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TC endorses much of the statute but cut 14 items

simona — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:03:44 +0000

After four years of deliberation, the judges of the Constitutional Court have endorsed most of the statute but have cut 14 items were subject to interpretation and 27 others, in a ruling in which the term nation remains in the preamble make it clear that this has no legal validity and repeatedly pointed out the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, enshrined in the Constitution.” The ruling represents a severe setback for the Catalan state claims “preferred” the Catalan language, have an independent judiciary and expand their taxing powers.

The adoption of the decision in full today by four blocks of variables majorities, it was possible after the chair of TC, María Emilia Casas, introduced at the last minute your paper several modifications in order to attract votes several judges so far reluctant to adopt the text.

Finally, the right has done a voting block preamble, which maintains the term nation-approved by 6 votes to 4 -, articles unconstitutional, which include changes in requirements from -8 to 2 – Articles constitutional, -6 to 4 – and about thirty of items subject to interpretation, that is subject to constitutional interpretation in the sense that marks the paper, also 6-4 -.

Four dissenting judges are drawn Ramon Rodriguez Arribas, Jorge Rodriguez Zapata, Vicente Conde, Javier Delgado, all from the conservative sector.

Thus, the president, with the changes in his paper, has already drawn the support of progressive and conservative Aragón Manuel Guillermo Jimenez, who have joined their votes from your own houses and also progressive Elisa Pérez Vera, Eugeni Gay and Pascual Sala.

According to sources consulted in court, references to the unity of the Spanish nation were included in a ballot which has set the conservative with the backing of progressive Manuel Aragon. That has led to a block later this forward with six votes to four: those of Aragon, Guillermo Jimenez, Ramon Rodriguez Arribas, Jorge Rodriguez Zapata, Javier Delgado Vicente Conde and compared to those of President Maria Emilia Casas, Elisa Pérez Vera, Pascual Sala and Eugeni Gay.

The decision of the plenary to conduct a vote on the resolution of blocks has resulted in majorities in each one of them. Thus, the progressive view, with votes of Aragon and the more moderate conservatives, Guillermo Jimenez, had been imposed in blocks referred to constitutional provisions and those that should be submitted to interpretation. Most clearer took place in the voting on items that are declared unconstitutional, where only Delgado and Rodriguez-Zapata has been unchecked.

Among other aspects, the TC has annulled the use of “choice” of the Catalan government and the public media.

Also, the TC has annulled the Ombudsman to monitor “exclusively” the Generalitat.

The PP submitted its appeal of unconstitutionality against the Statute on July 31, 2006, now almost four years, although the court began deliberating on the merits of the case until early 2008.

Also, the ruling also intends to maintain the Catalan as the language of Catalonia and considers constitutional existing educational model.

Moreover, the deeper cuts that could bring the ruling of TC would be in the field of justice.

It should be noted that some of the items that will be declared unconstitutional, would affect the new statutes of Andalusia and Valencia.

General McChrystal relieves Obama after his critical comments

cristina — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:34:36 +0000

U.S. President Barack Obama, said Wednesday he accepted the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan, as their conduct did not fit the criteria required for such high military rank.

General McChrystal is replaced by General David Petraeus, who currently leads U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a statement on Wednesday at the White House, Obama insisted that this change of personnel did not herald any shift in strategy on the war in Afghanistan and called his team “unity in the effort” of war in China, noting that no tolerate divisions at its administration.

The president said there was no McChrystal fired for “personal insults” but because his conduct did not fit the criteria required in the case of a general, following the publication on Monday of a Rolling Stone article in which the officer made comments scathing about the president and his administration.

On the morning of Wednesday, Obama was in the White House to General McChrystal. Both men spoke for half an hour alone in the western wing of the presidential palace.

The military chief, convened in emergency on Tuesday after the publication of the controversial note in Rolling Stone, left the White House shortly after 14h20 GMT Wednesday.

It is unknown where he was going McCrystal after his meeting with Obama. The general was initially participate in a meeting at the White House devoted to the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the presence of several officers personally criticized by him or his deputies in the article in Rolling Stone.

Prior to meeting with Obama, the general had met for half an hour with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the Joint Chief of Staff, Michael Mullen, a spokesman.

After having heard of the rude comments McChrystal, Obama estimated that overall 55 years had shown “little trial” to criticize his government, but said he would not take any decisions until listen personally in Washington.

In a delicate position, the soldier received support from abroad, especially NATO.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who spoke by videoconference on Tuesday, estimated that replacing “no help” to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan.

But Wednesday, after learning of the resignation of McChrystal, Karzai made it known through his spokesman that he respected this “internal decision of the U.S. government.”

McChrystal’s replacement, “General David Petraeus, Afghanistan is someone who knows, knows the region very well and is a great overall experience,” said Karzai spokesman, Omad Waheed.

Tensions between McChrystal and the U.S. Executive appeared the public arena at a critical moment in which international forces are involved in two crucial offensive against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan and suffer significant casualties.

This Wednesday, NATO reported that the death of six soldiers so far in June this year, recording 75 soldiers killed so far, makes it one of the deadliest months for international forces in eight years and means of warfare in Afghanistan.

David Petraeus collapses on the ground but recovers very soon

ralph — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:22:44 +0000

David Petraeus is the head of U.S. Central Command.We can see General Petraeus in the picture ,when testifying before a U.S. Senate.During this time he felt ill and collapsed on the ground.Aids came to help him.Fortunately he recoverd shortly after. David Petraeus took a glass of water , and returned back in the hearing room as nothing had happened.He said that he had headaches.

Before the incident,David Petraeus faced all kind of questions about U.S. President Barack Obama’s ,in 2011.General Petraeus gave the necessary support in order to handle the situation. Still ,he was an assistant chief of staff for operations of the NATO and many other grades.General Petraeus was a respected man, he had a wife and two children.

Obama tries to accelerate the peace process in Middle East

christopher — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:19:20 +0000

Continues the U.S. commitment to the Middle East. Barack Obama has officially invited to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for talks scheduled for next Tuesday. To proclaim the authority of the Jewish state. The White House has made it known then that Obama will “in the near future” the president of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen. The meetings with U.S. President will be the first Middle Eastern leaders for the beginning of indirect peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians that began last month, with Obama’s special envoy, George Mitchell, as a mediator between the parties. On the significance of these additional contacts, listen Giorgio Bernardelli, an expert on Middle East issues, interviewed by Jade Aquilino:
Of course Obama wants to give strength to this initiative of indirect talks, which began a thousand difficulties from his Middle East envoy, George Mitchell. These talks have begun, but there is a climate of skepticism around them. Obama obviously wants to spend with these calls his authority to give a little ‘more power initiative. The other factor to consider is that U.S. domestic politics. There had been a previous encounter with Netanyahu in March, which had ended in a rough way to Israel: Obama had called on Israel to keep the commitments required, and this move, however, had aroused much criticism within the political United States, especially in the most linked to the alliance with Israel. Somehow this meeting, with a climate certainly different, mark an attempt to replace things also compared the relationship between the President and Congress.
Just in the meeting of March there had been pressure on new Jewish settlements: the announcement of the construction of new Jewish homes in an Arab neighborhood of Jerusalem, was a bit ‘cool that conversation between Obama and Netanyahu. Now where lurk the contrasts?

There are always differences. The situation is far from resolved. On east Jerusalem has fallen in recent weeks, a sort of tacit approval. There have been initiatives in Jerusalem sensational new development, but there was not a formal commitment – such as those which apply to the rest of the Territories – to freeze new settlements. We, however, that now is putting the issue of freezing of settlements in the West Bank because that freeze – from which started the whole argument of indirect talks – is still reported a very limited period, expiring on 29 September. So the encounter at the White House will be discussed as well.

But what is the state of relations between the United States and the Palestinians?
The Palestinian side is trying to pursue this process of state building from its institutions. The real issue, from the perspective of the Palestinian Authority, on the balance of power. Today Obama is betting – as the international community has always done – Abu Mazen and especially on this new emerging figure, that of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. However, it remains an open question of the division within Palestinian society, of national unity with Hamas that never comes. There is a very important date on the horizon of July 17, when held in the West Bank local elections, which are the first held in the Palestinian territories since, in 2006, Hamas won the elections. Hamas has already announced it would boycott this vote, so there will be a true comparison, but certainly much count the percentage of voters who will participate. Somehow it will be a real referendum on the authority of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad and above all, to see how this new course impressed on Palestinian politics is really intended to have a future.

Europe risks a duopoly or even a monopoly in the railway field

ralph — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:07:40 +0000

Europe faces a duopoly or even a monopoly in the railway field with high risks for suppliers. It ‘as said the CEO of the Rail, Mauro Moretti, at Expoferroviaria. Moretti said that his group now covers all ‘Innovation in Italy while in Britain it is almost not innovation more’:”Britain – he said – has more capacity ‘to innovate because’ not longer has a leading company in the sector.”

”We want to replace the old monopolies – he observed – but not ‘that we are moving towards a European monopoly or duopoly? If and ’so’, no longer ‘well because’ the first to erupt are the suppliers.”

”There are no Martians – said Moretti – if anything there someone who can for two or three years’ dumping to buy pieces of the market. The policy must be able to do these accounts, you can not ‘think of doing more than just racing downward. Who holds a country must look to the future of twenty, thirty years, must make a political assessment and if they lack basic services sectors of a country all industrial clusters reference collapse.”

Dave and Nick, pragmatic choice

john — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 07:05:40 +0000

Yes: better a clear majority and the government of one party. But since there is no clear majority and the government of a party is impossible, in London the same: government coalition between the Conservatives David Cameron and Nick Clegg, LibDem. Tradition requires other things? Never mind: you change that too. If the experiment could not work-and-the English tell us that there is a new tradition. Resignation? Compromise? Opportunism? But no: common sense. The explanation British electoral outcome is more anthropological than political. Many were excluded, abroad, the possibility of a coalition between the Tories and Liberal Democrats. Divided them-yet-l’atteggiamento divide them into Europe, immigration and election law. They had seen many foreigners, pragmatism in a country of strong principles. The United Kingdom, dealing with problems of debt and self-esteem can not afford to talk to or loss of time. It needs a government. And that today is the only possible.
Nicholas William Peter Clegg and David William Donald Cameron, both 43enni and physically similar, are the new odd couple of European politics. Resist? The historical record – read – lead to pessimism: the “hung parliament” came the elections of February 1974 produced a government ephemeral, lasting a few months. But the Labour Harold Wilson, then, attempted to govern without a majority (even then the Liberals Jeremy Thorpe were the third force but did not enter into a coalition). Cameron & Clegg today the majority have it. If they also need a motto, might render the Baroness Thatcher, who once was invented TINA: There Is No Alternative. And when there is no alternative that works? Simple: you take the only possible route. In this case, entry into the Liberal government. It is certain that the policy towards the European Union will be the Conservatives: no euros, for any reason. It is likely that the current majority system, which has created many difficulties for eighty years the Liberals will be submitted to referendum. It confirmed.
All this will be seen. For now we see another, and it is equally interesting: the spectacle of a country where election campaigns are not civil wars minutes and results are accepted with fair play. And – I repeat – pragmatism. By voters – is aware that a government – and part of the elect. Cameron knows that he has received the majority plebiscite that brought Thatcher and Blair to revolutionize the country. Clegg is not aware of having broken through. The new prime minister-on Google last night, came after James Cameron (Canadian director) and Cameron Diaz (actress California) has much to do and prove. The Liberal leader must convince the voters to be “not just a pretty face, not only capable of seducing a pretty face on TV. Two leaders with a sense of limits: prestateceli.
Behind them a nation, the British, do not disdain novelty indeed. In the United Kingdom pretended like traditionalists when, in fact, nonconformists. Not only in London. From Aberdeen to Bristol from Cardiff to Dundee like to change for the sake of change. It tastes healthy, legitimate and democratic. 10, Downing Street, one exits, another enters. A ballet cathartic. The habit of command-and corrupts try any reference to Appaltopoli Rogitopoli Italian and is purely intended – and periodically rinse the corridors of power is good for everyone. So good luck, Dave & Nick, children of the sixties. All Europe needs today, unless a young bankruptcy.

Clinton: Tehran sanctions dissociate

ralph — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:27:45 +0000

So, just when it seemed cornered by Western efforts for tougher sanctions, Iran has moved. And that move.
Thanks to the agreement with Brazil and Turkey for the exchange of low-enriched uranium nucSlear fuel, in one fell swoop managed to bring back the high seas any prospect of agreement reached at the expense of its nuclear ambitions and further disrupt the very notion of community International, whose will, especially since the end of the Cold War, was too often equated with the Western or American.
To achieve leaned two countries until recently confined to a regional role more effective dreamed (as Brazil) or not at all inclined to hinder the overall policy of the United States, even when severely destabilized the balance of its region (like Turkey). Especially with President Lula, Brazil has stopped toying with the idea that being the giant of South America could supply its aspirations to regional leadership, rather than make it virtually impossible. Also due to a series of setbacks suffered, Brazil for some years felt that their gigantism that prevented him to act as a primus inter pares in South America instead legitimized the ambition to play a global policy, pursued first by seeking agreements with South Africa, India, China, Russia itself. At the same time, and in no way paradoxical, Brazil Lula has gradually slipped from the positions sterile “antiyanqui ‘classical rhetoric of Latin American politics. A little ‘as it was for England, that the final defeat in the Hundred Years War could no longer play the game and Continental was’ forced’ to play a game world. Similarly, the failure on a regional scale has forced Brazil to think much more great, encouraging the growth in the role of these years.
Turkey Erdogan, meanwhile, has gradually had to find its own independent strategic positioning, enabling it to escape from close in which they had driven the substantial rejection of the European awaited membership and the increasingly direct and aggressive in the U.S. Middle East. Abandoned the ambitions of the Pan-Turkism (unification or the leadership of the Turkish-speaking peoples from Anatolia to the Caucasus to Central Asia), Ankara has begun to think of the Middle East and also helped by the ideological inclinations of the AKP, has pulled implications: it has cooled relations with Israel (which risked ballast action), it was reapplied to Syria and, especially, has decided to open a “regional strategic dialogue” with Iran, the real power in emerging .
The Iranians, once identified the gap in the international deployment, we are stuck in a gallop, aware that, once given, would be immediately enlarged. And so it happened: the return of Russia and China to a very lukewarm about the prospect of further sanctions, despite the announcement by Hillary Clinton to agree on a new text. Now even France is hesitating, worried that at this point and for a while ‘, any attempt to show determination towards Tehran could make it even clearer that the issue of non-proliferation the West is increasingly lonely position. Proliferation, in reality, the interests of actors are willing to concentric circles. At the core, most Americans remain concerned that (the Russians) are one of two major nuclear powers, but that (unlike the Russians) are also major shareholders, beneficiaries and guarantors of an international system that is still designed by Washington . A little ‘more external Europeans, in that you recognize, but which are available or a resigned his part-fact and still appear far less determined to defend it “at any cost.” Much more than the other major external actors, emerging or re-emerging: from China to Russia (just) to India to Brazil to Turkey, whose policies are actually announcing that the centrality of Western international order is being rapidly overcome.

Too much emphasis on the Euro in trouble

john — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:39:26 +0000

The week starts with the weak euro. Against the dollar, except the period of confusion after the failure of Lehman, has never been so low since April 2006. The emphasis on the European exchange rate crisis is exaggerated, however: when he was just a little stronger, was said to be overvalued. Measured in dollars, euro rate is 6% higher than its average value since there.
And is less than 8% lower than a year ago and the average of the last five years. It is therefore not appropriate to dramatize forgetting, inter alia, that there is a crisis in the value of coins in their entirety: last year the dollar value of gold fell by 25%.
A temporary retreat of the euro exchange rate is natural. The measures in support of public debt in some countries have extended the period during which the ECB interest rates are expected to remain very low, making the euro less attractive. Also, if budget cuts will actually be launched in different countries, slightly lower than the change may have some utility for the whole euro area, helping their competitiveness and facilitating quick replacement of decreased public demand with increased exports net.
Then there are strange whispered that the euro is weak because it could discard. Reappear coins that were the weakest, but it could also disdainfully revive the German mark. These are plausible scenarios where the technical and policy is far overrated by the person speaks, usually without sufficient expertise. But the most important thing is to remember that such developments would not have to win just for anyone. All countries of the euro area and, ultimately, all EU countries have to integrate more and more interest in their products, their businesses and their finances is the only and most natural way they can challenge global competition. Replace the euro coins go back to devalue and revalue would perhaps some ephemeral advantage for a short time, the competitiveness of countries weak and strong immunity from any country from the contagion of international problems of illiquidity and insolvency. But all would soon be in great disorder, 70s style: increase dell’indisciplina monetary violent swings in exchange rates, high inflation and different cutting real wages, contraction of trade flows as a disincentive to improve production, the most destabilizing speculation today reintroduction of restrictions on international flows of capital. In the shadow of those bans the large debtors, especially the government, would suck facilitated savings of creditors, especially families. If the euro area, since there is growing less as it could, it is certainly not blame the euro, but its lack of flexibility in exchange rates of national currencies.
Regarding the relationship with the dollar, the U.S. has the advantage of a unique government behind their debt and their money more freely and can print so many dollars to repay bonds coming due, in part because the world seems still accept them as reserve currency and as a tool of international payment by far the most used. But the prospects for public finances are worse than the euro area average. Which did not suffer from major imbalances in payments to the rest of the world, while U.S. foreign trade has more than two decades a large structural deficit and the productions have not yet reorganized to reduce it within sustainable limits. Fiscal and monetary stimulus continues unabated and is returning to the U.S. economy to grow artificially. After the collapse in the early part of last year, U.S. imports have increased at the rate of almost 25%, much quicker than exports. It ‘difficult to prove that the dollar is not overvalued, at least compared to the average of other currencies in the world.
Since last week, Europe has net signs of wanting to tackle the crisis with a new look and greatly increase the coordination of economic policies and its finances. Adopted the concept of a large fund to support public finance of the countries most indebted and less competitive, has obtained the commitment of these cuts and to accelerate reforms, has prepared a plan for revitalizing the market, has set radical reform of the Stability and Growth Pact, has accelerated the debate on regulatory reforms and financial supervision. The objective is to realize many of these changes before the end of the year. Meanwhile, the ECB supports the liquidity of the market trying to avoid accelerating inflation in the money supply. Despite the split style of some political leaders and financial, it is difficult to imagine a clearer recovery of economic and European policy. And ‘a recovery that comes later and is now more intent than a realization. It must be shown immediately that you seriously, both tables in Brussels and national governments and parliaments. The agenda is full of of European emergencies, dense and ambitious deserves to be followed, even by the foreign exchange market, with critical attention, but for now, with confidence.

Let that Athens fail !

christopher — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:10:21 +0000

The Greek titles were downgraded to junk, while Portugal went from A + to A-. Portuguese debt is only 77% of GDP, the level of France. But this state is very solvent because it has a high debt for households and businesses, bringing the total debt of 240% of GDP. It also has a hole in the external balance. Much of its debt in the portfolios of foreign banks and they fear that the government in Lisbon is unable to repay loans due to end. Germany is known, makes his help in harsh conditions in Athens that Greece, home to merchants, has tried since then to reduce wasting time. Some say that if “Greece falls, breaks down the euro as a whole. It calls for a European rapid rescue of Athens.
But it is a wrong argument, which is cleverly exploited by both Greek and French and German banks are full of debt Greek. The rescue of Greece, at the expense of all the countries of Euroland, is really yet another relief to big banks in Europe and elsewhere have bought the debt of Athens. But there’s a reason why Greece, since it is unable to honor its debt, should leave the euro.
It signed an irreversible commitment to stand in the euro and can not get out. There is, then, the expulsion from the euro. It is not written, nor in the Maastricht Treaty or in other constitutional laws degree comparable to it, that a state which is in the euro area can not fail. When Italy had the pound, and the City of Naples was in debt that could not pay, it would fail. There is no law that says municipalities can not get into debt fail. The Italian government, however, for social reasons, he decided to write off those debts. The banks that had lent money to Naples rub their hands and the City, then did other debts.
Germany does not want to do with Greece the error that we did with Naples and other municipalities with debt and health of the Regions. Which have been regularly written off by the State, one year after another. If the Italian state had not absorb all these debts, now the general government of our country, including state government and regional and local governments would have a public debt below 80% of GDP, not a debt which travels to the 115 . The State would have less debt because they would not have taken those of others. Moreover, the Italian Regions and local authorities would not have done all the debts that, gradually, they did, because banks would not have risked giving them much credit, not relying on the intervention state.
Greece is now asking for help of the IMF, which can increase the intervention. Then, if you pass the exams of the IMF, Athens will have European support. Or fail. Portugal will strive to be credible, it is possible that the EU may request that member states launch a lifesaver in Lisbon for 30 billion, as for Greece. This would mean for Germany a new loan of 8.5 billion, for France and Italy by 6.5 from 5.5. Also, if the rescue greek from going through, knowing the day before, the international banks that now speculating downwards, commenced operations in term upward derivatives, namely the differential prices of the securities. And that, unless the focus downward on Portugal, left alone. If we help him, then would the turn of Spain and Italy. Nobody would have the means to help us. In this scenario, we must help ourselves. The euro is not a ‘free lunch’ or discount, as he did believe Romano Prodi. The storm is mounting and we must guide the ship to stop. Therefore it is time the government disputes. It would be better to have, as in France, a Presidential system or, as in Germany, a prime minister with great powers. But we have a parliamentary system by its nature not compatible with the euro. Lombardo will forget the party of the South and Fini look out of favor. Calderoli also must be cautious with the tax changes as well-intentioned. And Carlo De Benedetti will not to bring a sheet, which could also fall on the public debt and reducing taxes on labor shock. Are possible only filings. There is no tripe for cats. This is the notice to all

“The Erika disaster has resulted in more tonnes of dead birds that spilled crude”

ralph — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:32:13 +0000

While oil slicks approaching the Louisiana coast, it was reported today that the leak from the oil rig Deepwater was five times greater than had been previously announced. Deciphering impact on the environment and U.S. energy policy with Emmanuel Buovolo of Greenpeace France.
Can we speak today of an ecological disaster?
The moment there is a leak of this magnitude is an ecological disaster. Marine environments are already affected, and we face a potential ecological disaster on Earth. For now, it’s almost impossible to tell what the impact of the disaster. Activities such as fishing and some forms of aquaculture are affected. As for the marine population, the crude oil can be ingested by fish, thus entering the marine ecosystem.
And to the earth?
If it comes to the coast, fauna and flora will be affected. Birds are particularly impacted. In comparison, the Erika disaster in 1999, has resulted in more tonnes of dead birds that spilled crude. Mammals and amphibians will also be affected by the spill.
The burning of groundwater can solve things?
It solves nothing and instead it will create further pollution. It is a mistake Environmental, in the sense that smoke will pollute the atmosphere, the ash will spread and CO2 will be emitted. The residues are very numerous and difficult to recover. In any case, such a catastrophe can not be resolved. We find traces of several years later. In the case of the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez in Alaska in 1989, more than twenty years later, we still find traces of oil on the coasts.
There is a general problem of justification for this type of activity. Greenpeace denounces U.S. energy policy that relies entirely on oil. The Obama administration has announced it will develop some offshore drilling, especially in areas more difficult to control, such as Alaska. This incident illustrates the limitations of blatantly this system will retrieve the latest oil resources. Other solutions would be preferable, with the use of renewable energy. For example, Barack Obama has authorized the construction of a wind farm offshore. It should also be given on how to spend less energy.