Friday, March 07, 2014
Hillary Clinton Compares Putin to Hitler
Krim will zu Russland: Russland wird die Krim willkommen heissen
Das Zögern in «Londongrad»
In ihrer Wortwahl sind die Briten nicht sehr weit entfernt von Washington. «Völlig unakzeptabel» nennt Premierminister David Cameron die russische Übernahme der Krim. «Erhebliche Konsequenzen» hat Londons Regierungschef dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin verheissen. Eine starke gemeinsame Front gegen Moskau sei vonnöten, befindet Cameron. Sanktionsmässig dürfe «nichts ausgeschlossen» werden in der EU.
Zugleich zögert man in London aber entschieden, solche Worte in Taten umzusetzen. Das hat nicht zuletzt finanzielle Gründe. Die Briten fürchten, dass etwa Visa-Restriktionen für russische Geschäftsleute oder das Einfrieren russischen Kapitals in Grossbritannien nachteilige Folgen fürs Vereinigte Königreich haben könnten. Immerhin fliessen im Jahr über elf Milliarden Dollar an russischem Investment auf die Britischen Inseln. » | Tagesanzeiger.ch/Newsnet | Freitag, 07. März 2014
Moscou respectera le "choix historique" de la Crimée au référendum
Le Parlement russe respectera le "choix historique" de la Crimée au référendum qui proposera aux électeurs un rattachement de la péninsule ukrainienne à la Russie, a déclaré vendredi le président de la Douma (chambre basse). "Nous respecterons le choix historique de la population de Crimée", a déclaré Sergueï Narychkine, cité par les agences russes, laissant entendre que les parlementaires russes voteraient en faveur du rattachement de la Crimée à la Russie. "Nous soutiendrons le choix libre et démocratique de la population de Crimée", a-t-il ajouté. Il s'exprimait lors d'une rencontre à Moscou avec une délégation du Parlement local de Crimée.
Dominé par des pro-russes, le Parlement local de Crimée a demandé jeudi à Vladimir Poutine le rattachement de la péninsule ukrainienne à la Russie et a annoncé l'organisation d'un référendum le 16 mars pour le valider. Les électeurs auront le choix entre un rattachement à la Russie ou une autonomie nettement renforcée. » | Le Point.fr | vendredi 07 mars 2014
US and EU Impose Sanctions and Warn Russia to Relent in Ukraine Standoff
Barack Obama and his EU allies unveiled a co-ordinated set of sanctions on Thursday to punish Russia for occupying the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, imposing visa restrictions on individuals and sharpening rhetoric in what has rapidly degenerated into the worst east-west crisis since the end of the cold war.
President Obama spoke for an hour on Thursday afternoon with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. According the White House, the US president told Putin that newly-announced sanctions, introduced in co-ordination with the UK, were a response to Russia’s “violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“President Obama indicated that there is a way to resolve the situation diplomatically, which addresses the interests of Russia, the people of Ukraine, and the international community.” the White House said in a statement to reporters. » | Dan Roberts in Washington and Ian Traynor in Brussels | Thursday, March 06, 2014
Ukraine Crisis: Crimean MPs' Vote to Join Russian Federation Sparks Outrage
Authorities in Crimea voted on Thursday to accelerate secession from Ukraine, unanimously backing a law that declared the territory to be part of the Russian Federation.
In a move that drew howls of outrage from the new leadership in Kiev, MPs voted by 78 votes to nil for the territory to leave Ukraine, further escalating what has become the most serious crisis in Russian relations with the west since the cold war.
At the same time, a referendum on more autonomy for the region due on 30 March was brought forward to 16 March, and the question was changed to give residents the option to unify the Black Sea peninsula with Russia.
Crimea's deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliev, said the referendum was now only to "confirm" parliament's decision, and he considered Crimea to be part of Russia already. He said that all Ukrainian troops on the territory should either leave or be treated as occupiers. Crimea is planning to introduce the rouble and readopt Russian state symbols. » | Shaun Walker in Simferopol | Thursday, March 06, 2014
New Dark Age Alert! Sultan of Brunei Hits Back at Foreign Criticism of Looming Implementation of Sharia Law That Will Introduce Amputations and Stonings as Punishments
The sultan of Brunei has rejected foreign criticism of the countries impending introduction of a form of strict Islamic Sharia law, saying it is not a backwards step.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said all races should unite under Sharia law and that the new penal code was a 'great achievement' for the small Southeast Asian nation.
Starting in April, Brunei will begin implementing a version of Sharia that allows for penalties such as amputation for theft and stoning for adultery.
Under limited circumstances, punishments can be applied to non-Muslim residents of the oil-rich country, according to those who have seen the law.
Public criticism of the government is extremely rare in the country, but some citizens have turned to the Internet to express alarm at the law.
Around one-third of Brunei's 440,000 people are non-Muslims, mostly Christian or Buddhist Chinese.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah told legislators Thursday that all races should unite and support the laws, which he said were a 'great achievement for the country, and not a backward or old-fashioned step.' » | Daily Mail Reporter | Wednesday, March 06, 2014
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Geert Wilders Backs New Anti-Islam Party, the Australian Liberty Alliance
Far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders will welcome a new anti-Islam political party, the Australian Liberty Alliance, in a pre-recorded message to a conference on “Islam and liberty” starting in Melbourne on Friday.
The conference, organised by the “Islam-critical” Q Society, will start on Friday morning at a secret location, and will feature two speakers who were last year barred entry into Britain.
“It’s a bringing together of many people who are concerned about the march of Islam into many western democracies, and how it changes the laws and values of western democracies,” Q Society’s spokesman, Andrew Horwood, said.
“You get segregation when you get Muslims coming in, because their core belief is that Muslims are better people than non-Muslims,” he said. “We’re keen to have integrated societies, but we think it’s important to have integration, not segregation.”
The Q Society sparked protests last year when it sponsored a speaking tour by Wilders. The firebrand MP warned audiences that Islam was “a force of darkness” that had made European cities such as Rotterdam and Paris look like “suburbs of Cairo”. The tour was hampered by 30 venue cancellations and a refusal by some banks to provide financial services. Horwood said this year’s event has not seen any cancellations or boycotts so far. » | Michael Safi | Thursday, March 06, 2014
PERTH NOW: ‘No place’ for Dutch extremist Geert Wilders in Australian politics : THERE’S one thing Warren Truss and Bill Shorten agree on: There is no place in Australian politics for extremism. » | AAP | Wednesday, March 05, 2014
THE AUSTRALIAN: Anti-Islam party to contest next election: AN anti-Islam party based on the hardline views of Dutch politician Geert Wilders plans to field candidates at the next federal election, raising fears among moderate Muslims of a rise in extremism. » | Chip Le Grand | Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Russia Hits Back at US ‘Barefaced Cynicism and Double Standards’ over Ukraine
“The State Department is trying to play on a shamelessly one-sided interpretation of the events,” ministry spokesperson Aleksandr Lukashevich said on Thursday. “Surely, Washington cannot admit that they were nurturing Maidan [protests], encouraging the violent overthrow of the legitimate government, and thus clearing the way for those who are now pretending to be a legitimate power in Kiev.”
On Wednesday, one day after the Russian president's media conference on the events in Ukraine, the US State Department accused him of lying and published a “fact sheet” of Putin's 10 “false claims” surrounding the crisis.
Moscow said that it will not respond to such “low-level propaganda.”
“We will only say, yet again, that we are dealing with unacceptable arrogance and a pretense of having a monopoly on the truth,” Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
The United States has “no moral right” to lecture about observing international laws and respecting the sovereignty of other states, the diplomat added.
“What about the bombing of former Yugoslavia or the invasion of Iraq over a fabricated cause?” Lukashevich pointed out. » | Thursday, March 06, 2014
The Queen's 'Hidden-away' Cousin Katharine Bowes-Lyon Dies at 87
Katharine Bowes-Lyon, the niece of the late Queen Mother, died on February 23 but her death was only announced by her family yesterday. She was laid to rest at a private family funeral.
She and her late elder sister Nerissa, who also had learning disablities, were two of the four daughters of the Queen Mother's elder brother John Bowes-Lyon.
In an era when families treated the disabled with shame and even young unmarried women who got pregnant were locked in asylums or hospitals, the sisters were hidden away from polite society for much of their lives, even while the Queen Mother was patron of Mencap, the charity for what used to be known as the mentally handicapped, people with learning disabilities. » | Richard Palmer | Thursday, March 06, 2014
Rumsfeld on Ukraine, Obama-Putin, and America
Russia Today TV Presenter Liz Wahl Quits On Air
On Tuesday, Abby Martin signed off her programme with an ad-libbed attack on the Kremlin. Now her colleague Liz Wahl has added her voice to the disquiet among the channel's on air staff by announcing her resignation on air.
Katy Watson reports. (+ BBC video) » | Thursday, March 06, 2014
Crimea Will Be Part of Russia 'In a Few Days' - Deputy PM
Speaking to the BBC's World Affairs editor John Simpson, he said that he was confident that up to 75% of Crimean citizens would support such a move.
MPs in Crimea have asked Moscow to allow the southern Ukrainian region to become part of the Russian Federation. There will be a referendum to ratify the parliament decision on 16 March. (+ BBC video) » | Thursday, March 06, 2014
The Irresponsible Bank of England Keeps Interest Rate Down At Record Low
BBC: UK interest rates kept at record low: UK interest rates have been held at 0.5% for another month, the Bank of England has said. » | Thursday, March 06, 2014
Crimea Parliament Backs Joining Russia, Sets Referendum for March 16th
Peter Hitchens on Ukraine: Don't Lump Those Who Want Change in with Neo-nazis
Obama Warns Israel Time Is Running Out On Palestinian Peace
Obama's Foreign Policy Based on 'Fantasy'?
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