to a flat in London Kitty Ussher asked the Commons authorities to fund extensive refurbishment of her Victorian family home Ed Vaizey had £2,000 worth of furniture delivered to his London home when he was claiming his Commons allowance on a second home in Oxfordshire. Keith Vaz claimed £75,500 for a second flat near Parliament even though he already lived just 12 miles from Westminster Sir Peter Viggers included with his expense claims the £1,645 cost of a floating duck house in the garden pond at his Hampshire home. He has announced he will step down at the next election and admitted he made a "ridiculous and grave error of judgment" Theresa Villiers claimed almost £16,000 in stamp duty and professional fees on expenses when she bought a London flat, even though she already had a house in the capital. She has agreed to stop claiming the second home allowance Claire Ward, the MP responsible for keeping the Queen informed about Parliament, submitted monthly expense claims for hundreds of pounds of "petty cash" while claiming maximum allowances Tom Watson and Iain Wright spent £100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared Steve Webb sold his London flat and bought another nearby, while the taxpayer picked up an £8,400 bill for stamp duty Shaun Woodward received £100,000 to help pay mortgage Malcolm Wicks was entitled to claim for a second home allowance but instead claimed for the more moderate London subsidy of £2,812. Bill Wiggin claimed interest payments for a property which had no mortgage David Willetts, the Conservatives' choice for skills minister, needed help changing light bulbs. He has agreed to repay the bill Alan Williams claimed just £5,221 on his second homes allowance in 2007/08 Phil Willis spent thousands of pounds of public funds on mortgage interest payments, redecoration and furnishings for a flat where his daughter now lives. David Winnick claimed just £36,354 on his second homes allowance between 2004-8 Sir Nicholas Winterton and his wife Ann claimed more than £80,000 for a London flat owned by a trust controlled by their children. They have announced they will stand down at the next general election Ann Widdecombe claimed just £858 on her second home allowance in 2007/08 Rob Wilson did not claim on his second homes allowance between 2004 and 2008 Phil Woolas submitted receipts including comics, nappies and women's clothing as part of his claims for food Iain Wright and Tom Watson spent £100,000 of taxpayers' money on the London flat they once shared Derek Wyatt billed 75p for scotch eggs George Young claimed the maximum second home allowance on his London flat for the past two years Richard Younger-Ross spent £1,235 on four mirrors and bought 'Don Juan’ bookcase.CLICK HERE:Telegraph MP expenses investigation (The Fourth Estate exposes the Third)

Abu Dhabi, UAE - FRENCH PRESIDENT SARKOZY OPENS UAE BASE - President Nicolas Sarkozy has formally opened a French military base in the United Arab Emirates, France's first permanent base in the Gulf. The flags of France and the UAE were raised at a ceremony at the so-called "Peace Camp" in the Abu Dhabi emirate. France is a leading military supplier to the Gulf state, and signed a nuclear co-operation agreement last year. Its new base will host up to 500 French troops and include a navy base, air base, and training camp. CLICK HERE:French president Sarkozy opens UAE base


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25.05.2009 London, England - CAMERON PLEDGES POWER SHAKE-UP - David Cameron has promised his party would deliver a dramatic redistribution of power in response to voter disgust over MPs' expenses. The Conservative leader, writing in the Guardian, says he would reduce prime ministerial power and boost the role of Parliament to win back public support. His proposals include fixed-term Parliaments, limiting use of the royal prerogative and free votes for MPs. Health Secretary Alan Johnson has also called for "radical" electoral reform. In his article, Mr Cameron writes: "I believe the central objective of the new politics we need should be a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power. "From the state to citizens; from the government to Parliament; from Whitehall to communities. From the EU to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy. "Through decentralization, transparency and accountability we must take power away from the political elite and hand it to the man and woman in the street." Among his proposals are: Limiting the power of the prime minister by considering fixed-term Parliaments, ending the right of Downing Street to control the timing of general elections, Boosting the role of Parliament by giving MPs free votes during the consideration of bills at committee stage. MPs would also be handed the power of deciding the timetabling of bills;Increasing the power of backbench MPs by allowing them to choose the chairmen and members of Commons select committees; Curbing the power of the executive by limiting the use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions; Strengthening local government by allowing councils to reverse Whitehall decisions to close popular services, such as a local post office. They would be given the power to raise money to keep them open. On Monday, Alan Johnson urged Gordon Brown to hold a national referendum on electoral reform and offer the public a "genuinely radical alternative" to the present system. In an article for the Times, he urged the prime minister to involve the public in "a root and branch examination" of the political system in order to regain trust following the expenses scandal. "We need to overhaul the engine, not just clean the upholstery," he wrote. CLICK HERE:Cameron pledges power shake-up
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:Back to 1832. However, the main abusers of the expenses scams were dyed in the wool Eurosceptics.)

Macclesfield, England - TORY MP PAIR STEPPING DOWN - Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton are to stand down as MPs at the next general election, the couple have announced. The husband and wife Tory backbenchers said they could not maintain the "hectic pace" of politics and wanted to spend more time with their family. Sir Nicholas, 71, and Lady Winterton, 68, were judged to have broken MPs' expense rules in 2008 when claiming for rent on a second home owned by a trust. It is not known if the expenses row featured in the couple's decision. Sir Nicholas has been MP for Macclesfield in Cheshire for 37 years, while his wife has represented neighboring Congleton for almost 26. They announced their retirement in a letter to party leader David Cameron. CLICK HERE:


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19.05.2009 London,England - UK COMMONS SPEAKER RESIGNS - Michael Martin has told MPs he intends to stand down, so becoming the first Commons Speaker to be effectively forced out of office for 300 years. In a brief statement, he said he would step down on June 21, with a successor set to be elected by MPs the next day. Mr Martin, who will also step down as an MP, has faced criticism over his handling of the MP expenses issue. He later announced a clampdown on MPs' expenses - with a £1,250 cap on mortgage interest and rent payments. He was clapped and cheered by MPs as he announced emergency changes to the expenses system which have been agreed between the party leaders. These include a ban on "flipping" of second homes and of using allowances to buy furniture and household goods - and a £1,250 a month cap on mortgage or rent on second homes, which will come down in future years. He said all parties were now committed to accepting the recommendations of Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life, provided they met certain tests. He also announced proposals to "tighten up" the administration of the expenses system with a "reasonableness" test to block dubious claims. CLICK HERE:UK Commons speaker resigns

London, England - MI5 TOO STRETCHED PRIOR TO 7/7 - The security service MI5 did not have the manpower to do extra checks on the July 7 ringleader before he carried out the attacks in 2005, a report has said, but the Intelligence and Security Committee declined to criticise MI5, which it said had had other priorities. It stressed that while officers knew of Mohammad Sidique Khan's terrorist links, there was no evidence to suggest he was a threat to national security. but 7/7 survivors rejected the findings and demanded a public inquiry. Rachel North, who was injured in the Russell Square blast, said survivors and victims' families were now considering seeking a judicial review to try to force the government to allow an independent investigation into what happened. "This report does not come to any real conclusions at all," she told the BBC. "Why was it that one man was investigated, but another, Sidique Khan, was not? Even though they were hanging around with the same people, raising money for the same extremist causes. This very detailed report clears MI5 of failing to anticipate the 7/7 attacks because it had so much on its plate in 2004. Quite simply, Mohammad Siddique Khan was not listed as an essential target. Why? Because he had not been identified. That's not to say the security service and police were completely ignorant. Police filmed him in 2001 when he went camping with known extremists. They didn't know his name. Later, MI5 had information about an "S Khan" - but did not pursue it because he was not classed as a threat. For MI5, knowing what someone is up to is more important than exactly who they are. They say they never knew what Khan was up to, and what he would turn out to be. It's this critical difference between the importance of who and what that the security service relies upon amid accusations that it failed to join the dots. CLICK HERE:MI5 too stretched prior to 7/7


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18.05.2009 London, England - ANGRY MP'S TURN ON THE COMMON'S SPEAKER - The Speaker of the House of Commons has been challenged by MPs to stand down in unprecedented scenes in the chamber. Michael Martin did not mention his future in a statement on the expenses furore, instead setting out proposed action to reform the system. He said he was "profoundly sorry" for his role and said all MPs must accept blame for the "terrible damage" done, but a succession of MPs challenged him openly, saying they wanted a debate and a vote of no confidence in him. It follows a week of damaging media revelations about MPs' expenses and criticism of the way Mr Martin has handled the row. In a statement to a packed Commons, Mr Martin apologised for the expenses scandal and outlined steps he would be taking ahead of the findings of an independent inquiry into the allowances system, expected in the autumn. These included asking party leaders to meet him and members of the House of Commons Commission within 48 hours to look at what proposals for reform could be agreed upon and put to MPs for approval. In the meantime the Glasgow North East MP urged members not to submit expenses claims for approval. The speaker said: "We all bear a heavy responsibility for the terrible damage to the reputation of this House. We must do everything we possibly can to regain the trust and confidence of the people." Labour's Gordon Prentice was the first to stand up to ask about the no confidence motion, only to be told it was not a "point of order", to shouts of "oh yes it is". Douglas Carswell, the Conservative backbencher who is putting forward the motion, got up to ask when it would be debated and when MPs would be able to choose a new Speaker with "moral authority to clean up Westminster and the legitimacy to lead this House out of the mire". CLICK HERE:Angry MP's turn on the Commons speaker

Brussels, Belgium - BRUSSELS - EU oFFICES EVACUATED OWING TO FIRE -Hundreds of people have been evacuated after a fire broke out in the basement of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, officials say. A BBC correspondent near the Berlaymont building saw thick smoke pouring from the roof. A dozen fire engines rushed to the scene, along with ambulances. Brussels firefighters say the fire was confined to a vertical shaft housing cables. It spread up from the basement. Nobody was hurt and the evacuation was orderly, a Commission spokesman said. The blaze began at about 1250 local time (1050 GMT). It was most intense on the 13th floor, but did not spread to offices, a spokesman for the fire service said. The Berlaymont, a four-pronged glass and steel structure in central Brussels, has 18 floors and offices for some 3,000 EU officials. The Commission, the EU's executive arm, drafts EU laws. CLICK HERE:Brussels EU offices evacuated owing to fire

Ankara, Turkey - TURKISH PRESIDENT FACING TRIAL - A Turkish court has ruled President Abdullah Gul should stand trial for alleged embezzlement in the late 1990s. The Welfare Party, a precursor of the governing AK Party, was accused of misappropriating funds from the state treasury after being banned in 1998. Mr Gul, a founder of the AKP, was elected president in 2007. The case will now be considered by an appeal court. But it is unclear whether Mr Gul will end up going on trial, as he could have immunity as president. Correspondents say Turkey's secular establishment has often used the courts to oppose the activities of the Islamist-rooted AKP. Last July, the Constitutional Court came close to banning the party for allegedly trying to undermine the country's secular system. CLICK HERE:Turkish president facing trial


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12.05.2009 London, England - BOYCOTT BIG PARTIES SAYS FORMER TORY CHAIRMAN LORD TEBBIT - Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit is urging people to boycott the major political parties at next month's European elections. Lord Tebbit said voters were angry with MPs and urged them to "teach the big parties a lesson". He held back from endorsing one of the smaller parties but stressed that he did not want people to vote BNP. Tory leader David Cameron later warned the peer he was risking being kicked out of the Conservative group of peers. Mr Cameron added that, as a former party chairman, Lord Tebbit was aware of the importance of party discipline, but Lord Tebbit said he was not necessarily urging people to vote against the Conservatives, saying: "They might choose to sit at home", and he denied suggestions he was effectively backing the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for Britain's exit from the EU, and preparing to leave the Conservatives. "The Conservative Party has, at times, looked as though it wanted to leave me but I have never wanted to leave the Conservative Party." He urged voters to "teach the big parties a lesson" and "show them who is master" but he said his call would be heard by Labour and Lib Dem supporters as much as Conservatives so any effect at the ballot box would be "evenly spread". He said he would be urging people to vote Tory at the general election and also suggested people should vote in the English local elections, which are also being held on 4 June, "as they normally do". Explaining his position on the Today program, Lord Tebbit said: Today: "What I am advising people is to show the major parties that it is the electors who are masters and the electors are extremely upset with their employees in the House of Commons and I said don't vote for the major parties." He added: "The leaders of the major parties would be reminded that the electors can quite easily show their displeasure." Asked if there was a danger of damaging democracy, he said: "There is nothing wrong with the House of Commons. The institution is sound. It is in good order. "What is wrong is that the people who are currently in it are misbehaving. They need a pretty powerful shot across their bows." In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lord Tebbit said Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs had behaved "like welfare junkies" addicted to abusing their Commons expenses. He told the newspaper: "People could vote green, they could vote for all sorts of wider people or they could choose not to vote at all." He said the only message politicians understood was when voters refused to back them. Lord Tebbit was one of Lady Thatcher's closest supporters during her time in Downing Street and remains one of the leading voices on the Eurosceptic right wing of the Conservative Party. The Daily Telegraph publishes what it calls the most extravagant claims published yet in its series of stories based on leaked MPs' receipts, including the cost of swimming pool maintenance claimed by eight Tory MPs. The Telegraph has already published claims made by Labour and Conservative frontbenchers in recent days, after details of all 646 MPs' claims were leaked. There is a wider range of smaller parties standing at this year's European poll than ever before, including new parties such as the pan-European Libertas, which wants wholesale reform of the EU, the trade-union backed NO2EU, and the Jury Team, which has selected candidates through text and e-mail votes. There are also more established parties such as UKIP, the Greens, the English Democrats, the Christian Peoples Alliance and the BNP. CLICK HERE:boycott big parties says former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit


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11.05.2009 Jerusalem, Israel - POPE CONDEMS HOLOCAUST DENIAL - Pope Benedict XVI has said the suffering of Holocaust victims must never be denied as he visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. "May the names of these victims never perish. May their suffering never be denied, belittled or forgotten," he said in the midst of survivors. The pontiff began his trip to the Holy Land by saying in Tel Aviv that anti-Semitism was totally unacceptable. He also voiced support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland. The Pope's immediate, forceful and unequivocal condemnation of anti-Semitism in any form and in any part of the world will have pleased his Israeli hosts, the BBC's David Willey reports from Jerusalem. Flying in from Jordan, where he visited a mosque at the weekend, Benedict was greeted by Israeli leaders at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv before being flown to Jerusalem by helicopter. CLICK HERE:Pope condemns Holocaust denial

Harrogate, England - BROWN MAKES APOLOGY OVER MP'S EXPENSES - Gordon Brown has said "mistakes" were made by MPs in their use of House of Commons expenses. The prime minister apologized on behalf of all political parties for some of the claims made and said public trust must be restored "immediately". This follows revelations that leading MPs have entered invoices for items including dog food and a lawnmower. Commons Speaker Michael Martin said "serious change" was needed and that the "spirit" of rules must be followed. An independent body auditing expenses claims would be set up "very soon", he added. The Daily Telegraph has been running leaks involving the expenses of senior Conservatives, after focusing on Labour figures over the weekend. Speaking at the Royal College of Nursing conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Mr Brown said: "Just as you have the highest standards in your profession, we must show that we have the highest standards for our profession, and we must show that, where mistakes have been made and errors have been discovered, where wrongs have to be righted, that that is done so immediately. CLICK HERE:Brown makes apology over MP's expenses


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10.05.2009 Moscow, Russia - GAS BLAST CAUSES FIRE IN MOSCOW - A gas pipeline has exploded in the Russian capital, Moscow, sending flames 100m (300ft) high into the air and setting fire to a nearby building. Several people are reported to have been injured. More than 30 fire-fighting teams were sent to the scene, in the south-west of the city. The authorities have shut off the gas supply to the area and are investigating the cause of the blast. Ageing pipelines have been blamed for recent gas explosions in Russia. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who visited the scene, said the rupture had almost certainly been caused by a technical problem such as a sudden leap in pressure. Itar-Tass news agency reported him as saying that five people had been injured, and four of these had been taken to hospital. No-one was reported to have been killed. Officials said it was the worst fire of its kind in Moscow for decades. Some buildings were evacuated and traffic stopped, reports said. As the flames climbed high above surrounding buildings crowds who had been celebrating Victory Day, which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, gathered to watch. CLICK HERE:Gas blast causes fire in Moscow

Athens, Greece - IMMIGRANTS HURT IN GREEK VIOLENCE - Five immigrants have been injured after far-right demonstrators tried to storm a disused courthouse in Athens occupied mainly by illegal migrants from Africa. Dozens of protesters hurled stones and fireworks at the eight-storey building on Saturday night, while those living inside threw bricks and masonry slabs. Police said nine officers were also injured in the violence. Three youths were arrested over the attack, which came after a march by the anti-immigrant Golden Dawn group. The protesters waved banners reading "Foreigners mean crime" and "We have become foreigners in our own country". Left-wing groups staged a counter-rally nearby and riot police were deployed to keep the two sides apart. Gasoline bombs and rocks were thrown between the two groups, and the violence continued when anti-immigrant protesters descended on the old courthouse. The Associated Press news agency reports that hundreds of immigrants live in squalid conditions in the building, amid piles of fetid rubbish and human waste without electricity or running water. Fouad, a 33-year-old Moroccan immigrant living in the building, told AP that he could not understand why the protesters had attacked. "We didn't do anything. Why do they treat us like this?" he said. "The police did nothing. Here in Greece, human rights don't exist." CLICK HERE:Immigrants hurt in Greek violence

Amman, Jordan - CROWDS GREET POPE AT JORDAN MASS - Thousands of Jordanians have joined Pope Benedict XVI for an open-air Mass in a soccer stadium, on the third day of his Middle East tour. The crowd, in the capital Amman, included hundreds of children waving flags of Jordan and the Vatican. Jordan's 200,000 Roman Catholics, and other Christians, were given a special holiday to enable them to attend, but the BBC's David Willey, travelling with the Pope, said the 20,000-seat stadium was not completely full. Our correspondent says the situation for the dwindling Catholic minority in the Middle East has worsened considerably since the last Papal visit to Jordan nine years ago. CLICK HERE:Crowds greet Pope at Jordan mass


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09.05.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA WARNS AGAINST ADVENTURES - The Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has issued a stern warning to any countries considering what he called "military adventures". Mr Medvedev said they would be met with the proper response. He was speaking at a military parade in Moscow commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The speech comes as tensions have flared up again as Georgia hosts a military exercise this month organised by the Nato military alliance. Speaking in front of thousands of troops on parade in Red Square, Mr Medvedev said that the Soviet Union's defeat of German forces during World War II was a great lesson to all nations which was still relevant today. Because, he said, some countries were resorting to military adventures.CLICK HERE:Russia warns against adevntures

Amman, Jordan - POPE WARNS OF MISUSE OF RELIGION - Pope Benedict XVI has warned against the misuse of religion for political ends, in a speech to Muslim leaders on the second day of his visit to Jordan. Speaking in the King Hussein Mosque in Amman, he argued that religion was a force for good, but its "manipulation" caused divisions and even violence. The pontiff is also due to visit Israel and the West Bank on an eight-day tour. Analysts say he is keen to improve ties with the Islamic world. A speech he made in 2006 offended many Muslims. Some groups in Jordan had called for him to apologize for the speech, in which he quoted a medieval scholar who criticized the Prophet Muhammad. CLICK HERE:Pope warns of misuse of religion


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08.05.2009 Amman, Jordan - POPE EXPRESSES HIS DEEPEST RESPECT FOR ISLAM Pope Benedict XVI stressed his "deep respect" for Islam as he arrived in Jordan to begin a Middle East visit. He described religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and said he hoped the Catholic Church could play a role in the Middle East peace process. The Pope says he is going on his eight-day tour, his first to the region as pontiff, as a "pilgrim of peace", but Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence. After Jordan, the Pope's tour will take him to Israel and the West Bank. CLICK HERE:Pope expresses his deepest respect for Islam

Prague, Czech Republic - INTERIM CZECH GOVERNMENT SWORN IN - A new interim government has taken office in the Czech Republic. It will lead the country through the last two months of the EU presidency and to early elections in October. President Vaclav Klaus said the weeks of uncertainty following the fall of the previous administration of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek were over. Mr Topolanek's temporary successor is Jan Fischer, the head of the Czech Statistical Office, who has said he holds no long-term political ambitions. He is supported by the two largest parties in parliament, the opposition Social Democrats and Mr Topolanek's Civic Democrats, as well as the Greens. After being sworn in as prime minister, the 58-year-old economist acknowledged his cabinet was the result of a temporary deal but insisted it did "not degrade the fact that we are facing urgent, demanding and important tasks". CLICK HERE:Interim Czech government sworn in

Washington, DC - OBAMA'S UPCOMING TRIP TO EUROPE AND EGYPT - US President Barack Obama will give a long-awaited speech on US relations with the Muslim world on a visit to Egypt, the White House has announced. He will travel to Egypt on 4 June and a day later arrive in Germany for a visit to Dresden and the site of the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald. During his election campaign, Mr Obama promised to make a major speech on ties with Muslims early in his presidency. Egypt arguably represented "the heart of the Arab world", a spokesman said. In Turkey last month, the president declared that the US was not at war with Islam and he called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world. CLICK HERE:Obama's upcoming trip to Europe and Egypt

Washington, DC - EUROPEN CORPORATIVE TAX-HAVEBS TO FACE OBAMA'S ACTION - Eire and the Netherlands are two countries which could fall foul of President Obama's plan to crackdown on tax havens. For many years, some of the best-known American companies in the world, including the software giant Microsoft have maintained large operations in European countries with low corporate tax rates. President Obama claims current US tax law for American corporations has created a system where "you pay lower tax if you create a job in Bangalore, India than if you create a job in Buffalo, New York". The argument centres on what are known as "tax deferral rules", which make it more expensive for American companies to reinvest overseas profits at home than abroad. Now tax experts are warning that President Obama's proposals will make many American corporations reconsider their overseas investments - and that this could be very bad news for Ireland and the Netherlands. Currently, an American company which invests in Ireland pays corporation tax on its profits there of 12.5% to the Irish government. In the Netherlands, the rate of corporation tax is 25.5%. As long as the American company never brings the profits home to America, that's the only tax it will ever have to pay. Until now, that's been a big disincentive to ever bringing the profits home, where the corporation tax rate is more than three times that of Ireland's - at 39.25%. President Obama sees that as a loophole and believes that by closing it, he will raise an extra $60bn in taxation over the next five years for US government finances. CLICK HERE:European corporative tax-haven to face Obama's actions


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07.05.2009 London, England - PM BROWN ALLEGEDLY CLAIMED REBATE FOR HIS BROTHER TO CLEAN HIS APARTMENT - Gordon Brown claimed £6,000 after paying his brother for a cleaner at his Westminster flat, it is reported. It is among details of expenses claims made by Cabinet ministers, published by the Daily Telegraph. The paper also says Jack Straw claimed the full council tax on his second home despite having a 50% discount on it. No 10 said Mr Brown was reimbursing his brother for his share of the cleaner. Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said claims were made in "good faith". She told the BBC's Newsnight: "The claims would only have been paid out if the House of Commons authorities accepted that the claims were made within the rules. CLICK HERE:PM Brown allegedly claimed rebate for his brother to clean his apartment

Berlin, Germany - GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER ANGERS LUXEMBOURG - A diplomatic row has erupted between Germany and Luxembourg after a German minister compared Luxembourg's banking secrecy to practices in Burkina Faso. The Luxembourg parliament passed a unanimous resolution on Wednesday condemning the remarks by German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck. In March he offended Swiss politicians by comparing the campaign against tax havens to a Wild West cavalry charge. Burkina Faso, in West Africa, is not listed among the world's tax havens. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Steinbrueck referred to a Berlin conference on tax havens planned for next month, saying: "Naturally I'll invite them to the follow-up conference in Berlin: Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Ouagadougou." The conference is under the auspices of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Ouagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso, whose ambassador to Germany, Xavier Niodogo, has also condemned Mr Steinbrueck's remarks. The Sueddeutsche Zeitung news website quoted Mr Niodogo as saying "our rules fully conform to international standards". "We object to Burkina Faso being named alongside alleged tax havens. We'll ask Mr Steinbrueck to explain why he mentioned Burkina Faso in this connection - and if necessary demand an apology," he said. Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Mr Steinbrueck "really seems to have descended to the level of the beer hall". The parliament resolution called Mr Steinbrueck's words "an attack on the exemplary character of relations" between Germany and Luxembourg since World War II. For more than a year Germany has been especially outspoken about banking secrecy in some neighbouring countries - notably Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The German government holds banks in such "tax havens" partly responsible for a shortfall in federal tax revenue, because they are used by some wealthy Germans. The economic crisis has fuelled Berlin's concern to replenish state coffers, amid a sharp rise in unemployment and expenditure on welfare benefits. CLICK HERE:German finance minister angers Luxembourg

London, England - SURVEY REVEALS MUSLIM ATTITUDES - European Muslims have much more loyalty to the countries they live in than is generally believed, a survey says. The report by Gallup and the Coexist Foundation says 77% of British Muslims identified with the UK, compared with 50% of the general public. There was a similar finding in Germany, the survey says. The authors say their report counters a commonly-held view that measures to combat Islamic militancy may have alienated many European Muslims. "This research shows that many of the assumptions about Muslims and integration are wide of the mark," said Dalia Mogahed of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and co-author of the report. "European Muslims want to be part of the wider community and contribute even more to society," she said. The findings of the report are surprising, because since the September 11 attacks in the US commentators have repeatedly questioned the loyalties of European Muslims to the countries they live in, the BBC's Rob Broomby says. CLICK HERE:Survey reveals Muslim attitudes


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06.05.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - EU TREATY CLEARS CZECH PARLIAMENT - The upper house of the Czech parliament has voted to approve the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, removing one of its few remaining obstacles. Czech ratification will not be complete until signed by President Vaclav Klaus, a Eurosceptic who appears in no rush. But the spotlight is now on the Republic of Ireland, where a second referendum is seen as the last major hurdle in the treaty's path. The treaty cannot take effect unless all 27 EU member states ratify it. The Czech Senate voted 54-20 in favor of the reform treaty, aimed at streamlining EU institutions to make them more flexible after the 27-nation bloc's enlargement in recent years. Its passage depended on many members of the conservative Civic Democratic Party (ODS) led by Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, putting their doubts aside and backing the plan. CLICK HERE:EU Treaty clears Czech parliament

Tbilisi, Georgia - NATO BEGINS EXERCISES - A series of Nato military exercises has begun in Georgia, amid angry condemnation from Russia. Soldiers from 18 countries are taking part in the drills at a Georgian army base close to the capital, Tbilisi. Russia, which fought a war against Georgia last year, has condemned the exercises, which President Dmitry Medvedev called "an overt provocation". On Tuesday Georgia put down a mutiny by soldiers, and claimed it had uncovered a Russian-backed coup plot. Relations between Nato and Russia were supposed to have been on the mend after last year's war in Georgia, but have now taken a dramatic turn for the worse, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says. Russia said on Wednesday that it was expelling two Canadian diplomats working for Nato's Moscow office in response to what it terms an "unfriendly act" by the military alliance. Last week Nato expelled two Russian envoys from its headquarters in Brussels, reportedly due to spying. CLICK HERE:NATO begins exercises

Tbilis, Georgia - ANTI-GOVERNMENT CLASH IN GEORGIA - Anti-government protesters and police have clashed in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, over the alleged beating of a local journalist. Riot police used batons to force back some protesters who tried to enter a police compound by climbing over a fence, the interior ministry said. Three people arrested for the alleged beating were being held at the site. Television footage showed some protesters walking away with blood on their faces, a BBC reporter said. The protest happened after dark and included opposition party leaders. These were the first clashes between protesters and police since anti-government demonstrations began on April 9. Although attendance at daily rallies has dwindled, tension in the city has risen, said the BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi. The clash came a day after Georgian authorities said they had thwarted an army mutiny. CLICK HERE:Anti-government clash in Georgia

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA EXPELLS 2 CANADIAN DIPLOMATS - Russia has expelled two Canadian diplomats working for Nato's Moscow office in response to an "unfriendly act" by the military alliance. Last week Nato expelled two Russian envoys from its headquarters in Brussels, reportedly due to spying. Nato said in a statement that the Russian move was unjustified and "very unfortunate and counterproductive". The diplomatic spat came as Nato began military exercises in Georgia, seen by Russia as a "provocation". Last August Russian and Georgian forces clashed in a brief war over breakaway pro-Moscow Georgian territories. Nine months after the war in Georgia relations between Russia and Nato were supposed to be getting back on track, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow. Instead, they have taken a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse, our correspondent reports. Ottawa's ambassador to Russia, Ralph Lysyshyn, was summoned to the foreign ministry where he was told Moscow felt it had been forced into the move. "In response to the unfriendly act on Nato's part... the Russian side has taken the forced decision to revoke the diplomatic accreditation" of the two Nato staff, a foreign ministry statement said. The Canadian diplomats being expelled are the director of the Nato information office in Moscow, Isabelle Francois, and her deputy. The Canadian embassy in Moscow said it regretted Russia's decision which came, a spokesman said, just as "Canada and Nato allies have been seeking to re-engage Russia". In Brussels, Nato said: "The Russian measure is very unfortunate and counterproductive to our efforts to restore our dialogue and cooperation with Russia. "Thus Nato very much regrets the Russian action and does not consider there to be any justification for it." The latest round of tit-for-tat expulsions stems from a spy scandal in Estonia in which thousands of pages of sensitive data were handed to Russian agents. CLICK HERE:Russia expells two Canadian dipomats


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5.05.2009 London, England - UK LEAST WANTED PUBLISHED - The names of some of the people barred from entering the UK for fostering extremism hatred have been published for the first time. Islamic extremists, white supremacists and a US radio host are among the 16 of 22 excluded in the five months to March to have been named by the Home Office. Since 2005, the UK has been able to ban people who promote hatred, terrorist violence or serious criminal activity. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said coming to the UK should be a privilege. Ms Smith said "the public interest was against naming" the remaining six, for example on the grounds it could reveal the type of information being held about them. The Muslim Council of Britain says the government should not act against people, whatever their views, unless they have broken the law. However, Ms Smith said granting free speech did not provide a license to preach hatred and that those banned had "clearly overstepped the mark" with the attitudes they had expressed. "[Naming them] enables people to see the sorts of unacceptable behavior we are not willing to have in this country. "Coming to this country is a privilege. We won't allow people into this country who are going to propagate the sort of views... that fundamentally go against our values." ... UK personae non grata: Abdullah Qadri Al Ahdal, Yunis Al Astal, Samir Al Quntar, Stephen Donald Black, Wadgy Abd El Hamied Mohamed Ghoneim, Erich Gliebe, Mike Guzovsky, Safwat Hijazi, Nasr Javed, Abdul Ali Musa, Fred Waldron Phelps Snr, Shirley Phelps-Roper, Artur Ryno, Amir Siddique, Pavel Skachevsky, Michael Alan Weiner. CLICK HERE:UK least wanted published

Vitoria, Basque Country, Spain - BASQUE NON-NATIONALIST COALITION VOTED INTO OFFICE - The parliament in the Basque region of Spain has voted in its first non-nationalist government in 30 years. The Basque Socialist Party (PSOE) and the center-right Popular Party (PP) agreed last month to govern together. The new coalition confirmed in the evening vote will turn its back on demands for sovereignty, focusing instead on security and the economy. Security in the Basque capital Vitoria is tight. Eta militants have described Mr Lopez as a "priority target". Eta earlier branded the regional parliament election "undemocratic" after radical separatist parties were excluded. An alleged senior Eta member arrested in France last month is said to have been planning a bomb attack to coincide with the handover of power. CLICK HERE:Basque non-nationalist coalition voted into office

Tbilisi, Georgia - GEORGIAN TROOP REBELLION OVER - A mutiny at a military base near Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is over, the Georgian interior minister says. Vano Merabishvili said the commander of the Mukhrovani base where a tank battalion mutinied had been arrested and others were being questioned. Tbilisi said earlier it was part of a Russia-linked coup attempt to kill President Mikhail Saakashvili. Russia's envoy to Nato described the charges as "mad". The trouble comes a day before Nato exercises in Georgia. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Nato for planning military exercises in a country "where there was just a war" CLICK HERE:Georgian troop rebellion over


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4.05.2009 Cheltenham, England - UK GCHQ DENIES INTERNET SPY PLANS - The UK's electronic intelligence agency has taken the unusual step of issuing a statement to deny it will track all UK internet and online phone use. Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) said it was developing tracking technology but "only acts when it is necessary" and "does not spy at will". The denial follows the home secretary scrapping plans for a single government database for all communications. Jacqui Smith said instead firms should record all people's internet contacts. In the statement, GCHQ said one of its "greatest challenges is maintaining our capability in the face of the growth in internet-based communications. "We must reinvest continuously to keep up with the methods that are used by those who threaten the UK and its interests," but the agency added: "GCHQ is not developing technology to enable the monitoring of all internet use and phone calls in Britain, or to target everyone in the UK. "Similarly, GCHQ has no ambitions, expectations or plans for a database or databases to store centrally all communications data in Britain. "The new technology that GCHQ is developing is designed to work under the existing legal framework." The denial comes days after Ms Smith ditched plans for a giant centralised database to store all internet and phone conversations. Instead she announced that communications firms will be asked to record all contacts between people. The new system would track all e-mails, phone calls and internet use including visits to social network sites, but not their content. On Sunday, the Sunday Times newspaper reported that GCHQ was in fact forging ahead with plans to monitor all communications in Britain. According to the newspaper, £1bn is being spent on a "Mastering the Internet (MTI)" programme that would involve "thousands of 'black box' probes being covertly inserted across online infrastructure". CLICK HERE:UK GCHQ denies internet spy plans

Athens, Greece - BRIBES VOTE PUTS PRESSURE ON GREEK PM - Greek MPs are to vote on whether a colleague must face a corruption trial, a move that would pile pressure on a government with a razor-thin majority. Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, is alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts. Defeat in the vote might force the governing New Democracy party, which holds 151 of parliament's 300 seats, into an early election. Mr Pavlides denies any wrongdoing and has refused to resign his seat. He would not be forced to step down even if MPs vote to send him for trial - but Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis would face intense pressure to sack him from the centre-right New Democracy party, leaving it with 150 seats. All opposition parties have urged MPs to vote against Mr Pavlides. The government has backed him but correspondents say it fears some of its members will break ranks. CLICK HERE:Bribes vote puts pressure on Greek PM


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3.05.2009 Rome, Italy - BERLUSCONI'S WIFE SUES FOR DIVORCE - The wife of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed that she will file for divorce. Veronica Lario reportedly said she could not be with a man who "consorted with minors" after her husband attended a female friend's 18th birthday party. She had also clashed with her husband over his party's plan to choose certain female election candidates. The 72-year-old billionaire prime minister said it was a personal matter that saddened him, without elaborating. Ms Lario is Mr Berlusconi's second wife and a former actress. The couple, who have been married for 19 years, have three children, all in their 20s. La Repubblica, a leading Italian newspaper, said Ms Lario's decision came after reading about the 18th birthday party in Naples. "That's enough, I cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors", she was quoted as saying. CLICK HERE:Berlusconi's wife sues for divorce


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2.05.2009 Budapest, Hungary - WHEN THE IRON CURTAIN OPENED AT THE AUSTRO-HUNGAIAN BORDER -Exactly 20 years ago Hungarian border guards began dismantling the physical barrier a long the Hungarian-Austrian border known as the Iron Curtain. It was an act with huge consequences for other Eastern European countries and eventually the whole of Europe. Only a tiny section of the Iron Curtain was removed on May 2, 1989, about 8 km in total, either side of four border crossings between Hungary and Austria, but it was an act of massive moral and political importance. Hungary defied its supposed allies in the Eastern Bloc, especially East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania, while the then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev looked on impassively. The main reformer in the Communist Party in Hungary at that time, Imre Pozsgay, claims the main credit for bringing down the curtain. "I didn't do anything heroic, but I knew how much we could get away with," he said. As word spread of the breach in the Iron Curtain, thousands of East Germans and Romanians headed for it, and the border guards were overwhelmed. By September 1989 Hungary gave up all pretence of acting as the loyal guard of the socialist camp and opened its western border completely. Within three months, the communist system collapsed throughout the region. CLICK HERE:When the Iron Curtain opened at the Austro-Hungarian border

Brussels, Belgim - EU UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 20 MILLION Unemployment across the 27 EU member states reached 20 million in March, and unemployment in the countries using the euro is at its highest level since 2005, according to the region's official statistics agency. In March an estimated 419,000 people lost their jobs across the 16 countries in the eurozone. The Eurostat data agency says levels of unemployment now stand at 8.9% of the population who are eligible for work, up from 8.7% in February. EU officials estimate 3.5 million jobs will be lost across the whole of the EU this year. CLICK HERE:EU unemployment hits 20 million


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1.05.2009 Minsk, Belarus - LUKASHENKO SPURNS EU INVITATION - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko will not attend an EU summit in Prague next Thursday, despite an invitation from the Czech Republic. "Mr Lukashenko is not on the list of participants - the deadline has already gone," the Czech prime minister's spokesman told the BBC on Friday. The Czechs, who hold the EU presidency, will host an "Eastern Partnership" summit with six former Soviet states. The EU's relations with Mr Lukashenko have been frosty until recently. For years, EU member states and the United States have criticized him for authoritarian methods, such as muzzling the press and jailing dissidents, but the EU has stepped up diplomatic contacts with Belarus since the authorities in Minsk released political prisoners last year. The EU also suspended a travel ban it had imposed on Mr Lukashenko and other top Belarussian officials. CLICK HERE:Lukashenko spurns EU invitation

Apeldorn, The Netherlands - DUTCH PARADE ATTACK DRIVER DIES - The driver of a car that killed six people after crashing into crowds watching a Dutch royal parade on Thursday has died from his injuries. Karst Tates, a 38-year-old Dutch national, was critically injured after his attempted attack on the Dutch royal family, and died in hospital overnight. His car crashed into a monument after ploughing through bystanders who were marking Queen's Day in Apeldoorn. The car narrowly missed a bus which was carrying Queen Beatrix and her family. In a televized address on Thursday evening, the Queen said she had been shaken by the experience and sent her condolences to the victims. "What started as a nice day ended in tragedy. We are all deeply shocked. We are speechless that such a terrible thing could have happened," she said. Ten people, including three children, remain injured in hospital. CLICK HERE:Dutch parade attack driver dies


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30.04.2009 Apeldoorn, The Netherlands - VEHICLE ATTACK ON DUTCH ROYAL PARADE - A car driver has crashed into crowds watching a Dutch royal parade, killing five people, in an attempted attack on the royal family, officials say. The car careered into a monument meters from an open-topped bus carrying Queen Beatrix and members of her family. The royals, who were unharmed, watched in horror as the car plowed into bystanders in Apeldoorn, about 90km (56 miles) east of Amsterdam. Officials said the 38-year-old driver had suffered life-threatening injuries. Prosecutor Ludo Goossens said the man, who is a Dutch national, would be charged with attempting an attack on the royal family and murder, if he survives. "The man indicated that his action was aimed against the royal family," Mr Goossens told journalists in Apeldoorn. After searching the car and his home, investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive and said it appeared he had acted alone. CLICK HERE:Vehicle attack on Dutch royal parade

Brussels,Belgium - NATO EXPELLS RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS - Russia has confirmed Nato has expelled two of its diplomats from Brussels, reportedly in retaliation for a spy scandal involving an Estonian official. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry described the expulsions as "outrageous" and a "crude provocation". Nato diplomats claimed the Russians were undercover intelligence agents. The official, Herman Simm, was jailed for 12 years in February by an Estonian court for passing Nato defence and diplomatic secrets to Moscow. The court where the former head of Estonia's national security system was tried did not reveal which country he spied for, but investigators said Mr Simm passed nearly 3,000 documents to Russia. They said he received 1.3m kroons (£74,000; $110,000) for the data. The Kremlin denied any involvement. Nato made no comment at the time, but the case, Estonia's biggest spy scandal since the Cold War, was seen as an embarrassment for the former Soviet state, which joined the alliance in 2004.CLICK HERE:Nato expells Russian diplomats

Luxembourg - EU WARNS AGAINST SWINE FLU PANICEU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has said a possible swine flu global epidemic, or pandemic, would not necessarily cause widespread deaths. She said Europe was well prepared and there was there was "no need to panic". She was speaking after an emergency meeting of health ministers on ways to contain the virus, which has been confirmed in six EU countries. The ministers rejected a French proposal for a continent-wide suspension on flights to Mexico. After the talks in Luxembourg Ms Vassiliou said: "We are worried, but we are on top of things." CLICK HERE:EU warns against swine flu panic


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29.04.2009 Diyarbakir, Tukey - ROADSIDE BOMB KILLS NINE SOLDIERS IN KURDISH AREA -At least nine soldiers have been killed in a landmine explosion in south-eastern Turkey, officials say. Military sources blamed Kurdish rebels for the attack on a road linking the predominantly Kurdish cities of Diyarbakir and Bingol. Correspondents say it is the deadliest attack on security forces for months. This month, 51 people were arrested on suspicion of belonging to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). It has been fighting for autonomy since 1984. The soldiers had been travelling on an armored personnel carrier accompanied by a tank when the bomb buried along the roadside was detonated. The soldiers had been looking for possible roadside explosives before the passage of a military convoy later in the day. CLICK HERE:Roadside bomb kills nine soldiers in Krdish area

Ankara, Turkey - TURKISH EX-MINISTER SURVIVES BLAST - A Turkish former Justice Minister, Hikmet Sami Turk, was unhurt in a failed attack by a suspected female suicide bomber, officials say. Mr Turk was about to enter a university building in the capital Ankara when the woman approached him and detonated a small bomb. The woman sustained minor injuries and was immediately overpowered. The motives for the attack are unclear. Mr Turk has been criticized over his policies on treatment of prisoners. The 74-year old former minister said the device went off as he was preparing to teach a class in the law faculty of the private Bilkent University. Kemal Onal, the Ankara provincial governor, said the woman was also carrying a gun. After the explosion she was immediately overpowered by Mr Turk's bodyguards. There are no reports of any further casualties and the motives for the attack are not yet known. Turkish media later reported the arrest of a second suspected suicide bomber in Ankara. CLICK HERE:Turkish ex-minister survives blast


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28.04.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - ALBANIA APPLIES FOR EU MEMBERSHIP - Albania has formally applied for membership of the European Union. Prime Minister Sali Berisha submitted the application in Prague to his Czech counterpart, Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU presidency. "This act has historic significance, marking the return of my nation to the family of European nations," he said. Mr Topolanek said Albania had undergone "tremendous positive changes", but stressed that the Balkan state was still "facing a huge amount of work". Albania is not expected to join the EU until 2015 at the earliest. EU enlargement: Candidates for membership: Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey. Potential candidates: Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Montenegro, Serbia. CLICK HERE:Albania applies for EU membership

Kingston, England - TRIO CLEARED OVER 7/7 ATTACKS - Three men have been cleared of helping to plan the 7/7 London suicide attacks. A retrial jury at Kingston Crown Court found them not guilty of conspiring with the 2005 bombers by organising a reconnaissance mission to London. Waheed Ali, 25, Sadeer Saleem, 28, and Mohammed Shakil, 32, all from Leeds, admitted knowing the bombers, but denied helping them. Ali and Shakil were found guilty of a second charge of plotting to attend a terrorism training camp in Pakistan. The men were originally tried in 2008, but the first jury failed to reach verdicts against them. Those now found guilty will be sentenced on Wednesday. The three men are the only people to face any charges in relation to the 7/7 London bombings. CLICK HERE:Trio cleared over 7/7 attacks


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27.04.2009 Edinburgh, Scotland - SWINE FLU OUTBREAK REACHES EUROPE _The first cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Europe. Two British people admitted to hospital in Scotland after returning from a holiday in Mexico have been confirmed as having the virus. In Spain, a man has tested positive for swine flu and 17 other people are under investigation, officials said. EU health ministers are to meet on Thursday to discuss the outbreak, which health officials suspect has killed about 150 people in Mexico. The EU's Health Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou, has advised against non-essential travel to any affected areas. Besides Mexico, the UK and Spain, there have also been confirmed cases in the US and Canada. Suspected cases are being investigated in Brazil, Israel, Australia and New Zealand. "Personally, I'd try to avoid non-essential travel to the areas which are reported to be in the centre of the cluster," Ms Vassiliou said. The precaution would "minimise the personal risk and to reduce the potential risk to spread the infection to other people", she added. Germany's largest tour operator, TUI, suspended all trips to Mexico City as a precaution, though holidays to other parts of Mexico would continue as normal. CLICK HERE:Swine flu outbreak reaches Europe

The Vatican - BELARUS PESIDENT VISITS VATICAN - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been to the Vatican during a visit to Italy seen as another step towards ending his diplomatic isolation. It is Mr Lukashenko's first official visit to Western Europe since 1995. An EU travel ban, imposed in 1999 over human-rights abuses and suppression of opposition activity, has been lifted to allow him to attend a summit in May. The Vatican said the talks with the Pope had been positive and had covered "internal problems" in Belarus. Correspondents say the EU is dropping its previous policy of isolating Belarus and seeking broad engagement with its leadership and the democratic opposition. President Lukashenko met Pope Benedict XVI in the Apostolic Palace. Their conversation lasted almost half an hour, and was conducted in a "positive" atmosphere, a Vatican statement said. CLICK HERE:Belarus president visits Vatican


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26.04.2009 Reykjavik, Iceland - CENTER LEFT WINS ICELAND'S ELECTIONS - Iceland's interim centre-left government has won a resounding victory in early parliamentary elections. The coalition secured 34 seats in the 63-member parliament - an increase of seven MPs from the previous election. Iceland's center-right government resigned in January amid mass street protests following the country's economic collapse. Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir says her priority will be to start negotiations with the European Union. The Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Movement formed a coalition caretaker government in February, under Ms Sigurdardottir. Ms Sigurdardottir said the results of Saturday's poll were "historic". "This is the first time that leftist parties will hold a majority," she said She told supporters the nation was "settling the score with the neoliberalism" and with the conservative Independence Party who "have been in power for much too long". "The people are calling for a change of ethics. That is why they have voted for us," she said. The Independence party, which secured 16 seats, conceded defeat after its worst election results in decades. Its new leader Bjarni Benediktsson said it was clear that his party had lost the trust of voters. "We lost this time but we will win again later," he said. Professor Olafur Hardarson of the University of Iceland said the elections were also historic for other reasons. It resulted on both the highest number of first time MPs, 27 in total, and the highest number of women in parliament since voting began in Iceland in 1874. EU debate. The two coalition parties will now have to reach an agreement on how to move forward with a European Union application. Pro-EU Ms Sigurdardottir said it was her priority to start negotiations with the Union to see what deal the country could reach, which would then be put to the nation in a referendum. However, the Left Green Movement, the other coalition partner, remains eurosceptic. The small North Atlantic nation has a population of only 300,000. It had to take a $10bn (£6.8bn) rescue package, led by the International Monetary Fund, after its banking sector imploded late last year. CLICK HERE:Center left wins Iceland's elections


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25.04.2009 Ankara, Turkey - TURKEY CRITICIZES OBAMA COMMENTS - Barack Obama's words on the day marking the killing of Armenians by Turks in World War I were "unacceptable", Turkey's foreign ministry has said. Though Mr Obama did not use "genocide", as he did during his election campaign, Ankara said he failed to honour those Turks killed by Armenians at the time. "Everyone's pain must be shared," President Abdullah Gul of Turkey said. President Obama described the deaths of the Armenians as "one of the great atrocities of the 20th Century". He appealed for Turks and Armenians to "address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to move forward". The two countries agreed this week on a roadmap for normalising relations. CLICK HERE:Turkey criticizes Obama comments

Reykjavik, Iceland - ICELAND HOLDING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS - Voting is under way in early parliamentary elections in Iceland, one of the countries most dramatically affected by the global economic crisis. The small North Atlantic nation has a population of only 300,000, but it had to take a $10bn (£6.8bn) rescue package, led by the International Monetary Fund, after its banking sector imploded late last year. The center-right government resigned in January after mass street protests and was replaced with an interim coalition. Voting across the country began at 0900 GMT and was due to end at 2200 GMT. Opinion polls suggest that the two parties in the caretaker government, the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left Green Party, will gain most votes. If the center-left parties win as expected, it would be an electoral rebuke to the leading center-right Independence Party, which led the government that resigned in January, but whoever wins will face many challenges, centered around the economy, the BBC's Nicholas Walton says. It needs rebuilding, with financial services no longer at its core. Unemployment and the government's ruined finances also need attention, our correspondent says. There is also the question of whether or not to apply to join the European Union .In the past, Icelanders felt that they There is also the question of whether or not to apply to join the European Union. In the past, Icelanders felt that they were better off outside the EU, but the financial crisis has changed opinions, our correspondent says. Now, many see EU membership or adopting the Euro as Iceland's currency, as part of the solution to the country's problems. CLICK HERE:Iceland holds parliamentary elections


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24.04.2009 Moscow, Russia - GRU CHIEF DISMISSED - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed the head of the country's powerful GRU military intelligence service, the Kremlin has said. Mr Medvedev signed a decree on Friday replacing Gen Valentin Korabelnikov with Gen Alexander Shlyakhturov. Officials gave no reason for the move. Gen Korabelnikov had led the Main Directorate of Intelligence since 1997. He reportedly tendered his resignation earlier this year over objections to proposed reforms of the agency. The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GRU) of the General Staff is Russia's largest intelligence agency. It is believed to have six times as many agents in foreign countries as the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), one of the successors to the Soviet KGB. In a statement on Friday, the Kremlin announced that President Medvedev had signed a decree that "released" Gen Korabelnikov from his post and from military service. Unnamed GRU sources told Russian media that one of the reasons why the general's resignation had not been accepted at the time was that many of his deputies had refused to assume his post. The Kremlin said the new GRU chief, Gen Shlyakhturov, had been one of Gen Korabelnikov's deputies. He is reportedly seen by some in the military as a more compliant figure who may not challenge ministers. Although President Medvedev has insisted that the reforms of the military will go ahead, it is not clear when, our correspondent says. The country is in the grip of a severe economic crisis which has already seen millions of people thrown out of work, he adds. In a separate development, three districts in Chechnya have been officially designated zones of counter-terrorist activity only a week after Russia said it had ended its decade-long military campaign against separatist rebels in the southern republic. CLICK HERE:GRU chief dismissed

Paris, France - FRANCE SANCTIONS PEDOPHILIA CASE JUDGE - An investigating judge at the center of one of France's biggest miscarriages of justice has been reprimanded by a panel looking into his conduct. Fabrice Burgaud, 37, headed an inquiry in 2001 that led to 12 innocent people being imprisoned on pedophilia charges, some for several years. Then-President Jacques Chirac called the trial an "unprecedented disaster". Despite the reprimand issued to Mr Burgaud being the lightest possible sanction, his lawyers plan to appeal. They argue that he was made a scapegoat for a series of flaws involving the police and the judicial system. In his first posting as an examining magistrate, Mr Burgaud began an inquiry in 1999 into allegations that children had been abused by their parents and neighbors in the town of Outreau, near Boulogne. Outreau trial: May 2004: Trial starts in St Omer of 17 suspects; Late May 2004: Suspect Myriam Delay clears 13 of the accused, but then re-accuses them: July 2, 2004: 10 convicted and seven acquitted; December 1, 2005: Six acquitted on appeal. Two couples serving up to 20 years in jail. CLICK HERE:France sanctions pedohilia case judge

Madrid, Spain - SPAIN'S UNEMPLOYED SOARS TO 17% - Spain's unemployment rate hit 17.4% at the end of March, figures have shown, with the jobless total now having doubled over the past 12 months. In the past year, two million people have lost their jobs taking the total out of work to just over four million. The Bank of Spain recently predicted the jobless rate would reach 19.4% in 2010, as the recession took hold. "It is a terrible figure," Octavio Granado, secretary of state for social security told state television. He said the first quarter of any year was traditionally bad for employment in Spain. Mr Granado also said that 2009 was expected to be the worst part of the economic downturn. "So we are in the epicenter of the crisis. CLICK HERE:Spain's unemployed soars to 17%


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23.04.2009 Calais, France - FRANCE TO SHT DOWN CALAIS CAMP - French authorities have said they plan to close a migrant squatter camp outside Calais by the end of this year. Immigration Minister Eric Besson said the camp, known as "the jungle", would be replaced by a temporary centre offering migrants food and shelter. There are estimated to be about 1,000 migrants in makeshift camps in Calais, most hoping to enter Britain illegally. The British government said they had been "locked out" of the UK by the country's tough border controls. In remarks made to businesses during a visit to Calais and broadcast on France radio, Mr Besson said: "I'm telling you in advance that we won't allow this situation to deteriorate, that the jungle will not exist any more." "To maintain and develop the jungle would be an obstacle to economic interests and employment." He added: "The law of the jungle will not rule either here in Calais or anywhere else in France". CLICK HERE:France to shut down Calais camp

Vitkov, Czech Republic - CZECH ROMA ANGER AT ARSON ATTACK - The Roma (Gypsy) minority in the Czech Republic has called for nationwide protests following an arson attack that left a two-year-old girl in hospital. On Saturday a house was set on fire in the eastern Czech village of Vitkov, leaving the girl with 80% burns. Her parents were also injured in the blaze. Roma groups have also offered a reward for information about the attack. Police suspect right-wing extremists. Czech President Vaclav Klaus described the fire as a "heinous crime". Ivan Vesely, deputy head of the government council for Romany community affairs, said the demonstrations would be staged in 10 to 15 towns and cities across the country on May 3, including Prague and Usti nad Labem, where neo-Nazis staged a march last weekend. Both the girl, who is called Natalka, and her parents are said to be in a critical condition in a hospital in the near Vitkov, about 300km (190 miles) east of Prague. The Czech Republic's largely impoverished 300,000-strong Roma population has repeatedly complained of endemic racial discrimination. CLICK HERE:Czech Roma anger at arson attack

Oslo, Norway - ISLAM A POLITICAL TARGET IN NORWAY - With less than six months to go until Norway's general election, increasing tensions over immigration and Islam appear likely to play a significant role in the vote. The leader of the country's main opposition party has warned that it is facing "sneak-Islamization", while some prominent Muslims say they face growing "persecution". The heated debate is a sign that Norway, renowned as one of the most peaceful and tolerant nations in the world, is facing the same issues with its Muslim minority as are now familiar in other parts of Europe. Siv Jensen, the 39-year-old leader of the opposition Progress Party, has objected to moves to introduce special measures in order to accommodate Muslims' religious sensitivities, traditions and rules. "The reality is that a kind of sneak-Islamization of this society is being allowed," she recently told a Progress Party conference. "We are going to have to stop this." CLICK HERE:Islam a political target in Norway

Berlin, Germany - GERMANY'S ECONOMY TO SHRINK BY 6% _ Germany's economy will shrink by 6% this year and continue to contract in 2010 according to a forecast from the country's leading economic think tanks. The estimates, compiled by eight institutes for the German Economy Ministry, also predicts that the rate of unemployment will hit 10% next year. The gloomy forecast chimes with that of the IMF, which shows the German economy contracting by 5.6% this year. This is faster than any other major economy apart from Japan, says the IMF. "The joint forecast of the institutes paints a very dark picture of German economic prospects in the foreseeable future," said Timo Klein at IHS Global Insight. CLICK HERE:Germay's economy to shrink by 6%

Brussels, Belgium - EU CALLS OFF TALKS WITH CROATIA - The European Union has called off the next round of Croatia's EU membership talks, over its continuing border dispute with Slovenia. The talks were set for Friday but have been cancelled until further notice. The row over the Bay of Piran has held up talks on Croatia's accession, which is provisionally set for 2010 or 2011. It also threatened to derail Croatia's membership of Nato, until Slovenia dropped its objections only days before this month's Nato summit. The EU did not give a new date for talks with Croatia to resume, and said doing so would be "subject to positive development" in negotiations between Croatia and Slovenia. CLICK HERE:EU calls off talks with Croatia


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22.04.2009 London, England - UK 2009 DEBT RECORD BUDGET PRESENTED - Alistair Darling has said the UK will have to borrow a record £175bn as he admitted the economy faces its worst year since the Second World War. The chancellor tore up a key New Labour election pledge by unveiling a new 50p tax rate for earnings over £150,000. He also cut future spending plans in a Budget which added 2p on fuel, 1p on a pint of beer and 7p on cigarettes. The package would steer the UK through to recovery, he said. The Tories said the economy was in an "utter mess". Leader David Cameron said not enough had been done to get spending under control and "Britain simply cannot afford another five years of Labour". Key points: 50% tax rate for earnings over £150,000; Big debt and deficit increases; Economy shrinks at record rate; Public spending squeeze planned; Books not balanced until 2018; 2p on fuel, 1p on a pint (0.473 liter) of beer and 7p on cigarettes; £15bn public sector 'efficiency savings'; Claw back tax relief on top earners' pension; £2bn help for young unemployed ; £1bn to boost housing market ; £2,000 car scrappage scheme. CLICK HERE:UK 2009 debt record budget presenteddebt

London, England - NONE OF 12 TERROR SUSPECTS TO BE CHARGED - All 12 men arrested over a suspected bomb plot in the UK have now been released without charge by police. Eleven, all Pakistani nationals, have been transferred to UK Border Agency custody and face possible deportation. Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy defended the inquiry, saying he was not "embarrassed", but the Muslim Council of Britain said the government should admit it had made a mistake and claimed the way it had dealt with the men was "dishonorable". Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman told reporters: "We are seeking to remove these individuals on grounds of national security. "The government's highest priority is to protect public safety. Where a foreign national poses a threat to the country, we will seek to exclude or deport them where appropriate." However, lawyers for the men point out that they have not been charged and are innocent of any crime. Of the 12 men arrested in raids in Liverpool, Manchester and Clitheroe in Lancashire, 11 were Pakistani nationals, with 10 holding student visas. One was from Britain. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided there was insufficient evidence to press charges, or even to convince magistrates to allow police to hold the men any longer. CLICK HERE:None of 12 terror suspects to be charged

Duesseldorf, Germany - GERMANY'S 9/11 PLOT TRIAL - A group of suspected militant Islamists has gone on trial in Germany charged with a bomb plot likened by prosecutors to the September 11 attacks in the US. Prosecutor Volker Brinkmann said their intended targets included discos and the Ramstein US military base. He told the court in Duesseldorf that the four defendants wanted to destroy American targets and kill as many Americans as possible. The trial, with some 200 witnesses, could last two years. The four bearded defendants, German Muslim converts Fritz Gelowicz and Daniel Schneider, and ethnic Turks Attila Selek and Adem Yilmaz - appeared in court amid stringent security, behind a bullet-proof glass screen. The judge ordered one of them to remove his Muslim skull cap, saying the court regarded it as a provocation. He then defied the order to stand before the court, saying: "There is only one for whom I will stand, Allah." CLICK HERE:Germany's 9/11 plot trial

Bamut, Chechnya - RUSSIANS DIE IN CHECHEN AMBUSH - Gunmen have killed three Russian soldiers in Chechnya, less than a week after the Kremlin announced an end to a decade of military operations there. The Russian interior ministry said the soldiers were in a car towing a water cistern when they were shot. It said the gunmen opened fire from a derelict building in the village of Bamut, near the border with Ingushetia. The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last month Chechnya was stable enough to ease security restrictions. Despite the Kremlin's announcements, several thousand Russian security force personnel are staying on in Chechnya to combat the hundreds of Muslim separatist militants thought to remain in the mountains. CLICK HERE:Russians die in Chechen ambush


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21.04.2009 Calais, France - FRENCH POLICE RAID CALAIS MIGRANTS - French police have detained 190 people in an operation against undocumented migrants near the port of Calais, officials say. More than 300 officers were involved in the operation on Tuesday morning, regional state authorities said. The port has become a magnet for migrants trying to enter the UK illegally across the English Channel. There are estimated to be about 1,000 migrants living in makeshift camps around Calais. Police cordoned off a migrant squatter camp known as "the jungle" and detained 150 people in an early morning raid. Forty other migrants were detained at two other locations along the coast, officials said. Police said they had planned the operation for some time and all the arrests were made peacefully. CLICK HERE:French police raid Calais migrants

Tskhinvali, South Ossetia - SOUTH OSSETIA RELEASES OSCE OBSERVERS - The OSCE has condemned the brief detention of two unarmed observers by separatist forces in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia. The OSCE's chairperson-in-office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, welcomed their release but described the action as "wholly unacceptable". Earlier, South Ossetia's leader said they were held for "illegally crossing the Georgian-South Ossetian border". The monitors are overseeing a ceasefire agreement between Georgia and Russia. CLICK HERE:South Ossetia releases OSCE observers

Brussels, Belgium - EU COMMISSION URGES FISHING CUTS - The EU has far too many fishing boats, and major cuts are needed to make fishing sustainable, according to the European Commission. The commission's green paper on Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform also says fishermen should be given more responsibility for managing stocks. A copy obtained by BBC News prior to publication on Wednesday says 30% of EU fish stocks are beyond safe limits. It says member states "micro-manage" decisions for political reasons. Despite major reforms in 2002, it concludes, the reality for EU fish and fishermen consists of "overfishing, fleet overcapacity, heavy subsidies, low economic resilience and decline in the volume of fish caught". CLICK HERE:EU commission urges fishing cuts


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20.04.2009 Geneva, Switzerland - WALKOUT DURING IRAN LEADER'S SPEECH - Diplomats have walked out of a UN anti-racism conference during a speech by the Iranian president in which he described Israel as "totally racist". Dozens of delegates got up and left, moments after two protesters wearing coloured wigs disrupted the start of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech. Diplomats who remained applauded as Mr Ahmadinejad continued his address. France said it was a "hate speech" and the US called it "vile". Some countries had boycotted the meeting altogether. The walkout is a public relations disaster for the United Nations, which had hoped the conference would be a shining example of what the UN is supposed to do best, uniting to combat injustice in the world, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva. CLICK HERE:Walkout during Iran leade's speech

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA MAY CANCEL NATO MEETING - Russia has threatened to pull out of a meeting with senior Nato commanders if the alliance goes ahead with planned exercises in Georgia next month. Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, said its president and foreign minister had raised concerns and that the government was awaiting a response. "If there is no reaction, we shall take certain steps," he told Russian TV. Nato says the exercises were planned before last year's conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. The war led to Nato temporarily cutting high-level contacts with Moscow. Georgia hopes eventually to join Nato, a move strongly opposed by Russia, which says the alliance's eastward expansion is a threat to its security. CLICK HERE:Russia may cancel NATO meeting

Brussels, Belgium - BRUSSELS TO INVESTIGATE SEVEN AIRLINES - The European Commission has started anti-competition investigations into seven transatlantic airlines, including British Airways (BA). Brussels has opened two separate investigations, the first into proposed additional cooperation between BA, American Airlines and Iberia. The second probe is into existing and planned cooperation between Air Canada, Continental, Lufthansa and United. BA said the Commission had stressed it did not have proof of any infringement. However, Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said the investigations would not have been launched "unless we thought there was good reason to pursue this". The investigations are into transatlantic routes between Europe and North America run by One World alliance members BA, American and Iberia, and Star Alliance carriers Air Canada, Lufthansa and United. Continental is not yet a member of the Star Alliance but in talks to join the group. CLICK HERE:Brussels to investigate seven airlines


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19.04.2009 Lampedusa, Italy - ITALY TO ACCEPT STRANDED IMMIGRANTS - Italy has agreed to accept 140 migrants rescued off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa, ending a four-day stand-off with Malta. Rome had at first insisted the ship was in a Maltese search and rescue area, and said Valletta should take them in. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Italy was taking in the migrants for "humanitarian reasons", and insisted its actions did not set a precedent. The migrants were rescued after their boats got in trouble in rough seas. They were picked up by the MV Pinar on Thursday some 40km (25 miles) off the coast of Lampedusa, but a stand-off developed after Malta said the migrants should be taken to the nearest port, which it said was Lampedusa. CLICK HERE:Italy to accept stranded immigrants


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18.04.2009 Perpignan, France - FRANCE HOLDS ETA MILITARY CHIEF - A man described as the military leader of the Basque separatist group Eta has been captured in south-western France, Spanish government sources say. Jurdan Martitegi was reportedly detained with two other suspected Eta members near Perpignan in a joint Franco-Spanish security operation. French police would only say that three Eta suspects had been detained. The news comes just over a week since the arrest in Paris of another top Eta suspect, Ekaitz Sirvent Auzmendi. If his arrest is confirmed, Mr Martitegi would be the third suspected Eta military chief to be detained by the French security forces in the past five months. Eta is blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people in its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. The three men arrested on Saturday were armed with three pistols and had a car with false number plates, Spanish media report. French police say they were picked up in Montauriol, in the eastern Pyrenees region which borders Spain. Mr Martitegi is alleged to have assumed the military command of Eta since the arrest in December of Aitzol Irionda, also in south-west France. Mr Irionda himself had allegedly just taken over the military command from Mikel Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, also known as Txeroki, after the latter's arrest in France in October. Once regarded as a safe haven for Basque militants, France began arresting Eta suspects after the group called off a 15-month-old ceasefire in June 2007. A suspected woman member of Eta, Itxaso Legorburu Madinabeitia, was arrested in the central French town of Mezieres-en-Brenne on Thursday. Another suspected member with her managed to escape. The two had reportedly been inside a gun shop when they aroused suspicion and police were called. CLICK HERE:France holds Eta military chief


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17.04.2009 Stockholm Sweden -TIGER BAY TAKES THE RAP - A court in Sweden has jailed four men behind The Pirate Bay (TPB), the world's most high-profile file-sharing website, in a landmark case. Frederik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Carl Lundstrom and Peter Sunde were found guilty of breaking copyright law and were sentenced to a year in jail. They were also ordered to pay $4.5m (£3m) in damages. Record companies welcomed the verdict but the men are to appeal and Sunde said they would refuse to pay the fine. Speaking at an online press conference, he described the verdict as "bizarre". "It's serious to actually be found guilty and get jail time. It's really serious. And that's a bit weird," Sunde said. "It's so bizarre that we were convicted at all and it's even more bizarre that we were [convicted] as a team. The court said we were organized. I can't get Gottfrid out of bed in the morning. If you're going to convict us, convict us of disorganised crime. "We can't pay and we wouldn't pay. Even if I had the money I would rather burn everything I owned, and I wouldn't even give them the ashes." CLICK HERE:Tiger Bay takes the rap

Prague, Czech Republic - BELARUS GETS EU SUMMIT INVITATION - The Czech Republic has invited Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to an summit next month, despite criticism of his record on human rights. As current holder of the EU presidency, the Czechs will host the "Eastern Partnership" summit in Prague on May 7. The EU has suspended a travel ban it imposed on Mr Lukashenko and other top officials. The EU wants to develop closer energy and trade links with Belarus and five other ex-Soviet states, but Mr Lukashenko previously indicated that he would not attend the summit, even if he were invited, the Czech news agency CTK reported. The Czech EU presidency said the invitation was made by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg at a meeting with Mr Lukashenko in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on Friday. "Belarus itself will decide who will represent the country at the summit," the Czech official statement said. Mr Schwarzenberg "pointed out the problems with registration of several non-governmental organisations" in Belarus, the statement went on. His counterpart Sergey Martynov replied that "society cannot be changed overnight". The other countries invited to the partnership summit with the EU are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. CLICK HERE:Belarus gets EU summit invitation

Chisinau, Moldova - MOLDOVA RECOUNT CONFIRMS VOTE - A recount of votes cast in Moldova's election has confirmed an emphatic win by the ruling Party, an election official has said. Electoral Commission secretary Iurie Ciocan said no fraud had been found, despite opposition claims that the election was rigged. Judges ordered a recount after a week of protests against the Communist win, but the main opposition parties boycotted it, saying it was a "trick" to distract attention from fraud. Mr Ciocan said the results were basically the same as in the previous count, with the Communists having 60 seats in the new parliament. Of the center-right opposition parties, the Liberal Party and Liberal Democratic Party would have 15 seats each while the Our Moldova Alliance would have 11, he said. CLICK HERE:Moldova recount confirms vote


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16.04.2009 Grozny, Chechnya - RUSSIA ENDS CHECHNYA OPERATION - Russia has ended its decade-long "counter-terrorism operation" against separatist rebels in the southern republic of Chechnya, officials say. The move aimed "to create conditions to further normalise the situation", the National Anti-terrorist Committee said. Russian forces have fought two wars in the mainly Muslim republic since 1994. Moscow says Chechnya has stabilised under its pro-Kremlin President, Ramzan Kadyrov, but human rights groups accuse his militias of widespread abuses. "We received the news about cancelling the counter-terrorism operation with great satisfaction," Mr Kadyrov told Russia's Interfax news agency on Thursday. CLICK HERE:Russia ends Chechnya operation

Brussels, Belgium - RUSSIA ANGERED BY NATO EXERCISE PLANS - Russia has asked Nato to cancel or postpone military exercises that it plans to hold in Georgia next month. Moscow's envoy to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, described the exercises, expected to involve 1,300 troops from 19 countries, as "absurd and a provocation". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the exercises would not help develop stability in the Caucasus. Nato says the exercises were planned before last year's conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. Georgia hopes eventually to join Nato, a move strongly opposed by Russia, which says the alliance's eastward expansion is a threat to its security. Nato said the exercises, to be held some 20km (12 miles) east of Georgia's capital Tbilisi from May 6 to June 1, would be non-aggressive and based on a fictitious UN-mandated, Nato-led crisis response operation. "There should really be no element of surprise for anyone," Nato spokesman Robert Pszczel said. "There is no heavy armour involved at all, it's just people," but Russia's ambassador to the military alliance dismissed the claim. CLICK HERE:Russia angered by Nato exercise plans

London, England - TORY MP WILL NOT BE CHARGED - Tory MP Damian Green, who was arrested as part of an inquiry over Home Office leaks, will not face charges. There was "insufficient evidence" to bring a court case against the shadow immigration minister, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Mr Green, arrested last November, said he was "very pleased" at the decision, calling the government "authoritarian", but Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it would have been "irresponsible" for the police not to have taken action. She announced the police inspectorate would conduct a review of the "operational aspects" of the inquiry but the Home Office said it was too early to say what its scope would be. Sources have indicated that the Home Office is far from satisfied over the decision not to charge Mr Green, but Northern Ireland Secretary Sean Woodward said: "What matters now is to move on." Mr Green, MP for Ashford, and Home Office worker Christopher Galley, who passed on the information, have always denied any wrongdoing over the leaks, forwarded to the press, which related to immigration and crime. Mr Galley will not face prosecution either, the CPS said. CLICK HERE:Tory MP will not be charged

London, England - PLAN TO BOOST ELECTRIC CAR SALES - Would-be auto-owners will be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to encourage them to buy electric or plug-in hybrid cars under plans announced by the UK government. It is part of the UK government's £250m plan to promote low carbon transport over the next five years, but ministers do not expect eligible cars to hit the showrooms until 2011. The car industry as a whole welcomed the plan, but George Osborne, the UK shadow finance minister, dismissed the initiative as a "fantasy announcement." Critics said the government needed to invest more in places to recharge the vehicles and in public transport. The strategy includes plans to provide £20m for charging points and other necessary infrastructure. At present they are very limited. CLICK HERE:Plan to boost electric car sales
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: Can you imagine charging your mini electric vehicle on the side of the road? You go away and return to find someone else has pulled the plug, or your charging cable has been vandalized again! Charging in a secure garage is one thing, but not on the street. The main fuel of the future hybrid has to be liquid hydrogen.)


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15.04.2009 Channel Ports, France - PORT BLOCKADES TEMPORARILY LIFTED - French fishermen have temporarily lifted their blockade of three French ports, allowing thousands of ferry passengers across the English Channel. The dispute had left UK-bound ferries stranded overnight, as the French Red Cross and French Army handed out food and blankets to people awaiting travel. Stranded passengers in Calais include coach-loads of children who have spent their Easter break on the Continent. The blockade, which is over EU fishing quotas, is due to resume on Thursday. Threats of legal action have come from both ferry and rail firms against the protesters fighting EU fishing quotas. The blockades began on Tuesday afternoon, preventing ships from entering or leaving Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk. CLICK HERE:Port blockades temporarily lifted

Moscow, Russia - MEDVEDEV SPEAKS TO CRITICAL PRESS - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has given an interview to one of the last media outlets in the country which is frequently critical of the government. The interview in Novaya Gazeta is being dissected by analysts for signs that Mr Medvedev may pursue a different course from his predecessor, Vladimir Putin. Mr Medvedev said democracy need not be compromized for the sake of prosperity. "Stability and a prosperous life cannot be set off against a set of political rights and freedoms," he said. Later, he told civil society groups that rules on NGOs were "not ideal". "It is clear that your work is not easy," he told a meeting of the Presidential Council on Human Rights. "There are numerous instances when the activities of non-governmental organizations are restricted without sufficient grounds." Mr Medvedev said "the protection of rights should be practised by the state itself" and trust built up between it and civil society groups. The interview is his first with a Russian newspaper since being sworn in as president in May 2008. Novaya Gazeta has paid a high price for editorial independence. Four of its reporters have been killed or died in suspicious circumstances. A Kremlin spokeswoman said Mr Medvedev had given the interview to Novaya Gazeta to "lend moral support" to its journalists, after the attacks on their colleagues. Mr Medvedev had been affected by "the horrific crimes" against the newspaper in recent years, she added. Amongst those killed in recent years was the investigative journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, who had exposed gross abuses committed by the Russian army in Chechnya and been highly critical of Mr Putin when he was president. Journalists, human rights workers and lawyers have continued to die or come under attack since Mr Medvedev became president almost a year ago, and there is little sign those responsible will ever be held to account. CLICK HERE:Medvedev speaks to critical press

Paris, France - FRANCE SAYS ADIEU TO OLD DEPARTMENTAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATES - For decades French drivers have proudly displayed their regional loyalties, but the old system is now being replaced by a UK-style number plate-for-life. The new plate will stay with the car, regardless of whether the owner sells it or moves to another region. The two-digit number of the French department, or region, is reduced to a small strip on the right-hand side. The French news agency AFP describes it as "adieu to '111 AAA 75' and welcome 'AA - 111 - AA'." The new system, which will also apply to trucks, is aimed at combating registration fraud and making stolen vehicles easier to trace. Some 130,000 stolen cars were sold in France in 2008, French media report. A group of French politicians waged a campaign against the change, defending the 59-year-old registration system under the slogan "never without my department". In a concession to them French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie decided that the departmental number would still appear on the new number plates, though reduced in size, along with the departmental emblem, but now drivers can decide which department they want displayed on the car's plate. So a Corsican living in Paris can for example choose the Corsican number and emblem, which is a black Moorish head sporting a white headband, but the Europe 1 news website says thousands of residents of Loire-Atlantique department consider themselves part of Brittany. They object to the fact that new Loire-Atlantique registrations will bear the emblem of Pays de la Loire. So there is now a movement to put stickers showing the Breton flag and corresponding number 44 on the new plates. Under the new system, the dealer will issue the new car registration, instead of the local authority, eliminating the stocks of old blank grey registration cards, which were a security risk. CLICK HERE:France says adieu to old departmental vehicle registration plates


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14.04.2009 Ternopil, Ukraine - ARRESTS OVER RADIOACTIVE SALE -Three men have been held in Ukraine for allegedly trying to sell radioactive material that could be used to make a "dirty bomb", security officials say. The politician and two businessmen were held on April 9 in the Ternopil region. The SBU security service said they were trying to sell what they thought was 3.672kg (8.2lb) of plutonium-239 for $10m (£6.7m). However, authorities now say the material was not plutonium-239 and are working to determine what it is. The material was likely to be americium, a radioactive metal element with a variety of industrial uses, the Associated Press news agency said, citing unidentified security experts. The SBU said that the material "could have been used for terrorist purposes for the creation of a dirty bomb". A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material, causing a health hazard. The container had been made at a Russian plant during the Soviet era and could have entered Ukraine from a neighbouring state, the SBU said, without giving further details. The men have been charged with illegally handling radioactive material, AFP news agency said. In recent years several countries have expressed concern that corruption and poor safety standards could put unsecured radioactive material from the former Soviet Union in the hands of criminals or armed groups. CLICK HERE:Arrests over radioactive sale

Channel Ports, France - FRENCH FISHER BOATS BLOCK CHANNEL PORTS - French fishing boats have mounted a blockade of three Channel ports, interrupting ferry and freight traffic in a dispute over fishing quotas. At Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk fishing fleets are preventing ships entering or leaving the harbor. Stranded passengers say they have been given no indication of when the blockade might be lifted. British police have warned of serious delays and have started parking lorries on the M20 motorway. ...French fishing unions say they are protesting at ever tougher EU-imposed quotas, and are demanding that the French government take a stand on their behalf or offer more financial assistance. They have not said how long their protest will last. The EU says limiting the size of fishing catches is the best way to stop stocks being wiped out through over-fishing. CLICK HERE:French fisher boats block Channel Ports

London, England - SMEARED TORIES WANT No.10 REFORM - David Cameron has demanded a reform of Downing Street's "culture" after a government adviser sent e-mails about slurs against leading Conservatives. The Tory leader said Labour had "been in power too long" and Gordon Brown had to end "this sort of nonsense". Adviser Damian McBride resigned after unfounded claims about Mr Cameron and other senior figures were revealed. The government has defended its response to the e-mails scandal, saying the prime minister had "taken action". Mr McBride stood down on Saturday, after it was revealed that he had sent e-mails in January to former government spin doctor Derek Draper, containing allegations about Mr Cameron, shadow chancellor George Osborne and Tory MP Nadine Dorries among others. CLICK HERE:Smeared Tories want No 10 reform

Ankara, Turkey - DOZENS OF TURKISH KURDS ARRESTED - Around 50 people have been arrested in Turkey in an operation targeting alleged Kurdish separatists. Senior members of the main legal Kurdish party, the Democratic Society Party (DTP), were among those arrested. The DTP branded the move a government attempt to weaken it following gains made in recent local elections. Arrests took place in 12 different provinces, said the governor's office in the eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, where most were detained. The governor's office said the operation was aimed at the illegal Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK. The AFP news agency reported that the suspects arrested included three DTP deputy chairmen, two lawyers representing jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and the chief editor of a Diyarbakir-based private TV channel. "This operation is a clear indication of the government's intolerance to the election results," said DTP chairman Ahmet Turk, referring to polls last month in which the DTP gained ground on the ruling AKP. CLICK HERE:dozens of Turkish Kurds arrested


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13.04.2009 Kamien Pomorski, Poland - FIRE IN POLISH HOSTEL KILLS 21 - At least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a hostel for homeless people in north-western officials say. Another 20 were injured in the blaze in the town of Kamien Pomorski, 60km (37 miles) east of the border with Germany, which began in the middle of night. Many of the injuries were sustained as residents jumped from upper floors of the three-storey building. At least 77 people were registered at the hostel, waiting for the local authority to provide them with housing. Emergency teams are now sifting through the wreckage of the building. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. Prime Minister Donald Tusk broke off his Easter holiday to fly to Kamien Pomorski to inspect the damage and visit the survivors in hospital, whom he said would receive new housing and aid. CLICK HERE:Fire in Polish hostel kills 21

Tbilisi, Georgia - GEORGIA PROTESTS ENTER FIFTH DAY - Thousands of opposition supporters in Georgia have begun a fifth day of protests, calling on President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down. The demonstrators gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi, before marching on to the presidential palace, where they plan to hold an ongoing protest. Correspondents say turnout is falling and the opposition seems increasingly unsure of how to continue its campaign. Mr Saakashvili says Russian oligarchs are financing the Georgian opposition. The opposition accuses him of mishandling last year's conflict with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and of being increasingly autocratic. After a brief pause on Sunday, more than 20,000 opposition supporters returned to the Georgian parliament building for a fifth day, chanting "Misha, Go!". CLICK HERE:Georgia protests enter fifth day

Ankara, Turkey - ARRESTS IN TURKEY COUP PLOT INVESTIGATION - Turkish police have detained at least 12 people, including a university head, in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government, reports say. Police also searched the headquarters of a television station and offices of groups that promote secularism, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. The arrests are said to be part of the long-running inquiry into the shadowy ultra-nationalist Ergenekon network. Its members are accused of plotting attacks to provoke a military coup. Dozens of people, including retired military officers, politicians, academics and journalists, have been arrested since 2007.Mehmet Haberal, the president of Ankara's Baskent University, and Fatih Hilmioglu, the former head of Inonu University in Malatya, were among those detained on Monday, Anatolia reported. CLICK HERE:Arrests in Turkey coup plot investigation

London, England - PM BROWN SENDS LETTERS REGARDIN E-MAIL SMEARS - Gordon Brown has written personal letters to those mentioned in controversial e-mails sent by his ex-adviser Damian McBride. Mr McBride quit his post at Number 10 after his unfounded claims about Tory leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne became known. Mr Brown wants the advisers' code of conduct changed to prevent any repeat. Mr Cameron has received the letter but it did not contain the direct apology he had demanded, Tory sources said. Prior to getting it, a spokeswoman for the Tory leader said it was "recognition that he [Gordon Brown] has finally recognized the gravity of what's been happening in Downing Street". The prime minister said the e-mails sent were a "matter of great regret". CLICK HERE:PM Brown sends letters regarding e-mail smears

Nottingham, England - POLICE HOLDING 114 IN POWER STATION PROTEST - More than 100 people have been arrested in Nottingham over a suspected plan to target a power station. Police said 114 men and women were arrested in Sneinton Dale on suspicion of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass and criminal damage. Officers said they believed those arrested were planning to protest at nearby Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. Police said equipment including bolt-cutters was found and they feared a threat to the safety of the site. A police spokesman said it was thought there was a "serious threat" to the coal-fired power station, which is eight miles south-west of Nottingham. More than 200 police officers from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire and British Transport Police were involved in the arrests at the Iona School. CLICK HERE:Police holding 114 in power station protest


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11.04.2009 Paris, France - TOP ETA SUSPECT CAUGHT WITH GUN - One of the Spanish militant group Eta's top leaders has been arrested in Paris carrying a Magnum revolver and false ID, French and Spanish media report. Ekaitz Sirvent Auzmendi was detained at Montparnasse station in Paris after getting off a high-speed train from Bordeaux, French police said. Wanted by Spain since 2002, he is said to be one of Eta's top five leaders. Eta is blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people in its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. Spanish police were present during the arrest in Paris, the French news agency AFP reports. A laptop computer and a large quantity of computer equipment including USB keys and hard discs were also seized and Mr Auzmendi was found carrying false French and Spanish identity papers, the Spanish interior ministry told the Spanish news agency Efe. He is believed to be Eta's top forger, it added. CLICK HERE:Top Eta suspect caught with gun

London, England - NO 10 OFFICIAL RESIGNS AFTER E-MAILS - One of Gordon Brown's senior officials has resigned after sending e-mails which discussed smearing senior Tories. Damian McBride, the prime minister's former political press officer, had apologized after the messages found their way to a Westminster blogger. In them, Mr McBride (it was claimed, allegedly) made obscene and unfounded claims about David Cameron's and George Osborne's personal lives. He called the suggestions "a few ideas I've been working on for Red Rag", a reference to a Labour website. ...Paul Staines, writer of the Guido Fawkes blog, described the messages sent by Mr McBride as "obscene". A Number 10 spokesman said the messages were "juvenile and inappropriate". The spokesman for (?No 10) added that nobody in Downing Street knew of the e-mails and that it was Mr Brown's view that there was "no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind". CLICK HERE:No 10 official resigns after e-mails

Tbilisi, Georgia - MORE PROTESTS IN GEORGIAN CAPITAL - Anti-government protests are continuing for a third day in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Roads in front of key buildings were blocked by groups of demonstrators who had camped out overnight. They accuse President Mikhail Saakashvili of leading the country into a disastrous war with Russia, and want him to step down, but there are signs that public support for the opposition-led campaign is dwindling, a BBC correspondent says. Some 60,000 people turned out on Thursday for the first day of demonstrations - but far fewer were visible on Friday. Organizers say they will not end their action until the president. CLICK HERE:More protests in Georgian capital


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10.04.2009 Bucharest, Romania - GEORGIANS PLAN MASS DISOBEDIENCE - MOLDOVAN LEADER WANTS ELECTION RECOUNT - Georgia's opposition has announced a "national disobedience campaign", warning it will block major roads. About 20,000 opponents of President Mikhail Saakashvili have gathered outside Georgia's parliament. One of their leaders, Kakha Kukava, said that "as of 6pm today (1400 GMT) the protesters will block main streets throughout Tbilisi", the capital. Earlier, Mr Saakashvili rejected their call for him to quit, but said he was ready for a dialogue with them. Opposition parties say his main error was to lead the country into war with Russia last year and plunge Georgians into what they call a crisis, but he hit back on Friday, vowing to stay in office until his term ends in 2013. CLICK HERE:Georgians plan mass disobedience

Chisinau, Moldova - MOLDOVAN LEADER WANTS ELECTION RECONT - Moldova's president has called for a full recount of disputed elections, bowing to a key demand of protesters who stormed the parliament on Tuesday. President Vladimir Voronin asked the constitutional court to order a full recount of last Sunday's election, won by the ruling Communist Party. Opposition leaders said the election result was fraudulent. Officials in Moldova and Russia accused Romania of fomenting the riots, but witnesses said they were spontaneous. "I am convinced that a complete recount of votes will become a major argument for maintaining political stability, peace and mutual trust in Moldova," Mr Voronin said in an official statement, quoted by the AFP news agency. CLICK HERE:Moldovan leader wants election recount

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA TO BUY ISRAELI DRONES - Russia has signed a deal to buy Israeli unmanned spy planes to help the country improve its own drones, reports say. The news comes after reports that Moscow was unhappy with the performance of similar Russian aircraft during the conflict last year with Georgia. An industry source in Israel said Russian generals had been impressed with the Israeli drones used by Georgia in the conflict. Reports say the Israeli planes will cost a total of $50m (£35m). Russia's deputy defense minister, Vladimir Popovkin, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the military had signed a contract to buy an unspecified number of pilotless drones. "I was in Israel and even operated one," RIA-Novosti quoted him as saying. CLICK HERE:Russia to buy Israeli drones

London, England - BNP A THREAT TO BRITISH LABOUR PARTY IN EU - The British National Party could pose a major threat to Labour in the upcoming European elections, Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman has said. The BNP "are a bigger threat than they have been before", she told the Independent newspaper in an interview. She also outlined Labour's efforts to counter the BNP ahead of elections for the European Parliament in June. Labour is "focused on the BNP in this election in a way it hasn't been previously," she added. Labour is using the slogan "fairness not fear" in areas where there is heavy BNP activity, instead of its national banner "winning the fight for Britain's future".CLICK HERE:BNP a threat to British Labour Party in EU


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9.04.2009 Tbilisi,Georgia - GEORGIANS RALLY AGAINST PRESIDENT - Thousands of Georgians have gathered outside parliament saying they will not disperse until the president resigns. Protesters, numbering up to 60,000, blamed President Mikhail Saakashvili for defeat against Russia in August's war and said he had stifled democracy. The opposition alleged that dozens of members were arrested before the rally, a claim denied by the government. President Saakashvili urged Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate Georgia". He was speaking at a ceremony in the capital, Tbilisi, to commemorate the day, 20 years ago, when 20 people died as Soviet Red Army troops crushed a popular protest in the same place. CLICK HERE:Georgians rally against president

Manchester / Liverpool, England - UK PM CHALLENGES PAKISTAN ON TERRORISM - Gordon Brown has said Pakistan needs to do more to root out terrorism after police thwarted a suspected al-Qaeda bomb plot in north-west England. He spoke after police were forced to bring forward arrests of 12 suspects, 11 of them Pakistanis, after a security blunder by Britain's anti-terror chief. Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick resigned after he was photographed with clearly visible secret documents. Mr Brown said police had to move early to foil "a very big terrorist plot". The prime minister said he would speak to Pakistan's president to raise concerns about what he termed "increasing" terror links between Pakistan and the UK. CLICK HERE:UK PM challenges Pakistan on terrorism
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: According to reports by usually reliable on-site corespondents, 80% of the population of the Northern Pakistan tribal areas have a family member who has, or has claim to, dual Pakistani and UK nationality.)

City of London, England - G20 POLICE OFFICER SUSPENDED - The officer captured on video apparently pushing a man during the G20 protests in London has been suspended, police have said. Ian Tomlinson, 47, died from a heart attack minutes after the incident on April 1, near the Bank of England. The Metropolitan Police suspended the officer after the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) called for that action to be taken. The IPCC has launched a criminal investigation into the death. Additional footage from Channel 4 News appeared to show him being hit with a baton. A statement from the IPCC said: "The IPCC called for the officer to be suspended. The MPS has now informed us that the officer has been suspended with immediate effect. "Although decisions about suspension are a matter for the Chief Officer of the police, when there is an IPCC investigation, the police are obliged to consult with us over the suspension of officers. "In this case, we have expressed the view that the officer in question should be suspended from duty, in the public interest." CLICK HERE:G20 police officer suspended

Brussels, Belgium - EU TARGETS YOUNG VOTERS ON MTV - A new survey suggests 53% of Europeans are not interested in the elections. The latest Eurobarometer opinion poll, conducted by the European Commission, concluded that "interest in the elections is not increasing". It surveyed 27,218 Europeans in mid-January to mid-February. In the UK, 30% of respondents said they would definitely not vote - far more than in other EU member states. The next largest "definitely not" group was in Poland - 19%. The EU average in that category was 15%. About 1,000 people are polled in each member state in the standard Eurobarometer surveys, conducted twice-yearly. In the first European elections, in 1979, voter turnout was 63%, but it has declined steadily. In 2004 it was 45.7%. The European Commission is spending 1.9m euros (£1.7m; $2.5m) on the election ads broadcast by MTV Networks, which include Music Television (MTV), VH1, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. MTV channels are broadcasting three TV spots showing young people hanging loudspeakers in London, Paris and Rome. MTV is also inviting young people to take part in a "roaring sound wave" across Europe on 30 April, when they will all shout "Can you hear me Europe?" "Young people are the future of the European Union. We need their ideas and their active involvement. They need to know that their voice counts," said Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom. CLICK HERE:EU targets young voters on MTV


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8.04.2009 Chisnau, Moldova - ROMANIA BLAMED OVER MOLDOVA RIOTS - Moldova's president has accused neighboring Romania of stoking the protests that erupted into violence in the capital Chisinau on Tuesday. Romania has rejected the accusation as a "provocation". Thousands of young protesters thronged Chisinau, fighting police and ransacking parliament, in protest at the results of Sunday's election. Official results gave the ruling Communists about 50% of the vote in the Romanian- speaking ex-Soviet republic. International observers said the vote appeared to have been fair, though one told the BBC she had her doubts. "Some of my colleagues went in and later said they smashed everything and put the president's chair and portrait on fire," Alina Martiniuc a resident of Chisinau said. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, a Communist, was quoted by Russian agency Interfax saying: "We know that certain political forces in Romania are behind this unrest. The Romanian flags fixed on the government buildings in Chisinau attest to this." He ordered that Romania's ambassador be expelled, recalled the Moldovan envoy from Bucharest, and said Romanians would in future need visas to cross into Moldova. Earlier the president described the violence as "a coup d'etat". CLICK HERE:Romania blamed over Moldova riots

Manchester / Liverpool, England - ANTI-TERRORIST RAIDS FOLLOW FILES BLUNDER - Twelve men have been arrested in the north west of England after Britain's most senior counter-terrorism police officer sparked a security alert. Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick said he "deeply regretted" revealing a secret document to photographers when he arrived for a briefing at No 10. The document, clearly marked "secret", carried an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terrorism operation. The 12 suspects were later arrested at locations across north-west England. It is understood the raids at eight addresses took place sooner than planned due to the documents being revealed. Opposition MPs were swift to criticize Mr Quick, with the Liberal Democrats describing him as "accident prone" and the Conservatives condemning his "extraordinary and very alarming" lapse of judgement. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made no comment about Mr Quick's mistake. Instead, she praised police for their professionalism. "The decision to take such action was an operational matter for the police and the security service but the Prime Minister and I were kept fully appraised of developments," she added. "Word spread that one of the men might have had a bomb and some people started to panic" student Daniel Taylor said. ...Some hours after the Downing Street incident, two men outside the main library at Liverpool John Moores University were arrested by armed officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit. Other students said they heard police shouting at the two suspects, then saw them lying face down on the floor. Witnesses said they were advised over the library loudspeaker to stay away from the windows for their own safety. Journalism student Daniel Taylor said: "I saw a man on the floor. Police were shouting at him and one of the officers had what looked like a machine gun pointed right into his head." Police wearing blue plastic gloves were searching the man, along with a second man nearby, and both appeared to be "ordinary students", Mr Taylor said. Ten of those arrested are Pakistan-born nationals on student visas and one is a UK-born British national. Their ages are not entirely known but range between a teenager who is in his mid-to-late teens and a 41-year-old man. Greater Manchester Police said several hundred officers were involved in the operation, including armed officers during some of the arrests. Four addresses in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, including an internet cafe, are being searched. Three premises are being searched in Merseyside, plus a guest house in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Witnesses said two men were taken from the cafe after police arrived. Mesu Raza, who lives in a flat above the Cheetham Hill cafe, said: "I saw police arrest two people and put them in a police van. They had handcuffs on, they were Asian men, and the police were armed. HERE:Anti-terrorist raids follow files blunder


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7.04.2009 Chisinau, Moldova - MOLDOVAN STUDENTS RAID PARLIAMENT - Demonstrators in Moldova have attacked the country's parliament in protest at the victory of the governing Communist Party in Sunday's general election. Witnesses say crowds poured into the building, smashing windows and setting light to furniture. Police said a woman died from carbon monoxide poisoning after inhaling fumes in a blaze, state television reported. President Vladimir Voronin urged an end to "destabilization", but opposition leaders have backed the protests. They say the election result was fraudulent. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged all sides in the former Soviet state to refrain from violence, and Russia also voiced its concern. Communist Party leader Mr Voronin, who will step down as president this month after two terms in office, told ministers there was "no evidence of any irregularities during the election". "Appealing against the election's outcome is merely a pretext," he said during a televized cabinet meeting. CLICK HERE:Moldovan students raid parliament

Ankara, Turkey - OBAMA PLEDGES NEW US ENGAGEMENT - US President Barack Obama has ended his European tour by saying he is committed to opening a "new chapter in American engagement" with the Muslim world. In an address to students in Istanbul, he said Americans and Muslims could no longer "afford to talk past one another and focus only on our differences". Mr Obama earlier met religious leaders and visited the famous Blue Mosque. On Monday, the president told the Turkish parliament that the US was "not and will never be at war with Islam".CLICK HERE:Obama pledges new US engagement

Dubln, Republic Ireland - DUBLIN UNVEILS EMERGENCY BUDGET - The Irish Republic has unveiled its second budget in six months to deal with its rapidly contracting economy. The emergency budget includes a large rise in taxes and a cut in spending, to deal with Ireland's budget deficit. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan also said an independent agency would take over banks' bad assets to try and restore lending. His forecast for 2009 was also revised down sharply. He expects it to contract by 8% this year, down from 3% in 2008. Dublin is having to deal with a deepening recession while being forced to correct the worst deficit in Europe. CLICK HERE:Dublin unveils emergency budget

Moscow, Russia - PUTIN ALLEGEDLY EARNS MORE THAN MEDVEDEV - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earns 11% more than President Dmitry Medvedev, statements released as part of an anti-corruption drive show. Mr Putin earned 4.6m roubles ($137,000; £93,000) in 2008. His assets included a large plot of land and a share in a garage "equivalent to a car space". Mr Medvedev meanwhile took home 4.14m roubles and co-owns a Moscow apartment of almost 400 sq m (4,300 sq ft). Senior officials have been forced to disclose their income since December, but the new legislation does not force Russian bureaucrats to disclose the income of any grown-up children or relatives. No agency has been tasked with establishing whether the declarations are true. Russia is among the countries which have not signed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's convention against bribery and is frequently criticised by anti-corruption watchdogs. Critics of Mr Putin have accused him of being one of Russia's richest men, but declarations of his wealth published on the prime minister's website on Monday suggest he is of more modest means. The income from his principal employment during 2008 totalled 4.6m roubles, while his military pension amounted to 100,600 roubles. The declaration also showed he owned an apartment of 77 sq m in St Petersburg, a garage, two classic cars and a trailer. Though he earns less, Mr Medvedev has a much larger apartment, a 368 sq m residence in Moscow, which he owns jointly with his wife, Svetlana. They also have bank deposits totalling just less than 3m roubles and 4,700 sq m of land. Mrs Medvedev also owns a Volkswagen Golf and two parking places. CLICK HERE:Putin allegedly earns more than Medvedev


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6.04.2009 L'Aquila, Italy - SEARCH FOR SURVIVORS OF ITALY'S EARTHQUAKE - A desperate search for survivors is on in and around the Italian city of L'Aquila after a quake killed at least 150 people, according to Italian media. Some 5,000 rescuers are picking through rubble in the walled medieval city and nearby towns and villages, some of them said to have been virtually destroyed. Tents are being put up in tennis courts and on football pitches to house some of the 30,000-40,000 homeless. The number of people injured has been put at 1,500. Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi declared a state of emergency in the region. CLICK HERE:Search for survivors of Italy's earthquake

Ankara, Turkey - BARACK OBAMA REACHES OUT TO THE MUSLIM WORLD - Barack Obama has declared that the US "is not at war with Islam", in a major speech during his first visit as president to a mainly Muslim country. Addressing the Turkish parliament, Mr Obama called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world and said the US would soon launch outreach programs. "America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaeda," he said. Mr Obama also said Washington supported Turkey's efforts to join the EU. Earlier, at a news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, he urged Turkey to help bridge the gap between the Muslim and Western worlds. CLICK HERE:Barack Obama reaches out the the Muslim world

Grenoble, France - ETA BOMB FACTORY REVEALED IN FRANCE - French police have seized hundreds of kilos of bomb-making ingredients in a garage in the south-eastern city of Grenoble, officials have said. Police suspect the cache of at least 300kg (660lb) of ammonium nitrate and other explosive substances may belong to the Basque separatist group, Eta. The chemicals were found by chance on Sunday by the owner of the garage. Eta is blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people in its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. Last week, a court in Paris sentenced a Spanish woman to 14 years in prison after finding her guilty of running a cell based in France that identified targets for the group. The owner of the garage in Grenoble said he had decided to break open its lock at the weekend because he had not received any rent in three months. "I found some bags, I opened one of them which contained white powder and straight away I informed the police," he told the AFP news agency. He said he had advertised the garage on the internet and that he had met the tenant only once, when he signed the lease in December. Police said they believe the tenant gave a false name. In 2007, a similar cache of potentially explosive substances were discovered in an Eta base in the southern French town of Cahors. CLICK HERE:Eta bomb factory revealed in France

Brussels, Belgium - NET PROVIDERS BEGIN SAVING EMAIL AND NET CALL ADDRESSES - Details of user e-mails and net phone calls will be stored by internet service providers (ISPs) from Monday under an EU directive. The plans were drawn up in the wake of the London bombings in 2005. ISPs and telecoms firms have resisted the proposals while some countries in the EU are contesting the directive. Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, said it was a "crazy directive" with potentially dangerous repercussions for citizens. All ISPs in the European Union will have to store the records for a year. An EU directive which requires telecoms firms to hold on to telephone records for 12 months is already in force. The data stored does not include the content of e-mails or a recording of a net phone call, but is used to determine connections between individuals. Authorities can get access to the stored records with a warrant. Governments across the EU have now started to implement the directive into their own national legislation. CLICK HERE:Net providers begin saving e-mail and net call addresses


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5.04.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - OBAMA PROMOTES NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD - Barack Obama has outlined his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons in a major speech in Europe. The US president called for a global summit on nuclear security and the forging of new partnerships to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. He said he hoped to negotiate a new treaty to end the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. North Korea's "provocative" rocket launch earlier in the day underscored the need for action, he said. Although his nuclear goals might not be realised in his lifetime, he said he would strive to achieve them. Mr Obama said that as long as Iran continued to pose a potential nuclear threat, the US would continue to work on a controversial missile defence shield, parts of which would be stationed in Poland and the Czech Republic. He was speaking ahead of a meeting with EU leaders in the Czech capital, Prague, hours after North Korea launched a rocket despite international warnings. Mr Obama condemned the launch: "Now is the time for a strong international response," he said. "North Korea must know that the path to security and respect will never come through threats and illegal weapons." Speaking to a 20,000-strong crowd in front of Prague's historic castle, Mr Obama said the US had a moral responsibility to act in ridding the world of nuclear weapons. CLICK HERE:Obama promotes nulear-free world

Skopje, Macedonia - MACEDONIA VOTES FOR NEW PRESIDENT - The people of the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia are voting in the final round of a presidential election. The run-off pits frontrunner Gjorgje Ivanov from the governing party VMRO-DPMNE against Ljubomir Frckoski from the main opposition party, the SDSM. President Branko Crvenkovski is not seeking a second term. Some 1.8m people are eligible to vote in the election. The vote is considered to be important in helping to move the country towards European Union and Nato membership. Both organizations have said progress towards membership will depend on Sunday's election meeting international standards. A parliamentary vote last year was marred by violence, with one person being shot dead and several others wounded in an ethnic Albanian area. CLICK HERE:Macedonia votes for new president

Dubai, UAE - LEADING CHECHEN ALLEGEDLY BEHIND GULF MURDER - The authorities in Dubai have accused a senior Chechen official of being behind the apparent killing of a rival of the restive Russian republic's president. Police said Sulim Yamadayev was assassinated, but there is confusion over whether he actually died. Two suspects were arrested, one of whom implicated Chechen Deputy PM Adam Delimkhanov, say police. Mr Yamadayev was once close to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov but fell out with him last year and fled Russia. "The deputy prime minister of Chechnya is wanted by the justice system of the UAE [United Arab Emirates] and six people are suspected of involvement in the murder," Dubai police said in a statement. "The crime ... is 100 percent of Chechen making and it's an operation of settling accounts." They said Mr Yamadayev, who had been in Dubai on a Russian passport issued in the name of Sulaiman Madov, died instantly in the shooting in a car park outside his apartment on March.28. CLICK HERE:Leading Chechen allegedly behind Gulf murder


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4.04.2009 Kehl, Germany - DANISH PM RASMUSSEN NEW NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL - Nato has agreed to boost troop numbers to cover the Afghan presidential election in August, outgoing alliance chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said. US President Barack Obama said his alliance partners would deploy about 5,000 troops and trainers "to advance [Washington's] new strategy". The Nato 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg picked Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen as new secretary-general. Anti-Nato protesters fought police and set buildings alight in the city. They set a hotel and a customs house on fire and three columns of smoke could be seen rising over the Europe Bridge area of the French city, across from the small town of Kehl in Germany, where part of the summit was held. At least 25 people were arrested, adding to dozens detained in the run-up to the gathering. Between 10,000 and 30,000 demonstrators were involved in the anti-Nato protests, according to French news agency AFP. CLICK HERE:Danish PM Rasmussen new NATO secreatry-general

London, England - A senior British judge has accused the European Court of Human Rights of going beyond its jurisdiction and trying to create a "federal law of Europe". Lord Hoffmann, the second most senior Law Lord, said the Strasbourg court had imposed "uniform rules" on states. The judge said rulings that had gone against domestic decisions were "teaching grandmothers to suck eggs". He said he supported the European Convention on Human Rights but not the institution that applies the law. In a lecture to fellow judges, published this week, Lord Hoffmann said the European Court in Strasbourg had been unable to resist the temptation to "aggrandize its jurisdiction" by laying down a "federal law of Europe". The court should not be allowed to intervene in the detail of domestic law, he said. Lord Hoffmann, who is due to retire, added that this had led to the court being "overwhelmed" by a growing backlog of 100,000 cases. The court's president, Jean-Paul Costa, said earlier this year there was a risk of "saturation" unless measures were agreed to reduce the caseload. The European Court of Human Rights aims to apply and to protect the civil and political rights of the continent's citizens. The court, set up in 1959 in the French city of Strasbourg, considers cases brought by individuals, organizations and states against the countries bound by the European Convention on Human Rights, which are all European nations except Belarus. In 1989 Lord Hoffmann had a decision of his overturned, after he controversially ordered freelance journalist Bill Goodwin to reveal the sources of an unpublished article for The Engineer magazine. Over a period of seven years the case went all the way to the European Court for Human Rights, where it was eventually thrown out. South African-born Lord Hoffmann also attracted controversy for his role in the extradition proceedings against General Augusto Pinochet. The judge had contributed to a decision that the former Chilean leader could be arrested and extradited for crimes against humanity, without emphasizing his links to human rights group Amnesty International. He was serving as an unpaid director of the charity, and his wife Gillian was a long-serving administrative assistant at Amnesty's London office. The case led to an unprecedented setting aside of the original House of Lords judgement. CLICK HERE:Senior UK judge criticizes European Court of Human Rights
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: For a start, it would do much for English law, if it would cease being an organization in which gentiles and agnostics are largely excluded. For centuries there were historical reasons for this, but they no longer apply. The introduction of Sharia principles into English divorce and family law has certainly not resulted in increasing respect for the law. The greatest source of criticism of English law lies in the derisively lenient sentences handed down to those convicted of murder and other crimes of violence against the person.)


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3.04.2009 Strasbourg, France - OBAMA UNDERLINES AL-QAEDA THREAT - President Barack Obama has urged better use of Nato resources in Afghanistan, saying al-Qaeda is a greater threat to Europe than to the US. Speaking before a Nato summit co-hosted by France and Germany, he said the US wanted to see a stronger Europe. However, Nato's secretary general said members would be reluctant to send more troops if Afghanistan adopted a new law seen as violating the rights of women. A massive French-German security operation is in place for the summit. The two-day summit marks the 60th anniversary of Nato. After talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday, Mr Obama said they had discussed Afghanistan. "It's not just a matter of more resources, but more effectively using the resources we have," Mr Obama said. He thanked France for leadership regarding Afghanistan. "France recognises that having al-Qaeda operate safe havens that can be used to launch attacks is a threat not just to the United States but to Europe. "In fact it is probably more likely that al-Qaeda would be able to launch a serious terrorist attack in Europe than in the United States because of proximity. "This is not an American mission, this is a Nato mission, this is an international mission." Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered a temporary increase in British troops serving in Afghanistan. The UK currently has 8,300 soldiers in the country, the second-largest international contingent troops outside the US. CLICK HERE:Obama u nderlines Al-Qaeda threat

Kiev, Ukraine - UKRAINE OPPOSITION STAGES PROTEST - Thousands of people have turned out in the centre of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to demonstrate against their country's pro-Western government. The protest, attended by up to 20,000 people, was led by former PM and opposition head Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine has been hit hard by the global economic crisis. But the government has been paralysed, unable to pass measures to deal with its effects. Earlier this week, Ukraine's parliament voted to hold presidential polls early. It agreed to schedule elections on October 25, ahead of the previously expected date of January 2010, the end of President Viktor Yushchenko's term. Mr Yushchenko said on Friday he was prepared to consider holding joint presidential and parliamentary polls in October. CLICK HERE:Ukraine opposition stages protest


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2.04.2009 London, England - G20 leaders seal $1 TRILLION DEAL - Leaders of the world's largest economies have reached an agreement to tackle the global financial crisis with measures worth $1.1 trillion (£681bn). To help countries with troubled economies, the resources available to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be tripled to $750bn. There will also be sanctions against secretive tax havens and tougher global financial regulation, and the G20 has committed about $250bn to boost global trade. President Barack Obama said the summit could mark a "turning point" in the pursuit of economic recovery and made progress in reforming a "failed regulatory system". New funding pledges: $500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies; $250bn to boost world trade; $250bn for a new IMF "overdraft facility" countries can draw on; $100bn that international development banks can lend to poorest countries; IMF will raise $6bn from selling gold reserves to increase lending for the poorest countries. CLICK HERE:G 20 leaders seal $1 trillion deal

Srasbourg, France - PROTESTER CLASHES AT NATO SUMMIT VENUE - Police have clashed with hundreds of anti-Nato protesters in Strasbourg, firing tear gas to stop a crowd getting to the city center, reports say. Masked protesters smashed bus shelters and set fire to garbage containers. AFP reported around 100 arrests. Security has been high in Strasbourg and across the German border in preparation for the summit. Some 25,000 police are on duty to control the tens of thousands of protesters expected to attend. Groups of youths, many wearing hoods or scarves, walked through a suburb of the city carrying banners saying: "Stop repression in London and Strasbourg". Bus stops and vehicles were vandalized, shop windows smashed and a barricade put up on one street. One protester rammed a pole through the front window of a police vehicle. A passenger in the car appeared to be holding a handgun as it quickly reversed. In a separate incident, AFP reported that a German photographer had been taken to hospital after being injured in the abdomen by a rubber bullet. An eyewitness who asked not to be named told the BBC that riot vans and water cannon had seen heading towards the protesters' official camp in Ganzau, south of the city. Leaders of Nato member states are due in the city on Friday for the alliance's 60th-anniversary summit. France last month announced it would be fully re-integrated into Nato. For decades it has stood at a distance from the alliance, taking part in military operations but not in its central planning and decision-making. CLICK HERE:Protester clashes at NATO summit venue

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA MAY OFFER US AFGHAN ACCESS - Russia has agreed to discuss the transit of American military supplies to Afghanistan across its territory. The foreign ministry in Moscow said Russia was ready to co-operate if asked by the US. Last month, Russia began allowing the movement of non-lethal supplies to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. The new offer of discussions comes a day after Russia and the US agreed to resume negotiations on reducing their nuclear arsenals. Washington has been seeking alternative supply routes into Afghanistan since militants in Pakistan stepped up attacks on shipments moving by road. Kyrgyzstan has also decided to close the Manas US air base on its territory, further limiting the US's options. Following a decision to let several Nato countries transport supplies via Russia, foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said: "Russia has expressed its readiness more than once to co-operate on these issues, including with the United States," AFP news agency reported. CLICK HERE:Russia may offer US Afghan access

Athens, Greece - GREEK STRIKERS IN ANGRY PROTESTS - Tens of thousands of people have joined protests in Greece's major cities during a strike against the government's economic policies. The country's two biggest unions led marchers through the centre of Athens, chanting slogans against spending cuts. The strike disrupted flights and led to banks and schools being closed. Trying to tackle a big public finance deficit the government has frozen state wages and raised taxes, but protesters are angry at a big bail-out for banks. The conservative government of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis announced a 28bn euro (£26bn) bank support package in January, but has said it cannot afford to give substantial relief to the poor. Public sector wages have been frozen and high-earners face increased tax bills. CLICK HERE:Greek strikers in anry protests

Berlin, Germany - TRADE-INS HELP GERMAN AUTO SALES - German auto sales soared 40% in March compared with the same time a year ago, with a spate of buying encouraged by a trade-in plan to scrap old cars. The VDA automobile federation said sales in March hit 401,000 vehicles. In Germany, drivers get 2,500 euros (£2,220; $3,170) for trading in a car more than nine years old. The scheme will be phased out by the end of 2009. The figures come a day after the US auto industry's monthly sales were 45% down on this time last year. CLICK HERE:Trade-ins help German auto sales


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1.04.2009 London, England - FRANCE DEMANDS TOUGHER G20 RULES - France and Germany have called for tougher regulation for the world's financial system at the G20 summit. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has threatened to walk out of the meeting, said that new financial regulation was a "non-negotiable goal". In London's financial district, police and protesters have clashed and 26 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have met the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The G20 leaders have begun arriving at a state dinner at Downing Street, where they will start to hammer out a final agreement CLICK HERE:France demands tougher G20 rules
Peterhead, Scotland - EIGHT DEAD IN HELICOPTER CRASH - At least eight people have died after a helicopter with 16 people on board crashed into the North Sea. A major search was launched after the Bond Super Puma came down about 15 miles off Peterhead on the Aberdeenshire coast, at about 1400 BST. Police later said eight bodies had been recovered and the eight others were still missing. The crashed helicopter was returning from BP's Miller field, 168 miles north east of Aberdeen. RAF spokesman Michael Mulford said three helicopters and a Nimrod had been sent to the scene. CLICK HERE:Eight killed in helicopter crash

London, England - US AND RUSSIA RESUME NUCLEAR TALKS - Russia and the US are to reopen negotiations about reducing their nuclear warheads, presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama have said. The discussions will be the first such talks for more than a decade. Mr Obama said earlier there were very real differences between Washington and Moscow, but that there was also a broad set of common interests. The announcement came on the fringes of the G20 summit of world leaders which is convening in London. Mr Medvedev has invited his American counterpart to visit Moscow in July, an invitation Mr Obama has accepted. Russia and the US have also agreed to discuss "mutual international co-operation", the two presidents said. After their meeting, Mr Medvedev said he viewed prospects for future bilateral relations "with optimism". CLICK HERE:US and Russia resume nuclear talks

Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain - SPANISH POLITICAL RIVALS SECURE BASQUE DEAL - The northern region of Spain is to have its first non-nationalist government in three decades. Spain's governing Socialist Party (PSE) has signed a deal to form a regional administration with the opposition Popular Party (PP). They have pledged to support Basque culture and increase funds to tackle the militant separatist group, Eta. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) lost office after failing to win an absolute majority in last month's elections. This enabled the PSE, which came second, and the Conservative PP to lay aside their disagreements and form an informal coalition. The deal will mean that, for the first time since the 1970s, the Basque Country will be run by a government which fully supports it remaining part of Spain.CLICK HERE:Spanish political rivals secure Basque deal

London, England - ENGLISH JUSTICE? - TWO CONVICTS TO BE FREED AFTER INNOCENT MAN MURDERED -A man and a woman have been jailed over the death of an innocent shopper in a queue-jumping row in south London. Antonette Richardson was jailed for 18 months and ex-boyfriend Tony Virasami received four years for manslaughter. Southwark Crown Court heard she called him to a Sainsbury's store in Merton where he hit Kevin Tripp, a bystander who had nothing to do with the dispute. Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said the sentences reflected the "shock and concern felt by the public at large". Outside court Mr Tripp's partner Josie James said: "It's not long enough. They took Kevin's life." Father-of-one Mr Tripp, 57, from Colliers Wood, south-west London, died when the "almighty blow" caused him to fall and fracture his skull, causing bleeding on the brain. CLICK HERE:English justice? - Two convicts to be freed afer innocent man murdered

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ATTACKED - A Russian human rights advocate and government critic has been badly beaten up in the capital, Moscow. Lev Ponomaryov, leader of the For Human Rights group, was attacked outside his home and was briefly hospitalised. "They hit me from behind. I fell on the ground. Two or three people began beating me," he told Russian TV. Human rights activists say the attack illustrated the dangerous atmosphere in Russia, where those who speak out are at risk of being beaten or killed. Ludmila Alexeyeva of the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG), another human rights group, said Mr Ponomaryov had an active role in the newly established Solidarity opposition movement. After the attack on Tuesday night, Mr Ponomaryov told RenTV: "They were kicking me, trying to hit my head and chest. I covered myself, as they teach you to do in films, and screamed, very loudly." CLICK HERE:Russian rights activist attacked

London, England - POLICE CLASH WITH G20 PROTESTERS - Protesters stormed a London office of the Royal Bank of Scotland as thousands of people descended on the City ahead of the G20 summit of world leaders. Demonstrators launched missiles and forced their way into the bank after clashes with police in the capital. A branch of HSBC also had windows broken. Twenty- two people were arrested and some police and protesters injured. Climate change activists have pitched tents in the street, while anti-war campaigners are holding a rally. CLICK HERE:Police clash with G20 protesters

St Petersburg, Russia - LENIN'S REAR BOMBED - One of Russia's most famous statues of Vladimir Lenin has been bombed, leaving the Bolshevik revolutionary with a gaping hole in his rear. The bronze statue, in the city of St Petersburg, was badly damaged before dawn on Wednesday, when the blast blew a hole in Lenin's coat. No-one was hurt in the attack, the motive for which was unknown. The statue, outside the Finland Station, marks the Bolshevik leader's return from exile in April 1917. "Today at 0430 [0030 GMT] there was an explosion at the Lenin monument at the Finland Station in the city center," a spokesman for the Saint Petersburg branch of the Russian emergency situations ministry told the AFP news agency. "As a result of the explosion a crater of 80-100cm [31-39in] appeared on the monument," he added. Lenin gave a speech at the railway station after his return from exile.CLICK HERE:Lenin's rear bombed


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31.03.2009 Lampedusa, Italy - HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS FEARED DROWNEDD - More than 200 African migrants are feared dead after their boat sank off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says. The boat carrying around 250 people is reported to have capsized 50km (30 miles) north of the Libyan coast in stormy seas and high winds. Libyan officials say 21 people are confirmed dead and 23 rescued. A second boat with around 350 migrants was rescued, an official from the IOM told the Associated Press news agency. The IOM's Laurence Hart said the rescued boat and all of its passengers were now safely back in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. CLICK HERE:Hundreds of migrants feared drowned

Paris, France - POSSIBLE FRENCH DISCONNECTION AT G20 - France will walk away from this week's G20 summit if its demands for stricter financial regulation are not met, the finance minister has told the BBC. Christine Lagarde told Hardtalk that President Nicolas Sarkozy would not sign any agreement if he felt "the deliverables are not there". Strengthening financial regulation will be one of the key issues at the G20. France wants a stronger global financial regulator than the US and the UK would like. If France were to leave the summit, it would be a blow to both UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President Barack Obama. Both men have spoken of their high hopes for the meeting to stimulate international recovery. "Leaders meeting in London must supply the oxygen of confidence to today's global economy and give people in all of our countries renewed hope for the future," Mr Brown said. President Obama is due to arrive in London for the summit later. It will be his first visit to Europe since he became president.CLICK HERE:Possible French disconnection at G20

Berlin, Germany - GERMANY BANS NEO-NAZI YOUTH GROUP - The German interior ministry has banned a far-right group for allegedly organizing activities promoting racist and Nazi ideology among young children. The Homeland-Faithful German Youth (HDJ) taught children as young as six that foreigners and Jews were a threat to the "German nation", officials said. Police have also raided the offices and houses of the group's leaders in four states in connection with the ban. The HDJ said it was a "youth group for environment, community and homeland", but at its special holiday camps, children were taught elements of "racial ideology", including the "purity of blood" and "the continuation of the German race", with the aim of forming a neo-Nazi elite, the interior ministry said. "With today's ban we're putting an end to the nauseating activities of the HDJ," Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said. CLICK HERE:

Brussels, Belgium - EU PRESSES FOR WEB-USERS' PRIVACY - The European Union has told internet companies to make better efforts to protect i nformation they are given by consumers, or face tougher regulation. Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva told leading e-commerce and internet search firms that standards of privacy are "not satisfactory". "Basic consumer rights in terms of transparency, control and risk are being violated," she said. Internet firms say they have recently taken action to protect users' data. The technology used by internet companies to profile customers is becoming so sophisticated that more confidential personal information is being recorded than consumer watchdogs believe is necessary. CLICK HERE:EU presses for web-users' privacy


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30.03.2009 Plymouth, England - FAKE GUNS UNCOVERED IN PROTESTOR'S HOME - An imitation Kalashnikov rifle and fireworks have been seized by police investigating alleged terrorism in connection with the G20 summit. Three men aged 25, 19 and 16 and two women of 20, from the Plymouth area in Devon, were held after the 25 year old was seen allegedly spraying graffiti. A number of imitation weapons were seized in searches of several premises. Further items were seized from an address in the city center on Monday evening. Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton said the weapons were "not major" and "probably not even lethal". The arrests were an "isolated incident" and local people were not at risk. The arrested people have not been linked to any religious group. ACC Netherton said the weapons included imitation handguns and a Kalashnikov, as well as fireworks. No ammunition for the guns was found. Detectives are investigating the possibility those arrested were planning to mount protests in London against the G20 summit of world leaders. All five people are being held under the Terrorism Act. The arrests were made after the 25-year-old man was arrested in Plymouth on the evening of 27 March for allegedly spraying graffiti on a wall. ACC Netherton said: "He was arrested and then the officer went back to this man's house and carried out a search. "When he was searching the house he came across imitation firearms and also some devices which had basically been made from fireworks. "And also he found some politically sensitive material and things like that." He said the operation has no connection to failed suicide bomber Nicky Reilly, 22, who was jailed for 18 years earlier this year. The Muslim convert, who lived with his mother in Plymouth, attempted a nail bomb attack on a restaurant in Exeter. CLICK HERE:Fake guns uncovered in protestor's home

Strasbourg, France - SLOVENIA CLEARS CROATIA's NATO ENTRY -Slovenia has at the last minute cleared the way for its neighbor Croatia to join Nato later this week. Croatia's accession had been threatened by a Slovene nationalist group, angry over a continuing border dispute. The group had hoped to force a referendum on whether Slovenia should block Croatia's entry - but failed to gather enough signatures. Croatia, along with Albania, is now set to join the alliance at a summit in Strasbourg later this week. The Slovene problem has been resolved, a senior Nato diplomat announced with obvious relief. Nato will mark its 60th birthday at the Strasbourg summit with a symbolic expansion into a region which which only a decade ago was at war, but tensions between Croatia and Slovenia remain. CLICK HERE:CSlovenia clears Croatia's NATO entry

Ankara, Turkey - TURKISH PM WINS LOCAL ELECTIONS WITH MAJORITY BUT REDUCED PERCENTAGE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party has won local elections by a wide majority - but nevertheless suffered a significant fall in support. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) won about 39% of the vote, according to unconfirmed results - down from the 47% general election landslide of 2007. "This is a message from the people and we will take the necessary lessons," said a sombre Mr Erdogan. At least five people were reportedly killed in election-related violence. The deaths came in the predominantly Kurdish east of the country, as supporters of rival candidates for a non-party position of village chief fought armed battles. CLICK HERE:Turkish PM wins local elections with majority but reduced percentage

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - PROMINENT CHECHEN KILLED IN DUBAI - The Russian authorities have confirmed a prominent opponent of the pro-Kremlin Chechen President, Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot dead in Dubai on Saturday. Diplomats said Sulim Yamadayev's body had been identified by his relatives. Mr Yamadayev fell out with Mr Kadyrov last year and was sacked as commander of an elite security forces battalion. Saturday's killing is the fourth of a prominent Chechen since September, when Mr Yamadayev's brother Ruslan was shot dead while driving in central Moscow. The Chechen leader has denied any involvement in the killings. CLICK HERE:Prominent Chechen killed in Dubai


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29.03.2009 Toronto, Canada - MAJOR CYBER SPY NETWORK UNCOVERED - An electronic spy network, based mainly in China, has infiltrated computers from government offices around the world, Canadian researchers say. They said the network had infiltrated 1,295 computers in 103 countries. They included computers belonging to foreign ministries and embassies and those linked with the Dalai Lama - Tibet's spiritual leader. There is no conclusive evidence China's government was behind it, researchers say. Beijing also denied involvement. The report, Tracking GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network, comes after a 10-month investigation by the Information Warfare Monitor (IWM), which comprises researchers from Ottawa-based think tank SecDev Group and the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies. They were acting on a request from the Tibetan spiritual leader's office to check whether the computers of his Tibetan exile network had been infiltrated. Researchers found that ministries of foreign affairs of Iran, Bangladesh, Latvia, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Barbados and Bhutan appear to had been targeted. Hacked systems were also discovered in the embassies of India, South Korea, Indonesia, Romania, Cyprus, Malta, Thailand, Taiwan, Portugal, Germany and Pakistan. Analysts say the attacks are in effect industrial espionage, with hackers showing an interest in the activities of lawmakers and major companies. The researchers said hackers were apparently able to take control of computers belonging to several foreign ministries and embassies across the world using malicious software, or malware. "We uncovered real-time evidence of malware that had penetrated Tibetan computer systems, extracting sensitive documents from the private office of the Dalai Lama," investigator Greg Walton was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying. They say they believe the system, which they called GhostNet, was focused on governments in Asia. By installing malware on compromised computers, hackers were able to take control of them to send and receive classified data. In this case, the software also gave hackers the ability to use audio and video recording devices to monitor the rooms the computers were in. But investigators said they did not know whether or not this element had been used. According to the New York Times, the spying operation is the largest to have been uncovered in terms of the number of countries affected. In an abstract for a second report released on Sunday by two Cambridge University researchers, entitled The Snooping Dragon: Social Malware Surveillance of the Tibetan Movement, investigators said while such attacks were not new, these particularly stood out for their ability to collect "actionable intelligence for use by the police and security services of a repressive state, with potentially fatal consequences for those exposed". CLICK HERE:Major cyber spy network uncovered

London, England - TORY EUROSCEPTIC DONOR EXPELLED - The Conservative party says it has expelled a multi-millionaire donor who gave £100,000 to UKIP. Spread-betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler had said he was giving the money to UKIP in protest at the Tories' reluctance to talk about the EU. Mr Wheeler, an outspoken eurosceptic, gave £5m to the Conservatives in 2001. He said that he would vote UKIP in European elections in June but that he intended to remain a member of the Conservative party. Stuart Wheeler said he found out he had been expelled by the Conservatives only after hearing the news on the BBC, BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said. Mr Wheeler said the party was entitled to expel him, but stressed he was not a spokesman and should be allowed to express his views. CLICK HERE:Tory eurosceptic donor expelled

London, England - HUSBAND OF UK HOME SECRETARY APOLOGIZES FOR PORNO CLAIM - The Home Secretary's husband has said sorry for embarrassing his wife after two adult films were viewed at their home, then claimed for on expenses. Richard Timney, who is also Jacqui Smith's parliamentary aide, said he understood why people might be angry. Ms Smith said she "mistakenly" claimed for a TV package when billing for a web connection and would repay the cash. Downing Street said she had done the "right thing" by quickly rectifying the "inadvertent mistake". BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said there were rumours "whizzing round Labour's circles" that there may be a Tory mole in the House of Commons fees office, following several leaks. This is the office which processes MPs' allowances claims. The Home Secretary is already under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over her use of the second homes allowance.CLICK HERE:Husband of UK Home Secretary apologizes for porno claim


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28.03.2009 London, England - G20 DEMONSTRATORS MARCH IN ENGLAND - Tens of thousands of people have marched through London demanding action on poverty, climate change and jobs, ahead of next week's G20 summit. The Put People First alliance of 150 charities and unions walked from Embankment to Hyde Park for a rally. Speakers called on G20 leaders to pursue a new kind of global justice. Police estimate 35,000 marchers took part in the event. Its organisers say people wanted the chance to air their views peacefully. Protesters described a "carnival-like atmosphere" with brass bands, piercing whistles and stereos blasting music as the slow-paced procession weaved through the streets. Police said one man was arrested during the march for being drunk and disorderly. CLICK HERE:G20 demonstrators march in London

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA HINTS AT CHECHEN CHANGES - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says life in Chechnya is returning to normal and it might be time to end the security restrictions imposed there. The restrictions have been in force for the past 10 years. They include curfews, road blocks and occasional searches by the security forces for suspected Islamist fighters. "The situation in Chechnya has normalised to a large degree," Mr Medvedev said in a broadcast on state televsision. "We must create new possibilities for investment and employment." He was speaking after talks with the head of the Russian Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov, but while both men spoke in favour of loosening restrictions in Chehcnya, Mr Medvedev also warned that the fight against what he called terrorism would not stop or slow down - an apparent reference to the southern republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan where violence is continuing. CLICK HERE:hints at Chechen changes

Manzanares el Real, Spain - BULLFIGHT REFERENDUM - The residents of a small town in central Spain are taking part in a referendum this weekend to decide whether their annual bullfighting festival should be cancelled, the BBC's Steve Kingstone reports. Like many small towns in Spain, Manzanares el Real considers the annual bull fight to be part of its DNA, but the price of 120,000 euros (£112,000, $160,000) meant the cost of staging the festival this year would eat up a quarter of the municipal budget for culture, sport and social services. In a letter sent to 6,000 homes, the town's mayor said that if the event went ahead it would be at the expense of basic services like street cleaning. Residents have now voted by post on whether to keep, scrap or scale down the event. The votes will be counted over the weekend by a public notary. The mayor has stressed that the referendum is purely a response to the economic crisis and not an objection to bull fighting on ethical grounds. CLICK HERE:Bullfight referendum


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27.03.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA'S ARCTIC MILITARY PLAN - Russia has announced plans to set up a military force to protect its interests in the Arctic. In a document published on its national security council's website, Moscow says it expects the Arctic to become its main resource base by 2020. While the strategy is thought to have been approved in September, it has only now been made public. Moscow's ambitions are likely to cause concern among other countries with claims to the Arctic. The document foresees the Arctic becoming Russia's main source of oil and gas within the next decade. In order to protect its assets, Moscow says one of its main goals will be the establishment of troops "capable of ensuring military security" in the region. With climate change opening up the possibility of making drilling viable in previously inaccessible areas, the Arctic has gained in strategic importance for Russia, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow. However, Russia's arctic ambitions have already put those with competing claims on the defensive. In 2007, a Russian expedition planted a Russian flag on the seabed beneath the North Pole. Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United States, all of whom have an Arctic coastline, dispute the sovereignty over parts of the region. With an estimated 90 billion untapped barrels of oil, Russia's strategy is likely to be scrutinised carefully by its neighbours in the far north.CLICK HERE:Russsia's arctic military plan

Rome, Italy - BERLUSCONI STRENGTHENS COALTION - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is preparing to create a powerful new center-right party called People of Freedom. The three-day founding congress of the bloc will formally fuse Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia with the "post-Fascist" National Alliance of Gianfranco Fini. The coalition will unite two of the three main Italian groups on the right. Mr Fini used to be politically close to the ideology of Italy's wartime Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, but since the end of the 1990s the National Alliance has shifted towards the mainstream of Italian politics and Mr Fini has distanced himself from Mussolini's policies. He dissolved the National Alliance, created in 1995, at a congress on March 22. He is currently Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house. In elections last April Mr Berlusconi, a media tycoon and Italy's richest man, won a third term as prime minister. The People of Freedom (Il Popolo della Liberta) coalition is expected to make the Italians a stronger force in the European Parliament's largest party grouping, the conservative EPP-ED, after the June European elections. CLICK HERE:Berlusconi strengthens coalition


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26.03.2009 Strasbourg, France - EU WARNS SPAIN OVER LAND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES - The European Parliament has voted in favor of a report criticizing Spanish property laws. The report says Spanish legislation allowing developers to acquire private land below market rates breaches the European Convention on Human Rights. MEPs were acting on complaints from Britons and other homeowners who feared their homes might be bulldozed. MEPs say they hope the vote will increase pressure on the Spanish government to change its laws. The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to freeze hundreds of millions of euros in Spain's EU funding if the Spanish government does not tackle what the parliament condemned as "extensive urbanization" practices. In a full vote in Strasbourg on Thursday, 349 MEPs voted in favor, 114 abstained and 110 cast their vote against the report by the Danish Green Party MEP Margrete Auken. MEPs from the Spanish conservative PP party were among those who voted against the report while those from the governing Socialist Party abstained. The report was drafted after more than 100 petitions by thousands of expatriates living in Spain complaining of breaches of their land-ownership rights were sent to the EU's petitions committee. One of the main campaigners behind the case, Canadian expat Charles Svoboda, says local and regional governments often rubber-stamp planning applications submitted by developers. CLICK HERE:EU warns Spain over land development practices

London, England - POLICE TO INVESTIGATE TORTURE CLAIMS - Police are to investigate whether an MI5 officer was complicit in the torture of ex-Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed. The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, said the probe would be "the appropriate course of action". Mr Mohamed, 30, a UK resident, said MI5 had prolonged his detention and torture while he was being held in Morocco. The MI5 agent who questioned him has denied threatening or putting any pressure on Mr Mohamed. Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed says he was tortured while in US custody in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, with the complicity of MI5. He says that in Morocco in 2002, he was mistreated by local officers who asked him questions supplied by British intelligence.CLICK HERE:Police to investigate torture claims

Dublin, Ireland - RECORD DECLINE IN IRISH ECONOMY - Irish Republic's economy has suffered its largest contraction in recent decades. The economy shrank by 7.5% in the last three months of 2008 compared with the same period a year earlier, the official statistics office said. The construction industry, which has faced a housing market slump, suffered a 24% fall in output, the biggest fall on record. In the whole of 2008 the economy shrank by 2.3%, the first decline since 1983. Once known as the Celtic Tiger due to the strong growth it enjoyed, Ireland has experienced a sharp downturn, becoming the first eurozone country to fall into recession in 2008. CLICK HERE:Record decline in Irish economy


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25.03.2009 Strasbourg, France - CZECH PM ATTACKS OBAMA SPENDING - The Czech prime minister has condemned US President Barack Obama's economic recovery plans as "a way to hell". Mirek Topolanek was speaking in the European Parliament, in his capacity as current holder of the EU presidency. Hours before his remarks, President Obama appealed for all countries to bear the burden of spending to stimulate the world economy. Mr Topolanek said the biggest success of last week's EU summit was its refusal to copy the US example. His intervention comes 10 days before the G20 summit meeting in London and coincides with a visit to New York by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has called for a "worldwide fiscal and monetary stimulus".CLICK HERE:Czech PM attacks Obama spending

Strasbourg, France - CZECH GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE NO THREAT TO EU - The Czech PM says the collapse of his government will have "no impact" on the country's presidency of the EU. Mirek Topolanek's centre-right coalition lost a no-confidence motion in parliament on Tuesday by one vote. The government is half-way through its six-month term in the rotating presidency of the EU. Attempts to form a new coalition are likely to precede any elections, but the Czechs will remain at the helm of EU affairs until June regardless. Mr Topolanek was on European duty on Wednesday, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where he blamed the Czech opposition Social Democrats for undermining the Czech role in Europe. CLICK HERE:Czech government collapse to threat to EU

Strasbourg, France -EURO MP'S MOVE TO BLOCK LE PEN - Leading Euro MPs are pushing for a rule change to stop the veteran French far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, from presiding over the European Parliament. The head of the conservative EPP, the largest bloc, has backed the initiative of the Socialists and Greens to block Mr Le Pen, AFP news agency reports. As the oldest MEP, Mr Le Pen, 80, could chair the new parliament's inaugural session on July 14 under the rules. Mr Le Pen has again called the Nazi gas chambers "a detail of history". The Nazis murdered at least six million Jews in death camps in World War II. Hundreds of thousands of others were also killed there, including Roma gypsies and disabled people. "I merely said that the gas chambers were a detail of the history of the world war, which is an obvious fact," Mr Le Pen, leader of the National Front (FN), told the European Parliament on Wednesday. His r emark drew boos and whistles from MEPs. He was fined 1.2m francs ($290,000) for the same claim in 1987.CLICK HERE:Euro MP's move to block Le Pen

Strasbourg, France - EU ACTS AGAINST CHILD SE ABUSE - The European Commission - the EU's executive arm, has set out plans for tightening EU law to protect children from sexual predators. The proposals, yet to be adopted by the 27 member states, would make online grooming and the viewing of child pornography criminal offenses. Sex tourists from EU states who abused children outside the EU would face prosecution on their return home. The commission is also calling for new EU rules to curb people-trafficking. The commission says that in 2008 more than 1,000 commercial and about 500 non-commercial websites depicting child sex abuse were found, 71% of them in the US. Most of the non-commercial ones were peer-to-peer. If adopted, the new proposals will mean free legal services for victims of abuse. Authorities in the EU could bring people traffickers to justice even if they committed their crimes outside the EU, the commission said. CLICK HERE:EU acts against child sex abuse


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24.03.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - CZECH CENTER_RIGHT MINORITY FSAILS CONFIDENCE VOTEThe Czech Republic's center-right minority government has lost a vote of confidence in parliament midway through the country's six-month EU presidency. The result came after a group of four rebel MPs voted with the opposition Social Democrats and Communists against Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Together they garnered 101 votes in the 200-seat chamber, the minimum required. Mr Topolanek said he would step down, but correspondents say it is unclear how long he will remain in the post. Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek said ahead of the vote that the government could "complete the Czech EU presidency or its substantial part". However, Mr Topolanek has ruled out the idea of a caretaker government until June, when the EU presidency passes to Sweden. According to the constitution, Czech President Vaclav Klaus must decide who to choose to form a new administration. If three attempts to do so fail, early elections will be called. CLICK HERE:Czech center right minority fails confidence vote

Strasbourg, France - BROWN'S EU MANIFESTO - Gordon Brown has said Europe is "uniquely placed" to provide world leadership in the economic downturn because of its history of co-operation. He told the European Parliament that the UK was not "in Europe's slipstream but firmly in its mainstream" The EU had to promote a "principled economy", involving the implementation of "tough regulatory standards". Mr Brown was speaking at the beginning of a tour which will also take in the US, Brazil and Chile. The speech comes ahead of the G20 meeting, in London, on 2 April, which brings together leaders from industrial and emerging market countries. Mr Brown called for a "truly global society", with greater "fairness for all". He told MEPs in Strasbourg: "Today there's no old Europe and no new Europe... We have one Europe and it's our home Europe. "I stand here today proud to be British and proud to be European: representing a country that does not see itself as an island adrift from Europe but as a country at the centre of Europe, not in Europe's slipstream but firmly in its mainstream." CLICK HERE:Brown's EU manifesto

Sochi, Russia - PUTIN SCORNS EU-UKRAINE GAS DEAL - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has dismissed an EU-Ukraine gas deal as "unprofessional", saying Russia, the main supplier, had not been consulted. "If Russia's interests are ignored, then we shall also be forced to start reconsidering the principles of our relations with partners," he warned. On Monday, Ukraine signed a deal paving the way for $3.4bn (£2.4bn) of Western investment in its gas infrastructure. Ukraine's president pledged to stamp out corruption in the gas industry. The agreement comes after a price dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January led to a shutdown of gas supplies to much of Europe for weeks, causing severe shortages for millions. Russia says it is postponing talks with Ukraine because of Monday's gas deal in Brussels. President Dmitry Medvedev said the talks, due next week, would take place only once Russia had clarified a number of issues. Speaking in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, Mr Putin said the deal was "at the very least ill-considered and unprofessional because discussing such issues without the main supplier is simply not serious". CLICK HERE:Putin scorns EU-Ukraine gas deal

Sochi, Russia - LUGOVOI DROPS OUT OF SOCHI MAYORAL RACE - Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect in the murder of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, has dropped plans to run for mayor in the Russian city of Sochi. Mr Lugovoi said he and his party, the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, had decided he should remain an MP in the Russian parliament instead. British police want to question him about Litvinenko's death by radioactive poisoning in London in November 2006. Moscow has said Russia's constitution bars any extradition. It has asserted that Mr Lugovoi was framed by the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6. Senior British officials told the BBC last year that they believed the murder was carried out with the backing of the Russian state. On Monday, Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Kremlin critic also running for mayor of Sochi, said that assailants had squirted ammonia in his face. Mr Nemtsov apparently suffered no lasting harm from the alleged attack. CLICK HERE:Lugovoi drops out of Sochi mayoral race

Berlin, Germany - GERMAN NPD LEADER ON TRIAL - leader of Germany's far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) has gone on trial in Berlin charged with racial incitement and defamation. Udo Voigt and two other key members are accused of questioning the presence of non-white players in Germany's national soccer team ahead of the 2006 World Cup. The NPD distributed leaflets suggesting Patrick Owomoyela, whose father is Nigerian, should not be selected. The accused entered no plea. They could face three years in jail if convicted. When prosecutors charged Mr Voigt, NPD spokesman Klaus Beier and Frank Schwerdt, head of its legal department, last March, the party dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and "political". The party holds no seats in the German national parliament, but is represented in two eastern state legislatures. The pamphlets printed and distributed by the NPD ahead of the World Cup showed a picture of the German soccer team's traditional white shirt imprinted with the Number 25, worn at the time by Owomoyela.CLICK HERE:German NPD leader on trial


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23.03.2009 Brussels, Belgium - EU URGES ACTION TO CURB DEFICITS - The European Commission is expected to set deadlines on Tuesday for France, Greece, Ireland, Spain and the UK to rein in their swelling budget deficits. Under EU rules, countries are expected to keep their budget shortfalls below 3% of gross domestic product (GDP). Greece will be given until 2010 to meet the target, France and Spain until 2012 and Ireland and the UK until 2013, a Brussels official told BBC News. A shorter time-frame indicates it should be easier to meet the target. If a country fails to meet the deadline, despite having taken the recommended actions to rein in the deficit, the commission - the EU's executive arm - sets a new deadline, the official said. Being outside the eurozone, the UK "is not strictly speaking bound by the rules, but the UK endeavors to respect them", said the official, who requested anonymity. Deficit forecasts 2009: Ireland: 11%; UK: 8.8%; Spain: 6.2%; France: 5.4%; Greece: 3.7% Source: European Commission, Jan 09 (% of GDP). The rules are part of the EU's Stability and Growth Pact. CLICK HERE:EU urges action to curb deficits

Paris, France - FRANCE TO CONSIDER ETHNIC CENSUS - France is for the first time launching a commission to investigate ways of measuring the country's ethnic make-up. The commission is being set up by President Nicolas Sarkozy's adviser on tackling discrimination, Yazid Sabeg. Mr Sabeg said it was "essential to measure how effective are official policies combating discrimination", but opponents say his idea breaches the French principle of equality for all. Classifying people by race or religious beliefs is currently illegal in France. Mr Sabeg, a businessman of Algerian descent, argued that the country's egalitarian principle might be fine in theory, but in fact had done nothing to stop the growth of racial discrimination. "It's no longer possible to say that here we say we're just one community and therefore there's no racism or discrimination. This isn't working any more," he told France Inter radio on Monday. CLICK HERE:France to consider ethnic census

Sochi, Russia - KREMLIN CRITIC ATTACKED WITH AMMONIA - A prominent Kremlin critic who is running for mayor of Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi has said assailants squirted ammonia in his face on Monday. Boris Nemtsov said he was attacked by three men outside his campaign HQ. He apparently suffered no lasting harm. Mr Nemtsov said he believed pro-Kremlin activists had carried out the attack in response to his criticism of plans to hold the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He said it was physically not ready for the burden placed on it by the Games. The Kremlin has not yet commented on Mr Nemtsov's claim that pro-Kremlin activists were involved. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Sochi later on Monday to host a meeting discussing preparations for the Olympics, during which he warned that work was being "mired in bureaucratic problems". "The authorities that are in charge of the process are in constant talks with each other and normal work has not yet started," he said. CLICK HERE:Kremlin critic attacked with ammonia

Kiev, Ukraine - EU MOVES TO SECURE UKRAINIAN GAS - Ukraine has signed a deal with the EU in Brussels paving the way for $3.4bn (£2.4bn) of Western investment to upgrade Ukraine's gas pipelines. The agreement comes after a price dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January led to a shutdown of gas supplies to much of Europe for weeks. Ukraine has now promised to root out corruption from its gas sector and ensure reliable supplies. Despite their rivalry, Ukraine's president and PM were both in Brussels. They took part in an international conference with the European Commission, the World Bank and other key lenders. The EU gets 80% of its gas supplies from Russia via a network of more than 13,000km (8,060 miles) of Ukrainian pipelines, some of which are 40 years old. CLICK HERE:EU moves to secure Ukrainian gas

London, England - CAMERON - BROWN'S CONCENSUS CLAIM RIDICULOUS - Gordon Brown's claims to be reaching a consensus in Europe on dealing with the recession are "completely ridiculous", Tory leader David Cameron has said. As Mr Brown gave a Commons statement on last week's EU summit, Mr Cameron said no-one was copying his VAT cut. The PM hit back, saying the Tories were the only party in Europe to advocate cutting public spending. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the £12.5bn VAT cut should be dropped and the money spent on green measures. In his statement Mr Brown said, by working together, the EU could "put its financial sector on a sound footing, get credit flowing into the real economy" and protect its citizens from the impact of the economic crisis. He said there was a "determination to do what's necessary to restore jobs and growth" in Europe and said proposals had been made, ahead of next month's G20 summit, to "reshape the global financial and trading system". CLICK HERE:Cameron - Brown's concensus claim ridiculous


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22.03.2009 Brussels, Belgium - US BACKS DANISH PM AS NATO HEAD - The US is prepared to back Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to be the next secretary general of Nato, US and alliance sources say. The current secretary general, Dutch diplomat Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, steps down at the end of July. Mr Rasmussen, Denmark's premier since 2001, is already reported to have the backing of France, Germany and the UK. Mr Rasmussen is a strong supporter of Nato's mission in Afghanistan, sending a contingent of 750 Danish troops. However, he has not confirmed his candidacy and the appointment needs the unanimous backing of all 26 Nato member states. Turkey is said to have misgivings about Mr Rasmussen over his refusal to apologize for the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2005, one of which depicted the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb in his turban. The cartoons sparked a worldwide controversy. Traditionally the post of secretary general is usually held by a European while the Nato's military commander is American. Other contenders for the position include Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, former British Defense Secretary Des Browne, former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay. CLICK HERE:US backs Danish PM as NATO head

London, England - THOUSANDS RECEIVING ANTI-TERROR TRAINING - Thousands of UK workers are being trained to help respond to a future terror attack as part of an updated counter-terror strategy, ministers say. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said shop and hotel workers would be among 60,000 people able to deal with an incident. The updated approach, aimed at tackling immediate terrorist threats and the causes of extremism, would be the most comprehensive in the world, she added, but the Tories said not enough action was being taken against extremists. The Home Office's new counter-terrorism document, which is to be published on Tuesday, will go into more detail than ever before in the interests of public accountability. It will reflect intelligence opinion that the biggest threat to the UK comes from al-Qaeda-linked groups and will also take into account recent attacks on hotels in the Indian city of Mumbai. Ms Smith told BBC One's Politics Show: "What we're completely clear about is that if we are going to address the threat from terrorism, we need to do that alongside the 60,000 people that we're now training up to respond to a terrorist threat, in everywhere from our shopping centres to our hotels. CLICK HERE:Thousands receiving anti-terror training

Skopje, Macedonia - MACEDONIA VOTES UNDER TIGHT SECURITY - Macedonians have voted in presidential and local polls seen as critical to the country's EU and Nato membership bids, amid stringent security. Thousands of extra police were deployed and the electoral commission said voting went well during the day. There were no reports of the kind of violence between rival ethnic Albanian parties that marred last June's parliamentary election. "So far, so good," was US Ambassador Philip Reeker's assessment of the day. A dispute with Greece over its name has also threatened its EU and Nato bids. According to opinion polls, Gjorgje Ivanov, of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's governing conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, has about a 10-point lead over Ljubomir Frckoski, who is backed by the Social Democratic SDSM. Five other candidates are also running for the largely ceremonial presidency, including former Interior Minister Ljube Boskoski, who was acquitted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague last year.CLICK HERE:Macedonia votes under tight security


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21.03.2009 Budapest, Hungary - HUNGARIAN PM RESIGNS - Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany says he will stand down, as his government's popularity plummets amid the global financial crisis. The Socialist leader, in power since 2004, told his party congress that he considered himself a hindrance to further economic and social reforms. He is to officially notify parliament of his decision on Monday. Badly hit by the global credit crisis, Hungary received a $25.1bn (£17bn) IMF-led loan last October. "I hear that I am the obstacle to the co-operation required for changes, for a stable governing majority and the responsible behaviour of the opposition," he was quoted as saying on Saturday by Reuters news agency. "I hope it is this way, that it is only me that is the obstacle, because if so, then I am eliminating this obstacle now. "I propose that we form a new government under a new prime minister." Mr Gyurcsany did not name any possible successor. CLICK HERE:Hungarian PM resigns

Winnenden, Germany - GERMANY MOURNS SHOOTING VICTIMS - Tens of thousands of people gathered in the small German town of Winnenden for a memorial service for the 15 victims of a shooting. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Horst Koehler attended the service alongside relatives of the victims. Tim Kretschmer, 17, killed 12 people at his former school and three others elsewhere on 11 March before taking his own life as police closed in. The victims' families have appealed for tighter gun control laws. About 900 people packed a church in the south-western German town for the service. Thousands more watched a live broadcast on giant screens set up in a local stadium. The memorial was also carried live on national television. "Such acts lead us to the limit of comprehension," Mr Koehler said with tears welling in his eyes. CLICK HERE:Germany mourns shooting victims


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20.03.2009 Brussels, Belgium - NEW ARGUMENT OVER RENAULT JOBS AS SUMMIT ASSEMBLES - A new row over French protectionism has broken out, as EU leaders hold a summit in Brussels on the economic crisis. It followed the news that carmaker Renault was moving some production from Slovenia to create 400 jobs in France. The European Commission said it would seek urgent clarification. It comes only weeks after the EU agreed France could give state aid to its carmakers. The row may overshadow an EU pledge to double to 50bn euros an emergency fund for non-eurozone members in trouble. In addition, EU leaders said they would provide up to 75bn euros ($102bn; £71bn) in loans in an effort to boost the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) capital to $500bn (£344bn), but the bloc resisted US calls to spend even more to revive national economies. The two-day meeting took place as the world's biggest economies prepare for the G20 summit in London on April 2. CLICK HERE:New agument over Renault jobs as summit assembles

Brussels, Belgium - EUROZONE INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT DROPS - Eurozone industrial output plunged by 3.5% in January compared with the previous month, the decline since records began in 1990. Compared with January 2008, the official Eurostat figures showed that industrial production across the 16 nations that share the euro fell 17.3%. The drop came as factories cut output in light of a drop in demand for eurozone goods around the world. Output from the 27 countries of the EU fell by 2.9% and 16.3% for the year. Analysts were taken aback at the scale of the drop. CLICK HERE:Eurozone industrial output drops


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19.03.2009 Strasbourg, France - TORIES' EUROPEAN MOVED CONDEMNED - The European Parliament's president has condemned the Conservatives' decision to leave the centre-right EPP group. Hans-Gert Poettering, a German member of the EPP, called Tory leader David Cameron's decision "a serious mistake". "The big parties should belong to a European family of parties," he said, adding that the Tories' withdrawal was "not in the interests of the UK". The European People's Party-European Democrats group (EPP) is the biggest bloc, with 278 MEPs. The second largest is the Party of European Socialists (PES), with 216 MEPs. The Conservatives informed the EPP earlier this month that they intend to leave it in May. They plan to form an alternative bloc after the European elections on June 4. The Conservatives disagree with what they see as a federalist EPP agenda. The bloc was opposed to the UK having a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, something the Conservatives campaigned for - and it wants closer economic integration in Europe, as well as common immigration, defence and foreign policies. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has expressed "regret" over the Tory move. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Poettering said he was, however, glad about Prime Minister Gordon Brown's visit to the European Parliament next Tuesday. He said it was "an expression that the UK feels the EU is important". CLICK HERE:Tories European move condemned


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St Poelten, Austria - FRITZL SENTENCED TO LIFE - Austrian Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter in a cellar and fathered her seven children, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Fritzl, 73, was found guilty of all charges against him, including rape, incest, murder and enslavement. He showed no obvious emotion at the verdict, telling the court that he accepted it and would not appeal. The court ordered that Fritzl should serve his life sentence in a secure psychiatric facility. The judge said he could speak to his lawyer but he shook his head. Then he was led out of court with an impassive face. Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said outside the court after the verdict: "I would say that the verdict was a logical consequence of a confession. "Of course if you have 3,000 cases of rape and 24 years of being kept in a cellar, it is evident that there can only be a punishment or verdict like this one." The life sentence was handed down for the murder by neglect of one of the children, who died soon after birth. The jury unanimously accepted prosecutors' arguments that the child could have survived if it had received medical care denied by Fritzl. The defendant first denied murder and enslavement but changed his plea to guilty after seeing testimony from his daughter. The verdict is final and irreversible, as neither the defence nor the prosecution is contesting it. CLICK HERE:Fritzl sentenced to life

Paris, France - FRENCH UNIONS CLAIM 3 M ON STREETS - French unions have claimed that up to three million people have taken part in street protests amid a national strike against France's economic policies. Police gave an estimate of 1.2 million people at rallies nationwide. Schools have been closed and public transport disrupted, with demonstrations held in about 200 towns. Unions are demanding more is spent to protect workers in the recession. Unemployment has reached two million and is expected to rise further. Union members marched towards the Place de la Nation in Paris behind a banner that read: "United against the crisis, defend employment, spending power and public services." CLICK HERE:French unions claim 3 m on streets

London, England - UK BUDGET DEFICIT WIDENS FURTHER - The UK's deficit widened to £8.99bn in February, a record level for the month, official data has shown. This was eight times the figure seen a year earlier, as tax receipts fell 10% causing the government to borrow more. As unemployment has risen and firms have seen profits fall this has hit the money government collects in taxes. The cumulative deficit for the fiscal year is £75.2bn, increasing the chance that government borrowing for the year will exceed its own £77bn forecast. The total government debt is equivalent to 49% of gross domestic product. Philip Shaw, an economist at Investec, said the deficit was slightly wider than expectations. CLICK HERE:UK budget deficit widens further

London, England - INDIAN OUTSOURCING UK CREDIT CARD SCAM UNCOVERED - A criminal gang selling UK credit card details stolen from Indian call centers has been exposed by an undercover BBC News investigation. Reporters posing as fraudsters bought UK names, addresses and valid credit card details from a Delhi-based man. The seller denied any wrongdoing and Symantec corporation, from whom three victims bought a product via a call centre, called the incident "isolated". Card fraud totalled £609m during 2008, according to payments group Apacs. Symantec said it requires rigorous security measures of any third-party call center agents and it believed the breach had been limited to a single agent. CLICK HERE:Indian outsurcing UK credit card scam uncovered


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18.03.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - CZECH REPUBLIC HALTS US MISSILE TREATIES - The Czech government has withdrawn treaties committing the country to the US' missile defense shield from parliament, fearing they faced defeat. The scheme is very controversial and the center-right government has only a slim majority in parliament, which was due to vote on the treaties on Tuesday. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek insisted the withdrawal was temporary, but doubts hang over the whole project, with US President Barack Obama refusing to commit to it. The Czech government has invested much political capital in the project, which would rely on a radar station based on Czech soil. The opposition is against Czech participation in the scheme. With one MP sick, and another recovering from a car accident, the government beat a tactical retreat, says the BBC's correspondent in Prague. "This does not mean we are giving up on the ratification process," Mr Topolanek said. "We can return this material to the lower house at any time." The treaties have already passed the Senate, but must also pass the lower house to take effect. Mr Topolanek is likely to discuss the matter with Mr Obama when he visits Prague next month. Mr Obama has said his support for the missile shield, conceived under his predecessor George W Bush, depends on its affordability and proof that the technology works. He has also said there would be no need for the shield if Iran was prevented from obtaining nuclear arms. Some analysts have read this as an offer to Russia - which deeply opposes the project - to drop the shield plans if Moscow takes a harder line with Iran. CLICK HERE:Czech Republic halts US missile treaties

Brussels, Belgium - EU AGRO-BUREAUCRATS TO RECEIVE FARMING EXPERIENCE - EU agriculture staff are to swap suits and laptops for overalls and shovels under a plan to improve policy-making. Under the programme, officials will be sent into the fields in a bid to get "rural workers and the bureaucrats speaking the same language". Farmers have often criticised the EU for swamping them with red tape. The EU's Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer-Boel, is expected to announce that all her staff will be sent on the obligatory "farm stays". She will unveil the "Harvest Experience" program later on Wednesday. It is part of the European Commission's plans to simplify and reduce the bureaucratic expense of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP costs about 43bn euros (£40bn) annually, or more than 40% of the entire EU budget. The training program, including the farm stay, will be introduced from 2010. CLICK HERE:EU agro-bureaucrats to receive farming experience

Paris, France - FRANCE CHASTIZES POPE OVER CONDOMS - The French foreign ministry has voiced "sharp concern" following the Pope's rejection of condom use to fight Aids. Benedict XVI, who is on a tour of Africa, said handing out condoms only increased the problem of HIV/Aids. The Roman Catholic Church says marital fidelity and sexual abstinence are the best way to prevent the spread of HIV, but France, echoing the reaction of some aid agencies, said it "voices extremely sharp concern over the consequences of [the Pope's comments]". "While it is not up to us to pass judgment on Church doctrine, we consider that such comments are a threat to public health policies and the duty to protect human life," foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said. CLICK HERE:France chastizes Pope over condoms

London, England - UK UNEMPLOYMENT SURPASSES TWO MILLION - UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown. During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totalled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). For February, the number of people getting jobseeker's allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million. There are now 10 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres, the TUC claimed earlier this week. The ONS added that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.5% between November and January. CLICK HERE:UK unemployment surpasses two million


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17.03.2009 Paris, France - SARKOZY SURVIVES VOTE OVER NATO - The French parliament has backed President Nicolas Sarkozy's decision to take France fully back into Nato, rejecting a no-confidence motion. Opposition critics and some among Mr Sarkozy's UMP party say the move will weaken French independence from the US, but France's national assembly voted by 329 votes to 238 in favor of Mr Sarkozy's government. The policy reverses a 1966 decision by the late President Charles de Gaulle to pull out of Nato's military command. France is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations and currently has some 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, where it has suffered significant losses. The outcome of the vote was never in doubt, the BBC's Alasdair Sandford reports from Paris. The fact that this was a vote of confidence in the government ensured that dissenting voices within its ranks came on board in the end, our correspondent adds. CLICK HERE:Sarkozy zurvives vote over NATO

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA ANNOUNCES REARMAMENT PLAN - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Moscow will begin a comprehensive military rearmament from 2011. Mr Medvedev said the primary task would be to "increase the combat readiness of [Russia's] forces, first of all our strategic nuclear forces". Explaining the move, he cited concerns over Nato expansion near Russia's borders and regional conflicts. Last year, the Kremlin set out plans to increase spending on Russia's armed forces over the next two years. Russia will spend nearly $140bn (£94.5bn) on buying arms up until 2011. Higher oil revenues in recent years have allowed the Kremlin to increase the military budget, analysts say. But prices have averaged $40 a barrel in 2009 compared with $100 last year. CLICK HERE:Russia announces rearmament plan


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16.03.2009 London. England - BARROSO REGRETS TORY EPP MOVE - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has said he "regrets" the Conservatives' decision to leave the European Parliament's EPP group. Speaking after talks with Gordon Brown in Downing Street, Mr Barroso said he had spoken to David Cameron about the plan "on a number of occasions". He said groupings like the centre-right EPP helped shape the EU's agenda. The Tories hope to set up a new group, which party leader Mr Cameron said was a "profoundly" necessary change. The Conservatives informed the European People's Party (EPP) last week that they intend to leave it in May. The alternative bloc would be established after the European elections on June 4. To qualify as a grouping and get access to EU funding, the Conservatives would have to be joined by MEPs from at least six other countries - it is thought they will try to attract allies from the Czech Republic and Poland among others. CLICK HERE:Barroso regrets Tory EPP move

Belgrad, Serbia - SERBIA SEEKS IMF EMERGENCY LOAN - Serbia has begun talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to agree an emergency loan worth up to 2bn euros (£1.8bn). The money will be used primarily to strengthen the country's hard currency reserves and stabilise the local currency, the Serbian dinar. "We need financial help to cover this year's budget deficit," said trade minister Slobodan Milosavljevic. The talks are expected to last for up to 10 days, said Serbian officials. They added that the IMF was likely to insist on big cuts in Serbian public spending as a condition of the loan. The IMF already approved loans of 520m euros to Serbia earlier this year. The worsening global economic downturn means the country now needs more aid. CLICK HERE:SErbia seeks IMF emergency loan

St Poelten, Austria - FRITZL HEARS DAUGHTER'S TESTIMONY - Josef Fritzl is being questioned over taped testimony from his daughter at his trial in Austria for crimes against the children he kept in a cellar. The court began viewing 11 hours of video on the opening day of the trial, with the rest of the material to be shown in segments during the week. Austria is holding one of its most harrowing trials behind closed doors. Mr Fritzl, 73, pleads guilty to incest and "partially" guilty to rape but not guilty to murder or enslavement. Addressing media at the end of the first day of proceedings in the town of St Poelten, the court spokesman said the trial would resume at 0900 CET on Tuesday (0800 GMT). CLICK HERE:Fritzl hears daughter's testimony


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15.03.2009 Horsham, England - G20 SUMMIT CRITICAL FOR ECONOMY - The upcoming G20 meeting is critical if the world wishes to avoid the economic turbulence seen in the 1930s, the UK government has warned. Cabinet minister Douglas Alexander said the summit in London of the G20 group of rich and emerging nations next month "was an important moment". G20 finance ministers pledged to make a sustained effort to beat the recession after they met on Saturday, but the talks took place amid differences on the best way forward. The finance ministers also promised to continue with economic stimulus packages and low interest rates, and to increase IMF funding. CLICK HERE:G20 summit critical for economy


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14.03.2009 Horsham, England - G20 MAKES PLEDGE TO RESTORE GROWTH - . Finance ministers from the G20 group of rich and emerging nations have pledged to make a "sustained effort" to pull the world economy out of recession. "We are committed to deliver the scale of sustained effort necessary to restore growth," they said in a joint statement after their talks in the UK. UK Chancellor Alistair Darling said they agreed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be given more money. The talks were held amid reports of rifts over the best way forward. BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders said that the outline agreements represented "cheap talk", and differences remain. The outline agreements will now provide the basis for more concrete pledges at next month's meeting of G20 leaders in London. Speaking after the gathering of finance ministers in Horsham, West Sussex, Mr Darling, said the G20 recognised the "sense of emergency" surrounding the world economy. CLICK HERE:G20 makes pledge to restore growth

Edinburgh, Scotland - SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT LEADER DOES NOT RULE OUT INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM - Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has said he could not rule out an independence referendum or going into coalition government with the SNP. He told BBC Scotland it was not possible to predict what might happen in the future, but insisted his party was right to oppose a Referendum Bill. Mr Scott said the public was more concerned with the recession than constitutional issues. He said people could back independence by voting for the SNP in an election, but the Lib Dem leader said: "I don't think I should rule out a referendum for all time, because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if I'll be in the next parliament." CLICK HERE:Scottish Liberal Democrat leader does not rule out independence referendum

Antrim, Northern Ireland - GUN FOUND IN POLICE OFFICER SHOOTING - A gun and ammunition have been found during searches in Northern Ireland as part of the investigation into the murder of policeman Stephen Carroll. The weaponry was discovered in Lurgan, where a number of petrol bombs were thrown at police on Saturday evening. Earlier, leading republican Colin Duffy was arrested in the town and is still being questioned about last week's murder of two soldiers in Antrim. Constable Carroll, 48, was shot while on duty in Craigavon on Monday. Mr Duffy is one of three men being questioned about the murder of two soldiers at Massereene Army base last Saturday night. The 41-year-old was arrested during a police raid in Lurgan on Saturday. Investigators involved in the soldiers' murders also carried out an operation in Bellaghy in County Londonderry. CLICK HERE:Gun found in police officer shooting


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13.03.2009 Zurich, Switzerland - SWITZERLAND EASES BANKING SECRECY ON JUSTIFIED REQUESTS - Switzerland, the world's largest offshore financial center, has agreed to accept concessions on bank secrecy. However, while it will now abide by international rules on bank data sharing, it said it would only respond to "concrete and justified" requests. The government added that it would still protect banking customers from "unjustified watching from abroad". Switzerland's announcement comes after it had risked being added to a global blacklist of uncooperative tax havens. It is estimated that Switzerland's banks hold $2 trillion (£1.4tn) of global wealth held abroad. OECD talks. It reached its agreement overnight with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which sets rules on the sharing of bank data to try and crack down on offshore tax evasion. CLICK HERE:Switzerland eases banking secrecy on justified requests

Winnende, Germany - ARRESTS OVER SCHOOL GUN THREATS - Police have detained at least four men in Europe over threats posted in online chatrooms following Wednesday's school shooting in Germany, reports say. They include a 21-year-old German in Lower Saxony, and three teens in the Netherlands, France and Sweden. They may have been inspired by German teenager Tim Kretschmer shot dead 15 people, many at his former school. Police have cast doubt on the authenticity of an internet warning said to have been posted by Kretschmer. Following Wednesday's school killings, Dutch authorities closed schools and child care centres in the southern city of Breda on Friday after a threat was made to carry out a shooting at an unnamed school on an internet site, Dutch media reported. An 18-year-old man was arrested. ...German police also closed a school in Ilsfed in southwestern Germany after a similar warning, and arrested a 21-year-old man in Lower Saxony over another chatroom threat. In France, police detained an 18-year-old youth after he posted a warning of a shooting at a school in the Paris suburbs, and Swedish police on Thursday detained a 17-year-old boy in the city of Lund who was suspected of posting a picture of himself posing with a weapon on an internet site, along with a threatening message against a high school. The men, most of whom said the threats were meant "as a joke", could face jail time or a fine. German police, meanwhile, say they have serious doubts about the authenticity of a posting attributed to Kretschmer.CLICK HERE:Arrests over school gun threats

Amsterdam, Netherland - DUTCH POLICE FREE BOMB SUSPECTS - The Dutch authorities have released five of seven people arrested on Thursday on suspicion of planning to bomb a popular Amsterdam shopping area. Among those to have been freed was the sister of a militant Islamist involved in the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Of two people, both Moroccan men, still in custody, only one is being detained on suspicion of terrorism offenses. The anonymous warning which sparked the arrests prompted the closure of a major shopping street in the city. The police also postponed a concert by the American band, The Killers, after receiving the warning on Wednesday from a caller in Belgium. On Friday afternoon, officials appeared to cast doubt as to the credibility of the warning. Although they said the investigation into the threat was continuing, they released five people without charge. Prosecutors said one of the two Moroccan men still being held was "being interviewed for offenses other than terrorist activities", and that stolen goods had been found during a search of his home. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen said no explosives had been found during searches of buildings linked to the suspects, and that no serious threat remained. On Thursday, Mr Cohen said the anonymous call to police had not been a "regular bomb warning, but a warning of a planned action". "Men were planning to put explosives in the shops and wanted to cause casualties in busy places," he added. CLICK HERE:Dutch police free bomb suspects


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12.03.2009 Winnende, Germany - DOUBT OVER GERMAN GUNMAN WARNING - German police are investigating reports that an internet warning said to be from a youth who later carried out a school gun attack may have been fake. The message was originally believed to have been posted by gunman Tim Kretschmer six hours before he killed 15 people in the town of Winnenden, but police told the BBC they had been contacted by internet users and officials who doubted its origins. They have filed a request for access to the website's US-based server. Local police spokesman Klaus Hinderer told the BBC they had been alerted to a possible problem with the message by internet users and official sources on Thursday afternoon. He said they could not yet confirm whether or not the message had been a fake, but that they were investigating. The German internet site on which the message was alleged to have been posted has been temporarily shut down. As its servers are based in the US, German police have filed an official request through Interpol to obtain permission to recover information stored on them. CLICK HERE:Doubt over German gunman warning

Novokuznetsk, Siberia - PUTIN HOLDS OFF OVERBURDENING UKRAINE - Russia's prime minister says it has waived fines owed by Ukraine for breaking gas contracts because it does not want to "finish off" its neighbor. Vladimir Putin said he realised Ukraine was "on the verge of bankruptcy" and that "they have nothing to pay with". Mr Putin said Kiev was not taking the volume of gas agreed in contracts with the Russian state gas company, Gazprom, but Ukrainian officials say Gazprom has already agreed to sell less than the contracted amount of gas this year. Gas has become a source of major tension between Russia and Ukraine. Gazprom shut down gas supplies to Ukraine for two weeks in January during a commercial dispute, leading to severe gas shortages across Europe. Supplies were only restored when Ukraine's government and state gas firm, Naftogaz, agreed prices at which they would buy Russian gas, and ship it to Europe. The issue of Ukraine's non-payment of fines imposed by Gazprom for late payment in 2008 remained unresolved by the deal. In stinging comments on Thursday to miners at Novokuznetsk in south-western Siberia, Mr Putin said Moscow would refrain from levying fines on Ukraine for violating the contracts because they could contribute to an economic crisis in the country. CLICK HERE:Putin holds off overburdening Ukraine


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11.03.2009 Winnenden, Germany - GERMAN SCHOOL SHOOTING MASSACRE - Germany is in shock after a heavily armed 17-year-old opened fire on pupils and teachers at his former school in a killing spree in which 15 people died. The youth fled the school in Winnenden, south-west Germany, but shot himself dead after being cornered by police. Chancellor Angela Merkel called the incident "unimaginable" and said it was a day of mourning for the whole nation. German schools have suffered several attacks in recent years, but none has seen so many fatalities since 2002. The teenager, named as Tim Kretschmer, entered the Albertville secondary school, north of Stuttgart, at about 0930 (0830 GMT) dressed in black combat gear. Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Minister Heribert Rech said he then opened fire on a class of 14- and 15-year-olds, aiming at their heads. ...Eight girls and one boy were killed, along with three teachers. Seven other children suffered minor injuries...He then hijacked a car, taking its driver hostage, and reached the town of Wendlingen, about 40km (25 miles) away from the school. The police believe he arrived in Wendlingen by chance, after the car's driver lost control on a sharp bend and came to a standstill. The teenager fled into an industrial estate, where he shot and killed two men at a car showrooom. ...In a press briefing, Mr Rech said officers arrived at the showroom and traded gunfire with the teenager, hitting him in the leg. "He fell down, but he got up and managed to load his gun. A little later he was found dead," said Mr Rech. CLICK HERE:German school shooting massacre
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: How can one comment on the senseless and absurd loss of human lives, but to say it is at the very least a deadly combination of accessible firearms, unsecured ammunition, and the warped mind of the video generation, not to mention possible sexual aberrations, to the final point of glorified self-destruction.)

Paris, France - FRANCE RETURNS TO THE NATO FOLD - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his country is to return to Nato's military command, reversing four decades of self-imposed exile. Mr Sarkozy confirmed the decision in a speech to defense experts at the Ecole Militaire staff college in Paris. ...Critics say France will now be no more than "a clone of Great Britain", but Mr Sarkozy said there was no sense in France, a founder member of Nato, having no say in the organization's decisions on military strategy. "This rapprochement with Nato ensures our national independence," said Mr Sarkozy. "To distance ourselves would limit our independence and our room for maneuver." "We have to be progressive," he said. "A solitary nation is a nation that has no influence whatsoever." "We need strong diplomacy, a strong defense and a strong Europe." He said Nato remained a central element of France's security and defense policies, but stressed that he would not give up the country's independent nuclear deterrent. Mr Sarkozy is expected to formalise the move with a letter to Nato before the alliance celebrates its 60th anniversary next month with a summit in the French city of Strasbourg. CLICK HERE:France returns to the NATO fold

London, England - DAVID CAMERON FULFILS PLEDGE TO LEAD TORIES INTO EUROSCEPTIC OBLIVION - David Cameron has come a step closer to fulfilling his pledge that the Tories will leave the center right grouping in the European Parliament. The Conservatives earlier informed the European People's Party (EPP) that they intend to leave it. The BBC understands they are likely to leave in May and seek to form a new grouping after the European Elections. To qualify as a grouping and access EU funding they will have to be joined by MEPs from at least six other countries. It is thought the Conservatives hope to attract allies from the Czech Republic and Poland among others. Mr Cameron pledged to cut the Conservatives' ties with the EPP grouping in the European Parliament during his 2005 Conservative leadership campaign, saying its federalist views were at odds with Tory policy. CLICK HERE:David Cameron fulfils pledge to lead Tories into eurosceptic oblivion


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10.03.2009 Banbridge, Northern Ireland - ARRESTS OVER NORTHERN IRELAND POLICEMAN MURDER - Two men, aged 17 and 37, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman in Northern Ireland. Dissident republican group, the Continuity IRA, said it shot Constable Stephen Paul Carroll at Lismore Manor, Craigavon, County Armagh on Monday. He was shot two days after the Real IRA murdered two soldiers in Antrim. Police have raided homes near the scene of the Craigavon shooting and removed a car from outside a house in the Drumbeg estate for forensic investigation. Constable Carroll, 48, a married man, with children from Banbridge, County Down, died when police were attacked as they responded to a woman's call for help. Constable Carroll was shot through the rear window of his police car when he arrived at the scene at about 2145 GMT on Monday. CLICK HERE:Arrest over Northern Ireland policeman murder

Brussels, Belgium - EU BACKS CALLS TO DOUBLE IMF FUNDS - European Union finance ministers have backed a call to double the money the International Monetary Fund has to help countries hit by the financial crisis. They said the IMF funding increase to $500bn (£361bn) should be split fairly among IMF members. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Sussex, England this weekend. Ministers also agreed to a deal that will see VAT reduced on specific, more labour intensive industries. The deal brings to an end a long running dispute within the EU about VAT exemptions. Germany in particular was concerned about lowering rates. CLICK HERE:EU backs calls to double IMF funds

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA NOW TOP HEROIN CONSUMER - Russia says it has become the world's biggest consumer of heroin. The head of Russia's anti- narcotics service, Victor Ivanov, said that seizures of Afghan heroin were up 70%. Speaking ahead of a meeting in Vienna of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, he called on the UN to do more to fight the problem. Mr Ivanov, a former KGB officer and senior Kremlin official, said the flood of the drug from Afghanistan posed a threat to Russia's national security. CLICK HERE:Russia now top heroin consumer

Madrid, Spain -TOP SPANISH JUDGE IN ALLEGED FAILURE TO DECLARE INCOME - Spain's most prominent judge is under investigation for allegedly failing to declare he received a salary from a US university during a paid sabbatical. The General Council of the Judiciary said it was looking into why Baltasar Garzon did not say he was paid $203,000 by New York University in 2005-2006. Mr Garzon has "emphatically" denied that he acted "in bad faith or with a desire to conceal" his remuneration. If found to have broken council rules, he could face disciplinary action. A spokesman for the judicial oversight board, Agustin Zurita, said punishments for failing to inform it of any external salary received during a sabbatical could range from a fine or suspension to dismissal. CLICK HERE:Top Spanish judge probed over alleged failure to declare income


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9.03.2009 Bath, England - WWI VETERAN RECEIVES FRENCH AWARD - Patch, the last surviving British veteran of the trenches of World War I, has been made an Officer of the French Legion of Honor. The 110-year-old, who returned to Bath in 1918, was awarded the medal by the French Ambassador at his nursing home in Wells, Somerset. The British veteran already received the Chevalier of the Order award in 1998. Receiving the award, Mr Patch said it was a great honor. 'Greatly appreciated' He said he was delighted to be appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honor 10 years ago, along with 350 other veterans from World War I. At the ceremony, he said: "Now, but two of us remain at our post and the people of France, through their president, have honored us once more by appointing us as Officers of the Legion of Honor. "Ambassador, I greatly appreciate the way your people respect the memory of those who fell, irrespective of the uniform they wore. "I will wear this medal with great pride and when I eventually rejoin my mates it will be displayed in my regimental museum as a permanent reminder of the kindness of the people of France." CLICK HERE:WW1 veteran receives French award

Adan, Turkey - FIVE HELD OVER TURKEY PM PLOT - Police in the Turkish city of Adana have arrested five people suspected of planning to attack Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reports have said. The suspects were detained just before Mr Erdogan visited the southern city on Saturday for a political rally, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. The governor of Adana province, Ilhan Atis, has confirmed the five arrests, but has not given any other details. One of those held is reportedly a woman with close ties to the security forces. She was detained after police intercepted a suspicious telephone conversation about Mr Erdogan's campaign visit ahead of municipal elections on 29 March, and later provided information that led to the four other arrests, the Haberturk newspaper reported. It is not immediately clear if the arrests are connected to the so-called Ergenekon investigation into an alleged plot to topple the government. CLICK HERE:Five held over Turkey PM plot


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8.03.2009 Dublin, Republic Ireland - A Dublin-based newspaper has received a call supposedly from the Real IRA which claimed responsibility for the attack at Masserene army base. Using a recognised codename, it claimed responsibility for the attack in which two soldiers were killed. Four other people, including two pizza delivery men, were also injured when gunmen struck at the Antrim base. The prime minister described the attack as "evil" and said "no murderer" would derail the peace process. The soldiers are the first to be murdered in Northern Ireland since Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was killed by an IRA sniper in 1997. The dead men, both in their early 20s were due to fly to Afghanistan in the coming days. Flowers have been laid at the scene and a vigil was held nearby on Sunday. The Real IRA was born out of a split in the mainstream Provisional IRA in October 1997, when the IRA's so-called quartermaster-general resigned over Sinn Fein's direction in the peace process. It carried out the worst single atrocity of over 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland when it bombed the County Tyrone town of Omagh, killing 29 people, in August 1998 Gordon Brown told the BBC: "I think the whole country is shocked and outraged at the evil and cowardly attacks on soldiers serving their country. CLICK HERE:Real IRA was behind army attack

The Holy See - POPE TO VISIT HOLY LAND IN MAY - Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed the first papal trip to the Holy Land since Pope John Paul II's visit in 2000. The pontiff will visit the sites of Jesus' life in an 8-15 May trip taking in parts of Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. He is expected to visit Jordan's largest mosque in Amman, and stop in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. The news follows a row over the Pope's lifting of excommunication on a bishop who denies the extent of the Holocaust. Pope Benedict confirmed the latest visit in his traditional Sunday noontime blessing. CLICK HERE:Pope to visit Holy Land in May


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7.03.2009 Antrim, Northern Ireland - SHOTS FIRED AT ANTRIM ARMY BASE - Soldiers in County Antrim have come under fire during a gun attack at an Army base. Unconfirmed reports said one person was feared dead and five others wounded, but it is not clear if they were civilians or military personnel. Shots were fired at the Massereene Army base in Antrim, 16 miles north of Belfast, at 2140 GMT. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense described the shooting as a "drive-by" attack. One witness who lives near the base told the BBC how he looked to the sky after hearing what he thought were fireworks. He added: "Then I heard a lot of loud bangs again, only it was a lot more than there was initially - maybe between 10 and 20. "Then the siren at the Army barracks went off. Then all you heard was the police sirens and ambulances and there was at least six ambulances. "There was definitely six of the ambulances and God knows how many police cars - they just came out of the police station one after the other." The attack comes shortly after Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, requested the Special Reconnaissance Regiment's help to gather intelligence on dissident republicans. CLICK HERE:Shots fired at Antrim army base

Moscow, Russia - US AND ARMS DEAL SEEK 2009 ARMS DEAL - The US and Russia say they will try to clinch a new strategic arms reduction treaty (Start) by the end of 2009. "This is of the highest priority," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, after talks in Geneva with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. In turn, Mr Lavrov described the current Start treaty, due to expire by 5 December, as "obsolete". Mrs Clinton earlier said Washington was keen to re-launch its ties with Moscow to end months of cool relations. Start 1 limited the deployment of nuclear warheads to 6,000 per side, along with 1,600 missiles and bombers. It was followed by Start 2 which brought warheads down to 3,500. Mrs Clinton and Mr Lavrov said the two sides had agreed to work together on a number of issues of common and world interest, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Korea. CLICK HERE:US and Russia seek 2009 arms deal

Ankara, Turkey - OBAMA TRIP TO TURKEY WITHIN WEEKS - President Barack Obama will visit Turkey "in a month or so", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said on a visit to Ankara. She met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the first visit by a member of the new US administration to Turkey. Turkey's foreign minister said Ankara was ready to re-launch indirect talks between Syria and Israel. Mrs Clinton said the importance of building relations between Israel and Syria could not be overstated. Turkey was mediating those talks until recently, but Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said any request to resume that role must come from both sides. "President Obama will be visiting Turkey within the next month or so," said Mrs Clinton, at a joint news conference with Mr Babacan. "The exact date will be announced shortly." CLICK HERE:Obama trip to Turkey within weeks

London, England - MI5 TELEGRAMS FED INTERROGATION - A UK resident detained at Guantanamo Bay has released alleged MI5 memos which he claims show government collusion in his interrogation. Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed, 30, told the Mail on Sunday they were sent to the CIA in November 2002, at a time he said he was being tortured in Morocco. His claims of British collusion are being investigated by the government. He also told the paper he was held in continual darkness for weeks on end in a prison in Kabul, Afghanistan. Mr Mohamed claims MI5 agents fed his US captors specific questions which led to him falsely confessing to terrorist activities. In the first memo, the writer asked for a name to be put to him and then for him to be questioned further about that person. The second telegram asked about a timescale for further interrogation. Mr Mohamed claims he acquired the telegrams through the US legal process when he was fighting to be freed from Guantanamo Bay. Daniel Sandford, BBC Home Affairs correspondent, said Mr Mohamed's claims would be relatively simple to substantiate. "As time progresses it will probably become quite apparent whether indeed these are true telegrams and I think it's unlikely they'd be put into the public domain if they couldn't eventually be checked back." The Conservatives have called for a police inquiry into his allegations of British collusion. CLICK HERE:MI5 telegrams fed interrogation

Cork, Republic Ireland - IRISH BISHOP TO STAND ASIDE - An Irish bishop has agreed to "stand aside" to aid an investigation into the handling of allegations of clerical sex abuse in his County Cork diocese. Newry-born Bishop John Magee, 72, had faced a series of calls for his resignation since an independent report was published just before Christmas. It found Cloyne Diocese had put children at risk of harm. This was, the report said, due to an inability to respond appropriately to abuse allegations. It was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSC), a body set up by, but independent of the Catholic Church. CLICK HERE:Irish bishop to stand aside

Malmo, Sweden - CLASHES IN SWEDEN AT ISRAEL TENNIS MATCH _ Dozens of anti-Israel demonstrators have clashed with Swedish police in Malmo as they sought to disrupt a tennis match between Sweden and Israel. At least five rock-throwing protesters were held in the southern city, police say. There were no reports of injuries. The demonstrators, mostly youths, tried to storm an arena where the Sweden-Israel Davis Cup match was being held. They chanted slogans condemning Israel's recent offensive in Gaza and urged support for the Palestinians. Swedish police said the clashes near the Baltic Hall arena began soon after thousands of people attended the peaceful Stop the Match rally in central Malmo. Some protesters then tried to break through police barricades set up around the sports complex, police said. They hurled stones, firecrackers and bottles of paint at police vans, but were dispersed by hundreds of riot police. Violence reportedly continued in other parts of the city. Only about 300 specially-chosen guests were allowed to watch the doubles match, because Malmo officials said they could not guarantee security at the venue. Israeli player Andy Ram said it was a "stupid decision" to play the tie behind closed doors. "Playing without a crowd is like playing a practice match," he said. CLICK HERE:Clashes in Sweden at Israel tennis match


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6.03.2009 Moscow, Russia - The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, has given some of his strongest criticism yet of the politics of modern Russia. He says the United Russia party of the current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, behaves like the old-style Communists. "I criticize United Russia a lot," said Mr Gorbachev, "I do it directly." He also said Russia's judicial system was not properly constitutional and dismissed members of its parliament as not truly independent. "United Russia is a party of bureaucrats," he said, in an interview with the American news organisation, Associated Press. "It is the worst version of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union." Mr Gorbachev was speaking as the countries of Eastern and Central Europe look towards the 20th anniversary this year of the fall of Communism in Europe, as symbolized by the smashing of the Berlin wall. The BBC correspondent in Moscow, James Rodgers, says that although Mr Gorbachev is respected throughout the world for his role in ending the Cold War, many Russians more readily associate him with the economic hardship that accompanied the end of Communism. Mr Gorbachev himself now says he did not foresee that his policies of openness and reform, "glasnost" and "perestroika", would lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. "I was a resolute opponent of the break-up," he said, expressing the hope that one day Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus might again re-join Russia in a political union. CLICK HERE:Gorbatchev alarmed at Soviet echoes

Brussels, Belgium - BRUSSELS EU QUARTER TO GET A REVAMP - Brussels officials have given the go-ahead for a major facelift of the city's European quarter, which is dominated by EU office blocks. The project aims to mix shops, housing and public spaces with new office buildings, to inject some charm into what has been called an "urban ghetto". The area will be spruced up by French architect Christian de Portzamparc and a team including UK-based Ove Arup. It will include a new tram line. The building work is due to begin in 2011. The European Commission, which occupies the giant Berlaymont building, says it wants the project to "transform the European quarter from the mono-functional administrative area which it is today, to make it a truly diverse and living neighbourhood". The commission says it also wants to reduce its own "environmental footprint" through more efficient buildings and better transport connections. The main street in the area, Rue de la Loi, is often clogged with traffic. Announcing the plans on Thursday, Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas said that "with 80% office space and not enough housing, the European quarter is still seen by many as an urban ghetto". The Berlaymont building was given a major renovation in the 1990s, costing 1bn euros (£890m), after asbestos used in the insulation was found to pose a health hazard. Staff were moved out in 1991 and the building did not reopen until 2004. CLICK HERE:Brussels EU quarter to get revamp


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4.03.2009 Cologne, Germany - COLOGNE ARCHIVE BUILDING COLLAPSES - The six-storey archive building in Cologne collapsed into a pile of rubble. Rescue workers are searching for up to four people still missing after a building housing archives collapsed on Tuesday in the German city of Cologne. Witnesses said there may have been two people inside a car parked outside the archive and another two in a nearby building that subsequently collapsed. The area must be stabilized before rescue teams can move into the rubble. Cracks and groaning noises had alerted staff and visitors at the archive, all of whom escaped before it collapsed. Work was being carried out nearby on a new underground railway, but the company involved said there had been no recent tunnelling. Gregor Timmer, a spokesman for the city of Cologne, said on Wednesday morning that rescue workers had to assume that between two and four people were still missing underneath the rubble of the archive and two neighboring buildings. CLICK HERE:Cologne archive building collapses


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Reporting continues after technical intermission.

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26.02.2009 Sodertalje, Sweden - SWEDEN INVESTIGATES ANTI-US ATTACKS - Three supermarkets have been destroyed and a fourth damaged in central Sweden in what police say might have been a series of anti-American arson attacks. Police spokeswoman Kia Samrell said more than 100 firefighters were called in to put out the fires overnight at the Swedish supermarkets in Sodertalje. Ms Samrell said the police were investigating whether the left-wing group, Global Intifada, was connected. Global Intifada claimed responsibility for two fires in Sodertalje last year. It has also said it was behind arson attacks on vehicles belonging to the Danish and Russian embassies in 2005, and an attack on a Polish consulate in 2004, according to the Swedish Security Service. "The targets have primarily been countries that are participating in the war in Iraq and the Swedish defence industry," it said. The supermarkets targeted on Thursday were branches of Willys, and Ica and Tempo. The chains are all Swedish, but sell American goods. Swedish Radio reports that Global Intifada had recently distributed leaflets in Sodertalje encouraging the public to firebomb shops selling American products. The US embassy in Stockholm has been in contact with the police and has advised people to exercise "caution while shopping and be attentive to suspicious behaviour", Swedish media report. Sodertalje, an industrial town of 60,000 people, received worldwide attention in recent years after accepting nearly 6,000 Iraqi refugees.CLICK HERE:Sweden investigates anti-US attacks

The Hague, Netherland - ICTY KOSOVO TRIAL CLEARS SERBIA LEADER - Serbian ex-President Milan Milutinovic has been acquitted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo by a UN war crimes tribunal. Five former top Serbian officials were found guilty on some or all the charges relating to the 1990s conflict. Their sentences range from 15 to 22 years. It was the court's first ruling on alleged crimes committed by Serbian forces in the breakaway region. Mr Milutinovic was seen largely as a figurehead president during that time. The court found that the 66-year-old, who led Serbia from December 1997 to December 2002, had no direct control over the Yugoslav army. His release from custody was ordered. Judge Iain Bonomy pointed the finger at then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, saying: "In practice, it was Milosevic, sometimes termed the 'Supreme Commander', who exercised actual command authority over the [Serb army] during the Nato campaign." CLICK HERE:ICTY Kosovo trial clears Serbia leader

Riga, Latvia - DOMBROSKI CHOSEN AS LATVIAN PM - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has nominated former finance minister Valdis Dombrovskis as prime minister and asked him to form a new government. Mr Dombrovskis, who is a member of the European Parliament, is from the main centre-right opposition party, New Era. After being nominated, Mr Dombrovskis warned that Latvia was "on the verge of bankruptcy" and would need to make budget cuts or risk financial collapse. Ivars Godmanis resigned as PM last week amid protests at the economic crisis. Latvia's economy is in recession and is expected to contract by up to 12% in 2009, with unemployment rising by 50%. Mr Dombrovskis, 37, will now hold talks with Latvia's political parties on forming a new government. If they are successful, a list of ministers will be submitted to parliament for a confidence vote. "I wish Valdis Dombrovskis luck," Mr Zatlers said on Thursday. CLICK HERE:

London, England - MINISTER ADMITS TERRORISM TRANSFER - Ministers have admitted they handed over terror suspects in Iraq to US authorities, sparking claims of collusion in extraordinary rendition. Defense secretary John Hutton said two men detained in 2004 were transferred to US custody and were then transported to Afghanistan, where they remain. He said he was reassured they had been treated humanely but apologised for past incorrect answers given to MPs. The Tories said the UK faced charges of being "complicit with serious abuse". The Lib Dems said Mr Hutton's comments raised "as many questions as answers" and called for all relevant documents in the case to be published. Mr Hutton said that contrary to previous statements he now knew UK officials were aware that the two men, understood to be Pakistani nationals, had been transferred to US custody in 2004 but that no action had been taken on the issue. He said "brief references" to the case had been included in papers sent to then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Home Secretary Charles Clarke in April 2006 but its significance had not been highlighted at the time. CLICK HERE:Minister admits terrorism transfer


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25.02.2009 Tallin, Estonia - ESTONIAN SPY SOLD NATO SECRETS - A former Estonian defense ministry official who sold Nato secrets to Russia has been sent to jail for 12 and a half years after a secret trial. Herman Simm, a former head of security, pleaded guilty to treason on Wednesday. The court where he was tried did not reveal which country he spied for, but investigators said Mr Simm passed nearly 3,000 documents to Russia. They said he received 1.3m kroons (£73,000; $106,000) for the data. The Kremlin denied any involvement. Nato made no comment, but the case, which is Estonia's biggest spy scandal since the Cold War, is seen as an embarrassment for the former Soviet state. Estonia joined Nato in 2004, angering Russia. Investigators said Mr Simm, who used to be Estonia's police chief, had been working for the Russian intelligence service (known as SVR) since 1995, when he joined the Estonian defense ministry. He became head of security at the ministry in 2000, handling classified information regarding Nato's communications and surveillance systems. The investigators added Mr Simm met his SVR handlers, named as Valery Zemtsov and Sergei Yakovlev, three or four times a year in different European countries. Mr Simm, 61, was arrested last September. An international arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Yakovlev, who also uses a fake Portuguese identity. Jaanus Rahumagi, the head of the Estonian parliament's security affairs committee, said: "I believe Simm was happy to be involved with such a big game. He liked to be undercover and secretive." Mr Simm, who co-operated with the investigation, has been ordered to pay 20.2m kroons in damages to the Estonian defense ministry. CLICK HERE:Estonian spy sold NATO secrets

Amsterdam, Netherlands - TURKISH BOEING 737-800 CRASH IN AMSTERDAM - A Turkish Airlines plane has crashed on landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol international airport, killing nine people and injuring 84, six critically. The plane, carrying 126 passengers and seven crew, crashed short of the runway near the A9 highway. It broke into three pieces, but did not catch fire. Three of those killed are crew members. Their bodies have been left in the cockpit while investigations continue. Officials said it was unclear why the plane, en route from Istanbul, crashed. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft came down at 1031 local time (0931 GMT), several hundred yards (metres) short of the runway. It had left Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at 0622 GMT. CLICK HERE:Turkish Boeing 737-800 crash in Amsterdam


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24.02.2009 Rome, Italy - SARKOZY AND BERLUSCONI SIGN NUCLEAR DEAL - Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have agreed that their countries will work together to revive nuclear power in Italy. The Italian power company, ENEL, and its French counterpart, EDF, agreed a deal to study the feasibility of building four power stations in Italy. They would replace those closed in accordance with a referendum held after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. Since then Italy has become the world's biggest net importer of electricity. Shortly after taking office in May, Mr Berlusconi's centre-right government announced plans to build nuclear power stations to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil and gas. Earlier this month, Sweden's government unveiled plans to overturn a nearly 30-year-old decision to gradually phase out nuclear power. The Italian and French leaders signed the nuclear co-operation deal in front of TV cameras after talks in the Italian capital on Tuesday. CLICK HERE:Sarkozy and >Berlusconi sign nuclear deal

Stockholm, Sweden - SWEDEN'S CROWN PRINCESS TO MARRY - Sweden's Royal Court has announced the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to her long-term boyfriend, commoner Daniel Westling. Victoria, 31, and Mr Westling, a 35-year-old gym owner, have been in a relationship since 2002. A statement from the court said the wedding was planned for the middle of next year. Once married, Mr Westling would assume the title of Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland, said the court. Victoria is first in line to succeed her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, to the Swedish throne. He met government ministers to ask for their approval for the marriage, as required by the constitution. Sweden's monarchy had no political powers, but the king or queen represents the country and receives foreign dignitaries. CLICK HERE:Sweden's crown princess to marry

Madrid, Spain - SPAIN MAY ACCEPT SOME GUANTANAMO INMATES - Spain's foreign minister has said his country is prepared "in principle" to take in some inmates released from the Guantanamo Bay US military camp. Miguel Angel Moratinos was speaking after a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. He said Spain would consider taking prisoners on a case by case basis and only under acceptable legal conditions. About 250 people are still held in the camp, which President Barack Obama has ordered to be shut down within a year. However questions remain over where the inmates will be sent once released. Among them are several high risk prisoners, including the man believed to have mastermind the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and other al-Qaeda or Taleban suspects. CLICK HERE:Spain may accept some Guantanamo inmates


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23.02.2009 Madrid, Spain - SPANISH JUSTICE MINISTER RESIGNS - Spain's justice minister has announced his resignation after being criticized for going on a hunting trip with a prominent investigative judge. Mariano Fernandez Bermejo was accused of interfering in a probe by Judge Baltasar Garzon into alleged corruption in the opposition Popular Party. Mr Fernandez Bermejo said he could not "tolerate the use being made of this against" the Socialist government. On Friday, Mr Garzon was taken to hospital following an anxiety attack. He is one of six investigating judges for Spain's National Court which, like many other European countries, operates an inquisitorial system, as opposed to the adversarial system used by the US and UK. Mr Garzon came to prominence in the late 1990s, when he campaigned for the extradition of former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet, from London to Spain for human rights abuses. CLICK HERE:Spanish justice minister resigns

Bucharest, Romaia - EXPLOSION AT ROMANIAN NUCLEAR LAB - A Romanian officer has been killed in a blast at a military laboratory dealing with nuclear, biological and chemical research, Romanian officials say. The defense ministry says the man, aged 37, died of his injuries after the explosion in Bucharest. The cause of the blast was not immediately known, but the ministry says it "does not pose any threat to the population" and there was no fire. It says an investigation is now under way into the accident. The officer who died was identified by the military officials as Octavian Viorel Mihai. At least two other people were injured in the explosion. Romanian defense ministry spokesman Costi Spanu said the laboratory did not handle materials "that could cause panic", the Associated Press news agency reported. CLICK HERE:Explosion at Romanian nuclear lab

London, England - FREED DETAINEE - HAPPY TO BE HOME - A British resident detained at Guantanamo Bay for more than four years has said he is "extraordinarily happy to be home" in the UK. Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed, 30, was released on Monday afternoon after he landed at RAF Northolt in London and underwent questioning by police. Mr Mohamed says he was tortured while in custody on suspicion of terrorism. He said his worst moment was when he realized his alleged torturers were receiving material from UK agents. Mr Mohamed arrived at lunchtime after a nine hour flight from the US-owned detention camp in Cuba. He was questioned for nearly five hours, before being driven off to an unknown destination arranged for him by his legal team. The Home Office said he would be given temporary admission until a decision is made on whether he can stay permanently in the UK. CLICK HERE:Detainee - happy to be home-

Lazkao, Basque Country, Spain - BASQUE SOCIALIST OFFICES BOMBED - A bomb has exploded outside the local headquarters of the Basque Socialist Party in the Basque town of Lazkao. The blast followed a telephone warning claiming to be from the Basque separatist group, Eta, police said. It caused some damage but no-one was hurt. The bombing comes ahead of regional assembly elections in the Basque Country to be held on Sunday. Polls show the governing Basque nationalist PNV could lose their 30-year hold on power to the Socialists. Spanish courts have barred two other Basque nationalist parties from taking part in Sunday's elections, ruling that they are linked to Eta. CLICK HERE:Basque socialist offices bombed


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22.02.2009 Berlin, Germany - EU LEADERS BACK FINANCIAL CLAMPDOWN - European leaders in Berlin have agreed on the need to regulate all financial markets including hedge funds. Leaders of Europe's major economies said a global solution was needed to the current financial crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted that leaders faced an "extraordinary international crisis", but leaders including UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned against reverting to protectionism in such a difficult economic climate. The Berlin gathering is a precursor to the next meeting of the G20 group of major developed and developing countries in London on April 2, which aims to rewrite the rules of the global financial system. "There is a need for a global new deal so that the world economy can recover" said Mr Brown to ensure an economy that is based on the "soundest principles". CLICK HERE:EU leaders back financial clampdown

London, England - IMMIGRANTS FACE TIGHTER WORK RULES - Immigrants should not be able to take a skilled job in the UK unless it has been advertised to British workers, the home secretary has said. The government had to make sure policy on overseas workers was "responding to the current economic circumstances", Jacqui Smith told the BBC. She has also ordered an investigation into the impact of the arrival of families of immigrant workers. The number of non-UK-born workers in Britain reached 3.8 million last year. Workers from non-EU countries are categorized by a points-based system that decides whether they can find work in the UK, while there are no restrictions on EU citizens. Ms Smith told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "Given the current economic situation, it is right for us now to look at that points-based system and to make sure that it is responding to the current economic circumstances. "I'm proposing, for example, that it shouldn't be possible for somebody to come into this country to take a skilled job unless that job has been advertised to a British worker through Jobcentre Plus." From April, non-EU workers wanting to come to Britain without securing a job beforehand must have a master's degree, rather than a bachelor's degree, as currently, and a previous salary equivalent to at least £20,000. CLICK HERE:Migrants face tighter work rules
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT (COMMENT: For the post of minister there should be a minimal requirement of a master's degree in political science!)

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21.02.2009 London, England - HAIN VOICES FEAR OVER BNP VICTORY - A former minister has warned that the UK's main parties are "complacent" about the British National Party, after the BNP won a local election victory. Labour MP Peter Hain told the BBC that Labour's own supporters were being targeted by the far-right. He said the government needed to make sure local, rather than foreign, workers were prioritised for jobs. A BNP leader said the recession had helped the party win because potential supporters were being hit hardest. Mr Hain was speaking after the BNP won a seat at a by-election for Sevenoaks Council in Kent. The seat, in the Swanley St Mary's ward, was previously held by a Labour councillor. BNP candidate Paul Golding received 408 votes, beating Labour's Mike Hogg by 86 votes. Mr Golding said local young people has voted BNP because they found it "almost impossible" to get a council house. He blamed a policy that allocated council houses to "foreigners and asylum seekers". Mr Hain said: "All political parties, but especially the Labour party, have got to prioritize the fight against the BNP. He said there was a "real danger" of complacency in the Labour party. "It is areas when Labour has traditionally been strong, like Swanley, where the BNP has been making a great deal of headway and exploiting fears and spreading their racist and fascist beliefs." "We need to take them on at the grass roots level and as a government we need to be making sure that we address the fears the BNP are exploiting." BNP deputy leader Simon Darby said the recession and people's fears about the economy were the main factor in its victory - which the party has hailed as a "significant breakthrough" in south east England. CLICK HERE:Hain voices fear over BNP victory

Dublin, Ireland - HUGE PROTEST OVER IRISH ECONOMY - About 100,000 people have taken part in protests in Dublin city centre to vent their anger at the Irish government's handling of the country's recession. They oppose plans to impose a pension levy on 350,000 public sector workers. Trade union organizers of the march said workers did not cause the economic crisis but were having to pay for it. In a statement, the Irish government said it recognised that the measures it was taking were "difficult and in some cases painful". The pension levy was "reasonable", the government said. It reflected "the reality that we are not in a position to continue to meet the public service pay bill in the circumstances of declining revenue", it added. CLICK HERE:Huge protest over Irish economy


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20.02.2009 Riga, Latvia - LATVIA PM QUITS AS CRISIS BITES - Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and his center-right government have resigned, amid turmoil triggered by economic crisis in the Baltic state. President Valdis Zatlers has accepted the resignations and is beginning talks to try to form a new administration. The country's economy is in recession and is set to contract by up to 12% in 2009, with unemployment rising by 50%. Latvia's is the second European government, after Iceland, to fall as a direct result of global economic woes. Earlier, the two largest parties in Latvia's ruling coalition, the People's Party and the Union of Greens and Farmers, both demanded Mr Godmanis's resignation. People's Party Chairman Mareks Seglins said it was the only way to help boost public trust in the unpopular government. A protest over economic policy in the capital, Riga, on 13 January ended in more than 100 arrests. More than 40 people were injured. CLICK HERE:Latvia PM quits as crisis bites

Brussels, Belgium - EU COMMISSION HAILS ENLARGEMENT - The European Commission says the 27-nation EU must not let the current economic crisis jeopardise the gains of eastward enlargement. A commission report says the accession of 12 states since 2004, mostly ex-Soviet bloc countries, boosted living standards and business opportunities. It said enlargement served as an anchor for stability and driver of democracy, but there are concerns that EU states may be tempted to prop up weak domestic firms at their neighbors' expense. The BBC's Chris Mason in Brussels says the impact of the economic crisis threatens to undermine the single market, a founding tenet of European integration. CLICK HERE:EU commission hails enlargement

Banja Luka, Republika Srpska -.SERBS ORDERED TO PAY FOR MODSQUES - Serb authorities in Bosnia-Hercegovina have been ordered to pay $42m (£26m) to local Muslims for the destruction of mosques during the Bosnian civil war. All 16 mosques in Banja Luka, the main town of the Serb-run Republika Srpska, were destroyed in the 1992-1995 war. A lawyer for the area's Muslim community said the local court verdict was of historic importance. Hundreds of religious buildings were destroyed in the conflict, in which about 100,000 civilians were killed. The local court ruling came nine years after the Bosnian Islamic Community sued the Bosnian Serb government and Banja Luka city authorities for the destruction of the shrines in 1993. The Islamic Community said more than 1,000 of its objects were destroyed or damaged during the war. CLICK HERE:Serbs ordered to pay for mosques


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19.02.2009 Moscow, Russia - POLITKOVSKAYA SUSPECTS ACQUITTED - A Russian military court has acquitted three men accused of aiding the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya in October 2006. The court in Moscow handed down "not guilty" verdicts on ex-police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov. A third brother, Rustam, is accused of the actual murder and remains at large. The head of Russian journalists' union said he was "ashamed" by the verdicts. Prosecutors said they would appeal. Ms Politkovskaya, who gained prominence by exposing human rights abuses by the Russian army in Chechnya, was shot in her apartment building in Moscow. The brutal murder of the reporter, who worked for the small-circulation Novaya Gazeta newspaper, highlighted the risks run by journalists in Russia.CLICK HERE:Politkovskaya suspects acquitted

La Reja, Argentina - ARGENTINA EXPELS HOLOCAUST BISHOP - Argentina has ordered an ultra-traditionalist British bishop who denies the Holocaust to leave the country or face expulsion. The interior ministry said Richard Williamson had been given 10 days to leave Argentina. Earlier this month the bishop was removed from his post as the head of a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina. A row erupted in January after the Pope decided to lift Bishop Williamson's excommunication on an unrelated matter. The Vatican said the Pope had been unaware of Bishop Williamson's views and had since ordered him to recant. Argentina's interior ministry said on Thursday that Bishop Williamson "has concealed the true motive for his stay in the country". He had said he was an employee of a non-governmental group rather than declaring "his true activity" as the director of a seminary, the ministry stated. Bishop Williamson's views on the Holocaust have provoked outrage. CLICK HERE:Argentina expels Holocaust bishop

Brussels, Belgium - Czech President Vaclav Klaus has accused the European Parliament of contributing to a sense of political alienation among EU citizens. Mr Klaus told MEPs in Brussels that "between citizens and EU representatives there is a great distance, not only geographically". The Czech Republic currently holds the EU's six-monthly rotating presidency. Some MEPs walked out of the chamber during Mr Klaus's speech, which was punctuated by both applause and boos. The Czech leader criticized those EU politicians who "assume that there is only one possible correct future for European integration, which is ever closer union". CLICK HERE:Czech leader scorns EU politics
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT (COMMENT:The Czech leader very possibly harbors deep resentiments visa á vis closer European union stemming from the unhappy union with Slovakia.)

London, England - Radical preacher Abu Qatada has been awarded £2,500 in compensation by the European Court of Human Rights. Judges ruled that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "very disappointed" with the award, but it was "not always possible" to bring terror suspects to trial. On Wednesday, Law Lords ruled that Abu Qatada, 48, could be deported to Jordan despite fears he could face torture. Abu Qatada has been held both in Belmarsh high security prison and under 22-hour home curfew. His lawyers have already submitted an application to the European Court appealing against his deportation. Shadow security minister Crispin Blunt said the pay-out was "an appalling scandal". CLICK HERE:Cleric Qatada given compensation
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT (COMMENT: "If that is the law, Sir, then the law is an ass!" Charles Dickens.)


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18.02.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - LISBON CLEARS A MAJOR CZECH HURDLE - The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a key step towards ratification. The treaty has not yet been approved by the upper house, the Senate, where its passage is likely to be further delayed by right-wing opponents. The Czech Republic, current holder of the EU's rotating presidency - is among a handful of countries that have not yet ratified the reform treaty. It was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum last June. It cannot take effect unless all 27 EU member states ratify it. The Republic of Ireland government plans to hold a new referendum on the treaty this year, having secured sovereignty "guarantees" from EU leaders. On Wednesday the Czech lower house voted 125 to 61 to adopt the document, aimed at streamlining EU institutions to make them more flexible after the 27-nation bloc's enlargement in recent years. CLICK HERE:Lisbon clears a major Czech hurdle

Paris, France - SARKOZY AIMS TO HEAD OFF UNREST - President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed tax breaks and benefits to help French people cope with the economic crisis. The measures were announced as he met labour unions and employers to try to calm mounting economic unrest. With his popularity ratings at an all-time low, the meeting is seen as a crucial one for President Sarkozy, correspondents say. In January more than a million people marched in protest at the government's handling of the economic crisis, and the unions have called for another general strike on March 19. CLICK HERE:Sarkozy aims to head off unrest

Brussels, Belgium - EU ACTS AS BUDGET DEFICIT BULGES - The European Commission has taken disciplinary steps to tackle swelling budget deficits in six EU countries. It said that France, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Latvia and Malta had breached EU rules by allowing their budget deficits to exceed 3% of GDP in 2008. The global downturn has taken its toll on public finances as countries try to spend their way out of recession. The Commission said it would issue a deadline in March for the countries to reduce their deficits. The countries will now be subject to the EU's excessive deficit procedure and countries will be invited to take steps to reduce their deficits. CLICK HERE:EU acts as budget deficit bulges

Stockholm, Sweden - EU COOL TO GM CALLS FOR HELP - The UK, Germany and Sweden have reacted coolly to calls for $6bn (£4.2bn) of aid from US car giant General Motors. The UK said it was still considering the details. Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a plan for GM's German Opel brand before aid could be considered. Swedish industry minister Maud Olofsson said it was up to the US carmaker to save its Sweden-based unit Saab. GM said that it needed billions of dollars from several governments outside the US. CLICK HERE:EU cool to GM calls or help

Rome, Italy - TEACHER SUSPENDED OVER CRUCIFIX - A teacher in Italy has been suspended after some students complained that he removed a crucifix from his classroom. Franco Coppoli, a literature teacher from Umbria, took down the crucifix in his classroom arguing that education and religion should not be mixed. Some of his students complained and now the National Education Council has suspended Mr Coppoli for a month. The hanging of crosses in public buildings is not compulsory in Italy but it is customary. The case follows a decision this week by Italy's Supreme Court to quash a conviction of a judge who refused to enter courts where crucifixes were hanging. Judge Luigi Tosti, who is Jewish, had been given a seven-month jail sentence for failing to carry out his official duties. He had earlier issued an ultimatum declaring that either he or the crosses should remain the courtroom, not both. CLICK HERE:Teacher suspended over crucifix


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17.02.2009 Sardinia, Italy - ITALIAN OPPOSITION LEADER RESIGNS - Italy's center-left opposition leader, Walter Veltroni, has resigned after a his Democratic Party lost a key local election on the island of Sardinia. The result consolidated the hold on power of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's center-right alliance, after its candidate for governor won. Mr Veltroni had been criticized for failing to make gains on the government despite the deepening recession. He said he would give a press conference on Wednesday. Mr Veltroni led the centre-left into the general election last April after Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned, but lost to Mr Berlusconi and his allies. He has since failed to make up ground on his rival. In Sardinia, Mr Berlusconi's candidate and son of his tax advisor, Ugo Cappellacci, ousted the center-left governor, Renato Soru, the founder of the Tiscali internet company. It put the prime minister's ally in charge of a region where he owns a luxury seaside mansion and spends lots of time CLICK HERE:Italian opposition leader resigns

Milan, Italy - UK LAWYER FOUND GUILTY IN BRIBERY CASE - An Italian court has found British tax lawyer David Mills guilty of accepting a bribe of about 350,000 euros (£400,000) from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mills, the estranged husband of UK Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail at a court in Milan. Mills, 64, was not in court and is expected to appeal. Mr Berlusconi, who last year passed a law making himself immune from prosecution, has denied paying a bribe. In a statement, Mills said he was "very disappointed" at the verdict. "I am innocent, but this is a highly political case," he said. "The judges have not yet given their reasons for their decision, so I cannot say how they dealt with the prosecutor's own admission that he had no proof. CLICK HERE:UK lawyer found guilty in bribery case

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN JUDGE RESIGNS OVER ALLEGED BRIBE - The deputy head of the Russian Supreme Court has resigned after his son was arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe from a suspect due to face trial. Alexander Karpov's son, Vladimir, was detained on Saturday in Oryol after allegedly accepting $28,000 (£19,000) from a local resident, reports said. The judge, who oversees criminal cases, said he had not seen his son for five years and denied any impropriety. A court spokesman said the resignation was a matter of judicial etiquette. In July, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described corruption in his country as a threat to national security. Russia is among the countries which have not signed the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's convention against bribery and is frequently criticised by anti-corruption watchdogs. CLICK HERE:Russian judge resigns over aölleged bribe

Stockholm, Sweden - SWEDISH TRAIN VANDALIZED AS SO-CALLED ART PROJECT - Stockholm's transport authority (SL) has demanded compensation from an arts college after a student was involved in an act of vandalism on a metro train. SL Chairman Christer Wennerholm said the authority intended to seek 100,000 kronor ($11,500; £8,000) in damages. Passengers on the metro were terrified when a masked man spray-painted graffiti inside, smashed a window and jumped through it onto the platform. The rampage was filmed and later appeared as part of an art thesis. The two-minute video entitled Territorial Pissing was submitted to the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) by master's degree student Magnugs Nugstafsson. CLICK HERE:Swedish train vandalized as so-called art project
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT (COMMENT: Paint-spraying, like other contemporary graphic happenings, is artistic fraud, and emanates from arrogance and agression, born of psychic disorder. Pure art needs no chaotic interpretation, it is in itself sublime. Let us return to the Impressionists and develope art far beyond, before photography rudely interrupted.)



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16.02.2009 Faslane, Scotland - UK AND FRENCH NUCLEAR SUBS COLLIDE IN ATLANTIC - A Royal Navy nuclear submarine was involved in a collision with a French nuclear sub in the middle of the Atlantic, the MoD has confirmed. HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant were badly damaged in the crash in heavy seas earlier this month. First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the submarines came into contact at low speed and no injuries were reported. Both the UK and France insisted nuclear security had not been compromised. Factfile: HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant BBC defense correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the incident was "incredibly embarrassing" for the Ministry of Defense (MoD). HMS Vanguard returned to its home base Faslane on the Firth of Clyde under her own power on February 14. "Very visible dents and scrapes" could be seen as tugs towed her in to the port on the final stage of the journey, our correspondent said. The submarines are equipped with sonar to detect other vessels nearby but our correspondent said it might be the case that the anti-sonar devices, meant to hide the submarines from enemies, were "too effective". "This is clearly a one-in-a-million chance when you think about how big the Atlantic is," she said. The two submarines are key parts of each nation's nuclear deterrent, and would have been carrying missiles, though both the UK and France have insisted there was no danger of a nuclear incident. CLICK HERE:UK and French nuclear subs collide in Atlantic

Paris, France - FRENCH HOLOCAUST ROLE RECOGNIZEDFrance's highest court has recognized the state's "responsibility" for the deportation of Jews in World War II. The Council of State said the state had permitted or facilitated deportations that led to anti-Semitic persecution without being coerced by the occupiers, but the council also found reparations had since been made "as much as was possible, for all the losses suffered". Correspondents say the ruling is the clearest such recognition of the French state's role in the Holocaust. Between 1942 and 1944 some 76,000 Jews were deported from France by the Vichy government in collaboration with the German occupying army. CLICK HERE:French Holocaust role recognized

Rome, Italy - The authorities in Rome have begun dismantling illegal camps amid an outcry over three rapes last weekend that have been blamed on immigrants. Mayor Gianni Alemanno supervised the demolition of about 30 camps, home to many Roma, or Gypsies, from Romania. A 14-year-old girl was raped in a park in the capital on Saturday, allegedly by two men from Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, a government minister has said surgical castration might be the best option for those who raped minors..The call by Mr Calderoli, a leading member of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, comes as the government prepares new measures aimed at dealing with both crime and illegal immigrants. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, his party colleague, said it would push through an emergency decree this week speeding up legislation aimed at creating "groups of unnamed citizens" in high-risk areas, who would "assist the police by bringing to their attention events which might be damaging to urban security". CLICK HERE:Rome to dismantle illegal camps

Lanzarote, Gran Canaria - AFRICAN MIGRANTS DROWNED AT SEA - Nineteen people, including an eight-year-old girl, drowned when a migrant boat capsized 20m (65ft) from shore in the Canary Islands, rescuers say. Three people are still said to be missing after the boat, carrying mainly North African migrants, overturned off the eastern coast of Lanzarote. Local residents rescued six people from the vessel after Sunday's accident. Emergency services recovered 14 more bodies from the sea, a day after five others were pulled out of the water. Rescue helicopters have been scouring for any other survivors, but police say hopes are fading fast. Anibal Betancourt, who took part in the rescue operation, told local radio they found survivors "clinging to the sinking boat and screaming", reported the AFP news agency. Most of the migrants involved are said to be from Morocco. CLICK HERE:African migrants drowned at sea

Linz, Austria - POPE'S CHOICE FOR BISHOP DECLINES - A Roman Catholic priest has asked Pope Benedict to revoke his appointment as a bishop in Austria, after his promotion led to protests within the Church. Gerhard Maria Wagner said the "fierce criticism" had persuaded him to ask not to be named auxiliary bishop of Linz. Father Wagner has described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for the sins of New Orleans, and the Harry Potter novels as satanic. The Catholic news agency Kathpress says the Pope has agreed to the request. Pope Benedict's promotion of Father Wagner came a week after another PR storm, which erupted after the Pope lifted the excommunication of a bishop who denied the Holocaust. CLICK HERE:Pope's choice for bishop declines

Moscow, Russia - NUMBER OF RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRES DWINDLES - The number of Russian billionaires was cut to 49 from 101 in 2008 by the global downturn, according to Russian business magazine Finans. Mikhail Prokhorov, 43-year old technology and mining tycoon, tops the rich list with $14.1bn (£9.9bn). He sold most of his assets last year just before the financial crisis. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is second with $13.9bn, while last year's richest Russian, Oleg Deripaska, fell to eighth place with $4.9bn. The financial crisis has cut the combined fortune of the 10 richest Russians by 66% to $75.9bn, the magazine says. Russia, among many other emerging economies, has been hit hard by the global financial and economic crisis after a decade of soaring economic growth. The government estimates that growth fell to 5.6% in 2008 from 8.1% a year earlier. In January, Russia's deputy prime minister said economic growth would be close to zero in 2009. Russia's economic growth. Russia's super rich: Mikhail Prokhorov - $14.1bn, Roman Abramovich - $13.9bn Vladimir Lisin - $7.7bn; Vagit Alekperov - $7.6bn; Suleiman Kerimov - $7.5bn; Mikhail Fridman - $6.1bn; Vladimir Potanin - $5bn; Oleg Deripaska - $4.9bn; Dmitry Rybolovlev - $4.6bn; Alisher Usmanov (Arsenal FC shareholder) - $4.5bn CLICK HERE:Number of Russian billionaires dwindles


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15.02.2009 Dresden, Germany - (Transl.:webmaster@euro_news_clip) - THOUSANDS IN DRESDEN DEMONSTRATE AGAINST NEONAZI MARCH -More than 12,000 people took to the streets in Dresden.The majority demonstrated against the march of 5000 Neonazis on the anniversary of the bombing of Dresden in the Second World War. Simultaneously, more than 2500 autonomes also participated in a march. There were altercations. Dresden, all of the Dresden, seems to be in action on the remembrance day of the bombing of the city 64 years ago. About 7500 participants, according to those who were involved, attended several soilidarity demonstrations of the supra-party political alliance "Walk and Think". At the same time, according into police, about 5000 Neonazis and more than 2500 autonomes marched through the downtown area. CLICK HERE:Thousands in Dresden demonstrate against Neonazi march


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14.02.2009 Rome, Italy - G7 PLEDGES TO AVOID PROTECTIONISM - Leading industrial countries have pledged to avoid protectionism as they battle the global economic crisis. Finance ministers at a G7 meeting in Italy said raising barriers to free trade would make the downturn worse. Hours earlier, the US Congress approved an $787bn economic recovery plan that includes a 'Buy American' clause. G7 ministers said stabilizing the world economy and financial markets was their priority. They said they would work together to support growth and jobs. The 'Buy American' clause has raised fears that protectionism could be growing in the world's largest economy, but in a statement after the meeting, new US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner dismissed such concerns. "All countries need to sustain a commitment to open trade and investment policies which are essential to economic growth and prosperity," he said. Ministers also called for urgent reform to the International Monetary Fund, saying the crisis had shown weaknesses in the world financial system. "We agree that a reformed IMF, endowed with additional resources, is crucial to respond effectively and and flexibly to the current crisis," the ministers' statement said. Other points included: Praise for recent economic moves by China; help for banks; and the need for a speedy end to the Doha talks on world trade The G7 comprises the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Canada. CLICK HERE:G7 pledges to avoid protectionism

Rome, Italy - ITALIAM POLICE WARN OF SKYPE THREAT - Criminals in Italy are increasingly making phone calls over the internet in order to avoid getting caught through mobile phone intercepts, police say. Officers in Milan say organised crime, arms and drugs traffickers, and prostitution rings are turning to Skype in order to frustrate investigators. The police say Skype's encryption system is a secret which the company refuses to share with the authorities. Investigators have become increasingly reliant on wiretaps in recent years. Customs and tax police in Milan have sounded the alarm. They overheard a suspected cocaine trafficker telling an accomplice to switch to Skype in order to get details of a 2kg (4.4lb) drug consignment. Use of wiretaps by prosecutors in Italy has grown exponentially in recent years. Investigators say intercepts of telephone calls have become an essential tool of the police, who spend millions of dollars each year tracking down crime through wiretaps of landlines and mobile phones, but the law may be about to change. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing government has drawn up a bill which would restrict police wiretaps to only the most serious crimes. CLICK HERE:Italian police warn of skype threat


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13.02.2009 Brussels, Belgium - EU HIT BY ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN - European economies contracted in the fourth quarter of last year, with some countries registering the worst figures in decades, official data shows. The eurozone economy shrank by 1.5% in the previous quarter and 1.2% on the year, Eurostat said. Germany's economy shrank by 2.1% compared with the previous quarter, its worst quarterly performance since 1990. France shrank by 1.2%, initial data shows, while Italy registered a drop of 1.8%, the steepest drop since 1980. The data puts pressure on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates. In the whole of 2008, the economy in the 15 countries using the euro grew by 0.7% against the previous year, Eurostat said. Slovakia joined the eurozone on 1 January 2009, making it a 16-country club. ... The Dutch economy shrank 0.9% during the quarter while the Austrian economy eased by 0.2%, the first drop in nearly eight years. In the same quarter, Portugal's economy contracted by 2% on the previous quarter and 2.1% on the previous year. "These are huge contractions in Europe, the largest in living memory in most cases," said Ken Wattret, economist at BNP Paribas. Companies have cut investment and exports have dropped as the global recession has taken hold. CLICK HERE:EU hit by economic slowdown

London, England - UK BAN OF DUTCH MP CRITISIEZThe government has come under fire after banning a Dutch MP from entering the UK over anti-Islamic remarks. Former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo said by turning away Geert Wilders, ministers had made a "populist twit and bigot" world famous. The Freedom Party MP had been invited to a House of Lords screening of his film, linking the Koran to terrorism. Muslim groups backed the government's decision and labelled Mr Wilder "an open and relentless preacher of hate". Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, caused outrage across the Muslim world last year when he posted his film, Fitna, on the internet. Now he is at the centre of further controversy following an invitation from the UK Independence Party's Lord Pearson to show his film in the House of Lords. Lord Pearson told the BBC it was a "matter of free speech" and the film would only be offensive to violent Islamists. CLICK HERE:UK ban of Dutch MP criticized

Brussels, Belgium - EURO PARLIAMENT ROBBER AT LARGE - Belgian police are hunting for a man who stole about 60,000 euros (£54,000) from a bank in the European Parliament, after brandishing a pistol at staff. It was not yet known if the pistol was real or fake, parliament spokesman Jaume Duch Guillot told the BBC. The man demanded money at an ING bank branch on Thursday after evading checks by the parliament's security personnel. The robbery lasted only a few minutes. The security service is now studying CCTV footage for clues about the man. On Friday, Belgian police said he had taken about 60,000 euros in cash. After the robber fled, staff alerted a nearby security patrol. CLICK HERE:Euro parliament robber at large


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12.02.2009 London, England - DUTCH MP REFUSED ENTRY INTO UK - A Dutch MP who called the Koran a "fascist book" has been sent back to the Netherlands after attempting to defy a ban on entering the UK. Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders had been invited to show his controversial film, which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords, but Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office. He told the BBC it was a "very sad day" for UK democracy. The Dutch ambassador was also at Heathrow to make clear his government's opposition to the ban on Mr Wilders entering the UK. Mr Wilders' film Fitna caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet last year. After being questioned at Heathrow, the MP said he had been to the House of Lords two weeks ago and there had been "no problem". He added: "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not protesting or running through the streets of London." ...Mr Wilders added: "Democracy means differences and debate. It's a very sad day when the UK bans an elected parliamentarian... Of course I will come back." He said the government's actions had proved that Gordon Brown was the "biggest coward in Europe". Mr Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "fully supports the decision" taken by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. Mr Wilders was invited to the House of Lords for a screening of Fitna by the UK Independence Party's Lord Pearson. CLICK HERE:Dutch MP refused entry into UK

The Holy See - POPE CONDEMNS DENIAL OF HOLOCAUST - Pope Benedict XVI has told American Jewish leaders that any denial of the Holocaust is "intolerable", especially if it comes from a clergyman. He was speaking at the Vatican at his first direct talks with Jewish leaders since he lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop. The Jewish leaders appeared to be divided over the pontiff's stance. The Pope has said he was unaware that Bishop Richard Williamson had denied the full extent of the Holocaust. During the meeting, he confirmed he was planning to visit Israel. Vatican sources have said the trip is scheduled for May. The Pope told about 60 delegates from the Conference of American Jewish Organizations that "any denial or minimisation of this terrible crime [was] intolerable", especially from a priest. CLICK HERE:Pope condemns denial of Holocaust


Chicago, ILL - NEANDERTHALS SEPARATE FROM HOMO SAPIENS - Scientists studying the DNA of Neanderthals say they can find no evidence that this ancient species ever interbred with modern humans, but our closest ancestors may well have been able to speak as well as us, said Prof Svante Paabo from Germany's Max Planck Institute. He was speaking in Chicago, US, where he announced the "first draft" of a complete Neanderthal genome. The genetics information has been gleaned from fossils found in Croatia. Prof Svante Paabo confirmed that Neanderthals shared the FOXP2 gene associated with speech and language in modern humans. A total of three billion "letters", covering 60% of the Neanderthal genome, have been sequenced by scientists from Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and 454 Life Sciences Corporation, in Branford, Connecticut. The majority of the sequence comes from bones from Vindija Cave in Croatia. ... "What is exciting now, is that we are beginning to look the other way - from early modern humans into Neanderthals." Professor Chris Stringer, from the Natural History Museum, London, UK, commented: "If the the Neanderthal genome data show little evidence of potential hybridization, that would fit with my view from the fossil evidence that, while interbreeding was probably possible, it may have occurred only rarely, with trivial impact on modern humans. "The populations had been separate for hundreds of thousands of years and I think there would have been significant physical and behavioural differences between them. However, larger samples would be desirable to get a more complete picture, and hopefully those will follow soon." ...Prof Paabo was quick to pour cold water on any suggestion that the genome sequence would facilitate the cloning of a Neanderthal. CLICK HERE:Neaderthals are separate from Homo sapiens

Brussels, Belgium - EU PLANS NEW CHARGES FOR TRUCKS - A panel of Euro MPs has voted to introduce extra road charges to curb congestion and pollution from trucks. The measures, not as yet adopted by EU ministers, and the full European Parliament, would beef up an existing "Eurovignette" directive. EU states would be free to impose levies on trucks using major roads. The current rules only apply to those on highways that cross borders. Congestion charges, like the one in London, would apply to all traffic. The European Commission, which drafted the revised directive, says the new charges would mean an extra 3% cost for road users. CLICK HERE:EU plans new charges for trucks

Nazran, Ingushetia - SEVEN KILLED IN N CAUCASUS CLASH - Four Russian policemen and three suspected rebels have been killed in fighting in Ingushetia, in Russia's troubled North Caucasus, officials say. Gunmen opened fire and then detonated a landmine when police tried to get into a house in the city of Nazran, the Ingush president said. The blast killed four policemen and the gunmen, as well as destroying the two-storey house, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said. Muslim militants have repeatedly clashed with Ingush security forces. CLICK HERE:Seven killed in N Caucasus clash


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11.02.2009 London, England - DUTCH MP BANNED FROM ENTERING UK - A Dutch MP who described the Koran as a "fascist book" has been banned from entering the UK amid fears his presence would endanger public security. Freedom Party MP Geert Wilders was invited to show his controversial film - which links the Islamic holy book to terrorism - in the UK's House of Lords, but Mr Wilders, who faces trial in his own country for inciting hatred, has been denied entry by the Home Office. Mr Wilders said the move was "cowardly" but one peer said it was "welcome". Mr Wilders' film Fitna caused outrage across the Muslim world when it was posted on the internet last year. Its opening scenes show a copy of the Koran followed by footage of the 9/11 attacks in the US and the bombings in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005. The Dutch prime minister has said the film served "no purpose other than to offend". Mr Wilders was asked to show the film at the House of Lords by UK Independence Party peer Lord Pearson. However, he received a letter from the British Embassy in the Netherlands telling him he would not be allowed into the UK. The Home Office said there was a blanket ban on Mr Wilders entering the UK under EU laws enabling member states to exclude someone whose presence could threaten public security. CLICK HERE:Dutch MP banned from entering UK
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT (COMMENT: What ever the grounds this ban denies all the basic principles of the freedom of ideas under which the modern rational society is based and formally constituted. It shall not stand the test of time. Charles Darwin, whose 200th birth anniversary is celebrated today, would be shocked by how little of English Victorian life has survied.)

London, England - UK INCREASE IN FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS - The number of non-UK born workers employed in Britain went up by 214,000 to 3.8 million last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. The number of UK-born workers fell by 278,000 to 25.6 million over the same period, the figures show. Campaigners have urged the government to toughen up entry requirements, but Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the percentage of foreign born workers in the UK, 8% of the workforce, was "lower than in many other countries". He told MPs at prime minister's questions that those calling for more curbs on non-EU migrant workers would "see an impact" on this year's figures thanks to the government's new points based system. He was responding to a question from Tory MP Julian Brazier, who said the government had issued a record 150,000 work permits to non-EU citizens last year. CLICK HERE:UK increase in foreign-born workers

Brussels, Belgium - EU OFFERS SPANISH AUTOWORKERS AID - The European Commission has approved 1.7m euros (£1.5m; $2.2m) in aid for unemployed Spanish car workers hit by the impact of globalisation. Spain applied for the funds to help 1,082 employees from 12 firms in the Castilla y Leon and Aragon regions. The European Globalisation Fund (EGF) allocation also requires approval by EU ministers and the European Parliament. The EGF has up to 500m euros annually at its disposal. It funds retraining and allowances for unemployed workers. Carmakers across the EU are reporting job losses amid a slump in demand owing to the global economic downturn. In the Spanish case, redundancies resulted partly from the relocation of production to Morocco, Turkey and Taiwan. The EGF was set up in December 2006 and so far it has paid out 67.6m euros (£60.4m; $87.5m), corresponding to 12 applications and some 15,000 workers.CLICK HERE:EU offers Spanish autoworkers aid


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10.02.2009 Karlsruhe, Germany - GERMAN CONSTITUTIONAL JUDGES STUDY LISBON TREATY - German ministers have told judges in the country's constitutional court that the Lisbon Treaty will improve democracy and EU decision-making. They were speaking on the first day of a hearing at the constitutional court to decide whether the treaty violates the German constitution. The controversial treaty - not yet ratified by all 27 member states - is aimed at strengthening EU institutions. The German court ruling is expected to come in a few months' time. The treaty was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum last June. A new referendum is planned for this autumn, with the Yes camp hoping that new EU "guarantees" on Irish sovereignty will be enough to persuade voters to back it. The Czech Republic and Poland have not yet ratified the treaty either. All member states have to ratify it for it to take effect. Addressing the court in Karlsruhe, the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said the treaty would boost democracy in Europe and give national parliaments a greater role in the EU legislative process. "The Treaty of Lisbon expressly strengthens the democratic fundamentals of the European Union," he said. Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the treaty did not compromise German sovereignty. Germany's parliament has already approved the treaty, but President Horst Koehler has delayed signing it until the court gives its ruling. Opponents say the treaty is part of a federalist EU agenda that threatens national sovereignty. The also say it differs little from the ill-fated EU constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005. The case against the treaty was brought by Peter Gauweiler, a conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) member of the Bundestag (lower house), and backed by some Left Party MPs. A court ruling could be further delayed by a separate anti-Lisbon complaint brought by Franz Ludwig Graf von Stauffenberg, a lawyer and former CSU deputy. CLICK HERE:German constitutional judges study Lisbon Treaty

Prague, Czech Republic - EU MOVES TO PREVENT PROTECTIONISM - Fears of increasing protectionism in Europe are overshadowing a meeting of EU finance ministers. The Czech EU presidency has announced plans for an informal EU summit before the end of this month to co-ordinate responses to the economic crisis. "The biggest risk at the moment is the risk of protectionism," Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek said. The European Commission is concerned about a French bail-out for carmakers, and is seeking clarification. Commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said there were "a number of concerns" about the French state aid, which was announced on Monday. The commission wants to ensure France's actions do not violate EU competition rules. CLICK HERE:EU moves to prevent protectionism

London, England - FORMER HEAD BANKERS SAY SORRY - The former bosses of the two biggest UK casualties of the banking crisis have apologiszed "profoundly and unreservedly" for their banks' failure. Former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin told MPs on the Treasury Committee he "could not be more sorry" for what had happened. The former bank chiefs also said the bonus culture had contributed to the crisis and needed to be reviewed, but Sir Fred said if bankers felt they were not paid enough, they would leave. Sir Tom McKillop, former RBS chairman, also admitted that his bank's much-criticised purchase of Dutch rival ABN Amro had been a "big mistake". CLICK HERE:Former head bankers say soory


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09.02.2009 Paris, France - FRENCH AUTOMAKERS RECEIVE 6.5 BN EUROS - France has decided to loan 6.5bn euros ($8.5bn, £5.7bn) to three carmakers, President Nicolas Sarkozy has said. Peugeot-Citroen and Renault will receive 3bn euros each, while Renault Trucks, which is owned by Sweden's AB Volvo, will get 500m euros. In exchange, they had pledged to keep French sites open, the president said after talks with carmakers. The car industry is one of France's biggest employers. Demand for cars has plummeted amid the global downturn. Industry secretary Luc Chatel said the terms of the car bail-out foresaw a reining in management bonuses. "This is not a gift. It is not a subsidy. It is a loan offered at an interest rate of 6%," President Sarkozy said. Meanwhile, The European Commission said it would look very carefully at the French car bail-out. CLICK HERE:French automakers receive 6.5 bn euros

Munich, Germany - GERMANY RECEIVES NEW ECONOMY MINISTER - Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is to become Germany's new economy minister, following the surprise resignation of his predecessor Michael Glos. Mr Zu Guttenberg has been proposed by his party, the Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (CSU), and his appointment is due to be a formality. At 37-years-old, he will become the youngest ever person to fill the role. The CSU is part of the coalition government led by Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats. Mr Zu Guttenberg, already a senior member of the CSU, is considered to be one of the rising stars of German politics. "He is young, very young - but that is exactly what I want in the process of renewal," said CSU leader Horst Seehofer. Ms Merkel said on Monday morning that she would accept the resignation of Mr Glos. Mr Glos, 64, said he was resigning for personal reasons, adding that he did not wish to remain in the cabinet following September's federal elections. However, the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin said his departure was ill-timed. "The resignation of the country's economy minister at a time when Germany is facing its worst recession for 60 years is embarrassing for his political allies - and that includes Chancellor Merkel," said our correspondent. CLICK HERE:Germany receives a new Economy Minister

La Rej, Argentina - An ultra-traditionalist British bishop who denies the Holocaust has been removed from his post as the head of a Roman Catholic seminary in Argentina. A statement by the Society of St Pius X said Bishop Richard Williamson's views "in no way" reflected its position. A row erupted last month after the Pope decided to lift Bishop Williamson's excommunication on an unrelated matter. The Vatican said the Pope had been unaware of Bishop Williamson's views and had since ordered him to recant. In a statement, the head of the Latin American chapter of the Society of St Pius X, which runs the seminary in La Reja, said Bishop Williamson had been relieved of his position as director. "Monsignor Williamson's statements do not in any way reflect the position of our congregation," said Father Christian Bouchacourt. "It is clear that a Catholic bishop cannot speak with ecclesiastical authority except on matters concerning faith and morality," his statement said. Bishop Williamson provoked outrage when he said he believed there had been no Nazi gas chambers. CLICK HERE:Seminary dismisses Holocaust bishop

Madrid, Spain - CAR BOMB SKES SPANISH CAPITAL - A van loaded with a bomb has exploded near a conference centre and railway line in the east of Spain's capital, Madrid, reportedly causing no injuries. The bomb exploded outside the Campo de las Naciones at around 0900 (0800 GMT), about 90 minutes after a warning was received by the Spanish Red Cross. Police were able to cordon off the entire area and clear the trade fair centre before the blast occurred. The Spanish authorities have blamed the Basque separatist movement, Eta. Eta has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people and for numerous car bombs during its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. The Spanish Red Cross received a telephone call shortly at 0737 (0637 GMT) on Monday morning, naming the street in eastern Madrid where the bomb had been left inside a parked Peugeot van. CLICK HERE:Car bomb shakes Spanish capital

Riga, Latvia - LATVIA'S ECONOMY SHRINKS RAPIDLY - Latvia's economy has shrunk at the fastest rate since the early 1990s, when it split from the Soviet Union, the statistics office has estimated. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 10.5% in the last quarter of 2008 from the same period a year earlier. The Latvian economy had been booming for several years, driven by consumer demand, but was hit hard last year amid the global financial crisis. Economists believe that Latvia's GDP could fall as much as 10% this year. "We are dropping in the hole faster than we expected," said Andris Vilks, chief economist at banking group SEB. "I would say that we will see double-digit [GDP] decreases for the first and second quarter." Manufacturing output plummeted 11.3% in the quarter in comparison with a year ago, while the retail trade sector fell 15.6% and hotel and restaurant businesses plunged 24.8%. CLICK HERE:Latvia's economy shrinks rapidly


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08.02.2009 Munich, Germany - RUSSIA POSITIVE ON US APPROACH - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has welcomed the US promise to "re-set the button" in their relationship as a "very positive" move. He met US Vice-President Joe Biden at a security conference in Munich, a day after Mr Biden made the comment in a speech about US foreign policy. Mr Biden had spoken of a dangerous drift in Russia-Nato relations. The meeting is the highest-level talks between US and Russia since Barack Obama became US president in January. "The US administration sent a very strong signal, which was heard, the signal that they are ready to resume US-Russian dialogue, to talk on all issues," Mr Ivanov said, but he added: "It does not mean that we should agree on each and every issue, that is clear to both parties." CLICK HERE:Russia positive on US approach

Malmoe, Sweden - Sweden's police chief has promised an independent inquiry after officers playing criminals and suspects on a training exercise adopted racist names. Police commissioner Bengt Svensson said the behaviour of some of the 50 members of the course in Malmo, southern Sweden, was shocking and unacceptable. "This is totally reprehensible," Mr Svensson told Danish media. It is unclear whether the names were chosen by staff or trainees. Complaints by some participants came to nothing. "We're going to appoint an independent person, or people, to investigate this and help Skaane police work on values," Mr Svensson told Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper. Last week Sweden's chief prosecutor decided not to press charges against three police officers from the same region, Skaane, who were caught on police video using racist insults during a riot in the predominantly immigrant neighborhood of Rosengaard in Malmo in December. The riots were linked to the closure of an Islamic center. The owner of the building, in an immigrant neighborhood, had decided not to renew the center's lease. The center, which included a mosque, had to move out. Youths squatting in the premises were evicted by police and then staged violent protests. "euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT:Members of the Malmoe police are by no means all of Swedish origin, they include individuals of immigrant background. The film shown on TV appears to be an actual operation in the Rosengaard area of Malmoe, where unnamed frequenters of a mainly Islamic youth center were engaged in hurling burning gasoline containers at and around the police, and the police verbal commentary is later quoted by sub-titles in order to clarify the situation. The urban and regional police are rarely visible unless something happens.)

Bern, Switzerland - SWISS TO EXTEND EU ACCESS - The people of Switzerland have voted to continue allowing in workers from the EU and to extend access to two new member states, Romania and Bulgaria. Official referendum results showed that almost 60% of voters had supported the proposal. Right-wing politicians had warned that extending access could bring an influx of cheap labour at a time of recession. Switzerland remains outside the EU, but its political and economic ties to Europe are very close. The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne said that a "no" to free movement could have put that relationship at risk. Since the Swiss first introduced free movement of labour the number of EU citizens working in Switzerland has risen to over a million. CLICK HERE:Swiss to extend EU access


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07.02.2009 Munich, Germany - US SEEKS TO REWORK FOREIGN TIES - The new US administration is determined to strike a new tone in its relations around the world, Vice-President Joe Biden has told a major security forum. It also wants to press the "reset button" in ties with Russia after a "dangerous drift" in recent years, and was open to talks with Iran, he said, but while the US was ready to do more, it would expect more from its partners. The new US vice-president also warned no strategy in Afghanistan could succeed without Pakistan. He said that the deteriorating situation in the region was a security threat for all countries, not just the US. Mr Biden's wide-ranging speech to international leaders and security experts in Munich set out foreign policy directions for the Obama administration and also covered climate change and the global economic crisis. "I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration determined to set a new tone in Washington, and in America's relations around the world," Mr Biden said. "We will engage. We will listen. We will consult. America needs the world, just as I believe the world needs America," he said. CLICK HERE:US seeks to rework foreign ties


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06.02.2009 London, England - WARNING OVER SURVEILLANCE STATE - Electronic surveillance and collection of personal data are "pervasive" in British society and threaten to undermine democracy, peers have warned. CCTV cameras and the DNA database were two examples of threats to privacy, the Lords constitution committee said. It called for compensation for people subject to illegal surveillance. The government said CCTV and DNA were "essential" to fight crime but campaign group Liberty said abuses of power mean "even the innocent have a lot to fear". Civil liberties campaigners have warned about the risks of a "surveillance society" in which the state acquires ever-greater powers to track people's movements and retain personal data. Controversial government plans for a database to store details of people's phone calls and e-mails were put on hold late last year after they were branded "Orwellian". "There can be no justification for this gradual but incessant creep towards every detail about us being recorded and pored over by the state" Lord Goodlad said. Ministers are consulting on the plan, which would involve the details but not the content of calls and internet traffic being logged, saying it is essential to fighting terrorism. CLICK HERE:Warning over surveillance state

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA SPARS WITH RUSSIA OVER HUMAN RIGHTS - Russia and the EU have traded accusations over human rights abuses, at their first high-level talks since a gas row soured relations last month. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the killings of a human rights lawyer and a journalist in Moscow recently caused the EU concern. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then angrily accused the EU of human rights abuses within its own territory. He said "the full range of problems" concerning rights had to be discussed. The murder of prominent Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and newspaper reporter Anastasiya Baburova in broad daylight in Moscow last month drew international condemnation. CLICK HERE:EU spars with Russia over human rights

Paris, France - SARKOZY DEFENDS PLANS FOR ECONOMY - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended his plans to revive the French economy, saying state intervention with banks has so far cost people nothing. Mr Sarkozy also said there would be no bonuses for executives of failing banks that have been bailed out by the state. The government would scrap a local business tax in 2010 and was ready to consider cutting income tax, he added. He made the comments in a TV interview, a week after nationwide protests and strikes at his handling of the economy. A million workers downed tools to protest against what they said was an inadequate response to the global financial crisis, and to call on the government to do more to protect jobs and wages. On Monday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced a 26bn euro ($33.1bn; £23.5bn) initiative designed to "revitalize" the economy. The package comprises 11bn euros to help businesses improve their cashflows; 11bn euros of direct state investment; and 4bn euros of investment by state-owned firms in modernisation programs. CLICK HERE:Sarkozy defends plans for economy


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05.02.2009 Moscow, Russia - FORMER CHECHEN OFFICIAL SHOT DEAD - A former deputy mayor of Chechnya's capital, Grozny, has been shot dead in western Moscow, the third killing of a high-profile Chechen since September. Gilani Shepiyev was shot three times in the head by a gunman outside his flat in a suspected contract killing. He had fled Grozny in 2006 after being injured in an assassination attempt. An opponent of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov was shot dead in Moscow in September. Last month, one of his former bodyguards was killed in Vienna. Mr Kadyrov has denied any involvement. A spokesman for the investigations committee of the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office, Vladimir Markin, said Mr Shepiyev's body was discovered close to the entrance of his flat in Moscow early on Thursday morning. The crime scene and the victim's body were being examined by police investigators, he added. A Baykal pistol was found nearby. "The investigation believes that it was a contract killing. All possible theories are being considered," Mr Markin told Russian Vesti TV. CLICK HERE:Former Chechen official shot dead

Frankfurt, Germany - EUROZONE RATE KEPT ON HOLD AT 2% -The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates unchanged at 2%, but has left open the option of cutting rates at its next meeting in March. Rates in the eurozone have been cut four times since September when they stood at 4.25%. ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet did not rule out the prospect of a rate cut in March, but he said zero rates were not considered "appropriate". The ECB is trying to lift the eurozone economy, which is in recession. However, it has been more cautious in cutting rates than its counterparts in the US and UK. The Bank of England cut rates by half a percentage point to 1% earlier on Thursday, the fifth reduction since October when UK rates stood at 5%. US interest rates are already as low as they can go. CLICK HERE:Eurozone rate kept on hold a 2%


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04.02.2009 The Holy See - HOLOCAUST BISHOP TOLD TO RECANT - The Vatican has ordered an ultra-traditionalist bishop to publicly recant his views denying the Holocaust. A statement said Bishop Richard Williamson must "unequivocally" distance himself from his statements to serve in the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican also said that the Pope had not been aware of the bishop's views when he lifted excommunications on him and three other bishops last month. Earlier, a senior cardinal acknowledged the Vatican had mishandled the issue. The Pope's decision, ending Bishop Williamson's excommunication on an unrelated matter, has caused a bitter row, as the bishop does not believe that Jews were gassed by the Nazis in World War II. The BBC's David Willey in Rome says it is almost unheard of for a pope to admit publicly that he has made a mistake. But that is in effect the significance of the urgent statement put out by the Vatican, our correspondent adds. CLICK HERE:Holocaust bishop told to recant

Brussels, Belgium - ILLEGAL FACE EU CRACKDOWN - Euro MPs have backed tough new rules aimed at preventing employers from hiring illegal workers, but a final vote will be held later this month. Employers who break the rules could be forced to pay fines, make up wage shortfalls, or face a ban for up to five years from public contracts. The "sanctions directive" already has the backing of the European Commission and EU member states' governments. The UK is opting out, doubting the EU's authority to impose criminal sanctions. Up to eight million non-EU illegal migrants are thought to work in the EU. Figures provided by 21 member states suggest a total of 893,000 to 923,000 illegal immigrants entering the EU each year. The new rules, steered through the European Parliament by Italian Socialist MEP Claudio Fava, are set to take effect in 2011. Mr Fava, quoted on the parliament's website, said "migrants are often subjected to terrible exploitation, sometimes even treated as slaves". CLICK HERE:Illegal workers face EU crackdown

Brussels, Belgium - MEPS URGES EU GUANTANAMO PROMISE - The European Parliament has urged EU member states to help the US shut down the Guantanamo Bay prison camp by accepting some detainees. A resolution on Guantanamo was passed by a large majority of MEPs , 542 for, 55 against and 51 abstentions. It called for EU states to accept low-risk prisoners who cannot be sent home for fear they might be mistreated. "Europe cannot stand back and shrug its shoulders," said the Liberal bloc's leader, Graham Watson, during a debate. US President Barack Obama has signed an order to shut Guantanamo within a year. Last week, EU foreign ministers said they wanted to help on humanitarian grounds, but could not act until the US demonstrated the prisoners did not pose a credible security risk. Albania is the only country to have so far accepted Guantanamo detainees on humanitarian grounds, taking in five members of China's Uighur ethnic minority in 2006. CLICK HERE:MEPs urges EU Guantanamo promise

Cairo, Egypt - NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMP DOCTOR DIED 1992 - Aribert Heim, one of the most wanted Nazi criminals, has been dead since 1992, German's ZDF television reports. It says Heim, known as "Doctor Death" lived under a pseudonym and died in Egypt's capital, Cairo. ZDF says it found Heim's passport and other personal documents in a hotel where he lived. Heim was a concentration camp doctor and was accused of killing hundreds of concentration camp victims, using horrific medical experiments. In its report, ZDF quoted witnesses, including Heim's son, as confirming that he died in 1992. The German TV channel also said Heim had converted to Islam. Leading Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff from the Simon Wiesenthal Center said he had not seen the documents found by ZDF, but he added that if confirmed, the news would be "earth shattering", the Associated Press reports. Heim was one of the last major Nazi fugitives believed to be still at large. He is accused of carrying out horrible medical experiments on prisoners of the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria during World War II. After the war he lived in West Germany, working as a doctor."euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: He is believed to have practised in Baden- Wuerttemberg:)CLICK HERE:Nazi concentration camp doctor died 1992


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03.02.2009 Berlin, Germany - MERKEL JOINS PAPAL HOLOCAUST DISPUTE - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the Vatican's clarifications over the readmission of a bishop who queries the Holocaust do not go far enough."In my opinion these clarifications are not yet sufficient," Mrs Merkel said. A row erupted last month after Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson, who had said no Nazi gas chambers existed. Pope Benedict has distanced himself from those beliefs and expressed "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews. "This should not be allowed to pass without consequences," Mrs Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin. "This is not just a matter, in my opinion, for the Christian, Catholic and Jewish communities in Germany but the Pope and the Vatican should clarify unambiguously that there can be no denial," she said. Last November, British-born Bishop Williamson angered Jewish leaders across the world when he told Swedish TV: "I believe there were no gas chambers [during World War II]." He said he believed that up "300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers". He is one of four bishops, who are members of the Society of Pius X, whose excommunication was lifted last month by the Pope. The Society of St Pius X was founded by a French Archbishop, Marcel Lefebvre, in 1970 as a protest against the Second Vatican Council's reforms on religious freedom and pluralism. The Vatican says it was unaware of Bishop Williamson's views on the Holocaust when the decision was made to readmit the group. About six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. CLICK HERE:Merkel joins Papal Holocaust dispute

Strasbourg, France - FRENCH BASE FOR GERMAN TROOPS - German troops will be stationed in France for the first time since World War II, under plans reportedly being drawn up by both countries. A battalion is likely to be based in Alsace-Lorraine - a region France and Germany have fought over in the past. A French defence ministry spokesman said Paris had agreed to the proposal made by Germany earlier this year, according to the AFP news agency. It is thought some 500 soldiers could be posted somewhere in eastern France. The German magazine Der Spiegel says the border town of Colmar is the likely location, but the French media has reported Strasbourg, Metz or Bitche as possible bases. The soldiers would be part of the Franco-German brigade set up in 1989, which is already about 5,000 troops strong. Nearly half of those are French servicemen based in south-west Germany. According to Der Spiegel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed sending the battalion after Paris said it planned to withdraw some of its troops from Germany, as part of a wide-ranging program of defense cuts. She reportedly said it would be a "shame" to dismantle a key symbol of Franco-German unity and a potential building block in a wider European defence and security policy. Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by Germany after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, but was reclaimed by France after World War I. It was seized by Nazi Germany in 1940, but reverted to France upon Germany's defeat in 1945. CLICK HERE:

Brussels, Belgium - EU ATTACKS BUY AMERICAN CLAUSE - The EU has increased its pressure on the US to reconsider the "Buy American" clause in the $800bn (£567bn) economic recovery package now before Congress. The clause seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in projects funded by the bill. A European Commission spokesman said it was the "worst possible signal". However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said President Obama had assured her the US would not follow protectionist policies. "He stressed that," she said. The rescue plan has already been approved by the US House of Representatives and is under discussion in the Senate this week, who could sign it off before the weekend. The EU spokesman said Europe would launch a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the clause remained. CLICK HERE:EU attacks buy Americzan clause

Washington, DC - US HAILS SPECIAL TIES WITH UK - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has paid tribute to Britain's "special relationship" with the US, saying it "stands the test of time". She was speaking after meeting UK counterpart David Miliband, her first ministerial-level talks since President Barack Obama's inauguration last month. The two discussed Afghanistan, Middle East peace and a range of other issues. Mrs Clinton also met German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and said they had covered similar ground. She told reporters they had spoken about the continued need for German forces in Afghanistan, where Nato is struggling to contain a Taleban-led insurgency. "As President Obama has made quite clear, we need our closest allies, like Germany, to help us ensure the success and stability of the Afghan nation at this very important moment," she said. Mrs Clinton described the talks as "an excellent and broad discussion" and Mr Steinmeier's advice on Afghanistan as "constructive". CLICK HERE:US hails special ties with UK

Madrid, Spain - BIG INCREASE IN SPAIN'S UNEMPLOYEMENT - The number of people out of work in Spain increased by 199,000, or 6%, in January from the previous month, official figures show. The record monthly jump brought the total jobless number to 3.3 million, the highest since 1996, the Labour Ministry said. The ranks of Spain's unemployed have swelled by more than one million in the past year. At 14.4%, the Spanish unemployment rate is by far the highest in the EU. "We continue to be affected by the serious international financial crisis, the lack of of liquidity and the fall in consumer spending," said Maravillas Rojo, Spain's employment secretary. Spain was until recently one of Europe's fastest growing economies, but the global financial crisis has hit the country hard, particularly affecting the property and construction sectors.CLICK HERE:Big increase in Spain's unemployment

Athens, Greece -POLICE STATION IN ATHENS ATTACKED - Gunmen have attacked a police station in the Greek capital, Athens, causing some damage but no injuries. A police spokesman said shots were fired at the station in the suburb of Korydallos and that a hand grenade was thrown, but had failed to explode. Investigators said they suspected the left-wing group Revolutionary Struggle was behind the pre-dawn attack. Last month, the group claimed it was responsible for shooting and seriously wounding a policeman in central Athens. Revolutionary Struggle said it was a response to the fatal shooting of a teenager by police in December, which sparked the worst riots in Greece for decades. The policeman who shot 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos has been charged with murder. CLICK HERE:Police station in Athens attacked


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02.02.2009 Paris, France - FRANCE UNVEILS STIMULUS PACKAGE - France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon has unveiled a series of measures worth 26bn euros ($33.1bn; £23.5bn) designed to "revitalize" the French economy. He called for an "urgent national mobilization" across 1,000 work sites to combat the economic crisis. The package includes 11bn euros to help businesses and 4bn euros to improve infrastructure and public services. Earlier on Monday, Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said France would enter recession "at some point". The French stimulus plan is split into three parts: 11bn euros to help businesses improve their cashflows; 11bn euros of direct state investment; and 4bn euros of investment by state-owned firms for modernising rail infrastructure, energy and the postal service. CLICK HERE:France unveils stimulus package

London, England - EU TO INVESTIGATE POWER COMPANY BILLS - An investigation into electricity prices across the European Union is to be launched by the Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Meglena Kuneva. Ms Kuneva said the decision followed an initial report, which showed that the prices charged by some suppliers across the 27 member states may be too high. "Less than two thirds of consumers are satisfied with their energy supplier," said the commissioner. The UK government has already said it may legislate to lower energy bills. The comments came last month from House of Commons leader Harriet Harman, following concerns that some energy firms were not passing on enough of the sharp falls in oil and gas wholesale prices since last summer. Ms Kuneva said she would conduct her investigation over the next 12 months in conjunction with Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. "I don't see the need for legislative action, but I clearly see a step forward on enforcement everywhere to make sure consumers can choose from more than one supplier," she said. CLICK HERE:EU to investigate power company company bills


COMMENT(COMMENT: Above all, a unit price must be agreed upon, and the consumer pays per amount consumed, ending the system whereby fat so-called service charges are levied. This must be enshrined in EU law.)

London, England - NUCLEAR WORKERS JOIN STRIKE WAVEContractors at two nuclear plants have walked out in support of protests over the use of foreign labour, in the latest of a wave of unofficial strikes. The walk-outs at Sellafield and Heysham came on the day talks began over the dispute, which started at Total-owned Lindsey oil refinery, in Lincolnshire. Workers at Grangemouth oil refinery and power stations in Longannet, Warrington and Staythorpe have also walked out. Total insists it is not discriminating against British workers. A statement said: "We recognize the concerns of contractors but we must stress that it has never been, and never will be, the policy of Total to discriminate against British companies or British workers." ...Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he expected Acas to review the situation at the refinery "very quickly" and urged striking workers to go back to work while this process was taking place. In a parliamentary statement, he said he believed the refinery operator had not discriminated against UK workers, which he stressed would be illegal under European law. CLICK HERE:Nuclear workers join strike wave

Cambridge, England - SHOE HURLED AS CHINESE PM SPEAKS - A protester has thrown a shoe at Wen Jiabao during a speech at Cambridge University and called the Chinese prime minister a "dictator". The shoe landed about a meter away from Mr Wen and the protester, a young man, was then removed by security guards. Mr Wen, who earlier signed a series of trade agreements with Gordon Brown on the final day of a three-day UK visit, described the incident as "despicable". Protests have taken place about human rights and Tibet during his visit. Five people were arrested in London on Sunday after trying to approach Mr Wen. According to eye-witnesses, Mr Wen was interrupted near the end of a speech he was giving in Cambridge on the global economy. According to the Press Association, the shoe was thrown from the back of the hall and landed "well away" from Mr Wen. Reuters reported that the protester urged the audience to challenge the Chinese prime minister, shouting "how can the university prostrate itself with this dictator?" CLICK HERE:Shoe hurled as Chinese PM speaks

London, England - POLICE ALLEGEDLY ASKED TO SEE MP'S E-MAIL - The Commons Speaker has said he will look into claims that the police asked for access to e-mails sent by Tory MP Damian Green without notifying him. Fellow Conservative David Davis told Parliament the police had approached Mr Green to request access to electronic correspondence between the two MPs. A police search of Mr Green's Westminster office in November, without a warrant, sparked anger among MPs. The Speaker said police would in future always need a warrant for such a move. The Speaker also stated that he would have to personally approve any police requests to enter an MP's office or to look at their papers. Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, was controversially arrested and held for nine hours in an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office. That inquiry is continuing. On Monday, former shadow home secretary David Davis asked the Speaker to clarify the rules regarding police access to e-mails he had exchanged with Mr Green. He told MPs: "My honourable friend [Mr Green] has been approached by the Metropolitan Police and asked for access to e-mail between him and myself. "Does this come under your ruling that it will require a warrant and will be referred to you for your personal decision?" The Speaker said he was not aware of the request, saying it was "news" to him. "I will investigate as to the proper protocol and also the procedures I have laid down for situation without a warrant," he said, adding that he would report back to MPs. CLICK HERE:Police allegedly asked to see MP's e-mail


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01.02.2009 Moscow, Russia - THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATE ACROSS RUSSIA - Thousands of people have held rallies across Russia protesting against what they describe as the government's mismanagement of the economy. The biggest demonstration took place in the eastern city of Vladivostok, where protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. In the capital Moscow, police arrested a number of people at an unauthorized gathering by a radical party. Meanwhile, government supporters also held their rallies across the country. Protests on such a large scale were unthinkable just a few months ago as the economy boomed with record high oil prices and as the Kremlin tightened its grip over almost all aspects of society, the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says, but now with the economy in deep trouble, there is real fear amongst ordinary people about what the future will hold, he says. He adds that unemployment is rising rapidly, as are the prices of basic food and utilities. In Vladivostok, the anti-government demonstration was called by the Communist Party. CLICK HERE:Thousands protest across Russia

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ENTHRONES ITS PATRIARCH - The Russian Orthodox Church has enthroned its new leader at a ceremony in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad became the 16th leader of the Church, succeeding Patriarch Alexiy II, who died in December. He was appointed after a ballot of the Church Council in Moscow last week. Patriarch Kirill, who is regarded as a liberal, has said the Orthodox Church could play a greater role in Russia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was among the thousands of people attending Sunday's ceremony. Kirill arrived at the cathedral in a black limousine after the cathedral bells had chimed for 15 minutes. He was welcomed by two senior priests and a layman with the Russian traditional bread and salt at the entrance. He was formally enthroned after senior bishops chanted "Axios!" , the Greek word for "worthy", three times. BBC religious affairs correspondent Christopher Landau says Kirill is a well-known face in Russia, having presented religious programmes on state television for some years. Patriarch Kirill is seen by some as a moderniser, our correspondent says. He certainly understands the potential of a high media profile, but on social issues, like abortion and homosexuality, his words are resolutely conservative. In addition to his TV show, Patriarch Kirill served as acting head of the Church after Alexiy II's death and has also been the head of the Church's external relations department for the past 20 years. CLICK HERE:Russian Orthodox Church enthrones its patriarch


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31.01.2009 The Holy See - POPE PROMOTES CONSERVATIVE CLERIC - Pope Benedict has made a controversial appointment, days after revoking the excommunication of a bishop who is a Holocaust denier. He promoted ultra-conservative cleric Fr Gerhard Maria Wagner to assistant bishop of the Austrian city of Linz. The Vatican came under heavy criticism from Jewish groups this week for the rehabilitation of dissident British-born bishop Richard Williamson. The bishop apologised for shaming the Church, but not for his views. Fr Wagner is also notorious for his extreme views, he has accused the popular Harry Potter novels of spreading Satanism, and described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for the sinners of New Orleans. He wrote in a parish newsletter that the death and destruction caused by the hurricane in New Orleans was divine retribution for the city's tolerance of homosexuals and permissive sexual attitudes. The future bishop said he was glad that Katrina destroyed not only nightclubs and brothels in New Orleans, but also five of the city's abortion clinics. The Catholic Church in Austria has been losing support in recent years after its former head was sacked as a result of a scandal involving gay priests in a teaching college. Austrian Catholics gave only a lukewarm welcome to the Pope when he visited Vienna in 2007. CLICK HERE:Pope promotes conservative cleric

Stockholm, Sweden - CLERIC IN HOLOCAUST DISPUTE APOLOGIZES - A UK-born cleric who denied the existence of Nazi gas chambers has apologized to the Pope for causing any distress, but without retracting. Richard Williamson also thanked Pope Benedict for allowing him to rejoin the Roman Catholic Church after being excommunicated on an unrelated issue. He apologized for his "imprudent remarks" in a Swedish TV interview. Pope Benedict has reiterated his "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews on the subject of the Nazi death camps. He has been under pressure from Nobel Peace Prize winner and death camp survivor Elie Wiesel among others to distance himself from Mr Williamson, who was promoted to bishop along with others by the breakaway Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre of France. Mr Williamson, who lives in Argentina, blogged his apology in an open letter to Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the mediator between the Vatican and the breakaway Catholic faction. "Amidst this tremendous media storm stirred up by imprudent remarks of mine on Swedish television, I beg of you to accept... my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems," he said. He made no mention of the Holocaust in the brief letter. In an interview with Swedish TV, he had said: "I believe there were no gas chambers... I think that two to three hundred thousand Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers." CLICK HERE:Cleric in Holocaust dispute apologizes


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30.01.2009 Lindsey, England - REFINERY STRIKES SPREAD ACROSS UK - Strikes have been breaking out across the UK in support of a mass walkout by energy workers in Lincolnshire angry at the use of foreign workers. Hundreds gathered for the third day of the original strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery after owner Total gave a £200m contract to an Italian firm. They have been supported by hundreds of other "sympathy" strikers in Scotland, Wales and other parts of England. Total said there would be no "direct redundancies" as a result of the deal. The firm added that staff employed by the Italian company IREM would be paid the same as existing contractors on the project. More than 300 of its workers have been brought in to do the work. Sites affected by sympathy walk-outs include Fiddlers Ferry power station, Warrington, Cheshire; Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland; South Hook Liquified Natural Gas terminal in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire; and Kilroot Power station near Larne, County Antrim. CLICK HERE:Refinery strikes spread across UK

Brussels, Belgium - EUROZONE JOBLESS AT TWO-YEAR HIGH - Unemployment across the nations that share the euro rose to its highest level in more than two years last month, as more firms laid off staff. The eurozone unemployment rate totalled 8% in December, according to the latest official European Union data, up from a revised 7.9% in November. Unemployment was highest in Spain, which recorded a 14.4% figure. Meanwhile, eurozone inflation fell in January to 1.1%, its lowest level in almost 10 years, from 1.6% in December. While Spain saw the highest unemployment last month, the lowest was Netherlands on 2.7%, and Austria at 3.9%. The latest unemployment and inflation figures will increase the pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to further cut eurozone interest rates to help bolster the economy and bring inflation closer to its 2% target. "The decline in Spain's property market is an extraordinary story." CLICK HERE:Eurozone jobless at two-year high

Oslo., Norway - NORWAY SELLS UNETHICAL SHARES - Norway's state investment fund has blacklisted US firm Textron, owner of top planemaker Cessna, and Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold. The fund, an ethical investor, sold shares in the firms because Textron makes cluster bombs and because of environmental concerns about Barrick. The fund, which has a value of about $300bn (£208bn), sold $400m worth of shares in the two companies. Barrick said investors were free to choose which company to invest in. The Norwegian fund, known as the oil fund as it invests surplus oil and gas revenues, operates under ethical guidelines. CLICK HERE:Norway sells unethical shares

The Holy See - PRIEST JOINS NAZI HOLOCAUST DISPUTE - A priest from a Catholic society rehabilitated by the Pope has questioned the Holocaust, reports say. Father Floriano Abrahamowicz was quoted as saying that he did not know if anyone had died in Nazi gas chambers. The reports were carried by Italian newspaper La Tribuna di Treviso, and the AP news agency said Fr Abrahamowicz had confirmed their accuracy. Last week a bishop, whose expulsion was lifted last week by the Pope, sparked a row by questioning the Holocaust. Richard Williamson is one of four bishops, who are members of the Society of Pius X, whose excommunication was lifted last week by the Pope. He outraged Jewish leaders when he said he believed there had been no Nazi gas chambers. The leader of the group has since said that the views "do not reflect in any way the position of the society". The Vatican says it was unaware of Bishop Williamson's views on the Holocaust when the decision was made to readmit the group. CLICK HERE:Priest joins Nazi Holocaust dispute

Brussels, Belgium - CHINA AND EU TO HOLD SUMMIT - China and the European Union have agreed to hold summit talks soon, senior officials have announced. China pulled out of a meeting scheduled for December in protest at France's decision to hold talks with Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced the forthcoming summit after talks in Brussels, but they said a precise date has not yet been finalized. A diplomat quoted by Reuters news agency said the talks would be held in the Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency - soon after the G20 summit meeting scheduled for 2 April in London. The two sides are expected to discuss ways to deal with the global financial crisis and climate change. China accuses the Dalai Lama of trying to seek Tibetan independence from Chinese rule, and opposes any foreign leaders holding meetings with him. CLICK HERE:China and EU agree to hold summit


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29.01.2009 Paris, France - HUGE CROWDS JOIN FRENCH STRIKES - Huge crowds have taken to the streets in France to protest over the handling of the economic crisis, causing disruption to rail and air services. Unions said 2.5m workers had rallied to demand action to protect wages and jobs. Police put the total at 1m. President Nicolas Sarkozy said concerns over the crisis were legitimate and the government had to listen and act. He will meet union and business leaders next month to discuss what programme of reforms to follow this year, he said. Overall, the government estimated that a quarter of the country's public sector workers had joined the action, which was called by eight major French unions. The unions put the figure higher. A spokesman for the CGT union told AFP that 2.5m people across the country had taken part in the day's protests. French police put the number at just over 1m. CLICK HERE:Huge crowds join French strikes

Davos, Switzerland - TURKISH PM STORMS OFF IN GAZA ROW - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos after an argument with Israel's president. Mr Erdogan clashed with Shimon Peres in a discussion on the recent fighting in the Gaza Strip, telling him: "You are killing people." Mr Peres said Mr Erdogan would have done the same had rockets hit Istanbul. Mr Erdogan accused the moderator of not allowing him to speak and said he did not think he would return to Davos. He was cut off as he attempted to reply to a passionate defence of Israel's actions made by Mr Peres. Turkey is one of the few Muslim countries to have dealings with Israel, but relations have been under strain since the Islamist-rooted AK Party was elected to power in 2002. "I do not think I will be coming back to Davos after this because you do not let me speak," Mr Erdogan shouted before marching off the stage in front of Mr Peres, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and an elite audience of ministers and international officials. CLICK HERE:Turkish PM storms off in Gaza row


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28.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA HALTS MISSILE DEPLOYMENT - Russia's military has announced it will halt its plans to deploy short-range missiles in its Baltic enclave Kaliningrad, Interfax news agency says. A Russian military official said a change in US attitude had prompted the latest decision, Interfax reports. The US envoy to Nato, Kurt Volker, said that if true, the suspension would be a "very positive step", the Reuters news agency reported. Russia had said the US missile shield plan in Europe was a direct threat. In November last year, Mr Medvedev announced that short-range Iskander missiles would be deployed in Kaliningrad, bordering Poland, to neutralise the perceived US threat. The US has insisted that its plan to base radars and interceptor missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic is designed solely to guard against attack by "rogue states", such as Iran. CLICK HERE:Russia halts missile deployment

The Holy See - POPE IN BID TO DAMPEN BISHOP DISPTEPope Benedict XVI has expressed "full and indisputable solidarity" with Jews, distancing himself from a bishop who denies the Nazis used gas chambers. Briton Richard Williamson was among four bishops whose excommunications were lifted by the Pope last week. Bishop Williamson said recently: "I believe there were no gas chambers". Jewish leaders, marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, reacted angrily to the rehabilitation of the bishop, saying it had harmed Catholic-Jewish dialog. The Pope told a Vatican audience on Wednesday the Holocaust "should be a warning for all against forgetting, denial and reductionism". "While I renew with affection the expression of my full and unquestionable solidarity with our [Jewish] brothers, I hope the memory of the Shoah [Holocaust] will induce humanity to reflect on the unpredictable power of hate when it conquers the heart of man," he said, but Nobel Peace Prize winner and death camp survivor Elie Wiesel said that the Pope, by lifting the excommunications, had given credence to "the most vulgar aspect of anti-Semitism". CLICK HERE:Pope in bid to dampen bishop dispute

Brussels, Belgium - GLOBAL CALLS FOR GLOBAL CARBON MARKET - The European Commission has called for a global carbon trading market as part of a plan to tackle climate change. The EU is already committed to expanding its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), but now it is urging other industrialized countries to join in. The commission says that by 2015 it wants to link the ETS to other carbon trading systems. The goal is to include emerging economies by 2020. A UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December is to strive for a deal. The commission proposals presented on Wednesday are designed as the EU's contribution to the UN debate, with the aim of getting a new global pact on measures to tackle climate change. CLICK HERE:EU calls for global carbon market

Madrid, Spain - SPAIN ECONOMY ENTERS RECESSIONSpain's economy is in recession for the first time since 1993, according to figures from the Spanish central bank. The Bank of Spain said gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.1% in the final quarter of 2008, following a 0.2% decline in the third quarter. The Spanish government has already forecast that the country's GDP will shrink by 1.6% during 2009. Spain has the worst unemployment rate in the EU, with 13.9% of the workforce out of a job. The latest labour figures from the Bank of Spain showed that unemployment rose by 3% in the quarter. The eurozone as a whole entered recession in November. CLICK HERE:Spain economy enters recession


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27.01.2009 Reykjavik, Iceland - NEW COALITION TALKS FOR ICELAND - Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has asked the leader of the Social Democratic Alliance to try to form a new interim government. He told reporters he had asked party leader Ingibjorg Gisladottir to hold talks with the Left Green Party on forming a minority coalition. Conservative Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced his government's collapse on Monday, after weeks of economic crisis. The interim government would run the country until elections in May. The announcement came after Mr Grimsson held individual talks with Ms Gisladottir, the outgoing foreign minister, and the leader of the Left Green Party, Steingrimmur Sigfusson. The two parties disagree on a number of issues but the president said he believed a coalition could be formed swiftly, and would be backed by the Progressive Party. CLICK HERE:New coalition talks for Iceland
Calais, France - FRENCH MIGRANT CAMP REVISITED - GEORGIA SEIZES RUSSIAN SOLDIER -France's immigration minister is to visit Calais as concerns grow that calls for asylum seeker facilities will attract more migrants to the town. A Red Cross center in nearby Sangatte was closed in 2002 after an agreement between the French and UK governments. Aid agencies say migrants gathering in the port should be given better shelter and are calling for a new centre. The UK Border Agency says it will continue to work with France in fighting illegal migration. CLICK HERE:French migrant camp revisited
Tbilisi, Georgia - Russia has accused Georgia of capturing a Russian soldier in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russian news agencies report. A Russian defence ministry spokesman said soldier Alexander Glukhov had been seized in the Akhalgori region. Georgia's interior ministry said the soldier had surrendered to its police, requesting Georgian citizenship. The Akhalgori region was under Tbilisi's control until last August's war between Georgia and Russia. During the brief war, Georgia's attempts to regain control of South Ossetia were repelled by Russian forces. Tbilisi has urged Moscow to withdraw forces from Akhalgori after the conflict ended with an EU-brokered ceasefire. CLICK HERE:Georgia seizes Russian soldier


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26.01.2009 Reykjavik, Iceland - CRISIS CLAIMS ICELANDIC CABINET -Iceland's coalition government has collapsed under the strain of an escalating economic crisis. Conservative Prime Minister Geir Haarde announced the resignation of his cabinet, after talks with his Social Democratic coalition partners failed. He said he could not accept the Social Democrats' demand to lead the country. Iceland's financial system collapsed in October under the weight of debt, leading to a currency crisis, rising unemployment and daily protests. The economy is forecast to shrink by almost 10% this year. The coalition between Mr Haarde's Independence Party and Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Gisladottir's Social Democratic Alliance had been under strain in recent months. Mr Haarde told reporters on Monday: "We couldn't accept the Social Democratic demand that they would lead the government." The Independence Party currently controls 25 of the country's 63 parliamentary seats, to the Social Democrats' 18. CLICK HERE:Crisis claims Icelandic cabinet

Amsterdam, Netherlands - ING TO SHED 7000 JOBS THIS YEAR - Dutch banking giant ING has said it is to cut 7,000 jobs as it seeks to save 1bn euros ($1.29bn; £949m). No breakdown has been given yet as to where the jobs will be lost from the bank's 130,000 workforce. The troubled bank and insurer also said that its chief executive, Michel Tilmant, had resigned. In October, the Dutch government pumped 10bn euros into ING to help it in the economic crisis. ING now expects to make a 2008 loss of 1bn euros. ING, one of the world's top 20 banks by market capitalisation and with 85 million clients, will also use a Dutch state guarantee for its loans portfolio. The bank said the Dutch government would cover 80% of its 27.7bn euros residential mortgage-backed securities. CLICK HERE:ING to shed 700 jobs this year


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25.01.2009 Alloway, Scotland - SCOTS CELEBRATE BURNS 250TH BIRTHDAY - Thousands of people have taken part in events to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's national bard. The celebrations were led by First Minister Alex Salmond. It also marked the launch of a year-long program of events which the Scottish Government hopes will raise the country's profile. A procession took place in Dumfries and there were further events which took place in Alloway, Burns' birthplace. Sunday's events began with Mr Salmond attending a church service in Alloway, while Culture Minister Linda Fabiani and the Duke of Buccleuch took part in another commemorative event in Dumfries. Mr Salmond later attended a wreath-laying ceremony at a statue of Burns in Ayr and then went on to the Dumfries lantern procession attended by thousands. CLICK HERE:Scots celebrate Burns 250th birthda

Port Talbot, Wales - CORUS SET TO CUT 2000 JOBS IN UKSteelmaker Corus is set to cut 3,500 jobs worldwide, including more than 2,000 in the UK, the BBC understands. Corus said it could not comment on rumour or speculation, but the company, like all steelmakers, is facing an unprecedented downturn in demand. One union official told the BBC Corus would announce its restructuring plans to workers at 0930 GMT on Monday. Corus, a subsidiary of India's Tata Steel, employs 24,000 people in the UK and 42,000 worldwide. According to the Sunday Times, the Anglo-Dutch steelmaker is not planning to close any of its British plants. Corus's main UK sites are at Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Teesside. It also has a site in Rotherham. CLICK HERE:Corus set to cut 2000 jobs in UK

London, England - POLICE SHOULD PROBE UK UPPER HPOUSE CASE - The Liberal Democrats have called for a police inquiry into allegations that four Labour peers were prepared to accept money to change proposed laws. Home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said if the claims, made in the Sunday Times newspaper, were true a criminal offence would have been committed. The four are said to have offered to amend laws in return for up to £120,000, claims that they all deny. The Leader of the House of Lords has promised a full investigation. Lady Royall said she had spoken to the men concerned and would be "pursuing the matter with utmost vigor", while a Lords committee is expected to undertake an inquiry soon. Unlike MPs, members of the House of Lords who breach the rules on acceptable conduct cannot be suspended, although they can be "named and shamed" on the floor of Parliament. CLICK HERE:Police should probe UK upper house case


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24.01.2009 The Holy See - PAPAL MOVE IGNITES HOLOCAUST DISPUTE - The Pope has lifted the excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church of four bishops appointed by a breakaway archbishop more than 20 years ago. One of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre's appointees, Briton Richard Williamson, outraged Jews by saying the Nazi gas chambers did not exist. Two of the other three appointees are French while the fourth is Argentinean. Israel's envoy to the Vatican said the papal decision would "cast a shadow on relations with Jews". "We have no intention of interfering in the internal workings of the Catholic Church, however, the eagerness to bring a Holocaust denier back into the Church will cast a shadow on relations between Jews and the Catholic Church," Mordechai Lewy told Reuters news agency. Lefebvre, who died in 1991, rebelled against liberal reforms in the Church, such as the end of the Latin Mass. He opposed replacing the traditional Mass with services in national languages. The Vatican said the excommunications had been lifted after the bishops affirmed their willingness to accept Church teachings and papal authority. CLICK HERE:Papal move ignites holocaust dispute


Lampedusa, Italy - MIGRANTS ON ITALIAN ISLAND ESCAPE -Hundreds of illegal immigrants have broken out of a detention cener on the Italian island of Lampedusa and are staging a protest, officials have said. Lampedusa mayor Bernardino De Rubeis told the AFP news agency the center's security fence had been toppled and that about 700 immigrants had escaped. They are said to be complaining about conditions at the camp, which was built for 850 but is currently holding 1,800. On Friday, the UN urged Rome to address the "difficult humanitarian situation". The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed mounting concern about overcrowding. Hundreds have been forced to sleep outdoors in the cold. The UNHCR also criticised a government decision to hold those who survive the perilous sea-crossing on the Mediterranean island until their cases are decided. Previously, they were sent to other centers. CLICK HERE:Migrants on Italian island escape


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23.01.2009 London, England - UK ECONOMY IN RECESSION - POPE LAUNCHES VATICAN ON YOUTUBEThe UK is now in recession for the first time since 1991, official government figures have confirmed. Gross domestic product fell by 1.5% in the last three months of 2008 after a 0.6% drop in the previous quarter. That means that the widely accepted definition of a recession - two consecutive quarters of falling economic growth - has been met. It represents the biggest quarter-on-quarter decline since 1980, and a 1.8% fall on the same quarter a year ago. The worse-than-expected contraction sent sterling to a 24-year low against the dollar, with one pound buying $1.355. Meanwhile the FTSE 100 index fell almost 2%, below 4,000 points. CLICK HERE:UK economy in recession

The Holy See - POPE LAUNCHES VATICAN ON YOUTUBE - Pope Benedict XVI has launched his own dedicated channel on the popular video sharing website, YouTube. Video and audio footage of his speeches as well as news of the Holy See will be posted on the site, the Vatican says. Although the Vatican has its own website, the YouTube venture represents its biggest reach into cyberspace, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome. Vatican officials say it is aimed at everyone from devout Catholics to the casual web user, but there is a debate within the Catholic Church about the value of the internet as a missionary tool, our correspondent says. The 81-year-old Pope's first YouTube message spoke of a new way to spread hope around the world:. CLICK HERE:Pope launches Vatican on YouTube

Reykjavik, Iceland - ICELAND ANNOUNCES EARLY ELECTION - Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde has called an early general election for May 9, adding that he will not stand again because of a throat tumor. Mr Haarde plans to have surgery abroad following a medical examination that revealed the malignant growth, he said. He said a new chairman would lead the party in the elections. There have been several protests against the government since October, when Iceland's financial system collapsed in the global credit crunch. On Wednesday, angry protesters surrounded Mr Haarde's car outside the government building in the capital Reykjavik, banging on the vehicle's windows and pelting it with eggs. CLICK HERE:Iceland announces eraly election

Paris, France - FRANCE'S JUSTICE MINISTER TO RESIGN - French Justice Minister Rachida Dati, the first politician of North African origin to hold a senior cabinet post in France, is stepping down. Ms Dati, 43, has attracted criticism for her management style and gossip about her clothes and love life. She is to run for the ruling UMP party in the June European elections. President Nicolas Sarkozy did not explain why she was quitting, but made it clear that she could not stay in the cabinet if she became a Euro MP. While her move has been confirmed by the UMP, Ms Dati herself has not yet commented on it. She will be number two on the center-right UMP's list for the Paris region, after Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier. So she is almost certain to get elected to the European Parliament, correspondents say. Earlier this month she came under fire from women's groups for returning to work just five days after giving birth. CLICK HERE:France's justice minister to resign


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22.01.2009 Berlin, Germany - FORMER GERMAN POST OFFICE DIRECTOR IN TAX EVASIONN TRIAL - The former head of Germany's Deutsche Post, Klaus Zumwinkel, has gone on trial for tax evasion. He pleaded guilty to charges of avoiding paying nearly 1m euros in taxes (more than £900,000) in 2003-07. He is one of the most high-profile German executives to be prosecuted for tax fraud. Prosecutors allege that Mr Zumwinkel used a foundation created in Liechtenstein to defraud the state by transferring huge amounts to it. Mr Zumwinkel was arrested last year after his name and bank details had featured on a data disc sold by a Liechtenstein bank official to the German secret services. On the opening day of the trial, Deutsche Post's former chief executive admitted evading taxes. He described his actions as the biggest mistake of his life and promised to bear the consequences. Following his arrest, the tiny principality of Liechtenstein came under intense international pressure to make its financial institutions more transparent. CLICK HERE:Former German Post Office director in tax evasion trial

London, England - LABOUR EX-CABINET MINISTER IN PARTY DONATIONS FIASCO - Peter Hain was guilty of "serious and substantial" failures in not registering donations, the Commons standards watchdog has said. The former cabinet minister was cleared last month by police over the late declaration of £103,000 of donations to his Labour deputy leadership bid, but he has been rapped by the Commons Standards and Privileges Committee. Mr Hain said the committee had accepted his mistakes were "honest" and he would be making an apology in the Commons. In a statement, Mr Hain said: "The Cabinet Secretary stated that I complied fully with the Ministerial Code, the Crown Prosecution Service exonerated me and now the Parliamentary authorities have also accepted that the mistakes I made were honest mistakes. "I have been asked to repeat my apology on the floor of the Commons which I am happy to do." The Commons Standards and Privileges Committee said the scale of the rule breach caused "justified public concern.". CLICK HERE:Ex-Labour cabinet minister in party donations fiasco

Ankara, Turkey - MORE ARRESTS IN TURKEY COUP PROBE - Up to 30 people have been arrested across Turkey in connection with an ongoing investigation i nto an alleged plot to topple the government. Those detained include a union leader as well as a number of army officers and special force police officers. Eighty-six people have been on trial since October, accused of an ultra-nationalist plot to stoke unrest and provoke the army to launch a coup. Critics say the ruling AK party is simply arresting its secular opponents. Around 30 people were detained in a separate wave of arrests earlier this month. CLICK HERE:More arrests in Turkey coup probe


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21.01.2009 London, England - UK UNEMPLOYMENT NEARS 2 MILLION BY FALLING STERLING - UK unemployment was 1.92 million between September and November, up 131,000 from the previous three months, the highest level since September 1997. That does not include the tens of thousands of jobs cut since November. The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance increased 77,900 to 1.16 million in December, according to the Office for National Statistics. "Every job loss, every redundancy, is a matter of regret and sadness for us all," said Prime Minister Gordon Brown. "We may not be able to help people keep their existing job, but we will help people get into a new job," he added, during Prime Minister's Questions. Leader of the Opposition David Cameron said, "It is clear that the British economy faces dark days indeed." He added that there was "no real confidence that government policies are working".CLICK HERE:
"euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: The economic situation is fast approaching the critical stage and requires drastic measures, namely the establishment of a national government with widest possible responsibility. There is hardly time for a general election.)

London, England - EX-KGB SPY BUYS UK NEWSPAPER FOR 1 POUND - Russian ex-KGB agent Alexander Lebedev is to buy the London Evening Standard newspaper for the sum of £1. The paper's publisher, the Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT), said it had agreed to the sale of a majority interest in the paper to Mr Lebedev. The billionaire businessman is believed to have made an offer for approximately a 76% share of the paper. He has previously revealed that he used the paper to find out information when he was a young spy based in London. DMGT said the Evening Standard would pass into the hands of Evening Press, a company formed by Mr Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev and owned by Lebedev Holdings. DMGT's Associated Newspapers division is to retain a minority share of 24.9% in the new firm, called Evening Standard Ltd. CLICK HERE:Ex-KGB spy buys UK newspaper for 1 pound

London, England - DISPUTE OVER CLARKE EUROPE COMMENTS - Ken Clarke is reported to have warned against the Tories taking a "right-wing nationalist" stance on Europe shortly before returning to the shadow cabinet. The MP, who was made shadow business secretary this week, is quoted as telling a conference in December that this would alienate Barack Obama. Labour said this was a correct analysis of Tory policy on Europe, which was to "isolate the UK". But the Conservatives said this was an "absurd interpretation" of the remarks. Mr Clarke, seen as one of the most Europhile Tory MPs, has sometimes been at odds with the party's leadership on the issue, but on his return to the shadow cabinet, the former chancellor said he would vote in favour of leader David Cameron's policies. However, a debate at Nottingham University in December is quoted on the publicservice.co.uk website, in which he addresses party policy ahead of Mr Obama assuming the US presidency. ...The article reports Mr Clarke saying: "A lot will depend on relations with Europe, because Obama doesn't want his strongest European ally led by a rightwing nationalist. CLICK HERE:Dispute over Clarke Europe comments

London, England - ALLEGEDLY POLICE AGAIN ENTERED MP OFFICE WITHOUT SEARCH WARRANT - A Conservative MP has alleged that police entered his Commons office without a search warrant demanding to see constituency correspondence. Daniel Kawczynski said he found it "disgraceful" after the controversy over the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green last year. The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham said he had handed over the letter. He said the inquiry related to a Shrewsbury-postmarked letter containing "white powder" sent to a minister. Mr Kawczynski said it was to his "eternal shame" that he had complied by handing over the letter. His comments follow the arrest of shadow immigration minister Mr Green, and the search of his Commons offices, last year. Mr Kawczynski said the investigation related to a letter sent to Schools Secretary Ed Balls, which contained white powder that later turned out to be flour. The letter had been sent from his constituency, he added. CLICK HERE:Allegedly police again entered MP office without search warrant

Berlin, Germany - GERMAN UNEMPLOYMENT TO AVERAGE 8.4% IN 2009 - Germany has predicted that its economy will shrink by 2.25% in 2009, which would be its worst performance in the post-World War II era. The downgraded forecast is much lower than the previous prediction of 0.2% growth, made in October. Germany's economy accounts for about a third of eurozone output. "There is no precedent in post-war history for this economic decline that we unfortunately have to forecast," said economy minister Michael Glos. Mr Glos predicted that exports - a key factor in German growth in recent years - would slump by 8.9% this year. He also said that the jobless rate would climb to an average of 8.4% in 2009, from 7.8% in 2008. CLICK HERE:German unenemployment to average 8.4% this year

Amsterdam, Netherlands - DUTCH MP TO BE CHARED OVER ISLAM FILM - A Dutch court has ordered prosecutors to put a right-wing politician on trial for making anti-Islamic statements. Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders made a controversial film last year equating Islam with violence and has likened the Koran to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. "In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to... draw a clear line," the court in Amsterdam said. Mr Wilders said the judgement was an "attack on the freedom of expression". "Participation in the public debate has become a dangerous activity. If you give your opinion, you risk being prosecuted," he said. Not only he, but all Dutch citizens opposed to the "Islamization" of their country would be on trial, Mr Wilders warned. "Who will stand up for our culture if I am silenced?" he added. CLICK HERE:Dutch MP to be charged over Islam film


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20.01.2009 Washington, DC - 44TH US PRESIDENT INAUGURATED - New US President Barack Obama has used his inaugural address to pledge a "new era of responsibility" in a time of crisis at home and abroad. Mr Obama spoke after taking the oath of office as America's 44th president - and its first African-American leader. More than one million people gathered in the National Mall in a wintry Washington DC, to see Mr Obama take the oath shortly after 1200 (1700 GMT). He later set off on an inaugural parade that will take him to the White House. The new president is due to attend a series of balls later, but a shadow was cast over Mr Obama's celebrations in the hours after his swearing-in, as veteran Senator Ted Kennedy collapsed during the inaugural lunch at Congress. Mr Kennedy, whose support was seen as influential in winning over Democratic voters for Mr Obama, has been seriously ill with a brain tumour and has previously undergone surgery. In his first speech as president, Mr Obama said his country faced a number of challenges but was entering a "new era of responsibility". Mr Obama made reference to the scale of his achievement at being the first black American elected to the White House, in a remark that gathered one of the biggest cheers of the speech. "This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed... why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." CLICK HERE:44th US president inaugurated
CLICK HERE:Full text of Obama inauguration speech

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA OPENS GAS TAPS TO EUROPE - Russia has resumed gas supplies to Ukraine and Europe, raising hopes of an end to weeks of shortages. Officials confirmed that gas had reached Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria - some of the countries worst hit by the disruption to supplies. The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas. Millions of Europeans have been without heat since the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on January 1. EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. Some countries, including Bulgaria and Slovakia, rely almost entirely on Russia for gas, pumped via Ukraine. They have had to shut down industrial plants and domestic heating systems, find alternative sources of gas or switch energy plants to oil. People have struggled to heat homes and schools.CLICK HERE:Russia opens gas taps to Europe

Paris, France - CHINESE PM EU VISIT SNUBS FRANCE - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is due to travel to Europe next week, the foreign ministry has announced - but his trip will pointedly exclude France. Mr Wen will visit Germany, Spain and Britain, as well as the EU in Brussels and the World Economic Forum in Davos. Correspondents say Beijing continues to snub Paris because of a meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama late last year. China reacted at the time by cancelling a scheduled summit with the EU. Mr Wen's visit is being seen by analysts as a sign it is ready to mend relations with European leaders following the heated row last year over China's crackdown on Tibetan protesters. "We hope that the visit will further enhance mutual understanding and trust," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters. "Setbacks that have happened in the past are not what we want to see," she said. This attempt at a rapprochement does not appear to include France. Ms Jiang gave no reason as to why Mr Wen's visit did not include meeting the French, but correspondents say officials in Beijing are still angry at Mr Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama. The Chinese foreign ministry recently warned that the future of China's ties with France depended on whether Paris was prepared to "correct its wrongdoing" over Tibet. CLICK HERE:Chinese PM EU trip snubs France


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19.01.2009 London, England - PRO-EUROPEAN KEN CLARKE RETURNS TO TORY SHADOW-CABINET - Former chancellor Ken Clarke has expressed "delight" at rejoining the Conservatives' front bench team, as shadow business secretary. He said he had thought carefully about returning to frontline politics and decided to do so to tackle "the gravest economic crisis I have known". The pro-European said he accepted the party had a "settled view" on the issue and he would not oppose its policy. David Cameron said Mr Clarke, 68, was a "big figure" with "great experience". "Ken was the last chancellor of the exchequer to lead this country out of recession. He has more experience of dealing with tough economic challenges than Gordon Brown's entire cabinet," Mr Cameron said. CLICK HERE:Pro-European Ken Clarke reyiurns to Tory shadow-cabinet

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA AND UKRAINE SIGN GAS DEAL - Russia and Ukraine have signed a 10-year gas deal, which their prime ministers say will bring their long-running dispute to an end. Russia says its energy company Gazprom has been told to resume immediate gas flows to Ukraine and Europe. The EU has given a guarded response, saying the crisis would only be over once gas supplies resumed. Millions of Europeans have been without heat because of the dispute, which began on January 1st. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the transit of Russian gas to European consumers would begin as soon as the gas reached Ukraine. CLICK HERE:Russia and Ukraine sign gas deal

Moscow, Russia - PROMINENT RUSSIAN LAWYER KILLED - A top human rights lawyer who acted for the family of an 18-year-old Chechen woman murdered by a Russian army officer has been shot dead in Moscow. Stanislav Markelov, who acted for the family of Kheda Kungayeva, was shot by an unknown man after a news conference in the center of the Russian capital. He expressed outrage after the officer, Yuri Budanov, was released last week. Budanov was the first Russian officer to be prosecuted for killing a civilian during the conflict in Chechnya. He confessed to strangling Ms Kungayeva in 2000, saying he had acted in a fit of rage while interrogating her, suspecting she was a sniper. He was subsequently jailed for 10 years. CLICK HERE:Prominent Russian lawyer killed

Brussels, Belgian - EUROZONE ECONOMY TO SHRINK 1.9% - The eurozone economy will shrink 1.9% in 2009 and grow by only 0.4% in 2010, the European Commission has forecast. The Commission said in a statement that the whole European Union was facing a "deep and protracted recession". Unemployment in the the 16 countries using the euro is expected to exceed 10% in 2010, up from 7.5% in 2008. The commission hopes it will be possible "to create the conditions for a gradual recovery in the second part of 2009" in the eurozone economy. Economy Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement it would be achieved through "measures to stabilise the financial markets, the easing of monetary policy and the economic recovery plans". The commission said annual inflation in the 16 countries using the euro would be 1% in 2009 and 1.8% a year later. CLICK HERE:Eurozone economy to shrink 1.9%

Brussels, Belgium - TURKEY TRIES TO REVIVE EU DRIVE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Brussels for talks on his country's flagging bid to join the EU. Mr Erdogan said accession remained a "top priority" for Turkey, before holding talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. It is his first visit since 2004, when the EU agreed to open accession talks. Correspondents say a flurry of democratic reforms to reach that goal has since foundered, and many see 2009 as decisive for Turkey's EU ambitions. Last week, Mr Erdogan asked a close aide, Egemen Bagis, to be the country's first full-time negotiator for the accession talks. At the start of his three-day visit to Brussels, Mr Erdogan insisted that EU accession remained a "top priority" for his country. "I hope there will be a leap in 2009," he told a news conference. CLICK HERE:Turkey tries to revive EU drive


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18.01.2009 Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany - SPD LEFTIST LEANING HALTED - Hesse state election results according to exit polls: CDU: 37.2/36.9 - SPD: 23.7/23.8 - FDP: 16.1/16.5 - Greens: 13.9/13.8 - Left: 5.2/5.3 per cent. Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel has taken over a wasteland from.Andrea Ypsilanti. The leading candidate has won over the leadership of the Hesse-SPD with a courageous election campaign. However, the will to move forward has not been realized with him. The frustration in the party is simply too great. CLICK HERE:SPD'S leftist leaning halted


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17.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - The Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers have struck a deal to resume Russian natural gas exports to Europe via Ukraine as soon as Tuesday. Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko reached the agreement after a day of delicate talks in Moscow. Under the deal, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at the much-higher European prices from next year. The dispute between Moscow and Kiev has disrupted gas supplies to much of Europe for almost two weeks. "In the very near future, transit - and the Ukrainian side has assured us to this effect, will resume," said Mr Putin, speaking alongside his Ukrainian counterpart on Russian TV. Mrs Tymoshenko said that the two countries' energy companies, Gazprom and Naftohaz, had been instructed to draw up the relevant contracts by Monday. CLICK HERE:Gas to flow after Moscow deal


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16.01.2009 Berlin, Germany - PUTIN: GAS SOLUTION CLOSER - Russian PM Vladimir Putin says a deal to end the European gas crisis may be nearer, after discussing the formation of a consortium to transfer gas. Speaking in Germany, he said: "We are approaching interesting agreements which could lead to a solution." He spoke following meetings with European energy companies which he hopes can enable transit via Ukraine. He also criticized the EU, saying it had sided with Ukraine in the two countries' contractual dispute. Mr Putin said it was intolerable that Russia be expected to supply the "technical gas" needed by Ukraine to keep pressure up in its pipes to transfer gas to Europe. He said a deal was being brokered between Russia's Gazprom and other European firms, including Germany's E.on, Gaz de France and Italy's Eni, under which they would supply the technical gas. It is not clear whether Ukraine would accept such a deal. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, following talks with Mr Putin, said moves to resume gas supplies through Ukraine's pipelines could soon enter a "test phase". CLICK HERE:Putin:Gas solution closer


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15.01.2009 London, England - EX-KGB SPY IN BID TO BUY UK NEWSPAPER - A Russian ex-KGB agent could soon be in control of London daily newspaper the Evening Standard. Billionaire businessman Alexander Lebedev is believed to have made an offer for a 76% share of the paper. He has previously revealed that he used the paper to find out information when he was a young spy based in London. Owner Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) is believed to be considering the offer, although the company has made no official comment. DMGT chairman Lord Rothermere is thought to have already rebuffed a bid Mr Lebedev made for the paper last month. BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said the paper had been hit by the advertising downturn and a fierce free newspaper battle in London. ... Mr Lebedev has described the Standard as a "very good newspaper" with some "brilliant journalists". His fortune, which is reported to be worth around $3.1bn (£2.1bn), was made mostly through banking, insurance companies and from his stake in the Russian airline Aeroflot. In 2006, he teamed up with ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to buy the Russian paper Novaya Gazeta. CLICK HERE:Ex-KGB spy in bid to buy UK newspaper

Frankfurt, Germany - The European Central Bank (ECB) has cut eurozone interest rates by half a percentage point to 2%. The ECB has now reduced rates four times from 4.25% in September as it continues efforts to bolster the eurozone economy. In comments after the announcement, ECB chairman Jean-Claude Trichet suggested another rate cut would come in March. According to official figures, the eurozone has been in recession since September of last year. The latest rate cut also affects Slovakia, which this month became the 16th country to adopt the euro. "If we get more significant disappointments coming through, the market will continue to look for further rate cuts" Dresdner Kleinwort economist Rainer Guntermann said. CLICK HERE:Eurozone interest rates cut to 2%

Brussels, Belgium - EURO INFLATION HITS 26-MONTH LOW - Eurozone inflation fell to a 26-month low in December, thanks to a big decline in the price of energy bills, official figures have shown. Inflation in the 15 countries that were using the euro in December, before Slovakia joined this month, fell to an annual rate of 1.6%. This compares with 2.1% in November, and came after energy bills, including the price of petrol, fell 3.7%. The data comes as the European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates. CLICK HERE:Euro inflation hits 26-month low

Moscow, Russia - SCHROEDER TO JOIN BOARD OG TNK-BP - Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is to join the board of Russo-British oil giant TNK-BP. BP and its Russian billionaire partners in TNK-BP spent much of 2008 in battle for control of the firm. He will be one of three independent directors appointed to try to prevent further problems amongst the board. He joins James Leng, named on Wednesday as new chairman of Rio Tinto, and Alexander Shokhin, of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. "The counsel of such a distinguished statesman [as Mr Schroder], who brings both enormous geopolitical experience and a history of strong relationships with Russia, gives me particular confidence that the next chapter in the progress of TNK-BP will be good for all shareholders and for Russia," said BP chief cxecutive Tony Hayward. CLICK HERE:Schroeder to join board of TNK-BP

Moscow, Russia - EU TO ATTEND GAS SUMMIT IN MOSCOW - Top EU officials plan to join Russia and Ukraine in high-level talks in Moscow to resolve the gas crisis. The Russian and Ukrainian governments have confirmed that they will hold talks in Moscow on Saturday. EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman will attend, the commission says. No gas is flowing via Ukraine to Central and Eastern European countries, some of which are rationing gas amid cold weather and diminishing reserves. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Russia could damage its reputation as a reliable energy supplier if the row continued. She is due to meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Germany on Friday. CLICK HERE:EU to attend gas summit in Moscow

Vienna, Austria - AUSTRIAN POLICE HUNT CHECHEN'S KILLERS - Human rights groups have urged the Austrian government to bring to justice the killers of a Chechen dissident who was shot dead on a Vienna street. Umar Israilov, 27, was killed by two gunmen on Tuesday, Austrian media say. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Memorial Human Rights Center said the victim had told police in Austria that he was being followed. Mr Israilov, a former Chechen rebel, had accused the Russian-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov of torturing him. Mr Israilov, a former bodyguard for Mr Kadyrov who later fled, filed a complaint against the Chechen president with the European Court of Human Rights in 2006. Austrian police arrested a suspect on Tuesday near St Poelten, 80km (50 miles) west of Vienna, in connection with the shooting, local media report. CLICK HERE:Austrian police hunt Chechen's killers


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14.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - EU WARNS OF LEGAL ACTION OVER GAS - The European Commission has warned Russian and Ukrainian gas companies of legal action over a dispute which has left many Europeans without heat. Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said he would advise EU energy companies to sue unless Gazprom and Naftogaz move fast to restore supplies. Bulgarian, Slovak and Moldovan prime ministers have held talks in Moscow and Kiev but the deadlock remains. Supplies remain cut off because of a row between Russia and Ukraine. Mr Barroso told the European Parliament the dispute between Ukraine and Russia was "most unacceptable and incredible". He said if agreements, sponsored by the European Union, are not observed "as a matter of urgency", he would advise energy companies that have deals with Gazprom and Naftogaz, to file lawsuits against them. CLICK HERE:EU warns of legal action over gas

Athens, Greece - GROUP CLAIMS GREEK POLICE ATTACKS - A left-wing militant group has claimed responsibility for shooting and seriously injuring a 21-year-old police officer last week, police say. In a statement sent to a newspaper, Revolutionary Struggle also said it was behind a gun attack on a police bus on December 23, in which no-one was hurt. Revolutionary Struggle has carried out attacks before, including firing a rocket at the US embassy in Athens. Analysts say they fear Greece's recent unrest could fuel domestic terrorism. The attacks follow Greece's worst riots in decades, sparked by the fatal police shooting of a teenager in Athens in early December. CLICK HERE:Group claims Greek police attacks

Sofia, Bulgaria - PROTESTERS FIGHT POLICE IN SOFIA - Anti-government protesters at a rally in the Bulgarian capital Sofia have clashed with police outside the parliament building. More than 2,000 people had been taking part in a peaceful rally when what the police described as a riot broke out. The rally involving students, farmers and activists was to protest about continued corruption and poverty. Bulgaria is rated as the most corrupt of the EU's 27 member states by Transparency International. Shouting "resign!" and "mafia!" the protesters threw bottles, smashed windows on the parliament building, and damaged police cars. When an anonymous bomb threat was received, the Deputy Mayor of Sofia, Yulya Nenkova, issued an order to break up the rally, local media reported. The police then used force to disperse the protesters, who were demanding the resignation of the Socialist-led government. CLICK HERE:Protesters fight police in Sofia

Peking, China - The Chinese government has increased its estimate of how much the economy grew during 2007. The revision means China's economy overtook Germany's to become the world's third largest in 2007. Gross domestic product expanded 13%, up from an earlier estimate of 11.9%, to 25.7 trillion yuan ($3.5 trillion). The figures underscore China's emergence as an economic superpower, although the country's growth rate is expected to have dropped to 9% in 2008. China's government is taking measures to try and ease the slowdown. The government has launched a 4 trillion yuan ($586bn) stimulus package and has promised measures to help struggling exporters and vehicle and steel makers. Individually, most of China's more than one billion people remain poor. Germany's GDP per person was $38,800 in 2007 compared with $2,800 in China, which has wide disparities between rich and poor. China's economy has grown tenfold in the past 30 years. Merrill Lynch economist Ting Lu predicted that it will overtake Japan as the world's second largest econom. "euro_news_clip" COMMENT(COMMENT: In embrasing capitalism communist China still remains a society with no social welfare structure, where there is no pension, and no free medical treatment for the old, many of whom live on less than a dollar a day, and are housed in less than 10 m2) )

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13.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIAN GAS TO EU BLOCKED - Russian gas giant Gazprom says Ukraine has blocked gas deliveries to Europe, dashing hopes of ending a row which has hit several countries' supplies. Gazprom deputy head Alexander Medvedev said Ukraine had failed to carry the gas onwards to Europe after it resumed pumping it across their border. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko called on Russia to "stop the blackmail" and work out an agreement. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans have been without gas for nearly a week. Moscow has been unable to resolve differences with Ukraine over debts and pricing. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, at a pumping station on the Russian-Ukrainian border, says the latest twist in the dispute is symptomatic of the total lack of trust between the two countries. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso telephoned Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to express disappointment at the low levels of gas flowing from Russia and at the apparent lack of access to dispatch centres for EU monitors, EU officials said. Mr Barroso said he would also discuss the problem with the Ukrainian leadership. Russia shut off the gas to Europe last Wednesday, accusing Kiev of stealing gas meant for other European customers.CLICK HERE:Russian gas to EU blocked

Berlin, Germany - GERMANY PROVIDES 50BN EURO STIMULUS - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has unveiled an economic stimulus package worth about 50bn euros ($67bn; £45bn) to kick-start Europe's largest economy. The measures include investments in railways, roads and schools, as well as a number of tax relief initiatives. It is aimed at helping the country during what some fear could be its worst recession since World War II. An earlier 23bn-euro plan to stimulate the economy, passed last month, was derided for being too cautious. "We will do everything possible to make sure Germany not only gets through this crisis but emerges stronger," Ms Merkel said. CLICK HERE:Germany provides 50bn euro stimulus

London, England - UK ECONOMIC TURNDOWN ALARMING - Business leaders have painted a bleak picture of the UK economy, with a survey suggesting the end of 2008 saw a "frightening deterioration". The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its survey results were "awful" and the worst since it began in 1989. Elsewhere, a separate report suggested it had been the worst December for UK retail sales in at least 14 years. On 23 January, official figures are set to confirm the UK is in recession with six months of negative growth. The British Retail Consortium figures on sales from the High Street and online said that like-for-like sales in December were down 3.3% on a year ago while total sales shrank 1.4%. This is despite the government cut in value added tax (VAT), which took effect in December. CLICK HERE:UK economic downturn alarming

Brussels, Belgium - MEP'S BACK PESTICIDE CONTROLS - The European Parliament has voted to tighten rules on pesticide use and ban at least 22 chemicals deemed harmful to human health. The UK government, the Conservatives and the National Farmers' Union all oppose the new rules, saying they could hit yields and increase food prices. The rules have not yet been approved by the 27 member states' governments. The draft law would ban substances that can cause cancer or that can harm human reproduction or hormones. UK farmers say the law would "seriously threaten" UK food production. It could wipe out the carrot industry and seriously affect many other crops, the National Farmers' Union has warned. Certain pesticides are particularly useful in Britain to combat diseases associated with wet weather, such as potato blight. CLICK HERE:MEP's back pesticide controls


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12.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - RUSSIA TO RESUME GAS SUPPLIES - Russia will resume pumping gas to third countries via Ukraine from Tuesday morning, following the completion of a monitoring deal, the EU says. The Czech presidency of the EU made the announcement following the signing of a deal by Russia, Ukraine and the EU. Hundreds of thousands of people in Europe have been left without gas since Russia turned off the taps over a contractual dispute with Ukraine. Despite the deal, it may be some time before supplies return to normal. Analysts say that in theory, supplies could return to normal within 24 hours but a more likely time frame is 36 to 48 hours. Under the gas transit deal, international pipeline monitors will verify the flow of Russian gas through Ukraine. CLICK HERE:Russia resumes gas supplies

Seine-Saint-Denis, France - GASOLINE BOMBS HIT FRENCH SYNAGOG - Two petrol bombs have been thrown at a synagog north of Paris, police have said, days after another French synagogue was attacked. Police in the Seine-Saint-Denis region said no injuries were caused, but a restaurant next door to the synagog was damaged. Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the attack was "intolerable". The incident came amid tensions in France over the violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, now in its 17th day. Ms Alliot-Marie vowed to find and punish those who carried out the attack in Saint-Denis on Sunday. French officials have been keen to stress to Jewish and Muslim community leaders that the unrest in Gaza should not lead to violence in France. Protests against Israel's military action in Gaza attracted more than 100,000 people in France during the weekend. CLICK HERE:Gasoline bombs hit French synagog

Athens, Greece - SHIPPING MAGNATE KIDNAPPED IN GREECE - A Greek shipping magnate has been kidnapped at gunpoint near his home on the outskirts of Athens, police say. Pericles Panagopoulos was abducted, along with his driver, after their car was deliberately blocked in the seaside suburb of Kavouri. The two men were bundled into another vehicle, though the driver was released a short while later. Mr Panagopoulos, who is 70 and said to be in poor health, was the founder of Greece's largest ferry company, Attica. Police said the kidnapping appeared to have been carried out by three armed men. Mr Panagopoulos was taken away in a dark van, which was abandoned about 15km (10 miles) away, police said. The alarm was raised by a builder, who saw the kidnappers hustle their victim into another getaway vehicle. The chauffeur was left handcuffed in the van. CLICK HERE:Shipping magnate kidnapped in Greece

Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain - BASQUE LEADER'S TRIAL DISMISSED - A Spanish court has thrown out a case against the head of the Basque regional government, who was accused of illegal contacts with banned separatists. The court acted after the prosecution admitted that the contacts were not illegal, after all. Basque Nationalist politician Juan Jose Ibarretxe went on trial last week, along with two members of Spain's governing Socialist Party. They had met the separatist group Batasuna during a failed peace effort. Batasuna is the banned political wing of the militant group Eta. Five members of Batasuna were also on trial in the case, which was thrown out of court on Monday. The case had resulted from complaints filed by two conservative groups opposed to talks with Eta. CLICK HERE:Basque leader's trial dismissed


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11.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - RUSSIA_UKRAINE GAS DEAL HITS SNAG - Russian energy giant Gazprom says a deal to re-start gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine will be delayed as it has not received a copy of the agreement. Kiev and Moscow signed the EU-brokered deal on Saturday. The new snag comes as EU observers arrived at gas pumping stations in Ukraine to monitor flow. Hundreds of thousands of people across Europe are without heating in the region's worst energy crisis in years. The underlying issue over pricing that provoked the dispute is unresolved. The weekend agreement followed days of intensive EU-led shuttle diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow said that once the EU monitors were in place, it would turn the taps back on, bringing the crisis to an end. However, by late on Sunday, Gazprom said it had still not received a copy of the monitoring agreement "through official channels". "This is delaying our work and the start of monitors' work at the facilities," said Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov. Once gas starts to flow, it will still take at least 36 hours for it to reach hundreds of thousands of consumers in countries like Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia, in the grip of severe winter weather. CLICK HERE:


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10.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - ACCORD SIGNED IN RUSSIA GAS DISPUTE - Russia and European Union officials have signed a deal, which pave the way for the re-opening of gas supplies to Europe.The deal, signed by Russian PM Vladimir Putin and Czech PM Mirek Topolanek, sets out how gas flowing to Europe through Ukraine will be monitored. Hundreds of thousands of European homes have no heating after gas shipments via Ukraine were halted on Wednesday. The Czech PM is going to Ukraine, which must sign the deal if it is to work. The deal followed five hours of talks between Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and officials from the European Union."Let's sign and we will go immediately to Kiev to ask the same of the Ukrainian side, and so, we will end the crisis," said Mr Topolanek, who represented the EU. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's office said she would meet Mr Topolanek in Kiev on Saturday evening. CLICK HERE:Accord signed in Russia gas dispute

Madrid, Spain - SPANISH INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT PLUNGES - Spanish industrial output fell by 15.1% in November, compared with the same month one year ago, the biggest fall on record and a sign of a deep recession.Analysts had expected output in factories and mines to drop by 11%. On Thursday, figures revealed that the country's unemployment rate hit a 12-year high in 2008 of 3 million. Retail sales across the 15 nations that share the euro rose unexpectedly in November, defying the gloom that pervades the eurozone economy. Spain, which has enjoyed 14 years of consecutive growth, is expected to enter a recession in the fourth quarter. GDP growth fell 0.2% in the third quarter and analysts forecast a 0.8% drop for the fourth quarter. The country has been particularly hard hit by the slowdown, partly because of the weakness in the construction sector. The figures indicate that the problem is not just in the construction sector, but also in manufacturing.CLICK HERE:Spanish industrial output plunges


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9.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - EU GAS MONITORS ARRIVE IN UKRAINE - There are hopes that gas flows through Ukraine may soon be restored after the first EU monitors arrived to start checking pipelines from Russia. Hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe remain without heating amid plunging temperatures, following a row over gas between Russia and Ukraine, but Russia says shipments will resume when Russian, Ukrainian and EU monitors start work, possibly later in the day. It may still take several days for gas to reach some areas, however. "It will take at least three days," to get the whole system functioning again, EU energy spokesman Ferran Terradellas said. More than 15 countries have been hit by the shutdown of Russian supplies. Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina are among the worst hit, as many homes there rely on communal heating stations that only run on gas.CLICK HERE:EU gas monitors arrive in Ukraine

Athens, Greece - NEW VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT IN ATHENS - Police in Athens have clashed with protesters in a resumption of the violence that flared after last month's killing of a teenager by police. Hooded youths broke away from a student march against education reforms and threw stones and flares at riot police, who fired tear gas and flash grenades. The center- right Greek government has pledged to crack down on the rioting. Earlier this week a policeman was shot and badly injured in an attack feared linked to the unrest. The policeman underwent more surgery on Friday. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis recently vowed that police would take a harder line against the "catastrophic violence" that swept Greece after the shooting of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 6. The new deputy interior minister in the prime minister's reshuffled cabinet, Christos Markoyiannakis, has promised a "zero tolerance" approach to crime. Friday's clashes were the first test of that resolve.CLICK HERE:New clashes break out in Athens


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8.01.2009 Brussels, Belgium - RUSSIA TO RESTORE GAS TO EUROPE - The Russian gas giant, Gazprom, says it will resume pumping gas to Europe once independent monitors are in place to check the flow to EU markets. Ukraine, whose dispute with Russia over pricing led to the crisis, said it would guarantee transit to Europe. Gazprom's announcement came after a morning of acrimonious talks in Brussels between Russian and Ukrainian gas executives and EU officials. The talks were aimed at ending the row that has seen supply to Europe cut off. Ten of thousands of homes in Europe have been left with no heating, a situation which the European Commission has described as completely unacceptable. The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says that after a morning of talks during which the war of words intensified, the two sides have been working towards a deal that will at least see supplies to Europe restored. CLICK HERE:Russia to restore gas to Europe

Prague, Czech Republic - CZECHS WARN ON EU FISCAL PLANS - The Czech Republic has warned the European Union against borrowing its way out of the global slowdown. The Czechs are the current holders of the rotating EU presidency."There is a risk that if discipline is not adhered to, we'll have real problems," finance minister Miroslav Kalousek said. He urged members to clamp down on increased public spending, even as the eurozone and the UK headed into recession. Mr Kalousek also said the economic downturn should not be made worse by "untrustworthy policies exercised by some countries", but did not name which member states he meant. The comments follow criticism last month by the German finance minister, Peer Steinbruck, of the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels. "It must be hoped that when the period of crisis is over, everybody will come back to fiscal and financial discipline," Mr Kalousek said. CLICK HERE:Czechs warn on EU fisvcal plans

Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain - BASQUE LEADER ON TRIAL IN SPAIN - The head of the Basque regional government in Spain has gone on trial over contacts with a banned party linked to the separatist group Eta. Juan Jose Ibarretxe, on trial in the city of Bilbao, is accused of holding talks with the Batasuna party in 2006. The talks took place during a failed attempt by Spain's Socialist government to negotiate peace with Eta. Two Socialist Party members, Patxi Lopez and Rodolfo Ares, also went on trial over contacts with Batasuna. All three politicians have admitted contacts with Batasuna, but stressed they were part of a campaign to reach a peaceful settlement. They are being sued by two Spanish conservative organisations opposed to talks with Eta. If found guilty, they could face prison terms and a ban on political activity. CLICK HERE:Basque leader on trial in Spain

Frankfurt, Germany - Commerzbank, Germany's second-biggest bank, has said it is to be partly nationalised, with the government taking a 25% stake, plus one share. The bank is to receive 10bn euros (£9bn; $13.7bn) in a second injection pf capital from the German banking sector stabilisation fund, Soffin. Commerzbank had been seeking help after its 5.1bn euro takeover of rival Dresdner Bank from insurer Allianz. It shares had fallen to a record low on Thursday ahead of the announcement. In a statement, the bank said: "The federal government will hold a stake of 25% plus one share in the new Commerzbank." Commerzbank originally announced its purchase of Dresdner in September, for 9.8bn euros. CLICK HERE:Commerzbank is part nationalized


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7.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - DISPUTE HITS EU GAS SUPPIES - Exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appear to have completely stopped amid a dispute over gas supplies between the two countries. Heating systems shut down in some parts of central Europe, as outdoor temperatures plunged to -10C or lower. Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other, and the EU says it wants its own monitors to check the flow of gas. The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine. The list of countries that have reported a total halt of Russian supplies via Ukraine includes Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, and Austria. Italy said it had received only 10% of its expected supply.The row comes amid a cold snap across Europe that is likely to push up demand for gas. Bulgaria says it has sufficient supplies for just a few more days. CLICK HERE:Dispute hits EU gas supplies

Sofia, Bularia - BULGARIA URGES RETURN TO NUCLEAR - Bulgaria's President Georgi Purvanov has suggested that a nuclear reactor deemed unsafe by the EU could be restarted to help cover gas shortages. Bulgaria is one of several countries to have reported falling gas supplies after Russia reduced its exports amid a contractual row with Ukraine. Mr Purvanov said Bulgaria needed to reactivate the Kozloduy unit as "a more critical situation is hardly possible". The European Commission said it had not received a formal Bulgarian request. Ferran Tarradellas, spokesman for the EU energy commissioner, told the BBC that Bulgaria met its commitments to shut down reactors three and four at Kozloduy as part of its accession to the EU, and the EU saw no reason to reverse that process.Referring to reactor three on Tuesday, Mr Purvanov said "preparations for a restart of the reactor must begin immediately". CLICK HERE:BUlgaria urges return to nuclear

Paris, France - FRANCE TO ANNOUNCE JUSTICE REFORM - President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to announce major changes to the French judiciary, bringing it closer to the system in the English-speaking world. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, Mr Sarkozy wants to abolish investigating magistrates, who currently act as independent judges. The changes would allow state prosecutors and the police to take the lead in investigations instead. Critics say the move would leave the system open to political interference. At present the investigating magistrate plays a powerful and independent role, overseeing investigations by police and prosecutors, examining the evidence, and deciding if a case should go to trial. State prosecutors, who answer to the justice minister, are now expected to take over criminal cases. Such a change would be in line with recommendations made after a high-profile paedophilia case eight years ago, the Outreau scandal, in which more than a dozen people were wrongfully jailed following a flawed investigation by a young magistrate. It would bring the French justice system closer to those used in much of the English-speaking world. Unions representing magistrates warn the changes would compromise the independence of the French system. Some have suggested that Mr Sarkozy is taking revenge against the independent judges who have led several far-reaching corruption probes into the affairs of leading politicians and businessmen. CLICK HERE:France to announvce justice reform

Ankara, Turkey - TURKEY HOLDS 30 OVER COUP PLOT - More than 30 people have been detained in Turkey in a widening inquiry into an alleged coup plot. Those arrested reportedly included three retired generals and a former police chief. Some 86 people are already accused of an ultra-nationalist plot to stoke unrest that would provoke the army to launch a coup. Critics say the ruling AK Party is simply arresting some of its most prominent secular opponents. Wednesday's police operation involved simultaneous raids in six provinces, the Turkish state news agency Anatolia said. A court in Istanbul also ordered searches of the suspects' homes and workplaces, it said. A larger group of suspects, who include retired military officers, politicians, academics and journalists, went on trial in October, accused of being part of a shadowy group known as Ergenekon. CLICK HERE:Turkey holds 30 over coup plot


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6.01.2009 Frankfurt, Germany - EURO WEAKENS ON RATE-CUT EVIDENCE - EUROPEAN GAS SUPPLIES DISRUPTED - The euro has slipped against the pound and the dollar as expectations rise that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates again on January 15. Eurozone inflation figures showed a bigger- than-expected drop while the purchasing managers' index showed a contraction in the service sector. The pound is trading at 1.09530 euros while the dollar is at 0.74765 euros. The ECB has cut rates from 4.25% to 2.5% since October, as inflation has dropped from its July peak of 4%. Cutting interest rates can hurt a currency because investors buy other currencies to seek better returns. The situation with the euro is less clear, however, because UK interest rates are also expected to be cut next week and US rates are effectively zero. Instead, currency strength is reflecting the perceived relative strength of economies and in recent months the eurozone economy has been seen as less vulnerable to the downturn than those of the UK or US. CLICK HERE:Euro weakens on rate-cut evidence

Moscow, Russia - EUROPEAN GAS SUPPLIES DISRUPTED - Several European countries say their supplies of Russian gas have been cut sharply amid an energy price dispute between Moscow and Ukraine. Turkey said all its gas supplies via Ukraine had been cut. Romania reported a 75% reduction. Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia are also seeing shortfalls. The Russian energy giant Gazprom says Ukraine has shut down three of the four pipelines for EU-bound Russian gas. The European Commission says the supply cut is "completely unacceptable". The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine. Ukraine's main energy company, Naftogaz, says talks with Gazprom aimed at resolving the crisis are due to resume in Moscow on Thursday. Naftogaz chairman Oleh Dubyna made the announcement, but it has not yet been confirmed by Gazprom. Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day in a row about unpaid bills. The row comes amid a cold snap across Europe likely to push up demand for gas. CLICK HERE:European gas supplies disrupted

Blaubeuren /Ulm, Germany - GERMAN BILLIONAIRE COMMITS SUICIDE - German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire ran into trouble in the global economic slowdown. In a statement his family said he been "broken" by the financial crisis, and had taken his own life. Mr Merckle ran up losses of about 400m euros (£363m;$535m) last year due to wrong-way bets on Volkswagen shares. He was ranked as the world's 94th richest person in 2008, and his family controls a number of German companies. The 74-year-old's body was found on Monday near railway tracks in southern Germany. Officials said there was no evidence that anyone else was to blame. His family, which had reported him missing after he failed to return home, said in a statement: "Adolf Merckle lived and worked for his family and his firms." "The distress to his firms caused by the financial crisis and the related uncertainties of recent weeks, along with the helplessness of no longer being able to act, broke the passionate family businessman, and he ended his life." Mr Merckle's business interests included the generic drugs maker Ratiopharm and the cement maker Heidelberg Cement.CLICK HERE:German billionaire commits suicide

Toulouse, France - ARSON ATTACK ON A FRENCH SYNAGOG - Attackers rammed a burning car into a synagog in the southern French city of Toulouse, officials have said. The car, packed with a gasoline bomb, was set alight and then pushed into the synagog door by a second car. The building caught fire but a local rabbi and about 12 people caught inside escaped unharmed after Monday's attack. It came as the French defence minister met Jewish and Muslim community leaders to stress the Middle East conflict should not lead to violence in France. Police said they were investigating the attack and had not made any arrests.Damage to the synagogue building was limited to a blackened door, a regional official said, adding that no-one was injured even though a rabbi was inside overseeing an adult learning course. CLICK HERE:Arson attack on French synagog


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5.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA TO CUT UKRAINE GAS SUPPLY - Russian President Vladimir Putin has told gas giant Gazprom to cut supplies sent via Ukraine to Europe over allegations Kiev is siphoning some off. Mr Putin said flow should be reduced by the amount Ukraine had taken since deliveries ended on January 1. Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine five days ago amid a row over unpaid bills and a new pricing contract. Ukraine denies siphoning off gas and says technical problems are disrupting the flow. Pipes across Ukraine carry about one-fifth of the European Union's gas needs. Several EU countries have reported a drop in gas deliveries since 1 January, apparently as a result of the dispute. The move came after Mr Putin held talks with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. CLICK HERE:Russia to cut Ukraine gas supply

Paris, France - TUNISIAN BOMBING TRIAL BEGINS - Three men, including the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, have gone on trial in France for the 2002 bombing of a Tunisian synagog. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is being held in the Guantanamo Bay camp, is being tried in absentia for the attack. German national Christian Ganczarski and Tunisian Walid Nouar are also on trial in Paris. They deny involvement.mTwenty-one people died when a suicide bomber drove a gas-filled tanker into the Djerba synagogue on April 11, 2002. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack.Kuwaiti-born Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused of organising the bombing, which killed 14 German tourists, five Tunisians and two French nationals. Under French law the death of the two French means a trial can be held in France. According to court documents, suicide bomber Nizar Nouar called Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Mr Ganczarski, a convert to Islam who specialized in communications, just before he drove the gas-laden truck into the synagog. CLICK HERE:Tunisian bombing trial begins

Waterford, Irish Republic - WEDGEWOOD GOES INTO ADMINISTRATION - Iconic china and ceramics firm Waterford Wedgwood has into administration after the economic slowdown hit the debt-laden firm. Deloitte has been appointed as administrator to seek buyers for different parts of the company. It said failed buyout talks and poor trading meant restructuring could not happen "in an acceptable timescale". Wedgwood has also requested that its shares be suspended from trading on the Irish Stock Exchange....Wedgwood has been known as an iconic name in British pottery firm for 250 years, with many households in the UK owning one or more of their pieces. CLICK HERE:Wedgewood goes into administration


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3.01.2009 Kiev, Ukraine - UKRAINE WARNS EU OF GAS PROBLEM - Ukraine has warned that there could be serious problems with gas s upplies for European Union countries if its dispute with Russia is not settled soon. An energy official in Kiev said technical problems could disrupt flow. Several EU countries have reported a drop in gas deliveries, apparently as a result of the dispute. Romania, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria said the pressure in their pipelines fell after Russian gas giant Gazprom cut off Ukraine's supply. Gazprom says it can no longer count on Ukraine as a transit route to EU countries and is seeking alternatives. In a BBC interview, the deputy chairman of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, said he hoped EU countries would back the move. The firm has since accused Ukraine of stealing gas. The Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency, is to convene a meeting of envoys in Brussels on Monday to discuss the row. Both Russian and Ukrainian officials are visiting European capitals to put their case. CLICK HERE:Ukraine warns EU of gas problem

Athens, Greece - WEAPONS LINK SEVERAL GREEK ATTACKS - Weapons used to shoot a police unit in Greece overnight are linked to two previous attacks, including one by an anti-US militant group, police say. A 21-year-old officer is in critical condition after being shot in the body and leg before dawn on Monday. The attack followed weeks of protests after police shot a teenager dead. The handgun used in Monday's attack was also used in 2007 in an assault on a police station, by a group which also attacked the US embassy, police said. Tests showed the 9mm-calibre weapon was used in the attack on a police station in suburban Athens on April 30, 2007. That attack, which caused no injuries, was claimed by the far-left group Revolutionary Struggle. Revolutionary Struggle also claimed responsibility after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired into the US embassy in Athens in January 2007, causing damage but no injuries. CLICK HERE:Weapons link several Grrek attacks


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2.01.2009 Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA LOOKS TO RE-ROUTE EU GAS SUPPLY - Russian gas giant Gazprom says it can no longer depend on Ukraine as a transit route the EU and is looking to develop alternatives. In a BBC interview, the deputy chairman of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, said he hoped EU countries would back the move. Gazprom cut off Ukraine's gas supply on Thursday in a row over payment. The firm has since accused Ukraine of stealing gas, however Ukraine's state energy firm said Russia was not sending enough gas to ensure the EU supplies. Ukraine's state gas company, Naftogaz, denied illegally siphoning Russian gas, saying it was ensuring the export supply Ukraine has insisted it will not interfere with gas transported from Russia to other states via its pipelines, as it has enough gas in its reserves to look after its own needs for some time. EU countries have not reported any reduction in gas deliveries via Ukraine. CLICK HERE:Russia looks to re-route EU gas supply

Brussels, Belgium - BELGIAN MP'S BACK NEW GOVERNMENT - New Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has received the backing of parliament in a vote of confidence. Mr Van Rompuy was appointed on Wednesday and has assembled much the same cabinet that served under his predecessor Yves Leterme. Mr Leterme's government collapsed after he resigned on December 19 amid a scandal over the rescue of Fortis bank. The new government must deal with the fallout from that, as well as impending recession and a continuing ethnic rift. Parliament voted for the new government by 88 votes to 45, with no abstentions. CLICK HERE:Belgian MP'S bacdk new government


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1.01.2009 Prague, Czech Republic - CZECHS TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP OF EU - The Czech Republic has taken over the rotating presidency of the European Union, and immediately grappled with a potential crisis. It issued a statement urging Russia and Ukraine not to let their dispute over gas prices disrupt supplies to the EU. The Czechs assume the presidency from the French, and hold it for six months. They face some daunting challenges, not least the global economic downturn, but some fear the presidency could be marred by domestic rows over the EU. There has already been an ugly war of words between the center-right government and the Eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus, who bitterly opposes closer EU integration, says the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague. It is has led some to question whether, 16 years since the birth of an independent Czech state, Czech democracy is mature enough to lead the EU, our correspondent says. The Czech Republic is also one of the few EU countries not to have ratified the Lisbon Treaty on streamlining the EU. While center-right Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek wants to press ahead with this, President Klaus is a staunch opponent. The assumption of the presidency was marked relatively modestly, with the Czech deputy prime minister illuminating a pendulum on a hill above Prague, accompanied by fireworks. CLICK HERE:Czechs take over leadership of EU

Moscow, Russia - RUSSIA SHUTS OFF GAS SUPPLY TO UKRAINE - Russia has stopped all gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to end a row over unpaid bills and prices. Russia's gas giant Gazprom said it turned off the taps at 0700 GMT, when its contract to supply Ukraine ended. Ukraine insists it has paid off its debts to Gazprom, but Russia contests this. The two countries have also failed to agree on a price for 2009. The EU urged Russia and Ukraine to resume negotiations and not to let the dispute disrupt supplies to Europe. A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries. Pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs. The new holders of the EU presidency, the Czech Republic, urged the parties to "rapidly reach a successful outcome" to their dispute. "All existing commitments to supply and transit must be honoured," it added. Both Russia and Ukraine insist that gas supplies transported via Ukraine to the European Union will continue as normal. An official at Gazprom's headquarters in Moscow said: "We have fully cut off supplies to Ukraine as of 10am (0700 GMT) today." "Usually we supply 390 million cubic meterss per day, of which 300 million is transit gas for Europe. Today supplies are running at 300 million cubic meters. We continue supplying Europe in full," Reuters quoted him as saying. CLICK HERE:Russia shuts off gas supply to Ukraine

Bratislava, Slovakia - SLOVAKIA BECOMES A EUROZONE MEMBER - Slovakia has become the 16th member of the eurozone, the second former communist country to join the grouping. Up to 100,000 people gathered in the capital Bratislava's main square for a midnight ceremony with fireworks. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was one of the first to withdraw the new currency, taking 100 euros from a cash machine in the parliament building. The Slovak koruna (crown) will remain in circulation alongside the euro until January 16. Cash machines were meant to be issuing euros from Thursday, while some banks planned to open, despite the New Year's Day holiday, to swap korunas for euros, but the new currency was taking a while to filter through. "None of my clients has paid with euros yet, everybody's using korunas," Marek, a 30-year-old taxi driver in Bratislava, told the AFP news agency. At Bratislava's railway station, Richard Nedo, a 20-year-old waiter at an internet cafe, said: "Since we opened at 6am, we have had 10 customers but only three of them, foreign tourists, paid with euros. Slovaks are still using korunas." Slovakia sees its adoption of the euro as a shield from the turbulence that has hit currencies in neighboring ex-Soviet bloc countries. CLICK HERE:Slovakia becomes a eurozone member


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  ANTI-EU / ANTI-EURO LINKS:
  
  "Keep the Pound" CLICK HERE:Keep the Pound
  "No to euro" CLICK HERE:No to euro
  "Conservatives Against a Federalist Europe" CLICK HERE:CAFE
  "The European Foundation" Website of Bill Cash, MP, CLICK HERE:New Alliance
  "The UK Independence Party EU Parliament" CLICK HERE:UKIP
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  "Eurosceptic Web-Ring" CLICK HERE:euro-sceptic ring
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  MILITANT ANTI-EU ORGANIZATIONS:
  
  1."AfA" CLICK HERE:AfA
  
  2."Attac" CLICK HERE:Attac
  The following groups which participated in violent demonstrations in Genoa may be considered as militant anti-EU:
  GENOA SOCIAL FORUM - Italian-based controlling organizer of Genoa protests and alternative forum. For LINK CLICK HERE:Forum soziale
  
  ATTAC - French-based antiglobalization group for financial transaction tax to release Third World debts. For LINK CLICK HERE: Attac
  
  DROP THE DEBT - British-based group for Third World debt cancellation. For LINK CLICK HERE:Drop the Debt
  
  YA BASTA! Italian radical anti-globalization group. For LINK CLICK HERE:Ya Basta!
  
  GLOBALIZE RESISTANCE - British-based socialist anti-corporate power group. For LINK CLICK HERE:globalize resistance
  
  INDYMEDIA - Independent media organization. Demonstration on-site free-lance journalism and webcasting with news photos. For LINK CLICK HERE:IMC
  For IMC news clips and radio CLICK HERE:fsitv
  TUTE BIANCHI - (Translated: WHITE OVERALLS) A present-day Communist International organization. LINK CLICK HERE:bianchi
  
  FREIE ARBEITER/INNEN UNION - German-language Swiss-based global anarchist "schwarzer Block" network. For LINK CLICK HERE: fau
  

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