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Nonetheless, EU sectoral policies in the areas of transport, environment and social affairs can have a significant impact on cities.

EU ministers responsible for urban and spatial development have also attempted to lay the foundations for a European urban policy with the signature on 24 May 2007 of the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (EurActiv ).

This system is increasingly attracting criticism for being wasteful as a result of significant efficiency losses during the transport of electricity as well as the fact that many buildings and households require urgent efficiency upgrades.

In addition to improving insulation and taking other measures to reduce energy waste in buildings (see EurActiv on green buildings), there are also growing calls for a transformation of the way in which power is generated and distributed, whereby buildings become both electricity producers and consumers.

This vision of 'microgeneration' or decentralised generation is reflected in the Parliament's first reading in response to the Commission's 23 January proposal for ambitious renewable energy legislation (see EurActiv ).

Total kilometres travelled in EU urban areas are expected to increase by 40% between 1995 and 2030, with significant consequences for the health and quality of life of city-dwellers and the economic performance of the cities themselves.

In September 2007, the Commission outlined a new strategy that sets out a wide range of potential solutions and areas where the EU could take action to tackle growing congestion, air pollution and safety problems in Europe's cities (see EurActiv on urban transport).

In its June 2008 declaration on climate change, the organisation affirms that "the local level has an essential role to play in the fight against climate change and therefore cities are crucial partners, in coordination with the EU institutions and the member states".



Source: http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/sustainable-cities/article-175936

World stocks rise on hopes downturn is stabilizing

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Later Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is to unveil new rules for the program, which has been heavily criticized for doling out hundreds of billions of dollars to banks with few conditions on how the money is spent.

"People are waiting to see what happens in the U.S.," said Conita Hung, head of equity markets with Delta Asia Financial Group in .

| Dec 5, 2008 Just a year after buying The Wall Street Journal, the press rapscallion has revitalized the fusty paper.



Source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157244

Airports closed as France braces for storm

Flights into and out of the Paris regions were disrupted from 6pm and were to be cancelled outright from 8pm until 10am on Tuesday because of high winds closing in on the capital.

All flights to and from the city's two main airports, Charles de Gaulle (Roissy) and Orly, have been cancelled within that time period and travellers were asked not to head to either of them, authorities said.

The long Atlantic coast was expected to be worst hit, with heavy rain and gales there predicted to reach 140km/h, but the entire west and north of the country was in the storm's path, weather forecasters said.

The French navy has put three rescue vessels on standby to sail to the aid of any shipping in difficulty in the mouth of the Channel, while sand bags have been deployed on sea-fronts exposed to potential flooding.



Source: http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20090209191359370C187390