Kim Jong Un Warned He Could Face Prosecution for 'Crimes Against Humanity'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The United Nations has warned Kim Jong Un that he could end up in an international criminal court for his regime's human rights abuses

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has been warned that he could face prosecution for crimes against humanity after a United Nations inquiry accused him of some of the worst human rights abuses since World War II.

In some of the harshest criticism ever unleashed by the international community against the Pyongyang regime, a UN panel branded it "a shock to the conscience of humanity".

Michael Kirby, a retired Australian judge who has spent nearly a year taking testimony from victims of the regime, said its behaviour was akin to some of the atrocities carried by the Nazi regime and of Pol Pot's in Cambodia.

In a bid to put pressure on Kim Jong Un, he has now written to the North Korean leader to warn him that he could face prosecution for the activities of his henchmen, whom the inquiry accused of killing, imprisoning and torturing with impunity. » | Colin Freeman | Monday, February 17, 2014

Churches Block-book Cinemas for Son of God Opening

Diogo Morgado in the film poster for 'Son of God'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pastors distribute tickets to the faithful in pulpit promotion campaign for new film based on hit miniseries The Bible

American church groups are block-booking cinema multiplexes to fill seats with the faithful for opening night screenings next week of Son of God, the forthcoming film about the life of Jesus Christ.

They are buying up all the tickets and distributing them to churchgoers as part of a "theatre takeover" to promote the film which is based on the hit television miniseries The Bible.

Cinema chains said the pre-release buzz and demand for tickets was on a par with major blockbuster releases as pastors spread the word about the celluloid portrayal of the life of Christ from the pulpit.

Crossroads Church in Cincinnati has bought every seat in all 13 screens for a simultaneous showing of the film on February 27, according to The Hollywood Reporter. » | Phil Sherwell, New York | Monday, February 17, 2014


SUMMARY: This major motion picture event -- an experience created to be shared among families and communities across the U.S. -- brings the story of Jesus’ life to audiences through compelling cinematic storytelling that is both powerful and inspirational. Told with the scope and scale of an action epic, the film features powerful performances, exotic locales, dazzling visual effects and a rich orchestral score from Oscar®-winner Hans Zimmer. Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado portrays the role of Jesus as the film spans from his humble birth through his teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter]

Streit um Freizügigkeit: EU setzt Verhandlungen mit der Schweiz aus

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Zwist zwischen EU und der Schweiz verschärft sich. Die Eidgenossen hatten am Sonntag ein Abkommen zur Öffnung ihres Arbeitsmarkts für Kroaten gestoppt. Brüssel reagierte umgehend und setzte Verhandlungen zu Austausch- und Forschungsprogrammen aus. Der Schweiz könnten damit EU-Gelder entgehen.

Bern - Der Volksentscheid zur Begrenzung der Zuwanderung in der Schweiz belastet das Verhältnis zur Europäischen Union (EU). Die Regierung in Bern hatte ein geplantes Abkommen zur Öffnung ihres Arbeitsmarkts für Kroaten gestoppt. Nun folgt die Reaktion aus Brüssel: Demnach sollen die Verhandlungen über eine Beteiligung der Schweiz an dem Studenten-Austauschprogramm Erasmus Plus und dem milliardenschweren Forschungsprogramm Horizont 2020 vorläufig ausgesetzt werden, sagte ein Kommissionssprecher. Damit könnten der Schweiz EU-Gelder für Forschung und Bildung entgehen. » | vks/dpa | Sonntag, 16. Februar 2014

Extreme Loneliness Worse for Health Than Obesity and Can Lead to an Early Grave, Scientists Say

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Feeling extreme loneliness on a long-term basis can be worse than obesity in terms of increasing the potentially lethal health risks that lead to premature death, scientists said.

Chronic loneliness has been shown to increase the chances of an early grave by 14 per cent, which is as bad as being overweight and almost as bad as poverty in undermining a person’s long-term wellbeing, a study has found.

As more people live longer, they are spending a bigger part of their lives feeling lonely. This is having a significant impact on their physical as well as mental health, the researchers found.

Loneliness is also becoming more common as people live alone or become isolated from relatives and friends, especially in retirement. Research has shown that at any given time between 20 and 40 per cent of older adults feel lonely. » | Steve Connor, Chicago | Sunday, February 16, 2014

Italian 'Mummy's Boys' Told by Church That 'Mamma' One of the Biggest Risks to Marriage

Italian men are traditionally very close to their mothers

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The Catholic church has warned that Italian men's adoration of their mothers is harming their marriages

The Italian male deference to their mothers may be seen from afar as an endearing trait – as joyously traditional a part of their heritage as pizza, pasta and Prosecco.

But the Catholic Church has issued a grave warning that "mammismo" – the classic attachment between Italian men and their mothers – is one of the biggest risks to marriage in the country today.

"Marriage has to be an act of free will and awareness," said Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa and president of the country's bishops conference.

"When you rely totally on your parents for every step, a spouse does not know what to do or not to do because he's constantly seeking the consensus of a third person." Read on and comment » | Josephine McKenna, Rome | Sunday, February 16, 2014

Royal Idiocy! Prince William Wants 'All Royal Ivory Destroyed'

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: There are some 1,200 objects made with ivory in the royal collection. Their possible destruction is welcomed by wildlife campaigners, but not by some art enthusiasts

The Duke of Cambridge wants to strip all the ivory from Buckingham Palace and destroy it, The Independent on Sunday can reveal, in a move conservationists hailed as "extremely significant" in the fight against elephant poaching.

Some 1,200 items containing ivory are listed in the royal collection, including a throne from India that incorporates elephant-ivory plaques. The move would seek to encourage other heads of states to give up their ivory stocks and collections.

The revelation comes days after the Duke attended the world's largest ever conference on the illegal wildlife trade, which called for an end to the £12bn trade in animals and their parts, including ivory. At least 45 tons of ivory were seized in 2013, believed to be the biggest annual haul in a quarter of a century. » | Sarah Morrison | Sunday, February 16, 2014

My comment:

What a ridiculous suggestion! What good will destroying all those wonderful objets d'art do? That would be wanton destruction, rather like Salafists wanting to destroy the Sphinx and the Pyramids. I feel sure that the Queen would not warm to this suggestion!

If Prince William really wants to do something positive for elephants, then he can determine not to accept such gifts in future, and not purchase anything made with ivory from now on.

This suggestion is redolent of those women who took their fur coats and burned them. It did not bring back the animals who had to suffer to make them, not did it help to keep anyone warm.

This suggestion is more than silly, it's ridiculous. –© Mark

This comment appears here too.

The Andrew Marr Show

Andrew Marr is joined by key political personalities and cultural figures to discuss current affairs and the arts. Guests include actor George Clooney and author Robert M Edsel.
Watch The Andrew Marr Show on BBC iPlayer here | Sunday, February 16, 2014

Talk to Al Jazeera: Erdogan: Turkey's Rôle in the Middle East

The Turkish prime minister shares his views on the war in Syria, the coup in Egypt and relations with Israel and Iran.

Kerry Pays Tribute to Islam in Jakarta

John Kerry and Grand Imam Ali Mustafa Ya'qub at the grand
domed prayer hall at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia
on Sunday

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: Secretary of state, bidding to help repair US-Muslim ties during southeast Asia swing, visits region’s largest mosque

JAKARTA — US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Southeast Asia’s largest mosque during his visit to Indonesia Sunday, paying tribute to Islam in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

After removing his shoes outside the Istiqlal mosque in the heart of Jakarta, Kerry walked through the vast building accompanied by grand imam Kyai al-Hajj Ali Mustafa Yaqub.

Calling it an “extraordinary place”, the top US diplomat told Indonesian reporters: “I am very privileged to be here and I am grateful to the grand imam for allowing me to come.” » | AFP | Sunday, February 16, 2014

Data Protection: Angela Merkel Proposes Europe Network

BBC: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is proposing building up a European communications network to help improve data protection.

It would avoid emails and other data automatically passing through the United States.

In her weekly podcast, she said she would raise the issue on Wednesday with French President Francois Hollande.

Revelations of mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency (NSA) have prompted huge concern in Europe.

Disclosures by the US whistleblower Edward Snowden suggested even the mobile phones of US allies, such as Mrs Merkel, had been monitored by American spies.

Classified NSA documents revealed that large amounts of personal data are collected from the internet by US and British surveillance. » | Saturday, February 15, 2014

Rich Should Get More Votes, Says Billionaire Tom Perkins

Tom Perkins calls for the rich to be given more votes

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Outspoken magnate Tom Perkins who likened attacks on the very rich to anti-Semitism, courts further controversy as he calls for the right to vote to be linked to how much tax people pay

Tom Perkins, the Silicon Valley billionaire, has risked further controversy by saying the rich should be given more votes than the less well off.

An unrepentant Mr Perkins also said those who paid no taxes whatsoever should be disfranchised.

The venture capitalist, enlisted both Thomas Jefferson and Baroness Thatcher in his call for a radical change to the voting system.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, he appeared to revel in the notoriety his previous remarks as he spoke to a sell-out audience.

“Thomas Jefferson, at the beginning of this country thought to vote you had to be a landowner,” he said. » | David Millward, US Correspondent | Saturday, February 15, 2014

Salafists Want to Destroy the Sphinx and Pyramids (2012)

Deutschland: Ungebremster Zulauf für Salafisten

270 Muslime aus Deutschland sind laut Verfassungsschutz inzwischen in den Bürgerkrieg gereist, 110, also der Großteil, stammen aus Nordrhein-Westfalen. Eine Reisewelle mit tödlichen Folgen: Im Oktober 2013 starb Burak Karan, ein Deutsch-Türke aus Wuppertal. In dieser Woche machte Robert Baum aus Solingen Schlagzeilen.

Salafisten: Bedrohung für Deutschland? Ulrich Kraetzer zum Thema

Nicht jeder Salafist ist ein Terrorist, aber fast alle Terroristen sind Salafisten

Austrian Red Cross in Hot Water after ‘Rejecting’ Blood Donations from Muslims

RT: Austria's Red Cross has come under fire from the local Islamic community after one of its doctors reportedly refused to accept blood donations from Muslims or donors of Turkish origin due to the risk of Hepatitis B.

Austria-based charity group for Austrian Muslims, the IRG foundation, which has been campaigning to donate blood, reported on its website a Red Cross doctor from Linz, Austria’s third-biggest city, refused over the phone to accept blood donations “from Muslim or Turkish donors” including those born in Austria. The Islamic Religious Community of Linz has been outraged by the decision, which sparked religious prejudice concerns. » | Friday, February 14, 2014

As Hate Crimes Rise, British Muslims Say They’re Becoming More Insular

THE NEW YORK TIMES: BIRMINGHAM, England — Alum Rock, a neighborhood of Birmingham, looks the way Pakistan might, if Pakistan were under gray northern skies and British rule.

The streets are lively but orderly, with shops that provide the largely South Asian population with most of its needs. The huge Pak Supermarket, with its 10-kilogram bags of spices and rices, is matched by the nearby Pak Pharmacy. Nearly every face is South Asian, and people wear a vibrant mixture of clothing, from Western styles to head scarves, knitted caps and full-face veils, or niqabs.

But the Muslims of Alum Rock, Washwood Heath and Sparkbrook, who make up most of the more than 21 percent of Birmingham’s population who declare Islam as their religion, are newly uneasy, they say. The backlash from the killing of a white soldier, Lee Rigby, in London in May by two fanatical young British Muslims, combined with anxieties about the flow of jihadis between Britain and Syria and the sometimes harshly anti-immigrant tone of leading British politicians have combined to create a new wariness among British Muslims.

“It is a less comfortable country than it used to be,” said Sadruddin Ali, 35, born and raised here.

Anti-Muslim hate crimes are up, the police and Muslim advocacy groups say. In response, many British Muslims say they are becoming more insular and more reluctant to leave their areas of Britain’s big cities, where they are among other Muslims and South Asians. » | Steven Erlanger | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Jamaicans Lead Caribbean Calls for Britain to Pay Slavery Reparations

Caribbean slave descendants, some of whose ancestors worked for David Cameron's distant family, are calling for an apology and billions of pounds in reparations

Read the Telegraph article here | Jon Swaine, Jamaica | Saturday, February 15, 2014

History Channel Documentary: The French Revolution

On July 14, 1789, a mob of angry Parisians stormed the Bastille and seized the King's military stores. A decade of idealism, war, murder, and carnage followed, bringing about the end of feudalism and the rise of equality and a new world order. The French Revolution is a definitive feature-length documentary that encapsulates this heady (and often headless) period in Western civilization. With dramatic reenactments, illustrations, and paintings from the era, plus revealing accounts from journals and expert commentary from historians, The French Revolution vividly unfurls in a maelstrom of violence, discontent, and fundamental change. King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Maximilien Robespierre, and Napoleon Bonaparte lead a cast of thousands in this essential program from THE HISTORY CHANNEL®. Narrated by Edward Herrmann (The Aviator, Gilmore Girls), The French Revolution explores the legacy that--now more than ever--stands as both a warning and a guidepost to a new millennium

Inside Story: Scotland: A Rocky Road to Independence

The British government warns Scots of the consequences of its plans to withdraw from the Union.

The New Jihadists Make Al-Qaeda Look Like Tired Old Has-beens

Al-Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri, above, is seen as the godfather
of Islamist terrorism – but an increasingly isolated one

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The creation of a de facto Islamic state in Syria could act as a springboard for a takeover of the Arab world

There is something rather laughable about the fugitive leader of al-Qaeda railing – as he has been recently – against the violent tactics employed by a new generation of Islamist militants.

This, after all, is an organisation that is no stranger to committing wanton acts of unprovoked violence, such as last year’s assault on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall. Judging from reports this week, it may also have radicalised the first British man to carry out a suicide bombing in the Syrian civil war.

But what really seems to be bugging Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s ideological linchpin, is not so much the violent methods being employed by militants fighting in Syria and Iraq, but the fact that they are no longer prepared to take orders from him. He is the godfather of Islamist terrorism – but an increasingly isolated one.

This is certainly the view of American intelligence officials, who closely monitor every aspect of Islamist activity around the world.

“What we are looking at is the replacement of al-Qaeda by a new generation of Islamist militants who have a far more radical and focused agenda,” a senior US counter-terrorism official told me in an interview in Washington. “The new generation of these terrorists are far more ambitious. They are not just content with plotting terror attacks against the West: they are determined to create their own Islamist state.” » | Con Coughlin | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Iran: Geschlechtsumwandlung oder Strafe

ZEIT ONLINE: In keinem Land gibt es so viele Geschlechtsumwandlungen wie im Iran. Für viele Homosexuelle ist die Operation der einzige Weg, um Stigmatisierung und Strafen zu entgehen.

Ohne islamisches Kopftuch dürfen sie nicht antreten, Männer als Zuschauer im Stadion sind verboten, trotzdem gewinnt der Frauenfußball im Iran immer mehr Fans. 50.000 Sportlerinnen kicken Woche für Woche in den verschiedenen Ligen, die jetzt für Schlagzeilen sorgen. Einige der besten Athletinnen, darunter vier aus der Nationalmannschaft und drei aus der Ersten Liga, sind nämlich Männer – Spieler, bei denen die chirurgische Geschlechtsumwandlung zur Frau noch nicht abgeschlossen ist. Alle sieben wurden vorläufig suspendiert. "Wenn die Operation erfolgreich und das Problem gelöst ist, können sie wieder ins Team zurückkehren", beschwichtigte der Chefmediziner des Iranischen Fußballverbandes, Ahmad Haschemian.

Geschlechtsumwandlungen lassen sich nur in mehreren Etappen durchführen, die in der Regel zwei Jahre dauern. Seit Irans Staatsgründer Ayatollah Ruhollah Chomeini vor drei Jahrzehnten in einer Fatwa den chirurgischen Eingriff für vereinbar mit dem Islam erklärte, verzeichnet die Islamische Republik nach Thailand weltweit die meisten Geschlechtsumwandlungen. Wer sich in einem falschen Körper gefangen fühle, dürfe den Körper verändern lassen, um sein Leiden zu lindern, urteilte Chomeini. Fortan galt Transsexualität in der schiitischen Morallehre als heilbare Krankheit, ganz im Gegensatz zur Homosexualität. Sie wird nach wie vor verurteilt als Verbrechen und Gotteslästerung, die mit Auspeitschung oder dem Tod bestraft werden kann. » | Von Martin Gehlen | Freitag, 14. Februar 2014

Pakistan : trois blessés dans une bagarre entre pro et anti-Saint-Valentin

LE PARISIEN: Pas de bisous mais des coups pour la Saint Valentin à Peshawar, au Pakistan. Dans le très conservateur nord-ouest du pays, une bagarre entre étudiants contre la fête de l'amour, et ceux en sa faveur, a fait au moins trois blessés, selon la police. Pour célébrer la fête de l'amour et, oublier un peu les attentats meurtriers qui ensanglantent régulièrement la ville, des membres de la Fédération des étudiants pachtounes, marquée à gauche, avaient organisé un petit rassemblement avec ballons rouges et gâteaux.

Mais la fête de la romance a tourné court. Elle a été interrompue par le débarquement d'un groupe rival en colère, celui des étudiants de la Islami Jamiat Tulba (IJT), proche du parti islamiste Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) qui jugent la Saint-Valentin contraire aux valeurs de l'islam. L'IJT avait appelé ses membres à faire au contraire preuve de modération en célébrant un «Jour de la modestie». » | LeParisien.fr | vendredi 14 février 2014

Le tueur norvégien Breivik menace d'une grève de la faim pour une console

Le tuer norvégien d'extrême droite Anders Behring Breivik
menace dans un courrier d'entamer une grève de la faim pour
obtenir une amélioration de ses conditions de détention qu'il
assimile à de la «torture» faute notamment d'obtenir la
console de jeux voulue

LE PARISIEN: Il réclame une console plus moderne et des «jeux pour adultes». Le tueur norvégien Anders Behring Breivik, qui avait tué 77 personnes lors des attentats du 22 juillet 2011, menace d'entamer une grève de la faim pour obtenir une amélioration de ses conditions de détention qu'il assimile à de la «torture».

Dans un courrier envoyé aux autorités carcérales en novembre, le terroriste d'extrême-droite pose 12 exigences. Susceptibles selon lui de rendre son séjour en prison conforme avec la réglementation européenne, ces demandes portent sur des droits fondamentaux, comme la possibilité de promenade ou de communiquer, et des détails anecdotiques.

Il réclame notamment le remplacement de la Playstation 2 mise à sa disposition par une PS3 «avec accès à des jeux pour adulte que je peux moi-même choisir», et de sa chaise de bureau «douloureuse» par un sofa ou un fauteuil. «Les autres détenus ont accès à des jeux pour adulte alors que je n'ai le droit de jouer qu'à des jeux pour enfants d'un moindre intérêt. Un exemple est "Rayman Revolution", un jeu (d'aventure dont la suite s'appelle "La grande évasion", ndlr) conçu pour des enfants de trois ans», écrit le tueur âgé de 35 ans. » | LeParisien.fr | vendredi 14 février 2014

Judge Bans Muslim Patrol Vigilantes from Promoting Sharia Law in Britain

Banned: Jordan Horner, also known as Jalaal Uddin, seen here
in Leyton, London, in 2007

DAILY EXPRESS: THREE Islamic converts who were jailed for threatening non-believers in self-styled Muslim Patrol vigilante attacks were today banned from promoting Sharia Law in Britain.

Converts Jordan Horner, 20, Ricardo McFarlane, 26, and Royal Barnes, 23, have been handed Antisocial Behavioural Orders (Asbos) which forbid them from forcing their views on others.

They have also been forbidden from meeting hate cleric Anjem Choudary.

Judge Timothy Pontius admitted the order was “drastic” but at the Old Bailey added: “With the public interest in mind and the safety of individual members of the public in particular, it seems to me essential that these orders should be granted to run for that period of time.”

The gang had targeted young couples holding hands, people drinking alcohol and women who they deemed to dress “inappropriately” in a month of “religious vigilantism” between December 2012 and January 2013.

The Asbos issued today bar them from distributing material or accosting members of the public and causing them “harassment, alarm or distress”.

They were also forbidden from associating with each other and radical clerics Anjem Choudary and Dean Le Page, both leading members of banned group al-Muhajiroun, later known as Muslims Against Crusades, unless in peaceful worship in a mosque. » | Ted Jeory | Friday, February 14, 2014

Related »

Jordan Horner Given Asbo for 'Religious Extremism'

BBC: A man from east London has been given a "landmark" Asbo for spreading extremist religious views, the Met Police said.

Jordan Horner, 20, of Walthamstow, has been linked to extreme religious groups and taken part in vigilante patrols and street protests promoting extreme versions of Islam, police said.

Restrictions were placed on him at the Old Bailey for five years.

Waltham Forest Police said it sent a "clear message" and officers added it was a "landmark case". [Source: BBC] | Friday, February 14, 2014

Terrorist Group Releases British 'Suicide Bomber' Martyrdom Video

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Abdul Waheed Majeed smiles and poses for the camera with fellow fighters minutes before he carries out what is believed to be the first suicide attack by a Briton in Syria

Looking calm and relaxed, it is hard to believe these are the last moments of Abdul Waheed Majeed's life.

The jihadist, thought to be the first British citizen to carry out a suicide attack in Syria, poses for the camera with his hands nonchalantly in his pockets, dressed in a white Muslim robe and black scarf on his head bearing the insignia of an extremist Islamist group.

Minutes later he would drive a truck laden with explosives into the gates of a nearby prison, killing himself and scores others.

Today, Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaeda-aligned group to which he belonged, released a 46-minute "martyrdom" video showing the moments leading up to his death.

Standing next to the truck he would use in his mission, he is approached by the cameraman and asked in Arabic to say some final words. Majeed appears not to understand and a third voice interrupts to explain that he speaks English. (+ Telegraph video) » | Josie Ensor | Friday, February 14, 2014

New Cardinal Vincent Nichols: Welfare Cuts ‘Frankly a Disgrace’

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, condemns Government's austerity programme as a ‘disgrace’ for leaving poor facing ‘destitution’

Read the Telegraph article here | John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor | Friday, February 14, 2014

Lebanese Get Naked in Support of Topless Skier

Lebanese professionals have rallied behind Jackie Chamoun

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Beirut is rocked by car bombs, the country, once again, teetering on the brink of war, a new civil movement has sprung up - and they're not wearing any clothes

Hundreds of Lebanese professionals are posting nude pictures of themselves online in solidarity with Jackie Chamoun, the 22-year-old Lebanese Olympic skier, who was this week publicly scorned by the country's politicians for participating in a risqué photo-shoot.

The "I Am Not Naked" campaign, in which people are invited to strip off their clothes and be photographed, covering their private areas with a round sign saying #StripForJackie, was started on the spur of the moment by friends of Ms Chamoun.

"It took us a few hours to launch the idea and the Facebook page on Tuesday," said Mohamad Abdouni, a co-organiser of the campaign and the editor for a Lebanese arts magazine. "I went to bed at 6am and when I woke up at 10am on the same day, I found 4,000 likes on the Facebook page!"

The campaign has since taken Lebanese media by storm, dominating chat shows, newspapers and social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook. And it has gone beyond Ms Chamoun's breasts, kickstarting the conversation about what kind of a society Lebanon wants to be. » | Ruth Sherlock, Beirut | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Related »

Extremist Greek Group Vows Attacks on German Firms, Blaming Berlin for Crisis

Popular anger in Greece, torn by political and financial turmoil, is reaching alarming levels. A radical anti-capitalist movement has published a manifesto, blaming Germany for the dire state of the Greek economy, and threatening to launch attacks on the country's companies and politicians. The Popular Fighters' Group has admitted to firing shots at the German ambassador's residence in December last year.

Endless Standoff? Bahrain Burns With Protests Three Years On

Shia villages outside Bahrain's capital have been left shrouded in tear gas after fierce clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators. The protest movement is marking three years of its uprising against the ruling Sunni monarchy, which has been met with a relentless crackdown and thousands of arrests. RT's Alexey Yaroshevsky reports on the long-running standoff.

Islam v. West? : 'Major Civilizations on Collision Course'

Gender roles have traditionally been defined rigidly by most cultures, but the feminist and women's rights movements have resulted in a convergence between the sexes. Can men and women be truly equal, or is the drive to impose equality fueling the battle of the sexes and bringing us into conflict with fundamental biological differences? Oksana is joined by psychologist Glenn Wilson to elaborate on these issues.

Watch full version here

Valentine’s Day Is Banned by the Religious Police in Saudi Arabia

THE JOURNAL: But people still buy chocolates and roses in secret.

RED ROSES LURK hidden in flower shop back rooms and heart-shaped chocolates are sold under the counter, but Saudis still manage to buy Valentine’s gifts and defy the religious police.

Florist Hussein came up with a simple solution to a ban on red tokens of love: he filled his window with white roses, orange irises and violet hydrangeas.

“I’ve hidden everything red in the shop, so when a religious police patrol comes along, they find nothing to complain about,” he said.

Anti-Valentine’s Day patrols by the Muttawa religious police, formally known as the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, started on Wednesday.

They began entering premises stocking chocolates, flowers and souvenirs to warn proprietors against selling anything red or heart-shaped and linked to the annual “infidel celebration” of matters romantic. » | © AFP | Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentine's Day 'Leads to Fraud and Baby-dumping', Says Malaysia's Islamic Watchdog

A number of Acehnese Muslim senior high school students
students hold a protest against Valentine's Dat celebrations
in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslim authorities in Malaysia blame Valentine's Day for social ills from abortion to alcoholism, but members of minority Chinese community celebrate with mass wedding

Malaysian Islamic authorities took their annual swipe at Valentine's Day Friday, calling it a threat to Muslim values, but 138 couples took part in a mass wedding to mark the date.

In its official Friday sermon text distributed to mosques in the Muslim-majority country, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department blamed Valentine's Day for everything from alcoholism to abortion.

"Social ceremonies such as this are a stepping-stone towards greater social ills such as fraud, mental disorder caused by alcohol, abortion and baby-dumping, and other negative ills that can invite disaster and moral decay among youths," it said.

Known by its Malay-language acronym JAKIM, the department is an official watchdog of Muslim values. It regularly denounces Valentine's Day as encouraging vice and promiscuity. » | AFP | Friday, February 14, 2014 | Valentine’s Day

Whiteout: Monster Snowstorm Wipes Out Power for Half Million

Read the article here | Erik Ortiz | Thursday, February 13, 2014

La Belgique, premier pays à élargir l'euthanasie aux mineurs sans limite d'âge

Manifestation anti-euthanasie, dimanche à Bruxelles

LE FIGARO: Malgré l'opposition de l'Église catholique et des voix dissonantes dans le corps médical, 73 % des Belges sont favorables à la légalisation de l'euthanasie pour les mineurs, sans âge minimum.

La Belgique est devenue jeudi soir le premier pays d'Europe à permettre aux enfants atteints de maladie incurable de choisir l'euthanasie sans âge minimum, afin d'abréger leur souffrance. Seuls les Pays-Bas disposent jusqu'ici d'une loi comparable, mais elle ne s'applique qu'aux mineurs de 12 ans et plus..

La question de la «capacité de discernement» d'un enfant confronté à la douleur et à une mort certaine a été l'un des rares sujets de controverse d'un débat très serein, tant pour la classe politique que dans la société civile. La réalité, exprimée par les praticiens, est que les pédiatres et les infirmiers répondaient déjà dans l'illégalité à la demande des enfants en fin de vie, souvent relayée par des parents eux-mêmes anéantis par un combat sans espoir.

Malgré l'opposition de l'Église catholique et des voix dissonantes dans le corps médical, 73 % des Belges sont favorables à la légalisation de l'euthanasie pour les mineurs. Le vote de la loi par la Chambre des représentants ne faisait plus guère de doute depuis quelques jours. Dans ce royaume de tradition catholique, seule une minorité de députés - chrétiens-démocrates, quelques libéraux et extrême droite flamande du Vlaams Belang - restaient résolus contre le texte. Le gouvernement a laissé la liberté de vote. » | Par Jean-Jacques Mevel | jeudi 13 février 2014

Boris Johnson Is One of Us, Claims Ancient Russian Ethnic Group from Sochi Region

Meet the ancestors: Circassians in Sochi sport traditional headwear
– that bears a remarkable similarity to Boris Johnson's
blond-mop hairstyle

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: An ancient ethnic group that originates from the region around Winter Olympics city Sochi has claimed Boris Johnson as one of their own.

Elders of the Circassian community — famous for their blond hair, blue eyes and “warrior-like” demeanour — have invited the Mayor to visit them in Southern Russia.

They offered to help Mr Johnson, who has no plans to attend the Winter Games, track the roots of great-great-grandmother Hanifa Fered, who they say originates from the region.

His ancestor was one of 1.5 million Circassians — or Adygea — to flee the area now known as Sochi in the 19th century as Russia conquered it.

Hanifa crossed the Black Sea to the Ottoman Empire — present-day Turkey — but was sold as a slave on arrival, a fate that befell many Circassian women who were considered to be among the world’s most beautiful (Miss International Australia 2013, Felicia Djamirze, is Circassian).

The story has been passed down the Mayor’s family: Hanifa was bought as a concubine, and later married, Mr Johnson’s great-great-grandfather Ahmet Hamdi Kemal, a beeswax merchant from the village of Kalfat. Their son Ali Kemal, a journalist, poet and politician, married his Anglo-Swiss wife Winifred in London before returning to Turkey. He was murdered during the Turkish War of Independence. » | Will Stewart in Moscow and Pippa Crerar | Thursday, February 13, 2014

Britain Must Act over Uganda's Anti-gay Bill or Risk Watching an Exodus

Masked Kenyan supporters of the LGBT community stage a
protest against Uganda's anti-gay bill in front of the Ugandan
High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Activists fear gay Ugandan's will be forced to seek asylum if President Yoweri Museveni fails to veto controversial bill

Uganda is facing an exodus of its gay population if the country presses ahead with a controversial bill that allows life imprisonment for homosexuality.

Gay activists in the country believe that large numbers of Ugandan gays will flee if President Yoweri Museveni fails to veto the bill, which could otherwise become law by the end of next week.

The Ugandan leader has been urged by Britain and other Westerns nations to block the bill, but is under pressure from conservatives in his parliament, which voted by a majority in favour of it in December.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Frank Mugisha, a leading Ugandan gay activist, said that hostility to gays in Uganda had increased since the vote, and that many would leave the country altogether if Mr Museveni failed to exercise his veto. Britain, which ran Ghana as a protectorate until 1962, would be an obvious destination to seek asylum in, both because of its colonial links and its reputation as a liberal country for gays to live in. » | Colin Freeman | Thursday, February 13, 2014

George Osborne: Sharing the Pound with Scotland Is 'Not Going to Happen'

The Chancellor uses a speech in Edinburgh to say: "If Scotland walks away from the UK, it walks away from the pound"

Read the Telegraph article here | Ben Riley-Smith, Scottish Political Reporter | Thursday, February 13, 2014

La Belgique autorise les mineurs à choisir l'euthanasie

Au parlement belge, les députés ont tranché en faveur de
l'euthanasie pour les mineurs, sous strictes conditions

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Les enfants atteints d'une maladie incurable en Belgique vont pouvoir choisir l'euthanasie pour abréger leurs souffrance.

Les députés ont adopté le texte jeudi matin 13 février malgré l'opposition de certains pédiatres et de la hiérarchie catholique.

La Belgique est le deuxième pays au monde, après les Pays-Bas, à autoriser sous de strictes conditions l'euthanasie pour les mineurs. Là où le législateur néerlandais à prévu un âge minimum de 12 ans, les élus belges ont opté pour la notion, plus flexible, de «capacité de discernement». » | ats,afp/Newsnet | jeudi 13 février 2014

Hollande-Obama, tandem transatlantique

Michelle Obama, François Hollande et Barack Obama, le 11
février, lors du dîner d'État organisé à la Maison Blanche
en l'honneur du chef de l'État français

LE FIGARO: La visite d'État à Washington a permis de souder deux présidents qui ont besoin l'un de l'autre en diplomatie.

Entre la chaleur de l'accueil, les fastes du dîner d'État et les éloges appuyés d'Obama à l'exemplarité du couple franco-américain en matière de coopération diplomatique et militaire, la visite de Washington aura été une bouffée d'oxygène pour François Hollande, loin des tracas de la politique française et de ses records d'impopularité. » | Par Laure Mandeville | mercredi 12 février 2014

LE FIGARO: Magie, amitié, caviar et bœuf aux échalotes, au menu du dîner d'État : François Hollande a été accueilli en grande pompe par le couple Obama, lors d'une réception à la Maison-Blanche mardi soir. » | Correspondante à Washington | Par Laure Mandeville, Rosa Chevassu | mercredi 12 février 2014

The Queen and I – Interview with Farah Pahlavi

Filmmaker and Iranian exile Nahid Persson Sarvestani talks with the widow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the late Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in 1979.

A Conversation with Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran

Retourkutsche: EU will Zuzug von Schweizern bremsen

DIE PRESSE: Nach der Volksabstimmung, mit der die Schweiz die Einwanderung vor allem aus EU-Ländern begrenzt, denkt Brüssel über Gegenmaßnahmen nach.

Von wegen "nicht gleich losschlagen", wie es EU-Parlamentspräsident Martin Schulz gefordert hatte: Die EU denkt bereits fieberhaft über Retourkutschen nach, nachdem die Schweizer sich am Sonntag in einem Referendum knapp mit 50,3 Prozent für eine Einschränkung der Personenfreizügigkeit ausgesprochen hatten. 20.000 Stimmen hatten den Ausschlag gegeben.

EU-Kommissionspräsident José Manuel Barroso hat nun unverhohlen gedroht, dass Schweizer künftig ebenfalls nicht mehr ohne weiteres in EU-Ländern wohnen und arbeiten könnten: „Im Sinne der Gegenseitigkeit ist es nicht richtig, dass Schweizer Bürger die unbeschränkte Personenfreizügigkeit in der Europäischen Union haben“, sagte Barroso in einem Interview mit der Nachrichtenagentur Reuters. Konkrete Strafmaßnahmen nannte er aber nicht. „Es ist unfair, dass ein Land alle Vorteile hat und seinen Partnern nicht dieselben Vorteile gewähren will“, betonte der Politiker. » | APA/Reuters/SDA/red. | Mittwoch, 12. Februar 2014

Türkei: Zwei Jahre Haft für "Beleidigung" Erdogans

Erdogan

DIE PRESSE: In der Türkei wurden 17 Regierungsgegner verurteilt, weil sie bei einer Protestaktion Regierungschef Recep Tayyip Erdogan kritisiert haben

Wegen "Beleidigung des Ministerpräsidenten und fehlender Reue": Medienberichten zufolge hat die türkische Justiz am Mittwoch zweijährige Haftstrafen gegen 17 Regierungsgegner verhängt. Die Demonstranten hätten im Jahr 2012 bei einer kleinen Protestaktion in der Stadt Eskisehir den islamisch-konservativen Regierungschef Recep Tayyip Erdogan kritisiert. Eine Berufung ist laut "Hürriyet" unzulässig.

Der Zeitung zufolge hätten die Regierungsgegner bei der Protestaktion Erdogan als "Diener des Internationalen Währungsfonds" und "Diener der Bosse" kritisiert. Der lautstarke Protest gegen die Gesundheitspolitik der AKP-Regierung sei vom Gericht in Eskisehir als "Beamtenbeleidigung" ausgelegt worden. » | APA/AFP | Mittwoch, 12. Februar 2014

British People Too 'Uninformed' to Vote in EU Referendum, Top Eurocrat Claims

Viviane Reding claimed that Britons were not well-informed enough

DAILY EXPRESS: BRITISH people do not know enough about the European Union to decide whether or not to stay in it, a top Brussels official has claimed.

European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding also questioned the ability of Britons to vote in EU elections, as she claimed 70 per cent of UK laws are made by the European parliament.

Mrs Reding said the truth about what happens in Europe is often "completely distorted", which meant voters did not have the facts they needed at the ballot box.

She also insisted the European parliament was the "most powerful" within the union because it made or was jointly responsible for most new laws.

During a question and answer session in London, Mrs Reding urged Britain to spend more time debating EU membership before the possible future in/out referendum.

"Do the people who are asked to vote know what they are going to vote about?" she said.

"I don't care what kind of personal decision you take, the only thing I care for is that you take an informed decision, whatever your decision be."

She said Britain was not using its "tradition of debate" over Europe, adding: "I really wonder why. Because you are on the verge of having maybe a national decision, to take very important decisions." » | Alison Little and Jane Mathews | Tuesday, February 11, 2014

105mph Wind Recorded as Gales Batter Britain

A man walks through the sandstorm at the Swansea seafront
in south Wales on 12 February 2014

THE GUARDIAN: Wales hit by record wind speed as Thames is set to rise to highest level in 60 years

Strong winds continued to batter the UK on Wednesday, causing disruption to road and rail networks and leaving 21,000 people without power.

A top wind speed of 105mph was recorded in Aberdaron in north-west Wales, and Western Power Distribution said electricity supplies had been hit in south Wales, the south-west and the west Midlands. Gusts of 92mph have already been recorded in the Mumbles on the Gower Peninsula, south-west Wales, the weather forecaster Meteogroup said.

Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol was briefly closed for the first time in its history, and the storms have also brought a number of trees down. Coastal areas could also be battered by large waves, the Met Office said.

The Environment Agency warned that the Thames was set to rise in places to its highest levels in more than 60 years, causing severe disruption to communities in Windsor, Maidenhead and Surrey. » | Haroon Siddique, Matthew Weaver and agencies | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Inside Story: Squeezing Out Switzerland's Immigrants

What message do the Swiss send by backing a plan to restrict immigration from the European Union?

Inside Story: The Islamic Revolution Turns 35

After so many years, has the Revolution in Iran achieved its goals?

Al Jazeera World: Escape in Istanbul

Exclusive gated communities are springing up across Istanbul, but how are they shaping the social fabric of the city?

'Fantastic Day for Democracy!' Switzerland Narrowly Votes to Curb EU Immigration

Switzerland may have jeopardized its access to the EU market for the sake of curbing the number of immigrants coming into the country. The new law which will install quotas for foreign workers goes against long held agreements with Brussels. Well to talk more about the issue of immigration and Euroscepticism we're now joined live by MEP's Jo Leinen - he's in Brussels and Paul Nuttall from Liverpool.

Syrian Spillover: Deadly Violence in Lebanon as 'Al-Qaeda Ideology Spreads'

Humanitarian agencies are evacuating people from the besieged Syrian city of Homs as a ceasefire between the government and opposition is extended for another three days. Peace talks resumed in Geneva this week to try and end the war that's plunged the region into chaos. And neighbouring Lebanon is one of the countries worst affected, with not only the deadly violence, but also a radical ideology that's spilling over the border. RT's Maria Finoshina reports on the shocking revelations on who's joining the rebels from across the Syrian border.

Sochi 2014: Lebanese Skier Causes Controversy Over Topless Photos

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Lebanese skier taking part in Sochi has apologised for racy photos after country's sports minister called for an inquiry

A Lebanese skier competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics has sparked controversy back home after posing topless for a calendar.

The photos, which show Jackie Chamoun, 22, standing in snow holding strategically placed ski equipment to protect her modesty, were out-takes from an official photoshoot for the Austrian sports calendar.

Chamoun insisted that the risque pictures were not meant to go public, but local media were quick to accuse the alpine skier of "shaming" her country.

Lebanon is considered one of the most liberal countries in the Arab World, where women are free to wear skimpy clothes and where alcohol is widely available.

However, sections of society remain conservative by Western standards, and some took objection.

Faisal Karami, youth and sports minister, said he was asking Lebanon’s Olympic committee to look into the photos to ensure “the protection of Lebanon’s reputation.’’ » | Josie Ensor | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Welby Tells Church to Accept Gay 'Marriage' or Be Seen as 'Akin to Racists'

The Most Rev. Justin Welby

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Archishop of Canterbury insists it is not ‘wishy-washy’ to accommodate people with different views as the Church of England grapples with homosexuality and women bishops

The Archbishop of Canterbury has told the Church of England it may have to accept changes many members do not like for the sake of unity – as it prepares for a battle over wedding-like blessing services for gay couples.

The Most Rev Justin Welby acknowledged that many Anglicans would view the idea of special services honouring same-sex relationships as a “betrayal” of its traditions and even “apostacy” [sic] .

But he warned that others would see the Church as increasingly “irrelevant” and promoting attitudes “akin to racism” if it does not introduce them.

In a personal address to the Church’s decision-making General Synod, which is meeting in London, he urged members not to be afraid of “incoherence and inconsistency” in some cases and “untidy” arrangements to avoid splits.

He insisted that it was not “wishy-washy” to attempt to accommodate people with opposing views and said it was time for a massive “cultural change” in how it approaches disagreement. » | John Bingham | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Jose Manuel Barroso: Switzerland Has Most to Lose from EU Immigration Curb

People in Zurich walk past an electoral poster for the "Stop Mass
Immigration" referendum by the right-wing populist
Swiss People's Party

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: President of European Commission says it's more important for Switzerland to have access to world's biggest market than for the EU to have access to Switzerland

Switzerland stands to lose more than the EU from a vote to restrict immigration because it cannot enjoy all the benefits of the world's biggest market without reciprocal access, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.

In an interview for a Reuters Euro Zone Summit, Mr Barroso said the narrow Swiss referendum vote to restore quotas for migrants in breach of an agreement with the EU, would have "serious consequences" for relations between the wealthy Alpine nation and the 28-member union that surrounds it.

While he did not spell out any specific sanctions, Mr Barroso implied that Swiss people could lose the right to live and work in the EU, including neighbouring Germany, France and Italy, and Swiss companies might also face obstacles.

"In terms of reciprocity, it's not appropriate that Swiss citizens have unrestricted freedom of movement in the European Union - I think there are 430,000 here, which in relative terms is more than the 1 million European citizens that are in Switzerland," he said. Switzerland has a population of 8 million, one quarter foreigners, while the EU has 500 million. » | Reuters | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Belgium to Legalise Euthanasia for Children

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Belgium accused of "too much haste and too little fundamental debate" over controversial law extending euthanasia to children

Belgian MPs have been accused of "ideological stubbornness" by pressing ahead with a child euthanasia law that has divided doctors and "challenges the very basis of civilised society" according to critics.

Belgium's parliament is almost certain to pass legislation on Wednesday that will allow “terminally ill minors facing unbearable physical suffering” to undergo euthanasia if they request it.

Euthanasia has been legal for adults in Belgium for 11 years and according to the last annual figures 1,432 people were medically killed in 2012, usually after electing for a lethal injection administered by a doctor.

The extension of euthanasia to children, which enjoys the support of three-quarters of Belgians in opinion polls, has aroused intense opposition from many doctors and has united Belgium’s Christians, Jews and Muslims against the law.

Earlier this week a letter signed by 160 Belgian paediatricians asked MPs to “reflect” and not to rush the law onto the statute books, warning that children lacked “mature discernment” to choose euthanasia. » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Central African Republic: 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Muslims

BBC: International peacekeepers have failed to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Muslims in the Central African Republic, a human rights group says.

Militia attacks have led to a "Muslim exodus of historic proportions", according to a report by Amnesty International.

Aid groups have warned of a food crisis, as many of the shops and wholesalers were run by Muslims.

The UN's World Food Programme has started a month-long aid airlift.

The roads are too dangerous to transport food without a military escort, WFP spokesman Alexis Masciarelli told the BBC.

This is why the UN agency is taking the more expensive option of flying food in from neighbouring Cameroon. » | Wednesday, February 12, 2014

BBC: 'I'll be last Muslim in CAR': A government minister in the Central African Republic, Gaston Makouzemba, has warned there is a risk of a genocide as communities fight each other on religious and ethnic lines. All communities have been affected by the violence and now many Muslims are fleeing the country, afraid for their lives. One imam in the capital Bangui shared his fears with the BBC's Newsday programme: » | Monday, February 10, 2014

Atheists in Egypt Say They Struggle to Have Their Views Heard

BBC: A leading Egyptian cleric says Islamic extremism is motivating some people in the country to reject religion entirely.

Atheism is widely considered a taboo topic in Egypt and non-believers say that they often feel the need to keep their discussions private.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, the BBC spoke to a group of atheists about the difficulties they face living in a conservative society.

Hadya Alalawi reports (+ BBC video) » | Tuesday, February 11, 2014

EU to Review Swiss Ties after Immigration Vote

BBC: The European Union has said it will reassess ties with Switzerland after voters there backed plans to restrict migration from the EU.

The vote comes amid increasing debate across Europe about migration and the impact of free movement of people.

The economic impact could be great since half of Switzerland's exports are to the EU, with Germany its biggest trading partner.

Gavin Hewitt reports. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, February 10, 2014

Swiss Reaction to Immigration Vote

BBC: The Swiss vote to reintroduce immigration quotas and abandon free movement of people has attracted worldwide attention, but what is the reaction inside Switzerland?

Imogen Foulkes reports from Berne. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, February 10, 2014

First the Ground Zero Mosque, Now the Times Square Synagogue: Manhattan Developer Reveals Another Controversial Construction Project

THE INDEPENDENT: A Manhattan developer who was forced to shelve bold plans for an Islamic prayer and community centre just blocks from the World Trade Centre site after they triggered fierce street protests is embarking on a new project with a religious tilt though this time with a different congregation in mind.

Sharif el-Gamal, whose company, SoHo Properties, was behind the ill-fated Islamic centre proposal, confirmed this week that he is in final talks to purchase a vacant building close to Times Square on West 40 Street for the construction of a new tower with street-level shops, a hotel and, curiously, a large synagogue.

That Mr El-Gamal is proving such an equal opportunity dreamer is inevitably drawing attention if not on the scale of the flap stirred by Park51, the name given to the Islamic centre that never came to be. In truth, however, this deal has very little to do with religion except in the sense that dollars are the ultimate deity. » | Davis Usborne, New York | Tuesday, February 11, 2014