Julia Gillard Scandal :The 'Gender Wars' Down Under

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: It has not been a good week for the reputation of the Australian male.

First, there was the depressing revelation that a menu, printed for an opposition party fundraising dinner, described a dish of quail named after the country's first female prime minister Julia Gillard - a redhead - thus: "small breasts, huge thighs and a big red box".

Political reporters, who have seen some highly grubby antics in their time, declared it one of the lowest moments in the history of Australian politics.

Then came the news that more than 100 members of the Australian defence force had been caught circulating "demeaning, explicit and profane" emails targeting female members of the forces.

It echoed the scandal from 2011 when one cadet filmed himself having sex with a female colleague - without her knowledge - and streamed it live on Skype.

Finally, there was the sleazy questioning of the Prime Minister by a Perth talkback radio host over the sexuality of her boyfriend. Why? Because Tim Matheison - a divorcee with three adult children - is a hairdresser. Would he have asked an unmarried male prime minister if his girlfriend was a lesbian? It seems unlikely that he would have dared. » | Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Friday, June 14, 2013

Massive Syrian Refugee Wave Brings Terror Threat to German Doorstep
While the US is still to decide just how far it might go with Syria, its EU allies are preparing themselves for a possible flood of refugees from the war-torn state. Germany could bear the brunt, giving shelter to some 10000 who've fled Syria. That's as Germany already fears the radical threat potentially posed by the return of hundreds of Europeans, who've gone to fight Assad.

Zuerst! »

Turquie : Erdogan joue l'apaisement
LE POINT: Après deux semaines de vives contestations à Istanbul, le Premier ministre turc promet de suspendre son projet d'aménagement du parc Gezi.

Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a promis vendredi de suspendre son projet d'aménagement du parc Gezi d'Istanbul jusqu'au verdict final de la justice. Le dirigeant turc, qui avait qualifié les dizaines de milliers de manifestants réunis quotidiennement place Taksim de "vandales", de "pillards" et d'"extrémistes", a reçu dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi une dizaine d'artistes et de représentants de la société civile dont, pour la première fois, deux porte-parole reconnus de la coordination des protestataires. Le simple fait qu'il reçoive des manifestants constitue une victoire pour le mouvement de contestation, mais les quatre heures de réunion n'ont pas accouché de décisions concrètes permettant de garantir une sortie de crise. » | Source AFP | vendredi 14 juin 2013

La Norvège étend le service militaire obligatoire aux femmes
LE POINT: La décision, prise au nom de l'égalité des sexes et pour diversifier les compétences au sein de l'armée, fait l'objet dans le pays d'une quasi-unanimité.

La Norvège va bientôt devenir le premier pays européen à étendre le service militaire obligatoire aux femmes en temps de paix, conformément à une décision du Parlement norvégien vendredi. Tous les partis, à l'exception du petit parti démocrate-chrétien (KrF), se sont rangés en commission parlementaire derrière une proposition du gouvernement de centre-gauche pour instaurer une conscription militaire "sexuellement neutre". Dans la pratique, cela signifie que le service militaire obligatoire sera étendu aux femmes, vraisemblablement dès 2015 comme le projette actuellement leministère de la Défense. "La Norvège va être le premier pays européen à appeler aussi des femmes sous les drapeaux en temps de paix", a déclaré un porte-parole du ministère de la Défense, Lars Gjemble. » | Source AFP | vendredi 14 juin 2013

Obamas Kurswechsel: Russland bezweifelt Chemiewaffen-Vorwürfe der USA
14.06.2013 - Die USA sind in ihrem Syrien-Kurs umgeschwenkt, jetzt könnten Waffen an die Assad-Gegner gehen. Doch international ist die Unterstützung mäßig. Deutschland verweigert eine Ausrüstung der Aufständischen, Russland wettert offen gegen Obama.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Obamas Kurswechsel: Deutschland schließt Waffenlieferung an syrische Rebellen aus: Die USA sind in ihrem Syrien-Kurs umgeschwenkt, jetzt könnten Waffen an die Assad-Gegner gehen. Doch international ist die Unterstützung mäßig. Deutschland verweigert eine Ausrüstung der Aufständischen, Russland wettert offen gegen Obama. » | jok/cvo/dpa/AFP/Reuters | Freitag, 14. Juni 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Chemiewaffen in Syrien: Russischer Spitzenpolitiker bezichtigt Obama der Lüge: Ein russischer Außenpolitiker greift US-Präsident Obama scharf an. Sein Vorwurf, der syrische Diktator Assad habe Chemiewaffen eingesetzt, sei eine Lüge. Die Informationen seien gefälscht wie einst die Berichte über Massenvernichtungswaffen im Irak. » | kgp/dpa/Reuters | Freitag, 14. Juni 2013

Sharia Law: Tearing The West In Two
What is it and what does sharia mean for Christians and others forced to abide by it? First Gary Lane looks at Islamic law. Then Pat Robertson interviews author Nonie Darwish.

Essay: Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom » | Mark Alexander | Friday, April 20, 2007

Belgistan? Sharia Showdown Looms In Brussels
The graffiti on a building in Belgium says it all: "Welcome to 'Belgistan." In fact, some are now calling it the Muslim capital of Europe.

'Islamization' Of Paris: A Warning To The West
The French have become increasingly fed up with what they see as the growing Islamization of France.

'Red Line' Crossed: US to Give Military Support to Syrian Rebels
Washington has given the green light for arming the Syrian rebels to prop up the opposition. A plan for a limited no-fly zone over Syria has also been drawn up. It comes after the U.S. administration concluded Assad's forces had used chemical weapons ''on a small scale''

David Woods' Story of Sharia Law in America!
David wood tells of his personal experience in Islamerica (Dearborn, Michigan)

Radical Islam and the Cleric Anjem Choudary
Radical Islam and the attack at woolwich, Anjem Choudary

Assange on NSA Leak: Snowden Will Be Prosecuted for Years (EXCLUSIVE)
The ex-CIA man who blew the lid off America's vast NSA public surveillance net - is promising more explosive revelations. Edward Snowden's supporters are mobilizing too - with tens of thousands signing a petition to pardon the whistleblower. With us now, a man who knows what it's like to blow the whistle in a big way, and incur the wrath of Washington - Julian Assange. He joins talks to RT via broadband from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

'Heavy Crackdown & Witch-hunt Loom as Turkey PM's 24-hr Notice Runs Down'
A man who had been on life support for days after reportedly being hit in the head by a police gas canister, has become the fifth fatality of the crackdown on public protests in Turkey. On Wednesday the country's Prime Minister set a 24 hour deadline for an end to demonstrations in Istanbul and the capital. That runs out in the coming hours. RT discusses this further with Safak Pavey, a Turkish diplomat and a member of the Republican People's Party.

NSA Leaker Snowden Barred from Travel to UK
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The British government has warned airlines around the world not to allow Edward Snowden, who leaked information on top-secret US government surveillance programs, to fly to the United Kingdom.

A travel alert, dated Monday on a Home Office letterhead, said carriers should deny Mr Snowden boarding because "the individual is highly likely to be refused entry to the UK."

The Associated Press saw a photograph of the document taken today at a Thai airport. A British diplomat confirmed that the document was genuine and was sent out to airlines around the world. A Thai airline also confirmed the alert had been issued.

The official said such alerts are issued to carriers that fly into the UK and any carrier that brings Snowden will be liable to be fined 2,000 British pounds. He said Mr Snowden would likely have been deemed by the Home Office to be detrimental to the "public good." » | Associated Press | Friday, June 14, 2013

France's Burkha Ban Sparks Violence across Paris after Police Try to Arrest Woman for Wearing a Veil and Pregnant Woman Is Attacked for Covering Her Face
MAIL ONLINE: Two men put pregnant woman, 21, in hospital - undergoing treatment / Around 60 people attacked police in Argenteuil, north west of the capital / Women guilty of wearing niqabs can be fined the equivalent of around £130

Violent clashes have broken out in a Paris suburb after police tried to arrest a Muslim woman for wearing a veil.

It came as two men today put a 21-year-old pregnant woman in hospital for covering her face with a veil on the same council estate.

In what is being viewed as a severe test of France's burka ban, around 60 people attacked police on Wednesday night in Argenteuil, a commuter town to the north west of the capital.

Under a law which came into force in 2011, women found guilty of wearing niqabs in public can be fined the equivalent of around £130.

But when officers approached the unnamed woman, passers-by became involved in a 'riot' and police used tear gas and flash-ball shots to disperse them, according to a police source.

'The police were attacked' the source told Le Parisien newspaper. 'They were insulted and beaten, including punches'. Two men aged 23 and 37, including a cousin of the young veil-wearer, were arrested and placed in custody under suspicion of violence and public order offences.

In the end, 40 riot police had to be called to the area to restore order, said the source. » | Nabila Ramdani | Thursday, June 13, 2013

ACLU Sues Government Over NSA Surveillance
The fallout of the National Security Agency's surveillance programs continues and now the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Obama administration for its role in scandal. According to the ACLU, the program "represents a gross infringement of the freedom of association and the right to privacy." International human rights attorney Stanley Cohen discusses the most recent developments.

Jihadist Anjem Choudary Threatening to Take Norwegians as Hostages to Free Terrorist Mullah Krekar (May 2012)
The notorious Ilford firebrand Anjem Choudary has called for the kidnapping of Norwegian citizens abroad to exchange for the notorious Oslo firebrand Mullah Krekar, who has been detained after being convicted of death threats towards Norwegian MP Erna Solberg. The translated article from Dagbladet. Encourages Muslims to kidnap Norwegians living abroad...

Istanbul : les manifestants ignorent l'ultimatum d'Erdogan
LE POINT: Malgré les risques de répression, les occupants préfèrent rester sur place, armés de leurs "chansons" et de leurs "poèmes".

Les manifestants qui occupent le parc Gezi à Istanbul, point de départ d'une vaste contestation antigouvernementale, ont annoncé jeudi qu'ils refusaient d'évacuer les lieux malgré le "dernier avertissement" du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan avant une intervention de la police. "Nous resterons au parc Gezi avec nos tentes, nos sacs de couchage, nos chansons, nos livres, nos poèmes et toutes nos revendications", a déclaré lors d'une conférence de presse l'avocat Can Atalay au nom Solidarité Taksim, la principale coordination des manifestants. » | Source AFP | jeudi 13 juin 2013

Julia Gillard Asked by Radio Station If Her Partner Tim Mathieson Is Gay
THE GUARDIAN: In an extraordinary interview with Howard Sattler on Perth radio, prime minister repeatedly quizzed about sexuality of her partner


Julia Gillard has been asked on a Perth radio program whether her live-in partner, Tim Mathieson, is gay.

Controversial talk back radio host Howard Sattler posed the question to the prime minister on Thursday afternoon on the premise of clearing up rumours and things "you hear."

Sattler said to the prime minister he would offer her a chance to clear up ''myths, rumours, snide jokes and innuendo'' during the interview on Perth's 6PR.

"Tim's gay?" Sattler inquired of the prime minister.

"Well that's absurd," Gillard replied. » | Katharine Murphy, deputy political editor | Thursday, June 13, 2013

Inside Story Americas: Is Obama Going Beyond Orwellian?
We examine if American security measures are going too far.