Monday, March 17, 2014
Will Crimea Vote Further Inflame US Tensions with Russia?
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Chris Wallace on Imposing Tough Economic Sanctions on Russia
Inside Story: Crimea Referendum: Ukraine or Russia?
Anjem Choudary vs. David Wood: Would Sharia Help the West? (Debate)
American Pastor Jailed in Iran Denied Medical Treatment
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Why Russia Sees Crimea as Crucial to Its Future
Ukraine Crisis: Moscow Rally Opposes Crimea Intervention
Holding Russian and Ukrainian flags, they shouted: "The occupation of Crimea is Russia's disgrace." A smaller pro-Moscow rally was being held elsewhere.
Moscow supports the vote, which Ukraine and the West have dismissed as illegal.
Kiev says Russian "provocateurs" are behind clashes in eastern Ukraine. (+ BBC videos) » | Saturday, March 15, 2014
Venezuela: Maduro wirft den USA Umsturzpläne vor
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| Präsident Maduro: Anschuldigungen gegen US-Außenminister Kerry |
Caracas - Die Proteste gegen Präsident Nicolás Maduro dauern an. Jetzt will die venezolanische Regierung härter durchgreifen. Der Linksnationalist Maduro kündigte in Caracas eine höhere Polizeipräsenz in der Hauptstadt Caracas, San Cristóbal, dem Ausgangspunkt der Bewegung im Zentrum des Landes, und Valencia im Norden an. Dort waren am Mittwoch drei Menschen an Schussverletzungen gestorben: zwei Zivilisten und ein Nationalgardist. Es gehe darum, die Straßen von Barrikaden und Blockierern zu befreien, sagte der Staatschef. » | ler/AFP/dpa | Samstag, 15. März 2014
Vor dem Referendum: Krim-Bewohner heben massenhaft Geld ab
Simferopol - Die Krim bereitet sich mit einem "Tag der Ruhe" ohne politische Agitation auf das umstrittene Referendum vor. In der Hauptstadt Simferopol bildeten sich am Samstag bei sonnigem Wetter Warteschlangen an Geldautomaten, an denen Menschen ukrainische Geldscheine zogen. Am Sonntag sind mehr als 1,8 Millionen Krim-Bewohner aufgerufen, über den Anschluss an Russland abzustimmen. » | ler/dpa/Reuters | Samstag, 15. März 2014
Saudi Arabia Bans 50 Baby Names
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry has banned 50 given names including “foreign” names, names related to royalty and those it considers to be blasphemous.
Saudis will no longer be able to give their children names such as Amir (prince), Linda or Abdul Nabi (Slave of the Prophet) after the civil affairs department at the ministry issued the list, according to Saudi news sites.
It justified the ban by saying that the names either contradicted the culture or religion of the kingdom, or were foreign, or “inappropriate”.
The names fit into at least three categories: those that offend perceived religious sensibilities, those that are affiliated to royalty and those that are of non-Arabic or non-Islamic origin. » | Gulf News Report | Thursday, March 13, 2014
Riyadh Demands Qatar Shut Down Al Jazeera
Dubai: Saudi Arabia demanded that Qatar shut down Al Jazeera and two think tanks during a recent meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a source close to someone who attended the talks said Friday.
Riyadh demanded the closure of the pan-Arab broadcaster as well as the Brookings Doha Centre and the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies, the source said. » | AFP | Friday, March 14, 2014
Indian Expat Stabs Saudi to Death
Riyadh: An expatriate Indian in Saudi Arabia stabbed a young Saudi to death at a rest house on a highway, media reported.
The victim, who was in his 20s, was found bleeding inside the kitchen of a rest house on the Riyadh-Dammam highway with two severe stabs to his chest, local media reported Friday.
The report did not say when the person was killed. » | IANS | Friday, March 14, 2014
International Talks On Crimea Crisis
Gove Attacks 'Preposterous' Number of Old Etonians in Cameron's Cabinet
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| Michael Gove, the education secretary, was educated at a fee-paying school in Scotland. |
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
Friday, March 14, 2014
Fears Russia Will Use Syria, Iran to Retaliate for Sanctions
Frostige Stimmung zwischen Kerry und Lawrow
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
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| 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. |
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
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| Royal Barnes and his wife Rebekah Dawson posted three videos on YouTube |
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
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| 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. |
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
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
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| The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the US secretary of state, John Kerry, in London. |
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
Is Islam a Threat to the West? By Abdur Raheem Green
Inside Story: Pope Francis: Reform or Modernisation?
Kerry and Lavrov in Last-ditch Ukraine Talks
Malaysia Airlines the Greatest Aviation Mystery in History?
Russia Announces Start of Military Exercises Near Ukrainian Border
Marin Le Pen: Schritt für Schritt an die Macht
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
Ukraine Crisis Growing
Thursday, March 13, 2014
People Cannot Debate Traditional Issues because of Liberal 'Censoriousness', Says Lord Neuberger
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| Lord Neuberger |
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
Britain’s 'Finest WWII General' Accused of Child Sex Abuse in Australia
One of Britain’s greatest military commanders, Viscount Slim, has been accused of molesting children at a school for underprivileged youths while serving as the Queen’s representative in Australia.
Bob Stevens, a claimant in a lawsuit against Fairbridge Farm, a school in Australia for mostly British child migrants, said Viscount Slim would arrive in his Rolls Royce and the “next minute we were sitting on his knee and he's got his hands up our trousers”. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Thursday, March 13, 2014
Le Canada perturbé par une tempête de neige
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| La tempête sévit également à Montréal |
L'hiver est loin d'être terminé au Canada. Une tempête perturbe tout l'est du pays.
La neige s'est abattue pendant plus de 24 heures sur les provinces entre l'Ontario et la côte Atlantique, laissant jusqu'à 40 centimètres sur certaines régions comme par exemple dans le Nouveau Brunswick.
Le service météorologique Environnement Canada a émis des bulletins d'alerte pour «des vents forts», avec des pointes à 70 km/h, qui en raison «des températures froides produisent du blizzard». Ces conditions favorisent des accumulations de neige et des congères sur les routes. » | afp/Newsnet | jeudi 13 mars 2014
Crimée : Les États-Unis envisagent des mesures "très sérieuses" contre Moscou
Les États-Unis et l'Union européenne sont prêts à prendre lundi des "mesures très sérieuses" visant Moscou pour répliquer au référendum de dimanche en Crimée qui doit entériner un rattachement à la Russie, a prévenu jeudi le secrétaire d'État John Kerry. "Il y aura une réponse au référendum et de surcroît s'il n'y a aucun signe d'avancées pour régler ce dossier, il y aura de très sérieuses mesures lundi en Europe et ici", a déclaré M. Kerry devant une commission du Sénat américain, à la veille d'une nouvelle rencontre vendredi à Londres avec son homologue russe Sergueï Lavrov. » | Source AFP | jeudi 13 mars 2014
Public Has a Right to See Prince Charles’ Letters, Says Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger
John McCain Urges Congressional Action to Punish Russia
Obama Threatens to Veto Bill Requiring He Follow Law
Exclusive: BBC ‘Free Speech’ Show Censors Gay Muslim After ‘Conerns’ from Mosque
But after the "BBC snake ate its own tail" (host Rick Edwards words, not mine) by discussing the necessity of BBC Three for 20 minutes, we were treated to an excellent example of how and why the BBC fails to do its job properly. Sort of like the snake eating its own tail, vomiting it back up, then eating it again.
A short clip was broadcast, featuring Asifa Lahore, Britain's "first and only" gay Muslim drag queen. The topic had "the most comments on the audience questions page", but this was still not enough for the BBC 'Free Speech' programme to force the issue with its venue hosts, the Birmingham Central Mosque.
As the clip ended, host Rick Edwards announced, "We were going to debate that question but today after speaking to the mosque they have expressed deep concerns with having this discussion here... so we'll move on to our next question". Read on and comment » | Raheem Kassam | Thursday, March 13, 2014
Book Unveils Shocking Details about Clinton's Benghazi Role
Consequences of Marijuana Legalization
I Back Kosher Animal Killing, Says David Cameron: PM Says He Will Defend Religious Slaughter of Animals in Britain During His Trip to Israel
David Cameron yesterday vowed to defend the religious slaughter of animals in Britain.
In a strongly pro-Jewish speech to the Israeli Knesset, Mr Cameron said he would never allow a ban on the production of kosher meat, despite a call from Britain’s leading vet for it to be replaced by more humane methods.
Earlier this month, John Blackwell, president-elect of the British Veterinary Association, called for a ban on the traditional production of both kosher and halal meat.
He said the practice of slitting animals’ throats and allowing them to bleed to death caused unnecessary suffering - and suggested animals should be stunned first.
Several Tory MPs have also called for a ban on a method of slaughter used to kill an estimated 600,000 animals a week in British abattoirs.
But, to applause from Israeli MPs yesterday, Mr Cameron, who attempted to speak Hebrew, praised the Jewish community’s integration into British society, and said he would never allow a ban on religious slaughter, known as Schechita.
He said: ‘The Jewish community has been an absolute exemplar in integrating into British life in every way but integration doesn’t mean that you have to give up things that you hold very dear in your religion.
'When people challenged kosher Shechita. I have defended it. » | Jason Groves | Thursday, March 13, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Kingdom That's Closed to Women: The Saudi Arabian Princesses Tethered by the Patriarchy
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| Saudi's strict modesty laws even apply to women shoppers |
They lived in a fabulous palace and every year would go on two long holidays with their friends.
In winter they would ski at an exclusive resort in the French Alps. In summer they went to parties in Italy and Greece. Then, abruptly, the fairytale ended.
For the four sisters were part of the Saudi Arabian royal family and they had made the mistake of crossing the patriarchy that rules one of the most oppressive states in the world.
Now, instead of the carefree existence they once enjoyed as children of King Abdullah, they are trapped in a gilded cage.
The heavy metal gate that serves as the main entrance to the beachfront villa they occupy in the grounds of the royal palace in the Saudi capital Riyadh is padlocked at all times.
Guards in a watchtower keep them under observation 24 hours a day helped by the glare of spotlights after dark. And escape by sea is made impossible by underwater nets and concrete obstacles.
When the women do leave the compound to shop for food it is only with the permission of a half-brother who ensures their every move is monitored by a squad of plain-clothes security men.
There appears to be no respite from this house arrest as their London- based mother Alanoud Alfayez, distrustful of promises to grant her daughters’ freedom in exchange for her return, refuses to submit to the clutches of her ex-husband.
The plight of the Riyadh Four has come to light after a decade following publication of a plaintive email from two of the victims, Sahar, 42 and Jawaher, 38, and a plea by their mother to a UN agency, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. » | Dominic Midgley | Monday, March 10, 2014
Saudi Arabia Closes Local Al Jazeera Office over Qatar’s Backing for the Muslim Brotherhood
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| Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Tamim al-Thani |
Saudi Arabia intends to close the local office of the Qatari-owned al Jazeera satellite television station in the latest episode in the escalating conflict in which the Saudis, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are in confrontation with Qatar, say local media.
At the heart of the dispute is Qatar’s backing for the Muslim Brotherhood, which Saudi Arabia banned last Friday, and Qatari opposition to the regime of Field Marshall Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt that came to power in a coup last summer.
Riyadh and Doha now differ on almost every aspect of foreign policy, notably Qatar’s support for jihadi rebels in Syria and al Jazeera’s willingness to provide a television platform for critics of the Gulf monarchs and their allies. » | Patrick Cockburn | Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Snowden's First Live: 'Constitution Being Violated on Massive Scale' (Full Video)
Immigrants Cost Britain £3,000 A Day Each, Says Report
Immigrants have cost the taxpayer more than £22 million a day since the mid-1990s, totting up a bill of more than £140 billion, according to a new report.
MigrationWatch UK, which campaigns against mass immigration, added that in 2011 the costs were equivalent to £3,000 a day for each of the eight million foreign-born people living in Britain.
It compiled the figures in response to a study published by University College London (UCL) last year which claimed immigrants made a “substantial” contribution to public finances.
The pressure group’s new report said UCL’s conclusions - which were given prominent coverage by the BBC - were “simply wrong”.
In fact, immigration between 1995 and 2011 cost the taxpayer more than £140 billion, or £22 million a day, after balancing what immigrants pay in tax with what they take out of Britain’s coffers by claiming benefits and tax credits, it said. » | David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent | Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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