Tag Archives: Russia

Image mf.gif

More ID row protests in Bosnia as baby victim is buried

June 18, 2013 1:15 pm | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

Parents in Bosnia in birth registrations protest 07/06/2013 09:06 CET
Bosnians mourn baby victim of political wrangling 17/06/2013 08:35 CET
Bosnia melts down old weapons 12/06/2013 18:32 CET
Sarajevo strike over work and rights 30/05/2013 18:27 CET
Bosnian Federation President detained for bribery 29/04/2013 19:19 CET

Bosnians say they will continue to protest over the case of a baby girl who died after political and bureaucratic wrangling led to crucial delays in potentially life-saving treatment.

Three-month-old Berina Hamidovic needed to travel to Serbia for surgery but had no passport. Her parents also said Bosnian health authorities refused to cover the cost.

“We’ll be coming here until this situation is resolved, peacefully, and we hope that some higher force will help us to solve this problem,” said a protester outside parliament in Sarajevo.

“They have let us down. The state has failed us. We’ve been giving them full support, we pay them, and we pay them to be there for us when we need them. But they have been letting us down in most difficult times,” added a second woman.

Berina had a hole near her windpipe. An operation in Bosnia was unsuccessful; by the time her parents did get her past border police and reach Belgrade she had contracted an infection that proved fatal.

Even before she died there had been protests over thousands of newborn babies denied passports and medical cards – because politicians – divided along ethnic lines – could not agree on a system for issuing ID numbers.

More about: , , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
Image mf.gif

Poll suggests strong support for gay marriage in developed nations

June 18, 2013 12:56 pm | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

UK: House of Lords backs same-sex marriage bill 05/06/2013 00:46 CET
First gay marriage celebrated in France 30/05/2013 02:27 CET
Gay marriage moves on 29/05/2013 07:49 CET
Same-sex couple make history in France 29/05/2013 10:05 CET
The first French same-sex marriage takes place in… 29/05/2013 19:05 CET

Most adults in developed countries support gay marriage or some kind of legal recognition for same-sex couples, according to an Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.

Of the 12,484 adults questioned in the survey, 52 percent of people favour full marriage equality for gays and 21 percent support legal recognition but not marriage. “What we see is that in every one of the 16 countries we surveyed, there is a majority in favour of allowing same sex couples to have some sort of legal recognition,” observed Nicolas Boson, a senior vice president at Ipsos. “In nine out of 16 countries we see an outright majority in favour of full marriage equality.”

Sweden, Norway, Spain, Belgium, Canada and France – all countries where same-sex marriage is legal – showed majority support for full equality for same sex couples, as did most Germans, Britons and Australians. However, in Argentina, which also recognises gay marriage, only 48 percent of people favoured marriage equality for gay couples.

Adoption

Almost 60 percent of adults polled believed gay couples should have the same adoption rights as heterosexuals and 64 percent thought same-sex couples were equally likely to raise children successfully. It would seem that this is not a view shared by Russia, where homophobia has, historically, proved prevalent. The Russian parliament is currently deliberating a law which would eventually forbid homosexual couples and single people from adopting Russian children, even if their own countries have legalised same-sex marriage.

The impact of social media and religion

Within the 16 nations polled, social media and religion were shown to impact upon attitudes toward gay marriage and equal rights for same-sex couples. According to the survey, people who are active on social media are more likely to support same-sex couples. In contrast, only 27 percent of people who align to a religion were likely to express support for a legal status for same-sex couples. “Poland has the most opposition to adoption to same-sex couples and it is probably one of the most religious countries in the survey,” said Boyon.

Opposition

Although only 14 percent of the adults questioned in the poll objected to same-sex marriage or any type of legal recognition, opposition was notably highest in Hungary, South Korea, Poland and Japan, with 37 percent of those questioned saying they were unsure about how they felt. In Japan just 5 percent of people said they knew someone who was lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) and in South Korea the number dropped to 3%. “It is likely there is still a stigma attached to the issue in those countries,” said Boyon.

The US is the next country due to rule on same-sex marriage, with the Supreme Court set to announce their decision later this month.

More about: ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

|| … Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Image mf.gif

Russia isolated on Syria at G8

June 18, 2013 12:25 pm | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

G8 protests call for action on Syria and tax evasion 17/06/2013 18:36 CET
G8 leaders push for transatlantic trade deal but it’s… 18/06/2013 02:07 CET
Egypt: Mursi cuts ties with Syria, calls for no-fly… 16/06/2013 01:45 CET
Qusair battle rages, as US-Russia relations sour over… 31/05/2013 20:04 CET
Assad reveals Syria has received first shipment of… 30/05/2013 09:46 CET

The second and final day of the G8 summit sees the heads of state and government attempting to stride boldly into the Syrian conflict and questions of terrorism, and find solutions.

However the unity on show for the world’s press has a huge crack in it, as Russian President Vladimir Putin finds himself increasingly isolated as the other leaders close ranks and try to get him to tone down his support for Bashar al-Assad.

Russia’s line, that it is better to have the devil you know in Damascus rather than taking a high-risk roll of the dice by backing the opposition and possibly sowing instability, is being drowned out by the rising civilian casualty figures in Syria.

Putin’s discomfort was plain for all to see, and smiles and handshakes cannot detract from the real possibility the leaders may issue a Syria statement as the G7, with Russia abstaining.

More about: , , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,
Image mf.gif

US presidents and Berlin

June 18, 2013 11:29 am | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

Protesters greet Myanmar leader Sein in US 21/05/2013 02:34 CET
Obama renews efforts to shut down Guantanamo 30/04/2013 23:05 CET
US presidents turn out for opening of George W. Bush… 26/04/2013 00:35 CET
Obama: budget sticking resumes 10/04/2013 19:16 CET
Obama seeks budget deal with Republicans 10/04/2013 19:25 CET

Berlin has been getting ready for Obama. The second-term US president will give a speech in the symbolic city on Wednesday.

Barack Obama is still popular with Berliners, but not with the same rapture as in 2008, before his historic first entry into the White House. Then, Obama said: “This city, of all cities, knows the dream of freedom.”

Berlin has been inspiring American presidents for 50 years.

Kennedy declared US support for democratic West Germany two years after the Eastern Bloc Communists isolated West Berlin by land by building the Wall. His words rang around the world.

Kennedy said: “As a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner.’”

Michael Haltzel, Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, and a former vice-presidential adviser, told euronews correspondent Stefan Grobe: “Absolute jubilation, it was brilliant. I can’t think of another visit by any American president anywhere that had that kind of immediate emotional impact. It was fantastic.”

Haltzel contrasted Kennedy’s oratory with Reagan’s speech shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union more than 20 years later, when he demanded his counterpart in Moscow prove he was sincere about perestroika.

In 1987, Reagan said: “Mister Gorbachov, open this gate.”

Haltzel said: “I think this was a very important speech and I think a welcome speech. And I don’t think the reaction that President Reagan got in Berlin at that time is remotely comparable to the reaction John Kennedy got in ’63, but it was a different time.”

Clinton and Chancellor Kohl strolled through the Brandenburg Gate in 1994 once Germany’s eastern and western halves had again become one country, after the Iron Curtain no longer divided Europe.

Clinton said: “Nothing will stop us; all things are possible: nichts wird uns aufhalten, alles is möglich, Berlin ist frei! Berlin is free!”

Haltzel said: “It was the right thing to say at the time. It was a few years after German reunification. I think he was praising normality – which is always a good thing. But I don’t think it compares either with the ’63 speech by Kennedy or the ’87 speech by Reagan.”

More about: , , , , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

US presidents and their famous Berlin speeches

June 18, 2013 11:29 am | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

Protesters greet Myanmar leader Sein in US 21/05/2013 02:34 CET
Obama renews efforts to shut down Guantanamo 30/04/2013 23:05 CET
US presidents turn out for opening of George W. Bush… 26/04/2013 00:35 CET
Obama: budget sticking resumes 10/04/2013 19:16 CET
Obama seeks budget deal with Republicans 10/04/2013 19:25 CET

Berlin has been getting ready for Obama. The second-term US president will give a speech in the symbolic city on Wednesday.

Barack Obama is still popular with Berliners, but not with the same rapture as in 2008, before his historic first entry into the White House. Then, Obama said: “This city, of all cities, knows the dream of freedom.”

Berlin has been inspiring American presidents for 50 years.

Kennedy declared US support for democratic West Germany two years after the Eastern Bloc Communists isolated West Berlin by land by building the Wall. His words rang around the world.

Kennedy said: “As a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner.’”

Michael Haltzel, Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, and a former vice-presidential adviser, told euronews correspondent Stefan Grobe: “Absolute jubilation, it was brilliant. I can’t think of another visit by any American president anywhere that had that kind of immediate emotional impact. It was fantastic.”

Haltzel contrasted Kennedy’s oratory with Reagan’s speech shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union more than 20 years later, when he demanded his counterpart in Moscow prove he was sincere about perestroika.

In 1987, Reagan said: “Mister Gorbachov, open this gate.”

Haltzel said: “I think this was a very important speech and I think a welcome speech. And I don’t think the reaction that President Reagan got in Berlin at that time is remotely comparable to the reaction John Kennedy got in ’63, but it was a different time.”

Clinton and Chancellor Kohl strolled through the Brandenburg Gate in 1994 once Germany’s eastern and western halves had again become one country, after the Iron Curtain no longer divided Europe.

Clinton said: “Nothing will stop us; all things are possible: nichts wird uns aufhalten, alles is möglich, Berlin ist frei! Berlin is free!”

Haltzel said: “It was the right thing to say at the time. It was a few years after German reunification. I think he was praising normality – which is always a good thing. But I don’t think it compares either with the ’63 speech by Kennedy or the ’87 speech by Reagan.”

More about: , , , , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Image mf.gif

Nato hands over security to Afghan forces

June 18, 2013 11:05 am | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

The Afghanistan Milestone 18/06/2013 13:36 CET
Taliban launch attack on Kabul airport 10/06/2013 05:55 CET
Afghanistan: Four-hour insurgent raid over in Kabul 10/06/2013 07:55 CET
Four NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan 08/06/2013 18:04 CET
US tries to repair relations between Afghanistan and… 24/04/2013 19:55 CET

NATO has handed over full control to Afghanistan’s own security forces for the first time since the Taliban were overthrown in 2001.

In a ceremony that was attended by around 2,000 people, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen praised the Afghan soldiers, saying: “They have fought to ensure that international terrorism no longer finds a safe haven in Afghanistan and many have shed their blood for this cause.”

The handover day is seen as a predominately symbolic, rather than strategic, milestone; as many regions had already been handed over to Afghan forces.

In a statement, General Joseph F. Dunford, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said: “Challenges lie ahead. But today’s announcement recognises the ability of a sovereign Afghanistan to meet those challenges. The Afghan people will see their sons and daughters providing security. The enemies of Afghanistan will see a capable, credible force.”

NATO-led ISAF, which was set up in 2001, announced that since early June under 100,000 NATO troops from 50 countries were in Afghanistan, of which, more than two thirds are US troops. However, around half of these will return to the US by early 2014.

It is still not exactly clear how many soldiers will remain in the country after the 2014 deadline as some will stay to assist with counter terror operations.

Image source: ISAF

There has been some doubt about whether or not the Afghan troops are ready for the transition but Rasmussen insisted they are. “Time and time again, we have seen them dealing quickly and competently with complex attacks, defeating the enemies of Afghanistan, and defending and protecting the Afghan people,” he declared.

The security forces have rapidly expanded from 40,000 in 2009 to 185,000 today and still face several problems such as a high desertion rate and a steep rise in casualties since it assumed greater control.

The overall success of the Afghanistan mission has been a talking point for many during this final stage of shifting control. Some argue that success can be measured by the reduction in Al-Qaeda’s strength in the country, which was one of the original goals.

However figures from the UN regarding civilian deaths show a difference story, with a 24% rise in the first half of 2013, compared with the same period in 2013. The Taliban still have a hold in some parts of the country and many wonder whether they would be capable of retaking Kabul once NATO leaves.

It has also been announced that Afghanistan’s High Peace Council will travel to Qatar for peace talks with the Taliban, a move which is seen as a first step forward in a potential peace process. Talking about the Qatar trip, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said, “We hope that our brothers the Taliban also understand that the process will move to our country soon.” There has not yet been a response from the Taliban.

More about: , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Image mf.gif

Mass protests expose anger at the way Brazil is run

June 18, 2013 7:06 am | Leave a Comment |

||

Related

Brazilians on the march in some of the biggest… 18/06/2013 05:55 CET
Crackdown on Brazil protests 18/06/2013 08:11 CET
Protests in Brazil against high cost of hosting 2014… 17/06/2013 12:45 CET
Brazil: transport fare increases spark protests 15/06/2013 08:24 CET
Violent protests in Brazil against transport fare… 14/06/2013 11:16 CET

Hundreds of thousands of people have marched in Brazil in a wave of anger against the way the country is being run.

It began as a protest over rising public transport costs but is fast spreading into a far wider revolt – over corruption, public services, and spending on the football World Cup.

They poured into the streets of Rio de Janeiro and several other cities, many responding to calls via social media. Traffic was halted and public buildings besieged.

Although the atmosphere was mostly festive, there were some outbreaks of violence.

Buildings were damaged and in Rio there were clashes between protesters and police.

A modest rise in bus fares in Sao Paolo has sparked a mass protest against the authorities. There were chants of “the people have awakened” and “Brazil is changing”.

The demands are diverse. Many people say they are tired of various grievances: corruption, nepotism, taxes, prices, poor public services.

“It is a cry from society against the corruption that is messing up the country. I recognise that some of protesters’ ideas are wrong. I don’t support 100 percent of it, but I think that in some way society has got tired and is going to say something,” said one young man taking part in the demonstrations.

The protests come as Brazil hosts the Confederations Cup, seen as a dry run for next year’s World Cup.

Many resent billions being spent on new stadiums, arguing public services, health and education are neglected.

The government hopes the sporting events including the 2016 Olympics will boost Brazil’s world standing.

The protests are a clear challenge to its priorities.

More about: , , ,

Copyright © 2013 euronews

||

JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video

… Read More

Posted in: NEWS | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,