International Talks On Crimea Crisis

Mar. 14, 2014 - 5:45 - Geraldo on tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine

Gove Attacks 'Preposterous' Number of Old Etonians in Cameron's Cabinet

Michael Gove, the education secretary, was educated at a fee-paying school in Scotland.

THE GUARDIAN: Education secretary draws comparisons between PM's team and cabinet of Lord Salisbury, criticised for alleged cronyism

The education secretary, Michael Gove, has attacked the "preposterous" number of Etonians in David Cameron's inner cabinet and, in the process, taken aim at the chances of Old Etonian Boris Johnson succeeding Cameron as party leader after the general election.

He described the concentration of Old Etonians as "ridiculous", adding that such a bastion of privilege does not exist in any other rich country.

Although Gove, in an interview with the Financial Times, stressed that the elite nature of Cameron's top team reflected the failings of past state education policies, the remarks fit perfectly with the Labour claim that the top of the Conservative party is an out-of-touch elite. » | Patrick Wintour | Friday, March 14, 2014

Fears Russia Will Use Syria, Iran to Retaliate for Sanctions

Mar. 14, 2014 - 4:07 - Reaction from Elliot Abrams, former deputy national security adviser for President George W. Bush

Frostige Stimmung zwischen Kerry und Lawrow

DIE WELT: Das Treffen der Außenminister in London macht deutlich, wie weit die Ansichten der USA und Russlands in der Krim-Krise auseinander liegen. Nicht einmal vor die Presse wollten sie gemeinsam treten.

Im Konflikt um die Zukunft der Halbinsel Krim bleibt Russland auf Konfrontationskurs. "Wir müssen das Ergebnis der Volksabstimmung respektieren", sagte der russische Außenminister Sergej Lawrow am Freitag nach einem mehrstündigen Gespräch mit seinem US-Kollegen John Kerry in London. Mit den USA habe man keine gemeinsame Sichtweise. Kerry bekräftigte die Meinung seiner eigenen Regierung sowie der EU: Das für Sonntag geplante Referendum sei nicht legitim, zumal sich die zu Ukraine gehörige Krim unter russischer Besatzung befinde. Sollte sich Präsident Wladimir Putin für die Annektierung der Krim entscheiden, werde dies "enorme Konsequenzen" haben. (+ Video) » | Von Sebastian Borger, London | Freitag, 14. März 2014

Crimée : la diplomatie échoue avant le référendum

Les six heures d'entretien entre le chef de la diplomatie russe
Sergueï Lavrov et son homologue américain John Kerry,
vendredi à Londres, n'ont rien donné.

LE FIGARO: La réunion de la «dernière chance» n'a pas permis de désamorcer la crise ukrainienne, avant le vote sur le rattachement de la péninsule à la Russie.

Barack Obama assurait vendredi croire encore à une solution diplomatique sur la crise en Ukraine. La fenêtre semblait pourtant se refermer après l'échec de six heures de discussions «de la dernière chance», à Londres, entre le secrétaire d'État américain John Kerry et le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères, Sergueï Lavrov, même si les deux hommes sont convenus de rester en contact. » | Par Florentin Collomp, Pierre Avril | vendredi 14 mars 2014

Lee Rigby Murder: Couple Jailed for Glorification Videos

Royal Barnes and his wife Rebekah Dawson posted
three videos on YouTube

BBC: A married couple have been jailed for posting videos on YouTube glorifying Fusilier Lee Rigby's murder.

Royal Barnes, 23, of Hackney, east London, recorded and uploaded three videos shortly after the murder in Woolwich, south-east London, last May.

In one of the videos, he hailed the murder as a "brilliant day".

At the Old Bailey, the Muslim couple were both jailed - Barnes for five years and four months, while Rebekah Dawson, 22, was sentenced to 20 months. » | Friday, March 14, 2014

Veteran Labour Politician Tony Benn Dies Aged 88

Anthony Neil Wedgewood Benn, known as Tony Benn, formerly 2nd Viscount
Stansgate, was a controversial British Labour Party politician. He renounced his
hereditary peerage and served in the House of Commons for 50 years.

BBC: The veteran Labour Party politician, Tony Benn, has died at the age of 88.

In a statement his family said he passed away at his London home surrounded by relatives.

Tony Benn was one of the most influential left-wing figures in British politics.

Political editor Nick Robinson reports. (+ BBC video) » | Friday, March 14, 2014

Iraqi Cabinet Approves Legalizing Marriage For 9-Year-Old Girls

RTT NEWS: Iraq's Council of Ministers have approved a new draft law that would restrict women's rights in matters of inheritance and parental and other rights after divorce, make it easier for men to take multiple wives, and allow girls to be married from age nine.

The new Personal Status Law, which received the Cabinet's nod on February 25, must now be approved by the parliament to become law.

Human Rights Watch called on the Iraqi Government to withdraw the pending legislation and ensure that Iraq's legal framework protects women and girls in line with its international obligations.

The draft law, called the Jaafari Personal Status Law, is based on the principles of the Jaafari school of Shia religious jurisprudence, founded by Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia imam. » | RTT Staff Writer | Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Russia and West on Collision Course over Ukraine as Talks Fail in London

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the US
secretary of state, John Kerry, in London.

THE GUARDIAN: John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov fail to reach agreement as Crimea prepares for referendum on joining Russia

The Ukraine crisis has entered a new and more dangerous phase after 11th-hour talks in London between the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, broke up without resolution.

The diplomatic failure sets Russia on a collision course with the west, with Moscow ordering further military deployments on Friday and a contentious referendum in Russian-dominated Crimea set to go ahead as planned on Sunday.

The referendum, which will almost certainly result in a vote in favour of breaking away from Ukraine and union with Russia, will trigger the imposition of sanctions by the west on Monday.

During five hours of talks, Kerry pushed Lavrov to postpone the referendum. He challenged him over sudden Russian troop movements along the Ukrainian border over the last few days. But Lavrov offered nothing in the way of a concession that would have helped reduce tensions.

At a press conference afterwards, the Russian foreign minister described the talks as productive, in that both sides were able to set out their positions, but the two sides did not share "a common vision". Looking for a way to emphasise his point, Lavrov sought an international parallel: Crimea meant more to Russia than the Falklands did to Britain. » | Ewen MacAskill and Alec Luhn in Moscow | Friday, March 14, 2014

Abdurraheem Green – Stoning, Homosexuality and Democracy

Is Islam a Threat to the West? By Abdur Raheem Green

Abdur Raheem Green (UK), well known for his efforts at the renowned Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park and Lecturer of Peace TV.

Inside Story: Pope Francis: Reform or Modernisation?

A report card on the first non-European Pontiff, as he marks his first year in office.

Kerry and Lavrov in Last-ditch Ukraine Talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in London. It is their last opportunity to talk, before a referendum is held in Ukraine's Crimea region - on whether it should become part of Russia. The US wants assurances that Russia would not annex Crimea. But Russia said it has the right to protect its compatriots in the whole of Ukraine.

Malaysia Airlines the Greatest Aviation Mystery in History?

Mar. 13, 2014 - 5:21 - Report: Unclear if investigators have evidence this is terror-related

Russia Announces Start of Military Exercises Near Ukrainian Border

Move comes as Ukraine backs creation of new force to keep Russian troops from advancing beyond Crimea

Read the Guardian article here | Thursday, March 13, 2014

Marin Le Pen: Schritt für Schritt an die Macht

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Die Front-National-Chefin Marine Le Pen arbeitet systematisch am Aufstieg. Die rechtsextreme Partei könnte bei den Europawahlen stärkste Kraft in Frankreich werden.

Jean-Marie Le Pen blickte ziemlich verdutzt in die Kameras, als er sich 2002 überraschend für die Stichwahl der Präsidentenwahl qualifizierte. Marine Le Pen aber hofft nicht auf Überraschungen. Die 45 Jahre alte Front-National-Chefin arbeitet systematisch an ihrem Aufstieg, der sie ins höchste Staatsamt bringen soll. In ihrem Stufenplan an die Macht stellen die Kommunalwahlen in drei Wochen eine wichtige Etappe dar. „Das Ziel ist klar: Wir wollen unsere lokale Verankerung stärken“, sagt die Parteivorsitzende im Gespräch in Paris. » | Von Michaela Wiegel, Paris | Samstag, 08. März 2014

La Russie bloque plusieurs sites qui critiquaient le gouvernement

LA PRESSE: La Russie a bloqué jeudi plusieurs sites internet connus pour leurs critiques du gouvernement et un blogue tenu par l'un des leaders de l'opposition, Alexeï Navalny, alors que le Kremlin intensifie sa répression contre les médias indépendants en pleine crise avec l'Ukraine. » | Associated Press | Moscou | jeudi 13 mars 2014

Ukraine Crisis Growing

Mar. 13, 2014 - 2:38 - Eric Shawn reports on prime minister's UN Security Council visit

People Cannot Debate Traditional Issues because of Liberal 'Censoriousness', Says Lord Neuberger

Lord Neuberger

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Traditional attitudes to issues such as sexuality are being shut out of debate, Britain’s most senior judge warns

Traditional attitudes to issues such as sexuality are being shut out of debate by a new form of liberal “censoriousness” which only allows “inoffensive” opinions to be heard in public, Britain’s most senior judge has warned.

Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, said that Britain could be becoming less diverse rather than more because once common opinions are now deemed “unacceptable”.

He likened the new form of “moral reaction” to the opposite but equally restrictive attitudes of previous generations.

The judge also warned that the children of Britain's elite will have to settle for worse jobs than their parents in coming years. » | John Bingham, and Christopher Hope | Thursday, March 13, 2014

Islam Explained by a Non-Muslim