Exclusive: Dick Cheney Reacts to Release of Sgt. Bergdahl

Jun. 02, 2014 - 6:27 - Former Vice President on if the U.S. negotiated with terrorists

Exclusive: Former Platoon Mates Speak Out About Bergdahl

Jun. 02, 2014 - 6:31 - Story behind captive soldier's disappearance

Church of England Bans Clergy from ‘Un-Christian’ BNP and National Front

Bishops have formally declared the two groups to be "incompatible
with the teaching of the Church of England" because of their stance
on "equality of persons or groups of different races"

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Bishops declare race policies of far right parties such as the BNP and the National Front as a “blatant denial of the Christian faith”

Church of England clergy face being defrocked if they are found to be members of the BNP or National Front after bishops ruled that their views are un-Christian and promote the “sin of racism”.

It is the first time Anglican priests have formally been banned from membership of any political party.

Bishops declared the two groups to be “incompatible with the teaching of the Church of England” because of their respective stances on “equality of persons or groups of different races”.

Clergy who defy the ban would be subject to disciplinary procedures under a clause in canon law which requires them to be “wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ” in their public and private lives.

It follows a vote in the governing General Synod four years ago calling for the church to adopt a similar policy towards the two groups as police forces already have.

Bishops agreed to impose the ban after legal advice that the Church could not be sued under human rights law for curtailing clerics’ free speech. » | John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor | Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Preacher at Ian Paisley's Former Church Denounces Islam as a 'Wicked Religion'

Rev Ian Brown blasted Islam as a "violent intolerant wicked religion"

BELFAST TELEGRAPH: Just two weeks after a scandal was sparked by a preacher slating Islam as "satanic", another preacher has launched a broadside against the faith.

The minister at Lord Bannside's former church, Martyr's Memorial Free Presbyterian in east Belfast, has blasted Islam as a "violent intolerant wicked religion".

The Rev Ian Brown was speaking at a recent Sunday evening service in defence of Pastor James McConnell, whom he described as a "prophet".

The Free Presbyterian minister told his flock last Sunday evening he felt the situation had become "thoroughly ridiculous".

In an sermon posted on the Martyr's Memorial website, Rev Brown is heard saying: "Now the allies and sympathisers of Islam are up on their hind legs; what we can call that secularist Taliban who dominate our medium, they are sharpening their literary sabres and they are swinging for him, their attempt at their own version of a verbal hanging with a couple of blistering attacks which were passed off as interviews on the Nolan radio and television shows."

He blamed "anti-Christian intolerance" for the row.

"This all becoming thoroughly ridiculous. » | Rebecca Black | Monday, June 02, 2014

Second evangelical Christian minister joins James McConnell row as he compares Islamists to Hitler »

Edward Snowden: Russia Better Than Prison

The NSA whistleblower risks offending his Kremlin hosts with less than effusive description of Russia, and says he'd like to be granted asylum in Brazil

Read the Telegraph article here | Tuesday, June 03, 2014

Obama: Sergeant Bergdahl Was Never Forgotten

Queen Goes Riding on Anniversary of Coronation as Spain's King Juan Carlos Abdicates

Queen Elizabeth II horseriding at Windsor Castle, Berkshire

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Constitutional historians say Spanish king's abdication will have no effect on the Queen

As the Queen marked the 61st anniversary of her coronation by going for a gentle pony ride in Windsor today, King Juan Carlos of Spain announced his abdication after 40 years on the throne.

His decision is unlikely to have been welcomed by the Queen, and nor will it have weakened her resolve to carry on as monarch for the rest of her life, according to constitutional historians.

The British monarchy, unlike Spain’s, is a sacerdotal system, meaning Kings and Queens are consecrated during a religious ceremony in which they swear before God to carry out their various duties. Edward VIII abdicated before he had been crowned, meaning he never took the Coronation Oath, thus avoiding a constitutional crisis.

The Spanish crown, in contrast, is a far more ceremonial position; monarchs are crowned, but not consecrated, meaning they are not bound by a religious oath to carry on for life.

The historian Hugo Vickers said that unlike King Juan Carlos, who is in poor health and has faced a slump in his popularity, the Queen, who is 88, is "firing on all cylinders". » | Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter | Monday, June 02, 2014

Bergdahl Family Friend Speaks Out After Rescue

Jun. 02, 2014 - 2:32 - America's last known POW released

Bergdahl: Hero or Deserter?

Jun. 02, 2014 - 4:22 - Media coverage of the controversial deal

Bergdahl Release Deal Critics Focus on Father’s Bushy Beard and Utterances in Arabic and Pashtu

President Barack Obama speaks during an appearance in the
Rose Garden of the White House, accompanied by Bowe Bergdahl's
parents Bob and Jani Bergdahl

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: After Robert Bergdahl celebrated the release of his son Bowe in a White House appearance next to Barack Obama, some are suspicious about his invocation of Allah and his past comments criticising US foreign policy

For Barack Obama, it must have seemed like a politically safe photo opportunity. His administration had just secured the release of America’s only known prisoner of war after years of negotiations and now he had invited the soldier’s parents to join him on the steps of the White House to proclaim the deal.

The images from the Rose Garden of a smiling president placing his arms supportively around Robert and Jani Bergdahl, whose son Bowe was freed in return for the release of five Taliban leaders in Guantanamo Bay, were broadcast around the world.

But past comments by Mr Bergdahl condemning US foreign policy - not to mention his bushy Islamic-looking beard, his command of Pashtu and Arabic and his use of an Islamic greeting while standing next to Mr Obama - have now been seized on by conservative critics of the president.

There was outrage on some social media sites yesterday at what appeared to have been a message that the soldier’s father issued via Twitter, which has since been removed from his account on the micro-blogging site.

“God will repay the death of every Afghan child, ameen!” the message read, using the Islamic equivalent of Amen. In the same message, he repeated his view that all Guantanamo Bay detainees should be released. » | Philip Sherwell, New York | Monday, June 02, 2014

Letizia d'Espagne : cette reine que les monarchistes détestent

Avec 'abdication de Juan Carlos, Letizia se retrouve reine aux côtés de son mari Felipe.

LE POINT: Issue d'une famille républicaine, rejetée par les monarchistes, elle incarne désormais avec Felipe l'une des plus anciennes dynasties d'Europe.

Le prochain roi d'Espagne n'est pas forcément celui que l'on croit... Derrière Felipe, les Espagnols savent bien qu'ils devront compter avec Letizia Ortiz, une femme ambitieuse, au caractère bien trempé, qui joue un rôle de conseillère occulte auprès de son mari, comme en son temps sa belle-mère Sofía d'Espagne. La grande différence, c'est que Sofia est née princesse de Grèce tandis que Letizia est roturière, fille d'un journaliste et d'une infirmière syndicaliste, petite-fille d'un chauffeur de taxi. Un pedigree incompatible avec le sang des Bourbons pour les aristocrates espagnols, qui ne lui ont jamais fait de cadeaux. Dès son mariage avec Felipe, au printemps 2004, ses détracteurs ouvraient un site anti-Letizia Ortiz pour souligner l'entrée par effraction de cette journaliste divorcée - elle a été mariée civilement à un professeur - au sein de la famille régnante. Les attaques n'ont jamais vraiment cessé avec son cortège de rumeurs et de boules puantes. » | Par Marc Fourny | lundi 02 juin 2014

Tony Blair: Nigel Farage Is Deceiving the British People over Immigration

The former Prime Minister said that it is "dangerous and wrong"
for Britain's political leaders to pander to "unpleasant prejudices"

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The former Prime Minister says the Ukip leader is fuelling grievances about immigration and it is 'dangerous' for other politicians to pander to such 'unpleasant prejudices'

Nigel Farage is "traducing" Britain and "deceiving" voters by fuelling "grievances" about immigration and Europe, Tony Blair has said.

The former Prime Minister said that it is "dangerous and wrong" for Britain's political leaders to pander to "unpleasant prejudices" and an "attitude which says we don't like foreigners".

He said that politicians should not tell the "white, working class, unemployed youth" that they would find jobs if there were fewer Polish people working in the UK.

He said that the answer should be to provide young people with the education and skills they need to "face the world's challenges and overcome them." » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Monday, June 02, 2014

Spain's King Juan Carlos to Abdicate

Spain's King Juan Carlos delivers a speech to explain
the reasons for his abdication

THE GUARDIAN: Monarch says he is proud of country's transition to democracy but son Felipe has the maturity to 'open a new era of hope'

After 39 years on the throne, King Juan Carlos of Spain will abdicate in favour of his son Crown Prince Felipe, the king said in a televised address on Monday.

Hours after the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, broke the news, the king explained his decision on Spanish television and radio. He highlighted his pride in the "transformation of Spain" and the "tremendous amount achieved by all" since the country's transition into democracy.

"Today, when I look back, I cannot help but feel pride and gratitude towards all of you," he said.

The decision to step down, he said, was made after his 76th birthday in January. His son Felipe, he assured Spaniards, "has the maturity, preparation, and sense of responsibility necessary to assume the title of head of state and open a new era of hope which combines the experience and momentum of a new generation." Read on and comment » | Ashifa Kassam | Monday, June 02, 2014

Anna Soubry: Some People with Immigration Concerns Are 'Frankly Racist'

Anna Soubry, the Conservative defence minister, says that the overwhelming majority of immigrants come to Britain to work not to 'scrounge'

Read the Sunday Telegraph article here | Sunday, June 01, 2014

New Dark Age Alert! Damning Reports Will Show State Schools in Birmingham Are Imposing Islamic Practices

Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of Ofsted, will claim next week that
children in Birmingham are being denied a "rounded education"
to prepare them for life as British citizens

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The head of Ofsted is expected to reveal six schools have been placed in special measures following worrying evidence of religious interference in the classroom

Teachers are to be sent on training programmes to help them stop extremism entering the classroom, as damning reports show that some state schools have been imposing Islamic practices and attitudes.

The reports are due to be published by the education watchdog Ofsted next week, after inspectors carried out emergency checks in 21 schools in Birmingham following complaints of homophobia, the segregation of boys and girls in some lessons, refusal to teach sex education, bullying and invitations to extremists to speak at assemblies.

It is understood six schools, including Park View Academy, have been placed in special measures after inspectors found worrying evidence of religious interference in the classroom.

According to The Sunday Times [£], Sir Michael Wilshaw, the head of Ofsted, will claim next week that children in Birmingham are being denied a “rounded education” to prepare them for life as British citizens. » | Nicola Fifield | Sunday, June 01, 2014

Le Pen warnt Kanzlerin vor "Explosion der EU"

Wahlsiegerin Le Pen: "Vorwürfe mache ich unseren eigenen Anführern"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Nach dem Triumph des Front National bei der Europawahl zeigt sich Parteichefin Le Pen selbstbewusst. Im Gespräch mit dem SPIEGEL warnt sie Kanzlerin Merkel vor dem Hass der Nachbarländer - und zeigt Bewunderung für Kreml-Chef Putin.

Hamburg - Marine Le Pen warnt nach dem guten Abschneiden ihrer Partei bei der Europawahl die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel davor, ihre Sparpolitik fortzusetzen: "Wenn sie die Leiden nicht sieht, denen die übrigen europäischen Völker unterworfen sind, wird Deutschland sich verhasst machen", sagte die Vorsitzende des rechtsfranzösischen Front National im Gespräch mit dem SPIEGEL. (Lesen Sie das komplette Interview hier im aktuellen SPIEGEL) » | Sonntag, 01. Juni 2014

French Arrested Suspect in Brussels Jewish Centre Attack

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Alleged killer arrested for conducting attack on Jewish centre in Brussels that killed three

A Frenchman with suspected ties to Islamic radicals in Syria has been arrested over last week's fatal shooting at the Jewish Museum in Brussels, investigation sources told AFP on Sunday.

The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Mehdi Nemmouche, was arrested Friday in the southern French city of Marseille in possession of a Kalashnikov rifle and a handgun similar to the ones used in the attack on May 24, the sources said.

Nemmouche has been detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise, a judicial source said. » | AFP | Sunday, June 01, 2014

Sudan Backtracks on Pledge to Free Woman Sentenced to Death for Apostasy

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The foreign office said on Saturday that Meriam Ibrahim would be freed within days but has now said that only Sudan's courts can decide


Sudan’s foreign ministry on Sunday repudiated a pladge the government would order the release of Meriam Ibrahim, the mother sentenced to death for apostasy, warning only the country’s courts could order her freedom.

Western nations including Britain have expressed outrage that Ms Ibrahim, who gave birth to her daughter Maya in prison last week, had been convicted of changing her faith from Islam to Christianity.

Sudanese officials suggested late on Saturday that the 27-year-old was to be released and her death sentence annulled.

But Abu Bakr al-Sideeg, spokesman for the foreign ministry in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, said on Sunday that only the courts had such powers and foreign ministry officials would have no power over Ms Ibrahim’s case.

“[I am] not aware that any release is imminent”, he added. » | Mike Pflanz, Nairobi | Sunday, June 01, 2014

Museum Shooting: 'My Children Know That Being Jewish Means They Will Be Targets'

Head of the European Jewish Community Centre
Rabbi Avi Tawil says he encounters abuse every day

SUNDAY EXPRESS: A GUNMAN calmly walking into the Jewish Museum in Brussels and shooting four people without a shred of emotion has triggered fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitic violence across Europe.

The horror attack came the weekend before members of far-Right groups in France, Germany and Greece were elected to the European parliament that sits in the Belgian capital.

The rise of neo-Nazi groups, which are openly anti-Semitic, bears chilling hallmarks of the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany in the early 1930s.

This is at a time when young men from across Europe indoctrinated by radical Islamic preachers are returning home from fighting jihads in Syria and Chechnya, united with the far-Right in their hatred of Jewish ­people and also possessing the skills and mindset to target them.

Security camera footage showed the killer, in cap and sunglasses, stroll in, casually remove a Kalashnikov automatic rifle from a bag and open fire, before escaping on foot, all in less than two minutes.

An Israeli couple and a 65-year-old French woman volunteer died, while a 24-year-old Belgian member of staff is said to be “clinically dead” in ­hospital. » | Jon Coates | Sunday, June 01, 2014

Parliament Plea for Muslim and Hindu Bank Holiday in UK Calendar

SUNDAY EXPRESS: PARLIAMENT may have to consider introducing Muslim and Hindu bank holidays.

An online petition requesting a day off for Hindu festival Diwali and Muslim celebration Eid has attracted more than 119,000 signatures and has three months more to run.

Under the rules of the e-petition scheme, introduced in 2011, once the 100,000 signature mark is passed it should be considered for a House of Commons debate.

The debate will stir controversy because these could become the first non-Christian religious holidays in Britain and could lead to calls from other faiths for similar treatment.

It could also anger nationalists who have complained St George’s Day and St David’s Day are not holidays.

However an e-petition calling for these days to be marked has so far attracted only 34 signatures.

Details of the Eid/Diwali e-petition have been passed to the Backbench Business Committee, which will ­consider its suitability for debate. Read on and comment » | Geraint Jones | Sunday, June 01, 2014