From Atrios

Dump Miliband

Really he's just awful.

Like Evan Bayh and Tony Blair had a lovechild.

by Atrios at 07:30
130 Comments

Should Boris Johnson comfortably see off Ken Livingstone's challenge and Labour perform poorly in the town halls, then Mr Miliband will face trouble. One shadow minister said: "Ed could find himself under pressure in six months if things don't start to look up. There is a lot of goodwill towards him, but there is no denying that we're failing to make much progress."

wiki:mayoral London 2012

German president Wulff developed a "fundamental thesis paper" with Piech how VW could push through a takeover of Porsche by VW in 2009

german ntv

The next thing is that LBBW finances Porsche, mainly. Then again, Wulff got a cheap loan by LBBW.

yahoo.com

Further suit filed

Porsche demanded to pay billions

Halliburton charged with selling nuclear technology to Iran

youtube



Iran fires long-range missiles in Persian gulf

Moussawi calls FARS liars: no long range launch till now; upcoming in a few days

Blatter probably corrupt

Fifa-Korruption Warner bezichtigt Blatter der Bestechung

GMD build by Boeing

yahoo.com

New Hungarian constitution calls communists criminals

yahoo.com

Residents in Syria's Homs are mourning the death of Basil al Sayid, a citizen journalist who chronicled the government siege of Homs for months before a sniper picked him off and killed him. FULL STORY

BW-bank does not agree with German president Wulff that he transformed his loan on 15 dec or earlier

German N-TV

He signed the contract only 21-dec. Wulff declared on 15-dec that he converted his loan into a loan with a normal rate. Beforehand, he had a loan with a reduced rate, id est a "prefered customer" loan.

de.yahoo.com:BW states Geerkens caused first contact with Wulff

german ntv
Schaeuble continues to tell Germany that there is no risk of infection concerning the weakness of Greece. As you recognize, this time he picked the biological view on monetary matters what is completly logical because money is an organism. ahahahaha.

Mitt Romney: President Obama Out Of Touch Like Marie Antoinette

huff post

If you click on the link, you see a picture. You see huge similarities between Romney and Marie-Antoinette.It looks like Romney tried to overcome some of his inner fears I guess, id est he is himself out of touch.

German Telekom pays 95 mio $ fine for bribing in connection with Hungarian Telekom

German NTV

Security and Exchange commission filed charges against German Telekom in Manhattan. The outcome can be called a success for the SEC.

German conservative fundraiser in Egypt gets searched

Ägypten: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Kairo durchsucht
Ägypten: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Kairo durchsucht

NGOs puzzled

Adenauer-Stiftung decries search; Egyptian ambassador called in

sharp criticism follows raids

cnn

GOP faces Americans elect

Saudi-Arabia buys 84 F-15

welt

Spanish kingdom: Urdangarin indicted

VIP-Klick: Iñaki Urdangarín - Herzog von Palma wegen Betrugs angeklagt

sueddeutsche.de - ‎vor 6 Stunden‎

Der Schwiegersohn des spanischen Königs Juan Carlos, Iñaki Urdangarín, steht nun auch offiziell im Verdacht, öffentliche Gelder in Millionenhöhe veruntreut zu haben. Im Februar muss der ehemalige Profi-Sportler vor Gericht erscheinen. ...

cnn

GM causes blind disaster in China

German NTV

GM causes blind disaster in China: because GM obstructed Chinese takeover of Saab, China is now minimizing support for car companies which are investing in China. I mean taken gm owned Saab only from 03 onwards it cant be much know how anyway that got invested into Saab. It was an unnecessary offense of GM versus China. Taken GM is expanding in China quickly, GM should stop eating mushrooms. They will be loosing monez for this thrash decision.
c

German lib dem sec Doering has to pay a fine of 1500 euros for flitting the scene of the accident

FDP-Generalsekretär Döring muss 1500 Euro Geldbuße für Fahrerflucht zahlen

Theres a special paragraph in Germany if u r involved in an accident and id est that you were the cause of the accident and noone was around and then you flit the scene. Normally, state prosecution is very aggressive in Germany when it comes to punishing it. 1500 euros is a ridiculous joke. I mean ok he hit only a rearview mirror, but when I did this once, I got 3 points in Germanys registry (noone was hurt in my case as well).

popans-moron crap.

So, where are our law-hawks? Where is Mr Schaeuble, minister of interior turned minister of finance? Obviously this part isnt represented anymore within the conservatives because rear view mirrors are too disturbing regarding the crap you waffled once, eh? And, in the end, who wants to get oneself into jail? Finally an attitutde-Gesinnungs Frage. And the Gesinnung was always the deceissive part for Mr.Schaeuble. So wheres the contradiction then eh? ahahaha. Schwabo bw-bank power.

Mystery group tells Iowans to ‘vote rouge’ for Palin

Mystery group tells Iowans to ‘vote rouge’ for Palin

and during the elections, dear GOP, vote for Bush-Cheney and ffour more years

FAREWELL, KIM JONG IL
Thousands Line Streets Of Pyongyang For North Korea's 'Dear Leader'

Clegg (!) prepares British for a replan

German NTV---Now, the 4-year plan was one thing. The other thing was replanning a 4-year plan under Breshenew when I was small. Replanning it mostly involved the KGB.

Now, first up, I didnt know stone age capitalist Cameron had a 4-year-plan. That he got one shows clearly that he intended to organize something. Oraganize like in organization like KGB,CIA, mafia or other institutions.

Now, then again, if you RE-organize the ORGANIZATION momentum and requirements become bigger.



Clegg announces the unpleasant msg, not Camron. The UK is adjusting to a VERY COMPLICATED (!) year 2012. The unemployment numbers are expected to grow the head of the lib dem says. The economy has to have another gravity zone (what does that mean? more yoghurt instead of milk? Kill the wheat, get hop? Get the mini-cooper back to Britain?).

even more surprisingly, cameron distances himself from a minimum price for alcohol. I dont know why, because there is definetly some space left for him near Mekka.

Big Bang On Booze: Cameron Mulls Minimum Alcohol Price

Spanish kingdom in corruption scandal

German NTV

His son in law is involved in dubious deals on Mallorca.

focus

Iran threatens to close street of Hormuz

http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Iran-droht-mit-Oel-Blockade-article5088146.html

Turkey

Turquie : which sanctions versus France ?

Le premier ministre Erdogan a prévenu, les sanctions seront annoncées en plusieurs étapes, en fonction du devenir de la proposition de loi au Sénat.

According to the text of the law voted thru by the representatives Turkey took first steps towards sanctions. Prime Erdogan announced the first level: military and political. The Turk ambassador in Paris has been called in for consultations. The bilateral consultations got suspended, the French-Turk forum for the economy was anuled - it was planed for jan 2012. Military planes have to ask for permission from now on if they want to use Turk airspace. French ships are undesired in Turk ports. Symbolic visits like the one of frigate "Birot" have been terminated.

Tories say they want to leave EU and prefer Boris to Cameron

Tories say they want to leave EU and prefer Boris to Cameron

Andrew Grice: Some 92 per cent of party believe PM's vetoing of a new EU treaty was his best moment, poll shows.

A majority of Conservative Party members want Britain to leave the European Union. A poll of 1,566 party members, carried out for The Independent by the ConservativeHome website, shows that David Cameron delighted the Tory grassroots by vetoing a new EU treaty at this month's summit in Brussels.

But the survey also suggests that he may have created hopes of forging a more detached relationship with the EU that he may find difficult to fulfil – and that he will come under pressure from his party to continue to prove his Eurosceptic credentials. If he does, he would risk fuelling tensions with the Liberal Democrats and his fellow EU leaders. If he does not, he would upset many of his party's activists.

Gingrich demands more dement ah decent views

I dont know why but in the end decent means fat in mainstream American. Be more FAT Ron Paul. Its great that Gingrich got so many moral issues he likes to correspond.

THE GLOVES COME OFF
FEISTY NEWT To Romney: Be 'Man Enough To Own' Negative Campaign

MORE GINGRICH: I Wouldn't Vote For Ron Paul – His Views 'Totally Outside The Mainstream Of Every Decent American'

• 
  
• Comments (297)
• | Newt Gingrich

Environment&nuclear fallout corner

Tepco wants $9bn more nuclear aid

German president Wulff: the comptroller board of the bank he got the loan from didnt know about the improved conditions of the loan

German NTV



Bank-cb wasnt informed



The comptroller board of Stuttgart's BW-bank was not informed about an extraordinary loan for German president Wulff. Furthermore the conversion of the loan into a normal mortasge loan comes to grips only 2012. Wulff declared (immediate) success mid-dec. The bank calls for swift revealing.

Why House Republicans appear nuts

Bernstein: Why House Republicans appear nuts

By Jonathan Bernstein

Norm Ornstein has a great point:

Ultimately, the root of the problem may lie in the stark lessons that the Republicans elected to Congress in 2010 seem to have drawn from an earlier cohort of conservative Congressmen—those that Newt Gingrich lead into the majority in 1994. Today’s Tea Partiers recognize that they share a similar governing philosophy with their forebears, but they believe almost uniformly that the Gingrichites sold out too quickly, blinking unnecessarily when the political heat got turned up. The conclusion many have drawn is that Gingrich made a huge mistake when he gave in after the disastrous government shutdown at the end of 1995—if Republicans had held out, lashed themselves to the collective mast and weathered the storm of public disapproval, Clinton would have caved and they would have succeeded at rolling back the welfare state.

Christian Nigerians scared after attacks kill 40, destroy churches and shops

Christian Nigerians scared after attacks kill 40, destroy churches and shops

Fear gripped Nigeria on Monday after a wave of Christmas bombings blamed on Islamists killed at least 40, including worshippers who were left begging for mercy as they exited a church.

Hundreds of residents sought to flee the violence-torn city of Damaturu on Monday fearing further attacks and clashes between Islamists and police, while some 30 Christian shops were burnt in the nearby city of Potiskum late Sunday.

At the damaged St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla near the capital Abuja where the bloodiest attack took place, a special mass was held in memory of the 35 victims there despite splattered blood still visible on the outside.

Bodies of 2 females found in trunk of burning car in Detroit

du

Bodies of 2 females found in trunk of burning car in Detroit
11:06 AM, Dec. 25, 2011
By Associated Press and Free Press staff reports

Detroit police say they're investigating the deaths of two females whose badly burned bodies were found in the trunk of a car on the city's east side.

WDIV-TV says firefighters got a call and arrived about 1 a.m. Sunday. Police say firefighters found a car on fire in the garage of a house and found two bodies in the trunk.

Police say the bodies were burned beyond recognition, and the victims' identities weren't immediately known.

This is the second time within a week that two women's bodies were found in the trunk of a car in Detroit. The bodies of cousins Demesha Hunt, 24, and Renisha Landers, 23, both of Detroit, were found in the trunk of a car Dec. 19 near Outer Drive and Chalmers. An autopsy did not show a definitive cause of death and the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office is awaiting toxicology results.

7 dead in Texas?

msn

yahoo

GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - A gunman who killed six people and himself at a family Christmas celebration was dressed in a Santa Claus suit when opened fire, police said on Monday.

Authorities continued their search for clues in Grapevine, a Dallas suburb dubbed the "Christmas Capital of Texas," to explain the Sunday murder-suicide rampage that left the seven shot dead among unwrapped holiday presents.

The dead -- four women and three men ages 15 to 59 - were found Sunday morning in an apartment living room by police answering a voiceless 911 emergency call, authorities said.

Two pistols were recovered from the home, said Sergeant Robert Eberling of the Grapevine police department, who called it a "gruesome crime scene" and the worst outburst of gun violence in the town's history.

Happy new year

Mexico violence kills 3 US-Americans

yahoo

Calderon got a country-history of 45000 people KILLED since he took office 2006.

Schaeuble predicts that financial markets will calm down in 2012

YAHOO

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. VERY FUNNY. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Gingrich Compares His Ballot Failure To Pearl Harbor

Gingrich Compares His Ballot Failure To Pearl Harbor

it was too late when he got out of this zero. Only then he got that he confused upper and lower end of the map.

Legendary actor Heesters is deceased. He was the oldest actor alive aged 108

Legendärer Tenor Johannes Heesters ist totSpiegel Online

Trump quits GOP

yahoo

Trump snubs GOP. Now, its always very inviting just 2 say Trump is nuts, but as always as well, its not totally true. I read recently that certain candidates are very vulnerable to third party contenders.

ccoaler.blogspot

I put up the link for you again

Talal -SEXY- buys stake in twitter worth 300 mio $

After his last project to build some observation tower next to Israel he seems to have discerned that twitter got the potential to spread rumours about him fast, id est the recent unrest in the Arab world was spiked by Twitter.

GOP: Gingrich, Perry will not be on Va. Ballot

yahoo.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has failed to qualify for Virginia's March 6 Republican primary, a development that complicates his bid to win the GOP presidential nomination.

"After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary," the Republican Party of Virginia announced early Saturday on its Twitter website.

Out of the article

For example, "the Democrats own Newtgingrich.com," said the Rev. Tom Reese, referring to a site that redirects, in one instance, to an article titled, "Gingrich 'Inadvertently' Names Porn Company 'Entrepreneur of the Year' For Stimulating the Economy."

cnn

Obama is like ‘a skinny, ghetto crackhead’

Right-wing media critic: Obama is like ‘a skinny, ghetto crackhead’

At least he doesn't have a fat ass like his wife. Blam. Numb. No, what can you can say about this crap? Scheme: All blacks take drugs. No. Blacks have hunger. No. Blacks lives in ghettos. No. Shortly, this crap is too full of klishees.

Germany:Glaseker stumbled upon trips for free

German NTV

Set of Nazi murders in Germany

My special friend Manfred Kanther is in the spotlight.
My friend M.Kanther was German minister of interior till 1998. Tapes from the time concerning the set of Nazi murders in Germany got shreddered by the central for investigation in Thuringia (LKA).

Kanther and Erdogan 2012!

Another project of the Bush-Erdogan era remains to show certain rifffts

cnn

Baghdad (CNN) -- A wave of explosions across Baghdad killed dozens of people Thursday and spread fears that Iraq's government could collapse in the wake of the U.S. military's departure.

At least 65 people were killed and at least 196 were wounded in 20 explosions just days after the final U.S. troops withdrew, police said.

Turkish PM cites French 'genocide'

Turkish PM cites French 'genocide'
cnn

Well, Im not totally sure about French colonial policies at the end of last century. Or about Turkish imperial policies at the time. What I know is that Mr Erdogan likes to visit Cologne Germany a lot and likes to hold a speech there. Insofar, he is surely a fan of Roman Imperial policies as todays France is surely a fan of French Imperial policies at the end of last century. Or you could call Erdogan an imperial axxhole. Depends on the view I guess.

US nuclear watchdog ok's use of ap1000

US nuclear watchdog ok's use of ap1000

Polls

3rd-party challenges significant challenge for Paul, Trump, Bloomberg

Gary Johnson To Run As Libertarian, Quit Republican Primaries

AOL

Penn's 'Colors' co-star calls him a communist

aol

Probably another speech test for Alonso. Hysterical outbursts need to lead somewhere, at least she can say something in the near future. What the content will be is still unknown. But heck, who needs a brain if you can get it at the airport.

BIG HOUSING OOPS

BIG HOUSING OOPS
Sales during the real estate bust were actually 14.3% worse than previously reported.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Existing home sales during the housing bust were actually 14.3% worse than previously reported, a revision to Realtors' group numbers shows.

On Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revised home sale counts back to 2007 due to flaws in their original data analysis.

ECB announces $643 billion loan program

European Central Bank's big handout

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The European Central Bank on Wednesday announced strong demand for a key bank lending program meant to address the eurozone debt crisis.

The ECB allotted €489.19 billion ($643.18 billion) in the first batch of its 3-year loan program -- more than investors expected. The loans will go to 523 banks in the eurozone to support bank lending and liquidity, the central bank said.

German Lib dems: Lindner resignation weakens Lib Dems further - now hoovering at 2%

During the last German general election, they received 17%.This' -15% in 2 years.

Lindner-Abgang schwächt Liberale

FDP fällt auf 2 Prozent

Joke?

WTF? Case delayed? After Clinton and Obama told us for months of the perfidity of Mr. Manning, the great plop occurs. Bad case. Im also thinking one should do sth about this SOPA crap. Incrimination for the PLOPZ

U.S. rests case against WikiLeaks suspect

Army Private Bradley Manning, accused of one of the most serious intelligence breaches in U.S. history, came face-to-face on Tuesday with the man who turned him in to the authorities.

...

“He was removed because he attacked, he punched me in the face, unprovoked, and displayed an uncontrollable behavior that was deemed untrustworthy at the time,” she said.

The defense is scheduled to call its first witnesses on Wednesday and the investigating officer may take several weeks before deciding whether or not to proceed with a court martial.

Jeez, I guess John Waynez beliefes that this happened coincidentally (punched me in the face)

Bon Jovi is not deceased

STERN

Germany

Holidays,loans, advertisement campaign

Council of Elders of Lower Saxony's parliament discusses Wulff

The pre-Christmas period this year is most uncomfortable for president Wulff. In a special meeting the Council of Elders of Lower Saxony examines today Wulff's personal loan and various connections to businessmen. The entrepreneur Maschmeyer confirmed to have paid 4 an advertisement campaign for a book of Wulff .

Syria massacres deserteurs

BT thrashes - Google

German NTV

AT&T is ending its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA, citing fierce government objections

utter bullshit, but who cares
msnbc

The Justice Department sued to block the merger Aug. 31, saying it would reduce competition and lead to higher prices.

Executives of the two wireless giants disagreed, but last month they took a step toward terminating the deal when they withdrew their application to the Federal Communications Commission after its chairman also opposed the merger.

AT&T maintained Monday that the wireless phone industry requires more airwave space to expand.

GM kills Saab

cnn

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Swedish automaker Saab has filed for bankruptcy after months of struggle to stay alive. Saab's owners have turned the company's assets over to a Swedish court-appointed receiver.

General Motors (GM, Fortune 500), Saab's former owner, had objected to a recently proposed deal under which the company would have been sold to Chinese investors including carmaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile.


The deal required GM's cooperation because it still supplies parts, designs and engineering for Saab products. China is one of GM's largest markets and the U.S. automaker was reportedly concerned that its technology could end up in competing vehicles.

German Lib Dems:Mathiopoulos likely to loose her degree

Mathiopoulos verliert wahrscheinlich Doktortitel

NK pic

Son becomes successor, Pjöngjang tests rocket

"undescribable sorrow" for Kim Jong Il

Kim Yong Un named successor according to CCTV

Kim Yong Il

South Korea on high alert following death of Kim Jong Il

Seoul puts South Korean forces on high alert and Pyongyang urges an increase in its "military capability" following death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

FULL STORY

early Kim Yong Ill picture

Kim Jong Il Dead at 69

In a 'special broadcast' this evening, North Korean television announced that the nation's leader has passed away at age 69.

Who has been chosen as his successor

An exception is no exception to the exception

Gingrich Says He Would Arrest Judges With Capitol Police Or U.S. Marshals

And justice for all! Newtie tries to newtie it but I think he is trying hard to bypass ratio here. His lousy reasoning for incarcerating judges is that they might infringe the commander in chief. How Montesquieu said, there are three branches of govt, legislative, executive and jurisdiction. I just wanted to remind again of the fact that the president cannot introduce laws to congress, he can only veto them. He is mainly part of the executive, not of the legislative.

So, what we see here is some introduction of Gingrich by Gingrich who will mainly strengthen the executive.

It's mainly a lousy attack on the constitution.

huff post

Claudia Kohde Kilsch thinks Graf lost it in Seoul intentionally

yahoo.de

Vaclav Havel is deceased

Poet, Dissident, President

Vaclav Havel is dead

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel is dead. He died aged 75 on his farm. Havel remains a symbol of Prague's spring and velvet revolution. Havel was a poet besides his political works. He treated the forced estrangement through life in the socialist dictatorship in his work.

Last US Troops Leave Iraq

Last US Troops Leave Iraq

The final brigade rolled into neighboring Kuwait early Sunday morning, marking the end of a bitterly divisive nine-year war.

Soldiers' reactions as they crossed border

btw its nine years
2003 1
4 2
5 3
6 4
7 5
8 6
9 7
10 8
2011 9

Thousands of children abused in Dutch roman-catholic churches over 65 years, inquiry says

cnn

(CNN) -- Thousands and thousands of children suffered from sexual abuse in the Dutch Roman Catholic Church over more than six decades, and about 800 "possible perpetrators" have been identified, an independent Commission of Inquiry said Friday.

"Several tens of thousands of minors have experienced mild, serious and very serious forms of inappropriate sexual behavior. Victims have often suffered for decades from the effects of abuse and have received acknowledgment of the fact," the panel says in its report. "This has caused problems for them, their immediate family and their friends, who require attention and sometimes professional counseling."

The report, which covers a period from 1945 to 2010, says "the scale" of the abuse "is relatively small in percentage terms, but is a serious problem in absolute numbers." The victims were under the responsibility of the range of people working in the church -- priests, brothers, pastoral workers and lay persons, it says.

Russia seizes radioactive objects from flight to Iran

cnn

Moscow (CNN) -- Russian authorities on Friday seized radioactive material from the luggage of a passenger on a flight from Moscow to Tehran, Iran.

The luggage, belonging to an Iranian citizen, contained 18 metal objects packed in individual steel cases, Russia's Federal Customs Service said. The agency said the material, the radioactive isotope Sodium-22, can be obtained in a nuclear reactor.

The news sparked concern that the incident may have been related to Iran's nuclear program, which the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report last month could be geared to produce weapons. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Wulff''s lawyers dont like the idea

n-tv

It's actually important Wulff dyes his hair in the colour of the dress of his wife

A disputed 500.000-Euro-loan to Christian Wulff grows to a scandal rooting from the time when Wulff was prime minister of lower Saxony, over which today's president could stumble. The loan was negotiated between Wulff and the ex entrepreneur Geerkens and that deal was finally completed via the account of Geerkens' wife. Wulff's of lawyers reject that.

Conservative corruption disaster in Germany, NRW extending

sz

The Hague will investigate Ghaddafi death

After Camerons Arab spring produced lousy results, especially in elections in Egypt, voices are becoming louder to ask for the actors Cameron placed to execute his list of putshes. Libya is returning into the spotlight.

Verdacht auf Kriegsverbrechen

Gaddafi-Tod: Den Haag ermittelt

What can I do on a verbal slack

Rep.West benighted efforts led renewdly into abyss. Heck, if you cant style propaganda, criticize propaganda.

Rep. West: Goebbels would be proud of Democrats

Greetings to Mr Gingrich

Gingrich: Abolish ‘anti-American’ Ninth Circuit judges

Rick Perry discovered Solyndra.
How about
Scam-eeron?

Latest: Al-Quaida jealous towards luggage of Westerwelle

*Latest*Westerwelle in New York*** Airplane Crash???***

Tepco among Berlin's commuter rail system?

After Wowereit lost recently his senator for justice and consumer protection, now the one for the city utility dept is endangered, (because the Tepco npp on Ruegen got hit by a tidal wave?). Well, there is obviously no Tepco NPP on Ruegen.

Again Chaos in Berlin

Total Blackout of Berlin's commuter rail system?

Cameron An 'Obstinate Kid' Over Euro Veto Row

Sarkozy Calls Cameron An 'Obstinate Kid' Over Euro Veto Row

Chiraq is guilty

Schuldspruch für französischen Altpräsidenten Chirac

Chirac found guilty of corruption

Paris (CNN) -- Former French President Jacques Chirac was found guilty Thursday on corruption charges stemming from his time as mayor of Paris and given a two year suspended sentence, a court in the French capital announced.

He was convicted of breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds and illegal use of influence, the Paris Court's press office said.

France

verdict against Chiraq out today

New German lid dem sec Döring demands unity

Content instead of Personal debate

Widmer-Schlumpf (Smurf) is new federal president of Switzerland

Bundesrat: Widmer-Schlumpf ist neue Bundespräsidentin der Schweiz ZEIT ONLINE - ‎vor 11 Stunden‎ Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf hat sich gegen den Widerstand der rechtspopulistischen SVP durchgesetzt. Sie wurde als Finanzministerin und Bundespräsidentin gewählt. In der Schweiz ist Finanzministerin Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf von der Bürgerlich-Demokratischen ...

Lib Dem sec gets fired

Berlin, 14. Dezember (dpa) - Christian Lindner resigns as lib dem sec. How dpa got to know in Berlin , he declared his resignation in a dialogue with party head Roesler.

It reads in a personal statement of Lindner: "There is a moment when you have to vacant your space to permit a new dynamic." The incidents of the last days and weeks supported this assumption of him.

Lindner was under heavy criticism for his organisation of a party internal vote concerning EFSF. He declared the vote dead even before the deadline was reached.

The Merlin of Gandalfs, Abdulli, seems to confront stiff comptetion from the other sex

Saudi woman beheaded for 'witchcraft'

Call him Obi Wan Kenobi - still somebody who has an x-wing flying out of a swamp. wait a minute - that was Yoda.

massacre in Liege

Now, while Wulff returned from Arabia, a baby is deceased in the aftermath of the massacre in Liege

Baby among dead in Belgium grenade attack

The number of people injured in a deadly gun and grenade attack in Liege, Belgium, has risen to 119, Liege police say. Four victims and the gunman died in the incident. FULL STORY

US drone stalls over Seychelles

spiegel.de

Seychelles

Entrepreneur who -NOT- lended a loan to German president was involved

Bild

It's already a bit delicate that the 500.000 Euros Wulff borrowed came from Switzerland. But, still, the money came from an account of the wife of the entrepreneur Geerkens. So, the point is actually that it was from an account of the wife and not Geerkens himself. Wulff stated in parliament that he had no business relations with Geerkens himself. Now, this sounds already a bit lousy taken that he got 500.000 euros from his wife. But there is news: The 500.000 euros weren't transfered to Wulff directly out of Switzerland. The money was transfered first to an account of Geerkens, then Geerkens issued a cheque (!) to Wulff.

Sry, I didnt get this at first, I thought it was only Geerkens account, but if it was a cheque, it bears Geerkens signature, so it is a personalized instruction of Geerkens, because it bears his signature.

I mean its not the transaction terminal at the savings bank. A cheque is an order to pay out and it bears a signature. So its a personalized instruction.

Even more strange is that the cheque got issued by German federal reserve bank. I mean why do you need the federal reserve bank to transfer 500000 euros from a savings bank in Osnabrueck to Wulff's own account?

btw, has anyone seen the wife yet? I mean she looks great, but she is a bit young, at least maybe. So why should she have 500000 euros in redundance?

Another great picture: Wulff near the Persian gulf

Liege

cnn

(CNN) -- A grenade and gun attack in the eastern Belgian city of Liege left four people dead, including the attacker, and at least 75 wounded Tuesday, the Liege public prosecutor said.

Those killed in the attack near a Christmas market in a city center square included two teenagers and a 65-year-old woman, prosecutor Danielle Reynders told reporters in Liege.

Some 52 people were treated for injuries by medics at a field hospital set up at the scene, the prosecutor said, while others went to hospitals in the area.

The attacker was identified as 33-year-old Liege resident Nordine Amrani, Reynders said. He had left his home with firearms and three grenades in his bag, she added.

(Nordine Amrani)
Amrani was on an elevated walkway above the square when he began throwing grenades down into the crowd and then firing, before shooting himself in the head with his revolver, the source said.

Amrani was previously in prison on drugs and arms racketeering charges, the source said, having been caught cultivating "several thousand" cannabis plants.

Authorities will carry out an autopsy in part to see if he was under influence of drugs during the attack, which has shocked the country and its security service, the source said.

He said that during Amrani's 40 months in jail, he was not diagnosed with any mental disorder or seen to be politicized before being released on conditional parole. The source said authorities have found no ties to Islamist terrorism.

Liege resident Kevin Hauzeur told CNN that he ducked for cover as he heard a "huge explosion and two or three gunshots" in the city center.

Terror attack in Liege Belgium

Anschlag im Zentrum von Lüttich

lalibre.be
Deux personnes seraient décédées et 47 blessées dont 7 graves à la suite de l'attentat qui s'est produit dans le centre de Liège, selon nos dernières informations.
2 persons got killed and 47 wounded of whom 7 severly in the process of the terror attack which happened in the center of Liege, according to our latest informations.

Un employé du Palais de justice parle d'une cinquantaine de blessés dont une dame avec un éclat de grenade dans le visage ou encore une main arrachée.
A worker for the justice center said that there are 50 wounded with a woman carrying a grenade splinter in the face.
Les blessés sont allongés sous les voutes du palais de justices à l'extérieur. Le Palais est toujours fermé pour les entrées et les sorties.
The justice center remains closed.
Selon nos dernières informations, des ambulances de toute la province mais aussi des Pays-Bas ont été appelées en renfort.
According to our latest informations, ambulances from the entire province but also from Holland were called as reinforcement.
Plusieur urgentistes du CHU de Liège viennent d'arriver dans la cour du Palais pour soigner les victimes.
Several first aid vehicles from university clinic CHU de Liege arrived at the scene.
Dans les écoles avoisinantes, la police a fermé tous les accès. Elle laisse toutefois sortir les élèves qui voudraient vraiment rentrer chez eux mais ne laisse entrer personne.
The surrounding schools got shut. The pupils can return home, but noone is let in.L'hélicoptère de la police fédérale survole la zone entre la place Saint-Lambert et la place Cathédrale en ce moment.

Police helicopters are flying above place Saint lambert and place cathedrale.

Deux personnes seraient décédées et une quinzaine blessées à la suite de l'attentat, selon un membre des forces de l'ordre contacté par Belga. Au moins deux auteurs seraient à l'origine des faits. Ils auraient utilisé des explosifs de type thunderflash et une arme kalashnikov.

Explosives of type thunderflash were used and an AK-47.L'un des auteurs serait mort. L'autre a pris la fuite. Le Pelonton Anti-Banditisme a investi les lieux.

One terrorist got shot and killed. Others made the flit.

Guardian

HFM PYRO: Thunderflash

Barroso: 'Cameron's summit demands represented risk'

Britain's demands at last week's European Union summit represented a "risk to the integrity of the internal market" which was impossible for other member states to accept, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said today.

Britain's demands at last week's European Union summit represented a "risk to the integrity of the internal market" which was impossible for other member states to accept, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said today.

In comments which appeared to show exasperation with David Cameron's negotiating tactics, Mr Barroso told MEPs that talks dragged on into the early hours not because of any dispute over the content of the new "fiscal compact" for the eurozone but because Britain would not accept amendments to the Lisbon Treaty.

He insisted that the Prime Minister's decision to deploy the UK's veto to block treaty change did not amount to a "split" between the 17 euro states and the rest. Friday's accord between 26 EU states was "not an agreement at 17-plus, but an agreement at 27-minus", he said.

Wulff in center of personal loan scandal

Berliner Morgenpost

Personal loan scandal concerning German president Wulff: According to a Bild-report Federal President Christian Wulff is under suspicion to have lied during his time as prime minister of lower Saxony to the state parliament in Hanover on 18 February 2010. "Bild" relates to documents available to the paper. It is about 500,000 euros, which the couple Wulff borrowed privately by the wife of an entrepreneur of Lower Saxony. Wulff explained at that time in parliament: "Between prime minister Wulff and the persons and entities specified in the inquiry were in the last ten years no business relations."

http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/christian-wulff/wirbel-um-privat-kredit-ueber-halbe-million-euro-21531308.bild.html">bild

Canada quits Kyoto climate pact

Canada renounces the expiring Kyoto Protocol on climate change, saying the goals were unworkable without the U.S. and China on board. FULL STORY

‘Sovereign Citizens’ members arrested with help of Predator drone

rawstory

A family in North Dakota that were members of the “Sovereign Citizens” movement became in June the first American citizens in history to be arrested with the help of Predator drone aircraft, according to a report published Monday morning.

There needs to be some swift explanation of what is going on in which scale

2010 I flew to Cuba during the English election. I didnt had the feeling back then that there was overwhelming support for this idea. Now, times seem to have changed. The backlash Mr Cameron is facing for his refusal of new EU measures is extreme while the Euro is diving as well pretty heftily.
No, I already decried that Mr Merkel is not part of the international brigade. I think Ms Merkel got furthermore a communications problem. Not only that it seems that Mr Cameron seems to be mailinformed thru a non-English speaking German foreign minister, what I think is very necessary is that Ms Merkel finally opens her moulth about the severity of the situation.
I mean its totally nice that she comes up start dec and screams in NWO for swift change of the EU contracts but it would be kind if she could explain why there should be an urgent change to old contracts. Her minister of finance Schaeuble doesnt seem to be very eager to do so aswell, as well as her minister of economy Roesler. Roesler is another point. He just got the job from Bruederle and he is defending himself against a party internal vote upon dropping EFSF.
In short, you could call Merkel, Schaeuble and Roesler inept and inane when it comes to proliferating the idea, that left measures are urgently required to avoid a total breakdown of the European economy.
I mean dont call me hallucinating here. I thought the Euro might drop 0,5% today for Cameron obstructing the reforms. Its down 1,5%. I thought it would be kinda funny because Sarkozy's reelection is now in danger. But: the situation seems to be worse than that.

So there needs to be some swift explanation of what is going on in which scale. I mean it was clear to me already in 2010 that Mr Cameron is probably not the epidemy of communism. So, I think it should have been by far more calculable if there is an English no the changes. Obviously, the fallout is by far more extreme than by what I expected. And I was the last one who would not insinuate whatever he could.

The last pinpointer in Germany that was totally displaced and rotten was Berlins Wowereit seeking a coalition with the conservatives. What he got back was (at least not some criminal hedge fund manager)a civil law notary obviously trading thrash property 2 weeks after the coalition started. Mortage crisis all over, German style. I think Mr Wowereit should stop smoking mushrooms.

"A diplomatic disaster"

Cameron explains himself

Prime Cameron has to justify himself in house of commons. His single-handed lopsided attempt during the EU summit in Brussels encounters harsh criticism from his coalition partner and the opposition. Also, the European commission threatens the government Cameron in unusually clear words, Sarkozy sees a division of Europe.

Clegg absent as PM defends veto

Clegg rages at Cameron's 'spectacular failure''

* Vince Cable, the Liberal Democratic Business Secretary, raised "serious concerns" that Mr Cameron's attempt to protect the City of London outweighed the interests of the wider British economy;

* Brussels insiders were left "gob-smacked" by Mr Cameron's all-or-nothing negotiating tactics, including keeping secret his proposals until the 11th hour;

* Mr Cameron's standing in Washington is also at stake, with members of the Obama administration present at the summit last Thursday said to be keen that a deal be struck.

Mr Clegg believes the PM's isolation from the EU's other 26 member-states now threatens Britain's relations with the US, weakens protections for the City and puts in jeopardy future foreign investment in the UK.

Regardless whether you are from Botsuaaneh or Solyndra

thinkprogress

Perry declared a solar panel company a country. Its nice that he grants borders to some environmental endeavour.It shows that he he supports Kyoto-Durban.

Berlin: Braun got fired

Berlin: Braun got fired

From older thread (6-12-11)

welt

Gay social dem Wowereit changed his allegiance (partnership) from ex-communists to conservatives after the last election in Berlin. Well, news for the new conservative partners is not this bright. The new minister for justice and consumer protection Braun (they are called senators in Berlin) is in a rotten scandal abbout property deals. You would think that's not such a big issue, because thousands of property brokers are involved in such criminal acts, but the problem is that he is a civil law notary. Such a function must be executed in Germany extra careful, whereas brokers can do whatever they like most of the time by law.

The side dish to the story is that the ecos in Berlin were principally the prefered partner for the social dems in Berlin. The new coalition failed because the ecos didnt like to approve of a new inner city highway for environmental reasons. Now, the left wing of Berlins ecos recently grilled their faction head Ratzmann because he is too awkward towards social dem positions.
taz

Now, with this scandal tensions will flare agian in Berlin, where conservatives and lib dems got 25% of the vote and the rest got owned by left parties.

Going down the drain is the senator for economy von Obernitz, now mostly called von Oberfilz (of upper treason).


Civil law notary Marcel Eupen, who is representative for 8 people who feel deceived by Braun, is refusing some of the accusations. "A civil law law notary is no insider (expert) for property prices," says Eupen. Thus the criticism cannot be shared that Braun got his dime by filing transactions of so called trash property (Schrottimmobilien). But he accuses Braun of not having cleared up the customers enough about cancelling their contracts. Till 2010 Eupen belonged himself to the "midnight civil law notaries," then changed sides and is now representing treated customers.

Moodys dissatisfied with EU

Despite my unbroken confidence into decisions of Mr Cameron (ahahaha), some dark clouds are appearing over the EU. The inconcluive summit causes Moodys to doubt the ability of the EU to achieve some swift measures strong enough to overcome the crisis.

Ratingagentur mit EU unzufrieden

Moody's beginnt zu meckern

Am ersten Werktag nach dem Gipfel melden sich die Experten der Ratingagentur Moody's zu Wort. Den Analysten gehen die Ergebnisse des großen EU-Treffens zur Eindämmung der Schuldenkrise nicht weit genug. Finanzminister Schäuble drängt derweil auf eine schnelle Umsetzung der Beschlüsse. Ein Turbo-Zeitplan soll die Einzahlung in den Rettungsschirms ESM beschleunigen.

Full coverage of Republican presidential debate in Iowa

Guttenberg Road show today in Bruxelles

Guttenberg will be in Bruxelles on monday. Nobody in Germany seems to be amused when talking about Guttenberg - not even the conservatives. CSU head Seehofer decries Guttenberg, and even minister for family Schröder got some mockery. The EU-commission is already stoned for its cooperation with Guttenberg.

Guttenberg verliert seine politische Heimat

Vom Hoffnungsträger zum Aussätzigen

France's Villepin to run for president

Sarkozy's chances drop anew. At last he couldn't push through changing the EU contracts due to Cameron. Now, theres some guy out of the own camp that steals him some votes. If he makes it to the runoff 1vs1 it will be sure against Hollande.It will be unlike 2002.

France's Villepin to run for president

Paris (CNN) -- Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said Sunday he will run for president next year, challenging longtime political rival and current President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I have decided to run for the 2012 presidential election," Villepin told French television station TF1. "I want to gather all the French, left and right and those in the middle."

Both Sarkozy and Villepin served in the Cabinet of former French President Jacques Chirac.

Last minute climate deal

Last minute climate deal

Durban, South Africa (CNN) -- An agreement reached Sunday in South Africa will help tackle the challenges of climate change for years to come, the United Nations' chief said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed the decision reached by parties of the Climate Change Convention in Durban, South Africa, which agreed to extend efforts set forth in the Kyoto Protocol.

Tory MP regrets stag party's Nazi toasts, SS costumes and waiter taunts

Guardian

A Conservative MP who attended a party where friends allegedly chanted Nazi slogans and dressed up in SS uniforms, has apologised for "any offence that was caused" at the event.

Aidan Burley used the social networking site, Twitter, to say he did "deeply regret inappropriate behaviour by some guests at a stag party" he attended and was "extremely sorry for any offence that was caused".

The apology, posted at 12.30pm on Sunday, was sent to the MP's 385 followers but was picked up by the Twitter community and passed around to many others. It failed, however, to assuage those outraged by his behaviour, with many continuing to call for his sacking and resignation.

100 (Chinese) snakes in Cologne hotel room

cnn

I watched Hu during the summit commemorating 10 years of WTO membership. He hadnt put on the 1000 smiles, but his facial expression was politely sorry. Some guy of Schneider Electronics was reviving the Amstrad CPC on the podium. Some lefties in the audience were more or less in a good mood because the entire show was total crapshit. Framing this unforgetable event, some Chinese were obviously trading snakes in Cologne.

Hu vows to pursue more balanced trade

Beijing (Financial Times) -- China's president, Hu Jintao, on Sunday pledged an "even more active" opening up of the country's economy and a renewed commitment to free trade as he sought to respond to concerns over apparent reform fatigue in Beijing and a deteriorating global economy.

Addressing an audience of business leaders and senior trade officials in a speech to mark the 10th anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, Mr Hu pledged to pursue more balanced foreign trade relations and to create a fair and transparent business environment.

set of Nazi murders in Germany: A special squad captured another nazi

news.msn

36-year old Matthias D. was caught for support of NSU (national-socialist underground). He was caught in Erzgebirgsdistrict.

Gingrich Gets Hammered by GOP Rivals

Gingrich Gets Hammered by GOP Rivals

The newly minted frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination fires back and holds his ground during Iowa debate.

Syria

Syria's leading opposition movement is warning of an impending government "massacre" designed to crush activists in Homs - the city at the center of anti-regime unrest. FULL STORY

My gratitude towards Mr Cameron

The situation is serious - ahead of the election in France. So, there should be swift measures to improve the situation - even if it might collapse again - but after the election. I want to thank Mr Cameron in his outright support of the left endevour.

Nay sayers are decoupled

Europa demonstrates strength with Merkozy

Cartoon of the day (MSN)

msn Cartoon

"The snobs in the penthouse want to change the renting (contract).""Otherwise they threaten us with cutting water and power.""We are also thinking about moving out."

I don't know why I am supposed to like having Merkel and Sarkozy change the EU contracts within 1 week. Especially Cohn-Bendit's eagerness towards some NWO push by obviously conservative govts is more than nervy.
EU-Parlamentarians decry London

Prime Cameron gets no friends with his no concerning new EU-contracts. Eco Cohn-Bendit finds harsh words, the head of Germanys lib dems in EU parliament,Graf Lambsdorff, gets fundamental: "It was a failure to have the British join the EU."
There seems to be stronger isolotion of London within the EU. Obviously nine of the non-eu-currency members want to accept the new contract form.

EU-Parlamentarier schimpfen auf London

Quod erat demonstrandum

congrats to Merkel to unify 17 euro-currency countries under a new EU contract. Sth. must have been utterly wrong anyway

Hey, come on, its only a corollar. It supports a broader main thesis. Like in Corellian vessel. Or Millenium Falcon. Or Han Solo.
Its a stronger alliance now.
Sieg up.

Another Reich Vorkaempfer is Mr Bahr. He is the German minister of health. Furthermore he is the head of northrhinia Westphalias lib dems. Now, the lib dems are currently holding a party vote whether to support EFSF. Mr Bahr uttered just recently, that he cannot imagine a continuation of the conservative lib-dem coalition if the party vote opposes EFSF. Me not too.

I mean in the end Merkel pressures people to take a Rebel stance. Ahahaahahaa

New EU treaty

Cameron: Rejecting treaty was the right thing for Britain, as leaders concede deal will apply only to eurozone
The EU fails to get backing from all 27 members for a debt crisis deal, but agreement is reached on a new intergovernmental treaty, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says. FULL STORY

London doesnt like to agree on new EU treaties

Well, the tories took over in 2010 and Merkel didn't do too much about it. I wouldn't call her part of the international brigade anyway. Merkel could show up in may 2010 with a reduction of the hotel tax and hadn't passed a law since 09 despite it. Now, her friends from the Antigua investment corner of the British empire dont seem to be eager to share their wealth in Euro.
Merkel will now try to reduce her efforts to the 17 members of the EU which got the Euro as a currency. That means that the change of the EU contracts is a flatline for the remaining 10 member states without the Euro. That means that there will be in a short while a 2 class system within the EU, trampling equality. So, the balance of power might be threatened, what will be renewedly a displeasure for London.

Merkel jpg

Gipfel beginnt im Streit

Techno Disaster Sauerland is corrupt

so keep your protracker listing proper ahahaha

Korruptionsverdacht in Duisburg

Gegen Sauerland wird ermittelt

Conservative representative from lower Saxony resigns

Chat-Affäre with 15-year old: Christ dem-Politician tritt zurück

Internet-Bekanntschaft wird Abgeordnetem aus Niedersachsen zum Verhängnis.

ECB lowers key interest rate to 1%

EZB senkt Leitzins auf 1,0 Prozent

Die Europäische Zentralbank reagiert auf die sich eintrübenden Konjunkturaussichten und senkt den für die Eurozone maßgeblichen Leitzins um 25 Basispunkte auf das historisch niedrige Niveau von 1,0 Prozent.

Merkel and Sarkozy seek to change EU contracts for euro-currency-members

Well, I think what Merkel is doing is not exactly trying to lead in Europe but she is acting in vain about her own electorate. The German right is renewdly in some turf war about the sense and nonsense of Europe. The lib dems are even doing some in-party plebescit about EFSF while only holding 3 % in the polls. Merkel got the Bavarians in her neck who like to cry foul whenever there is some demand in terms of money from Bruxelles.
Im really thinking of this EU-contract renewal as Merkel's wall if the social Dems take over after the election. If asked, so what did you do about the crisis, she can say she tried.
All govts. got ousted lately which were somehow connected to the crisis, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Italy. In Germany, the lib dems hoover around 3% at the moment. Merkel's chances to continue her govt in the current form are virtually zero after the next election.
So, if you ask me whether its a crash course to change the EU contracts? Sure it is. But it's not really the thing about new German leadership. I think the leaderhsip issue more or less stinks. It's more about Merkel surviving the next election.

Franco-British Alarm of 1989 Comes True as Merkel Prevails

Bank Values in Europe Fail to Lure Buyers
Tesco U.K. Sales Drop More Than Estimated

Just one decade after its launch, EU leaders are gathering in Brussels for a summit to rescue the euro as the debt crisis that has engulfed Greece, Ireland and Portugal threatens the entire bloc. FULL STORY

London (CNN) -- Just one decade after the European single currency was launched amid fanfare and fireworks, its future is now in doubt as the debt crisis that has engulfed Greece, Ireland and Portugal threatens the entire bloc.

As European leaders prepare to meet in Brussels Friday for a summit aimed at hammering out a solution, Olli Rehn, Europe's commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, last week warned there were just 10 days left to solve the crisis.

Corzine to testify before Congress about MF Global

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- After weeks of speculation about how more than a billion dollars in customer money went missing at MF Global, former CEO Jon Corzine will give his side of the story on Capitol Hill Thursday."