Published on Mar 29, 2012 by AssociatedPress
Today in History for Friday, March 30th:
President Ronald Reagan shot; William Seward reaches deal to buy Alaska
from Russia; Actor James Cagney dies; Musician Eric Clapton born.
LIVE NEWS STREAMS
Al Jazeera: BBC News: Bloomberg: DW: France 24: i24News24: News: Sky News: WSJ: Asianetnews: Euronews fr - pt - it - de - eng: - Arirang TV: - Perviy: - VOA:
BBC 1: 2: 3: 4 - Channel 4: E4: More 4: Film 4: Channel 5: PICK TV: International Fashion: ITV: 1: 2. 3: 4:
Friday, March 30, 2012
♡ Libra Daily stars for today 30 March 2012 - www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com
Tedious as dealing
with certain practical matters are, these really can't be ignored. Not
only are they pressing, once your ruler Venus moves into the most
expansive portion of your chart, early next week, your attention will be
drawn to other matters. Put those practicalities to rest now. You'll be
glad you did.
.
Our most popular with you last 24 hours - 2012 Mar 29 09:00 – 2012 Mar 30 08:00 CET
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Spain - Violent protests erupt over austerity measures
Uploaded by telegraphtv
on Mar 29, 2012
Police make dozens of arrests as
hundreds of demonstrators take to the streets in cities across Spain
protesting against government labour reformsEurope - euronews I talk: Is the European Commission just another red tape brigade in the EU?
Published on Mar 29, 2012 by Euronews
http://www.euronews.com/
Alex Taylor "We all hate annoying bureaucracy and a mindless filling
out of useless forms, whether it be on paper or on the net. Is the
European Commission doing anything to reduce red tape from our daily
lives or is it part of the problem? Here to answer your questions is the
EU Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration Maroš Šefčovič. Did I pronounce your name right?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "Perfect, very good, very good pronunciation."
Alex Taylor: "You say Maroš....?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "Cheftchovitch"
Alex Taylor: "Cheftchovitch. OK right. You're ready to answer our citizens' questions?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "Absolutely, yes."
Alex Taylor: "First question to you from Rafael."
"I want to know why the administration is so burdened with paperwork. There's so much of it in relation to the administration; unemployment, the school enrolment of children.... there's just too much! There are plenty of Municipalities, lots of jurisdictions, regional and federal and it's very difficult to understand it all here in Brussels."
Alex Taylor: "We all thought that the internet was going to make things much easier, less paper and so forth. It's not the case, why?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "Not always but I have to agree with our citizen here that sometimes we still have overlapping competencies, especially between the local and national level and sometimes even the European one."
Alex Taylor: "Can't you do anything about that?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "Yes of course. I think when I was in Westminster we had a discussion how on we could reduce the bureaucracy and there was a suggestion that we should use the British approach: one directive in and one out. I said that we could have an even better approach: let's put 27 national laws in and replace them with one European law."
Alex Taylor: "Haven't we already been down that road?"
Maroš Šefčovič: "I think that this is a concept that we have to follow in the future because we can use European laws to replace most of the national laws and to use e-government much better than we do right now and I'm sure that the citizens would appreciate that."
Alex Taylor: "Well good luck on imposing that on the government. Second question from Alain."
"My name is Alain, I am Belgian. I would like to ask the following question: all European states have been requested by the European Commission to make serious efforts to reduce public spending, particularly in terms of operating costs and personnel costs. I wonder if the European authorities are ready to make the same effort? Thank you."
Alex Taylor: "Do you practice what you preach Mr Šefčovič? I mean the European Commission last year asked for a 4.9% increase in its budget."
Maroš Šefčovič: "Yes and you know why? Because 94% of our budget goes back to the member states. So actually now we have a big problem with unpaid receipts because we knew that in December we would receive the invoices coming from the member states for good executions of the program."
Alex Taylor: "Yes that's true but all psychologically when you ask everybody else to make reductions...."
Maroš Šefčovič: "I think we would really appreciate the help of the media and also the help of national politicians, to explain why we are asking for the 4.6% increase, because now we have a complaint from the national government that, 'how come the receipts cannot be paid?' When actually, by the end of the year we will be short by 11 billion euros, which we have to pay back to the member states.
"But I think that the question the gentleman was asking about is what we do in the administration, how big an effort we show. I think that the very important thing to underline is that the administrative budget is only less than 6% of the overall budget, so 94% goes back to the member states. But nevertheless we appreciate how important this is and what I have suggested is a 5% cut in the personnel. I have also suggested prolonging working hours without pay increases and increasing the pension age - all the measures which are actually taking place on a national level as well."
Alex Taylor: "OK let's have a third question here on I talk and it's from Ignacio Martin."
"Good morning. My name is Ignacio Martin, I'm Spanish. I would like to ask the Commissioner: about the possibility of improving the integration of the administrative systems on a European level, so that relations between the European citizens will be easier and the bureaucratic barriers between us can be reduced. Thank you very much."
USA - Sanford Couple in Fear After Spike Lee Tweet
Published on Mar 29, 2012 by AssociatedPress
Elaine and David McClain say they have a
son named William George Zimmerman who once lived in their Sanford-area
house. They were forced from their home after Spike Lee retweeted their
address as that of a man who shot an unarmed teenager. (March 29)
USA - Raw Video: Lindsay Lohan in Court
Published on Mar 29, 2012 by AssociatedPress
Lindsay Lohan appears visibly relieved
and hugs her attorney after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie
Sautner informs her she has met all probation requirements and is not
expected in court again. (March 29)
Germany - jobless rate falls further
Published on Mar 29, 2012 by Euronews
http://www.euronews.com/
Germany's jobless rate has fallen to its lowest since the reunification
of East and West as unemployment dropped for a fifth consecutive month
in March. Just 6.7 percent of the workforce is without a job according to official figures, adjusted for seasonal factors such as weather.
That is in contrast to other eurozone countries, and will likely lead to higher wages boosting consumption in Europe's largest economy.
The unadjusted rate -- which is the headline figure used in Germany -- fell to 7.2 percent from February's 7.4 percent.
The data is good news for German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble whose budget plans are based on strong tax revenues.
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