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Verona mayor asks residents
to report home sex workers
Verona, 7 January 2009: Back from his Christmas break, Verona Mayor Flavio Tosi announced that he would crack down further on the city’s prostitutes. After having banished them from the city’s streets, he is now targeting sex workers operating from home. ''We have moved them off the streets, but now we want to hit the prostitutes - and there are many - who work from home,'' the mayor said.

Under Italian law prostitution is not illegal only the exploitation of prostitution - pimping, but city mayors across the country combat prostitution through the use of fines, often via traffic or public decency laws. Mayor Tosi, who is a member of the right-wing Northern League, told reporters that residents would be asked to report neighbours who cause unusual disturbances in their apartment buildings. “The offenders would then be hit with heavy fines.”

The northern cities of Verona and Padua were the first Italian communities to introduce to fine clients, a move which resulted in prostitutes offering anyone slapped with a fine a ''free service''. Last summer the two cities also led the way in introducing more effective fines of 500 euros for clients caught with streetwalkers, thanks to greater powers given to city mayors as part of Italy’s centre-right government's emergency security decree.

However, Italy’s magistrates doubted whether Verona’s mayor had the power to fine people for activities taking place in their own homes. ''Tosi wants to put a stop to an activity that is not banned by law. 'Mayors have a general power to supervise public welfare, but if Tosi's ordinance is aimed (specifically) at prostitutes, it strikes me as illegal and unequal treatment,'' a spokesman said.

Immigrant from Morocco
is new mayor of Rotterdam
Rotterdam, 6 January 2009: Moroccan-born Ahmed Aboutaleb has been installed as Rotterdam’s new mayor. Aboutaleb, a former junior government minister and journalist, is the first immigrant from Morocco to be appointed mayor of a Dutch city. Rotterdam, with a population of more than 0.5 million, has the largest proportion of immigrants of any large Dutch city. In 2002, Pim Fortuyn, who became popular for his anti-Muslim views, was shot dead.

Sadik Harchaoui, who heads an organisation set up to promote the integration of immigrants into Dutch society, told journalists that Rotterdam had moved on from the time of Fortuyn. "I think it's a turning point in Dutch history where integration has evolved to a level where people of Moroccan descent or Turkish descent are able to have the qualifications and the networks to become a mayor or a minister," he said.

Ahmed Aboutaleb appointment has been welcomed by members of all political parties. Even a leading member of Fortuyn’s old party admitted that the new mayor had the right ideas. "He is morally upright and thinks immigrants must adapt to our Dutch values," he added. However, he urged Aboutaleb, who holds dual citizenship, to tear up his Moroccan passport.

The newly appointed mayor said after his inaugaration that he would it make his priority to ease the tension between Rotterdam’s white Christian population and the city’s growing Muslim immigrant community.

Greek rioters firebomb
French Cultural Institute
Athens, 21 December 2008: In continuation of the riots that have gripped Greece in the past two weeks, Greek police say about 20 youths firebombed the French Cultural Institute in Athens. The violence in Athens shows no sign of calming, as the city's French Institute was the target for rioters and students vowed to continue their public protests nearly two weeks after police shot and killed a teenager. The group forced their way into the courtyard of the French Institute and smashed property and threw a small petrol bomb at the entrance to the complex.

The motives for the attack were not clear but graffiti that was spray-painted on nearby walls suggested it was an attempt to link unrest in Greece with student protests in France.

Generally, Athens has been quieter over the past few days, despite protests by unionists and hundreds of students attending a free concert in front of Athens University. The clashes began after the death of 15-year-old who was shot by police on 6 December.

More than 1,500 people protested peacefully on Friday (19 December) following the mysterious shooting of a 16-year-old on Wednesday night. The teenager was struck in the hand by a bullet fired by an unidentified assailant while sitting in a park with friends. Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis says the protests have damaged the country's economy.  Retailers have reported more than a billion dollars in damages and lost sales. (Report by Nathan Morley, VoA)

Riots spreading from
Athens to other cities
Athens, 10 December 2008: Demonstrations and protests over the death of a Greek teenager, who was shot by a police officer on Saturday, 6 December, have continued throughout Greece and even spread to foreign capitals like London, Nicosia and Berlin. Four days after the shooting, the protests show no sign of abating. Angry crowds gathered outside the parliament in the center of Athens - the gathering climaxed as the funeral was held for the teenager whose death has sparked the nationwide rioting. 

Thousands of mourners also attended his funeral in the south of Athens, with police officers having to be brought in from cities from across the region to help control the crowds. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing protesters, many of whom vowed to continue their protests.

All television and radio networks broadcast the funeral and many commentators said they anticipated more violence in the coming days.

Harris Tzanis, a reporter with the Athens News Agency said that such incidents had not been seen in Greece for decades and were a source of major concern. "People are really uneasy, there is queasiness in the air - if that makes any sense. This caused unprecedented - you know we keep using this word, but there is really no way around it, unprecedented violence - street violence, urban violence in the country. We have never seen that before," he said.

The prime minister earlier held emergency talks with the president, while the main opposition party has demanded that the government resign.

Socialist opposition leader George Papandreou said the government has lost the Greek people's trust and called for snap elections to be held.

Tzanis said what had shocked most citizens in Greece, a country which is no stranger to violence, was the level of unrest and the uncertainty about the future. "The violence here in Athens is actually 10 times worse than we have seen it before," said Tzanis.

Scuffles and minor demonstrations were also reported across Europe. In Cyprus, hundreds of students gathered to protest, with police saying they arrested four people. Greece's ongoing instability has sparked public discontent at the country's recent economic slump and rising unemployment levels. (Report by Nathan Morley, VoA News)

Aide of London mayor quits
following misuse of shares
London, 10 December 2008: Following revelations on the London stock market over misuse of shares, David Ross has resigned as the Mayor of London's adviser on funding the 2012 Olympic Games.  Ross emailed the resignation to Mayor Johnson, saying he did not wish to "distract others" in the preparations for the 2012 games.  His resignation followed an announcement that the Financial Services Authority intended to mount an investigation into Ross' affairs.

Having stood by Ross throughout the affair, the mayor said he accepted the resignation "with sadness" and was "immensely grateful for all his advice to me." Opposition politicians pounced on the news however, claiming it illustrated further questions over the mayor's judgement.  Since taking office in May, Johnson has faced the loss of four key aides from his administration.

Athens authorities
fail to stem rioting
Athens, 8 December 2008: Riot police in Athens used tear gas to repel rock-throwing protesters near the Greek Interior Ministry and parliament. In the early hours of Tuesday, 9 December, police largely abandoned the commercial centre of the Greek capital to protect the parliament building. The demonstrations were sparked by the fatal police shooting of an Athens teenager on Saturday, 6 December.

The new fighting erupted as Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis vowed to end "dangerous" rioting that has spread across the country since the killing. Authorities describe the rioting as the worst to hit Greece in decades.

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis meanwhile conveyed his condolences on behalf of Athens City Council to the family of the 15-year-old boy who died on Saturday and suspended all municipal Christmas events and lighting of central squares and monuments until further notice.

The mayor assured business owners and citizens whose property suffered damage that municipal services would invest every possible effort in restoration works so as to re-establish stability in a time of economic crisis which is affecting the majority of Athenians.
 
Toward this end, Mayor Kaklamanis will submit a proposal to City Council suggesting that business establishments, which suffered damage received an exemption from payment of 2009 municipal rates.

Hundreds of protesters also clashed with police in the northern city of Salonika. And at least one police officer was injured in Trikala.

Protesters in London scuffled with police outside the Greek embassy, tearing down the Greek flag and raising an anarchist banner. Separately, 15 protesters occupied the Greek consulate in Berlin for a number of hours before leaving peacefully. Authorities in Athens are bracing for wider protests Wednesday as labor groups plan a 24-hour general strike against government economic policies.

The violence began Saturday in the Greek capital after police gunfire killed a teenager. The two police officers involved have been arrested and charged - one with premeditated murder and the other as an accomplice. The officers said their patrol car came under attack and that they responded with warning shots. However, witnesses said one of the officers aimed his weapon at the 15-year-old boy, and fired. (Report by VoA News and local reporters)

Future role of advisor to
London mayor in doubt
London, 8 December 2008: London mayor Boris Johnson has suffered a further embarrassment over the conduct of members of his administration following revelations concerning shares held by his Olympics adviser. businessman David Ross. Ross, who was brought into City Hall by the mayor to review costs for the 2012 Olympic Games and to act as his representative on its organising committee, was forced to quit his company posts after revelations that he had secured loans against his shares without informing other directors. City Hall has remained tight-lipped so far and held a number of crisis meetings over the scandal, which follows the resignation of three other advisers since Mr Johnson came to office in May.
 
Members of the London Assembly reacted with dismay over the revelations, arguing that if Mr Ross is found to have broken any financial regulations then he cannot enjoy the mayor's support and remain as his Olympics adviser. Mr Ross, who co-founded the Carphone Warehouse retail chain in 1989, is also a close associate of Conservative Party leader David Cameron and has donated £140,000 to the party in recent years.
 
The scandal follows a complaint made to the local government ethics regulator in England over Johnson's involvement in the wake of the arrest of Conservative MP Damien Green, who was held by police over allegations of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office after he was contacted with sensitive information by a civil servant. Johnson admits speaking with the MP following his arrest but denies any impropriety, although as Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority he is said to have "jeopardised the integrity" of the body. Both investigations are on-going.

Assassins kill
Russian mayor
Moscow, 26 November 2008: Vladikavkaz Mayor Vitaly Karayev was today assassinated in the Russian republic of North Ossetia. Karayev died at the intensive care unit of the Republican Hospital. The incident took place at about 9:00 Moscow time. Karayev’s car was shelled; the mayor received numerous bullet wounds and was hospitalized. Doctors took lifesaving efforts, but they brought no results. The mayor died of the wounds. Interfax reported: “Karayev suffered severe bullet wounds, including a wound of the heart.”

Vitaly Karayev took office less than a year ago. His deputy, Mayram Tamayev, suffered an attempted assassination not so long ago. A bomb exploded in his car, but the official did not suffer life-threatening injuries. North Ossetia was the center of the Beslan school siege in 2004, when a group of Chechen terrorists took more than a thousand schoolchildren and their teachers hostage. Over 300 children and adults were killed in the siege.

North Ossetia borders onto the autonomous Georgian province of South Ossetia, which was the subject of a short armed conflict between Russia and Georgia earlier this year. (Report by Pravda)

Lille mayor wins party
leadership by 42 votes
Paris, 23 November 2008: Lille mayor Martine Aubry has been chosen as the new leader of the Socialist Party (PS) in a close run and hugely divisive contest. However, her chief rival, former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, refused to accept the result, which saw Aubry's margin of victory at just 42 votes. The vote follows a week of wrangling and public feuding among the party's delegates, gathered at its Reims congress. Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë, edged out of the contest earlier in the week, declared the party "gravely ill", while the French media claimed it showed the party itself was "ungovernable".
 
Aubry, if confirmed as the victor following Royal's challenge to the result, promised members to adhere to a more traditionalist social democrat line as leader. Royal, on the other hand, claimed the party needed to take a more centrist direction if it was to ever enter government at national level again. Aubry had gathered support from rivals MEP Benoit Hamon and Lyon mayor Gerard Collomb, who argued that Royal was trying to turn the PS into her own presidential electoral machine. The party has also suffered from several high profile resignations, first precipitated by the appointment of veterans as ministers in the centre-right Sarkozy administration and more recently due to the apparent likelihood of a right turn at the hands of Royal and her supporters. Currently Olivier Besancenot of the far left New Anticapitalist Party enjoys higher poll ratings among the public than any of the leading lights of the PS, which has sown further disarray among its ranks.
 
Aubry, daughter of former President of the European Commission Jacques Delors, was first elected mayor of Lille in 2001, replacing former prime minister Pierre Mauroy. She also replaced Mauroy this year as president of the Lille metro region. Her deep support in the heavily PS industrial north of the country was cited throughout the contest as marking her as a chief rival to Royal, who though the best known of the candidates lacks a wider base among the party membership. The race was organised to replace outgoing leader Francois Hollande, who was elected leader in 1997 while the party was in government and is also Royal's estranged partner. Following its defeat in 2001, the party has been absent from government and has not won the presidency since Francois Mitterrand's second term in 1988.

Bristol and Brighton are
Britain’s greenest cities
London, 11 November 2008: Bristol and Brighton occupy the top spots in a league table of Britain’s most sustainable cities. Brighton, last year’s winner, is rated highest for quality of life and future-proofing but came in second because of its comparative poor performance on the environment. Plymouth, in third place, has the best environmental performance. Newcastle jumped from eight to four, Britain’s only northern city in the top five.

The Forum for the Future’s second annual sustainable cities index tracks progress on sustainability in Britain’s 20 largest cities, ranking them on environmental performance, quality of life and future-proofing – how well they are addressing issues such as climate change, recycling and biodiversity.

Bristol comes top overall, thanks in part to its impressive increase in recycling and composting rates - on which it moved up the rankings by 10 places - and its consistently high scores on water quality, waste collection and green spaces. Brighton has moved up the environmental rankings since last year, but not enough to stop Bristol claiming its title. It is commended for its transport services, education provision, green spaces, climate change strategy and recycling rates.

Plymouth’s top ranking in the environmental table reflects water and air quality and the limited impact of its services, housing, transport and consumables on the environment, relative to other cities. It also scored well on employment, life-expectancy and recycling rates.

Newcastle’s future-proofing activities improved its ranking, with green businesses and recycling rates helping it move four places in the overall score.

But the report reveals that a clear North-South divide still exists. Southern cities tend to perform better in the quality of life indicators and all feature in the top 10, while the industrial heritage of the Midlands and North is reflected in lower life expectancy.

Edinburgh and Leeds, which both featured in the top five last year, have slipped further down the scale, dropping four and nine places respectively. Liverpool, Birmingham and Hull remain in the bottom three.

Not even the UK’s best-performing cities can match international leaders in sustainability like Stockholm, Portland in the US and Curitiba in Brazil, the report finds.
Britain's greenest cities in 2008, with 2007 rankings in brackets:
1 (3) Bristol; 2 (1) Brighton & Hove; 3 (4) Plymouth; 4 (8) Newcastle; 5 (6) Cardiff; 6 (2) Edinburgh; 7 (7) Sheffield; 8 (14)Leicester; 9 (11) Nottingham; 10 (10) London; 11 (9) Bradford; 12 (17) Coventry; 13 (13) Sunderland; 14 (5) Leeds; 15 (12) Manchester; 16 (16) Wolverhampton; 17 (15) Glasgow; 18 (19)    Birmingham; 19 (20) Liverpool; 20 (18) Hull

Sofia deputy mayor
resigns over bus deal
Sofia, 5 November 2008: Velizar Stoilov, deputy mayor of Sofia in charge of transport, filed his resignation on 3 November after he was alleged to have been involved in fixing public tenders regarding 16 bus lines in Sofia. The scandal broke on 1 November after Tema weekly magazine published the transcript of a meeting Stoilov held with private transport companies in the summer of 2007. At the meeting, he discussed the distribution of the bus lines among the private companies and the city hall's public transport company.

According to Tema, Stoilov's scheme for fixing the tenders in advance was worth hundreds of millions of leva. Talking to Bulgarian National Television on 3 November 2008, Stoilov admitted he has held the meeting in the city hall, which was “one of the many meetings I have had with the private companies in my capacity as deputy mayor”. However, he denied ever fixing the tenders and said that Tema has published his words out of context. One particular quote published by the magazine was - “don't worry there will be enough for all of you”.

According to Bulgarian-language media, Stoilov was investigated by the State Agency for National Security. The agency was tipped off by a municipal councilor from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who was the first to ask for Stoilov's resignation. (Report by Sofia Echo)

England loses another
directly elected mayor
London, 31 October 2008: The UK Department of Communities and Local Government has established a 'transition board' for the Midlands city of Stoke on Trent following last week's referendum vote in favour of abolishing its elected mayor and council manager. The board will oversee the transition from the current system to a new appointed council leader and cabinet model.

The city, best known for its pottery industry, has been beset by political in-fighting among the main parties and increasing activity by the far-right British National Party, which has succeeded in increasing its share of councillors in recent years. The council was the only local authority in England to adopt the mayor and council manager system following a referendum in 2002. The nominally Labour stronghold also elected an independent as its first mayor in 2002 after Labour put forward the city's local Member of Parliament as its mayoral candidate. In 2005 Labour won the mayoralty, with one gay mayor replacing another being regarded as a political 'first', especially in a traditionally working class region. However, as political divisions deepened and dissatisfaction with the council manager system grew, central government was forced to act and in 2007 repealed the council manager option by law, leaving Stoke with no choice but to hold a referendum on whether or not to have an elected mayor and cabinet or council appointed leader and cabinet.

The referendum vote was 21,231 for 'Yes', 14,592 for 'No' and the turnout was 35,902, which is 19.23 per cent of the electorate. The current mayor Mark Meredith expressed disappointment at the result. He will serve out the remainder of his term until next May when a council leader will be elected by the new council.

England now has 11 local authority elected mayors and Greater London's elected city-wide mayor. Under recent legislative changes councils may introduce an elected mayor without the previous referendum requirement but currently no council has considered doing so. Campaigns for elected mayors exist in Birmingham and Liverpool but currently no other campaigns are known, with little appetite for the policy. Among local government leaders it has been suggested that the government's desire for consistency and stronger leadership could instead be achieved by merging ceremonial 'civic' mayor posts with that of council leaders, without any need for direct elections.

Green politician becomes
Basel’s first ever mayor
Basel, 29 October 2008: When in 2005 Basel, on the Swiss-German border, decided to create the post of a mayor (Stadtpräsident) it was planned that he or she would be elected by popular vote on 30 November of this year. However, with the registration deadline approaching there was a shortage of candidates. At the end Guy Morin, a member of Switzerland’s Green Party and the city’s current law and order councillor, was the only one who wanted the job. So instead of being elected in a citywide ballot, the new mayor was chosen in a so-called silent election, meaning he was appointed by his fellow councillors for a four-year term.

Guy Morin was first elected onto the city council in 2004, where he and three Social Democrat councillors formed the administration. Morin was given the justice portfolio, which will be abolished when the city’s new constitution comes into effect in February 2009. As mayor, Guy Morin will be responsible for culture, planning and relations with Switzerland’s government. He will also represent Basel at international events.

The new mayor is a qualified physician. After the nuclear accident at Chernobyl Morin joined the Green Party. He has denied that without a popular mandate he lacked legitimacy, by pointing out that only in September he was re-elected with an increased majority as a city councillor. Morin will join Freiburg’s Dieter Salomon as the second Green mayor of a big city in the Regio, consisting of North-West Switzerland, southern Alsace and south-western Germany.