European Union

26/03/2014 00:00:00

A record number of safety alerts were issued by the EU’s early warning system for dangerous products (RAPEX) in 2013, which also saw a marked rise in the proportion of unsafe items from China. ...

24/03/2014 00:00:00

On 27 March, over 150 EU citizens will be in Brussels to debate the future of Europe, at the EU's invitation. To get involved in the debate, post your questions and comments on Facebook and Twitter - #EUdeb8. ...

21/03/2014 00:00:00

President Barroso has welcomed the ambitious common positions reached at the March European Council on Ukraine, climate and energy, and savings tax, all of which he said reinforced the EU's global ambitions. ...

The British Royal Navy had won the Ig Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 (an irreverent alternative to the real Nobel Peace Prize) for ordering its sailors to save money on cannon shells during training exercises by shouting “BANG!” instead of actually firing any. Well the Royal Navy is now favourite to be the first outfit to pick up the Ig Nobel Peace prize for a second time.

On this occasion, the Royal Navy actually managed to fire a real weapon: a Stingray anti-submarine torpedo from the starboard side of HMS Argyll, a Duke-class Type 23 frigate, on 12 March 2014. The problem was that the ship was in port at the time. Thankfully, despite flying through the air onto the dockside, no-one was hurt by the weapon as it did not have a live warhead. The only thing “sunk” was a security fence and a metal container on the Devonport dockside in Plymouth.
Thank goodness the Royal Navy does not see fit to arm its torpedoes with live warheads when in harbour. And thank heavens they are not scooting around in space armed with Star Trek-style “photon” torpedoes either.

HMS Argyll was on a "training exercise" at Devonport dockyard in Plymouth when the torpedo "unexpectedly jettisoned onto the wharf", said the Royal Navy.
It said the Test Variant Torpedo was a dummy weapon with no explosive content, but it did cause minor damage. The result of the investigation will determine what actions will be necessary to avoid any repeat of this incident in the future." Plymouth-based HMS Argyll, which was built in the late 1980s, is the longest-serving Type 23 frigate in the Royal Navy.

- See more at: http://seradata.com/SSI/2014/03/on-a-lighter-note-royal-navy-makes-its-b...

19/03/2014 00:00:00

The Commission will step up efforts to improve water quality, infrastructure and sanitation, following success of first European Citizens’ Initiative. ...

17/03/2014 00:00:00

EU sets out new approach to help companies in financial trouble and give budding entrepreneurs a second chance. ...

14/03/2014 00:00:00

The EU wants to focus in the next few years on progress towards the European area of freedom, justice and security. ...