Spain's Royal Family Sees Its Budget Cut Once More

Princess Cristina

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Spanish royal household has seen its budget cut for the fourth consecutive year, as it unveiled the accounts of senior royals in a bid for greater transparency amid faltering public support.

Damaged by a series of scandals and ahead of the appearance on Saturday of the King's youngest daughter in court to answer financial fraud allegations, Spain's Royal Palace on Monday published a breakdown of its annual spending in an attempt to stem growing criticism of the monarchy.

The belt-tightening has seen Spain's royal budget slashed from nearly €9.4 million (£7.8m) five years ago to €7.78 million (£6.44m) in 2014 – a cut of two per cent from last year under the state-spending plan approved by parliament.

The salary of King Juan Carlos has been frozen for the third year running at €140,519 plus a further €152,233 to cover the "cost of representation" including the wardrobe needed for official functions.

The 76-year-old monarch's medical bill for three surgical operations at a private clinic during 2013 amounted to €165,189, a figure that also came out of the palace budget.

Crown Prince Felipe who has increasingly stepped in to represent the Crown during the past year while his father battled with ill health, is again to receive an amount equal to half his father's salary and expenses. » | Fiona Govan, Madrid | Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Venice At War Over Islamic Heritage

Grand Canal, Venice

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venice unveils controversial plans to build an Islamic museum

Centuries after providing a massive armada for the crusades against the Saracens and battling the Ottomans, a fight has broken out in Venice over plans to build a museum of Islamic art on the banks of the Grand Canal.

The initiative was announced by Enrico Letta, the prime minister of Italy, during a diplomatic and trade visit to Qatar.

Speaking in Doha, Mr Letta said his government had "made a commitment to explore the opportunity to build an Islamic museum in Venice on the Grand Canal".

But the plan was immediately attacked by the separatist Northern League, which counts the Veneto, the region around Venice, as one of its strongholds.

Luca Zaia, the governor of the region and a senior member of the League, said he found it hard to believe that the government in Rome had “money to throw at an Islamic museum” when Venice had so many other problems, with its cultural heritage under threat from rising sea levels and the crushing weight of mass tourism. The museum would be “a waste of resources”, he said.

“I’m amazed that with all the problems that Italy has, from sky-high unemployment to businesses closing down because of excessive taxes and the worst economic crisis since the Second World War, that they could even think of putting money into a new, useless museum. “Is this really the priority?”

Massimo Bitonci, a senator in the anti-immigration party, said: “We don’t want any Islamic museum in Venice. Letta would do better to focus on the economic crisis instead of thinking (of ways) to spread Islam.” » | Nick Squires, Rome | Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Extremismus: Mein Sohn, der Salafist

In Berlin beteten Salafisten vergangenes Frühjahr auf dem Potsdamer Platz

WIENER ZEITUNG: In Deutschland bieten Experten Hilfe für radikalisierte Jugendliche des Politischen Islams / Einrichtung einer Ombudsstelle in Österreich für 2014 geplant.

Wien. Wenn Ahmad Mansours Telefon klingelt, geht es um alles: Andreas isst plötzlich kein Schweinefleisch mehr. Er will auch nicht mehr Weihnachten feiern, Alkohol trinken oder seinen weiblichen Verwandten die Hand geben. Seinen deutschen Vornamen hat er abgelegt, ebenso wie seine Jeans, die er durch eine lange Baumwollhose ersetzt hat.

"Meistens rufen mich die Mütter an. Die Väter spielen zu diesem Zeitpunkt meistens schon keine Rolle mehr in der Familie", sagt Mansour. Der israelisch-palästinensische Psychologe arbeitet bei der Berliner Beratungsstelle "Hayat". Es ist die letzte Anlaufstelle für Eltern, deren Kinder Gefahr laufen, in den Salafismus abzugleiten - oder bereits abgeglitten sind.

Eltern fühlen sich von ihren Kindern gekränkt

Der Salafismus ist eine radikale Strömung innerhalb des Islams. Seine Anhänger berufen sich auf die Zeit des Propheten Mohammed, interpretieren den Koran wortwörtlich und nehmen ihn als Leitfaden für alle Lebensbereiche. Sie streben einen Gottesstaat an, in dem ein islamisches Rechtssystem, gilt - und sie lehnen jegliche Lebensweise ab, die dem Westen zugeschrieben wird.

So viel zur Theorie. Mansour kennt die Praxis. Wer mit ihm spricht, der kann viel lernen über die Radikalisierungsprozesse - und wie sie in den Familien Betroffener ablaufen. Seit zwei Jahren gibt es die Beratungsstelle "Hayat" (arabisch für "Leben"). Eltern, die sich bei "Hayat" melden, haben nicht nur Angst um ihre Kinder. In der Regel fühlen sie sich tief von ihnen gekränkt, weil sie von ihren eigenen Kindern abgelehnt werden. Sie reagieren darauf, indem sie den neuen Glauben ihrer Kinder abwerten, drohen sogar mit dem Abbruch der Beziehung. Die Kinder wiederum sind meist seit Jahren unglücklich und frustriert, sie kämpfen um gesellschaftliche Anerkennung und Zuwendung und vermissen oftmals eine Vaterfigur. All dies finden sie in der schwarz-weiß gestrickten Welt der Salafisten. Übrigens betrifft das nicht nur die Söhne der verängstigten und wütenden Eltern, sagt Mansour, dessen Beratungsstelle mit dem deutschen Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge zusammenarbeitet: In rund einem Drittel der Fälle sind auch Töchter betroffen. » | Von Mona El Khalaf | Mittwoch, 08. Januar 2014

EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen mit Türkei: Merkel lässt Erdogan abblitzen

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der türkische Premier Erdogan fordert von Berlin mehr Unterstützung für den EU-Beitritt. Doch Kanzlerin Merkel gibt sich zurückhaltend, sie spricht weiterhin von einem "ergebnisoffenen Prozess". Die Charme-Offensive des Kollegen aus Ankara verpuffte.

Berlin - Es soll eine große Werbetour für sein Land und vor allem ihn sein: Der türkische Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan hat sich am Dienstag in Berlin selbstbewusst präsentiert. Er verlangt von Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel (CDU) mehr Einsatz bei den stockenden EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen. Doch die Regierungschefin zeigte sich auf einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz am Mittag zurückhaltend.

Die schwarz-rote Bundesregierung sehe die Beitrittsverhandlungen als einen ergebnisoffenen Prozess, betonte Merkel. "Er ist zeitlich nicht befristet", sagte sie auf Nachfrage. "Es ist kein Geheimnis, dass ich einer Vollmitgliedschaft skeptisch gegenüber stehe." » | heb/vek/dpa | Dienstag, 04. Februar 2014

FOCUS ONLINE: Erdogan: Die EU braucht die Türkei - nicht umgekehrt: Seit 1999 ist die Türkei EU-Beitrittskandidat. Die Verhandlungen laufen seit 2005, kommen aber nur schleppend voran. Bei seinem Deutschland-Besuch geht Ministerpräsident Erdogan nun in die Offensive: In seinen Augen sei die Europäische Union auf sein Land angewiesen. » | Dienstag, 04. Februar 2014

Ganze Dörfer in Tirol sitzen im Schnee-Gefängnis

FOCUS ONLINE: Massen von Neuschnee stellen die Menschen in den südlichen Alpen vor große Probleme: Noch immer sind Dörfer von der Außenwelt abgeschnitten. Nicht einmal ein Helikopter erreicht die eingekesselten Orte Osttirol, denn das Wetter erlaubt keine Flüge.

Nach dem Schneechaos der letzten Tage entspannt sich die Gefahrenlage in weiten Teilen der Alpen am Sonntag nur leicht. So war mancherorts binnen 24 Stunden mehr als ein Meter Schnee gefallen. In Österreich und in der Schweiz besteht deshalb weiterhin hohes Lawinenrisiko. Zudem könnten nasse und daher besonders schwere Schneemassen Dächer zum Einsturz bringen, erklärten Behördenvertreter. In Österreich waren Tausende von Soldaten im Schneeräumeinsatz. » | Sonntag, 02. Februar 2014

Queen to Meet Pope Francis in Rome

The Queen made her third visit to the Vatican in 2000

BBC: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to visit Rome later this year for an audience with Pope Francis, Buckingham Palace has said.

The royal couple will also have a private lunch with Italian president Giorgio Napolitano.

The one-day trip in April was originally planned for last year but was postponed when the Queen fell ill.

The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the Queen's "relaxed" meeting with the Pope will be at his residence.

He added that the Queen would not wear black or a veil, as she has done on three previous visits to the Vatican in deference to convention.

In 1980, the Queen dressed entirely in black, with a tiara holding a cascade veil in place, to meet Pope John Paul II in Rome, just as she had done on her visit to Pope John XXIII in 1961.

And in 2000, the Queen wore black again and a hat with a veil.

This was despite royal tradition that female members of the Royal Family do not wear black. » | Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Slovenia Hit by Severe Blizzards

BBC: A quarter of Slovenians have been left without electricity, as parts of Europe battle some of the worst winter blizzards for decades.

Around 40% of the country's schools have been closed, transport is disrupted and residents in some areas have been advised not to drink tap water.

Parts of Croatia, Serbia, and Germany have also been severely affected by snow.

Alpa Patel reports. (+ BBC video) » | Tuesday, February 04, 2014

Europe-wide Move to End FGM 'Barbarism'

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: The European parliament is set to debate sweeping plans to eradicate female genital mutilation across the continent.

Politicians will discuss proposals to eliminate the practice, which affects around 500,000 women and girls in Europe, as part of zero tolerance day on Thursday, a UN-sponsored awareness day.

Members of the gender equality committee want Europe to toughen its stance. This week they will call for all member states to prosecute those who carry out FGM and for the number of victims to be recorded properly.

They want it to be formally recognised that FGM, which involves the partial or total removal of female genitalia, is a “gross form of violence against women and violence against the child”. » | Anna Davis | Monday, February 03, 2014

Syria Conflict: Clashes between Rebels and Army Edge Near to Iconic Crusader Castle Krak des Chevaliers

THE INDEPENDENT: As the fighting creeps ever nearer to Syria’s landmark fortress of Krak des Chevaliers, Patrick Cockburn reports from Homs on a civil war in which no historic monument – however famous – is safe from the threat of destruction

The battle lines of the Syrian civil war are edging closer to Krak des Chevaliers, the most famous Crusader castle ever built. The massive walls and towers of the great fortress on its hilltop glistened white in the sunshine yesterday, as the Syrian Army fought rebels in the valleys below.

The rebels hold the castle and the two nearby villages of al-Zara and al-Hosn while much of the rest of this area, 25 miles west of Homs city and just north of the Lebanese border, is inhabited by Christians who support the government. The 13th century castle was damaged by a Syrian air force attack and mortars last year and the Syrian government says it is eager to prevent further damage.

“We launched an operation to retake this area last week,” the governor of Homs, Talal al Barazi, told The Independent. He said that so far the army had taken 50 per cent of al-Zara “and we think the rest of it will be in our hands within a week.” Syrian army officers on the spot were more cautious on how long the fighting was going to last, saying it might be a week or two.

The reason why the Syrian army is attacking has less to do with Krak des Chevaliers’ strength as a defensive position and more to do with strategic importance of the area in which it stands. This commands the main road between Homs and Tartous on the coast, just as it did in the 13th century when the castle was rebuilt in its present form by the Knights Hospitaller (its original and less romantic name was Crac de l’Ospital). » | Patrick Cockburn | Monday, February 03, 2014

Op-ed: EU Has Found an Efficient Way of Fighting Anti-Semitism – Completely Ignoring Its Existence

YNET NEWS: BERLIN – The European Union has found an efficient way of fighting anti-Semitism: Concealing it by completely ignoring its existence, especially in Europe.

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day which took place last week, Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the EU, issued a short statement which included only two paragraphs and 120 words in English.

One could find there wordings like: "We honor every one of those brutally murdered in the darkest period of European history," "We also want to pay a special tribute to all those who acted with courage and sacrifice to protect their fellow citizens against persecution," "It is an occasion to remind us all of the need to continue fighting prejudice and racism in our own time," "The respect of human rights and diversity lies at the heart of what the European Union stands for."

Two words were missing from Ashton's laconic statement: Jews and anti-Semitism.

The Holocaust was an exclusive outcome of European anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism which is raising its head again today in the old continent. In Greece, Hungary and Austria, neo-Nazi anti-Semitic parties are sitting in the parliaments again, France is agog over a comedian marketing anti-Semitism as entertainment for the masses, and mass media outlets in Germany, France and Poland are filled with anti-Semitism. » | Eldad Beck | Monday, February 03, 2014

Streit um Siedlungen: Israel debattiert über Boykottdrohungen

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Die seit langem schwelende Diskussion über Boykottaufrufe gegen Israel hat in jüngster Zeit Auftrieb erhalten. Die Wirkung eines solchen Protests gegen die Siedlungspolitik ist umstritten. In der Regierung macht sich jedoch Nervosität breit.

Gegen Israel gerichtete Boykottaufrufe haben in Israel in den letzten Wochen Schlagzeilen gemacht. Zeitungen und auch das Fernsehen widmeten sich dem Thema ausführlich. Am Wochenende heizte eine Verstimmung zwischen Israel und den USA die Debatte erneut an. Der amerikanische Aussenminister Kerry erwähnte die Boykottaufrufe gegen Israels Siedlungspolitik, als er vor Konsequenzen eines Scheiterns der Verhandlungen mit den Palästinensern warnte, um deren Gelingen er sich intensiv bemüht. Mitglieder der israelischen Regierung kritisierten Kerry scharf. Wirtschaftsminister Bennett sagte, Amerika müsse Israel zur Seite stehen, statt Boykottforderungen eine Plattform zu bieten. Das amerikanische Aussenministerium liess verärgert verlauten, Kerry lehne einen Boykott ab. Er habe lediglich vor möglichen Gefahren gewarnt. » | Monika Bolliger, Tel Aviv | Montag, 03. Februar 2014

Athener Neonazis gründen neue Partei

TAGES ANZEIGER: Die griechischen Behörden gehen seit Herbst gegen die Neonazi-Partei Goldene Morgenröte vor. Deren Mitglieder wollen einem drohenden verbot der Partei nun zuvorkommen.

Anhänger der griechischen Neonazipartei Goldene Morgenröte (Chrysi Avgi) haben auf einer von den Behörden abgesperrten Hauptstrasse im Zentrum Athens eine Parade abgehalten. Die Rechtsextremen gaben zudem die Gründung einer Alternativpartei bekannt.

Die Gründung der «Nationale Morgenröte» genannten Partei verkündete der Sprecher der «Goldenen Morgenröte», Ilias Kassidiaris, an der Kundgebung. «Die 'Nationale Morgenröte' kann an allen Wahlen teilnehmen, sollte die Partei 'Völkischer Bund - Goldene Morgenröte' verboten werden», hiess es dazu auf der Internetseite der rechtsextremen Partei. » | ajk/sda | Sonntag, 02. Februar 2014

Le Djihad islamique promet de s'opposer à tout accord entre Israéliens et Palestiniens

LE FIGARO: Ahmed al-Mudallal, un haut responsable de l'organisation, est hostile aux négociations entre les deux peuples et assure qu'il détruirait tout accord qui légitimerait l'occupation sioniste de la Palestine.

Le Djihad islamique, dont la branche armée compte quelques milliers de combattants et demeure la deuxième faction la plus influente, après le Hamas, dans la bande de Gaza, promet de s'opposer de toutes ses forces à un éventuel accord entre Israéliens et Palestiniens. «Nous sommes totalement hostiles à ces négociations, qui ne peuvent rien apporter de bon, affirme ­Ahmed al-Mudallal, haut responsable de l'organisation. Comme nous avons par le passé combattu le processus d'Oslo, nous détruirons tout accord qui légitimerait l'occupation sioniste de la Palestine. Nous ne transigerons pas car notre raison d'être est la libération de notre terre, de notre peuple et de nos lieux saints.» » | Par Cyrille Louis | dimanche 02 février 2014

L'Iran condamne l'Holocauste

LE POINT: Un ministre iranien a affirmé que l'extermination des Juifs sous le régime nazi avait été une "cruelle tragédie qui ne doit jamais se reproduire".

Le ministre iranien des Affaires étrangères, Mohammad Javad Zarif, a affirmé dimanche à la télévision allemande que l'extermination des Juifs sous le régime nazi avait été "une cruelle tragédie funeste qui ne doit plus jamais se reproduire". "Nous n'avons rien contre les Juifs et le plus grand respect pour eux à l'intérieur de l'Iran et en dehors. Nous ne nous sentons menacés par personne", a déclaré, sur la chaîne de télévision allemande Phoenix Mohammad Javad Zarif, après avoir participé à la conférence sur la sécurité de Munich (sud). » | Source AFP | lundi 03 février 2014

Tower Block Detonated in One of Europe's Biggest Ever Explosions

Frankfurt University destroys one of its buildings in a controlled detonation, making it one of Europe's tallest buildings ever to be demolished in this way

Arms Exports: Berlin Backs Large Defense Deal with Saudi Arabia

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Berlin has often been criticized in recent years for selling weapons to questionable regimes. Now, the German government is backing a billion-euro deal for 100 patrol boats.

The German government has often drawn serious criticism for supporting defense deals with countries known to have democratic deficiencies. In the latest controversial move, SPIEGEL has learned that the new government in Berlin wants to secure a major defense deal with Saudi Arabia by offering Hermes export credit guarantees.

The information comes from a classified letter from a senior official in the Finance Ministry to the German parliament's budget committee. The letter states that the German government intends to provide guarantees for the planned export of more than 100 patrol and border control boats to the Gulf state with a total value of around €1.4 billion ($1.9 billion). In the letter, official Steffen Kampeter writes of the "high importance in terms of economic and employment" of the deal, which includes contracts for the Bremen-based Lürssen Shipyard. Kampeter, a politician with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union, asked for the "confidential handling of the business data" because negotiations are still in progress and competition is expected from other countries. » | dsl/SPIEGEL | Monday, February 03, 2014

Lost Youth: UK Voters Back Away from Ballot Box, Losing Faith in Mainstream Politics

Brits just can't get themselves fired up about voting anymore with turnout on elections in recent years on a downward slide. And it's young people in particular who are backing away from the ballot box, only 10% say they'll definitely take part in next year general election.

Bill O'Reilly Interviews President Obama before the Super Bowl

Bill O'Reilly sits down with President Obama at the White House to discuss the IRS scandal, Benghazi, the Affordable Care Act and the Super Bowl.

Cigarette Plain Packaging ‘Fuelling Black Market’

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Plain packaging for cigarettes in Australia has not cut smoking and boosted sales of black market products, tobacco industry report claims

Forcing shops to sell cigarettes in plain packaging does not in itself cut smoking levels but boosts sales of smuggled packets, a Government review has been told.

According to a report commissioned by the tobacco industry, initial evidence from Australia – the first country in the world to introduce plain packaging laws – suggests that overall smoking levels are unchanged.

But it estimates that the country has missed out on the equivalent of £530 million of tax as smokers switch to cheaper, illegal varieties – often in packaging which resembles traditional boxes.

The report has been submitted to a government review investigating evidence for introducing a similar policy in the UK. » | John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor | Monday, February 03, 2014

Muslim Cartoon Row – Maajid Nawaz

"A Liberal Democrat candidate who tweeted a cartoon featuring Jesus and Muhammad has received death threats and faces calls to be deselected from contesting the 2015 general election.

Maajid Nawaz, chosen for the London seat of Hampstead and Kilburn and founder of the anti-extremist think-tank Quilliam Foundation, has faced a petition against him, and told the BBC he was advised by police not to appear on TV to debate the issue.

Andrew Neil spoke to Mohammed Shafiq, a member of the Liberal Democrats Ethnic Minority group calling for deselection, and to Kenan Malik, who writes about multi-culturalism and free speech."