Downtown retail strategy, Court Square development and problem loans during its regular meeting Wednesday. Margaret McCauley, principal of Economics Research Associates, gave the board a report on developing retail along Downtown's Main Street. The CCDC retained the Washington, D.C.- Downtown and to create a merchandise mix plan and implementation strategy.

It is partnering with Linx Consulting, a minority-owned firm in Memphis, on the project. ERA's report called for the return of traffic to Main Street, stating "pedestrian and trolley mall on Main Street thwarts retail success and is a major barrier for retail recruitment."

McCauley pointed out several principals of good retail in the report, such as unique and distinctive storefront design, avoiding generic storefronts, adding creative and concise signage, engaging displays, creative and colorful merchandising and active and well-designed retail space in parking garages. The report separates Main Street into three sections: Pinch District, Main Street Core and South Main Street.

McCauley said South Main Street has the most potential to grow as a retail district, as it has existing retail and restaurants. She said the timeline for retail recruitment in the Main Street Core will depend on the reopening of the transit mall. Center City Commission staff reports have stated there once was 200 pedestrian malls across the U.S. 30. McCauley discussed examples of failing transit malls in Denver and San Diego. She also pointed to retail success stories in Portland, Ore.,

Philadelphia, where transit malls were reopened. The report listed the Pinch District as a "long-term development" which could take about 10 years to attract significant retail. ERA's study also suggested the medical center and south central business improvement district would be the best locations for a grocery store.

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We are in favor of a much stronger role for European defense, and that would include a military headquarters," said Bogdan Klich, who was appointed defense minister last year when the party of Donald Tusk, Civic Platform, defeated the nationalist-conservative government of Jaroslaw Kaczynski. But he said Poland would maintain its traditionally strong pro-U.S.

Those who say there is a contradiction between Atlanticist loyalties and European loyalties are wrong," Klich said in a recent interview. We try to combine the two." He noted that Poland had more than 4,000 troops serving in NATO and EU missions.

Frédéric Bozo, political science professor at the Sorbonne in Paris, said the Polish position could create a more coherent EU military policy, particularly since other East European countries, which have looked first to the United States and NATO for security guarantees, might follow the Polish lead.

The Bush administration appears ready to drop its suspicions about the pursuit of a bigger military role by the EU. The shift was suggested by a speech in Paris in February by Victoria Nuland, U.S. NATO. Europe needs a place where it can act independently," she said, "and we need a Europe that is able and willing to do so in defense of our common interests and values."

Since becoming president of France last year, Nicolas Sarkozy has mended fences with the United States by supporting a stronger trans-Atlantic relationship anchored on the NATO military alliance. More than four decades since France left NATO's integrated military structures, Sarkozy has indicated a willingness to rejoin, provided France is given one of the senior military command posts.

The Polish position is likely to delight some of its European NATO allies, particularly France and Germany, which have tried to nudge the EU toward developing military structures independent of NATO. Other countries, especially Britain, will be wary of the Polish ideas because they could undermine the cohesion of NATO. Henning Riecke, security analyst at the German Council for Foreign Relations, said it was inevitable that Europe head toward independent military planning structures.

The issue is whether the Europeans would be spending more on defense and improving its capabilities," he added.

Pauline Neville-Jones, shadow security minister for the opposition Conservative Party in Britain, said calls for a separate military planning headquarters for the EU "would not result in anything significant when it comes to improving capabilities." She said the Europeans would simply not spend the money required. Europe must be integrated with the Americans if they want to have any worthwhile military capabilities," she added.

Klich said that Poland would even like to see the EU eventually have the equivalent of NATO's Article 5, which obliges members to come to the aid of an ally if attacked. I believe this will evolve," he said. Poland also wants to give the European Commission, executive arm of the EU, far greater say in military issues. In that way, he said, Poland could have more influence. We are part of the six biggest countries in the EU," Klich said.

We want to have an impact on shaping future policies, but we are still a rather modest economic power. That is why we want more common policies. It would give the organization more coherence." Member states have always shied away from giving the European Commission greater powers over military matters, because issues of war and peace get to the heart of national sovereignty. The test for Democrats: Who can 'close the deal' in crucial states?

The Week Ahead - April 21, 2008 The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses the week in world news. The Week Ahead: NATO summit The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses this week's NATO summit meeting in Romania. Olympic protests Pro-Tibet protesters disrupt flame lighting ceremony in Greece, calling for boycott of Beijing Games. The Forum for New Diplomacy IHT columnist Roger Cohen discusses international affairs with Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France.

The Week Ahead - March 10, 2008 The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses electoral drama around the world. The Week Ahead - Feb. 18, 2008 The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses the week in world news. 4, 2008 The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses the week in world news.

Independent Cinema at the Berlinale Mark Simon looks at the independent films on show at the 2008 Forum. 11, 2008 The IHT's managing editor, Alison Smale, discusses the week in world news. Russia embraces its church, distancing western faiths 2. Remains of Padre Pio, beloved mystic Italian monk, go on display 3. A passion for Persia, Disneyland and dolphins 4.

India's kinder, gentler debt collectors remind Americans to pay their bills 5. The need for unanimity in China exacts a hidden price 6. Debt collection done from India appeals to U.S. 7. U.S. Jews get a new voice in Washington 8. A hard plastic is raising hard questions 9. Google introduces brand-image ads for phones 10. Serbian heroine who fell 10,000 meters steps into politics 1.

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In an all parties conference on February 5, 2008, 16 political parties had signed a joint declaration on "Education For All" (EFA), which called for over 10 percent budget allocation for education sector. EFA is an international movement and Pakistan is signatory to the EFA Declaration and it has promised to achieve EFA targets by 2015.

The EFA targets included early childhood and care, primary education for all, life skills, 50 percent increase in adult literacy rate, elimination of gender disparity in education and improving quality of education. It has been internationally recommended that governments should spend at least four percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education. Unfortunately, during the last 10 years, Pakistan has annually spent less than two percent of GDP on average.

During a seminar organised to mark Education For All Week on Wednesday, parliamentarians, policymakers, scholars, educationists and students applauded the government step for discarding two standards of education prevailing in the country. Addressing on the occasion, Federal Minister for Education Ahsan Iqbal said the discrimination in education system could lead to the worst educational apartheid.

Within two years, the ministry would build up the capacity of the government schools up to the international standard so that the elimination of other systems could not affect the system negatively," he said. New education policy: Iqbal said the draft of the new education policy had been prepared which would be finalised after discussions with different segments of society.

We are planning for a two-day national education summit in which literary personnel, educationists and scholars from all across the country would be invited for consultation over the draft," he said. Iqbal said till the end of May the draft would be presented in the National Assembly, which would pass it after debate.

The leaders of all political parties would sign the draft so that it could not be amended for at least next ten years," he said. Iqbal said it was a knowledge revolution era and there was a need to design the curriculum according to new standards and demands. Our curriculum and education system should enhance the creativity of the students as it is an era of inventions and innovations," he said.

One girls school in each union council: Iqbal also said the government would establish at least one girls school in each union council to provide equal opportunities of education to females besides providing incentives to the teachers. Book reading: Department of Libraries Director General Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir said that it was pitiable that the habit of book reading was declining day by day.

Special attention of the government is required to take concrete steps to create awareness about the significance of book reading," he said. Nasir said the government should focus on establishing more libraries to increase the habit of book reading among youth. The parliamentarians present on the occasion included Nuzhat Amir, Pervaiz Khan, Liaquat Mangal Zai and Shakeela Rasheed. They stressed the need for political stability in the country for the success of the government policies. A book fair was also organised on this occasion to mark World Book and Copyright Day.

Books related to different areas of life were displayed in the exhibition. Home Islamabad Share this story!

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The Expo, hosted by the Merimbula News Weekly, had everything anyone would need to organise their special day. Photographers, cake makers, celebrants, venues, make-up artists, wine suppliers, right through to jewellery and limousine hire were represented at the annual expo which has become a must-see for brides to be.

To add extra chutzpah to the event the News Weekly produced a glossy magazine entitled Weddings Coastal Style Body & Soul 2008 which was given to all expo attendees. Merimbula News Weekly manager Grant Webster said the successful event was culmination of several months planning.

We had an incredible response with well over 200 people visiting the exhibition including a large percentage of brides-to-be" he said. The exhibitors reported an excellent enquiry rate with several confirmed bookings recorded. The venue perfectly suited the occasion and the fashion parades and demonstrations gave the day a carnival atmosphere.

I would like to thank all exhibitors on the excellent displays they put together, and a special thankyou to Merimbula News Weekly sales consultant Jessica Lind for her dedication to making this event a spectacular success. Thanks also to Graham Lewis (DJ Gray), Trendsetter Hair Studio, Vitamin Sea, PM'S for Brides, I Do Weddings, Bras'n'Things, Flowers By the Sea, and the models for their valued contributions to the event.

We look forward to making the 2009 Expo bigger and better."

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