Why It Is More Important Than Ever to Invest in Defence of Democracy

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Ukraine crisis shows that defence matters as much as ever. Every ally needs to invest in its armed forces, Nato's secretary-general warns in the Telegraph

Sixty-five years ago this month, Nato was born into a dangerous world. As the Soviet shadow deepened across Europe, 12 nations from both sides of the Atlantic committed to individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law determined to stand together to safeguard their security.

Those nations were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. They took the most solemn pledge that any country can take: an attack on one would be viewed as an attack on all.

Today’s Nato brings together a unique combination of the world’s strongest democracies with an integrated military structure, a permanent political decision-making process and a network of more than 40 partners from around the world. It is where Europeans and North Americans consult, decide and act every day on security issues that concern us all. We have learned much from the last 20 years of challenging operations, from Afghanistan to Kosovo, from Libya to the Horn of Africa. We are now more efficient and effective than at any time in Nato’s history.

We still live in a dangerous world, and the threats are more complex and unpredictable than 65 years ago. Some are new: cyber and missile attacks. Others are age-old: attempts to redraw borders by force. What has not changed is Nato’s commitment to our fundamental values and purpose. Our motto remains: all for one, one for all. » | Anders Fogh Rasmussen | Sunday, April 06, 2014

Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the secretary general of Nato

La polémique sur les parallèles Poutine/Hitler s'enlise

LE FIGARO: Alors que la Russie légifère pour sanctionner la «réhabilitation du nazisme», l'Allemagne reste empêtrée dans la controverse après un parallèle hasardeux de son ministre des Finances.

Moscou entend mettre fin aux parallèles «Poutine/Hitler» qui se développent depuis l'annexion de la Crimée par la Russie. La Douma a examiné vendredi en première lecture un projet de loi visant à sanctionner «la négation de l'action des armées de la coalition anti-hitlérienne pour soutenir la paix mondiale et la sécurité ainsi que la diffusion d'informations mensongères relatives à la Seconde Guerre mondiale». La «réhabilitation du nazisme» sera punie, au maximum, d'une peine de prison de cinq ans. » | Par Pierre Avril, Nicolas Barotte | vendredi 04 avril 2014

Did Pot Legalization Do More Harm Than Good In Colorado?

Apr. 06, 2014 - 3:58 - Increase in violence, black market

Why America Is Changing So Drastically

Apr. 04, 2014 - 4:00 - Talking Points 4/4

Saudi-Arabien: Monarchie am Tropf

DER TAGESSPIEGEL: Der König ein kranker 90-Jähriger, das Volk jung, chancenlos und frustriert: Saudi-Arabien steht vor dem heikelsten Machtübergang seiner Geschichte

Beim Besuch von Barack Obama letzte Woche trug sein hochbetagter Gastgeber einen Sauerstoffschlauch in der Nase. Über 90 Jahre alt ist Saudi-Arabiens König Abdullah, rückenleidend, übergewichtig, schnell ermüdend und nur noch per Rollator beweglich. Der Monarch habe Krebs und nur noch wenige Monate zu leben, verbreiteten amerikanische Diplomaten, auch wenn er die zwei Stunden Diskussion mit dem eine Generation jüngeren US-Präsidenten offenbar mit Witz und Elan absolvierte.

Erst 24 Stunden zuvor hatte Abdullah wie aus heiterem Himmel seinen jüngsten Halbbruder, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, zum zweiten Kronprinzen befördert. Weiter lesen und einen Beitrag hinzufügen » | Von Martin Gehlen | Sonntag, 06. April 2014

Pakistani Couple Get Death Sentences for Blasphemy

BBC: A Pakistani Christian couple have been sentenced to death for blasphemy after allegedly sending a text message insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The couple, named as Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, were found guilty of sending the text message to the imam of their local mosque.

Allegations of blasphemy against Islam are taken very seriously in Pakistan.

Several recent cases have prompted international concern about the application of blasphemy laws.

The imam brought a complaint against the couple last July.

The couple's lawyer told the BBC he would appeal against the sentences and said the trial had not been conducted fairly.

Pakistan has a de facto moratorium on the death penalty so it is unlikely the couple will be executed.

They come from the town of Gojra in Punjab, previously the scene of communal violence. » | Saturday, April 05, 2014

Fracking On: Businesses & UK Government Dismiss Public Outcry

Protests are escalating against oil & gas companies' plans to expand fracking in UK. One drilling site (operated by Dart Energy) fears have been increased by the risk of un-exploded bombs underground. But as RT's Eunan O'Neill reports, for the politicians - business interests come first.

Der russische Vormarsch: Was tun? Deckmantel der Geschichte

ZEIT ONLINE: Wie Wladimir Putin die Vergangenheit missbraucht, um seine Politik der Gegenwart zu rechtfertigen

Am 18. März feierte Wladimir Putin einen persönlichen Sieg über die jüngere Geschichte seines Landes: Im prachtvollen Georgs-Saal des Kremls proklamierte er den Anschluss der Krim. Mit seiner Rede hat Russlands Präsident nicht nur seine Landsleute erreicht, sondern auch die Debatte in Deutschland über die Annexion der Krim – die erste Annexion in Europa seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg – verwirrt. Seither wird diskutiert, ob Putin mit seinen Ausführungen nicht doch recht habe und sein Vorgehen daher verständlich sei.

Um den Anschluss der Krim zu erklären, langte Russlands Präsident tief in die Vergangenheit und deutete die Geschichte für seine Zwecke. Diese Art von Geschichtspolitik ist so altbekannt wie simpel: Man verkürzt und verdreht die Vergangenheit so lange, bis der Gegner der Gegenwart diskreditiert ist. Putin hat eine Falle aufgestellt. Er tut so, als ginge es ihm ums Gestern, um historische Gefühle, um alte Ungerechtigkeiten. Russland und die Russen stellt er als Opfer des Westens, einer sich ausdehnenden Nato und finsterer Faschisten in Kiew dar. Russische Staatsjournalisten und Diplomaten wiederholen das wortgetreu. Man sollte ihnen genau zuhören, denn die russische Argumentation bedeutet in ihrem Kern nichts anderes als einen Angriff auf das friedliche Zusammenleben in Europa. Putin hat im Wesentlichen drei Thesen aufgestellt, die ungeheure Sprengkraft enthalten. Weiter lesen und einen Beitrag abgeben » | Von Michael Thumann | Freitag, 04. April 2014

Mormon Leader Reiterates Church's Opposition to Same-sex Marriage

THE GUARDIAN: Neil L Andersen said during the church's biannual conference that though others had redefined marriage, 'the Lord has not'

A Mormon leader on Saturday reiterated the church's opposition to gay marriage.

Neil L Andersen, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve, said during the church's biannual general conference in Salt Lake City: "While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not.

"He designated the purpose of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfilment of adults, to more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared and nurtured."

After a June 2013 US supreme court ruling struck down parts of the federal Defence of Marriage Act, gay marriage has become legal in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Federal judges have also struck down bans in Michigan, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia, and ordered Kentucky and Tennessee to recognise out-of-state gay marriages, though stays have been issued pending appeals.

On Friday, a judge in Ohio said he would order the state to recognise same-sex marriages from other states.

The Mormon church's message on homosexuality has softened in recent years, but this marks the second consecutive conference in which leaders have talked about their opposition to gay marriage. In 2012, Dallin H Oaks of the Quorum said human laws cannot "make moral what God has declared immoral". Read on and comment » | Associated Press in Salt Lake City | Saturday, April 05, 2014

Tu felix Helvetia: 3300 Euro Mindestlohn für die Verkäuferin

DIE PRESSE: Die bevorstehende Volksabstimmung genügt schon, damit bereits jetzt Schweizer Unternehmen den Mindestlohn auf 4000 Franken erhöhen.

Beim Urlaub sind die Schweizer sparsam. Sechs Wochen? Nicht notwendig, befand das Volk im März 2012 und stimmte mit beachtlichen 67 Prozent gegen eine Initiative, die den Mindesturlaub um zwei Wochen ausweiten wollte.
Beim Geld aber kennen die Eidgenossen keine Grenze nach oben - oder besser: nur eine sehr, sehr hohe Grenze. Während die deutsche Bundesregierung am Mittwoch - nach überaus heftigem Tauziehen - einen Mindestlohn von 8,50 Euro brutto pro Stunde beschlossen hat, dringt man in der Schweiz in völlig andere Sphären vor: Lidl, Aldi (der Schweizer Hofer) und jetzt auch die Bekleidungskette H & M haben eben einen Mindestlohn von 17,98 Euro pro Stunde umgesetzt. Hochgerechnet auf den Monat sind das 3269 Euro brutto für eine ungelernte Arbeitskraft. Nur zum Vergleich: Das Durchschnittseinkommen in Österreich liegt bei 2163 Euro brutto. » | Von Norbert Rief | Die Presse | Samstag, 05. April 2014

Metamorphosis: A Hungarian Extremist Explores His Jewish Roots

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Csanád Szegedi was a prominent right-wing extremist in Hungary until he discovered his own Jewish roots in 2012. Since then, he has undergone a radical reinvention and is even learning Hebrew. His grandmother, though, continues to hide her Auschwitz tattoo.

Csanád Szegedi's second life began in the apartment of Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, located above the Synagogue in the Erzsébetváros quarter of Budapest. A mohel -- a circumcision specialist -- had arrived from Israel. And with a single cut, the anti-Semite Csanád was transformed into Dovid, a Jew.

Csanád Szegedi, 31, had been the deputy head of right-wing extremist party Jobbik, which he also represented in the European Parliament. He had made a career of claiming that the Jews sought to plunder Hungary and that they had entered into an alliance with the Roma to turn "pure" Hungarians into a minority in their own country. In public, he would often wear the black military pants and vest of the Hungarian Guard, the banned right-wing extremist group.

But then he learned that his family was Jewish, a revelation that turned his life on its head.

Now, he calls himself Dovid Szegedi, eats kosher, is learning Hebrew and goes to the Synagogue every Friday. "This is my true identity," says Szegedi, who is almost two meters (6" 6') tall. He wears an Italian designer suit, scruffy stubble and a black kippah.

The story of Csanád's transformation into Dovid is one of radical reinvention, and also one of a desperate search for a reliable identity, one which continues to elude Eastern Europe even 25 years after the end of communism. » | Jan Puhl | Thursday, April 03, 2014

Russian Ambassadors 'Joked about Annexing Scotland'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A leaked recording purporting to be of envoys joking about adding Scotland, Alaska and Venice to Russia's conquest of Crimea is the latest salvo in the war of dirty tricks over Ukraine

The war of dirty tricks over the Ukraine crisis escalated on Friday with the leak of a conversation purporting to be of two Russian ambassadors joking about adding Scotland, Alaska, and Venice to Russia’s conquest of Crimea.

The expletive ridden conversation posted on Youtube features two voices said to be Igor Chubarov, the ambassador to Eritrea, and Sergei Bakharev, the ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The voice labelled as Mr Chubarov’s congratulates Mr Bakharev on persuading Zimbabwe to back Russia’s position on Crimea at the UN, and goes on to joke about telling a European diplomat about future conquests.

“We’ve got Crimea, but that’s not ----ing all, folks. In the future we’ll take you ----ing Catalonia, Venice, as well as Scotland and Alaska,” the voice says.

The pair go on to add Miami and London to their hit list, noting that "Miamiland' is ----ing 95 percent Russian citizens." » | Roland Oliphant, Moscow and Tony Paterson, Berlin | Friday, April 04, 2014

Russians Petition for Return of Alaska »

France's Le Pen: Ban Non-pork Meals in Schools

Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Leader of France's far-Right party says schools should not pander to Jewish and Muslim children by offering non-Pork alternatives for lunch

School canteens will no longer offer non-pork meal options in towns where France's anti-immigration far-right Front National (FN) party won local elections, its leader Marine Le Pen has said.

Mrs Le Pen reignited debate on a sensitive issue about the substitution meals targeting mainly Muslim and Jewish pupils for whom pork is taboo.

"We will accept no religious requirements in the school lunch menus," Mrs Le Pen told RTL radio. "There is no reason for religion to enter into the public sphere."

She defended the decision saying it was necessary to "save secularism". » | Saturday, April 05, 2014

THE INDEPENDENT: French National Front to stop Muslim and Jewish pupils having pork-free school dinners: 'We will not accept any religious demands in school menus,' the party's leader Marine Le Pen told a radio station » | Kashmira Gander | Saturday, April 05, 2014

LE POINT: Marine Le Pen veut imposer le porc dans les cantines : Marine Le Pen promet que ses nouveaux élus locaux "rétabliront les menus avec porc dans les cantines" s'il en a été supprimé. » | Source AFP | vendredi 04 avril 2014

Did Adolf Hitler Marry a Woman of Jewish Descent? DNA Tests ‘Show Eva Braun Associated with Ashkenazi Jews’

THE INDEPENDENT: The Dead Famous DNA film tested hair samples which are said to have come from a hairbrush used by Hitler's secret lover and discovered at his mountain retreat

Eva Braun, Adolf Hitler’s long-term lover who married the Nazi leader hours before their joint suicide in his Berlin bunker, may have had Jewish ancestry, ground-breaking DNA testing has found.

DNA analysis of hair samples from a hairbrush claimed to belong to Braun suggests that the fascist dictator responsible for the murder of millions of Jews may have unwittingly married a woman of semitic descent, in one of his final acts as the Third Reich crumbled.

The revelation appears in a Channel 4 documentary, Dead Famous DNA, broadcast next week, in which leading scientists attempt to extract DNA from relics and analyse their genome to solve mysteries associated with them. » | Adam Sherwin | Sayurday, April 05, 2014

Germany Preparing to Mobilise Once Mighty Luftwaffe in Response to Russia’s Crimea Crisis

DAILY EXPRESS: GERMANY is preparing to mobilise its once mighty Luftwaffe to patrol Europe's Russian border, it has been disclosed, as an international expert today warned placing Nato bases in former Soviet Union countries would further enrage Vladimir Putin.

German media reported at the weekend that Berlin's defence ministry was ready to make available up to six aircraft for a strengthened air patrolling mission in parts of eastern Europe, and the number of Nato aircraft would be at least doubled as a response to the crisis in Crimea.

Berlin has been reluctant to involve the German military in foreign conflicts, and after the Second World War West Germany's constitution went so far as to prohibit any military action, except in case of an external attack against Germany or its allies.

Earlier this month US President Barack Obama said Nato needed to boost its presence in those eastern European partner states that feel vulnerable to Russia.

But German magazine Der Spiegel quoted German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the weekend as saying it was important for Nato to keep a cool head and not get dragged into a military escalation.

"At the same time, our partners know that we stand for solidarity in the alliance with no ifs and buts and not just when the weather suits," Der Spiegel quoted. » | Owen Bennett | Political Reporter | Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Phone Nigel Farage Live: Put Your Questions to the UKIP Leader

Fresh from his debate with Nick Clegg, Ukip leader Nigel Farage is taking part in a live phone-in for Telegraph readers today. Watch the programme from 1pm (1300 BST)

Government to Move Ahead with Standardised Cigarette Packets

Read the BBC article here | Thursday, April 03, 2014

British Woman Jailed in Tehran for Insulting Islam and Iranian Government on Facebook Fears Execution

THE INDEPENDENT: Roya Saberi Negad Nobakht's husband said that she had only been charged after a confession was extracted from her 'under duress'

A British woman has been locked up in Iran for five months after posting derogatory comments about the country's government on Facebook and fears she will be executed, her husband has said.

Concerns are growing for the welfare of Roya Saberi Negad Nobakht, 47, from Stockport, who has been charged with "insulting Islamic sanctities", a crime which can be punishable by death. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was "urgently" looking into her case. However, Britain currently has no embassy in Iran, making any negotiations more difficult.

Mrs Nobakht was in Iran visiting family in October last year when she was arrested by police as she arrived by plane in the south western city of Shiraz, according to an account given by her husband, Daryoush Taghipoor, to a family friend in Britain.

She was then taken back to Tehran and charged with "gathering and participation with intent to commit crime against national security" and "insulting Islamic sanctities", according to a copy of her charge sheet seen by The Independent.

Mr Taghipoor, who is currently in Iran, claimed that his wife's arrest was over comments she had made on a Facebook group about the government being "too Islamic", and that she had only been charged after a confession was extracted from her "under duress". Facebook declined to comment. » | Chris Green | Senior Reporter | Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Saudiarabien: Abdullah bringt 69-jährigen „Jungspund“ in Stellung

König Abdullah

DIE PRESSE: Das wahabitische Wüstenkönigreich steht vor dem heikelsten Machtwechsel seines 80-jährigen Bestehens. Der 90-jährige kranke König Abdullah will bei der Thronfolge nichts dem Zufall überlassen.

Kairo/Riad. Beim Besuch von Barack Obama vergangene Woche trug sein hochbetagter Gastgeber einen Sauerstoffschlauch in der Nase. Über 90 Jahre ist Saudiarabiens König Abdullah alt, rückenleidend, übergewichtig, schnell ermüdend und nur noch per Rollator mobil. Der Monarch habe Krebs und nur noch wenige Monate zu leben, verbreiteten US-Diplomaten, auch wenn er die zwei Stunden Diskussion mit dem 52-jährigen US-Präsidenten offenbar mit Witz und Elan absolviert hat.

Nur 24 Stunden zuvor hat Abdullah wie aus heiterem Himmel seinen jüngsten Halbbruder, Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, zum zweiten Kronprinzen befördert. Die Entscheidung sei „unwiderruflich und kann von niemandem annulliert werden“, hieß es in dem Dekret. » | Von Martin Gehlen | Die Presse | Mittwoch, 02. April 2014

Russians Petition for Return of Alaska

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Not content with annexing Crimea, Russia appears to have its eyes on Alaska

More than 35,000 people have signed a petition on the White House website calling for Alaska to be returned to Russia after 117 years of American rule.

Written in stilted English, the petition says that “groups Siberian Russians” crossed the Bering Strait more than 10,000 years ago.

Alaska was Russian territory until 1867 when it was sold to the United States for $7.2 million (£4.3 million).

Reminders of its days as an outpost of the Tsarist empire persist in the form of the distinctive domed Russian Orthodox churches dotted around some of the [the] towns.

The western tip of Alaska at the end of the Seward Peninsula – named after William Seward, the US secretary of state who handled the negotiations – is only 51 miles from Russia. » | David Millward, US Correspondent | Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Live: Nick Clegg v Nigel Farage TV Debate on the UK and the EU

Inside Story: Turkey Elections: Test of Erdogan’s Rule?

Ruling AK Party sweeps to success in local elections seen as a barometer of public opinion.

Saudi Arabia Declares Atheists Terrorists under New Laws Targeting Citizens Who 'Call for Secular Thought in Any Form'

MAIL ONLINE: Saudi Arabia has officially identified atheists as terrorists in sweeping new laws that threaten up to 20 years in prison for almost any criticism of the government or Islam.

The regulations place secular citizens who commit thought crimes in the same category as violent terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch and Saudi Hezbollah.

Under the new decree by King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia will jail for up to 20 years anyone who fights in conflicts abroad - an apparent move to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria.

But the law also applies to any Saudi citizen or a foreigner residing in the kingdom that 'calls for atheist thought in any form or calls into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.'

The laws have been denounced by human rights groups for making no distinction between religious expression and violent extremism.

'Saudi authorities have never tolerated criticism of their policies, but these recent laws and regulations turn almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,' said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. » | Simon Tomlinson | Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Ku Klux Klan on New Recruitment Drive with Leaflet Drop in Towns across America

The leaflets depict the outline of a hooded figure in white robes
with Klan insignia pointing at the reader in the style of traditional
military recruiting posters, complete with phone numbers and websites

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Residents wake up to find fliers declaring “The KKK wants you” as hatred of Obama and immigration fuels rise in white supremacy

The Ku Klux Klan is on a recruitment drive across America with a new leafleting campaign, as membership numbers grow due to opposition to Barack Obama and increased immigration.

Residents of towns in Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania emerged from their houses over the weekend to find fliers attached to their doors, car windscreens or on the front lawn declaring “The KKK wants you.”

The leaflets depict the outline of a hooded figure in white robes with Klan insignia pointing at the reader in the style of traditional military recruiting posters, complete with phone numbers and websites.

The Klan and its latest campaign are legal under the US’s strong constitutional right to free speech. The white supremacy group, which aims to oust Mr Obama and stem immigration, is also against interracial marriage and homosexuality. In their contemporary guise, Klan leaders promote non-violent defence of whites “in the race war against us”, according to one website. » | Joanna Walters, New York | Monday, March 31, 2014

Right Triumph: Hollande's Socialist Party Suffers Drubbing at Local Vote in France

Francois Hollande is expected to launch a major cabinet reshuffle, as preliminary results show his Socialist party suffering a bitter defeat in local elections. The far right meanwhile has made a breakthrough, claiming its biggest victory in history

Selon Google, la Turquie a pénétré son système d'adresses

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Google affirme que la Turquie a pénétré son système d'adresses internet afin de pouvoir rediriger les utilisateurs vers d'autres sites.

Ankara a pénétré le système d'adresses de Google, affirme le géant de l'internet.

Google a reçu «plusieurs informations crédibles et a confirmé par (ses) proches recherches que le service DNS (Domain Name System) a été intercepté par la plupart des fournisseurs turcs d'accès à internet», a écrit ce week-end sur le blog de sécurité de Google l'un de ses ingénieurs, Steven Carstensen. » | afp/Newsnet | lundi 31 mars 2014

Graham: Putin Must 'Pay a Heavy Price' for Annexing Crimea

Mar. 31, 2014 - 7:20 - Senator Lindsey Graham on the US response to Russia's actions in Ukraine

A Friend Asked Me What I Thought Putin Would Do Next. This Was My Response

It is difficult to say, but it would appear to me that he has the rest of the Ukraine in his sights. Then, probably Moldova. And then, who knows? To my mind, the man is so obviously an empire-builder. He loathes Russia's loss of clout in the world; and resents America's pre-eminent position as a superpower. He seems determined to do something about it.

In Obama, he sees weakness, which he certainly doesn't respect. He knows that Obama has no appetite for a fight. He also knows that Americans are war-weary. Further, he knows that America is in tremendous debt; so another war is the last thing America needs. Europe, he will probably perceive as weak, too; in complete disarray, and in the middle of lean economic times. Europe's main weakness is that there is no elected central command. Germany, Europe's potentially strongest nation, has hang-ups because of WWII and Hitler's ignominious legacy: das Vaterland has no appetite for a fight. It, along with the rest of Europe, is dependent on Russia for gas supplies.

The UK is not so dependent on Russia's gas supplies, but it is in the process of winding down its military in the name of austerity, falsely believing that world wars and major conflicts are a thing of the past. Consequently, the path is wide open for whatever Putin chooses to do next, knowing, of course, that apart from a few symbolic sanctions, little or nothing will be done about his military manoeuvres.

The Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – will probably be left alone, for the time being at least, because there are treaties obliging the rest of NATO to come to their aid if attacked. He will therefore concentrate on those countries which are not bound by treaty.

I read yesterday that Putin phoned Obama in order to seek a 'diplomatic solution'. This, if I am not greatly mistaken, is a cynical ploy. He is playing Obama for the fool he truly is. He is flattering him on the one side, knowing that he is exceedingly vain, and laughing about him behind his back on the other. Putin has no desire for a diplomatic solution, since were he to have that desire, he wouldn't have annexed Crimea in the first place.

This is a power game – a big power game at that. Putin is out to secure Obama's legacy as a complete idiot, and ineffectual world leader. He is playing to his vanity. Pay attention to what will happen next. Putin is in this for the long-haul. Victory for him will come at the end. This is just the beginning of a war of nerves, I believe. Remember this: Putin was schooled in the KGB. He was not a community organiser! Putin is Machiavellian; Obama, like a pussy. America needs a change at the top. And soon!

© Mark Alexander

All Rights Reserved

Facial Hair Transplants On the Rise

BBC: Plastic surgeons in Canada are reporting a surprising increase in the number of patients seeking facial hair transplants.

Once transplanted, the hairs are permanent and grow just like facial hair.

Russell Trott reports. (+ BBC video) » | Saturday, March 30, 2014

Discrimination Fear: Sharia Law Guidelines Introduced to UK Muslim Wills

Sharia law maybe creeping into the British legal system. UK lawyers are now given guidelines on how to draw up wills compliant with Islam laws. The move could see women and non-Muslims left without their fair share of inheritance, RT's Polly Boiko looked into the implications of the new rules.

Concern as Brunei Brings In System of Islamic Law with Punishments That Include the Dismemberment of Limbs and Stoning to Death

The Sultan of Brunei says he wants to set up a
'firewall' against globalisation

THE INDEPENDENT: The country’s ruler says sharia was created as guidance from Allah

The Sultan of Brunei, one of the world’s wealthiest rulers and a close ally of Britain, will this week oversee his country’s transition to a system of Islamic law with punishments that include flogging, the dismemberment of limbs and stoning to death.

The 67-year-old absolute monarch declared last year that he wanted to introduce a full sharia system in his oil-rich nation and warned critics who took to social media sites to complain that they could be prosecuted using the new laws.

The decision to introduce sharia and reintroduce the death penalty has been condemned by NGOs and legal rights campaigners, who say the new rules will breach international laws. It has also triggered alarm among some of Brunei’s non-Muslim communities, who will also be subject to some of the rulings. » | Andrew Buncombe | Saturday, March 29, 2014

Vladimir Putin ‘Wants to Regain Finland’ for Russia, Adviser Says

THE INDEPENDENT: Finland has increased border surveillance in recent weeks as Mr Putin moves to ‘protect what belongs to him and his predecessors’

After annexing Crimea and with troops massed on the border of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will not stop trying to expand Russia until he has “conquered” Belarus, the Baltic states and Finland, one of his closest former advisers has said.

According to Andrej Illarionov, the President’s chief economic adviser from 2000 to 2005, Mr Putin seeks to create “historical justice” with a return to the days of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Soviet Union under Stalin.

Speaking to the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, Mr Illarionov warned that Russia will argue that the granting of independence to Finland in 1917 was an act of “treason against national interests”.

“Putin’s view is that he protects what belongs to him and his predecessors,” Mr Illarionov said.

“Parts of Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States and Finland are states where Putin claims to have ownership. He added: “The West’s leaders seem, from what they say, entirely to have forgotten that there are some leaders in the world who want to conquer other countries.” » Adam Withnall | Sunday, March 30, 2014

Listening Post: Turkey vs Twitter

A look at how Ankara's crackdown on social media is creating a firestorm ahead of a critical presidential election.

Chefredakteurin in Saudi-Arabien: "Frauen müssen immer um Erlaubnis fragen"

"Saudi Gazette"-Chefredakteurin Somayya Jabarti:
"Erlebe alles als Zumutung"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Somayya Jabarti ist die erste Chefredakteurin einer Tageszeitung in Saudi-Arabien. Für Menschen im Westen ist kaum vorstellbar, wie kompliziert manches für sie ist: das Land verlassen, reisen. Jeden Tag, erzählt sie, koche sie vor Wut.

Die Journalistin Somayya Jabarti, 44, leitet seit Februar als Chefredakteurin die englischsprachige saudi-arabische Zeitung "Saudi Gazette". Ihre Ernennung ist etwas Besonderes für Saudi-Arabien, denn Frauen haben in dem Land nicht annähernd die gleichen Rechte wie Männer.

Mit SPIEGEL ONLINE sprach Jabarti über die Situation der Frauen in dem Golfstaat. Nach Deutschland kam sie auf Einladung von Novatec Consulting, einer deutschen Firma, die derzeit den Verlag der "Saudi Gazette" berät. » | Ein Interview von Raniah Salloum | Samstag, 28. März 2014

Head to Head: Should the West End Its Wars?

Mehdi Hasan goes head to head with General Sir Mike Jackson, the former head of the British army.

All Roads Lead...Out of Rome? Sardinia Plans Secession Referendum

The Italian region of Sardinia is pushing for a referendum. But it's not just about secession - a group of activists is in fact asking Rome to sell the island to Switzerland. A co-founder of the movement, Andrea Caruso, explained why locals are fed up with the central government.

Earthquake Strikes Near Los Angeles

THE GUARDIAN: Magnitude 5.1 quake 20 miles from Los Angeles was only 1.2 miles deep but only minor damage has been reported

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake shook the Los Angeles area and surrounding counties on Friday evening, authorities said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at about 9:09 p.m. and was centred near Brea in Orange County about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

It was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Ventura County, according to citizen responses collected online by the USGS.

"Tonight's earthquake is the second in two weeks, and reminds us to be prepared," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a written statement released about an hour after the shaking stopped. » | Associated Press | Saturday, March 29, 2014

Gay Marriage: The Changing Face of Britain

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Brian Sewell: 'Why I’m no convert to gay marriage’: As the first same-sex weddings take place, a leading art critic argues that campaigners for equality have picked the wrong battle » | Brian Sewell | Friday, March 28, 2014

Gasoline Ally: Saudi Oil Keeps US Loyal

Billions of dollars' worth of trade are behind the close bond between Washington and Riyad. The U.S. has of course been supporting Saudi Arabia with military supplies, while a large share of America's oil imports come from the Gulf Kingdom. Here's RT's Anastasia Churkina with more on ties between the nations.

Violation Kingdom: US, Saudi Ties Tighten Amidst Human Rights Outcry

The US President is on his way to Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah. The countries enjoy a close relationship, and the talks are unlikely to touch on human rights violations in the Arab nation. One such case is that of a former Saudi diplomat - seeking asylum in the US, after coming out as gay. RT has been closely following his story, and Gayane Chichakyan now brings us the latest. It's easy to understand why returning home is not an option for the former diplomat. Being gay in Saudi Arabia leads to capital punishment. You can also find yourself on the wrong side of the law in the kingdom by posting on Twitter. Earlier this month, two Saudis received lengthy prison sentences for their activity on the microblogging site. Saudi Arabia enforces rigid rules of conduct for women - who are banned from travelling alone, driving, or talking to male non-relatives and are often subjected to domestic violence. Daoud Khairallah, international law professor at Georgetown University, believes the dire rights situation in Saudi Arabia is there to stay...

David Cameron Welcomes First Gay Marriages

Cameron: gay marriage will make society stronger

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prime Minister says change to the law on same-sex marriage is in keeping with Britain's proudest traditions - but poll suggests it will cost Tories votes

Gay marriage will make British society stronger, David Cameron has insisted as an historic change to the meaning of matrimony comes into effect.

Mr Cameron said the introduction of same-sex marriage in England and Wales - after a debate which bitterly divided his own party and pitted church against state - was a tribute to “the sort of country we are”.

Writing in PinkNews, the gay and lesbian website, he said the redefinition of marriage was in keeping with Britain’s “proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth”.

But opponents of the change said it had “ripped up” the centuries-old understanding of marriage and divided the country.

New polling seen by The Telegraph also shows that the issue could cost the Conservatives significant votes in the local and European elections in May. » | John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor | Friday, March 28, 2014


PINK NEWS: Nick Clegg congratulates same-sex couples marrying this weekend »

'We Are Cut Off, Isolated and Alone': Imprisoned Saudi Princesses Blame Their Father King Abdullah As Their Mother Calls On Obama To Help Free Them

Speaking out: Sahar is the eldest daughter and has somehow
remained able to convey to the world the depraved state of
human rights, especially against women, in Saudi Arabia

MAIL ONLINE: Alanoud AlFayez, 57, appealed to Obama on Thursday as he prepares to visit Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah / AlFayez was once married to the king but fled to London after he divorced her in 2003 / The women and their mother say they're being starved and physically and psychologically abused

Two Saudi Princesses who claim to have been imprisoned by their father for 13 years have told how they are 'cut off, isolated and alone' after their mother called on President Obama to help set them free.

Princesses Sahar, 42, and Jawaher, 38, whose mother is divorced from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, say they are effectively being held under house arrest in the royal compound in Jeddah.

They claim they are not allowed to travel or even leave their home and that the internet is their only window onto the world.


In an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News, the princesses told how security has been tightened since they went public with their story two weeks ago and they are no longer even allowed to make trips with armed guards for food, as they had been previously.

Speaking to Channel 4 via Skype, they blamed the King for their situation and even claimed to be running out of food.

Princess Sahar says: 'This is a risk we're taking, we're happy to do it, we understand full well the repercussions, but we don't know what's going to happen.'

The Princesses say their sisters Maha and Hala are also being held in the Royal compound in separate villas. » | Joshua Gardner and Daniel Miller | Friday, March 28, 2014


CHANNEL 4 NEWS: Exclusive: 'locked-up' Saudi princesses' message for Obama: "He should be ashamed to meet a leader that has four grown women locked up" - the message from two Saudi princesses to President Obama as he meets with their father, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. » | Fatima Manji, Reporter | Friday, March 28, 2014


CHANNEL 4 NEWS: 'They are hanging to life' - Saudi king's ex-wife speaks out » | Fatima Manji, Reporter | Monday, March 10, 2014


CHANNEL 4 NEWS: New footage emerges of 'trapped' Saudi princesses » | Fatima Manji, Reporter | Monday, March 24, 2014

Ukraine Crisis: Russian President Vladimir Putin Phones US President Barack Obama to Discuss 'a Diplomatic Path'

THE INDEPENDENT: Obama urges Putin to 'de-escalate the situation'

The United States is expressing fresh alarm about a build-up of Russian troops along the border with eastern Ukraine amid uncertainty as to the actual numbers involved and their purpose.

While Moscow has said the soldiers are merely involved in military manoeuvres, fears are growing in Washington that preparations may be under way for fresh incursions into parts of eastern Ukraine in the wake of the annexation earlier this month of Crimea. US officials believe that the positions of the troops are being deliberately concealed and that supply lines for a possible invasion have already been established.

The concern comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin called US President Barack Obama on Friday to discuss a US diplomatic proposal for Ukraine, to which Mr OBama [sic] suggested that Russia put a "concrete response in writing," a White House spokesperson said in a statement. » | David Usborne | US Editor | Friday, March 28, 2014

Same-sex Couples Can Legally Marry from Midnight

BBC: Same-sex couples will be allowed to legally marry in England and Wales for the first time from midnight.

Politicians from the main parties have hailed the change in the law.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, said "Britain will be a different place", but some religious groups say some remain "deeply uncomfortable" about it.

Scotland passed a similar law allowing gay marriage in February. Northern Ireland has no plans to allow same-sex marriage.

Mr Clegg congratulated his party for being part of the reform, saying: "If our change to the law means a single young man or young woman who wants to come out, but who is scared of what the world will say, now feels safer, stronger, taller - well, for me, getting into coalition government will have been worth it just for that."

Labour leader Ed Miliband congratulated gay couples planning to tie the knot.

"This is an incredibly happy time for so many gay couples and lesbian couples who will be getting married, but it's an incredibly proud time for our country as well, recognising equal marriage in law," he said. (BBC video and BBC audio) » | Friday, March 28, 2014

Is America's Relationship with Saudi Arabia Broken beyond Repair?

Barack Obama in Rome before flying to Riyadh: US relations
with Saudi Arabia soured when revolution broke out in Syria.

THE GUARDIAN: Barack Obama will use visit to Riyadh to reassure a kingdom unhappy at US appeasement of Iran and ambivalence over Syria

Barack Obama arrives in Riyadh seeking rapprochement with an aggrieved Arab ally whose interests are increasingly at odds with its key western backer.

The president's flying visit – no more than an evening in the Saudi king's palace – is his first since the ousting of Hosni Mubarak, which drove an initial wedge between both capitals.

Ever since, relations have tangibly soured, with US outreach to Iran and ambivalence on Syria particularly irking Saudi leaders, who believe their arch-foe, Tehran, has been empowered at their expense.

So bothered has Riyadh become by what it sees as naive appeasement of Iran that it now seems ready to project itself regionally without US cover.

"The US has underwritten the regional security order for the past 70 years and it sees now as a good time to disengage," one senior figure told the Guardian recently. "We will have to do it all ourselves." » | Martin Chulov | Friday, March 28, 2014

Gay Marriage: Bishop of Salisbury Gives Backing to Same-sex Weddings

Bishop of Salisbury, Nick Holtam, issued a statement
supporting gay marriage.

THE GUARDIAN: Bishop Nick Holtam says gay marriage 'embodies virtues that the Church of England wants to see maximised in society'

The Church of England's divisions over gay marriage have been reopened by the Bishop of Salisbury, who has issued a statement praising the couples who will get married and assuring them of his prayers and good wishes.

Nick Holtam's supportive remarks on the eve of the legalisation of gay marriage expresses the views of a significant body of dissent within the Church of England, unhappy with the formal position that prevents Anglican clergy from marrying partners of the same sex.

Gay marriage, the bishop said, "embodies a commitment to be faithful, loving, and lifelong. These are virtues which the Church of England wants to see maximised in society." » | Andrew Brown | Friday, March 28, 2014

Christian Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy in Pakistan

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Arrest of Sawan Masih after drunken row last year prompted Muslim mob to burn hundreds of homes in eastern city of Lahore

A Christian man has been sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan, according to his lawyer, following an incident last year that prompted a Muslim mob to torch hundreds of homes.

It is the latest in a string of convictions prompting calls from religious minorities for the law to be reformed.

Naeem Shakir said his client, Sawan Masih, was convicted during a hearing held in jail for fear of violent protests.

Masih, a cleaner, was accused of insulting the Prophet Mohammed during a conversation with a Muslim friend in the eastern city of Lahore. Within hours, about 3000 protesters had set light to Christian homes and churches in an area known as Joseph Colony.

His supporters have always claimed the incident was fabricated as part of a plot to seize land. » | Rob Crilly, Pakistan correspondent | Friday, March 28, 2014

Inside Story: Is Religion a Source of Unity or Division?

Religious leaders promote a message of co-operation between followers of different faiths.

Worlds Apart: 'Turkey Losing Its Democracy, Turning Authoritarian': Zaman Editor

Turkey has long been revered as a beacon of democracy in the Muslim world, but the corruption scandal rocking the nation has led to a clampdown by its government. And with the grip tightening on the judiciary, Internet and even Twitter, Turkey's civil society is being put to the test. Will the country live up to its democratic reputation or will it take an authoritarian turn? Oksana is joined by a senior editor at Today's Zaman, Sevgi Akarcesme, to examine these issues.

WIKI: Gülen movement »

First Same-sex Marriages to Be Held in UK. Rainbow Flag to Fly over Cabinet Office and Scotland Office

MP told he has "excommunicated" himself by voting for same sex weddings »

Who Is the Real Nigel Farage? Documentary Spends Six Months with the Ukip Leader

DAILY EXPRESS: HE makes no secret of the fact that he enjoys a few pints and more often than not is to be seen in public puffing away on a cigarette.

Nigel Farage's detractors have also tried to portray him as a clown, who is in charge of a party full of "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists".

One thing is for sure, love or loathe his ideology, the Ukip leader is not to be confused with the countless bland politicians who wander the corridors of Westminster.

Remarkably, in an age dominated by political correctness his maverick approach is paying dividends.

This week he was widely considered to have got the better of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in a live TV and radio debate on Europe.

With Ukip also expected to do well in forthcoming euro elections and party membership growing fast, a new TV documentary examines the remarkable rise of Farage on the eve of his 50th birthday.

Programme maker Martin Durkin spent six months shadowing the Ukip leader, following him to Strasbourg, where his speeches are winning a cult following, and exploring his middle-class roots in Kent. » | Adrian Lee | Friday, March 28, 2014

Nigel Farage: Who Are You? Monday, Channel 4, 7.30pm.

'Noah' Faces Storm of Criticism over Religious Merits

Mar. 27, 2014 - 7:58 - Panel debates the new film

Britischer Rechtspopulist zu Gast: AfD-nahe Junge Alternative läutet Europawahlkampf ein

Rechtspopulist Farage bei der AfD: Euro-Gegner aller Länder, vereinigt euch »

Finanzielle Abhängigkeit vom Westen: Teurer Krim-Coup - Mit der Annexion hat sich Putin selbst geschadet

FOCUS ONLINE: Unter den Augen des entsetzten Westens hat sich Wladimir Putin die Krim gesichert. Zu Hause wird er dafür gefeiert. Doch tatsächlich könnte er Russland einen Bärendienst erwiesen haben. Denn wenn Putin das Vertrauen ausländischer Investoren verliert, sind seine Zukunftsperspektiven düster. (+ Video) » | Von Focus-Online-Experte Ralf-Dieter Brunowsky | Donnerstag, 27. März 2014

Arabie : le roi désigne son demi-frère Moqren prochain prince héritier

LE POINT: Moqren, 2e vice-président du conseil des ministres, sera proclamé souverain "en cas de vacance simultanée aux postes de prince héritier et de roi".

Le roi Abdallah d'Arabie saoudite a désigné jeudi son demi-frère, Moqren Ben Abdel Aziz, prochain prince héritier, lui ouvrant la voie à l'accession au trône à la tête du royaume. Selon un décret du cabinet royal, diffusé en soirée par la télévision d'État El-Ikhbariya, le prince Moqren, actuel 2e vice-président du conseil des ministres, est nommé le prochain héritier du trône. Il sera proclamé souverain "en cas de vacance simultanée aux postes de prince héritier et de roi", selon la décision prise par le Conseil d'allégeance "à plus des trois quarts" de ses 34 membres, des princes de la famille royale. Cette décision est irrévocable, souligne le décret royal. (+ vidéo) » | Source AFP | jeudi 27 mars 2014

Russische Wirtschaft: Auch ohne Krim schon in der Krise

SPIEGEL ONLINE – WIRTSCHAFT: Das Kapital flüchtet, der Rubel bricht ein und es droht eine Rezession: Russlands Wirtschaft driftet allmählich Richtung Abgrund. Doch die Probleme sind nur zu einem kleinen Teil Folge der Krim-Krise. Viel schwerer wiegt, dass der Kreml seinen Modernisierungskurs aufgegeben hat.

mmerhin, für Siemens scheint die russische Welt noch in Ordnung zu sein. Konzern-Chef Joe Kaeser ist nach Moskau gereist, er hat Wladimir Putin getroffen. Der Präsident empfing ihn in Nowo-Ogarjowo, seiner Residenz vor den Toren von Moskau. Kaeser sprach von der "169-jährigen Tradition", die das Unternehmen mit Russland verbinde.

Allein 2,5 Milliarden Euro lässt sich der russische Staat 700 Siemens-Lokomotiven kosten, Siemens-Schnellzüge verkehren zwischen Moskau und Sankt Petersburg, Siemens-Regionalbahnen in der Olympiastadt Sotschi am Schwarzen Meer. » | Von Benjamin Bidder, Moskau | Freitag, 28. März 2014

Hillary Clinton vs. Jeb Bush in 2016 Bad for America?

Mar. 24, 2014 - 4:12 - Analysis of presidential buzz

Landesverteidigung Deutschlands: Brauchen wir doch die Wehrpflicht?

ZEIT ONLINE: Landesverteidigung war gestern? Von wegen. Alte Bedrohungen könnten zurückkehren.

Deutschland lebt, von Freunden umzingelt, friedlich in der Mitte Europas.

Die Bundeswehr wird nicht mehr für die klassische Landesverteidigung gebraucht, sondern dafür, Konflikte außerhalb des Nato-Gebiets zu befrieden.

Und: Der Wandel von einer verteidigungsstarken Abschreckungs- zur global agierenden Einsatzarmee erzwingt das Ende der Wehrpflicht.

Auf diesen drei Glaubenssätzen (und der Tatsache, dass der frühere Minister zu Guttenberg einen Sparbeitrag zum Haushalt bringen musste) basiert der aktuelle Großumbau der deutschen Streitkräfte. Das Problem ist nur: Diese drei Grundsätze erweisen sich möglicherweise gerade als falsch.

Russland hat sich die Krim einverleibt, die Ukraine sucht Zuflucht in der EU. Grenzen werden verschoben, Einflusszonen neu abgesteckt. 25 Jahre nach dem Fall der Mauer geht ein Riss durch Europa, einer, der als überwunden galt, doch jetzt erneut die Weltpolitik bestimmt: hier die Russen, da der Westen. Die einen schwächer geworden und unberechenbarer, der andere größer und selbstgefälliger. Und der bisher mächtigste Teil, die USA, proben gerade den Absprung in den pazifischen Raum. Weiter lesen und einen Beitrag abgeben » | Von Peter Dausend | Donnerstag, 27. März 2014

Yulia Tymoshenko to Run for President – and Take On 'Enemy Number One ' Vladimir Putin

Yulia Tymoshenko

THE INDEPENDENT: IMF pledges $18bn rescue package as interim PM warns of hard-hitting reforms

Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is set to run for president in the upcoming May elections.

Speaking at a press conference, Ms Tymoshenko said she would run as a "candidate for Ukrainian unity" and fight against corruption.

Ditching her princess hairstyle, she claimed none of the other candidates understand "the depth of the lawlessness gripping Ukraine" and insisted Russian president Vladimir Putin remains the "number one enemy".

Often regarded as a divisive figure, she promised to find a "common language" between her pro-European supporters and Russian-speakers, many of whom continue to back former President Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted by the Ukrainian parliament after more than three months of protests in February. » | Maria Tadeo | Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Marseilles Motif – France (2012)

French election battle enters tense final phase

A Look Back to 2012: How Marine La Pen Helped France Lurch To The Right