Even prior to the parliamentary elections in June, Sarkozy is undertaking a series of initiatives WHICH WILL ALLOW HIM TO GOVERN WITHOUT ANY EFFECTIVE EXTERNAL CONTROL. To this end he is exploiting the constitution of the Fifth Republic to its limits?and beyond.

The current French constitution was tailored to suit the needs of its author, Gen. de Gaulle. Upon assuming power in 1958 at the height of the Algerian crisis, de Gaulle imposed a constitution which awarded huge authority to the president and severely limited the power of the National Assembly. The president not only appoints the head of government and presides over weekly cabinet meetings, he can also dissolve parliament at any time AND THEREBY HAS POWERFUL LEVERAGE OVER THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.

Sarkozy has made clear that he now intends to fully exploit the authority of the presidential office and determine government policy down to the last detail. Sarkozy's autocratic moves are not limited to controlling the machinery of government. He is also seeking to free himself from any control from within his own political camp, which is split into several opposing fractions. The spheres of economics, social affairs and finance have been completely restructured by Sarkozy in order to impose his planned "reforms."

Sarkozy spent a remarkably long time ensuring the support of the French trade unions for his government. In the two days before taking office and appointing the government, he devoted several hours to individual discussions with the chairmen of the six largest union federations all of whom subsequently declared their willingness to cooperate with his government.

Nobody should deceived by Sarkozy's populist overtures. HE IS INTENT ON USING HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWERS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE TRADE UNIONS TO CARRY OUT THE SORT OF ATTACKS ON SOCIAL GAINS AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS THAT HAVE LONG BEEN DEMANDED BY FRENCH BIG BUSINESS CIRCLES AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS.

Who can remember a single significant decision made at these summits in the past? Did promises made about debt relief two years ago in Gleneagles really make any difference for Africa? Did the global energy situation change at all following last year's discussions in St. Petersburg?

The regularity of these meetings is actually one of their greatest drawbacks. The leader of every nation in the G8 is obligated to attend the annual summits, regardless of whether they really want or need to. As for the agenda, it is often just a way to make sure they can fill the time.

When Josef Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met in Tehran and Yalta, it was not to demonstrate their solidarity or to pose for photo ops; they had to meet to resolve important questions that could only be decided at the highest level. They had to discuss joint military strategy for Europe, and then divvy up the fruits of their victory and plan the shape of the post-war world.

These meetings, like the ones that produced the peace treaties of Venice and Versailles, are remembered to this day. The meetings in Gleneagles and St. Petersburg, by contrast, remain small entries in chronologies of international events -- if they are listed at all. The 2001 summit in Genoa is remembered primarily for mass protests and the shooting of one activist, Carlo Giuliani. But who remembers the official agenda?

"The exchange rate of the pound against the euro is very difficult to forecast. Unless the UK joins the eurozone, we can't add to plant in Swindon. We're not planning to withdraw from the UK because it is a major market, and Swindon supplies it," he said, speaking at his luxurious penthouse office overlooking Tokyo.

"Swindon is close to full operation, but we made one slight mistake: we thought the UK was in Europe. Now we find that it is reluctant to join and that has become a big problem," he said.

"We're not doing any lobbying on this but every time we meet officials they say there is no interest in joining for the meantime. We have to take this at face value and reconsider our strategy."

His comments echo the growing frustration among Japan's industrialists over the strong pound, now trading at multi-year highs against the dollar, the Swiss franc and other currencies, although it has moved in tandem with the euro over the past three years.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said MR BLAIR WAS KEEN TO HOLD TALKS ON "INTERFAITH" ISSUES WITH BENEDICT XVI in the run-up to a major conference on Islam being staged in Britain. "The Prime Minister hopes to go to Rome to visit both Prime Minister Romano Prodi and the Pope before he stands down," the spokeswoman said.

"He wants to discuss the EU summit with Mr Prodi and discus interfaith issues, particularly in light of the forthcoming conference on Islam here, with Pope Benedict." The visit will be Mr Blair's second audience with the Pope since he succeeded John Paul II in April 2005.

It is likely to reignite speculation that Mr Blair, an Anglican, intends to convert to Catholicism once he has left Number 10 in favour of Gordon Brown on 27 June.

A splash can also speed up the healing of wounds by increasing the flow of blood to the area.

Dan McFadden, of manufacturer Oculus, said: "People think it is too good to be true. Our challenge is to get beyond that disbelief. This is the real thing." The liquid is a chemically-altered version of salty water which is full of negatively-charged particles.

These are capable of killing dangerous micro-organisms by punching holes in their cell walls. While bacteria and viruses are quickly dispatched, human cells are left intact because they are packed too tightly together to be attacked. The potion costs around £16 a bottle and has a shelf-life of two years, New Scientist magazine reported.

Dermacyn is recommended for external use only and so should not be drunk.

Al Qaeda has a new opening graphic for its propaganda tapes: the U.S. Capitol under "attack." "The Islamic State of Iraq - March Toward Washington" reads the headline in English superimposed over a digitally created scene of the U.S. Capitol under attack in the introductory sequence of one tape released on the Internet this week.

Another from al Qaeda's "as Sahab" production arm announces "Holocaust of the Americans in the Land of Khorasan" and shows an image of the U.S. Capitol to introduce a short clip of al Qaeda fighters. "This is a disturbing new trend," says Laura Mansfield, an Arabic expert who monitors jihadi videos on the Internet.

"Recall that in January 2006, Osama Bin Laden said that plans for attacks in the U.S. were in progress," Mansfield told the Blotter on ABCNews.com. "It may be that this new imagery is designed to motivate terrorist activity in the U.S., but it is certainly intended as a recruiting tool and perhaps intended to reassure al Qaeda's jihadi followers they haven't forgotten their goal of an al Qaeda attack on Washington, D.C.," she said.

Archbishop Bagnasco said: "It is certainly unpleasant that accusations of homophobia are sometimes hurled at the Church and its members. "We calmly say that this criticism is simply ideological and false, and contrary to the spirit and practice of total acceptance of all people."

Archbishop Bagnasco, responding to criticism directed at Benedict XVI, said: "I would like to express to the Pope the heartfelt closeness of the Italian bishops' conference for the superficial slanders made against him."
Archbishop Bagnasco, serving as chairman of the bishops' meeting for the first time, explained the mission of the conference: "It is Christ and his Gospel that urges us on, nothing else.

"We proclaim him as the measure of our humanity, not to reveal weaknesses or underline defeats, but to show obedience. That is essential, first and foremost, for us as bishops and promoters of true freedom for all." "When we appeal to consciences," continued Archbishop Bagnasco, "it is not in order to be intrusive, but to call people back to those things without which each person would lose their bearings, especially for those less fortunate."

"Our words contain no hidden meanings," underlined the archbishop. "With the utmost transparency we are at the service of joy." "We do not see a sad people, hollowed out by nihilism and tempted by decadence. We see a people who are alive, capable of renewing themselves through their own resources and discipline, able to lead their young people, able to speak credibly in an international assembly."

Pupils are being invited to act the parts of gay characters during after-school arts clubs as well as in some literacy and drama lessons.

In one primary school, youngsters put on puppet shows of the Cinderella story featuring male Cinderellas. Other primaries are inviting in touring theatre companies which stage plays featuring same-sex parents. Books being introduced to lessons include KING & KING, A FAIRY TALE FEATURING A PRINCE WHO TURNS DOWN THREE PRINCESSES BEFORE FALLING IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THEIR BROTHERS.
In another primary school, A TEACHER DISCUSSED HIS CIVIL PARTNERSHIP CEREMONY WITH THE PUPILS. Fourteen primary schools are already taking part in the £600,000 project aimed at familiarising children with gay and lesbian relationships.

THE RESEARCH TEAM BEHIND THE PROJECT INTENDS TO POST THE FINDINGS ON NATIONAL WEBSITES TO HELP ALL SCHOOLS ADOPT THE SAME TECHNIQUES. IT CLAIMS THAT INTRODUCING SUCH BOOKS AND ACTIVITIES WILL HELP SCHOOLS FULFIL THEIR DUTIES UNDER NEW GAY RIGHTS LAWS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE LAST MONTH.

The researchers say pupils must be taught about same-sex relationships from an early age to combat playground bullying of gay pupils. BUT PARENTS' LEADERS WARNED THAT PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE TOO YOUNG TO LEARN ABOUT SUCH ISSUES. Margaret Morrissey, spokesman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said: "We are putting issues on young shoulders that actually don't need to be there.

"IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE FOR SUCH YOUNG CHILDREN? Even if they appear to be understanding they may not be. "This may be OK in the later years of secondary school but to try to deal with this in primary is really not on. THE CONCERN IS PARENTS HAVE NO CHOICE WHEN SCHOOLS DECIDE TO DO THESE THINGS. "If a school does decide to do this, it is absolutely essential it is done with the knowledge and agreement of all parents."

Dr Elizabeth Atkinson, reader in social and educational inquiry at Sunderland University, said: "The primary school is often thought of as a place of safety and innocence - and attempts to address what are seen as 'adult' issues are sometimes-seen as intrusions into or threats to this safety zone."But she said such attitudes led to pupils viewing homosexuality as 'taboo' and bred homophobic bullying.

Books used in the project include Spacegirl Pukes, whose main character has two mothers, mummy Loula and mummy Neenee. Another, called And Tango Makes Three, features two male penguins who fall in love at a New York zoo.

SARKOZY AND MERKEL IN DISAGREEMENT OVER EU CONSTITUTION; working with Sarkozy could prove difficult for Merkel. Der Spiegel looks at Franco-German relations, noting that "It really wasn't all smiles at Nicolas Sarkozy's first quick summit with Angela Merkel last week, in spite of what you saw on TV. On the EU Constitution, the article notes that Merkel wants room to negotiate a revised treaty, WITH MUCH OF THE SUBSTANCE FROM THE ORIGINAL TEXT INTACT. However, during their meeting in Berlin, Sarkozy argued for an even slimmer treaty that would include only uncontroversial elements of the 2005 draft.

AFP reports that EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK head Jean-Claude Trichet has CALLED FOR THE UK TO JOIN THE EURO. He said, "We encourage the whole United Kingdom to enter the eurozone. I would simply say to the UK that the single market to which it is tightly linked can only fully function with a single currency. Imagine for a second that you are the United States and that the currencies differed between Massachusetts, California, Florida and Alaska what would you really see: a single market in the United States? My argument is no more complicated."

The front page of the FT reports that Moscow has said it is ready to REVOKE BP'S LICENCE FOR A RUSSIAN VENTURE in days. Meanwhile, a new pipeline is predicted TO ALLOW RUSSIA TO TIGHTEN ITS GRIP ON EUROPEAN ENERGY SUPPLY.

The Times reports that BRITISH SOLDIERS MAY BE FORCED TO USE GERMAN OR FRENCH BULLETS in future, as BAE Systems could shut down its Royal Ordnance munitions factories.

A leader in the Times warned that "The danger is that Mr Blair will sign Britain up to a treaty that is too integrationist and that Mr Brown, blaming his predecessor, will then try to avoid holding a referendum. The Chancellor must immerse himself in the detail of the proposed treaty and accompany Mr Blair to the Brussels summit. He must not allow the Prime Minister to sign anything that he would not be prepared to defend."

But according to a written answer given to Lord Leach, Brown will not be allowed to attend the summit. Foreign Office Minister Lord Treisman said: "My right honourable friend the Prime Minister will lead the UK delegation at the European Council meeting on 22 and 23 June. The delegation will include my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary".

Tony Blair's spokesman told journalists "He has been heavily involved in preparations for that EU summit and therefore it makes entire sense for him to be the one there. There are major issues still to be finalised within the coming period and that's what the Prime Minister will do."

Blair's insistence that it will be him, not Brown, who will sign the deal on the new EU treaty is creating unease in the Treasury. According to a story in the Mail a couple of weeks ago a Brownite ally said, "We aren't being told what they are up to. It is very secretive. Our worry is that in an attempt to pull off a coup they will give away too much and damage Gordon".

However, according to the Telegraph, a high level committee on Europe, consisting of Treasury and Foreign Office officials, has been set up to coordinate the Government's negotiating stance on the new EU treaty. THIS IS SEEN AS AN ATTEMPT BY TONY BLAIR TO INCLUDE GORDON BROWN IN THE NEGOTIATIONS - GIVING HIM JOINT RESPONSIBILITY. Geoff Hoon, the Europe Minister, is coordinating the dual approach. The article reports that they will support the creation of a new EU President of the Council, an EU Foreign Minister and the loss of national vetoes in many policy areas.

The one statement Brown has made on the new EU treaty leaves him plenty of room for manoeuvre. Regarding the European Constitution, he said that "many other countries were unhappy with it or have rejected it". He said that any new treaty would have to be "in the national interest of a country like ours", and that he wanted "a Europe of governments cooperating together."

Ed Balls signalled in the Sunday Times this week that Brown's government may emerge just as intent on avoiding a referendum as Blair's. Sticking to the familiar Blair mantra, he said, "We do not need a constitutional treaty that fundamentally changes the relationship between member states and the EU, CODE FOR: "WE DO NEED SOME KIND OF NEW TREATY, BUT WE SHOULD PLAY IT DOWN TO AVOID A REFERENDUM AT ALL COSTS."

The executive order loosely defines "catastrophic emergency" as "any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions."

When the president determines a catastrophic emergency has occurred, the president can take over all government functions and direct all private sector activities to ensure we will emerge from the emergency with an "enduring constitutional government."

Translated into layman's terms, when the president determines a national emergency has occurred, THE PRESIDENT CAN DECLARE TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY POWERS USUALLY ASSUMED BY DICTATORS TO DIRECT ANY AND ALL GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES UNTIL THE EMERGENCY IS DECLARED OVER. Ironically, the executive order sees no contradiction in the assumption of dictatorial powers by the president with the goal of maintaining constitutional continuity through an emergency.

The executive order issued May 9 makes no attempt to reconcile the powers created there for the National Continuity Coordinator with the NATIONAL EMERGENCY ACT. As specified by U.S. Code Title 50, Chapter 34, Subchapter II, Section 1621, the National Emergency Act allows that the president may declare a national emergency BUT REQUIRES THAT SUCH PROCLAMATION "SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE TRANSMITTED TO THE CONGRESS AND PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER."

A Congressional Research Service study notes that under the National Emergency Act, the president "may seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict ravel, and, in a variety of ways, control the lives of United States citizens."

The CRS study notes that the National Emergency Act sets up congress as a balance empowered to "modify, rescind, or render dormant such delegated emergency authority," if Congress believes the president has acted inappropriately. NSPD-51/ HSPD-20 appears to supersede the National Emergency Act by creating the new position of National Continuity Coordinator without any specific act of Congress authorizing the position.

The White House had no comment.

Normally at this time of the year the paddocks would be green, and the grass would be six or eight inches high, and we'd have more feed than the cows can do with. "Now it looks like scrubland," says Malcolm, wearily. "It's useless."

Recently, he's had to sell off two-thirds of his herd and is saddled with so much debt that he's going to have to put his farm on the market. He can barely afford the straw to feed his bony cattleFor the farmers of Wakool, this has been the driest 12 months in 125 years. This area used to have 19 dairy farms. Now it has got just six.

Farmers here have suffered a double blow: a chronic shortfall of rainfall and the shutting off of vital irrigation water from the Murray River. If the Big Dry continues, the so-called Dethridge wheels - which regulate the flow of irrigation water - will stop turning across the entire Murray-Darling Basin. THE BASIN IS A REGION THE SIZE OF FRANCE AND SPAIN, SUPPLIES 40% OF THE COUNTRY'S PRODUCE AND IS THUS KNOWN AS THE "FOOD BOWL" OF AUSTRALIA. In the meantime, rural communities continue to suffer.

Take Wakool's local primary school. If just a couple more farming families sell up and move away, it will lose yet more funds, and its teaching staff will be reduced to one. No wonder there's a feeling of such despair. Just listen to local mayor Ken Trewin: "I was talking to our local GPs at lunchtime and I asked them how many farmers they are seeing with depression. "Sadly, it's a lot," he says, fighting back the tears. "A lot."