UPDATE 1-EU takes Greece to justice over taxation breaks

Wed Feb 24, 2010 6:26am EST Related News EU takes Greece to court over tax breaksWed, Feb 24 2010

* European Union executive says tax breaks were illegal

Currencies&&&&Bonds

* EU"s Almunia - determined to take all necessary steps

* Commission - no sign from Athens that money recovered

(Adds background, detail)

BRUSSELS, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The European Commission istaking Greece to court for failing to recover money given tohundreds of companies through what it labelled illegal taxbreaks, the EU executive said on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, companies were given breaks for activitiesincluding car manufacturing, mining and fishing but theCommission later ruled the roughly 200 million euros ($272million) of aid broke European Union rules.

On Wednesday, the EU executive said that Athens had failedto confirm that the tax windfalls given to the companies hadbeen recovered and that it would take Greece to the EuropeanCourt of Justice.

"The recovery of illegal aid is about restoring a levelplaying field in the single market," EU Competition CommissionerJoaquin Almunia said in a statement.

"The Commission is determined to take all necessary steps toensure that member states comply with their recoveryobligations."

(Editing by Ron Askew)

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Sri Lanka bans American rapper Akon for shaming Buddhism

Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent & , : {}

Sri Lanka has refused to issue a visa to Akon, the Senegalese-American singer and rapper who is due to perform there next month, after Buddhist activists took offence at one of his music videos.

They said that the video for Akons song Sexy Bitch, which features bikini-clad women dancing in front of a statue of the Buddha in Ibiza, had offended members of the Sinhalese ethnic majority, which is mainly Buddhist.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters stormed the head offices of the Maharaja Broadcasting and Television Network, the concerts media sponsor, injuring four employees, smashing windows and damaging parked cars.

Sri Lankan officials said that Akon and his entourage had yet to apply for visas but the Government had already decided not to allow him into the country for the concert on April 24, which is sold out.

Related LinksAkonAkon: Freedom - the Sunday Times review

Anusha Palpita, the director-general of the Information Department, said that the main allegation against Akon was that he was defaming Buddhism in his video.

A statement on Sri Lankas official government news portal added: Apart from this particular controversial video clip, some of Akons lyrics are not suitable for public articulation. Sri Lankan activists opposed to the concert have formed a We hate Akon group on the social networking site Facebook, which had 11,700 members yesterday.

Akons international booking agents, American Talent Agency, said that they had postponed the show until the safety of performers and fans could be guaranteed, but added that they were working to organise a new date.

I was not aware that the statue was even on the set of the video until now. I would never set out to offend or desecrate anyones religion or religious beliefs, Akon said in a statement. I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended, but violence is never the answer and I am disheartened.

The incident illustrates the influence on the Government of hardline Sinhalese nationalists who have often used violence against those whom they consider to be offending Buddhism.

The decision to bar Akon also raises concerns about the independence of the media in Sri Lanka. Maharaja is one of the few large media organisations backing the Opposition before parliamentary elections on April 8.

Strong aftershocks symbol Sebasti�n Piñeras initial moments in office

Hannah Strange, Caracas & , : {}

Chiles new President faced his initial predicament inside of moments of receiving bureau yesterday as aftershocks rocked a nation already ravaged by last months earthquake.

The tremors strike as Sebastián Piñera rebuilt for his coronation and were felt in the capital, Santiago, and in Valparaíso, the chair of the Congress. Dignitaries in attendance the coronation looked nervously at the roof as the rite took place. The room was evacuated rught away afterwards.

One aftershock, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, stirred the Navy to issue a tsunami warning. In Constitución, that gimlet most of the drop in the 8.8-magnitude upheaval dual weeks ago, the new President urged people nearby the seashore to move to higher ground. Mr Piñera pronounced that the 3 aftershocks had shop-worn Rancagua, about 60 miles (96km) south of the capital. Its time to get to work, he pronounced as he took office.

Many have criticised the perplexity of the effusive leader, Michelle Bachelet, in promulgation infantry to revive security. On Wednesday the head of the puncture reply agency, Onemi, quiescent over a mess to advise of the tsunami that killed hundreds of people after the quake. The head of the Navys oceanographic use was additionally removed.

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The deployment of the Army, for the initial time in twenty years, has been well perceived and might give Mr Piñera range to take in advance measures on crime and drug trafficking.

We goal that Piñera does a improved pursuit assisting us than the [outgoing] government, pronounced Claudio Escalona, 42, whose coastal home was shop-worn by the tsunami.

Mr Piñera pronounced that the mess would check his mercantile plans, adding that his Administration would right away be the supervision of reconstruction.

Rise to the tip

Sebastián Piñera innate 1949 in Santiago •Studied economics at Harvard

Made happening by introducing credit cards in to Chile in the 1980s

Entered the Senate in 1990 after tumble of Pinochet. Has a little await from former Pinochet allies but says that he did not behind the system of administration

Claims to paint Christian, centre-right merciful conservatism

Was fined in 2007 over an insider trade liaison

Fortune estimated at $1 billion (665 million)

Sources: Reuters; Times archives

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Binyam Mohamed case: full texts of Paragraph 168 - and how they changed

Times Online & , : {}

First version as creatively drafted by Lord Neuberger, Master of the Rolls:

Fourthly, it is additionally convenient that the SyS [Security Service MI5] were creation it transparent in Mar 2005, by a inform from the Intelligence and Security Committee that they operated a enlightenment that reputable human rights and that coercive inquire techniques were visitor to the Services ubiquitous ethics, methodology and precision (paragraph 9 of the initial judgment), in truth they denied that [they] knew of any hurt of detainees interviewed by them while incarcerated by or on seductiveness of the [US] Government (paragraph 44(ii) of the fourth judgment).

Yet that does not crop up to be true: as the justification in this box showed, at slightest a little SyS officials crop up to have a indeterminate jot down when it comes to human rights and coercive techniques, and in truth when it comes to openness about the UKs impasse with the indignity of Mr Mohammed by US officials. I have in mind in sold declare B, but it appears expected that there were others.

The great conviction of the Foreign Secretary is not in question, but he rebuilt the certificates partly, presumably largely, on the basement of inform and recommendation supposing by SyS personnel.

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Regrettably, but inevitably, this contingency lift the theme either any matter in the certificates on an issue connected with such indignity can be relied on, generally when the issue is either attendant communications to the SyS about such indignity should be suggested publicly. Not usually is there an viewable reason for distrusting any UK Government assurance, formed on SyS recommendation and information, since of prior form, but the Foreign Office and the SyS have an seductiveness in the termination of such information.

Second version as published on Feb 10 after censure from Foreign Office lawyer:

Fourthly, the Foreign Secretary contingency have rebuilt the certificates on the basement of recommendation from members of the SIS [Secret Intelligence Service MI6] and the SyS, whose impasse in the indignity of Mr Mohamed has been the theme of commentary by the Divisional Court. Having pronounced that, declare B is now underneath review by the police; and it is impossible, at any rate at this stage, to form a transparent or full perspective as to precisely what his impasse was in the indignity of Mr Mohamed.

Final version as published today, with critique of MI5 some-more narrowly focused (adds in bold):

"Fourthly, it is additionally convenient that the Security Services had done it transparent in Mar 2005, by a inform from the Intelligence and Security Committee, that they operated a enlightenment that reputable human rights and that coercive inquire techniques were visitor to the Services ubiquitous ethics, methodology and precision (paragraph 9 of the initial judgment), in truth they denied that [they] knew of any hurt of detainees interviewed by them while incarcerated by or on seductiveness of the [US] Government (paragraph 44(ii) of the fourth judgment).

Yet, in this case, that does not crop up to have been true: as the justification showed, a little Security Services officials crop up to have a indeterminate jot down relating to tangible involvement, and openness about any such involvement, with the indignity of Mr Mohamed when he was hold at the insistence of US officials. I have in mind in sold declare B, but the justification in this box suggests that it is expected that there were others.

The great conviction of the Foreign Secretary is not in question, but he rebuilt the certificates partly, presumably largely, on the basement of inform and recommendation supposing by Security Services personnel.

Regrettably, but inevitably, this contingency lift the theme either any matter in the certificates on an issue connected with the indignity of Mr Mohamed can be relied on, generally when the issue is either attendant communications to the Security Services about such indignity should be suggested publicly. Not usually is there a little reason for distrusting such a statement, since that it is formed on Security Services recommendation and information, since of previous, despite general, assurances in 2005, but additionally the Security Services have an seductiveness in the termination of such information."

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Clinton assembly with Kirchner adds to British confusion over Falklands

Giles Whittell, Washington, and Hannah Strange, Latin America Correspondent & , : {}

A late shift to Hillary Clintons transport plans resulted in a assembly in Buenos Aires last night in in in between the US Secretary of State and President Fernández de Kirchner giving the coming of taciturn US subsidy for Argentina in the brawl with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Mrs Clinton has offering to mediate, even though Whitehall is against to any negotiations on the government of the islands. While it remained the US on all sides that Britain and Argentina should finalise the brawl themselves, if we can be of any assistance in facilitating such an effort, we mount ready to do so, Mrs Clinton said. What we wish to do is promote them articulate to each other.

Were not meddlesome and have no genuine purpose in last what they confirm in in in between the dual of them. But we do wish them articulate and we wish them perplexing to finalise the superb issues in in in between them. We recognize that these are quarrelsome counts that have to be resolved and we goal that they will do so.

Her assembly with Mrs Kirchner, creatively scheduled as a 10-minute shared in Montevideo, came as British officials conceded for the initial time that the denunciation used by US officials responding to the brawl and in sold the make make use of of of Las Malvinas to one side the British name for the islands had caused consternation.

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The US has signalled that it intends to make make use of of Mrs Clintons five-day brush by Latin America to seaside up Argentine and Brazilian await in the Iranian chief dispute. Yet by unwell to suggest pithy await for Britains position, the Obama Administration could be indicted of contrast the faithfulness of the staunchest ally.

State Department officials pronounced yesterday that Mrs Clinton would not lift the theme of the Falklands in her assembly with Mrs Kirchner in the presidential offices of the Casa Rosada.

Her revisit was, nonetheless, a second tactful delight for Argentina, after the Foreign Minister, Jorge Taiana, cumulative unanimous subsidy for his countrys explain to the islands at a assembly of 33 South American heads of state in Mexico. British officials in Washington steady yesterday that US neutrality on the Falklands was longstanding and constructed justification dating from 1947 to infer it.

Hen parties on a bill Life and character The Guardian

Knitting together… qualification parties are the new hen parties. Photograph: Masterfile/Radius Images

If there are dual difference to set upon fright in to majority right-thinking women it is these: hen weekend. Most of us will be informed with the flourishing over the years of "night" to "weekend" (and I have listened of at slightest dual "hen weeks"), and how a week end in Blackpool has turn a week end in Las Vegas. Remember the tallness of the madness? In 2005, according to a consult by one credit label company, one in 3 hens went abroad for theirs, spending around £550 a head, whilst one in 10 outlayed around £1,000. But hen – and ram – parties appear to have turn less extravagant.

"There is a clear recoil opposite spending hundreds of pounds for a week end hen celebration abroad, generally due to the recession," says Deborah Joseph, editor of Brides magazine. "People are being some-more beautiful with singular budgets. I went to a good hen celebration where we had a sketch category at an art propagandize with an art clergyman – and a bare masculine model. After a lot of sniggering, everybody took it unequivocally seriously."

Other ideas that Joseph says are apropos some-more renouned embody value hunts, flower- arranging classes and picnics. One of the most appropriate hen parties I"ve been on was a school-style sports day in the park, followed by afternoon tea in the hen"s garden.

"The importance between all of my friends has been on keeping costs low but you do something fun and opposite and memorable," says Baseera Green, a personal assistant. Her own hen celebration – lindy bound classes, followed by afternoon tea at home, and afterwards on to a cooking and dancing bar – came in at £130 each. "I"m organising an additional one for a crony where we"re going to a crafts seminar to have vintage-style fascinators. People get to know each alternative improved when they"re fastening over an wake up and they"re all still sober."

Crafters such as the Make Do Mend team, formed in London, additionally run workshops featuring special hen celebration activities together with crochet and cupcake decorating.

And if all that is a small twee for your liking, take heart from headlines of an additional trend. According to Keith White, selling physical education instructor at Redseven, a dilettante hen and ram celebration organiser, "Women are increasingly you do some-more traditionally masculine activities, similar to paintballing and go-karting."

Another reason to be cheerful: maybe pole-dancing lessons are eventually on their approach out?

Three some-more Japanese firms stop half a million cars

Leo Lewis, Middle East Business Correspondent & , : {}

Nissan, Suzuki and Daihatsu have released poignant car recalls since of problems with their electric wires the area that a little hold to be the unused error with Toyota cars.

Industry insiders pronounced that the contingent of carmakers was responding to both open and behind-the-scenes vigour from inside of the Japanese Government to have the picture of Japan Inc squeaky purify in the arise of the Toyota crisis.

A sum of some-more than half a million vehicles have been influenced by the 3 recalls, that request especially to cars and vans that have been on the highway for a little years. Significantly, the recalls have been released to understanding with teenager problems that have caused no injuries but after Toyota, Japan is receiving no chances.

The new ambience of fright was strong by a notice to Toyota from Yukio Hatoyama, the Japanese Prime Minister. After the barbecuing of Toyotas tip management team by American legislators, Mr Hatoyama pronounced that whilst it was great for the Toyota boss to crop up in chairman at a congressional conference I dont think this has put an finish [to the issue].

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The Suzuki, Nissan and Daihatsu recalls, all of that were released inside of a couple of hours of each other, came after the interrogate in Washington on Wednesday of Akio Toyoda. His sworn statement on Capitol Hill, during that the Toyota boss apologised for his companys poise and sobbed openly, was noticed by code specialists as a outrageous blow to the worlds largest carmaker.

Possibly in fright of identical inquire and open humiliation, Suzuki pronounced that it was recalling 432,366 units of dual minicar models. The error is comparatively teenager but has caused dual teenager incidents in that tools of the dashboard began to melt. There were no injuries. The forsake appears to engage an inapt money coming in valve for the air-conditioning system, that can means feverishness to set up up at the back of the dashboard.

Nissan voiced a stop of 76,415 cars opposite ten models. The error is a probable issue with a joining depot that could means the engine to stall. Again, no accidents have been reported.

Daihatsu, that is a auxiliary of Toyota, released a stop of 60,774 vehicles opposite 4 models where cryptic electric wires on models on vehicles could means puncture airbags to increase at inappropriate moments. Two incidents of that function have been reported in the past decade, conjunction of them involving any injury.

• Investigators in the United States, Japan and Europe raided car tools suppliers as piece of an review in to purported price-fixing and anti-competitive conduct. The FBI raided offices belonging to Denso, Yazaki North America and Tokai Rika. The Japanese Fair Trade Commission pronounced that investigators had searched the offices of multiform tools makers. The European Commission raided suppliers together with Leoni. (Alexandra Frean)

Afghans call for Nato to leave after airstrike kills twenty-seven civilians

Jerome Starkey, Kabul & , : {}

Relatives of twenty-seven people killed when Nato aircraft inebriated a municipal procession in southern Afghanistan have demanded that unfamiliar forces leave the country.

Afghan officials pronounced that at slightest 4 women and a kid were between the dead. Twelve alternative civilians were bleeding when 3 minibuses were pounded on Sunday in a remote piece of Uruzgan province.

They came here to move security but they kill the children, they kill the brothers and they kill the people, pronounced Haji Ghullam Rasoul, whose cousins died in the attack. Weve had enough.

The internal administrator and the Interior Minister pronounced that all of the victims were civilians. Nato commanders pronounced that their new plan was focused on safeguarding the race but the airstrike capped a week in that some-more than 60 civilians were killed by Nato weapons. The Afghan Cabinet called the conflict unjustifiable.

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The procession was travelling from Day Kundi to Kandahar when Nato and Afghan forces targeted it. Natos International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) pronounced that infantry on the belligerent thought the civilians were militants en track to conflict a corner Afghan-Isaf unit, but after reliable that there were women and immature kids at the scene. Isaf refused to contend how the airstrike was authorised, to equivocate prejudicing the investigation.

Dutch and Australian infantry are formed in Uruzgan to one side US Special Forces. The Netherlands is approaching to repel the forces by the finish of this year after the fall of the Dutch Government.

Mr Rasoul, who spoke to The Times from Tirin Kowt, the collateral of Uruzgan, pronounced that his passed cousins, Nasim and Aminullah, had immature children. Who will feed them now? he said.

Day Kundi is one of the lowest Afghan provinces. An elder from Char Chino district in Uruzgan pronounced that majority of the victims were travelling to Kandahar to find work.

General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in chief of Nato forces in Afghanistan, said: I have done it transparent to the forces that we are here to strengthen the Afghan people, and inadvertently murdering or injuring civilians undermines their certitude and certainty in the mission. We will redouble the efforts to recover that trust.

Nato concurred that it has formerly relied on trashy comprehension and called in airstrikes when there was no evident need.

President Karzai steady calls on Saturday for the bloc to forestall municipal casualties. On Sunday at slightest 9 were killed when infantry in Helmand strike a devalue during Operation Moshtarak. Afghan rights groups pronounced that at slightest nineteen civilians have been killed in the offensive. Refugees pronounced that the figure was higher.

On Monday last week Nato and Afghan forces incorrectly killed five men and harmed dual others in Kandahar province. On Thursday an airstrike in Kunduz range killed 7 policemen. The subsequent day a man was shot and killed in Nad-e Ali.

Last month 4 Afghan soldiers at a checkpoint in Wardak were killed after American infantry called in an airstrike. In Dec Nato was indicted of murdering ten civilians, together with eight schoolchildren, in Narang district in Kunar. Nato pronounced that they were piece of a bomb-making cell.