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There Goes Another Veto
Reports this morning appear to confirm yesterday's rumour that Britain was preparing to surrender its EU veto on policing and judicial matters.
Making A Date
Looks like Tony Blair's retirement date has been chosen for him: That's what you get for hanging around in caring-sharing cut-throat New Labour.
TV Nation
More proof that Italy is firmly in the post-Berlusconi period: Backed by left-leaning pressure groups and media academics, Prime minister Romano Prodi has pledged to reform the country's television industry.
Nearer My God To Thee
Matters of religion have been troubling Angela Merkel. Germany's chancellor, who leads that country's Christian Democrats, after all, has called for a clause in the European Constitution reflecting the continent's religious heritage. At the same time, she's just received a religiously-themed letter from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who reminds her that the world's - and Germany's - problems can be laid firmly at the door of those pesky Zionists.
Yesterday Once More
Oh boo hoo. Former French PM Lionel Jospin has set out his stall for the Socialist Party presidential candidacy with a tearful attack on leading contender Ségolène Royal.
The Information Society
Ever get that feeling you're being watched? If you use a search engine, drive a car or even put rubbish in your bin you could be forgiven for feeling slightly paranoid, particularly after reading this morning's papers.
Ségolène's Summer
Socialist Party presidential hopeful Ségolène Royal has had quite a summer. First, those photos of the trim 52 year old frolicking on the beach in the south of France. Then her return from holiday to find the flat she shares with colleague Francois Holland was ransacked - and a subsequent scandal when she hinted that government figures might have been involved in the break-in. Third, her poll ratings rose above rival Nicolas Sarkozy for the first time since she broke free of the chasing pack for next year's presidential election.
And now, with the rentrée, comes news that her biggest obstacle for the presidency next year might be party, whose most prominent figures are ganging up to scupper the chances of the left's most popular candidate for years.
The Turkey Connection?
Michael Totten, covering for Andrew Sullivan, picks up on a disturbing report that Iran might have funnelled arms to Hezbollah via Turkey.
Over The Rainbow
What is it with the French and Greenpeace? Twenty years ago, French commandos bombed and sank the eco-protest group's flagship Rainbow Warrior. Now, Rainbow Warrior's successor, Rainbow Warrior 2, has been put "under siege" by Marseilles fishermen, as it attempted to continue its campaign against over-fishing of tuna stocks.
The River In Londonistan
Enoch Powell (1912-1998) was probably the most controversial British politican of the past fifty years. In 1968, he made a speech which sealed his reputation as a prophet of the anti-immigrant extreme right - and a bogeyman for all shades of respectable opinion, from embarrassed centrists on his own Tory party to the broad left.
Does Not Compute
More trouble for the government: The company at the heart of the computing reform of Britain's National Health Service faces uncomfortable revelations of its financial performance later this week.
Slowly. But Surely?
Some good news for the rentrée for a change. French economic growth in the second quarter of 2006 was the highest for 20 years, says finance minister Thierry Breton.
Nudes Of The World
Now there's a way for the Mainstream Media to fight back in the battle for ratings. On Saturday night, viewers of a Swedish state television news bulletin were surprised to see a porn movie broadcast behind the presenter. An accident, the broadcaster says - but was it?
Germany Seeks Terror Cell
Kiel, Germany: A 21 year old Lebanese student has been arrested and charged with trying to blow up two regional trains.
Britain To Close Doors
Workers from Romania and Bulgaria may not be granted automatic access to Britain's labour market, a government spokesman has declared. The minister was responding to claims from opposition Conservatives that the government had hugely underestimated the number of immigrants from central European states, who now number around 600,000.
