Friday, January 24, 2014
Ukraine Government Ready to Resign, Protests Spread across Country
British Man Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy in Pakistan
A court in Pakistan has sentenced a British man to death for blasphemy for claiming to be a prophet of Islam, a prosecutor and police said Friday.
Mohammad Asghar, a British national of Pakistani origin, was arrested in 2010 in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, for writing letters claiming to be a prophet, police said.
The special court inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, where Asghar is being held, rejected defence claims that the 65-year-old has mental health problems.
"Asghar claimed to be a prophet even inside the court. He confessed it in front of the judge," Javed Gul, a government prosecutor, told AFP.
"Asghar used to write it even on his visiting card." » | AFP | Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Mark Carney: No Need for an Immediate Rate Rise
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| Mark Carney, Canadian Governor of the Bank of England |
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has pledged there will be no “immediate” increase in interest rates as unemployment nudges closer to the 7pc threshold in an apparent softening of his forward guidance policy.
He said Bank of England policymakers look at “overall conditions in the whole labour market”, rather than just one indicator, and that any change, when it comes, would be “very gradual”.
The governor, who said that the UK economy was "in a different place" to when he introduced the guidance, added: “We don’t see an immediate need to change monetary policy."
Asked if he would consider lowering the 7pc threshold, Mr Carney added: “There are a broad range of things we could do, I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion … we’re trying to get across is that it’s all about overall conditions in the labour market.
“We wouldn’t want to detract from that focus by unnecessarily focusing on one indicator.” » | Denise Roland | Thursday, January 23, 2014
My comment:
"No need for an immediate rise [in interest rates]" – Mark Carney
No, there is no need for him. He's sitting pretty with his huge salary and exorbitant expenses. The rest of us have to make ends meet from our savings. What a thoughtless, unreasonable man Carney is!
Never in my lifetime can I remember not being able to get interest on my capital that at least equates to the rate of inflation, and then some. Does this man have no sense of true capitalism? Does this man have no sense of economic history?
What an utter disappointment this Governor is! – © Mark
This comment appears here too.
French Holiday Home Alert after Burglaries Rocket by 18 Per Cent
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| The village of Castelnau in Dordogne, France |
Burglaries in rural holiday homes in France, where tens of thousands of Britons own properties, rocketed by almost 18 per cent in a year, according to new figures released yesterday, with the government blaming the sharp rise on an influx of Eastern European criminals.
Figures by The French National Supervisory Body on Crime and Punishment , ONDRP, showed burglary and theft were up in 2013 across France but that second homes — both foreign and French-owned - were by far the hardest hit, despite increasing efforts by police and the gendarmerie to step up protection.
Approximately 200,000 Britons own second homes in areas such as the Dordogne and other parts of France, particularly those serviced by budget airlines. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, January 23, 2014
Ukraine Protests Spread beyond Kiev amid Crisis Talks
The governor of Lviv, in the west, was forced to sign his resignation as protesters stormed his offices.
Other reports spoke of protests in at least five more western cities.
Two people died in clashes in Kiev on Wednesday, the first deaths in two months of protests over EU links.
The anti-government protests flared in late November over Mr Yanukovych's decision to pull out of a landmark treaty with the European Union.
A fragile truce is currently being observed in Kiev.
However, an opposition ultimatum is set to expire after the talks with Mr Yanukovych, which have now begun and are set to go into the evening.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Yanukovych asked the speaker of parliament to hold an emergency session next week to discuss the crisis.
But he told the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, that he would not introduce a state of emergency.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who is in Davos in Switzerland, echoed this, but added: "People should not think that the government lacks available resources to put an end to this. It is our constitutional right and obligation to restore order in the country." (+ BBC videos) » | Thursday, January 23, 2014
Protest greift auf weitere ukrainische Städte über
Wie die «Kyivpost» schreibt, haben heute in den Städten Lemberg und Riwne im Westen der Ukraine Demonstranten das Gebäude der regionalen Verwaltung gestürmt. In Lemberg zwangen sie den von Präsident Viktor Janukowitsch eingesetzten Gouverneur Oleg Salo, ein Rücktrittsgesuch zu unterzeichnen. Salo widerrief die Unterschrift später. Am Abend wurden dann auch Proteste aus der Stadt Tscherkassy südlich von Kiew gemeldet. Tausende Menschen hätten das Gebäude der Provinzverwaltung gestürmt. » | ldc/mw/sda | Donnerstag, 23. Januar 2014
So viele Gotteskrieger stellt die Schweiz
Der Nachrichtendienst des Bundes geht davon aus, dass rund zehn Schweizer Kämpfer in Syrien sind oder dorthin aufgebrochen sind. Das bestätigte Sprecher Felix Endrich heute in der Sendung «Echo der Zeit» von Schweizer Radio SRF.
Bei den Kämpfern könne es sich um Dschihadisten oder um Abenteurer handeln, sagte Endrich. Der Nachrichtendienst beobachte die Jihad-Reisenden aufmerksam. Sie könnten im Ausland in einem Lager ausgebildet und radikalisiert werden. «Sehr gefährlich sind die Rückkehrer und jene, die in der Schweiz rekrutieren. Und diese Szene überwachen wir», erklärte Endrich. » | mrs/sda | Donnerstag, 23. Januar 2014
West's 30-year Vendetta with Iran Is Finally Buried in Davos
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| Hassan Rouhani |
"The world hasn't seen a speech like that from an Iranian leader since the Revolution," tweeted Ian Bremmer from the Eurasia Group.
Anybody betting on oil futures in the belief that Iran's nuclear deal with great powers is a negotiating ploy – to gain time – should be careful. There is a very high likelihood that the sanctions against Iran will be lifted in stages, leading to an extra 1.2 barrels a day on the global market just as Libya, Iraq, and the US all crank up output.
“One of the theoretical and practical pillars of my government is constructive engagement with the world. Without international engagement, objectives such as growth, creativity and quality are unattainable," said Rouhani.
"I strongly and clearly state that nuclear weapons have no place in our security strategy,” he said. Read on and comment » | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | Thursday, January 23, 2014
Almost Two Sydney Women a Week Are Converting to Islam
Such radicalism was highlighted by the death last week in Syria of former Queensland Anglican schoolgirl turned Muslim jihadist Amira Karroum, 22, who is believed to have been killed by rebel fighters in Aleppo alongside her US-born husband Yusuf Ali.
Ms Karroum had adopted an extremist form of the faith, praising terrorist Osama bin Laden and supporting the violent Muslim riots in Sydney in 2012.
The pair were based in Granville before travelling to Syria to fight in December.
Another Granville man, Caner Temel, 22, has been named as the latest Australian victim of the civil war in Syria.
The Australian New Muslim Association estimates two-thirds of the converts they see each year are female, with more than 60 per cent converting because of their husbands or partners.
Julia Moukhallalati was just 18 when she swapped her Orthodox Christian upbringing for the mosques of western Sydney. » | Ben McClellan | Saturday, January 18, 2014
Yard's Plea to Muslims: Help Stop Children Turning to Terror
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| Commander Richard Walton |
Commander Richard Walton warned that a “shocking” number of children are being lured into terrorism.
He said officers were already receiving increasing support from Islamic organisations and families in their struggle to combat radicalisation. But police were “desperate” to obtain further help to prevent vulnerable teenagers and other young Britons becoming involved in the Syrian war.
It was “almost inevitable” that some Britons fighting in Syria would seek to carry out attacks here on their return, he added, and the conflict had “all the ingredients for making terrorists”. » | Martin Bentham | Thursday, January 23, 2014
Islamic Economics - The Solution for World Crisis
Erdogan will totale Kontrolle über das Internet
Erst Gewalt gegen die Gezi-Park-Proteste, dann die Korruptionsskandale der türkischen Regierung und schwerwiegende Eingriffe in die Justiz – jetzt erhitzt die Regierung des türkischen Premiers Recep Tayyip Erdogan mit einem neuen Aufreger die Gemüter.
Er möchte per Gesetz Internetseiten sperren, Inhalte im Netz kontrollieren, das Internetverhalten der Bürger beobachten und Daten für zwei Jahre speichern. Kritiker fürchten staatliche Internetzensur, der türkische Unternehmerverband bewertet das Vorhaben als "besorgniserregend".
Die türkische Regierung möchte mit den neuen gesetzlichen Eingriffen erreichen, dass der Staat ohne jeglichen Gerichtsbeschluss die freie Nutzung des Internets kontrollieren und steuern kann. So soll er Zugriff auf Daten haben, die zeigen, welche Seiten besucht worden sind, welche Begriffe die Bürger in Suchmaschinen eingegeben haben und welche sozialen Medien sie nutzen. » | Von Cigdem Toprak, Istanbul | Donnerstag, 23. Januar 2014
Snowden Requests Extra Security After Receiving Death Threats
Malaysia King Says ‘Allah’ Is Only for Muslims
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| The 14th king of Malaysia, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah |
Intervening in the dispute for the first time, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah urged Sunday representatives of all other communities to respect Muslims’ exclusive right in order to maintain stability and harmony in Malaysia.
“In the context of a pluralistic society, religious sensitivities especially related to Islam as the religion of the federation should be respected,” the King said in a speech, cited by Malaysian state news agency Bernama.
“Confusion and controversy can be averted if there is adherence to the provisions of the law and judicial decisions,” he added.
The term ‘Allah’ came to the language used by the nation’s dominant Malay ethnic group from Arabic and is used to describe ‘God’ by people of all faiths.
Sultan Abdul Halim, 86, is one of the nine sultans who take turns every five years to serve as head of state.
The king’s role in Malaysia is largely ceremonial and his powers are limited. However, he is considered a defender of Islam and enjoys the respect of the Muslim population. » | Published: Sunday, January 19, 2014 | Edited: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Iran's President Announces New Policy of 'Constructive Engagement' with Outside World
Jeremy Browne: Ban Muslim Women from Wearing Veils in Schools and Public Places
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| Jeremy Browne |
Jeremy Browne, a Liberal Democrat, said there needs to be a national debate about whether the state should step in to protect young women from having the veil “imposed” on them.
Mr Browne said he is “instinctively uneasy” about banning behaviour, but suggested the measure may still be necessary to ensure freedom of choice for girls in Muslim communities.
The Home Office minister is the first senior Liberal Democrat to raise such deep concerns about Islamic dress in public places. A growing number of Conservative MPs also want the Government to consider a ban.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, has suggested he may support banning the veil in classrooms, but downplayed the chances of wider restrictions.
He said: “My own view, I don’t think we should end up like different countries where we tell people how they go about their business. I do think there is an issue with teachers in the classroom…that might be an area where a full veil might be inappropriate.” » | Steven Swinford and Christopher Hope | Wednesday, September 15, 2013
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
German Army Rules on Beards and Tattoos
"Ordinance A.26301.1l, on the Appearance of Federal Troops" caught the eye of military blogger Thomas Wiegold - "something of a weathervane of army opinion" according to Der Spiegel magazine. The 200-plus comments from soldiers on his blog post outnumber those on more serious issues.
As well as the ban on mohawks and bushy beards, new rules on tattoos proved particularly controversial. They are permitted, but "discriminatory, pornographic and unconstitutional" images must always be covered up when soldiers are in uniform. The rule applies even if they appear on the hands, neck or face - which, as the comments note, could prove difficult. » | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Jihadists Construct the Atomium Bomb: YouTube Video Threat to Belgian Tourist Attraction
The video clip posted on the YouTube account of Belgian teenager Brian De Mulder was brief, but the threat to one of Belgium’s biggest tourist attractions was chilling and clear.
Over the black-and-white flag of one of Syria’s Islamist rebel groups, a voice chants: “Bombs are falling.Atomium, I hear a bang. Body parts are everywhere.”
Mr De Mulder, 19, is one of hundreds of Europeans currently in Syria and believed to be fighting alongside the rebel groups trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
While it is not clear if he himself posted the threat against the Atomium, a huge monument of stainless steel spheres built for the 1958 World Fair, the video reflects the worst fears of law-enforcement agencies and governments across Europe.
Since Syria splintered into civil war in 2011, European Muslims – including up to 300 Britons – with motives ranging from idealism to more radical ideologies have been travelling there in increasing numbers. Now, dozens are returning home, and the fear is that they are no longer impressionable youngsters, but battle-hardened extremists.
“By the time they have returned,” says Rob Wainwright, director of the EU-wide policing body Europol, “their extremist views might have been more entrenched and there is clearly a potential danger to society in terms of how they might manifest their views in direct action.” » | Charlotte McDonald-Gibson | Brussels | Sunday, January 19, 2014
A Living History Lesson: Holocaust Survivor Eve Kugler Talks to Pupils around the Country Prior to Holocaust Memorial Day
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| Eve Kugler |
"My experience during the Holocaust wasn't as horrendous as what you have seen," says 83-year-old Eve Kugler as she begins to speak.
She is at a cinema in Clapham, south-west London, to talk to secondary-school pupils who have assembled to hear first-hand accounts of the persecution of the Jews under Hitler. The pupils had just watched Hide and Seek, a 50-minute film about Jews' experiences during the Holocaust and how they had been forced to go into hiding to escape being sent to the death camps. They had heard the tale of one mother who had been given an ultimatum to kill her baby or leave the hideout for fear that the Nazis would hear the infant's crying and wreak even more terror on the people assembled there. She chose to smother her baby. Then there were the children who grew up in the sewers with rats as daily companions as they hid away.
Kugler herself is a Holocaust survivor. After speaking for nearly 50 minutes, she is asked by one pupil how many family members she had lost during Hitler's time in power. "Both my grandfathers, two uncles, five aunts and I don't know how many cousins," she replies.
Maybe it is not as horrendous as some of the stories in the documentary but it is pretty harrowing nevertheless, as the reaction of the pupils who have listened to her indicates. Kugler is one of the Holocaust survivors still going into schools to relate what happened to them. She has been doing it "for eight or nine years" now and does two or three visits in the run-up to Holocaust Memorial Day – which takes place next Tuesday. » | Richard Garner | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Nicolas Sarkozy Plans 2017 Comeback
That Nicolas Sarkozy is contemplating his comeback is hardly a secret in France.
Now one of the former president's most high-profile supporters and confidantes, the former first lady Bernadette Chirac, has confirmed Sarkozy is planning a return to the political fray.
Asked by Europe 1 radio on Wednesday whether she thought he would stand against the Socialist president François Hollande in three years, Chirac, replied: "I hope so!"
Pressed as to whether she had inside information, she said: "Ah, but I'm not allowed to say it," before finally admitting that Sarkozy had spoken to her and was indeed planning to stand in 2017.
"Well obviously," she told the radio station, adding: "But, he's going to tell me off for this."
Chirac, whose husband Jacques was president between 1995 and 2007 when he was succeeded by Sarkozy, has made little secret of her hopes of seeing the centre-right candidate make a comeback. While Sarkozy has refused to comment, he has indicated to friends that he is inclined to stand for a second term in office in 2017. » | Kim Willsher in Paris | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Multicultural Britain Rejecting Foreign Conflict, MoD Admits
A growing reluctance in an increasingly multicultural Britain to see UK troops deployed on the ground in future operations abroad is influencing the next two strategic defence reviews, according to senior figures at the Ministry of Defence.
As well as a general war weariness, sources say they have sensed a resistance in an increasingly diverse nation to see British troops deployed in countries from which UK citizens, or their families, once came.
There is also concern that British troops have been seen taking action mainly in Muslim societies. » | Patrick Wintour | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Turkey Continues with Huge Purge of Judges and Police
Turkey launched the biggest purge of the judiciary in the country's history on Wednesday, firing and reassigning senior judges and prosecutors, despite warnings that the actions are damaging the country's accession to the European Union.
The move came as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was in Brussels promoting Turkey's EU membership bid to, increasingly sceptical, officials who see the sackings, and a new, controversial bill that would give the executive authority over the judiciary, as eroding the country's rule of law, a key criteria for admission.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said he had urged Mr Erdogan "not to backtrack on achievements and to assure that the judiciary is able to function without discrimination or preference, in a transparent and impartial manner". » | Ruth Sherlock | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Water Cannon Set to Be Deployed across Britain amid Fears of More Riots
Concerns about future violent protests over the Government’s austerity measures have prompted chief constables to ask Theresa May, the Home Secretary, for authorisation to deploy water cannon in mainland Britain for the first time.
Chief constables have concluded the machines would be a valuable addition to their armoury after carrying out detailed research, including a scientific analysis of injuries that members of the public can suffer when hit by the powerful water jets.
Documents disclosed by the Association of Chief Police Officers show plans have been drawn up for the cannon to be used against protesters and rioters in the future.
Police warn they expect water cannon will be required because “the ongoing and potential future austerity measures are likely to lead to continued protest”.
They claimed the machines would have given them an “operational advantage” in the 2011 riots. Read on and comment » | David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Muslim Defendant Must Remove Veil to Give Evidence, Jury Hears
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| Rebekah Dawson |
A Muslim woman accused of witness intimidation has been ordered by a judge to remove her veil if she chooses to give evidence.
Rebekah Dawson, 22, attended the start of her trial at Blackfriars Crown Court in London on Wednesday wearing a full-face veil.
Judge Peter Murphy warned the jury hearing the case that it was “quite wrong” to be prejudiced against anybody because of their expression of religious faith.
He said Ms Dawson was “fully entitled” to dress as she chose and warned them to put aside any personal feelings they had about her attire.
However, he told jurors that he had ruled that she must remove her veil if she chooses to give evidence. » | Sam Marsden, and agencies | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Woolwich: War without Borders?
Inside Story: US Marijuana: Pot Luck or Politics?
Going Underground: GCHQ Knows Your Online Porn Habits!
'Warzone': Open Street Battles in Kiev as Rioters, Police Face-off
German Region of Saarland Moves towards Bilingualism
It is part of a strategy to deepen economic ties with France, which borders the region.
Proposals by the regional government include bilingual teaching from pre-school age and requiring new state employees to be able to work in French.
Government jobs would be open to French citizens too under the proposals which are being put out to consultation. » | Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tucker Carlson Confronts Islamic Preacher Who Wants to Implement "Sharia Law"
Choudary pushed back against Western "propaganda," saying he is simply trying to encourage the following of Islamic law in a "den of iniquity." Carlson shot back, "This isn't Pakistan, this is Great Britain!"
He continued on to say that "troublemakers like you are thrown in prison in Pakistan," and called him out for being a beneficiary of social services in the country he's condemning as decadent. Choudary said the legal notice is actually "intended to provoke discussion" and warn of ultimate punishment in the afterlife.
Carlson concluded by asking, "Will you concede that your unwillingness to denounce violence makes your program repulsive to people in the West and decent people everywhere?" Choudary insisted that "we're not threatening anyone with violence."
Allah vs Atheism: ‘Leaving Islam Was the Hardest Thing I’ve Done’
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| Amal Farah, banking executive |
Amal Farah, a 32-year-old banking executive, is laughing about a contestant singing off-key in the last series of The X Factor. For a woman who was not allowed to listen to music when she was growing up, this is a delight. After years of turmoil, she is in control of her own life.
On the face of it, she is a product of modern Britain. Born in Somalia to Muslim parents, she grew up in Yemen and came to the UK in her late teens. After questioning her faith, she became an atheist and married a Jewish lawyer. But this has come at a cost. When she turned her back on her religion, she was disowned by her family and received death threats. She has not seen her mother or her siblings for eight years. None of them have met her husband or daughter.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done – telling my observant family that I was having doubts. My mum was shocked; she began to cry. It was very painful for her. When she realised I actually meant it, she cut communication with me,” said Ms Farah. “She was suspicious of me being in contact with my brothers and sisters. She didn’t want me to poison their heads in any way. I felt like a leper and I lived in fear. As long as they knew where I was, I wasn’t safe.”
This is the first time Ms Farah has spoken publicly about her experience of leaving her faith, after realising that she did not want to keep a low profile for ever. She is an extreme case – her mother, now back in Somalia, has become increasingly radical in her religious views. But Ms Farah is not alone in wanting to speak out. » | Sarah Morrison | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
UK Courts Islamic Cash with Sharia-compliant Bonds
Euro-Jihad? Radicalised EU Citizens Raise Terror Spectre on Home Front
Nazi America: A Secret History
Pope Francis' New Spanish Cardinal Says 'Homosexuality Can Be Cured'
The Pope’s new Spanish Cardinal has called homosexuality a physical “defect” that can be cured, it has been reported.
Equating homosexuality to his own high blood pressure, Fernando Sebastián told the Spanish newspaper Diario Sur on Monday that: “Homosexuality is a defective manner of expressing sexuality, because [sex] has a structure and a purpose, which is procreation.
"A homosexual who can't achieve this (procreation) is failing," he said.
He continued: "Our bodies have many defects. I have high blood pressure."
He added that calling homosexuality a defect was “not an insult” but is instead helpful because it is “possible to recover and become normal with the right treatment."
The 85-year-old will take up his post in the Vatican as Spain’s newest cardinal in February. » | Kashmira Gander | Monday, January 20, 2014
Oxfam: 85 Richest People as Wealthy as Poorest Half of the World
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| The InterContinental in Davos |
The world's wealthiest people aren't known for travelling by bus, but if they fancied a change of scene then the richest 85 people on the globe – who between them control as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population put together – could squeeze onto a single double-decker.
The extent to which so much global wealth has become corralled by a virtual handful of the so-called 'global elite' is exposed in a new report from Oxfam on Monday. It warned that those richest 85 people across the globe share a combined wealth of £1tn, as much as the poorest 3.5 billion of the world's population.
The wealth of the 1% richest people in the world amounts to $110tn (£60.88tn), or 65 times as much as the poorest half of the world, added the development charity, which fears this concentration of economic resources is threatening political stability and driving up social tensions.
It's a chilling reminder of the depths of wealth inequality as political leaders and top business people head to the snowy peaks of Davos for this week's World Economic Forum. Few, if any, will be arriving on anything as common as a bus, with private jets and helicoptors pressed into service as many of the world's most powerful people convene to discuss the state of the global economy over four hectic days of meetings, seminars and parties in the exclusive ski resort.
Winnie Byanyima, the Oxfam executive director who will attend the Davos meetings, said: "It is staggering that in the 21st Century, half of the world's population – that's three and a half billion people – own no more than a tiny elite whose numbers could all fit comfortably on a double-decker bus."
Oxfam also argues that this is no accident either, saying growing inequality has been driven by a "power grab" by wealthy elites, who have co-opted the political process to rig the rules of the economic system in their favour. » | Graeme Wearden | Monday, January 20, 2014
German FM: Cameron 'Damaging Europe' with Call for Immigration Limits
Germany has accused David Cameron of seeking to “damage Europe” by calling the European Union’s right to free movement into question.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, has attacked the Prime Minister’s call for limits to be set on immigration when poor countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, join the EU in future.
Mr Steinmeier, a Social Democrat in the Germany’s coalition government, has effectively committed Germany to blocking Britain’s plan to restrict the right to free movement for European nationals as part of proposals to renegotiate the EU treaty.
“Germany has benefited tremendously from this and surely more than others. Now many young people from southern Europe are coming to us, to learn and study,” he told the Financial Times.
“That benefits us and also helps the states from which they come. Whoever questions that damages Europe and damages Germany.” » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Monday, January 20, 2014
Obama Says Marijuana Is a Bad Habit But Minorities Are Unfairly Punished
President Barack Obama believes smoking marijuana is a "bad habit" but thinks legal penalties now fall disproportionately on minorities and that states legalising pot should go ahead with their plans, he said in a profile released on Sunday.
"As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life," he is quoted as saying in a New Yorker magazine article. "I don't think it is more dangerous than alcohol."
The president said he has told his two daughters that smoking marijuana is "a bad idea, a waste of time, not very healthy".
However, he said he is concerned that marijuana-related arrests fall far more heavily on minorities than on others. Legalisation of pot should go forward in the states of Colorado and Washington because "it's important for society not to have a situation in which a large portion of people have at one time or another broken the law and only a select few get punished," he said. » | Reuters in Washington | Sunday, January 19, 2014
'Vladimir Putin Has Unleashed a Frightening Wave of Homophobia That Even He Cannot Control'
On June 30, last year, a young bank worker stood in the middle of Bauman street, the central pedestrian thoroughfare in the gleaming, oil-rich city of Kazan, with a placard that read "Freedom to the Gays and Lesbians of Russia. Down With Fascists and Homophobes."
Dmitry Isakov, 24, did not know it at the time, but he was about to earn the dubious distinction of being the first person to fall foul of a ban on promoting homosexuality that has earned Russia condemnation around the world and threatens to overshadow the Sochi Winter Olympics this February.
The encounter with the law cost him not only a conviction and a fine, but also his job – in what he says is an example of a wave of homophobic feeling the Russian government's flirtation with "family-values politics" has unleashed.
He had already had a signal of what might lie in store. » | Roland Oliphant, Moscow | Sunday, January 19, 2014
France Warns Europe Could Be 'Overwhelmed' by Jihadis Returning from Syria
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| Manuel Valls, Interior Minister, France |
French interior minister warned on Sunday that the possibility of terror attacks by the hundreds of European jihadists returning home from Syria represents "the greatest danger we will have to face in the coming years".
"We, French and Europeans, could be overwhelmed by this phenomenon, given its scale," Manuel Valls said in a television interview.
His warning came after it emerged that two 15-year-old French boys had left this month to fight in Syria. They are believed to be among the youngest Westerners to travel there since the Arab Spring revolt against President Assad turned into a full-blown civil war.
The prospect of hundreds of battle-hardened extremists returning to Europe with training in bomb-making and weaponry has become a major cause of concern in recent months. » | Rory Mulholland in Paris | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Ukip Suspends Councillor Who Claimed Floods Were Caused by Gay Marriage
A Ukip councillor who blamed the Christmas and new year floods on the passage of gay marriage laws has been suspended from the party, Ukip said on Sunday, reversing an earlier view that he was entitled to his opinion.
Henley-on-Thames councillor David Silvester, who defected from the Tories in protest at David Cameron's support for same-sex unions, said he had warned the prime minister of "repercussions" if gay marriage went ahead.
He was suspended by Ukip after defying a request not to do further interviews on his beliefs following his initial claims made in a letter to a local newspaper. The move came as leader Nigel Farage launched a clearout of "extremist, nasty or barmy" views from the party ahead of polls in May.
On Sunday Silvester caused fresh controversy, telling BBC Radio Berkshire that being gay was a "spiritual disease" that can be healed. His remarks led Ukip's official gay and lesbian group to send Silvester a letter saying he had "rightly attracted derision from people of all political beliefs, and once again painted Ukip in a negative light – an unacceptable act for which you cannot be excused".
Tory business minister Michael Fallon said the comments showed "there clearly are one or two fruitcakes still around there" – a reference to David Cameron's previous criticisms of Ukip. » | Patrick Wintour | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Winter Olympics: Putin 'Friendly' with Gay People
Gay people faced no discrimination at work or in society in Russia, he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, and the new law did not harm anybody.
"I myself know some people who are gay," he said. "We're on friendly terms. I'm not prejudiced in any way."
Gay rights campaigners have urged a boycott of the winter games.
The controversial legislation passed in June prescribes fines for anyone providing information about paedophilia and homosexuality to people under 18.
Critics say the amendment's loose wording, and its free interpretation by the authorities, effectively make any kind of public gay rights event in Russia impossible.
Some national leaders have indicated they will not attend the games, which run from 7 to 23 February.
US President Barack Obama pointedly announced he was sending an Olympic delegation that includes several openly gay sports figures, among them tennis legend Billie Jean King. (+ BBC video) » | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Palace Reshuffle as the Queen Passes More Royal Responsibilities to Prince Charles
A merging of palace staff has begun, which sees Prince Charles' aide become the media chief for the entire Royal household.
The heir to the throne will also accompany his mother to the beaches of Normandy later this year.
The trip is to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Charles accompanying the Queen on the trip further adds to speculation that it may be the monarch's final engagement overseas.
A French government official, who was involved with organising the D-Day anniversary events, revealed that: "We have been told this will probably be the Queen's last official foreign visit." » | Nicole Morley | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Edwina Currie’s Cruel Jibe at the Poor
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| Edwina Curry |
Her comments come as figures show that more than 100,000 people had to turn to food banks at Christmas. This is double the 2012 figure and a record number.
A million Britons, a third of them children, relied on food banks last year, according to estimates.
Last night Ms Currie was attacked for a “disgusting insult” to those living below the poverty line and for making “crude and outrageous generalisations”. Speaking on Radio Stoke last week, the 67-year-old said: “For the life of me I can’t see how giving someone a tin of soup when they are suffering from a mental illness or if they’ve got debt problems is going to contribute in any long-term way to solving their problems.
“If people have got into debt they should be asking themselves ‘Why did I get into debt and what did I do that was stupid to get into debt and what can I avoid doing in the future? How do I actually take control of my life so I am not in this situation?" » | Lucy Johnstone | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Assad exclut toute discussion sur son départ
La présidence syrienne a nié dimanche des déclarations attribuées au président Bachar al-Assad par l'agence russe Interfax, selon lesquelles il n'aurait aucune intention de quitter le pouvoir. Ces informations contradictoires interviennent alors que la conférence de paix Genève II se met péniblement en place. » | afp/ats/Newsnet | dimanche 19 janvier 2014
Nigel Farage - "Mr Samaras, You're Not in Charge of Greece" (January 15, 2014)
THE OBSERVER: Nigel Farage becomes popular in Greece after outburst against the PM: Ukip leader claims he received deluge of support after giving Antonis Samaras a dressing down in European parliament » | Helena Smith in Athens | Saturday, January 18, 2014
'Living Suicide Bomb' Rejoins Al-Qaida after Saudi Deprogramming
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| Ahmed Al-Shayea was known as the "living suicide bomb" |
Ahmed al-Shayea was known as the "living suicide bomb" – the young Saudi driver of a fuel tanker bomb in Iraq who survived to renounce violence and warn his countrymen of the dangers of jihad.
In the process he became Saudi Arabia's poster boy for a high-profile jihadi de-programming initiative whose secondary purpose is to discourage Saudis from joining al-Qaida.
With his burned face and mangled hands, Shayea was presented as a vivid warning to young Saudis about the perils of jihad and the untrustworthiness of al-Qaida, which he claimed had tricked him into driving the tanker bomb, which killed 12 people in 2004.
That was until November. Then Shayea disappeared from Saudi Arabia, only to reappear reportedly in Syria where – his Twitter feed reveals – he has rejoined the ranks of an al-Qaida franchise, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is engaged in a civil war with other rebels fighting the Assad regime.
The case of Shayea raises questions about the effectiveness of the jihadi de-programming efforts, including the well-known Saudi model, which has boasted of rehabilitating and releasing several thousand former jihadis, including some returned by the US. » | Peter Beaumont | Saturday, January 18, 2014
Benefits 'To Be Stripped from Immigrants Who Cannot Speak English'
Benefits will be stripped from immigrants who cannot speak English, it has been reported.
David Cameron intends to make the cuts in order to slash the country’s welfare bill, according to the Mail on Sunday.
The Prime Minister reportedly wants to stop printing welfare literature in foreign languages and prevent claimants using taxpayer-funded translators at benefits offices.
According to the newspaper the measures, which were due to be announced on Monday, have been delayed following a row with Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.
It is hoped the scrapping of foreign-language documentation explaining how to claim benefits will make it harder for immigrants to make use of the UK’s benefits system, while encouraging those already in the country to learn English. The measures would also save the money spent on translators. » | James Edgar | Sunday, January 19, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
French 15-year-olds Thought to Be Youngest Western Jihadis after Travelling to Syria
Two French schoolboys have travelled to Syria to become al Qaeda fighters, it emerged on Saturday.
The 15-year-olds from Toulouse are believed to be the youngest ever jihadists to emerge from a country increasingly associated with Islamic radicalism.
It comes after two British men were arrested in connection with Syria-related terror offences.
Yusuf Sawar and Mohammed Ahmed, both 21, from Handsworth, Birmingham, have been charged with planning and travelling to Syria for terrorism.
The French boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not turn up for school on January 6 – instead using a family credit card to fly to the Middle East.
One of the boy's father launched an appeal for their return, saying his son had been lured into extremism on the internet.
He told La Depeche [sic] newspaper: "From the start of December, my son was brainwashed online. » | Peter Allen, Paris | Saturday, January 18, 2014
LA DÉPÊCHE: Français et jihadistes | » | Jean-Pierre Bédéï | samedi 18 janvier 2014
Israel Lashes Out at Europe for 'One-sided Stance' on Settlements
The ambassadors of Britain, France, Italy and Spain were called in a day after Israel’s ambassadors to those countries were summoned to hear protests about building settlements in areas that the Palestinians view as part of a future independent state.
Israeli officials described Mr Lieberman’s step as a counterprotest.
This was the first time that Israel had summoned European ambassadors as a group over such an issue.
The Israeli protest was delivered by the Foreign Ministry’s acting director-general, Nissim Ben Shetrit.
Mr Lieberman said the European position was ‘‘unacceptable and gives rise to the feeling that they are only looking to place blame on Israel.’’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that it was ‘‘time to stop this hypocrisy’’ and ‘‘to inject some balance and fairness into this discussion''. » | Isabel Kershner | New York Times | Saturday, January 18, 2014
Lewis Clarke: Teenager Arrives at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
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| Lewis Clarke |
Lewis Clarke spent 48 days at temperatures as low as -50C (-58F) and winds of up to 120 mph (193 kmh).
He arrived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station at 18:00 GMT after completing the gruelling 702-mile journey from the Antarctic coast.
He will now be submitting evidence to Guinness World Records so that his claim can be officially verified.
On his arrival, he said: "I'm really happy but mostly relieved that for the first time in 48 days I don't have to get up tomorrow and drag my sled for nine hours in the snow and icy wind. » | Saturday, January 18, 2014
Arbeitnehmerfreizügigkeit: EU-Parlament erteilt Cameron eine Absage
Forderungen der britischen Regierung, die Zuwanderung von einem EU-Land in ein anderes per Quotenregelung zu begrenzen, hat das Europaparlament eine Absage erteilt. Vorschläge dieser Art würden "kategorisch abgelehnt", teilten die Straßburger Parlamentarier in einer Entschließung zum Thema Freizügigkeit mit.
Die Regierung von Premierminister David Cameron hatte mit der Quoten-Idee in den letzten Wochen eine hitzige Debatte ausgelöst. Britische Medien berichteten etwa von Überlegungen Camerons, eine Obergrenze von 75.000 Personen aus künftigen EU-Beitrittsländern anzustreben.
Solch eine grundlegende Beschränkung der Freizügigkeit würde aber eine Änderung der EU-Verträge voraussetzen, weshalb die britische Regierung hier nicht voranschreiten kann. In der Entschließung, die eine breite Mehrheit in der EU-Volksvertretung fand, stellten die Parlamentarier klar, dass die Freizügigkeit zu den zentralen Werten der Europäischen Union gehöre. Dennoch müssten die europäischen Regierungen auch den Missbrauch ihrer Sozialsysteme bekämpfen, unabhängig davon, ob es sich um eigene Bürger oder zugezogene handele. » | Quelle: Zeit Online, dpa, epd, zz | Donnerstag, 16. Januar 2014
Neuromedizin: Ist Alzheimer angeboren?
Es scheint kein Kraut gewachsen gegen das Zellsterben im Gehirn, das den Menschen erst ihr Gedächtnis, dann ihre Selbstständigkeit, schließlich ihr Ich raubt. Alzheimer ist nicht zu heilen, der Verlauf kaum zu bremsen. Die großen Pharmakonzerne haben mit neuen Wirkstoffen reihenweise Schiffbruch erlitten. Eine hochgelobte Substanz nach der anderen fiel in klinischen Studien durch.
Trotz dieser herben Rückschläge gehen die Tests weiter. Bei den Medizinern wächst die Überzeugung, dass ihre Arzneien durchaus effektiv wären – wenn man sie nur früh genug einsetzte, nämlich lange bevor die Patienten handfeste Symptome zeigen.
Über die Erfolgsaussichten dieser Bemühungen kann man nur spekulieren. Denn das Grundrätsel der Alzheimerkrankheit ist ungelöst: Warum gibt es das Leiden überhaupt? Wieso verdämmern manche Menschen mit 70 Jahren im Vergessen, während andere mit 95 noch rüstig und rege sind? Gesucht wird so etwas wie ein Zündmechanismus, der darüber entscheidet, ob ein Mensch irgendwann in seinem Leben demenzkrank wird oder nicht.
Ist es in dieser Lage denkbar, dass die Variablen dieser Alzheimerformel tatsächlich schon alle auf dem Tisch liegen? Dass sie nur noch zusammengesetzt werden müssen zu einer schlüssigen Erklärung für jene Tragödie, die jedes Jahr Tausende Familien in Deutschland trifft? Einfache Erklärungen sind in der Medizin selten die richtigen. Dennoch – dieser Artikel wagt eine Hypothese. Stimmt das Gedankenspiel, ist ein Jahrhunderträtsel gelöst. » | Von Ulrich Bahnsen | Samstag, 18. Januar 2014
Talk To Al Jazeera: Ashton: 'We've Made Significant Progress'
Turkey Passes Controversial Medical Aid Bill
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| Erdogan is accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian |
A controversial medical bill that makes it a crime for doctors to provide emergency first aid without government authorisation has come into force in Turkey despite an outcry from rights groups.
Under the legislation that was approved by President Abdullah Gul on Friday, those convicted could be imprisoned for up to three years and face fines of nearly $1m from January 18.
Critics fear it could be used to bar doctors and medical workers from treating protesters wounded in anti-government demonstrations as reportedly happened during mass street protests in June last year.
The US-based Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) branded the legislation another attempt by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to quash dissent.
"Passing a bill that criminalises emergency care and punishes those who care for injured protesters is part of the Turkish government's relentless effort to silence any opposing voices," PHR senior medical adviser Vincent Iacopino said.
"This kind of targeting of the medical community is not only repugnant, but puts everyone's health at risk," he said in a statement on the PHR website.
The legislation, drawn up by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), bars medical professionals from working outside state health institutions and is aimed at preventing doctors from setting up private clinics for example.
Medical professionals who break the law would face up to three years in prison and be fined up to $985,000 (728,000 euros). » | Source: AFP | Saturday, January 18, 2014
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