Empire

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Secession For Hawaiians

Senator Akaka's bill basically sets up a scenario that would allow Hawaii, or at least portions of it, to secede from the American union. Now I know some might start to fret over this idea, but let's think about this for a minute. What was the Declaration of Independence but a document justifying the right of secession of the separate American colonies from the British Empire? In truth, didn't the states, acting individually, secede from the Articles of Confederation, and over a period of several years accede to the union under the U.S. Constitution? (Not many think about this, but it's true.) What about this being "the land of the free?" The founders insisted on protecting the right of property, because they believed that if a person didn't have the right to own property, and to be secure in their ownership of that property, they weren't truly free. With that in mind, wouldn't the native Hawaiians have a right to take their property and "leave the party" if they weren't "having fun" any more? Read all of Jeff Adams piece

Stelios raises easyJet stake and threatens to return as chairman

A rift between easyJet and the airline's flamboyant founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, erupted into the open yesterday after the tycoon increased his stake in the business and threatened to reinstate himself as chairman.The board of the budget airline made public the details of an email sent by Haji-Ioannou to the company late on Thursday. In it, the airline's founder disclosed that he had lifted his stake from 15.6% to almost 27%, after taking control of his sister's shares. Haji-Ioannou said he wanted to appoint two representatives to the board or else exercise his right to name himself chairman. The tycoon remains a non-executive director but has not been chairman since 2002.The two sides are at odds over strategy. Haji-Ioannou is demanding that the carrier because of the slowing economy, stoking some speculation over the financial health of his easyGroup empire, which operates businesses from hotels to pizza delivery to men's toiletries. EasyJet has never paid dividends in its eight years as a public company, preferring to invest for growth.In an emailed response to questions, Haji-Ioannou said: "I am merely applying my rights under the articles of association of the company to protect my investment in easyJet." He said his request was for the company to pay a dividend by 2011 "if the markets allow".The company said it had been taken by surprise. In a statement, chairman Sir Colin Chandler said "there has been a far-reaching debate over these issues", adding that "the ongoing dialogue with Sir Stelios continued" during a scheduled board meeting on Thursday, when it appeared as though a resolution was in reach. He said dialogue would continue, but noted: "I would like to make it clear up front that the other non-executive directors and I fully support the executive management of the company."The board includes Channel 5 chairman Dawn Airey, former Alliance & Leicester executive David Bennett, Ladbrokes boss Sir David Michels, and John Browett, who runs DSG International, the owner of Currys, Dixons and PC World.The relationship between Haji-Ioannou and the company began to sour in summer when the tycoon filed a claim in the high court accusing the carrier of breaking its licence agreement by starting too many ancillary businesses, including a credit card and hotel-booking website. The case is still rumbling through the courts.At an investor day in September, the airline outlined plans to take delivery of 85 new aircraft in the next three years, adding 35 craft to the fleet and bringing it to 200, after taking into account the retirement and sale of older planes. The aim is to build routes to mainland Europe.At its full-year results due next week, however, the airline is expected to pare back its ambitions. In the statement, the company defended its plans and said it was already taking a "cautious" approach to spending.EasyJet said its full-year figures would be in line with market expectations, adding that forward bookings and total revenue per seat are running slightly ahead of last year. The company is expected to report profits of £115m, a little over half the previous year's £202m.Haji-Ioannou, 41, who was born in Cyprus, started easyJet when he was 28, floating the business on the stockmarket in 2000. His brother Polys owns a further 11.3% of the airline.Pressed about the financial state of easyGroup, Haji-Ioannou responded: "I am doing very well financially, considering the macro climate, thank you. I have no leverage at all."Shares in easyJet have more than halved in price since the start of the year, costing the businessman a paper loss of around £170m.Douglas McNeill, airline analyst at stockbrokers Blue Oar, said the market was still digesting the situation. "On the one hand you have conflict at board level, which is undesirable. But there is also the prospect of a change of strategy and the distribution of cash," he said. "The rapid rate of expansion that has been planned requires a huge amount of cash to be spent on new planes. Stelios clearly thinks that cash could be better used elsewhere."EasyjetAirline industryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

An invitation from the mayor of Rome: Come see Ancient Rome in 3D

As you read this, I am standing beneath a marble statue of Julius Caesar, participating in an event that means a lot to me: the launch of the Ancient Rome 3D layer in Google Earth. Thanks to Google and the Rome Reborn Project, everyone in the world, from Rome itself to Calcutta, can now travel through time and discover Ancient Rome as it was 1,688 years ago when it was ruled by Emperor Constantine.The project includes more than 6,700 buildings of Ancient Rome rebuilt in 3D ? a true record. This accomplishment demonstrates how technology can be helpful in promoting culture and disseminating knowledge. Ancient Rome 3D is a great opportunity to rediscover the importance of Ancient Roman culture, which is at the base of the Italian, European and, more generally, Western identities. The archaeological heritage and the artistic monuments of the Roman Empire have found their way to many continents, but it is in the capital city (known in Roman times as Caput Mundi, which is Latin for "Capital of the World") that we can still find most of it. For example, architectural masterpieces like the Colosseum (considered one of the seven wonders of the world) have managed to withstand the tests of time ? resisting sacks, invasions and world wars over the centuries and proving, with the immortality of their stones, the grandness of one of the most majestic empires that has ever existed.What fascinates me most about this project is the accuracy of the details of the three-dimensional models. It's such a great experience to be able to admire the monuments, streets and buildings of Ancient Rome with a virtual camera that lets you go inside and see all the architectural details. From the Colosseum to the Ludus Magnus, from the Forum Caesar to the Arch of Septimius Severus, from the Rostra to the Basilica Julia, you can get up close to them all. The idea that virtual technologies now let people experience the city that I guide as it appeared in 320 A.D. fills me with pride ? a pride that I inherited from Rome's glorious past.(To find out more about the new layer, visit http://earth.google.com/rome/, watch the video tour below, or check out the Google Lat Long Blog.)Update @ 12:10 PM: Rome wasn't built in a day! The Ancient Rome 3D layer will be available soon. We're sorry for the delay, and we'll post here when it's live.Update @ 6:50 PM: The layer is now live in Google Earth, in the Gallery folder of the Layers panel. When you zoom in on Rome, you will see yellow Ancient Rome 3D icons. To load the terrain and buildings, click on any icon and then click the links at the bottom of the bubble.Posted by Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome

Google Earth revives ancient Rome

Millions of Google Earth users get the chance to explore ancient Rome, as the capital of the Roman Empire is recreated in 3D.

Gin and tonic favoured tipple of the Raj is 150 years old

Gin and tonic the drink which kept the British Empire lubricated is celebrating its 150th birthday.