Party supporting Scottish independence from UK wins elections

The Scottish National Party (SNP), which supports Scottish independence from the UK, has pulled off a historic, albeit narrow, victory in yesterday's Scottish elections.

In the third Scottish election since the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the left of centre SNP beat the ruling Labour Party by a single seat. It won 47 seats, while Labour won 46, down from the current 50.

It is the first time since the parliament opened that Labour has been beaten, and the first time in fifty years that they have not had a majority of Scottish constituency seats in any election.

SNP leader Alex Salmond declared: "Scotland has changed for good and forever." He added that the Labour Party had "lost the moral authority to govern Scotland."

The current First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell of Labour said: "While I recognise that the SNP are the largest party by the narrowest of margins, Alex Salmond must himself recognise that he does not have a majority in the Scottish Parliament or anywhere near a majority of the vote."

It is believed that many factors caused the Labour vote to slump and the SNP vote to rise, including the war in Iraq and the renewal of Trident, which are both unpopular in Scotland.

The election also raises a serious dilemma for the Labour party's Gordon Brown, a Scotsman widely tipped to succeed Tony Blair as the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. Brown is vehement in his support of the Union, and is a Westminster (London parliament) MP for Kirkcaldy. An SNP government in Scotland will find itself facing the very Labour party it beat in power in London.

Turnout was up 2% on the last Scottish election.

The election was highly controversial, not least for having three separate systems, running in tandem -

The three systems, along with difficulties with electronic counting meant that maybe as many as one hundred thousand ballot papers were "spoiled". In addition, there was also huge problems with the postal vote.

Due to the extensive computer problems, votes had to be cancelled early on Friday morning, and postponed to later in the day.

Many other problems beset the election, with a helicopter from the Western Isles constituency being held up by fog, and a boat carrying ballot papers from the Isle of Arran, breaking down in the Firth of Clyde.

In addition to the SNP and Labour, the other parties results' were as follows -

The Scottish Socialist Party, Solidarity and the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party were all wiped out.

In order to establish a majority in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP must form a coalition with one or more of these parties. The Liberal Democrats, who were in coalition with the Labour party in the first two terms of the Scottish parliament, are a possibility.

Other parties that campaigned for seats in Holyrood included the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), the British National Party (BNP), the Scottish Unionist Party, the Scottish Socialist Labour Party, the Christian Peoples Alliance and the Scottish Christian Party.

The Scottish National Party, while not gaining the landslide it had wished for, made breakthroughs in Glasgow (Govan), Edinburgh (Edinburgh East) and also took both seats in Dundee.

The Liberal Democrats gained seats in Dunfermline West, but their losses mean the number of seats they hold is unchanged.

While the Scottish election was going on, the Welsh were also having their election for the Welsh Assembly. Plaid Cymru gained a seat from Labour at Llanelli. The Conservatives had their best showing since the Assembly began.

The final results show that the membership for the new assembly will be:-

Labour             26  -4
Plaid Cymru        15  +3
Conservatives      12  +1
Liberal Democrats  6   -
Independent        1   -

In England, the elections were more minor, dealing only with local authorities. However they can be an important indicator of how battleground seats might go in the General Election, expected in 2-3 years time.  The Conservatives made the greatest gains, but did not make the breakthrough in Northern England that they would have hoped. The Liberal Democrats did not make the advances that they had hoped, and stayed at more or less the same level. Elsewhere, Cornish regionalists Mebyon Kernow gained an extra seat bringing their total to seven, and the Eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and Liberal Party (not to be confused with the Liberal Democrats) gained seats in several areas of England.


На виборах до парламенту Шотландії націоналісти здобули переконливу перемогу

На виборах до Парламенту Шотландії, що відбулися 5 травня 2011 року, блискуче перемогла Шотландська національна партія. Націоналісти здобули понад половину місць (69 зі 129), в той час як найближчі опоненти, лейбористи, втратили 7, і зуміли зберегти лише 37 мандатів. У порівнянні з попередніми виборами, недорахувалися п’яти місць і консерватори, тепер у їхньому таборі тільки 15 «багнетів».

Прем’єр-міністр країни, Алекс Салмонд, пообіцяв провести референдум щодо незалежності Шотландії від Великої Британії.

5 травня 2011


Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Giuliani for President

2008 United States presidential election

Conservative evangelical preacher Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani's bid for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election.

Robertson said that he was supporting the former New York City mayor, despite their disagreements on social issues, because Giuliani was the best hope for the United States against "the blood lust of Islamic terrorists". Robertson said that Giuliani was a "proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead, and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans." Although Robertson's influence in the religious right is not as strong as it once was, his endorsement is still important to Republican candidates.

Giuliani is pro-choice while Robertson is pro-life. Giuliani also favors extending rights to gays although does not favor allowing gay marriage. Giuliani has had a turbulent family life. Giuliani is on his third marriage and after one divorce was living with two gay roommates. The Religious Right in the United States, including Robertson, often emphasizes what they call traditional family values and frown on divorce and non-standard home arrangements.

The religious right in the United States has been under stress in this election over whom to support. James Dobson, another prominent and controversial evangelical leader has warned that although the Religious Right has for a long time supported the Republican Party, they may vote for a third party candidate if the Republican Party Presidential candidate does not share their views on social issues.


Pat Robertson vê possibilidades de Rudy Giuliani para a Presidência

O Conservador pregador evangélico Pat Robertson tem visado Rudy Giuliani sobre suas expectativas de vitória nas Eleições Presidenciais americanas de 2008.

Robertson disse que ele estava apoiando o ex-prefeito Nova York, apesar das suas divergências sobre as questões sociais, porque Giuliani foi a melhor esperança para os Estados Unidos contra "o sangue da luxúria dos terroristas islâmicos".  Robertson disse que Giuliani foi um "líder provado que não tem medo do que tem pela frente, e que vai lançar um esperançoso visão para todos os americanos".

*Katie Thomas. Cópia de arquivo [inativa] — News Day, 14 de novembro de 2007. Página visitada em 15 de novembro de 2007. Arquivada em 16 de novembro de 2007

*Joe Mathews. Pat Robertson endorses Giuliani — LA Times, 8 de novembro de 2007

*Michael Cooper and David D. Kirkpatrick. Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani — New York Times, 7 de novembro de 2007

*David D. Kirkpatrick. The Evangelical Crackup — New York Times Magazine, 28 de outubro de 2007

*James Dobson. The Values Test — New York Times, 4 de outubro de 2007


PCC promotes new wave of attacks in Brazil

The criminal organization known as the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital, Portuguese for First Command of the Capital City) is promoting a new wave of attacks against civil and authority targets in Brazil beginning early July.  The main attacks are occurring in São Paulo state.

According to the Secretary of Public Security of São Paulo, from 22:00 of Tuesday (11, 01:00 Wednesdays UTC) until the beginning of the evening of Thursday(13), 102 criminal actions against a whole of 118 different targets have been carried out: 65 buses were put on fire, 16 banks, 2 supermarkets and several other buildings were shot or attacked with bombs.  The attacks are occurring in the state's capital São Paulo and at least 18 cities of the interior.

The Secretary of Public Security of São Paulo reports 6 deaths among civilian and police officers.

PCC incendeia ônibus.  Brazilian gangs linked to PCC put a bus on fire in Santa Bárbara, 130km from São Paulo. Images from Alessandro Araújo (O Liberal - Americana). Reference: Marcos Brogna's Blog.


El Primeiro Comando da Capital promueve nueva ola de ataques en Brasil

La organización criminal conocida como Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) promueve una nueva ola de ataques el Estado de São Paulo. Según la Secretaria de Seguridad Pública de São Paulo, desde las 22:00 del martes (11, 01:00 UTC del miércoles) hasta el principio de la tarde del miércoles (12), han llevado a cabo 48 acciones criminales contra un total de 53 objetivos diferentes, entre ellas el incendio de autobuses y ataques a los edificios, en la capital estatal São Paulo y al menos 18 ciudades del interior.

Aunque el gobierno federal, en cabeza del presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, anunció el envío de refuerzos, el gobernador del estado de São Paulo, Claudio Lembo, no la considera necesaria. "El refuerzo policial no es oportuno ni necesario porque el efectivo de seguridad de Sao Paulo es el mayor y mejor equipado del país. El trabajo de investigación contra la criminalidad es diario y continuo", declaró Lembo.

El PCC ya había realizado una serie de ataques, dirigidos particularmente a policías, el 15 de mayo pasado. El saldo en esa ocasión fue de más de 50 muertos.

PCC incendeia ônibus.  Pandillas vinculadas al PCC incendian autobús de la empresa Auto Viação de Americana (AVA) en el barrio Cidade Nova de Santa Bárbara d'Oeste (link externo). Imágenes de Alessandro Araújo (O Liberal - Americana). Referencia: Blog de Marcos Brogna.


Le PCC appelle à de nouvelles attaques au Brésil

L'Organisation criminelle PCC appelle à de nouvelles attaques contre des cibles civiles et officielles à la suite de celles début juillet. La plupart des attaques ont eu lieu dans l'état de São Paulo.

Selon le Secrétaire à la Sécurité Publique de São Paulo, entre le 11 et le 13 juillet près de 102 actions criminelles sur 118 cibles ont été dénombrées : 65 bus incendiés, 16 banques et 2 supermarchés ont essuyé des tirs ou des attaques à la bombe. Les attaques ont eu lieu dans la capitale São Paulo et dans 18 villes de l'intérieur.

6 morts sont à déplorer parmi les civils et les forces de police.


PCC promove nova onda de ataques no Estado de São Paulo

A organização criminosa conhecida como Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) promove uma nova onda de ataques contra autoridades policiais e alvos civis no Estado de São Paulo.

Segundo a  Secretaria de Segurança Pública de São Paulo desde as 22h00 de ontem (terça-feira, 11 de julho) até o início da tarde de hoje, aconteceram 48 ações criminosas contra um total de 53 alvos diferentes. Ônibus foram incendiados e prédios atacados com bombas e metralhadoras.

A ação dos criminosos aconteceu na capital São Paulo e em pelo menos 18 cidades do interior.

Abaixo está a relação completa do número de vítimas e dos alvos dos ataques da última noite e manhã em São Paulo.

Total de feridos: dois (02) policiais militares feridos (um em serviço e um em folga)

Alvos dos ataques

Total de ataques: 53, divididos em 48 ações criminosas – algumas ações tiveram mais de um alvo.

Fonte: Secretaria de Segurança Pública do Estado de São Paulo.

PCC incendeia ônibus.  Gangues ligadas ao PCC incendeiam ônibus da Auto Viação de Americana (AVA) no bairro Cidade Nova, em Santa Bárbara d'Oeste (link externo). Imagens de Alessandro Araújo (Jornal:O Liberal - Americana). Referência: Blog de Marcos Brogna.


Peace talks between Sunnis and Iraqi Shi'ites begin in Finland

Peace talks took place today in Finland between two rival Iraqi factions, the Sunnis and the Iraqi Shi'ites.

The seminar was organized by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded by former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari. The CMI is focusing on trying to replicate the way peace deals were forged in South Africa and Northern Ireland, who both also have representatives at the meetings.

Although the CMI have refused to name exactly who is present at the meetings, or reveal the venue, Finnish broadcaster YLE reports that those present include Muqtada al-Sadr, Adnan al-Dulaimi, the leader of the largest Sunni Arabian political party in Iraq and Humam Hammoudi, Shiite chairman of the Iraqi Parliament's foreign affairs committee.

The talks, which are held in conjunction with the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies of the University of Massachusetts Boston, are expected to last two days. Finland itself will play no role. Ahtisaari himself could not be present because he was attending another peace meeting in Copanhagen, Denmark.


Comienzan las charlas de paz entre sunitas y chiíes en Finlandia

31 de agosto de 2007Helsinki, Finlandia —

Hoy se llevaron a cabo charlas de paz en Finlandia entre las dos facciones iraquíes, los sunitas y los chiíes.

El seminario fue organizado por la Iniciative de Manejo de Crisis (CMI por sus siglas en inglés), una organización no gubernamental sin ánimo de lucro fundada por el ex Presidente de Finlandia Martti Ahtisaari. El CMI se focaliza en replicar las charlas de paz que fueron forjadas en Sudáfrica e Irlanda del Norte, quienes ambios tienen representanetes en las reuniones.

Aunque el CMI se ha negado a nombrar quién exactamente está presente en las reuniones, la emisor YLE reporta que entre aquellos presenten se incluyen Muqtada al-Sadr, Adnan al-Dulaimi, el líder del grupo más grande Sunita Arabia en Iraq y Humam Hammoudi, presidente chií del comité de asuntos exteriores del Parlamento de Iraq. Finlandia por sí misma no tomará un rol en las charlas.

Ahtisaari no pudo estar presente por acudir a otra charla de paz en Copenhague, Dinamarca.


Peacekeepers take control in East Timor

The Australian presence in East Timor so far has been characterised by vigorous patrolling into the capital Dili, with the main goal being to lock down the city in order to separate and concentrate the various conflicting forces in East Timor.  Despite the Australian military being provided strong rules of engagement by the East Timorese government, so far no soldiers have fired their weapons or been fired upon, although they might have been fired over by gangs earlier today.  Outside the Hotel Timor today, where East Timorese Prime Minister Alkatiri was about to hold a press conference, an Australian patrol arrested what appeared to be two gangs about to storm the hotel with the help of reinforcements.  The men numbered around 30, carrying machetes, knifes, spears, slingshots, and arrows.  The Prime Minister claimed that the gangs were attempting a coup d'etat.  Civilian gangs, allegedly provided arms by the East Timorese military, have so far been blamed for much of the violence in Dili.

As the rest of the 1300 strong Australian deployment is expected to arrive in East Timor tomorrow, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said that although his government did foresee the current situation in East Timor, military action would have constituted an invasion until mandated through the United Nations' or East Timorese government's request.  "...People say you should have seen it coming. The answer is yes, I did, but until you are asked, it happens to be an invasion." said Mr Howard.  East Timor requested military assistance from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal on May 23, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta explaining that the government "...[couldn't] control the situation,"; all four nations responded positively to the request.

Despite one newspaper running the headline "We'll stay till job's done, says PM", the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston has said that he hopes the Australian military will be able to be replaced within a few months by a UN peacekeepers.  In any case, ACM Houston has said that he is believes the Australian presence will stabilise the situation soon, perhaps aided by the good relations that exist between the ADF and the leader of the rebel group, Major Alfredo Reinado.  MAJ Reinado was trained by the ADF for three months and has openly welcomed the arrival of the peacekeeping force, saying that the deployment is the "only solution" in the face of the government's inability to resolve the conflict.

After praising the speed of the deployment, Washington revealed that the US assisted the transport of Australian troops to position in Townsville and Darwin two weeks earlier.

Indonesia has now closed its border to East Timor, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono saying that "besides security reasons, the closure of the border is to prevent the possibility of issues that may worsen the image of Indonesia."


Internationale Truppe soll Lage in Timor-Leste stabilisieren

Dili (Timor-Leste), 27.05.2006 – In Timor-Leste, dessen Hauptstadt seit Ende April immer wieder von schweren Gewaltausbrüchen erschüttert wird, soll jetzt eine internationale Truppe für Ruhe sorgen. Allein in dieser Woche kamen bei der Unruhe über 20 Menschen ums Leben.

Premierminister Marí Alkatiri vermutet einen Militärputsch. Hintergrund sind Unstimmigkeiten und Rangeleien um Beförderungen und andere Missstände innerhalb der bewaffneten Streitkräfte von Osttimor, die etwa 1500 Soldaten und etwa die gleiche Anzahl an Reservisten unterhalten.

Anfang Februar waren über 400 Soldaten des in Baucau stationierten 1. Bataillons in die Hauptstadt gezogen und hatten den Rücktritt des Kommandenten Colonel Falur gefordert. Nach zwei Treffen mit dem Präsidenten Xanana Gusmão in Dili, der sie zur Rückkehr in ihre Kasernen bewegen wollte, was ihm auch anfänglich gelang, desertierten die aufmüpfigen und bewaffneten Soldaten endgültig und schlugen ihr Lager im benachbarten Aileu auf. Schon Mitte Januar hatten sie ihm eine Petition mit ihren Klagen geschickt. Am 14. Februar wurden die insgesamt 591 Männer offiziell durch Brigade-General Taur Matan Ruak aus dem Dienst entlassen, während sich der Präsident auf einer Afrikareise befand. Eine am 23. März veröffentliche Nachricht von Gusmão an abtrünnige Einheiten und auch spätere Verhandlungen brachten keine Lösung.

Ende April gab es dann nach einer Demonstration die ersten Verletzten und insgesamt fünf tote Menschen (Wikinews berichtete). Australiens Außenminister Alexander Downer hatte ein militärisches Eingreifen seines Landes zunächst ausgeschlossen, nachdem er am 20. April schon mehrere hundert Soldaten und Polizisten auf die Solomonen geschickt hatte, um Ausschreitungen nach der Ernennung des inzwischen wieder zurückgetretenen Premierministers Snyder Rini zu beenden.

Osttimors Außenminister José Ramos-Horta erklärte Mitte Mai in New York, dass die nationale Polizei PNTL unfähig sei, die Lage zu kontrollieren, und dass den verbleibenden Einheiten der Armee nicht mehr vollständig vertraut werden könne. Nur Tage später, nach dem vierten Jahrestag der Unabhängikeit des Landes, flammten die Unruhen wieder auf. Jugendliche Krawallmacher verbündeten sich mit den Streikenden, zündeten Gebäude an und warfen mit Steinen.

Mit Pistolen und Macheten bewaffnet zog eine Menschenmenge randalierend durch Dili und setzte Häuser in Brand. Der neuseeländische Botschafter musste nach ernsthafter Bedrohung sein Gebäude räumen und sucht seitdem in der australischen Botschaft Zuflucht. Erst am Freitag starben bei einem absichtlich gelegten Feuer in einem Gebäude die Frau und fünf Kinder eines Kabinettmitglieds. Vergangenen Dienstag erschossen regierungstreue Soldaten neun Polizisten, die angeblich mit Aufständischen kollaboriert hatten.

Das kleine ostasiatische Land befindet sich im Moment in einer ersthaften Krise. Inzwischen sind viele Ausländer evakuiert worden, und die Grenze zu Indonesien, das eine militärische Beteiligung an der Mission ablehnt, wurde geschlossen. Human Rights Watch hatte im April einen traurigen Bericht über Folter im Land veröffentlicht, nachdem die gewalttätigen Übergriffe gegenüber der Zivilbevölkerung mit der Zeit überhand genommen hatten.

Harte Lebensbedingungen sind für die Bevölkerung Alltag. 45 Prozent der Menschen leben unterhalb der Armutsgrenze. Mit einem durchschnittlichen Tagesverdienst von weniger als drei Euro und einer Arbeitslosenrate von 40 Prozent in der ländlichen Region teilt sich Timor-Leste Platz 158 mit Ruanda auf einem UN-Entwicklungsindex, in dem 185 Länder aufgelistet sind. Nach einer Studie der UNO gehen nur 30 Prozent der Jugendlichen zwischen 13 und 15 Jahren überhaupt zur Schule.

Die einheimische Wirtschaft ist stark vom Ausland abhängig. Das amerikanische Unternehmen Starbucks hat dem Land den Großteil seiner Kaffeebohnenproduktion abgekauft. Die im Januar erzielte Einigung mit der australischen Regierung in Canberra über die Aufteilung des Erdöls, das sich in dem so genannten Timor Gap befindet, könnte eine finanzielle Zukunft für das Land sein.

Auch Premierminister Alkatiri, ein Muslim, ist zum ersten Mal in einer tiefen politischen Krise in dem vorwiegend von Christen bewohnten Land. Sein Führungsstil stößt auf massive Kritik seitens der Kirche im Land und des UN-Botschafters von Osttimor, Jose Luis Guterres.

Die UN hat vor ein paar Tagen in der Nähe der Hauptstadt Dili ein neues Flüchtlingslager eröffnet, obwohl ihre Mission eigentlich ab dem 11. Mai beendet werden sollte. Am 12. Mai hatte der Sicherheitsrat die UNOTIL-Mission als Reaktion der Geschehnisse Ende April bis zum 20. Juni verlängert. Jetzt will man zur Sicherheit erst einmal den Großteil seiner Leute abziehen und nur 50 Angestellte in Osttimor belassen, die UNMISET aufrecht erhalten sollen. Das Rote Kreuz schätzt die Zahl der Flüchtlinge auf 50.000 und hat zu Spenden aufgerufen.

Ein erstes australisches Vorauskommando, das am Donnerstag im Rahmen der Operation Astute landete, patroulliert durch die Stadt und hat inzwischen den Flughafen von Dili und andere Schlüsselobjekte gesichert. Australien stellt mit insgesamt 1.800 am Einsatz beteiligten Männern, wie schon 1999 bei dem Abzug plündernder proindonesischer Milizen in den Westteil der Insel Timor, die Mehrheit der Eingreiftruppe und entsendete mehrere Kriegsschiffe in die Region. Über 100 zusätzliche Soldaten der früheren Kolonialmacht Portugal sollen bald folgen.

Eine malaysische Spezialeinheit – das Land hat etwa 200 Soldaten geschickt – erreichte das Gebiet am frühen Samstag. Ihre Stellung wurde nach drei Stunden von einer unbekannten Partei beschossen. Nach Meldungen der malaysischen Nachichtenagentur Bernama richtete sich die Einheit zwanzig Minuten von Dili entfernt in einer Polizeischule ein. Ein Vorauskommando war schon am Dienstag in das Land geflogen. Zwei mit Transportfahrzeugen und anderem Material beladene Schiffe hatten schon am Freitag einen Hafen in Nordmalaysia Richtung Timor verlassen.

Auch neuseeländische Truppen sind inzwischen gelandet. Sie erreichten Timor am späten Abend, sollen die Botschaft sichern und die restlichen Mitarbeiter in Sicherheit bringen. Premierministerin Helen Clark sagte weitere finanzielle Hilfe zu. Die australische Luftwaffe ist mit vier Black Hawk Hubschraubern und der HMAS Manoora vor Ort.


Peltola defeats Palin, Begich in Alaska special election for US House of Representatives

Democrat Mary Peltola won a special election for Alaska's sole seat in the United States House of Representatives Wednesday, defeating Republican candidates Sarah Palin, former governor of the state, and Nick Begich III, grandson of former Representative Nick Begich Sr.

The special election was called after the death of Don Young, who was elected to the seat in 1973.

Though Peltola earned only 40.20% of the vote in the first round of tabulations, Alaska's instant-runoff voting system introduced in 2020 meant she defeated Palin with 51.47% of the vote after Begich, the candidate with the fewest votes, was eliminated. She will serve the remainder of Young's term until the November midterm elections, which Palin and Begich intend to challenge.

Peltola became the first Democrat to hold the seat since Begich Sr. was presumed to have died when his plane disappeared in 1972. Analyzing the results, CNN reporter Eric Bradner wrote Palin's defeat "sure to add to Republicans' growing concerns" in attempting to regain control of the House. However, FiveThirtyEight analyst Nathaniel Rakich identified Palin as a "very flawed", controversial candidate less likely than Begich to win against Peltola in a head-to-head matchup.

After Peltola's win, Palin claimed that the outcome was a result of the ranked-choice voting system, calling it "crazy, convoluted, and confusing". Meanwhile, Begich congratulated Peltola but claimed that "a vote for Sarah Palin is in reality a vote for Mary Peltola" since "Palin simply doesn't have enough support from Alaskans to win an election."


États-Unis : la démocrate Mary Peltola remporte la victoire en Alaska pour la Chambre des représentants

La démocrate Mary Peltola a remporté, le 31 août, l'élection spéciale pour le seul siège de l'Alaska à la Chambre des représentants des États-Unis, en battant les candidats du républicains Sarah Palin, ancienne gouverneure de l'État de l'Alaska, et Nick Begich III, petit-fils de l'ancien représentant Nick Begich Sr..

L'élection spéciale a été convoquée après le décès du républicain Don Young, qui avait été élu à ce siège en 1973.

Bien que Mary Peltola n'ait obtenu que 40,20 % des voix au premier tour de scrutin, le système de scrutin à deux tours introduit en 2020 lui permet de battre Sarah Palin avec 51,47 % des voix après l'élimination de Nick Begich III, le candidat ayant obtenu le moins de voix. Elle occupera le reste du mandat de Don Young jusqu'aux élections de mi-mandat en novembre, que Sarah Palin et Nick Begich III ont l'intention de contester.

Mary Peltola est devenue la première démocrate à occuper le siège depuis la disparition de Begich Sr. avec son avion en 1972. Analysant les résultats, le journaliste de CNN Eric Bradner a écrit que la défaite de Sarah Palin « ajoutera certainement aux préoccupations croissantes des républicains » dans leur tentative de reprendre le contrôle de la Chambre. Toutefois, l'analyste Nathaniel Rakich de l'agence FiveThirtyEight a estimé que Sarah Palin était une candidate « très imparfaite » et controversée, moins susceptible que Nick Begich III de gagner contre Mary Peltola dans un face-à-face.

Après la victoire de Mary Peltola, Sarah Palin a affirmé que le résultat était dû au système de vote par ordre de préférence, le qualifiant de « fou, alambiqué et confus ». De son côté, Nick Begich III a félicité Mary Peltola et a déclaré qu'un « vote pour Sarah Palin est en réalité un vote pour Mary Peltola » car « Sarah Palin n'a tout simplement pas assez de soutien de la part des Alaskiens pour gagner une élection ».


Pentagon considers using non-nuke ICBMs for preemptive strikes against alleged "terrorists"

The Pentagon is considering replacing the nuclear warheads on some ballistic missiles with conventional munitions so that they can be used for "pre-emptive" strikes against alleged terrorists, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld told reporters after a meeting with Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov.

"If either of our countries or friends and allies were threatened at some number of years into the future with a weapon of mass destruction or a capability that was that lethal, I think any president, whether of Russia or the United States, would like to have available a conventional weapon that could attack that target swiftly and accurately and precisely and not feel that the only thing they had might be a nuclear weapon, which they would not want to use.", Rumsfeld said. He urged Russia to consider the idea too, but Ivanov said a pre-emptive strike was not the only solution.

The Pentagon has considered such strategies before. In February 2003 a similar plan was suggested, and in May 2006 it was recommended that Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) be used for such a purpose. Critics wondered what the risks would be for setting off accidental nuclear war: it would be impossible for another nation to tell whether a Trident II or Minuteman III launch was conventional — or nuclear-armed until it had actually detonated.


美國考慮使用洲際導彈來對抗恐佈份子

美國國防部長拉姆斯菲爾德在會晤俄羅斯國防部長謝爾蓋·伊凡諾夫後告訴記者，五角大樓正在考慮把彈道導彈的核彈頭換成常規彈藥，讓他們可以以"先發制人"的方式打擊恐怖分子。

拉姆斯菲爾德說："如果我們的國家、盟友在將來若干年後受到具大規模殺傷力或致命的武器所威脅，我認為任何總統，不管俄國或美國，都想擁有一個能夠快速準確地攻擊目標的常規武器。他們都不覺得核武器是唯一可能擁有的，因為他們不想使用。"他敦促俄羅斯考慮，但伊凡諾夫說"先發制人"並不是唯一的辦法。


Pentagon: Russia provided information to Iraq

The Pentagon claims that Saddam Hussein received intelligence from a Russian ambassador about United States plans and movements during the opening days of the 2003 Iraq invasion. Russia's foreign intelligence service has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating "Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia's intelligence have been made more than once. We don't consider it necessary to comment on such fabrications."

A report released by the Pentagon on Friday states that Russia had a source inside the US Central Command base in Doha, Qatar, who passed information to Russia's ambassador to Iraq. It is alleged that the ambassador provided the information to Hussein. The intelligence passed to Hussein provided information on US military plans, troop numbers, units and locations.

The report does not comment on the value or accuracy of the information which was allegedly leaked to Hussein. The Pentagon claims that the report is based on Iraqi documents and interviews with Iraqi officials. A Pentagon staffer who assisted in compiling the report, Brigadier General Anthony Cucolo, stated that there was no evidence that Russia has a spy inside Central Command. He further added that key details provided to Hussein were incorrect.


Американцы считают, что российские шпионы работали на Саддама

Россия опровергает утверждения, что она во время американского вторжения в Ирак, имела шпиона, в американском военном руководстве, который передавал информацию Саддаму Хусейну об американских военных планах.

Опровержение последовало на сообщении из Вашингтона, что Россия имела источник на американской центральной командной базе в Дохе (Катар). Утверждается, что этот источник был в состоянии передавать информацию российскому послу в Багдаде, который в свою очередь передавал эту информацию Саддаму. Сведения, которые были переданы иракцам, правильно предупреждали, что американские войска намеревались обойти главные города на пути из Кувейта по направлению Багдада и сосредоточить свои усилия на окружении столицы Ирака. Информация также содержала определённые сведения о численности американских войск, войсковых подразделениях и их местоположении. Сообщение о российском шпионе было сделано Пентагоном в пятницу.

«Информация, которую русские получили от их источника на американской базе в Дохе, содержала сведения о том, что Соединенные Штаты убеждены, что занятие иракских городов невозможно, и что они изменили свою тактику», говорится в одном иракском документе, датированным 25 марта 2003, и позже захваченный американцами.

Документы и сообщения о российском шпионе содержатся внутри 210-страничного доклада — «Перспективный проект для Ирака» (Iraqi Perspectives Project). В этом докладе обобщены сведения из более чем полумиллиона документов захваченных в Ираке и из интервью с бывшими иракскими чиновниками.

Неясно, какое влияние оказала данная информация на действия иракского режима. Есть также подозрения, что некоторая фальшивая информация была преднамеренно пропущена для Саддама, чтобы ввести в заблуждение его старших командиров. Например, в одном документе говорилась, что направление главного удара американцев не будет развиваться с юга, как это на самом деле случилось, а из Иордании на западные районы Ирака.

Россия отрицает все эти утверждения. В заявлении, которое сделала вчера разведывательная служба России сказано: «Подобные, необоснованные утверждения относительно российской разведки делались неоднократно. Мы не считаем необходимым комментировать эти сфабрикованные утверждения». Россия имела близкие отношения с Ираком до войны, поэтому некоторые аналитики полагают, что сообщения о шпионаже могут быть правдивы.

Павел Фельгенгауэр (Pavel Felgenhauer), независимый военный аналитик из Москвы, сообщает Ассошиэйтед Пресс, что подразделение, связанное с главным отделом военной разведки России, ГРУ, работало в Ираке во время вторжения, и что информация, которая была опубликована в Интернете, в России, содержала поразительное понимание и анализ американских операций.

Главный автор американского исследования, Кевин Вудс (Kevin Woods), сказал, что он был удивлен узнав, что русские передавали сведения Саддаму, но он не имеет никаких причины сомневаться относительно подлинности иракских документов.

Andrew Buncombe «Russia denies spying on US for Iraq». The Independent, 26.03.06.

26 марта 2006 года


Pentagon: Ryssland försåg Irak med information

En rapport som släpptes av Pentagon på fredagen slår fast att Ryssland hade en källa inom USA:s centrala militärbas, US Central Command, i Doha i Qatar som förmedlade information till Rysslands ambassadör i Irak. Informationen som förmedlades vidare till Hussein innehöll uppgifter om USA:s militära planer, antal trupper , enheter och var de befann sig.

Rysslands utländska underrättelsetjänst har förnekat anklagelserna. I ett uttalande på fredagen sades att "liknande, grundlösa anklagelser angående Rysslands underrättelsetjänst har gjorts mer än en gång. Vi tycker inte att det är nödvändigt att kommentera sådana påståenden."

Brigadgeneral Anthony Cucolo i Pentagons ledning som deltog i utarbetandet av rapporten fastslog att det inte fanns några bevis för att det fanns en rysk spion inom Central Commans. Han tilllade också att nyckelinformation som försågs till Hussein var inkorrekt.

Denna artikel är en kort telegramartikel. Vet du mer om ämnet den beskriver kan du hjälpa till med att utvidga den.

21 juli 2010: Nyheter kort: 29 januari 2005
24 mars 2008: 4000 amerikanska soldater döda i Irak
3 mars 2008: Bilbomber dödar 19 i Bagdad
1 februari 2008: Bombdåd i Bagdad bröt nedåtgående våldstrend
24 januari 2008: Ny irakisk flagga utan Saddam Hussein
21 januari 2008: Självmordsbombare dödade 14 begravningsgäster
11 januari 2008: Amerikanska övergrepp utan fällande dom
10 januari 2008: Amerikansk militär bombade al-Qaida
6 januari 2008: Attacker mot kristna i Irak
2 april 2006: Rice och Straw gör oannonserat besök i Bagdad

Konflikter

21 oktober 2011: Tunisien till val
20 oktober 2011: Gaddafi är död
4 augusti 2011: Försvaret: Vår insats har räddat liv
1 maj 2011: En av Khaddafis söner död efter Natoattack
30 mars 2011: Gripen till Libyen
19 mars 2011: Franska flygvapnet angriper Gaddafi
10 mars 2011: Långdragna protester i Libyen
22 februari 2011: Omfattande protester i Libyen
11 februari 2011: Mubarak avgår
6 februari 2011: Protesterna i Egypten fortsätter

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Händelser 26 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 12
Publiceringar 26 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 12


Philippine impeachment unlikely to succeed

A Philippine congressional committee has voted to turn down all impeachment petitions against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.  The opposition to the president, on boycott, was not present.  The vote seems to have greatly undermined any chance of an impeachment of Arroyo.

Arroyo's critics say that she committed fraud during last year's presidential election.  She has also been accused of bribing lawmakers in order to stop them from supporting complaints against her.

Edmundo Reyes, a pro-impeachment congressman, revealed that only six more signatures are needed to trigger a trial in the Philippine Senate.  One-third of the legislative body - 79 members - must consent to the president's impeachment in order for a trial to occur.  Currently, 73 lawmakers side with the opposition.

"Is there no one else?" asked an emotional Reyes.  "Is there anyone else signing this for truth?"

The opposition has threatened to organize citizen protests demanding the president's removal.  But Arroyo's Congress allies appear confident that they have destroyed the impeachment bid.


フィリピン・アロヨ大統領 弾劾成立の見込み薄し

フィリピン下院の議会委員会は、31日（現地時間）、グロリア・アロヨ大統領に対する弾劾請求すべてを否決した。議決に際し、大統領反対派は出席を拒んだ。この否決により、アロヨ大統領を弾劾するチャンスは根底から崩されたようにみえる。

アロヨ大統領反対派は、昨年の大統領選挙でアロヨ大統領が不正行為を行ったと非難している。また、大統領を訴えている原告への支持をやめさせるため、国会議員に賄賂を贈ったとの非難もされている。

アロヨ大統領を弾劾しているエドムンド・ライエス下院議員は、あと残り6人の署名があれば、上院での弾劾裁判を始めることができると明らかにした。大統領の弾劾裁判を行うには、立法府の3分の1（79人の国会議員）が弾劾に賛成している必要があり、現在、73人の国会議員が、弾劾を求めている。

「誰もほかにいないのか。真実のために弾劾請求に署名するものは他にはいないのか」とエドムンド・ライエス下院議員は情熱を込めて語った。

大統領反対派は、大統領辞任を求める市民の抗議運動を組織するといって大統領側を脅やかしている。しかし議会内の大統領支持派は、弾劾法案を否決することができると確信しているようにみえる。

英語版ウィキニュースの翻訳です。


Philippines to host four-country meeting about South China Sea disputes

The Philippines announced today it will host a meeting on December 12 in Manila regarding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The meeting of deputy foreign ministers is to be attended by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the host country.

The meeting is a new step in attempts to solve disputes between these countries and China. China has previously stated it wishes to solve the disputes bilaterally instead of multilaterally. It comes after the failure of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to produce a consensus on how to solve the disputes during a summit this month. Cambodia, an ally of China, is the current chair of ASEAN.

Current disputes in the South China Sea include areas such as the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal. China and Taiwan each claim nearly the whole sea while the countries attending the meeting claim parts of it.

The area contains abundant fishing grounds and important shipping lanes. Large fossil fuel deposits are believed located in the area.


V Manile se bude jednat o územních sporech v Jihočínském moři

Filipínský ministr zahraničí Albert del Rosario ve středu oznámil, že se 12. prosince v Manile uskuteční setkání týkající se územních sporů v Jihočínském moři. Mají se ho účastnit Brunej, Malajsie, Vietnam a hostitelské Filipíny. Bude se jednat o setkání na úrovni náměstků ministerstev zahraničí.

Setkání se nebude účastnit Čína, která je ve sporech významných aktérem, ale chce se dohadovat bilaterálně, nikoliv multilaterálně. Spory o Jihočínské moře se tento měsíc snažilo neúspěšně řešit setkání Sdružení národů jihovýchodní Asie. Tomu v současnosti předsedá Kambodža, která je spojencem Číny.

Předmětem sporů je skoro celé moře (skoro celé si ho totiž nárokují Tchaj-wan i Čína), zvláště sporné jsou Spratlyovy ostrovy. Kontrola oblasti má velký hospodářský význam, jsou zde důležité plavební trasy, dobré příležitosti k rybolovu a pravděpodobně jsou zde velké zásoby fosilních paliv.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Philippines to host four-country meeting about South China Sea disputes na anglických Wikizprávách.


Philippines' largest television network shut down by government

Following the expiry of broadcast corporation ABS-CBN's legislative franchise, the Philippine government issued a cease and desist order dated yesterday, forcing the shut-down of broadcasting operations by the company. Later in the evening, the network signed off and went off-air. The last time the Philippine government ordered the network to shut down was during the martial law imposed by former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos back in 1972.

Republic Act No. 3846, also known as the "Radio Control Law", states "no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines." Since ABS-CBN's legislative franchise, Republic Act No. 7966, expired on Monday, the network no longer had a valid franchise to continue airing their programs. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order to the network yesterday, and in compliance, the network signed off that night.

The network tried to renew their franchise as early as July 2019, but all eleven of the legislative bills filed have been stuck in Congress. The franchise of ABS-CBN expired on Monday, the same day Congress reconvened after their Lenten Break, which began on March 13. Though the NTC is allowed to provide the network a provisional license while its application to the Congress is still being decided upon, the commission refused to provide the network with said license. A number of Senators condemned the act of the NTC, citing the move as a "grave abuse of governmental power" and "contrary to law".

ABS-CBN Corporation is the largest television and radio broadcasting company in the Philippines with over 42 television stations, 10 digital channels, and 18 FM and five AM radio stations, and has been broadcasting for over 65 years. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened the network's franchise renewal before, after the network didn't carry some of his campaign commercials, which they've said was due to a lack of airtime, and he accused the network of "swindling". Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition on February 10, accusing the network of violating its franchise. After a Senate hearing was conducted on February 24, the Senate did not find the network had breached laws, nor its franchise terms. ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak said refunds for Duterte's unaired political ads were offered, of which some were not accepted by his campaign. Katigbak apologized to Duterte during the hearing, which the President accepted according to a statement by the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The network's news channel, ABS-CBN News Channel, is still on air, as the network claims the cease and desist order did not cover their news channel's franchise.


Maior rede de televisão das Filipinas é fechada pelo governo

Após o expirar a renovação de concessão da empresa de radiodifusão ABS-CBN, o governo filipino emitiu uma ordem de cessação e desistência datada de hoje, forçando o encerramento das operações de transmissão pela empresa. Mais tarde, a rede desligou o sinal e saiu do ar. Esta é a segunda vez que o governo das Filipinas ordenou o desligamento da rede, a primeira durante a Lei Marcial imposta pelo ex-presidente filipino Ferdinand Marcos em 1972.

A Lei da República nº 3846 (Republic Act No. 3846), também conhecida como "Lei de Controle da Rádio" (Radio Control Law), declara "nenhuma pessoa, firma, companhia, associação ou corporação deve construir, instalar, estabelecer ou operar uma estação de transmissão da rádio ou estação de recepção da rádio usada para fins comerciais, ou uma estação de radiodifusão, sem antes obter a primeira renovação de concessão do Congresso das Filipinas" (o Parlamento filipino). Desde a renovação de concessão do ABS-CBN, a Lei da República nº 7966, ontem, a rede não tinha mais uma concessão válida para continuar transmitindo seus programas. A Comissão Nacional de Telecomunicações (National Telecommunications Commission, NTC) emitiu a ordem de cessar e desistir da rede hoje e em conformidade, a rede saiu do ar hoje à noite.

A rede tentou renovar sua concessão em meados de julho de 2019, mas todos os onze dos projetos legislativos foram arquivados no Congresso. Quando o Congresso se reuniu ontem, a concessão e seu respectivo projeto de lei já haviam expirado. Embora o NTC foneça a permissão de licença provisória à rede enquanto sua aplicação ao Congresso ainda está sendo decidida, a comissão se recusou a fornecer à rede a referida licença. Vários senadores condenaram o ato do CNT, citando a ação como um "grave abuso do poder governamental" e "contrário à lei".


Police ends demonstration of anarchist squatters in Belgium

Last Monday, the police entered the abandoned house in Leuven, Belgium, that anarchist squatters had occupied for seven years. None of the squatters were present at the time, mostly due to exams. The premises was evacuated and the police dumped everything inside in containers. The house, which the squatters had baptised Villa Squattus Dei, belongs to the Catholic organisation Opus Dei.

As a reaction, the anarchists had called for a non-violent demonstration on Friday, starting at 20:00 p.m. (UCT+1) in front of city hall of the Flemish university town near Brussels. One of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous, told Wikinews that the protest was mainly because the squatters were filled with indignation by the way the eviction took place. He also criticised the hypocrisy of the town mayor and politicians in the way they treated the squatters. Several media outlets reported speculation this week that some cases of arson were a retribution to the eviction of the Villa Squattus Dei.

The police had completely cordoned off the Great Market square with barb wire fences. All pubs were closed and the preparation for a festival taking place the next day on the square, were delayed. Well over 100 squatters, anarchists and supporters gathered next to the Great Market. The Flemish radio- and television station VRT reports that prior to the beginning of the demonstration, 10 people were already arrested.

The protesters marched through the city's main streets. At a students house, which according to the squatters belongs to Opus Dei, the protesters threw paint, and a window got broken. During the demonstration, mayor Louis Tobback and alderman Brepoels responsible for housing, the police and Opus Dei were disparaged with slogans which translate to "You can't evacuate ideals, fuck the police, squatting continues" and "Opus Dei get lost, Tobback go to your grave."

The police blocked the crowd's passage to the Court building, but besides a little pushing the demonstration was non-violent up to that point. A police helicopter started tracking the demonstration from the air.

On the Fish Market square, the police were pelted with stones and fireworks. A cameraman from VRT was hit by one of the stones and sustained a minor head injury. A little further down the street, some demonstrators started pushing an officer, and the police used their batons on the assailants, which they arrested.

Since the passage to the city centre was again blocked, the squatters led the protesters to a nearby park to get some rest and regroup. From there, the demonstration moved up a hill, and to the nearby ring road. The police could not prevent the crowd to get onto the busy road, stopping the traffic in both directions. The police decided to take decisive action, with police cars storming in, and officers chasing the scattered crowd through the nearby bushes of the nearby abbey. Dozens of protesters were arrested.

Via dark muddy forest roads, what was left over of the squatters and anarchists ended up near the canal harbour, where some of them decided to hide in another squat, an empty house and hangar.

As nearby inhabitants gathered, police reinforcements from several nearby cities arrived in front of the squat house. According to VRT journalists on the scene, some 250 officers pulled an extra shift that day.

Around 22:40 p.m. the police gave their first order to the squatters to evacuate the house. The area around the canal was completely sealed off. Some of the protesters were still among the crowd watching the police force, and the police arrested several more teenage protesters.

Meanwhile, the police shifted their actions to the city centre, where they hoped to arrest several groups who took part in the protest. All night long, police cars drove around in the city centre looking for anarchists and squatters.

Around 23:30 p.m. the squatters were still in their hideout near the canal, but the police force started leaving. There were only a few dozen protesters left in the squat, and the procedure to get a court order to evacuate them from the house hadn't started yet, according to the Chief Constable on the scene.

This morning around 11:00 a.m., the only trace of the squatters left was graffiti on the squat and a flag with anarchist symbols and the words "squat the city".


Mal:Hovedside/Bild

Credit: Steven FruitsmaakDet endte med masseanholdelser da anarkister og bz'ere mandag demonstrerede i Belgien.


Police officer killed, at least 18 injured in south Thailand blasts

A police sergeant was killed and at least 18 people were injured in a pair of bomb blasts today in southern Thailand.

Taking place in Yala, the capital of one of Thailand's three southernmost provinces, the first blast, at around 8 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), resulted in no injuries, but drew police and journalists to the scene. Then, about 30 minutes after the initial blast, a second, more powerful bomb went off.

The explosion tore through shops and a motorcycle taxi stand at a major intersection across the street from the city's railway station.

Police Sergeant Subin Pruekmongkol, 48, who lost his arms and legs in the blast, was taken to Yala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At least eight other police officers were wounded, two of them seriously, while four local journalists were also taken to hospital. The injury tolls varied widely, with local news reports saying at least 18 people were injured, while CNN reported that up to 32 people had been hurt.

Police said the first bomb was hidden inside a motorcycle helmet and placed in the front basket of a motorbike. The second blast was set off remotely after people had flocked to the blast site. This tactic of using a smaller bomb as a lure, followed by a second stronger bomb, has become more common in the south Thailand insurgency. Since attacks by separatists in Thailand's Malay Muslim-majority provinces flared up in January 2004, there are have about 2,000 people killed in bombings and almost-daily drive-by shootings.

In a separate violence earlier today in Yala Province, a man was fatally shot in front of a tea shop in Yaha District.

In Bangkok, the central government's Cabinet agreed to extend an emergency law in the southern provinces for another three months. The current round expires on Friday. The emergency powers, which are set for three-month periods, were first enacted in 2005. Among other powers, the decree allows officials the authority to detain suspects for up to 30 days without charge. About 350 suspects have been rounded up and detained under the law in the past few weeks, according to The Nation newspaper.


Dos explosiones en el sur de Tailandia dejan un muerto y 18 heridos

17 de julio de 2007Yala, Tailandia —

Un oficial de policía fue muerto y al menos 18 personas fueron heridas en dos explosiones hoy (17) en Tailandia del Sur.

La primer explosión, que ocurrió en Yala a alrededor de las 8 a.m. (hora local, 0100 GMT), no causó heridos, pero trajo a policías y periodistas a la escena. Luego, 30 minutos después de la explosión inicial, se detonó una segunda bomba.

El oficial de policía Subin Pruekmongkol, de 48 años de edad, perdió sus brazos y piernas en las explosión. Fue llevado al Hospital de Yala, donde lo declararon muerto.

Al menos ocho oficiales de policía fueron heridos, dos de ellos seriamente, mientras que cuatro periodistas locales también fueron hospitalizados.

La cifra de heridos varía ampliamente; los periódicos locales dicen que 18 personas fueron heridas, mientras que la CNN reportó hasta 32 heridos.

La policía dijo que la primer bomba estaba oculta dentro de un casco de motocicleta, ubicado en una moto. La segunda explosión fue detonada tan sólo luego de que la gente acudió a la escena. Esta táctica de utilizar una bomba pequeña como señuelo, y luego utilizar una explosión mayor, se ha convertido en una estrategia común en la insurgencia de Tailandia del Sur. Desde que comenzaron los ataques en las provincias del sur de Tailandia en enero de 2004, se han reportado al menos 2.000 muertos en explosiones y tiroteos casi diarios.

En un acto violento separado que ocurrió más temprano por la mañana en la Provincia de Yala, un hombre fue disparado y muerto en frente de un local de té en el distrito de Yaha.

En Bangkok, el Gabinete del gobierno central acordó extender una ley de emergencia en las provincias meridionales por otros tres meses. La actual expiraba el viernes. Los poderes de emergencia, que son declarados por periodos de tres meses, fueron por primera vez promulgados en 2005. Entre otros poderes, los decretos permiten a oficiales de policía a detener sospechosos por hasta 30 días sin cargos. Alrededor de 350 sospechosos fueron detenidos en las recientes semanas, de acuerdo con el periódico The Nation.


Polish Archbishop resigns after spying revelations

Stanislaw Wielgus, the Archbishop of Warsaw, resigned yesterday after admitting to have worked for the secret police of Poland during the operation of the Communist government. At a mass in Warsaw Cathedral, the Archbishop was to have marked his formal installation. Instead, he tendered his resignation. The resignation came at the request of Pope Benedict XVI, who had appointed Wielgus one month previously.

The reaction to the resignation is mixed. Polish President Lech Kaczyński, who attended the service, applauded the resignation. Wielgus' supporters gathered outside the cathedral, yelling "Stay with us". Those opposed to the Archbishop also gathered outside, carrying banners that said "non possumus" ("we cannot allow that").

Since the late 1960s, the former Archbishop spied on members of the Church for about 20 years. After the Gazeta Polska newspaper published allegations of his actions on December 20, Wielgus denied them. However, when church officials announced they had obtained documents showing that Wielgus had willingly co-operated with the secret services, he acknowledged that the accusations were true.
There is some suspicion[1] that the documents were leaked by communists, in retribution for the Catholic Church's role in the fall of European communism.

A poll, conducted by the TNS OBOP Institute and published January 5 in the Polish daily Dziennik Polska-Europa-Świat, revealed that 26% supported the Archbishop's immediate resignation, 41% thought that he would have to resign "after some explanations", 20% believed that he should keep his position, and 13% had "no opinion".

Cardinal Józef Glemp will retain the position of apostolic administrator until a replacement is chosen.


Pologne : démission de Mgr Wielgus, confirmée une heure avant sa messe d'inauguration

Le nouvel archevêque de Varsovie, Monseigneur Stanisław Wielgus, officiellement entré en fonction vendredi 5 janvier, a finalement démissionné, dimanche 7 janvier 2007, face au scandale causé au sein de l'opinion publique polonaise par les révélations sur sa collaboration passée, durant une vingtaine d'années, avec le Służba Bezpieczeństwa (SB, service de renseignement et police secrète du régime, dissous en 1990).

L'annonce de cette démission a été faite par l'archevêque lui-même une heure avant le début de la messe d'inauguration, devant un parterre de personnalités invitées pour l'événement, parmi lesquelles de nombreux prêtres, prélats et personnalités politiques, y compris le président de al République, Lech Kaczyński et de nombreux membres du gouvernement.

Mgr Wielgus a expliqué que, « après une profonde réflexion et après avoir considéré sa situtaion personnelle », il avait décidé de présenter sa démission d'archevêque métropolite de Varsovie au souverain pontife. On a rapporté des réactions diversifiées au sein de l'assistance réunie en la cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Varsovie et parmi la foule massée à l'extérieur. Le président Kaczyński a été vu en train d'applaudir après l'allocution du prélat démissionnaire, tandis que l'on entendait tout à fois, à l'extérieur, des cris de soutien et de réprobation.

Dans le même temps, à Rome, s'exprimant sur les ondes de Radio Vatican, le père Federico Lombardi, directeur général de la station de radio et du bureau de presse du Saint-Siège, reconnaissait que Mgr Wielgus avait « gravement compromis son autorité » et que dans ces conditions, la démission du prélat constituait une « solution adéquate ». Le père Lombardi a ajouté que cette affaire représentait « un moment de grande souffrance pour l'Église » puis a dénoncé « une vague d'attaques contre l'Église polonaise » qui présentait « toutes les caractéristiques d'une vengeance ».

L'épiscopat polonais, de son côté, expliquait que la démission à laquelle avait été contraint le prélat s'appuyait sur le Canon de l'Église catholique, qui stipule que « l'Évêque diocésain qui, pour une raison de santé ou pour toute autre cause grave, ne pourrait plus remplir convenablement son office, est instamment prié de présenter la renonciation à cet office » [1].

La messe initialement prévue a finalement eu lieu, mais elle s'est transformée en une simple messe d'actions de grâce dite par Mgr Józef Glemp, prédécesseur de Mgr Wielgus à l'archevêché de Varsovie et qui en avait démissionné en raison de son âge, tout en conservant le titre de « primat de Pologne ». Mgr Glemp, compte tenu des circonstances, assurera l'intérim jusqu'à la nomination d'un nouveau titulaire pour le siège métropolitain de Varsovie. Dans son homélie, le cardinal Glemp, interrompu à plusieurs reprises par des applaudissements, a souligné que celui qui n'était à l'époque que le simple prêtre Stanisław Wielgus avait, comme de nombreux Polonais, dû transiger avec le pouvoir communiste alors tout puissant en Pologne, et a nettement critiqué la traque dont a fait l'objet le prélat, en plaidant la clémence à son égard. Le cardinal Glemp est notamment revenu sur les ramifications des organes de contrôle du régime communiste, en estimant qu’« il s'agissait d'une vaste organisation, qui pénétrait toutes les couches de la société polonaise et en particulier le clergé, organisation la plus indépendante et la plus patriote » et estimé que si Stanisław Wielgus était devenu un collaborateur de la police politique, le harcèlement dont le pouvoir communiste était coutumier n'y était sans doute pas étranger. Il s'est enfin élevé contre la forme prise par un jugement sur l'action passée de Stanisław Wielgus, basée parfois sur « des documents ou morceaux de papier recopiés trois fois et plus ».


Polonia: si è dimesso l'arcivescovo Wielgus

Monsignor Stanislaw Wielgus, recentemente nominato da papa Benedetto XVI arcivescovo di Varsavia, si è dimesso oggi dall'incarico. Lo ha comunicato, con una nota, la Nunziatura apostolica in Polonia: «La Nunziatura Apostolica in Polonia comunica che Sua Eccellenza Mons. Stanislaw Wielgus, Arcivescovo Metropolita di Varsavia, nel giorno in cui era previsto l'ingresso nella basilica cattedrale, per dare inizio al suo ministero pastorale nella Chiesa di Varsavia, ha rassegnato a Sua Santità Benedetto XVI le dimissioni dall'ufficio canonico a norma del can. 401 § 2 del Codice di Diritto Canonico». Secondo la stessa fonte, il Papa avrebbe disposto che il cardinale Jozeg Glemp, che Wielgus avrebbe dovuto sostituire, resti temporaneamente in carica.

Dopo averlo iniziamente negato, il prelato aveva ammesso, venerdì scorso, di aver collaborato con i servizi segreti comunisti polacchi.

Il portavoce della Sala stampa della Santa Sede ha dichiarato che il comportamento del presule «ha compromesso gravemente la sua autorevolezza, anche presso i fedeli». «Il caso di Mons. Wielgus non è il primo e probabilmente non sarà l'ultimo caso di attacco a personalità della Chiesa in base alla documentazione dei servizi segreti del passato regime», ha proseguito padre Federico Lombardi. Non mancano però le critiche: secondo il gesuita, gli «attacchi» subìti da Wielgus hanno «molti aspetti di una strana alleanza fra i persecutori di un tempo e altri suoi avversari e di una vendetta da parte di chi, nel passato, l'aveva perseguitata ed è stato sconfitto dalla fede e dalla voglia di libertà del popolo polacco».


Abp Wielgus zrezygnował z funkcji metropolity warszawskiego

Abp Stanisław Wielgus zrezygnował z funkcji metropolity warszawskiego na kilka godzin przed uroczystym ingresem. Papież Benedykt XVI przyjął rezygnację arcybiskupa, a pełnienie funkcji administratora archidiecezji warszawskiej do czasu wyznaczenia innej osoby powierzył kard. Józefowi Glempowi.

Swoją decyzję arcybiskup Wielgus ogłosił na początku mszy, która miała być jego ingresem. W związku z rezygnacją metropolity została ona odprawiona w intencji dziękczynienia za posługę kard. Glempa. Abp Wielgus odczytał swój list, jaki skierował do Benedykta XVI. „Po dogłębnej refleksji i ocenie mojej osobistej sytuacji zgodnie z kanonem 401 par. 2 Kodeksu Prawa Kanonicznego składam na ręce Waszej Świątobliwości rezygnację z urzędu arcybiskupa metropolity warszawskiego” – powiedział abp Wielgus.

Słowa te wzbudziły wśród zgromadzonych wielkie napięcie. Zebrani na tyłach kościoła i na zewnątrz wierni zaczęli głośno skandować: "Zostań z nami", "nie", "hańba!". Zobacz wideo.

Po słowach arcybiskupa odczytano komunikat Nuncjatury Apostolskiej:

„Nuncjatura Apostolska w Polsce niniejszym urzędowo zawiadamia, że ks. abp Stanisław Wielgus, arcybiskup metropolita warszawski, w dniu przewidzianego ingresu do bazyliki katedralnej i rozpoczęcia posługi duszpasterskiej w Kościele Warszawskim, złożył rezygnację ze swojego urzędu na ręce Ojca Świętego Benedykta XVI, zgodnie z przepisami kan. 401 § 2 Kodeksu Prawa Kanonicznego.

Ojciec Święty przyjął rezygnację ks. abp. Stanisława Wielgusa i powierzył ks. kard. Józefowi Glempowi, Prymasowi Polski, pełnienie funkcji administratora archidiecezji warszawskiej do czasu podjęcia dalszych decyzji.

Warszawa, 7 stycznia 2007 r.

+ abp Józef Kowalczyk Nuncjusz Apostolski w Polsce

Decyzja abp Wielgusa była znana przed jej ogłoszeniem w kraju. Radio Watykańskie zamieściło na swoich stronach internetowych informację tuż po godzinie 10, przy czym ingres zaplanowany był na 11. Wcześniej "Wiadomości" TVP1 podały informacje, że ingres może się nie odbyć, choć: "Sprawa nie jest jeszcze przesądzona. W nocy odbyły się ważne rozmowy państwa polskiego ze Stolicą Apostolską w tej sprawie" - poinformowała TVP.

Najprawdopodobniej decyzja abp Stanisława Wielgusa podyktowana była przez Watykan. Paragraf na którym abp Wielgus oparł swoją decyzję brzmi następująco: „Usilnie prosi się biskupa diecezjalnego, który z powodu choroby lub innej poważnej przyczyny nie może w sposób właściwy wypełniać swojego urzędu, by przedłożył rezygnację z urzędu”. Tą poważną przyczyną jest udowodniona współpraca z SB. Jednak sprawa ta wciąż budzi duże kontrowersje.

Reakcje na dzisiejszą decyzję abp Stanisława Wielgusa są bardzo różne. W trakcie Mszy nie brakowało łez wśród wiernych. Po uroczystości na ulicach Warszawy w szczególności starsze osoby demonstrowały poparcie dla arcybiskupa. Tłum przeszedł m.in. pod pałac arcybiskupi, gdzie manifestowano solidarność z hierarchą.

Przypomnijmy, papież Benedykt XVI powołał abp Stanisława Wielgusa na metropolitę warszawskiego w zeszłym miesiącu. Gazeta  Polska opublikowała artykuł, w którym było napisane, że abp Wielgus współpracował z SB. Wcześniej zainteresowany twierdził, że jest niewinny. Od momentu publikacji w GP rozgorzała dyskusja na temat współpracy bądź niewinności ks. Wielgusa.  Nowy metropolita warszawski przez ponad 20 lat był tajnym, świadomym współpracownikiem SB - ma to wynikać z dokumentów, do których dotarła "Rzeczpospolita" (Przeczytaj artykuł w Wikinews). Teczki w IPN potwierdziły te doniesienia. Abp działał pod pseudonimem "Grey". Mimo to w piątek abp Wielgus przejął kanonicznie urząd nad powierzoną mu archidiecezją.


Polish Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper sacked

Andrzej Lepper, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, was sacked on Monday over a corruption investigation.

Jarosław Kaczyński, the current Prime Minister, explained the reasons of dismissal in an interview for public television channel TVP1:

Kaczyński was referring to two people arrested by the Central Anticorruption Bureau on Friday. One of them, Andrzej R., told the Bureau that he was linked with Lepper. It is widely rumoured that a bribe in the amount of 3 million złoty was involved.

Mr. Lepper insist he is innocent, but he also told news-channel TVN24 that the coalition is over. Lepper is the leader of the {{w|Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland]] party, which is the second largest in the government coalition.

The coalition's break-up means that there is no majority in the Polish parliament at the moment. Self-Defence has 46 deputies in the 460-seat Sejm, the lower house of the Parliament. However, it may not mean early elections – the Opposition has too few votes to dissolve the Parliament.


Andrzej Lepper odwołany ze stanowiska Ministra Rolnictwa

Andrzej Lepper został odwołany ze stanowiska wicepremiera i Ministra Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi - poinformował rzecznik rządu Jan Dziedziczak.

Odwołanie ma związek ze śledztwem prowadzonym przez Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne. Sprawa ma dotyczyć poważnej afery korupcyjnej, której dwóch uczestników zostało już aresztowanych przez CBA. Jak donosi serwis tvn24.pl, jednym z aresztowanych jest Piotr R. - kandydat do rady nadzorczej TVP i były prezes Air Polonii. Według byłego wicepremiera przedmiotem korupcji miało być 35 ha ziemi pod Mrągowem.

W programie Moniki Olejnik "Kropka nad i" Lepper oświadczył "z ręką na sercu", że do rządu Jarosława Kaczyńskiego nie powróci. Były wicepremier stwierdził, że w kancelarii prezydenta czekała już jego dymisja. Lepper uważa, że pomimo zapewnień ministra Wassermana CBA założyło mu podsłuch.

Lepper zapewniał też, że jego dymisja oznacza wycofanie Samoobrony z koalicji. Dziś ma zdecydować o tym prezydium Samoobrony, jutro sprawa będzie poruszana na spotkaniu klubu politycznego.


Polish homosexuals flee persecution by new right-wing government

Following the rise to power of Poland's Roman Catholic right-wing government, including some openly homophobic members, Polish gay rights groups claim that thousands of Polish gays have emigrated to United Kingdom to escape increasing persecution including the Health Ministry's "special committee responsible for 'curing' gays".

The Deputy Health Minister, Marek Grafowski, stated the ministry was developing guides "to assist parents and teachers so that they can recognise any warning signs of potential 'gay behaviour'."

Guardian unlimited reports that the Polish police have also begun compiling a database on gays in Poland. Although illegal under European Union law, this is allegedly being done under the auspices of an investigation into the gay community following a bomb threat two years ago by a gay man, who was reportedly angry when a gay rights march was banned in Warsaw.

"The police are not allowed to catalogue 'homosexual data', but it's enough to look into the police investigation associated with the bomb in order to establish a list of names and addresses," said Ewa Kulesza, a former personal data protection general inspector.

Homophobia appears to be a problem beyond the government as well. One person said his doctor had referred him to a vet when he went for a check-up. "He told me there was a specialist for people like me and gave me an address. When I got there it was a vet. I called him and he said, ‘What did you expect? You are an animal’.

A gay club, Le Madame, was recently shut down by Warsaw local authorities who hired private security guards to break down the doors.

Robert Biedroń, the president of the Polish Campaign Against Homophobia society, believes that most of the Polish gays emigrate to the UK not for economic reasons but because of persecution in Poland. "Most of the people I know are now in England because of the current political situation. Not for economic reasons, but because of the persecution of homosexuals going on here. It's impossible for gays to be themselves in Poland", says Biedroń.


Homosexuales polacos emigran a causa de la homofobia en su país

Después de la toma de poder por parte de la derecha católica en el gobierno incluyendo a algunos miembros abiertamente homofóbicos, grupos a favor de los derechos Gay en Polonia reclaman que miles de homosexuales polacos han tenido que emigrar al Reino Unido escapando de la creciente persecución que incluye al "Comité especial responsable de 'curar' a los gais" perteneciente al Ministerio de Salud. El ministro de salud, Marek Grafowski, declaró que el ministerio desarrolla guías para "asistir a los padres y profesores para que ellos puedan reconocer cualquier signo de advertencia de 'conductas gais'". Robert Biedroń, presidente polaco de la Campaña en Contra de la Homofobia, cree que la mayoría de los homosexuales polacos emigran al Reino Unido no por razones económicas, sino por las persecuciones que sufren en Polonia. "La mayoría de las personas que conozco se encuentran ahora en Inglaterra a causa de la actual situación política. No por razones económicas, sino por la persecución contra los homosexuales que se da aquí. Es imposible para los gais ser ellos mismo en Polonia", dijo Biedroń.

La policía polaca también ha estado confeccionando una base de datos sobre gais y la comunidad homosexual en Polonia, pero no es sólo la policía es abiertamente homofóbica en Polonia. Uno de los homosexuales polacos dijo que su doctor lo envío con un veterinario cuando este fue a hacerse un chequeo médico. "Él me dijo que me enviaba a un especialista para personas como yo y me dio una dirección. Cuando llegue allí era un veterinario".

"Cuando lo volví a llamar me dijo, ¿Y qué esperabas? Tú eres un animal".

La discoteca gay Le Madame fue cerrada por las autoridades locales de Varsovia que alquilaron guardias de seguridad privada para bloquear las puertas.


Guardian: Polscy geje emigrują z powodów politycznych

Jak donosi The Guardian opierający się na słowach Roberta Biedronia, tysiące polskich homoseksualistów opuściło kraj z powodu represji politycznych. Według brytyjskiego dziennika polscy geje emigrują z powodu panującej w Polsce atmosfery strachu i prześladowań.

Dziennik przytacza słowa Roberta Biedronia, prezesa Kampanii Przeciw Homofobii:
"To niewiarygodne! Polska społeczność gejowska zmniejsza się ze względu na panujący klimat strachu i prześladowań. Większość moich znajomych jest teraz w Anglii z powodu obecnej sytuacji politycznej. Przyjeżdżają tu nie z powodów ekonomicznych, ale z obawy przed prześladowaniem. Geje nie mają teraz możliwości bycia sobą w Polsce (...) Około 2 milionów Polaków opuściło kraj w poszukiwaniu pracy i tysiące gejów razem z nimi. Wiele gejów zwraca się do fundacji z pomocą w emigracji do UK".

Gazeta stwierdza, że aktualny "katolicko-prawicowy rząd" jest otwarcie homofobiczny, a polskie media ostatnio ogłosiły, iż Ministerstwo Zdrowia utworzyło specjalną komisję do "leczenia" gejów.

Następnie gazeta przypomina zapowiedzi podsekretarz stanu Ministerstwa Zdrowia Marka Grabowskiego, który planował policzyć polskich gejów i opracować wskazówki dla rodziców i nauczycieli, w jaki sposób rozpoznawać oznaki posiadania orientacji homoseksualnej.

Jako inne przykłady prześladowań w Polsce gazeta przytacza przypadek 23-latka z Warszawy, który gdy poszedł do lekarza został przez niego odesłany do weterynarza i nazwany zwierzęciem. Inny gej stwierdził, że wyjechał do Londynu, ponieważ tam chciałby wziąć ślub. Powiedział: "Jest bardzo ważne dla mnie aby mieć możliwość zawarcia związku partnerskiego i adopcji dzieci. W UK mam taką swobodę."

Artur Bazak, socjolog, dziennikarz katolickiego "Gościa Niedzielnego", współpracownik Polskiego Radia w swoim blogu internetowym pyta: "Biedroń szacuje, że liczba emigrujących gejów i lesbijek do UK wynosi ok. 100 tys. Skąd te dane? Jak to bywa w takich przypadkach, znikąd. Robert Biedroń uznał, że skoro całkowita liczba emigrujących na Wyspy wynosi  2 mln (też nie wiem, skąd on ma te dane), a procent gejów i lesbijek w Polsce wynosi 5% społeczeństwa, w związku z tym wyszło mu 100 tys. (...) No to mamy cały piękny obrazek męczeństwa gejów. Zawyżone i nie wiadomo skąd wzięte dane statystyczne. Przedstawienie działań ministerstwa zdrowia i edukacji narodowej oraz policji i lekarzy w skrajnie negatywnym świetle. Tło polityczne delikatnie zarysowane: "polski, rzymsko-katolicki, prawicowy rząd". I na koniec rozdzierająca serce historia utraty świętego miejsca, jakim był klub Le Madame.  I to wszystko przy skromnym udziale gey celebrities, jak Biedroń i Legierski".

Marta Wawrzyn w artykule pt. "Polscy geje uciekają na Wyspy przed prześladowaniem!?" napisała, że: "Jakby na to nie patrzeć, w artykule "Guardiana" nie ma niczego, co by prawdą nie było. Homoseksualiści nie mogą w Polsce zawierać małżeństw, a tym bardziej adoptować dzieci. Koalicja wyprawia, co wyprawia. Brytyjski dziennik zapomniał co prawda dodać, że większość tych pomysłów zakończyła się klapą, ale nie da się ukryć, iż sam ich przecież nie wymyślił. Zaś Biedroń z Legierskim swoje zdanie na ten, żywo ich interesujący, temat mają i mogą je wygłaszać, gdzie tylko chcą. Podobnie jak ci dwaj młodzi ludzie cytowani w artykule. Teza o exodusie polskich homoseksualistów na Wyspy jest jednakowoż co najmniej pokraczna. Aby ocenić wielkość i charakter danej emigracji, potrzebne są szczegółowe dane statystyczne. "Guardian" nie dysponuje żadnymi. Skąd więc ta pewność, że polscy geje emigrują z obawy przed prześladowaniem? Skąd wniosek, że są ich tysiące? Bo tak powiedział Biedroń? Sugerowałabym odwołać się do większej ilości źródeł, a następnie przyznać, że obecne wnioski są mocno naciągane".


Polish PM Beata Szydło welcomes US troops

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło on Saturday headed a ceremony in  the Western town of Żagań welcoming US troops. The troops are in the region in response to Russian action in Ukraine and began arriving earlier this week.

"Each Polish family must feel safe", Szydło said. "It is the duty of the Polish state, the government to provide security. Today we have made a big step in this direction". Outgoing US President Barack Obama authorised the move in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine in 2014, in which Crimea was annexed. It was agreed at a NATO summit in Warsaw last year.

Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz was also at the ceremony. "We have waited for you for a very long time," he told the troops. "We waited for decades, sometimes feeling we had been left alone, sometimes almost losing hope, sometimes feeling that we were the only one who protected civilization from aggression that came from the east."

Hundreds of members of the public attended the ceremony, near the German border; the soldiers crossed in from Germany. Part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the deployment is set to include Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and Paladin artillery. It is the largest deployment of US troops to Europe since the Cold War ended.

The US troops are set to rotate around the region every nine months. Other planned host nations are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary. The rotation is due to a treaty with Russia preventing permanent deployment to any particular territory.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Mechkov said the incoming troops and vehicles were a "factor destabilising European security". The presence of US assets "threatens our interests and our security," according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin's administration described the deployment as "a threat".

Polish relations with Russia are strained. Since the annexation of Crimea, Russia has recently been increasing its military presence in Kalingrad. The enclave, Russian territory lying between Poland and Lithuania, now has nuclear-capable Iskander missiles and anti-ship Bastion equipment.

US–Russian relations are also strained. Last month the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats accused of espionage, and sanctioned Russian intelligence agencies. This was in response to a CIA report issued two weeks earlier that concluded the Russian government hacked servers belonging to the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties. The CIA report said this was to turn the 2016 presidential election toward president-elect Donald Trump.

Trump has indicated he seeks closer ties with Russia. He takes power this month. "This is America's most capable fighting force: A combat-ready, highly trained US armoured brigade, with our most advanced equipment and weaponry," according to Paul James, US ambassador to Poland. James, who attended the ceremony, said the troops represent "America's iron-clad commitment to honor our NATO treaty obligation to defend our NATO allies."

In a Wall Street Journal interview published on Friday Trump indicated he wishes to maintain sanctions against Russia "at least for a period of time," but ultimately remove them as relations improve. "If you get along and if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebody’s doing some really great things?" he asked. Outgoing CIA director John Brennan said yesterday Trump "doesn't understand Russia" and expressed concerns the US President-Elect's spontaneity would damage US national security.

A total of around 4,000 troops are pledged to the region.


Pologne : le Premier Ministre Beata Szydło accueille les troupes américaines

Publié le 21 janvier 2017   Le Premier ministre de Pologne, Beata Szydło a dirigé samedi une cérémonie dans la ville occidentale de Żagań accueillant les troupes américaines. Les troupes sont dans la région en réponse à l'action russe en Ukraine et ont commencé à arriver plus tôt cette semaine.

« Chaque famille polonaise doit se sentir en sécurité », a déclaré Szydło. « C'est le devoir de l’État polonais, du gouvernement de fournir la sécurité. Aujourd'hui, nous avons fait un grand pas dans cette direction ». Le président sortant américain Barack Obama a autorisé le déménagement en réponse à l'intervention russe en Ukraine en 2014, dans laquelle la Crimée a été annexée. Il a été convenu lors d'un sommet de l'OTAN à Varsovie l'année dernière.

Le Ministre de la Défense Antoni Macierewicz était également présent à la cérémonie. « Nous avons attendu pour vous très longtemps », a-t-il dit aux troupes. « Nous avons attendu des décennies, parfois nous sentant laissés seuls, parfois presque perdant l'espoir, sentant parfois que nous étions les seuls à protéger la civilisation contre l'agression venue de l'est ».

Des centaines de membres du public ont assisté à la cérémonie, près de la frontière allemande. Les soldats sont venus en provenance d'Allemagne. Partie de l'Opération Atlantique Résolvez, le déploiement est prévu pour inclure les chars d'Abrams, les véhicules de combat de Bradley, et l'artillerie de Paladin. C'est le plus grand déploiement de troupes américaines en Europe depuis la fin de la guerre froide.

Les troupes américaines vont tourner autour de la région tous les neuf mois. Les autres pays d'accueil prévus sont l'Estonie, la Lettonie, la Lituanie, la Roumanie, la Bulgarie et la Hongrie. La rotation est due à un traité avec la Russie empêchant le déploiement permanent sur un territoire particulier.

Le vice-ministre russe des Affaires étrangères, Alexeï Mechkov, a déclaré que les troupes et les véhicules entrants étaient un « facteur de déstabilisation de la sécurité européenne ». La présence d'actifs américains « menace nos intérêts et notre sécurité », selon le président russe Vladimir Poutine. L'administration de Poutine a décrit le déploiement comme « une menace ».

Les relations polonaises avec la Russie sont tendues. Depuis l'annexion de la Crimée, la Russie a récemment augmenté sa présence militaire à Kaliningrad. L'enclave, territoire russe entre la Pologne et la Lituanie, possède maintenant des missiles Iskander à capacité nucléaire et des équipements de Bastion anti-navire.

Les relations américano–russes sont également tendues. Le mois dernier, les États-Unis ont expulsé 35 diplomates russes accusés d'espionnage et ont sanctionné les services de renseignements russes. C'était en réponse à un rapport de la CIA publié deux semaines plus tôt qui a conclu que le gouvernement russe a piraté des serveurs appartenant aux Démocrates. Le rapport de la CIA a déclaré que c'était pour faire gagner l'élection présidentielle de 2016 à Donald Trump.

Trump a indiqué qu'il cherche des liens plus étroits avec la Russie. Il prend le pouvoir ce mois-ci. « C'est la force de combat la plus capable de l'Amérique : une brigade blindée américaine hautement qualifiée et prête à combattre, avec nos équipements et nos armes les plus avancés », selon Paul James, ambassadeur américain en Pologne. James, qui a assisté à la cérémonie, a déclaré que les troupes représentent « l'engagement fermé de l'Amérique à honorer notre obligation de l'OTAN de défendre nos alliés de l'OTAN ».

Dans une interview de Wall Street Journal publiée vendredi, Trump a indiqué qu'il souhaite maintenir des sanctions contre la Russie « au moins pour une période de temps », mais finalement les supprimer à mesure que les relations s'améliorent. « Si vous vous entendez et si la Russie nous aide vraiment, pourquoi y aurait-il des sanctions si quelqu'un fait vraiment de bonnes choses? », a-t-il demandé. Le directeur sortant de la CIA, John Brennan, a déclaré hier que Trump « ne comprend pas la Russie » et a exprimé des inquiétudes quant à la spontanéité du président élu américain qui nuirait à la sécurité nationale américaine.

Au total, quelque 4 000 soldats sont engagés dans la région.


Politicians call for action after floods cause havoc in the UK

Politicians in the United Kingdom have started calling for action after months of heavy rainfall have left parts of Britain in crisis from flooding and electricity and water shortages. Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young has called for an increased budget of around £1 billion a year to pay for flood defenses. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has suggested that the conditions were 'unprecedented', and would overwhelm even the best flood defenses, but said that the Environment Agency's capital expenditure would be increased from £600m to £800m by 2010/11.

Opposition leaders have similarly called for more money to be spent on flood defenses. Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell suggested that the flood risk was known about before it happened, and questioned the degree of preparedness in place.

Conservative leader David Cameron has called for a public inquiry into the crisis. The Conservative shadow Environment Secretary criticised a 'lack of clarity' in the command of clean up operations, and MP John Redwood has asked why the army was not mobilised in support.

The Government has ordered a Cabinet Office review of the flooding events.


Inundaciones ponen en crisis al Reino Unido

Las intensas lluvias que causaron inundaciones en diversas partes del centro y sur de Inglaterra dejaron a más de 100 mil personas sin agua potable y a unas cuarenta mil sin energía eléctrica.

El primer ministro británico, Gordon Brown, sobrevoló en helicóptero el condado de Gloucestershire, una de las regiones más afectadas donde miles de personas permanecen aún sin agua potable y electricidad. Mientras que la Fuerza Aérea Real (RAF) trabaja sin descanso en rescates aéreos de personas refugiadas en los tejados de sus casas.

La Agencia de Medio Ambiente indicó que las inundaciones en el centro y oeste del país pueden agravarse, ya que los dos ríos más importantes, el Támesis y el Severn, continúan subiendo. Según la agencia, las niveles de agua superarán a los de las inundaciones de marzo de 1947, cuando el sur y otras regiones de Inglaterra quedaron bajo el agua causando perdidas millonarias.

Gordon Brown mantuvo una reunión con el comité "Cobra", órgano de crisis británico, para planificar estrategias a seguir a causa de las inundaciones. Además, el Gobierno decidió aumentar el dinero destinado a las inundaciones hasta 800 millones de libras esterlinas al año para el 2011.

Según la Asociación Británica de Aseguradores, las perdidas totales por las inundaciones ascenderían a los 4 mil millones de dólares. Actualmente, hay nueve alertas que siguen en vigor y los condados más afectados son los de Worcestershire, Gloucestershire y Warwickshire.


Pope Benedict to visit Turkey amidst anti-pope protests

Pope Benedict will be visiting Turkey, a predominantly Muslim nation, for four days starting on November 28.

Some, organized by an Islamist party, protested the visit in the streets after hearing of the Pope's trip. Security concerns are on the rise as the protests progress.

Benedict will arrive in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. According to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, objectives of the Pope's visit are to eliminate misunderstandings between Muslims and Christians, and to clean up the 1,000-year divide in Christianity between the Vatican and Orthodox churches. Benedict also plans to meet with political and religious leaders in Ankara.

Police are taking full measures to ensure the Pope is safe during his trip.


Benedicto XVI visita Turquía en medio de protestas por su presencia

El Papa Benedicto XVI comienza este martes (28) su visita a Turquía, una nación predominantemente musulmana, en un viaje que durará cuatro días en los que aprovechará para reunirse con diferentes líderes religiosos y políticos en medio de fuertes protestas.

Diferentes organizaciones islamistas han protestado por la visita en las calles los días previos. Las preocupaciones en el ámbito de la seguridad crecen en medida que las protestas aumentan. La policía ha tomado grandes medidas de seguridad para asegurar la integridad del Papa durante su viaje.

Benedicto llegó a Ankara, la capital del país, sobre el mediodía hora local. Los objetivos del Papa son buscar la reconciliación con los musulmanes después de las reacciones al polémico discurso de Ratisbona y acercar posturas con iglesias ortodoxas divididas en el cristianismo durante más de 1.000 años. Benedicto XVI también planea encontrarse con líderes políticos y religiosos en Ankara.


Turquie : manifestations contre la visite du pape Benoît XVI

Publié le 27 novembre 2006   Le voyage du pape Benoît XVI en Turquie est prévu à partir du 28 novembre pour 4 jours, malgré les manifestations organisées par un parti islamiste et des problèmes de sécurité qui vont en augmentant.

Benoît XVI est attendu à Ankara. Selon le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères, Abdullah Gul, les objectifs du voyage du pape sont doubles : éliminer l'incompréhension entre les musulmans et les chrétiens et clarifier les relations entre le Vatican et les Églises orthodoxes après mille ans de division. Il souhaite rendre visite à des chefs religieux et politiques durant son séjour dans la capitale.

La police prépare toutes les mesures pour que le voyage du pape se déroule sans incident.


Papa Bento XVI visita a Turquia em meio a protestos

O Papa Bento XVI planeja visitar a Turquia, uma nação de maioria muçulmana, durante quatro dias a partir de 28 de novembro.

Alguns muçulmanos já começaram a protestar nas ruas depois que ouviram falar a respeito da visita do papa. As preocupações com a segurança aumentam à medida que se intensificam os protestos.

Segundo sua agenda, Bento XVI deve passar por Ancara, capital turca. Os objetivos do papa são  fazer a paz com os muçulmanos e melhorar as relações do Vaticano com as Igrejas Ortodoxas, um cisma na cristandade que existe há 1000 anos. O papa também planeja se encontrar com líderes políticos e religiosos muçulmanos em Ancara.

A polícia está tomando todas as precauções para garantir a segurança do papa durante sua visita.


Pope Benedict XVI visits Valencia, Spain

Pope Benedict XVI visited the city of Valencia in Spain. During his visit, he encouraged his followers in the country to defend traditional family values.

The government in Spain has introduced a number of reforms including gay marriage.

"It is a man and a woman who are made for each other and made to give humanity a future" said the Pope. "The family is a unique institution in God's plan, and the church cannot fail to proclaim and promote its fundamental importance," he said.

He arrived for a 24-hour visit and was met at an airport by King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofía, and Prime Minister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero.

"The presence of your holiness brings great relief to everyone, especially to families who have lost loved ones," the king said in a welcoming speech.

The pope also met relatives of some of the underground crash victims. He prayed at the scene of a subway crash that killed 42 people on Monday. "We ask God's comfort for those who remain and those who left us," he said.

The pope will have a Mass tomorrow, which will close the visit. Zapatero said that he would not attend the mass on Sunday.


El Papa Benet XVI visita València per la Trobada Mundial de la Família catòlica

El Papa Benet XVI ha visitat València a causa de la IVa Trobada Mundial de les Famílies, una trobada que intenta defendre els valors tradicionals de família, entre d'altres el matrimoni, des l'òptica dels valors morals i ètics del cristianisme catòlic, apostòlic i romà.

La durada de la visita ha sigut d'un dia i l'atenció que més s'ha tingut, ha sigut l'opinió del Papa amb l'aprovació de llei del matrimoni entre persones del mateix sexe i altres reformes que laicitzen més l'Estat espanyol.

D'entre els comentaris que ha dit el Papa respecte a aquestes reformes, especialment del matrimoni homosexual, hi ha que "És un home i una dona qui han sigut fets l'un a l'altre i per a donar a la humanitat un futur" i que "La família és l'única institució en els manaments de Déu, i l'Església no pot fracassar en la proclamació i la promoció de la seua importància fonamental".

A la seua arribada a l'aeroport, Benet XVI va ser rebut perl rei Joan Carles I, la reina Sofia i el president del govern José Luís Rodriguez Zapatero.

A més, el Papa ha rendit homenatge a les víctimes de l'accident de metro occorregut a València el dilluns anterior i les seues famílies pregant al lloc de l'accident. "Demanem el comfort de Déu per a aquells qui ens han deixat i els qui romanen amb nosaltres," va dir.

El Papa s'acomiada i tanca la trobada amb una misa demà diumenge on el president Rodríguez Zapatero no hi assistirà.


Papst Benedikt XVI. zu Besuch in Valencia

Valencia (Spanien), 09.07.2006 – Papst Benedikt XVI. hat die Stadt Valencia in Spanien besucht. Während seines Besuches ermutigte er seine Anhänger im Land, traditionelle familiäre Werte zu verteidigen.

Die Regierung in Spanien hat einige Reformen durchgeführt, darunter auch eine, die homosexuelle Ehen zulässt.

„Es sind Mann und Frau, die füreinander gemacht wurden und geschaffen wurden, um der Menschheit eine Zukunft zu geben“, sagte der Papst. „Die Familie ist eine einmalige Institution in Gottes Plan, und die Kirche kann nicht umhin, deren fundamentale Wichtigkeit zu verkünden und zu fördern“, sagte er.

Er kam zu einem 24-stündigen Besuch. Der Papst traf am Flughafen König Juan Carlos, Königin Sofía und Premierminister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero.

„Die Anwesenheit Ihrer Heiligkeit bringt allen große Erleichterung, besonders den Familien, die ihnen Nahestehende verloren haben“, sagte der König in einer Begrüßungsrede.

Der Papst traf auch Verwandte einiger Opfer des U-Bahn-Unfalls. Er betete am Ort eines U-Bahn-Unfalls, bei dem am Montag 42 Leute ums Leben gekommen waren. „Wir erbitten Gottes Trost für diejenigen, die zurückbleiben, und diejenigen, die uns verlassen haben“, sagte er.

Der Papst hielt heute eine Messe, die seinen Besuch abschloss. Zapatero sagte gestern, er werde nicht an der Messe teilnehmen.


Benedetto XVI è a Valencia per il V incontro mondiale delle famiglie

Un volo Alitalia ha portato Benedetto XVI all'aeroporto di Valencia, città nella quale il Papa resterà fino a domani per concludere le celebrazioni per il quinto incontro mondiale delle famiglie.

Decine di migliaia di fedeli provenienti da tutto il mondo hanno accolto l'arrivo del pontefice e calorose sono state anche le parole pronunciate da Juan Carlos I di Spagna, che ha definito la visita di Papa Ratzinger fonte di «una grande consolazione a tutti e in particolare alle famiglie che hanno perso i loro cari», nella tragedia della metropolitana in cui hanno trovato la morte 42 persone.

Proprio alla stazione Jesus, dove lo attendevano i principi ereditari Felipe e Letizia di Borbone, si è recato il Santo Padre per rendere omaggio alle vittime dell'incidente.

Particolarmente distaccato, invece, il saluto con il premier, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, con il quale il Papa ha scambiato una veloce e protocollare stretta di mano; i convenevoli sono durati appena qualche secondo.

Nella cappella del Santo Calice, all'interno della Cattedrale di Valencia, il Papa ha incontrato i Vescovi spagnoli, invitandoli a «non stancarsi», a «non perdersi d'animo» nonostante la «rapida secolarizzazione» che caratterizza la società moderna.

All'uscita dalla basilica, il Papa è stato accolto dall'entusiasmo della folla, pur provata dal caldo e dall'afa, cui il Vescovo di Roma si rivolge in catalano.

Numerosi, invece, i fischi rivolti a Zapatero al suo arrivo all'arcivescovado della città, dove si è recato per incontrare Benedetto XVI.

Proprio Zapatero non parteciperà, domani, alla Messa presieduta dal Papa. E proprio la sua assenza è la causa principale della protesta dei fedeli spagnoli e anche del risentimento del portavoce della Santa Sede, Joaquin Navarro-Valls: «Ricordo che quando siamo andati in Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega venne alla messa. A Varsavia, durante il periodo comunista, Wojciech Jaruzelsky fece altrettanto. Quando andammo a Cuba, Fidel non disertò la messa».

Domani mattina, alle 9.30, il Papa presiederà la celebrazione eucaristica alla Città delle Arti e delle Scienze di Valencia. Al termine della Messa, Benedetto XVI reciterà con i fedeli la preghiera dell'Angelus.

La ripartenza per l'Italia è prevista per il primo pomeriggio. Il Pontefice è atteso all'Aeroporto Giovan Battista Pastine| di Ciampino attorno alle 15.30


Pope invites Palestinian and Israeli presidents to mutual prayer at Vatican

On Sunday, during Pope Francis' visit to the Middle East which lasted three days, he invited the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli president Shimon Peres to join him for a mutual prayer at his home in the Vatican.

In a Mass given in Manger Square of Bethlehem Pope Francis told crowds,"Building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace."

Pope Francis started his visit in Jordan and from there he continued to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. In Bethlehem he met with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority, as well as leading Mass in the crowded Manger Square. He unexpectedly stopped near the concrete separation wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, at a spot sprayed with graffiti, got out of his vehicle, and touched the wall with his forehead.

Regarding the peace process, Pope Francis emphasized that peace "must resolutely be pursued, even if each side has to make certain sacrifices". He explained that the situation today is "increasingly unacceptable".

The Pope said Palestinians and Israelis each have the right to recognition of their state, calling for "the acknowledgement by all of the right of two states to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognized borders."

After his visit to the West Bank the Pope journeyed to Tel Aviv where he was welcomed by Shimon Peres and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister.  The Pope continued from there to Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall, the most holy site to the Jewish people, while he was escorted by an Argentine rabbi and the leader of the Muslim community of Argentina.

The Pope also visited holocaust memorial site Yad Vashem, and by the request of Benjamin Netanyahu he visited too a monument to the victims of terrorism.

The Pope's 55-hour trip included over 30 events. The Pope is 77 years old.

Both the Israeli President and the Palestinian Authority President have agreed to meet the Pope at the Vatican next month.


La papo Francisko preĝis antaŭ la Muro de Lamentadoj

La papo Francisko preĝis ĉi-lunde antaŭ la Muro de lamentadoj en Jerusalemo, la plej sankta loko por judismo, kaj poste vizitis monumenton por la memoro de israelanoj viktimaj de terorismo dum sia tria tago en Mezoriento.

Francisko klinis la kapon, dum li preĝis kaj tuŝis la muron, la ununura, kiu restas stara de la Dua Templo biblia. Li lasis paperon en la muro kun la teksto de la Patro nia skribita en sia denaska hispana lingvo. Tie li brakumis sian amikon, la rabenon argentinan Abraham Skorka, kaj al la gvidanto de la islama argentina komunumo, Omar Abboud, kiuj kuniĝis al la oficiala delegacio, kiel montraĵo de interreligia amikeco.

La du pasintaj papoj, Johano Paŭlo la 2-a kaj Benedikto la 16-a, ankaŭ vizitis la Okcidentan Muron. La unua por peti pardonon al judoj pro sufero fare de kristanoj al ili dum lia vizito en 2000, kaj la dua por peti pacon inter kristanoj, islamanoj kaj judoj. Francisko surprize invitis la prezidantojn de Israelo kaj Palestino iri al Vatikano preĝi por paco venontmonate. Ambaŭ akceptis.

La papo komencis la tagon vizitante senŝua la trian plej sanktan lokon por islamo, la Kupolo de la Roko, kie supoze Mohamedo ascendis ĉielen. Dum lia alparolo al la ĉefa muftio israela kaj aliaj islamaj ĉefgvidantoj, Francisko nomis ilin ne kiel «karaj» sed «fratoj» kaj diris:

Dum lia lasta tago en Mezoriento li kunvenos kun la ĉefa rabeno de Israelo, la prezidanto de la lando kaj la ĉefministro, kun lokaj sacerdotoj kaj fine gvidos meson ĉe la ĉambro de la lasta vespermanĝo, kie supoze Jesuo kundividis sian lastan nutraĵon kun siaj disĉiploj antaŭ ol esti krucumita. La reveno de Francisko al Romo estas planata iomete antaŭ  noktomezo.