Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Syrian Spillover: Deadly Violence in Lebanon as 'Al-Qaeda Ideology Spreads'
Sochi 2014: Lebanese Skier Causes Controversy Over Topless Photos
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Lebanese skier taking part in Sochi has apologised for racy photos after country's sports minister called for an inquiry
A Lebanese skier competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics has sparked controversy back home after posing topless for a calendar.
The photos, which show Jackie Chamoun, 22, standing in snow holding strategically placed ski equipment to protect her modesty, were out-takes from an official photoshoot for the Austrian sports calendar.
Chamoun insisted that the risque pictures were not meant to go public, but local media were quick to accuse the alpine skier of "shaming" her country.
Lebanon is considered one of the most liberal countries in the Arab World, where women are free to wear skimpy clothes and where alcohol is widely available.
However, sections of society remain conservative by Western standards, and some took objection.
Faisal Karami, youth and sports minister, said he was asking Lebanon’s Olympic committee to look into the photos to ensure “the protection of Lebanon’s reputation.’’ » | Josie Ensor | Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Welby Tells Church to Accept Gay 'Marriage' or Be Seen as 'Akin to Racists'
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| The Most Rev. Justin Welby |
The Archbishop of Canterbury has told the Church of England it may have to accept changes many members do not like for the sake of unity – as it prepares for a battle over wedding-like blessing services for gay couples.
The Most Rev Justin Welby acknowledged that many Anglicans would view the idea of special services honouring same-sex relationships as a “betrayal” of its traditions and even “apostacy” [sic] .
But he warned that others would see the Church as increasingly “irrelevant” and promoting attitudes “akin to racism” if it does not introduce them.
In a personal address to the Church’s decision-making General Synod, which is meeting in London, he urged members not to be afraid of “incoherence and inconsistency” in some cases and “untidy” arrangements to avoid splits.
He insisted that it was not “wishy-washy” to attempt to accommodate people with opposing views and said it was time for a massive “cultural change” in how it approaches disagreement. » | John Bingham | Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Jose Manuel Barroso: Switzerland Has Most to Lose from EU Immigration Curb
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| People in Zurich walk past an electoral poster for the "Stop Mass Immigration" referendum by the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party |
Switzerland stands to lose more than the EU from a vote to restrict immigration because it cannot enjoy all the benefits of the world's biggest market without reciprocal access, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
In an interview for a Reuters Euro Zone Summit, Mr Barroso said the narrow Swiss referendum vote to restore quotas for migrants in breach of an agreement with the EU, would have "serious consequences" for relations between the wealthy Alpine nation and the 28-member union that surrounds it.
While he did not spell out any specific sanctions, Mr Barroso implied that Swiss people could lose the right to live and work in the EU, including neighbouring Germany, France and Italy, and Swiss companies might also face obstacles.
"In terms of reciprocity, it's not appropriate that Swiss citizens have unrestricted freedom of movement in the European Union - I think there are 430,000 here, which in relative terms is more than the 1 million European citizens that are in Switzerland," he said. Switzerland has a population of 8 million, one quarter foreigners, while the EU has 500 million. » | Reuters | Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Belgium to Legalise Euthanasia for Children
Belgian MPs have been accused of "ideological stubbornness" by pressing ahead with a child euthanasia law that has divided doctors and "challenges the very basis of civilised society" according to critics.
Belgium's parliament is almost certain to pass legislation on Wednesday that will allow “terminally ill minors facing unbearable physical suffering” to undergo euthanasia if they request it.
Euthanasia has been legal for adults in Belgium for 11 years and according to the last annual figures 1,432 people were medically killed in 2012, usually after electing for a lethal injection administered by a doctor.
The extension of euthanasia to children, which enjoys the support of three-quarters of Belgians in opinion polls, has aroused intense opposition from many doctors and has united Belgium’s Christians, Jews and Muslims against the law.
Earlier this week a letter signed by 160 Belgian paediatricians asked MPs to “reflect” and not to rush the law onto the statute books, warning that children lacked “mature discernment” to choose euthanasia. » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Central African Republic: 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Muslims
Militia attacks have led to a "Muslim exodus of historic proportions", according to a report by Amnesty International.
Aid groups have warned of a food crisis, as many of the shops and wholesalers were run by Muslims.
The UN's World Food Programme has started a month-long aid airlift.
The roads are too dangerous to transport food without a military escort, WFP spokesman Alexis Masciarelli told the BBC.
This is why the UN agency is taking the more expensive option of flying food in from neighbouring Cameroon. » | Wednesday, February 12, 2014
BBC: 'I'll be last Muslim in CAR': A government minister in the Central African Republic, Gaston Makouzemba, has warned there is a risk of a genocide as communities fight each other on religious and ethnic lines. All communities have been affected by the violence and now many Muslims are fleeing the country, afraid for their lives. One imam in the capital Bangui shared his fears with the BBC's Newsday programme: » | Monday, February 10, 2014
Atheists in Egypt Say They Struggle to Have Their Views Heard
Atheism is widely considered a taboo topic in Egypt and non-believers say that they often feel the need to keep their discussions private.
In the coastal city of Alexandria, the BBC spoke to a group of atheists about the difficulties they face living in a conservative society.
Hadya Alalawi reports (+ BBC video) » | Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
EU to Review Swiss Ties after Immigration Vote
The vote comes amid increasing debate across Europe about migration and the impact of free movement of people.
The economic impact could be great since half of Switzerland's exports are to the EU, with Germany its biggest trading partner.
Gavin Hewitt reports. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, February 10, 2014
Swiss Reaction to Immigration Vote
Imogen Foulkes reports from Berne. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, February 10, 2014
First the Ground Zero Mosque, Now the Times Square Synagogue: Manhattan Developer Reveals Another Controversial Construction Project
Sharif el-Gamal, whose company, SoHo Properties, was behind the ill-fated Islamic centre proposal, confirmed this week that he is in final talks to purchase a vacant building close to Times Square on West 40 Street for the construction of a new tower with street-level shops, a hotel and, curiously, a large synagogue.
That Mr El-Gamal is proving such an equal opportunity dreamer is inevitably drawing attention if not on the scale of the flap stirred by Park51, the name given to the Islamic centre that never came to be. In truth, however, this deal has very little to do with religion except in the sense that dollars are the ultimate deity. » | Davis Usborne, New York | Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Hollande Given Warm US Welcome amid Questions of a New 'relation spéciale'
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| US president Barack Obama and French president François Hollande during a welcoming ceremony at the White House |
The nuance may have been lost in translation, but there was no mistaking the diplomatic love-in that came to rescue of beleaguered French president François Hollande on his state visit to Washington.
So warm was the welcome by a US president still grateful for support over Syria, that one French journalist asked whether l’Hexagone had now replaced Britain as the main object of American affection.
“I have two daughters who are both gorgeous and wonderful, and that’s how I feel about my outstanding European partners,” replied a flustered Obama, still trying out his pronunciation of President “Hoolong”.
Sensing diplomatic triumph, and possible German envy, Hollande quickly replied that he had four children, before reminding his hosts that the British had once sought to hang American revolutionaries from the nearest rope.
Not even American jokes about the awkwardness of earlier French exchange trips could temper the “rapprochement” during their hour-long joint press conference. Read on and comment » | Dan Roberts in Washington |Tuesday, February 11, 2014
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama refuses to say whether France has overtaken Britain as America's closest ally: I can no more pick between Paris and London than I can pick between Malia and Sasha, says president » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Kritik aus Berlin: Merkel sieht "erhebliche Probleme" nach Schweizer Votum
Berlin/Bern - International wird das Schweizer Votum zur Einwanderung scharf kritisiert - auch aus Berlin kommen klare Worte. Finanzminister Wolfgang Schäuble hat sich bereits geäußert, jetzt legt die Kanzlerin nach. Angela Merkel erwartet große Probleme durch das Schweizer Votum für eine strikte Begrenzung der Zuwanderung.
"Die Bundesregierung nimmt das Ergebnis dieser Volksabstimmung zur Kenntnis und respektiert es, es ist aber durchaus auch so, dass aus unserer Sicht dieses Ergebnis erhebliche Probleme aufwirft", sagte Regierungssprecher Steffen Seibert.
Es sei an der Schweiz, auf die Europäische Union zuzugehen und ihr darzulegen, wie sie mit dem Ergebnis umgehen wolle. Es würden schwierige Gespräche zu führen sein. "Unser Interesse muss es doch sein, das Verhältnis EU-Schweiz so eng wie möglich zu bewahren." » | jok/fab/AFP/dpa | Montag, 10. Februar 2014
DIE PRESSE: Schweiz: “Das Land ist ein Risiko eingegangen”: Die Schweizer Wirtschaft ist nach der Abstimmung vom Sonntag, in dem sich 50,3 Prozent für Zuwanderungsquoten aussprachen, verunsichert. » | Von Jeannine Hierländer (Die Presse) | Montag, 10. Februar 2014
François Hollande Arrives in United States: No More 'Freedom Fries' as Obama Rolls Out Red Carpet
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| U.S. President Barack Obama welcomes his French counterpart François Hollande to the U.S. at Andrews Air Force Base |
President Barack Obama is rolling out the diplomatic red carpet for his French counterpart, François Hollande, in a visible sign of improving Franco-US relations - which hit a nadir over France's refusal to support the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"We've come a long way from 'freedom fries'," a senior Obama administration official observed on Monday, ahead of a visit that will lavish personal attention on the French president – including a ride on Air Force One and a formal state dinner.
Mr Hollande touched down in the United States on Monday afternoon.
And he is in need of distraction from domestic tribulations that include his highly-publicised affair with a French actress and deep-seated economic problems that have made him the least popular French president in decades.
The White House was forced to pulp hundreds of invitations to Tuesday night's state dinner after Mr Hollande's break up with Valerie Trierweiler, his long-term girlfriend - who escaped to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius last week, where she was photographed relaxing in the sun. Read on and comment » | Peter Foster, in Washington and Rory Mulholland in Paris | Monday, February 10, 2014
Car Smoking: MPs Support Ban When Children Present
They voted in favour of a Labour-supported amendment to the Children and Families Bill by a majority of 269.
This will give Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt the power to bring in a ban in England but will not immediately mean a change in the law.
Last week, more than 700 experts wrote to MPs urging them to back change. But critics say legislation is not needed.
The amendment - passed by 376 votes to 107 - empowers, but does not compel, the government to make it a criminal offence for drivers to fail to prevent smoking in their privately owned vehicles when children are present. » | Monday, February 110, 2014
UK Floods: Homes Evacuated as Swollen Thames Keeps Rising
Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place in Berkshire and Surrey, while two remain in Somerset.
Duncan Kennedy reports. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, February 10, 2014
Erster Islam-Kindergarten der Schweiz geplant
Zürich Er soll «Al Huda» heissen, der rechte Weg: der erste muslimische Kindergarten in der Deutschschweiz. Aktivisten aus dem Umfeld des Islamischen Zentralrates der Schweiz (IZRS) wollen dort, so ihr erklärtes Ziel, «Kinder auch ausser Haus islamisch erziehen».
Bis zu 25 Kinder sollen ab dem Sommer im Islamischen Zentrum in Volketswil (ZH) unterrichtet werden. Die Initianten um die Konvertitin Melanie Muhaxheri haben bereits vor einem halben Jahr ein Gesuch um Bewilligung eingereicht, wie Martin Wendelspiess, Leiter des Zürcher Volksschulamtes, gegenüber der SonntagsZeitung bestätigt. Zum Stand des Verfahrens schweigt er. » | Von Fabian Eberhard | Sonntag, 09. Februar 2014
US Envoy in Sudan Forced to Resign after Accepting Islam
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| Sudanese local media sources said that the US envoy was forced to resign after he turned to Islam |
Stafford told the foreign ministry that his resignation was made for "personal reasons" but Sudanese sources claimed that the envoy was forced to resign after he turned to Islam.
Sources said that Stafford has recorded visits to the headquarters of Ansar al-Sunnah in Sudan and established a close relationship with a number of Sudanese clerics through these visits. The U.S. State Department has not made any statement to confirm or deny the news on Joseph Stafford. » | News Desk | World Bulletin | Thursday, February 06, 2014
Utah's Mormons Celebrate as Polygamy Restrictions Are Struck Down
A US federal judge has struck down a key part of Utah’s law banning polygamy – providing welcome relief to one practising Mormon family.
Joe Darger, who described himself as an “independent Mormon fundamentalist”, has 25 children with three wives.
US District Judge Clark Waddoups threw out part of a bill which allows the state to use cohabitation as a basis for prosecution, although Utah does still prohibit bigamy.
Cousins Elena and Vicki married Joe in 1990 and in 1992 Vicki’s twin sister Valerie joined them.
The unusual family have always worried Joe could face arrest, but the latest ruling means the state cannot use cohabitation as a basis for prosecution as it goes against the individuals’ right to freedom of religion enshrined in the First Amendment. » | Rose Troup Buchanan | Monday, February 10, 2014
Prince Harry Death Plot Criminal Jailed for Three Years
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| Ashraf Islam pleaded guilty last year to making a threat to kill Prince Harry |
A convicted criminal who plotted to kill Prince Harry has been jailed for three years.
Ashraf Islam, 31, said he had a ''moral right to judge'' the royal because he disagreed with the work of the British Armed Forces, of which Prince Harry is a member.
The judge at Isleworth Crown Court in London described Islam's plot as ''vague and unlikely to succeed'', but said he presented a risk to the public.
Islam, of no fixed address but who had been living in west London, pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill Prince Harry, at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in May last year.
He had earlier handed himself in to police and volunteered the information about the plot, defence counsel Roxanne Morrell said. » | Agencies | Edited by Andrew Marszal | Monday, February 10, 2014
La Suisse profondément isolée après le référendum sur l'immigration
Avec le oui à la restauration des quotas d'immigration pour les étrangers, les électeurs ont plongé dimanche la Suisse prospère dans une crise majeure, exprimant un certain rejet des pressions de tous bords qui visent leur pays. L'Allemagne, la France et l'Union européenne (UE) ont protesté contre ce vote, qui aura des conséquences directes sur les nombreux ressortissants européens voulant travailler en Suisse, avec une procédure qui deviendra à l'avenir beaucoup plus compliquée qu'actuellement.
Le vote suisse pose des "problèmes considérables", a indiqué lundi le porte-parole de la chancelière allemande, Angela Merkel. "Les relations étroites qui lient la Suisse à l'Union européenne apportent des deux côtés aux populations de grands avantages, et la liberté de circulation est au coeur de ces liens étroits", a-t-il ajouté.
Le ministre suisse des Affaires étrangères, Didier Burkhalter, qui est aussi président en exercice de la Confédération, se rendra à Berlin le 18 février pour rencontrer la chancelière. De son côté, Laurent Fabius, ministre français des Affaires étrangères, estime que le vote suisse est une mauvaise nouvelle pour l'Europe. L'UE, a-t-il ajouté, va devoir réviser ses relations avec la Suisse. » | Source AFP | lundi 10 février 2014
LE POINT: Merkel : "Le vote suisse pose des problèmes considérables" : La chancelière allemande a tenu à rappeler combien la liberté de circulation était importante en Europe, au lendemain du vote sur la limitation de l'immigration. » | Source AFP | lundi 10 février 2014
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