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Sunday, October 02, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nato and Afghan forces have captured the leader of the Afghan branch of the Haqqani network, dealing a severe blow to one of the country's most dangerous anti-Western insurgent groups.
The announcement marks the second major victory against militant figures in 24 hours, following the death of Anwar al-Awlaqi, the key al-Qaeda propagandist in Yemen.
The detention of Haji Mali Khan, the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani - the day-to-day leader of the group - comes amid intense American pressure on Afghanistan's neighbour Pakistan to act against the Haqqanis, who are closely associated with al-Qaeda and blamed for a string of high-profile attacks on Western targets.
Mali Khan was captured in Paktia, south-eastern Afghanistan close to the border with Pakistan, according to a statement issued by Isaf, the Nato-led force.
"Although he was heavily armed during the operation that led to his capture, Mali Khan submitted to the security force without incident or resistance," it said, describing his capture as a "significant milestone" in disrupting the group.
Officials said a large number of insurgents were also captured during the operation, including Mali Khan's deputy and bodyguard. » | Rob Crilly in Islamabad | Saturday, October 01, 2011
It was revealed today that MPs are set to vote on a referendum within the next few months, after a petition with more than 100,000 signatures was submitted calling for the public to be given the chance to decide whether Britain should stay in the EU.
Speaking at the start of the Conservative Party in Manchester, Mr Cameron said he did not believe the UK should quit the EU.
And he played down the prospect of the Government repatriating powers from Brussels in the near future.
The Government's immediate priority on Europe is to get the crisis in the eurozone sorted out and revive the continent's economy, he said.
The Commons Backbench Business Committee is expected to set a date before Christmas for a one-day debate in the House of Commons on a referendum on EU membership. The vote will not be binding on the Government, but if MPs back a referendum, it will put massive pressure on Mr Cameron to put the issue to the country.
The committee's Labour chairman Natascha Engel told the Mail on Sunday: "Given the crisis in the eurozone, this issue has become more relevant than ever. There is a clear majority of backbench MPs who want to debate this and we have to respond to that.
"The EU today is completely different from the one the British people voted to join in 1975. It is time to examine the position again.
"For years it has suited successive governments to avoid debating whether Britain should leave the EU. The whole purpose of my committee is to make sure the big issues of the day are aired in Parliament. People in pubs and shops all over Britain are discussing our membership of the EU and it is time MPs openly debated it too."
But Mr Cameron told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "It's not our view that there should be an in/out referendum. I don't want Britain to leave the EU. I think it's the wrong answer for Britain. » | Matthew Holehouse | Sunday, October 02, 2011
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Dix jours après l’abolition du tabou gay dans l’armée, les aumôniers militaires peuvent célébrer des mariages homosexuels dans les Etats américains qui reconnaissent ces unions.
Les aumôniers militaires peuvent désormais célébrer des mariages homosexuels dans les Etats américains qui reconnaissent les unions entre deux personnes du même sexe, a annoncé vendredi le Pentagone, dix jours après l’abolition du tabou gay dans l’armée.
L’Etat fédéral américain ne reconnaît pas le mariage entre personnes du même sexe, ce qui interdit aux conjoints de militaires homosexuels de bénéficier des mêmes droits et prestations que les conjoints hétérosexuels, comme de vivre sur une base militaire ou de bénéficier de la couverture maladie pour les familles de militaires.
Mais une directive du département de la Défense publiée vendredi prévoit «qu’un aumônier militaire peut participer ou officier à une cérémonie privée, sur ou en dehors d’une base militaire, tant que cette cérémonie n’est pas interdite par la loi locale ou de l’Etat». » | KEYSTONE | Samedi 01 Octobre 2011
THE GUARDIAN: High profile of faith-based politicians such as Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry masks a steady growth in secularism
About 400 people are preparing to gather for a conference in Hartford, Connecticut, to promote the end of religion in the US and their vision of a secular future for the country.
Those travelling to the meeting will pass two huge roadside billboards displaying quotes from two of the country's most famous non-believers: Katharine Hepburn and Mark Twain. "Faith is believing what you know ain't so," reads the one featuring Twain. "I'm an atheist and that's it," says the one quoting Hepburn.
At the meeting, members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) will hear speakers celebrate successes they have had in removing religion from US public life and see awards being presented to noted secularist activists.
The US is increasingly portrayed as a hotbed of religious fervour. Yet in the homeland of ostentatiously religious politicians such as Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, agnostics and atheists are actually part of one of the fastest-growing demographics in the US: the godless. Far from being in thrall to its religious leaders, the US is in fact becoming a more secular country, some experts say. "It has never been better to be a free-thinker or an agnostic in America," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF.
The exact number of faithless is unclear. One study by the Pew Research Centre puts them at about 12% of the population, but another by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture at Trinity College in Hartford puts that figure at around 20%.
Most experts agree that the number of secular Americans has probably doubled in the past three decades – growing especially fast among the young. It is thought to be the fastest-growing major "religious" demographic in the country. » | Paul Harris in New York | Saturday, October 01, 2011
William Hague has cast off his reputation as the darling of the Tory right by describing governing with the Liberal Democrats as "wonderfully refreshing". He also rules out a referendum on UK membership of the EU.
The comments by the foreign secretary, in an interview with the Observer, will dismay the many Conservative MPs who resent the Lib Dems' moderating influence on government policy, particularly on relations with Europe, and want their party to champion a more rightwing agenda.
As the Tories gather for their annual conference in Manchester, amid calls from rightwingers for David Cameron to give less ground to their coalition partners, Hague says this administration is working better than the last Tory government in which he served.
"When you sit with David Cameron and Nick Clegg and other senior colleagues examining an issue, it is a wonderfully refreshing, rational discussion, actually, in which you know your party identity is not the first consideration," he says. "The government has a more united spirit than the last government I served in at the end of 18 years of Conservative government."
Hague, formerly a hardline Eurosceptic, insists he has not changed his opinions on the EU, or come under the spell of the pro-EU Foreign Office culture. He still believes the EU has too much power and has never veered from his view that the euro would be a disaster.
But in a sign that life in government has had a profound influence, he also freely points out that in his time as foreign secretary he has seen evidence of the 27-nation bloc operating as a powerful, collective force for good in the world. As a result, he does not believe it would ever be in the UK's interest to think of leaving. Asked if the government might grant a referendum on UK membership of the EU, he says "no", arguing one would be called only to approve or reject further transfers of sovereignty: "Our place is in the European Union." » | Toby Helm and Andrew Rawnsley | Saturday, October 01, 2011
Coming closer to home, Turkey is "a rapidly growing player and one of the countries that I work with the most". If "you add up who I make the most phone calls to" the foreign minister of Turkey is up there with Hillary Clinton. Hague "very much" wants to see Turkey become a member of the European Union, an ambition strongly opposed by some other member states.
Many in his own party will have a cardiac infarction if that means large numbers of Turkish migrant workers arriving in Britain. Hague acknowledges "people have to be won over", but remains emphatic. "I wouldn't be put off by freedom of movement because I think it is a strategic neccesity and economically beneficial to bring Turkey into the EU. Turning away Turkey from the EU would be a great, long-term – a century-long – error by Europe." – Source: The Observer
Mrs May uses an interview with The Sunday Telegraph to warn that the Act is hampering the Home Office’s struggle to deport dangerous foreign criminals and terrorist suspects.
“I’d personally like to see the Human Rights Act go because I think we have had some problems with it,” she says.
The Home Secretary’s words will be cheered by many Conservative MPs as well as Tory ministers across Whitehall.
However, they are likely to be greeted with dismay by leading Liberal Democrats, some of whom have signalled the future of the Coalition would be under threat if any serious action was taken against the Act, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law. Continue reading and comment » | Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor | Saturday, October 01, 2011
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Greek grannies are as ubiquitous and iconic as Greek cats. Dressed immaculately in widow’s black, and with their grey hair neatly styled, they are proud figures. They are treated with respect by even the most rebellious youths, and acknowledged by all as the head of the fiercely maternal family groups that bind Greek society together.
The old lady I saw on the street in Athens this week was typical, except in one shocking respect. She was begging. Beggars are normal here these days, but almost all are immigrants or drug users. This was different. The image of this proud woman sitting on a plastic crate outside the supermarket with her hands out has stayed in my mind. If a symbol is needed to illustrate the unravelling of Greek society, then this is it.
The Athens I knew 20 years ago has changed radically. I used to tell British friends that despite its chaos, it was a very civilised city. When I moved here, you didn’t have homeless people sleeping on the streets, there was little crime and the sick and needy were looked after. That civility is vanishing fast. With economic doom becoming ever more likely, it sometimes feels as if the fabric of society is being ripped asunder.
Muggings used to be a rarity; not any more. Walk down the main streets of central Athens at night and you will see people sleeping rough. The other day I had to deal with a young man who had passed out on my doorstep. He may have been drunk, but in these crisis-stricken days, it is just as likely that he was high on crack cocaine, now selling for 5 euros a hit. I wasn’t going to risk disturbing him – I had my children with me.
My area of central Athens is a relatively “bad” location, but there are much worse places. The neighbourhood of Psirri borders the popular tourist attractions. Ten years ago, Psirri was rejuvenated. Bars and cafes opened, old buildings were restored. A live jazz club opened that was an instant hit. The club is gone now, and most of the shops are closed. The area became so dangerous that people simply stopped going there. Now it’s riddled with drugs. People shoot up on the street and accost anyone foolish enough to stray through the area for money. And all of this takes place a short walk from the Acropolis. Read on and comment » | Christopher Humphrys | Saturday, October 01, 2011
LE POINT: Les Tunisiens sont appelés à élire le 23 octobre une assemblée constituante chargée de rédiger une nouvelle Constitution.
Le compte à rebours pour l'élection du 23 octobre en Tunisie a commencé samedi avec le lancement officiel de la campagne électorale, à laquelle participent des dizaines de partis et de formations, une première historique après des décennies de dictature et de parti unique. Premier pays du "printemps arabe", la Tunisie sera aussi la première à se rendre aux urnes pour élire une assemblée constituante neuf mois après la chute du régime de Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, chassé du pouvoir le 14 janvier par un soulèvement populaire.
"Rendez-vous avec l'histoire", "Dernière ligne droite", titraient samedi les quotidiens francophones pour saluer l'entrée officielle du pays en campagne, dans une atmosphère effervescente. À Tunis, dès le matin, des militants et sympathisants se sont attelés à coller des portraits des têtes de liste sur les panneaux muraux réservés à la campagne officielle, et de nombreux passants s'arrêtaient pour détailler les listes en lice. » | Source AFP | Samedi 01 Octobre 2011
THE SUN: CHANTING fundamentalist bile, extremist Abu Jibreel was on the front line battling police officers during a mock "funeral" for Osama Bin Laden.
With his beard and flowing robes, the follower of hate preacher Anjem Choudary was happy to tell anyone who would listen that he wants to bring down democracy and see adulterers stoned and drinkers flogged.
It is only when Jibreel's head scarf shifts to reveal a St George Cross and the word "England" tattooed on the nape of his neck that he betrays another life lived.
The Sun can reveal that the 39-year-old Muslim convert was born Paul Steven Mellor in Cheshire.
And just a few short years ago he was serving Queen and country as a Lance Corporal in the elite Irish Guards regiment — rather than trying to establish an Islamic state in Britain where women would be forced to cover up and music would be banned.
The former Church of England Sunday school boy even claims he guarded the royal palaces and marched in the Trooping the Colour in red tunic and bearskin during his nine-year Army career.
Jibreel's respectable family have turned their backs on him.
The dad-of-three told The Sun: "I was a soldier of the Queen, now I'm a soldier of Allah. I was on sentry duty at Buckingham Palace, I did Trooping the Colour. Now I'm against democracy. The system stinks. Read on and comment » | Oliver Harvey, Chief Feature Writer | Saturday, October 01, 2011
Two councils in East Sussex have been warned that Christian prayers are “not part of their duties”.
Mayfield parish council was issued the “advice” by the Sussex Association of Local Councils after voting to include a prayer session in its meetings. Councillors were told it was not appropriate at a public meeting and should be taken off the agenda. The row prompted councillors from nearby Crowborough town council to get involved, claiming prayers have formed part of their meetings for as long as anyone could remember. Mayor Kay Moss said: “No one’s ever said there was a problem.
“The prayer predates me by a long way. There was a motion a few years ago to do away with it but we voted for the prayer to continue. I’ve never heard since that we were doing anything wrong.”
Alan Craig, leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance, said: “This demand is part of the secular¬isation of our society. Read on and comment » | Nathan Rao | Saturday, October 01, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Education secretary outlines plans ahead of Tory conference, including extension of school day and tougher truancy fines
The education secretary, Michael Gove, has proposed that every child aged five or over should be learning a foreign language, and promised to "pull every lever", including encouraging longer school days, to make it happen.
In a pre-Conservative conference interview, he says: "There is a slam-dunk case for extending foreign language teaching to children aged five.
"Just as some people have taken a perverse pride in not understanding mathematics, so we have taken a perverse pride in the fact that we do not speak foreign languages, and we just need to speak louder in English. It is literally the case that learning languages makes you smarter. The neural networks in the brain strengthen as a result of language learning." » | Patrick Wintour and Nicholas Watt | Friday, September 30, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Conservative conference: Gove spells out next step on his agenda for schools: Education secretary talks to the Guardian about his proposals for teaching modern languages and denies free schools are elitist » | Nicholas Watt and Patrick Wintour | Friday, September 30, 2011
Un vent d'unité tel que le pays n'en avait pas connu depuis longtemps souffle sur le Pakistan. Le crédit en revient, bien involontairement, aux États-Unis. Washington ne pouvait pas mieux faire pour rassembler la myriade de partis querelleurs et disparates qui polluent la scène politique pakistanaise, voire pour réconcilier l'establishment militaire et le pouvoir civil, que de lancer des accusations à l'encontre des services secrets de l'ISI aussi dures que celles proférées par l'amiral Mike Mullen. Le chef d'état-major américain a déclaré la semaine dernière que l'ISI utilisait le réseau d'insurgés afghans Haqqani pour mener une «guerre par procuration» contre les intérêts américains en Afghanistan. Soulevant un tollé général au Pakistan, où l'on redoute que les États-Unis ne décident de bombarder les Zones tribales. » | Par Marie-France Calle | Jeudi 29 Septembre 2011
LE FIGARO: Il se dit prêt à accepter le plan de paix du Quartette, mais autorise la construction de plus de mille nouveaux logements à Jérusalem-Est.
D'accord pour un nouveau plan censé aboutir à un accord de paix à la fin de l'an prochain, mais pas au prix de Jérusalem : tel est le message de Benyamin Nétanyahou. Histoire de bien mettre les points sur i, le ministère israélien de l'Intérieur vient de donner son feu vert à la construction de 1 100 logements à Gilo, un quartier israélien situé dans la partie arabe de Jérusalem. Dans le monde, cette décision a provoqué un tollé, y compris aux États-Unis, qui se sont déclarés «profondément déçus».
Mais Benyamin Nétanyahou est passé outre. «Gilo n'est pas une colonie, c'est un quartier situé au cœur de Jérusalem près du centre-ville», explique Mark Regev, son porte-parole. Actuellement plus de 200 000 Israéliens vivent dans une douzaine de nouveaux quartiers construits après la conquête de la partie orientale de la ville en 1967. Mais son annexion n'a jamais été reconnue par la communauté internationale. Les Palestiniens espèrent de leur côté que le lancement de ce projet fustigé de toutes parts va leur fournir des armes dans la bataille très serrée qu'ils mènent au Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU pour obtenir l'adhésion de leur État aux Nations unies. Selon eux, une majorité des membres (9 sur 15) de cette instance serait prête à les soutenir. » | Par Marc Henry | Vendredi 30 Septembre 2011
Herr Ryklin, nun ist es offiziell: Wladimir Putin kehrt zurück. Was bedeutet das für Russland?
Nichts Gutes. Putin ist seit 12 Jahren ununterbrochen am Ruder. Acht Jahre als Präsident, vier Jahre als der Mann hinter Dmitri Medwedew. Jetzt stehen uns weitere 12 Jahre bevor. Für die russischen Staatsbürger ist das erniedrigend. Medwedew hat offen gesagt, der Ämtertausch sei schon vor langer Zeit entschieden worden. Dabei stehen die Wahlen ja erst an! Die reden, als ob alles entschieden wäre. Die Wahlen sind also eine Formalität. Das heisst, es gibt keine Wahlen mehr in Russland.
Hatten Sie Hoffnungen gesetzt in Medwedew?
Ja. So wie alle. Die ganze Welt hat Medwedew als milde Alternative zu Putin gesehen. Man wusste, er war Putins Mann. Aber er schien unabhängiger, liberaler zu werden. Jetzt ist die Seifenblase geplatzt. Wir glaubten, es herrsche Spannung zwischen Putin und Medwedew. Doch da herrscht nur Kumpanei. Es war ein Spielchen, mehr nicht. Ich glaube, die Russen sind sehr enttäuscht. » | Von David Hesse | Samstag 01. Oktober 2011
Der libysche Übergangsrat hat heute Berichte über die Festnahme des Sprechers des flüchtigen früheren Machthabers Muammar al-Ghadhafidementiert. Zwar seien einige Familienmitglieder von Mussa Ibrahim aufgegriffen worden, nicht aber Ghadhafis Sprecher selbst. » | ami/sda | Samstag 01. Oktober 2011
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