Acting In Concept.

Acting In Concept That had been molested all night – still be routine. Even the face of Malkovitch was responsible for my nightmare. That Malkovitch-Barroso from “Dangerous liaisons” was looking for me yesterday in London. Day of looking for tricky politicians in the clothes from years 50’s and 60’s yesterday – is definitely for me (because was for me) like the firing missiles at a “distant” blurs. Like a serious understanding of 5:5:3 ratio on battleships and carriers of long away 20’s. More yet, if I wake up tired and with dream about some kind of the wedding ring of Germans Helmut Kohl. And for sure, to I lost my mind in DVB Bank (the leading specialist in international transport finance) confiscation of the six (вонючие шестёрки) ships from “russian goal”. Mean the scrapping the missile shield. Which again, nothing more than the ‘reasonably priced car’ in Co understanding. Or again, how not important is the Tin-tin in the “synergies” of the European Energy Policy. The policy which like the bunch of leeches suck my blood, even in the such philosophical question like the Google’s digital rights in the out-of-print books. Which they, like the russians, pretentiously try to usurp and consider “World breaking” goal. Technically, I can’t speculate anything about the subject. Although, call my private attention the position of “orphans works”, copyright issues, etc. Well, practically, how much cost the Tin-tin picture in my blog for preservation of “theirs synergies”. Maybe that, impregnated for many years, the my passport strong opinion of who the dominant position is, the Conselho de Administração do Petrogal and not the ongoing piggy faces from Brussels and Strasburg. In right place to put the monologues of naughty cat Garfield to his “patrician” like the Barroso call himself, - the Jon:

- Somebody pushed little Timmy down the old well! Uh…- There isn’t a security camera there, is there?

This dirty talks… But, to comeback to the “guardião do Nort” (i.e. almohads) of dear Europe, in place to speak about the plagued Arctic Sea again. You, the doubles hulls from Brussels and Strasburg should remember the “È rica”? The tanker which Spanish Government put “p’ra fora” dentro de Baia de Biscaia? You don’t see again the swine ex President of Portuguese Republic Sampaio? What then happen next? I’ll remind you. Was one of the biggest ecological disasters in Europe. Well, mio almohads, “A PRETO – change the color”. When, after this blow the EU and IMO write a set of new rules of ‘asylum’ for this kind of ships.

The contra-admirals and footballers of EU, UN and the City of London, in accordance with Takeover Jargon, the Acting In Concept mean that the ‘Concept Party’ person who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal), actively co-operate to obtain or consolidate control of the company by acting through buying the shares. It has particular relevance to the timing restriction on acquisition of shares contained in Rule 5 of the City Code and to mandatory offers. The Code’s definition of “acting in concept” presumes that certain categories of persons are acting in concert unless the contrary is established.

Feds balk at Google book deal, hopes for changes. The Associated Press. Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:24 AM. SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Justice Department advised a federal judge Friday that a proposed legal settlement giving Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books threatens to thwart competition and drive up prices unless it's revised. The brief filed in New York federal court marks the first time that the Justice Department has publicly shared its thoughts about Google's agreement with a large class of U.S. authors and publishers. The nation's top law enforcement agency began looking at the Google book settlement earlier this summer amid a loudening outcry against an agreement affecting a reservoir of human knowledge. "The breadth of the proposed settlement...raises significant legal concerns," the Justice Department wrote in its 28-page filing with U.S. District Judge Denny Chin. Despite its misgivings, the Justice Department expressed confidence that Google and the author and publishers could negotiate changes so the settlement will adhere to U.S. copyright and antitrust laws. The Justice Department told Chin it hopes an acceptable compromise can be worked out because the agreement "has the potential to breathe life into millions of works that are now effectively off limits to the public." Even with those words of encouragement, the Justice Department's brief raises the biggest red flag about the settlement yet. The agency warned Chin it probably will conclude the deal breaks federal antitrust law unless changes are made. While other critics such as Google rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp. also have objected in recent weeks, the Justice Department's opinion presumably will carry more weight with Chin. His approval is needed before the $125 million settlement can take effect, a hurdle that could be more difficult to clear with the Justice Department's assertion that the agreement would violate several laws. "We are considering the points raised by the department and look forward to addressing them as the court proceedings continue," Google said in a joint statement with the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers, the groups that sued and then settled with the Internet search leader. Critics seized on the Justice Department's brief as validation of their arguments urging Chin to block the settlement. "The current settlement proposal would stifle innovation and competition in favor of a monopoly over the access, distribution, and pricing of the largest collection of digital books in the world," said the Open Book Alliance, a group that includes Amazon.com, Microsoft and another Google rival, Yahoo Inc. The alliance also includes authors and several nonprofit organizations. The Justice Department's lawyers, as well as a long line of the settlement's opponents and supporters, will have an opportunity to elaborate on their arguments in a New York court hearing scheduled Oct. 7. Mountain View, Calif-based Google conceivably could use the Justice Department's filing as a road map for navigating to new settlement terms before the hearing. In its current form, the settlement would entrust Google with a digital database containing millions of copyright-protected books, including volumes no longer being published. The Internet search leader would act as the sales agent for the authors and publishers, giving 63 percent of the revenue to the copyright holders. Authors and publishers could either set their own prices for their books, or rely on a formula drawn up by Google - a provision that has raised fears of the partnership turning into a price-gouging cartel. The Justice Department sided with those arguments, saying the settlement could lessen competition among U.S. publishers. The agency also expressed concern that Google would gain a monopoly on so-called "orphan works" - out-of-print books that are still protected by copyright but whose writers' whereabouts are unknown. The arrangement "appears to create a dangerous probability that only Google would have the ability to market to libraries and other institutions a comprehensive digital-book subscription." Hoping to ease those concerns, Google has promised to share its electronic index with its rivals - an idea that has drawn an icy response from Amazon.com, one of the world's biggest book merchants and the maker of the Kindle, an electronic reader. Google already has gone into some of the nation's largest libraries to scan about 6 million out-of-print books into its electronic index. So far, though, it has only been able to show snippets of those digital copies. The settlement would clear the way for Google to sell all those out-of-print books and scan even more into its index. The project has turned into a crusade for Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who have for years dreamt of making books collecting dust on library book shelves accessible around the clock to anyone with an Internet ambition. That ambition has won Google broad support from librarians, disabled rights activists and big companies like Sony Corp., that wants to tap into the digital book index to feed its own electronic reader. While the settlement's goals are admirable, the Justice Department said the deal doesn't do enough to protect the copyrights of orphan works and authors outside the United States. The United States' top copyright cop and the governments in Germany and France also have raised objections about the settlement overstepping its bounds. Consumer watchdogs are worried about the settlement opening a door for Google to collect too much information about the books that people are reading. Google has tried to address those concerns by promising to draw up a separate policy governing its digital library.

Arctic Sea стал чумным. Friday, September 18, 2009 More articles in Новости В том, что Arctic Sea не пускают в Лас Пальмас, нет ничего странного. Дело конечно не в том, что судно кому-то там предоставляет угрозу с технической, морской точки зрения. Это не более чем отговорка. Как раз наоборот, и Евросоюз, и IMO приняли специальные новые правила по предоставлению судам убежища, после истории с гибелью танкера Эрика. Испания выгнала аварийный танкер из своего порта в Бискайский залив, в котором бушевал сильнейший шторм, и в результате получила одну из крупнейших в Европе экокатастроф. Нет конечно, дело не в техническом состоянии Arctic Sea, а просто в том, что никто не хочет в эту историю ввязываться, настолько она сомнительна если не сказать больше. Судьбу Arctic Sea в ближайшие дни следовательно, будут определять два фактора. Первый – судовладелец. Он должен обьявиться и как и подобает судовладельцу, взять ответственность на себя – а именно: приемка судна, оплата всех расходов, смена экипажа, тех осмотр (сюрвей), необходимые ремонтные работы, снабжение топливом и припасами и дальнейшая эксплуатация. Для господ неплавающих – морское судно, это вам не брошенные за углом Жигули, это серьезный аппарат, требующий специалистов и денег. Просто так его никому не спихнешь, не бросишь ключи от машины новому владельцу, облегченно вздохнув. Что на мой взгляд и пытается сейчас сделать Россия. Это вопросы – собственности и техэксплуатации, а последняя далеко не бесплатна. Второй – страна, которая согласится принять Arctic Sea. Без судовладельца похоже, желающих будет мало, да и с судовладельцем-то никто не пылает энтузиазмом. Все хорошо в меру. Меру давно уже исчерпали. Все эти таинственность, сплетни, слухи, скандалы, сенсации и спекуляции привели к тому, что власти стран, могущих принять Arctic Sea, смотрят на судно как на чумное. Если судовладелец отказывается, скорее всего выход будет только один – тащить судно в Новороссийск или если удастся, в любой согласный принять порт по пути. Но отказ судовладельца – это куча проблем. Что делать с судном? По идее, после абандона судно, если у судовладельца много долгов, выставляют на продажу. Чтобы эти долги покрыть. А что делать с грузом? Теперь о возмутительном. СКП как известно, опровергает заявление профсоюза о том, что четверка моряков на борту Arctic Sea удерживается насильно. Следует понимать, что все это время люди сидят на судне совершенно добровольно, домой не хотят, и что в общем все совершенно нормально. Господа, ну всему же есть предел! Не удивлюсь, если эта четверка до сих пор не связывалась с родными и родным говорят – мол не волнуйтесь, они там поправились, загорели и шлют вам привет. Знаете, вот это заявление СКП стало для меня еще одним фактом. Физическим фактом, наряду с фактами нападения, захвата, исчезновения, поисков и так далее. Что он означает? Что допустимо все – для тех в смысле, кто пытается вырулить эту историю. Соответственно, задаемся вопросом про пиратов этих самых. Если можно все, даже вот заявить, что четверка сидит на судне по своей воле, то значит, можно действительно все? А? 19 сентября.

Mine explosion kills 12 in Poland. 18/09 19:12 CET. A gas explosion in a coalmine in Silesia, Poland, has killed at least a dozen miners and 15 have been severely injured. Fires raged through the galleries following the blast. The Wujek mine is close to the industrial city of Katawice, which rang with the sound of sirens after the explosion as emergency services rushed to and from the scene. “There was an explosion years ago, but my husband was lucky and he was not there. It is the first time,” said one woman waiting outside the mine. “My son is alive and I am very happy. My son called me and told me to come. He could not say anything more. I am sorry I can’t speak,” added another. A group of some 30 miners was briefly trapped underground and reported missing, but they were able to get to the surface by their own efforts. It is the worst mining accident in the country since 2006, when 23 miners died in a similar explosion caused by a methane gas pocket. A trial is ongoing of several of that mine’s managers for negligence. The danger area has been cordoned off, and work continues in other parts of the mine.

The firing a missile at the distant blurs.

The firing a missile at the distant blurs. Looking for American Markets of yesterday, was thinking, it not will be more accomplished by adopting a passive role than Like always, leaping like a crazy into action? It’s in any way all night was receiving from chulkcha with German name the big hitting in my head. Be more subtle to listen to someone than to give them a good “talking to”? After the “Sell me short”, in spare hour, read the E.M. Zacharias’ Secret Missions. The Story of an Intelligence Officer, New York, 1946. He was talking about agreement between the United States of America, Great Britain and Japan in 1920. Where the Japan agree with final “arrangement” in 5:5:3 ratio on battleships and carriers. I was thinking, if I have found myself in a complicated tangle with someone (i.e. SAMPAIO, Chubais, Barroso, etc.) the best way to resolve this is to have a frank and fair talk. Acknowledgment and know-how are the ‘brilliance’, ‘fidelity’, ‘spirit’, ‘star’, ‘forward’ and ‘leader’ – that is the essential ingredients here. However cross my mind will be. However who’s been nothing but irritating to me from what seems like the first moment I’d laid eyes on them has really been in my life for a far more important purpose than just aggravate me. It my make more sense to watch and wait till a target is actually in my sights than to “fire missile” at a distant target blur.

Lloyds mulls alternatives to government asset scheme. Fri Sep 18, 2009 2:32am EDT LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Britain's Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L:Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it was in talks over scaling back its participation in a state-backed scheme to insure it against credit losses, and was also weighing alternatives to the scheme.Lloyds is discussing a possible reduction in the number of toxic assets it might place in the so-called asset protection scheme (APS), encouraged by "improving economic conditions," the part-nationalised lender said in a brief statement on Friday. The bank said it was also in talks with the government and the financial regulator over "possible alternatives" to entering the scheme, without providing further detail. "All possibilities remain open," Lloyds said. Reuters reported on Thursday that the Financial Services Authority had set tougher-than-expected capital conditions on Lloyd's potential exit from the APS, making its departure less likely. Lloyds said in March that it would hand 15.6 billion pounds ($25.82 billion) in shares to the government in return for insurance against losses on 260 billion pounds of risky debt-backed assets, but final details of the programme have not been agreed.The bank, 43 percent owned by the state, is anxious to scale back its reliance on state aid to limit remedies European regulators may impose in response to competition concerns.

British Land finalises Broadgate deal. September 17 2009 23:07. British Land is to complete the sale of half of the £2.2bn Broadgate office complex to Blackstone, the private equity group, as it prepares for a fresh push into the UK property market. The UK’s second-largest real estate company was last night finalising the cash-and-debt deal, which will see the creation of a joint venture with Blackstone to hold the 32-acre City of London estate. While the cash payment, at about £75m, appears small, the deal means that British Land can offload to Blackstone half the £2.1bn of debt that financed Broadgate and will allow it to proceed with a new investment drive. The price, which reflects a yield of about 7.1 per cent, is likely to surprise the market, although it is only slightly under June’s valuation. The sale is partly a strategic move for British Land, given that its balance sheet was already strengthened by a £740m rights issue in March. It will complete a repositioning implemented by Chris Grigg, chief executive and former Barclays and Goldman Sachs banker, who joined in January. Mr Grigg made clear that there would be no “sacred cows”, including supposedly key assets such as Broadgate that were accumulated during the long tenure of the company’s former head, Sir John Ritblat. Broadgate comprised about 27 per cent of the company’s portfolio, seen internally as an uncomfortably high exposure to a single asset. That will now be reduced to about 16 per cent. There is also expected to be high costs in maintaining the ageing office complex and the risk that UBS, its largest tenant, could move in a few years’ time. Blackstone is one of the world’s largest office owners. British Land has spoken to a range of investors about Broadgate over the past six months. The deal will be the first for the €3.1bn (£2.8bn) distressed European real estate fund raised by Blackstone this summer. All parties declined to comment. The sale also bolsters British Land’s balance sheet at a time when it is planning a return to the real estate market. Next week, it is expected to complete the purchase of a retail park, its first property acquisition since the beginning of the slump. Bank of America advised Blackstone and UBS advised British Land.

DVB Bank gets tough as six ships arrested in Hong Kong. Russian-owned vessels detained in dispute over outstanding payments — but bank fails in ploy to sell ships en bloc in a private treaty sale Friday 28 August 2009. DVB Bank has instigated the largest series of ship arrests in Hong Kong in six years after seizing six Russian-owned general cargo vessels in a dispute over outstanding mortgages totalling about $20m. But the bank failed in its attempt to sell the vessels en bloc in a private treaty sale after the move was rejected earlier this week by Hong Kong&... 2009-09-17 09:49:11. 4,700 dwt ST Brilliance, ST Fidelity, ST Spirit and ST Star, including 6,900 dwt ST Forward and ST Leader. Новости водного транспорта: Крупнейший массовый арест судов в Гонконге за последние 6 лет DVB Bank стал инициатором крупнейшей серии арестов судов в Гонконге в течении последних 6-ти лет, было арестовано 6 российских судов. Стоимость спора – около 20 миллионов долларов по закладным. Все суда принадлежат российской компании S&T Group из Владивостока, всего ей принадлежало 9 судов. Поначалу банк хотел продать суда оптом в частном порядке, однако адмиралтейский судья Гонконга Ансельмо Рейес наложил на эту продажу запрет и потребовал аукциона. Банк выразил свое разочарование решением суда, ведь долгов по ним уже не числится, в том числе долгов по зарплате экипажам. Это новость от 1 сентября, а на сегодня известно, что уже есть предложения и потенциальные покупатели. Все суда под флагом Маршалл постройки 1991-1992 гг: 4,700 dwt ST Brilliance, ST Fidelity, ST Spirit и ST Star, а также 6,900 dwt ST Forward и ST Leader. Суда управлялись компанией ST Shipmanagement из Владивостока.

Berlusconi wants quick Afghanistan pullout. 17/09 21:53 CET. Italian troops in Afghanistan have suffered their darkest day with the death of six soldiers in a suicide bombing. They were killed when a kamikaze rammed a car laden with explosives into a military convoy in central Kabul. Ten Afghan civilians also died in the attack, which the Taliban confirmed it carried out. It brings the total number of Italian servicemen who have lost their lives in the conflict there to 21 in five years. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called it a painful day for his country. “We are all convinced that the best for everyone is to get out soon,” he said. “I discussed this with President Obama during the G8, and we are preparing a plan which can be implemented more quickly, as the training of the Afghan forces gets better.” By saying Italy will withdraw its troops as soon as possible, Berlusconi is echoing the official line of many of his counterparts who are faced with plummeting public support for the war. But all have indicated that the job there needs to be finished first.

Полк президента Украины слег с пищевым отравлением. 17 сентября 2009г. Полк президента Украины временно утратил боеспособность. Как сообщает РБК-Украина, военнослужащие в массовом порядке отравились. В пресс-службе Сухопутных войск Украины подтвердили, что вечером во вторник пищевое отравление было констатировано сразу у 15 военнослужащих. После этого было принято решение о карантинных мерах по отношению еще к 138 солдатам, которые питались и контактировали с пострадавшими. Санитарно-эпидемиологическая служба уже провела обследование пищеблока, взяла анализы у персонала солдатской столовой и бактериальные смывы в пищеблоке. Также взята на анализ питьевая вода. Однако пока установить причину отравления медикам не удалось, а потому нельзя исключать и возможности вирусного заболевания. Полк президента Украины был создан после расформирования Национальной гвардии Украины. В него вошли части спецназа, которые не были переданы в подчинение республиканскому МВД.

Sell me short.

Sell me short. Writing about the corporative culture is a bit ungrateful. For three days I am doing this “awful war”. And at the next, in any way hating myself because of pretending to come along calmly with “architectured by me” status quo. When I refuse to sell me short and also because I’d got plenty to offer. Mean, to end the Russia suit, the BNY Mellon’s give a $ 4 billion. Railing in this way against the system will only get me branded as a troublemaker. Besides, it’s not as if anyone is going to listen to the “sole” voice of reason. (I.e. the article “KKR $700 million financial hand to the Kodak”). So, like I said yesterday, elementary cooperation is needed. Where is of course lie, the direct connection between the pirate Barroso elections and the freed of the former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavic. See how comes around my to Expo 98 Porland 450 cement stolen by the ex President of Portuguese Republic s*** Sampaio? Of course notable too the connection between the rubbish of East European missile “defenses” and the cheer drama of: “…Majority against: For a brief moment, the parliamental majority was against Barroso. ALDE, the Social Democrats within the European S-D faction, the socialist EUL-NGL (European United Left – Nordic Green Left) and G-EFA (Green – European Free Alliance) hold 356 seats in the 736 seat parliament, giving the 27 independent members a decisive vote, though they in general also would like to have Barroso replaced. The newly elected President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, then mobilized and for a brief moment supported a compromise, which would have seen Barroso being replaced by another political figure representing the EPP. The main candidates to replace Barroso were French Prime Minister François Fillon and Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende. ). Of course, were “Royalties and Concessions” which “oblige” the Habsburgs-Lothingen to ban decision of the Constitutional Court where is long stated that the “ruling house” can’t ballot for president election next year. Not necessary be anti-European to se the dirty politics of almohads Barroso and Solana through the unfounded, unreasonable, unsubstantiated of clown-fish Fergy. Look at the colour of this Portugal Telecom defenders of the new EU member Turkey. And you understood the ‘double hull” of Artic Sea, which part of pie the Spain wanted (i.e. theirs color in Spitzbergen) and the next after elections day, the 475 years of one private school where his, Barroso son is learning. Observing without becoming involved, maybe will help, sort of speak, since my writing can develop into something of problem-solve. In same time, it’s obvious that my dogmatic and fixed opinions can arise huge disagreements. But, when the Trevor Edwards (the BNB Recruitment Solution Plc Company) want not to make a date – “we” commence to be converted into serious consideration.

Barclays' opaque asset dealWednesday 16 September 2009 21.24 BST. The bank has sold $12.3bn of toxic loans to some of its own former employees – and lent them the money to buy it There was a mass walk-out at Barclays yesterday. Some 45 highly paid financial engineers upped sticks to form an asset manager called C12 Capital Management, which has a contract with an outfit called Protium Finance. Don't ask who is behind Protium because the partners don't want to say, and that's the way life is in the Cayman Islands. These arrangements carry Barclays' blessing, of course. In fact, the bank is very excited about dispatching $12.3bn of credit market assets (toxic junk to the rest of us) to Protium while also providing a loan of $12.6bn to the fund. The benefit is apparently "more stable risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders over time". Hmm. The phrase "over time" is crucial. On day one, Barclays gets virtually no protection via this transaction. If default levels explode soon, Barclays will simply have an impaired loan on its hands. Life would be better if defaults exploded after, say, five years. In that case, the loans would have had time to throw off some excess cash, which would serve as a buffer and benefit Barclays. And, if mass default doesn't occur in the next decade, then Barclays is repaid $12.6bn plus interest of $3.9bn.Hold on, you might say, hasn't Barclays' Bob Diamond spent the last two years telling us that some of this toxic stuff will turn out to be semi-healthy? Well, yes, he has, which is why this transaction looks very odd. In the jargon, Barclays is capping its upside. Some of the assets are in the books at just 10% of face value. So Barclays is surrendering the chance of selling one day at, say, 20% and accepting instead a modest-looking rate of interest on the loan. Why would it want to do that? The answer seems to be that it doesn't like the price volatility in credit assets. Accounting rules say hits to valuations have to be taken through the profit and loss account. So Barclays would dodge those bullets. But the risk that the $12.6bn loan becomes impaired remains. It all seems a terribly roundabout deal. One suspects the most likely winners are the mystery folk behind Protium. They're putting up $450m but it's not capital at risk; it's really working capital. Yes, they are tying up that capital but they have the off-chance of a bumper payday in 10 years. It's not necessarily a winning bet, but the odds sound nice.The other winners, probably, will be the 45 evacuees from Barclays. They are not, we are assured, the same folk who brought the junk into the bank in the first place. But they wouldn't be departing unless they thought they stood an excellent chance of making even more money than Barclays would pay them over the next decade. Welcome to the new, transparent world of banking. Ain't it marvellous?

Duchess 'faces Turkish police grilling'. Wednesday, September 16 11:58 am. The Duchess of York is reportedly facing arrest over claims she broke the law by taking part in a TV documentary about Turkish orphans.Skip related content Authorities in the country are angry at Sarah Ferguson's appearance in the ITV programme which claimed children were being neglected. The Duchess, disguised in a black wig and headscarf, was accompanied by her teenage daughter Princess Eugenie. At one point she was tearful when she saw the conditions some youngsters lived in. Prince Andrew's former wife is accused of breaking privacy laws. Turkish officials have already spoken out against the Duchess, accusing her of trying to smear the country's image to prevent it joining the EU.

Habsburg goes to court over presidential ban. Thursday, 17. September 2009 - 11:09. A Habsburg family member and his daughter-in-law have gone to the Constitutional Court after they were excluded from presidential elections next year. Ulrich Habsburg-Lothringen, a Green councillor in Wolfsberg, Carinthia, and his daughter-in-law Gabriele Habsburg-Lothringen, want the court to review whether the ban is constitutional. Austrian election laws prohibit any member of the house of Habsburg or any member of a "ruling house" to become a candidate for the presidency. The ban dates back to the days of the First Republic, when many people wanted to ensure there would be no restoration of the Habsburg monarchy. Habsburg-Lothringen has also asked Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann to take a stand on the issue. Habsburg said today (Weds): "We will wait for four weeks for the government to take a stand." Habsburg’s lawyer Rudolf Vouk said the ban was discriminatory and violated Austrians’ right to a free and democratic election. Vouk said Habsburg was far down the line of succession to Austria’s last Emperor Karl I and that his daughter-in-law had been named Wetschnig before marrying Habsburg’s son. She, too, is excluded from the presidential election because of her marriage. Vouk said: "The Republic can afford to take a milder approach to its history," adding Habsburg had decided to act now in order to have the issue settled well before the presidential election next year. But he said his client was not yet thinking about becoming a presidential candidate. Austrian Times. Tag cloud: Austrian elections violated succession Constitutional Vouk Rudolf discriminatory Lothringen marriage Habsburg court Emperor settled lawyer presidential history candidate excluded Democratic

Teen gunman storms school in Germany. A victim of the attack is put into a helicopter to be flown to hospital. Four schoolchildren have been badly injured.17.09.2009 - 12:08 UHR. Many schoolchildren have been injured in a shooting rampage at a German High School, at least three seriously. The attack took place at the Gymnasium Carolinium in Ansbach, Bavaria. Initial reports stated that the teenaged attacker broke through the front door using an axe at 8.35am and then stormed the building, throwing at least one Molotov cocktail firebomb into a tenth grade classroom and then opening fire. Police spokesman Peter Grimm said: “Four students were injured, one of them seriously. The students were in the eighth grade.” He later put up the injuries estimate to ten. The seriously-injured kids may have been felled by shots to the stomach, according to NZ-Online via Twitter. One student was taken to hospital by an ambulance helicopter. Police shot and wounded the gunman before putting him under arrest at 8.45am, ten minutes later. According to reports from N24, the attacker was a 19-year-old from the 13th grade. Further details regarding the identity of the attacker are not yet known. Police and rescue workers were deployed in force, and the school grounds completely sealed off. The Bavarian Ministry of Education said that all 700 students were evacuated from the school. The Carolinum High School in Ansbach, Middle-Franconia, claims to be the second oldest public high school in Bavaria. Founded in 1528, it celebrated its 475th anniversary in 2003. It has a focus on language and music and in the 2006/07 school year a shortened graduation time was introduced.

Kodak Gets Financial Lifesaver From KKR. Eastman Kodak Co., bolstering its balance sheet as its business deteriorates, said it will raise up to $700 million in debt in an investment led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. The deal gives the camera and printer maker, which had $1.13 billion in cash at the end of June, more financial breathing room, as well as capital it can use to pay off debt that could come due next year. The financing comes at a steep price, and KKR could end up with a 20% equity stake in Kodak by exercising warrants issued as part of the deal.

Зайдет ли Arctic Sea в Лас-Пальмас? DVB Bank стал инициатором крупнейшей серии арестов судов в Гонконге в течении последних 6-ти лет, было арестовано 6 российских судов. Стоимость спора – около 20 миллионов долларов по закладным. Все суда принадлежат российской компании S&T Group из Владивостока, всего ей принадлежало 9 судов. Поначалу банк хотел продать суда оптом в частном порядке, однако адмиралтейский судья Гонконга Ансельмо Рейес наложил на эту продажу запрет и потребовал аукциона. Банк выразил свое разочарование решением суда, ведь долгов по ним уже не числится, в том числе долгов по зарплате экипажам. Все суда под флагом Маршалл постройки 1991-1992 гг: 4,700 dwt ST Brilliance, ST Fidelity, ST Spirit и ST Star, а также 6,900 dwt ST Forward и ST Leader

Владелец Arctic Sea объявил о банкротстве.

Владелец Arctic Sea объявил о банкротстве. http://www.vz.ru/news/2009/9/16/328174.html. 16 сентября 2009, 16::48. Компания Solchart, владелец судна Arctic Sea, объявила о своем банкротстве из-за несогласованных действий следователей СКП, сообщил директор фирмы Виктор Матвеев. Как говорится в опубликованном на сайте компании заявлении Матвеева, для дальнейшей эксплуатации судна необходимо изыскать денежные средства как для приведения судна в рабочее состояние и снабжения его всем необходимым, так и для возможности рассчитаться с кредиторами, передает «Интерфакс».

EU swine and Artic Sea.

Arctic Sea – что меня в этой истории интересует, а что не интересовало и интересовать не будет

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 More articles in Статьи

Знаете, я думал написать статью или что-то в этом роде, в связи с Arctic Sea. Но затем после странствий и переездов, кое-как обосновавшись и начав работать, подумал, что чего уж, проехали, тема закрыта. Вчера-позавчера выяснил, что тема очень даже не закрыта и эта сага-драма-позор продолжается, см. «Arctic Sea не возвращается владельцу – по какому праву и что вообще происходит?»
И понял, что написать все-таки надо. Пишу. Дело в том, что мой интерес, мое возмущение этой историей идут вразрез с интересом насколько я понимаю, большинства общественности, за исключением тех, кто занят в отрасли, да и там многих тянет на это нездоровое. Что я называю нездоровым? Всеобщие повальные гадания – что там было, куда везлось, кому это встало поперек горла, кто стоял за перевозками, т.д. и т.п. Вот как раз это меня совершенно, господа, не интересует. Как раз в этом я не видел и не вижу ни проблем, ни поводов для всякий спекуляций и сенсаций. Возят все кто может. Торгуют всем чем можно. Многие перевозки такого рода, сомнительные поставки в сомнительные страны, осуществляются скрытно. Подчеркиваю – скрытно, а не нелегально. В принципе, это всего лишь бизнес. Да конечно, в случае с Arctic Sea, думается мне, все получилось с российским налетом безобразий и тошниловки. Но тем не менее – если мне сейчас кто-то кинет на стол файл с документами – кто, как и за сколько, или сбросит емейлом, тут же выброшу или сотру. Хотите верьте хотите нет, но мне совершенно все равно кто именно что именно возил. Чем и кому торговал. Ну узнаем мы, что это были особо привилегированные господа А и Б, ну и что? Мы удивимся? Если господа А и Б перестанут торговать тем чем доторговались, то тут же появятся В и Г, и разница между ними – в росте, весе, цвете лица и галстука. Во всем остальном они близнецы-братья. Мало того, я не особо разбираюсь кто там наверху есть кто и даже по фамилиям знаю с десяток лиц, не больше. Мне как-то все едино, матерых человечищ я там не наблюдаю, так чего попусту память напрягать? Меня господа, во всей этой истории, интересуют и возмущают другие аспекты. Их собственно, всего два.

Первый – отношение к людям, как к морякам, так и к судовладельцу. Россия оказалась втянутой в эту историю. Судно типа освободили. Вместо смены экипажа – всего – и немедленной доставки его на родину, в Архангельск, 11 человек везут в Москву, 4 оставляют на судне. 11 человек сидят в Москве неизвестно где неизвестно зачем (хотя конечно, можно догадаться), без связи с родными, на положении черт знает кого. 4 оставшихся на судне осуществляют судовождение и ведут пароход неизвестно куда, неизвестно в каких условиях, также без связи с родными. Это как понимать? Они что, болванчики, пешки, крепостные какие? Тут на горизонте встает мрачное известное «государственные интересы» - собственно, ничем иным все это и не объяснишь. Я давно уже хотел проехаться по «государственным интересам», еще с советских времен. Как только прозвучало – государственные интересы – так значит все, попадали все в грязь и жертвенно замерли. Интересы эти самые, они превыше всего. Во-первых, чьи именно интересы. Во-вторых и самое главное – государственный интерес по большому счету, он один, это мы, его, государства, граждане. Наши жизнь, честь, свобода, благосостояние. Никаких других интересов у государства по-моему, не может быть. Если оказывается, у государства есть другие более важные интересы, то это уже не государство. Это империя какая-нибудь, деспотия или просто бардак.
Люди важнее всего! К ним надо относиться именно как к людям, как к главному богатству. А не как к экипажу Arctic Sea.
Судовладелец – я о владельце Arctic Sea. Повторяю что писал раньше, я не понимаю что происходит. Вот Россия взяла и вырвала судно из лап кого-то там. Вроде вернуть судно владельцу, и всех делов. Нет, ситуация чем дальше тем больше и стремительнее меняется на прямо противоположную. То есть одно дело государство освобождает судно, кем-то захваченное, другое – когда оно его, это судно, без всяких обьяснений (ну не считать же таковыми необходимость якобы каких-то следственных действий) удерживает и не возвращает. Причем это судно под иностранным флагом и принадлежит иностранному судовладельцу, имея на борту груз опять же иностранных граждан. Причем на борту остаются 4 членов экипажа на положении неизвестно кого. Не удивлюсь, если они до сих пор не имели связи с родственниками. Знаете, это удивительно мне напоминает то, что было совсем недавно – когда Arctic Sea находился в лапах похитителей.
Тут считаю необходимым внести поправку – как стало известно из сег8одняшних новостей, судно наконец, вернут владельцу, причем в ближайшие дни. Да уж пора бы уж...

Второй – действия государства, России. Сами действия. От поисков до заявлений в СМИ и дальнейшего. Эту ситуацию можно представить себе, как некую учебно-боевую, по проверке готовности всех госслужб к проведению нештатной операции. Вот давайте к ним, к этим действиям, и присмотримся. Тем более, что я только что пережил историю с Фаина – кто не в курсе, идите в Гугл или Яндекс, долго искать не придется. Итак, через дней 10 после захвата судна власти Украины поняли, что надо вмешаться. Связались со мной, предложили сотрудничество. Заявив, что ничего от меня требовать не будут и я вправе писать так, как считаю нужным. Подтвердив, что для них главное вытащить людей. Ну и как известно, людей вытащили. Причем никто их никуда не «доставлял», сразу по прибытии судна в Момбаса экипаж с почетом и помпой доставили в Киев и затем развезли по домам. Как в случае с Artcic Sea меня не интересует груз или что там было, в той истории меня совершенно не интересовало, куда предназначались танки на борту Фаина, в Судан или в Кению. Просто потому, что к самому главному, к освобождению экипажа, это не имело никакого отношения. При этом вокруг Фаина поднялся страшный вой – в историю пытались влезть все кому не лень, от оппозиции до черт знает кого. Власти Украины молчали и делали свое дело. Результат известен.
Что в случае с Arctic Sea? Полнейшие, могу вам честно сказать господа, бардак и несогласованность. У меня сложилось впечатление, что российские власти бежали вдогонку за событиями, пытаясь на бегу что-то придумать. Чувствовалось отсутствие единого командования или там штаба, называйте как хотите. Кто в лес, кто по дрова. Одно ведомство говорит одно. Буквально через пару часов другое ведомство заявляет прямо противоположное.
Обращаюсь через Морской Бюллетень к властям – давайте сотрудничать. Вам надо одно мне надо другое, в принципе есть общий интерес, так давайте сотрудничать. Буду писать что надо ну и что считаю нужным, что не надо или вредно – не буду. Мертвая тишина. Обьясняю ее двумя причинами. Первая – общий бардак в проведении всей операции. Вторая – ну кто я такой? Боярское этакое – куда смерд лезешь. Между прочим, совсем недавно я имел возможность лично убедиться, как делаются дела там, в высях. Суть вкратце – дело не в твоих знаниях, дело в том, кто ты и кем числишься. Обьяснять или уже не надо?
Идем дальше. Вдруг берут и выпускают на сцену моего любимца полпреда. Он ухитряется наговорить невероятно скособоченным языком такого, что даже полнейшим профанам и легковерам становится ясно – что-то там нечисто. Он ухитряется то есть, ничего не сказать. Я понимаю, не для того он полпредничает, чтобы блистать дипломатическими талантами. Его задача – зачитывать агитки. Но боже мой, но в нештатной ситуации можно немного профессионализма? Во-первых – версия. Общая единая версия, пусть сырая и необтесанная, но она должна быть. Во-вторых – элементарные консультации со специалистами, чтобы не резать слух некомпетентностью.
Но вот история вроде бы все-таки подошла к концу. Хотя судно ведь все еще в районе Канар – когда его там дотащят до Мальты. Но будем надеяться, основные злоключения позади, четверка зимовщиков на судне вернется наконец домой, а судовладелец получит наконец назад свою собственность. У меня вопросы или предложение вернее, к размышлению, к общественности. Что главнее для вас в этой истории? Этот груз? Или то, как обращались с экипажем и судовладельцем и как «разруливали» всю историю? Что для вас персонально важнее? С учетом того, что каждый из вас в любой момент может оказаться в чем-то подобном. С учетом того, как действовали власти в данной внештатной ситуации. Насколько они готовы к другим внештатным ситуациям. Знаете, можно конечно поохать и поахать и обычным стилем написать – мол, пусть станет уроком, мол, надеемся впредь... Не проходит. Не станет и не надеемся. Телега летит под гору, кони понесли и кто все это в состоянии остановить, не имею ни малейшего понятия.

О моем бегстве – господа, повторяю, был мне звонок-предупреждение. Но будь он только звонок и ничего более, с места бы конечно не сдвинулся (тем более не знал и не знаю, а может кто пошутил?). Это было так, последняя капля. Просто все кругом говорили – Миша, ой гляди, ой догавкаешься. Напряжение вокруг росло, понимаете? Плюс мое общее понимание ситуации – кого я там разозлил, кого очень разозлил, а кого может наоборот порадовал? Откуда мне знать? Судя по операции, по тому как все шло и идет, бардак ведь. Но вот он результат, сижу в Бангкоке. И – пишу, относительно открыто и свободно. Вот оно, главное-то. В Москве или вообще бы уже ничего не писал, или писал бы, обдумывая каждое слово. То есть я и сейчас не несусь без тормозов, нет конечно, куда там. Но все-таки, все-таки... Главной моей задачей было и остается – вести Морской Бюллетень, заниматься новостями судоходства. Делать все что можно, чтобы помочь российскому и русскоговорящему судоходству. Потрясать устои – это не мое, неинтересно да и ни к чему, сарай и так на ладан дышит. Надеюсь, удастся выжить и вновь встать на ноги. Надеюсь это сделать с помощью российских и русскоговорящих судовладельцев.

А скандалов и без того хватит. Вот узнал только что, что вроде бы в Гонконге арестованы 6 российских судов и уже выставляются за долги на продажу. Если кто что знает, сообщите.

Войтенко Михаил
16 сентября
Бангкок

The speaker line.

The speaker line. Not will be better to face the facts and take responsibility? In this way dealing directly with a “hand” that was “dealt” me. Jumping into the corporate business and than “tirar o tapete” might be too much weight for me. Don't matter with my insight proves right. To be real, bigger not necessary mean be especially smart or fairly better. Saying and insisting in 2008 that the Barclays “windfall profit” in Lehman Brothers Holdings was just my years in monetary equivalence (the £4.9 billion pounds) – its like the buying some gorgeous box with miracle inside and than get less than you bargaining for. For example, if I have more than one TV, do I really need both of them? If I have a two cars (actually, I don't have any) – are both cars I use daily? Same is with two microwaves, etc. Not will be better for us to just prioritize and than go from there? One thief, with Putin face, was asking me to show him the “at” (in Russian “@” 'coбачку') today in City. Since I am almost part of furniture there. Although he print the two pages of London-Stanstead bus tickets already... ( Barroso wins new term as Commission chief. STRASBOURG, France, September 16 - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso secured a second five-year term on Wednesday in a vote at the European Parliament. Of the assembly’s 736 deputies, 382 voted for the 53-year-old center-right leader and 219 opposed. The rest abstained or did not take part in the vote in the French city of Strasbourg.) Elementary cooperation is needed. More yet in dealing with ongoing piggy faces from Brussels and Strasbourg “partners” and equals.

1). The speaker line up is exceptional, including:

· Håkon Borgen, Executive Vice President, Statnett, Norway

· Aurelio Blanquet, Director, Automation and Telecontrol, EDP Distribuição - Energia, S.A.,Portugal

· Micheal Kranhold, Head of Department, TSO-Cooperation, Vattenfall, Germany

· Grace Samodal, Chief Operations Officer, Imera Ltd

· Klaas Hommes, Project Manager Congestion Management, TenneT TSO BV, The Netherlands

· François Nguyen, Senior Policy Advisor - Electricity Markets, IEA, France

· Juan Manuel Rodriguez-Garcia, Red Electrica de Espana , Spain

· Dr. Tahir Kapetanovi, Director Electricity, Energie-Control GmbH, Austrian Energy Regulatory Authority, and EU TP SmartGrids Advisory Council member and Chair, WG Network Operations, Austria

· Ronnie Belmans, Chairman, Elia, Belgium and Vice Chairman and Full Professor, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

· Nikos Hatziargyriou, Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO, Public Power Corporation, Greece

2). Barclays got £4.9 bln "windfall" – Lehman. Wed Sep 16 06:25:22 UTC 2009. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings said on Tuesday that Barclays Capital got a $8.2 billion (4.9 billion pound) "windfall profit" from excess assets it took control of in the fire sale of Lehman's U.S. brokerage business a year ago.In court papers filed in federal bankruptcy court in Manhattan on Tuesday, Lehman claimed that "critical changes" were made to the sale in between the time the sale order was signed and the deal was closed, resulting in Barclays gaining control of assets that Lehman contends were not supposed to be part of the sale. Lehman filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, in the largest U.S. bankruptcy in history. Its flagship U.S. brokerage business was sold to Barclays less than a week later in a hurriedly-assembled deal. "Certain Lehman executives agreed to give Barclays an undisclosed $5 billion discount off the book value of securities transferred to Barclays, and later agreed to give billions more in so-called "additional value" that Barclays demanded, but the court never approved," Lehman said in the court filing. The charges come after Lehman received approval in June to probe whether Barclays got "too good of a deal" when it bought Lehman's brokerage business, as the British bank was able to quickly book a $4.2 billion gain on its $1.75 billion purchase. Barclays said at the time that it did not expect the probe to result in any additional claims. Lehman was allowed to probe Barclays because of the speed with which the deal with Lehman's was reached. "It's conceivable that mistakes were made," said Judge James Peck of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York at a hearing in June. Lehman alleged in the filing that Barclays had committed to pay former Lehman employees $2 billion in bonuses but never did and "never intended to do so" despite factoring them in to the terms of the sale. The difficulties with the valuations of assets and liabilities were "exacerbated the fact that many of the Lehman decision makers who 'negotiated' the transaction with Barclays had at the same time been offered lucrative" jobs at Barclays on condition the sale be closed, Lehman said. "This is an opportunistic claim," Barclays said in a statement on Tuesday. "Now that the economy has begun to stabilise the Lehman Estate is trying to re-trade the deal on the basis of a meritless argument." Lehman is asking the court to amend the deal and a hearing is scheduled for October 15. The Trustee overseeing the liquidation of Lehman's North American brokerage business and return of assets to customers also said in a statement on Tuesday that "billions of dollars in additional assets" that Barclays claims it owns are "customer property" and were not authorized by the sale. "The transfer of these assets to Barclays would create an unfair windfall for Barclays at the expense of public customers," James Giddens, the trustee for the Liquidation of Lehman Brothers Inc. under the Securities Investor Protection Act said in the statement.

3). Piloto espanhol e dois passageiros holandeses morreram em queda de avioneta. Veja o vídeo em: http://www.sic.pt/online/video/informacao/noticias-pais/2009/9/piloto-espanhol-e-dois-passageiros-holandeses-morreram-em-queda-de-avioneta.htm. Mensagem: Let's to rusia petroleum try a little bit harder. Make to them the "Dutch trick".

“A $400 million every 180 days”.

“A $400 million every 180 days”. Now I’m seeing some kind of fork for myself. The yesterday I’m completely lost my mind. This crises of insanity maybe come because “I try” to keep five or six things in the air at once. Like that one-armed juggler. Why is one-armed? Because, for more than a month, I’m having strong pain in my right arm. The German doctor says it’s ‘tennissists elbow pain’. I don’t think so. I think that this is the United States of America. When the European Energy Policy use me like the etalon for theirs needs, become clear how the cocaine Royal Family of Lancaster’s try to coerce me into to doing something what I don’t care. Significant for this matter was the today morning “proposed theme”. The Poland, the Polish, the how are you polish, etc. How you, like that, the 1939 dragon contra-attacking the German tanks. In deed, like always, I arrive at the conclusion that was simply stupid to be upset yesterday. After a little ‘ventilation’ I realize that to having the Solana in Turkey and Iran, the 110 000 pounds per year of a Mining Analyst in my pocket – can do benefit in the end. (See the ‘Willy mai dela’, and the “Free Willy” articles.) It’s the facts. Which are swarming like a myriad of “details” all over me. Quite a buzz! In place maybe to put the “…planned to cut 10,500 posts at loss making Opel once it completes its takeover…” into the Fokker 100 jet? Or just be aware of the political and professionals power struggles and “unsterile” intrigues which come alone. This in ‘our case’, I am certain, could immediately react and try to “Contact” me. It’s clear for some times that no one listen my warnings. So, for time being, I’ll keep quite, more yet if “someone” suggests a half baked plan. (See and read carefully the “$400 million every 180 days”). Intuition tell me that “rusia petroleum” or Anglo Dutch Shell are willing to bore (You should recall the “Bore Meeting” of Yeltsin, Kohl and Co, ongoing piggy faces from Brussels and Strasburg, where you, Charles the II and Abramovitch rob me like “a липку”) into the some “business” and “affairs” from my pocket. That the EduF want 10% of South Stream pipeline and the GDF Suez want 9% of the Nord Stream, just telling me that I should keep my “personal information” secure (i.e. the faces from European Patent Organization). And just telling me that it is a good time to concentrate in my future wealth, together with my “general savings”. If not, I can fall victim of yours fraud. Also, maybe it’s a good time to change my passwords.

BNY Mellon Offers $4B To End Russia Suit. Reuters. 09.14.09, 6:42 PM ET

MOSCOW and NEW YORK -- Bank of New York Mellon may restart trade-finance lending to Russia as a part of an out-of-court settlement of a $22.5 billion lawsuit against the bank, Kommersant business daily and the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. For more than two years, Russia has been seeking compensation from the U.S. bank after a former vice-president, Lucy Edwards, admitted to helping to launder $7 billion from Russia in the late 1990s through Bank of New York accounts. The settlement could come before the next hearing, slated for October 20, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing a person close to the talks. "The bank made this proposal late August as a part of preparing amicable settlement with Russian Customs Service. It is suggested the financing will be provided through $400 million tranches every 180 days," a source in Russia's Finance Ministry was quoted as saying. Bank of New York's exposure will be no more than $400 million, renewed every six months over five years, the person familiar with the talks told the WSJ. Russian media had reported the loan would be $4 billion. The credit line would bear an interest rate of 2.5 percent over LIBOR and the final recipients of the funds would be Russian banks selected by the government. The state banks would use the money to help fund imports and exports, the Journal reported. A spokesman for the bank in New York declined to comment on the case. A Finance Ministry official told Kommersant it received the bank's proposal for the expertise a couple of weeks ago but declined to comment further. For more than two years, the case had been bogged down in procedural issues, mainly over jurisdiction, and had not moved into arguing the merits of the case at the time the settlement talks began. Settlement talks began in March 2009 after the Russian government called the bank to the table. But the two sides voiced radically different opinions on how much it should cost to end the case, ranging from $1.5 million to close to $1 billion.

Humpback whale found dead in Thames. 28ft carcass of juvenile off Gravesend was first ever found in river. A dead humpback whale found beached on Saturday near Dartford Bridge. It is believed that the 28ft juvenile male may have died of starvation. Photograph: ZSL/CSIP. A juvenile male humpback whale has been found dead in the Thames near Dartford Bridge, Kent, the first ever to be stranded in the river. The 9.5m (28ft) carcass of the humpback had been spotted by members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) off Gravesend on Thursday, who had initially guessed it was a minke whale, but no further sightings were reported until the animal was found dead on Saturday. It was subsequently recovered by a Port of LondonAuthority (PLA) patrol boat.

Darwin Centre opens to the public. Natural History Museum's £78m cocoon will allow the public to watch – and quiz – scientists in action. Millions of plant and animal specimens will go on display in giant eight-storey cocoon tomorrow as the Natural History Museum's new £78m Darwin Centre opens its doors to the public. Up to 2,500 people a day will also be able to see the museum's scientists in action, working in once-concealed hi-tech laboratories and among 3.3 kilometres of cabinets. Some of the glass-fronted laboratories will be linked by intercom so visitors can quiz the experts about what they are doing. The opening celebrations were attended Prince William and Sir David Attenborough. "The Natural History Museum and the dedicated people who work here are at the very forefront of research, seeking out through study of the natural world the answers to the great questions of our age," the prince said. "Its collections, and what it achieves in the areas of research and education make it – quite simply – the envy of the world. This magnificent new wing will further enhance the museum's peerless reputation." Attenborough also addressed guests. "Never has it been so important to understand the diversity of life on Earth and how it is changing, if we are to tackle many of the issues that humans face today," he said. "The Darwin Centre will inspire the next generation of naturalists and scientists through its combination of scientific expertise, specimens, public dialogue, film and interactive media. It will enable all of us to explore the wonders of our world and investigate its secrets." The new Darwin Centre, by Scandinavian architects CF Møller, holds 17m entomology specimens and 3m botany specimens. At 60 metres long, 12 metres wide, 300 millimetres thick and covering 3,500 square metres, it is the largest sprayed concrete curved structure in Europe. It offers 1,040 square metres of laboratory space, doubling the size of the museum's lab areas. The top three floors are devoted to spectacular new galleries, where some of the oldest and most precious objects in the collection, among them specimens brought back by Charles Darwin from the Beagle voyage, will be displayed.

MAGNA: Passenger Jet With Senior German Politician Makes Emergency Landing. 09/14/2009 04:52 PM. A German passenger jet with 87 people on board including one of Germany's most senior politicians, Social Democrat Party chairman Franz Müntefering, made an emergency landing at Stuttgart airport on Monday because its undercarriage couldn't be fully lowered. No one was seriously hurt. A passenger jet with the leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party on board made an emergency landing at Stuttgart airport on Monday morning after its undercarriage failed to lower properly. The Fokker 100 jet was operated by Contact Air, a partner of German national carrier Lufthansa. Its 82 passengers and a crew of five were evacuated through emergency slides after the plane landed on a foam carpet. Five passengers suffered from shock and one female flight attendant was taken to hospital for observation. "It was a serious, a very serious situation," said Müntefering, 69, who is due to speak at an election campaign rally in Stuttgart later on Monday. The SPD shares power with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and Müntefering as party chairman has a key role in campaigning ahead of the Sept. 27 election. "We spent a long time circling, then tried the approach and then had to make an emergency landing," Müntefering. "Everyone in the plane was very disciplined. We owe our thanks to the pilot who put in a masterful performance and to his crew who handled the situation professionally."