Jewish and Muslim groups living in Europe have joined forces to defend circumcision for young boys on religious grounds after a German regional court ruled it amounted to bodily harm. A joint statement says the practice is fundamental to their faiths and calls for it to be awarded legal protection. The ruling by the Cologne… Continue reading Jewish and Muslim anger over German circumcision ruling
Category: Front Page
Front Page news
Nawaf al-Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, defects to opposition
Nawaf al-Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, has defected to the opposition and urged other senior Syrian politicians and members of the military to do the same. Nawaf al-Fares is the first senior Syrian diplomat to abandon the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s foreign affairs ministry has responded by dismissing him from his post, Sana… Continue reading Nawaf al-Fares, Syria’s ambassador to Iraq, defects to opposition
Olympics 2012: additional armed forces in stand by for London Olympics
Armed forces in UK are on standby to provide an additional 3,500 troops to help with security at the 2012 London Olympics. It comes amid fears that private contractor G4S would not be able to provide enough trained staff in time. The armed forces were already providing some 13,500 personnel – this could now reach… Continue reading Olympics 2012: additional armed forces in stand by for London Olympics
Joao Havelange, former FIFA president, was paid huge sums in bribes by ISL
Joao Havelange, former FIFA president, was paid huge sums in bribes by collapsed marketing company ISL, court documents have revealed. Joao Havelange received at least 1.5 million Swiss francs and executive committee member Ricardo Teixeira at least 12.74 million SFr. The Swiss prosecutor’s report, published by FIFA, reveals the pair may have received up to… Continue reading Joao Havelange, former FIFA president, was paid huge sums in bribes by ISL
Spain unveils new austerity measures
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has begun addressing parliament, setting out a new raft of austerity measures aimed at balancing the budget. His speech comes as hundreds of Spanish miners arrived in Madrid to protest against government cuts to subsidies. Mariano Rajoy is expected to unveil a rise in VAT as well as cuts to… Continue reading Spain unveils new austerity measures
Egypt’ Supreme Court overturns Mohammed Mursi’s decree to recall parliament
Egypt’ Supreme Court has overturned a decree by President Mohammed Mursi to recall parliament. Mohammed Mursi had issued the decree in defiance of a military council ruling that dissolved parliament. Members of parliament gathered for a brief session earlier in the day before the ruling of the Supreme Constitutional Court was announced. Hundreds have gathered… Continue reading Egypt’ Supreme Court overturns Mohammed Mursi’s decree to recall parliament
Francesco Schettino says he is sorry for Costa Concordia sinking
Francesco Schettino, the captain of Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground killing more than 30 people in January, has said he is sorry for the disaster. In an interview on Italian TV, Francesco Schettino said he thought constantly about the victims. But he insisted others should also share the blame, saying the ship… Continue reading Francesco Schettino says he is sorry for Costa Concordia sinking
Egyptian parliament convenes in defiance of dissolution
Egyptian parliament has briefly convened, despite the ruling military council ordering it to be dissolved. President Mohammed Mursi had ordered the assembly to meet in defiance of the ruling. Earlier, the council said the decision to dissolve parliament must be upheld. The military closed parliament last month after a supreme court ruling. Its latest intervention… Continue reading Egyptian parliament convenes in defiance of dissolution
Thomas Lubanga sentenced to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers
Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga has been sentenced by International Criminal Court (ICC) to 14 years in jail for recruiting and using child soldiers in his rebel army in 2002 and 2003. Thomas Lubanga was convicted by the ICC in March – the first conviction since the court was set up 10 years ago. He had… Continue reading Thomas Lubanga sentenced to 14 years in jail for using child soldiers
Spain to get 30 billion Euros to help its troubled banks
Eurozone finance ministers have decided to lend Spain 30 billion Euros ($37 billion) this month to help its troubled banks. It will be the first installment of a bailout of up to 100 billion Euros, which was agreed in June. The ministers will need to get approval from their own parliaments and hope to make… Continue reading Spain to get 30 billion Euros to help its troubled banks
Mitt Romney beats Barack Obama by $35 million in June fundraising
Mitt Romney’s campaign increased its fundraising lead over Barack Obama in June, official numbers released on Monday show. Mitt Romney and the Republicans raised $106 million, $35 million more than Barack Obama and the Democrats, who raised $71 million. Both camps raised more than in May, when the Romney bid took in $77 million and… Continue reading Mitt Romney beats Barack Obama by $35 million in June fundraising
Ratko Mladic trial resumes at the International Criminal Court
Elvedin Pasic is the first witness who has taken the stand in the war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic. Elvedin Pasic held back tears as he described surviving a mass killing in 1992 in the Bosnian village of Grabovica. He told the International Criminal Court at The Hague how Bosnia’s… Continue reading Ratko Mladic trial resumes at the International Criminal Court
Mohammed Mursi’s decree to be discussed by Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court
Supreme Constitutional Court in Egypt, which dissolved the parliament last month, is due to discuss how to respond to President Mohammed Mursi’s order to reconvene it. The speaker of the dissolved house has called for it to meet on Tuesday. Military and judicial authorities have held emergency talks, but have not announced any action so… Continue reading Mohammed Mursi’s decree to be discussed by Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court
Spanish and Italian borrowing costs rise ahead of eurozone summit
Italian and Spanish 10-year bond yields have been rising ahead of a summit of eurozone finance ministers on Monday. The yield on Spanish 10-year bonds, which are taken as a strong indicator of the interest rate the government would have to pay to borrow money, rose above 7%, while Italian bond yields rose to 6.1%.… Continue reading Spanish and Italian borrowing costs rise ahead of eurozone summit
DNS Changer malware: thousands face internet loss as FBI shuts off infected servers
More than 300,000 people worldwide could lose internet access later today as the FBI shuts off servers used by cyber thieves. The FBI seized the servers in November 2011 during raids to break up a gang of criminals who used viruses to infect more than four million victims. Victims’ web searches were routed through the… Continue reading DNS Changer malware: thousands face internet loss as FBI shuts off infected servers
Russia mourning for Krasnodar flash floods deaths
Russia has decided to have a day of mourning for the victims of the flash floods in southern Krasnodar region. At least 171 people were killed in the disaster, officials said on Sunday. President Vladimir Putin has ordered an enquiry into whether people were given enough warning of the disaster. A separate criminal investigation is… Continue reading Russia mourning for Krasnodar flash floods deaths
Wimbledon 2012: Roger Federer wins his 17th Grand Slam title after beating Andy Murray
Andy Murray’s bid to win Wimbledon was ended by Roger Federer as the Swiss claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title. Andy Murray, 25, was aiming to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift a major singles trophy. Roger Federer, 30, won 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4… Continue reading Wimbledon 2012: Roger Federer wins his 17th Grand Slam title after beating Andy Murray
Mohammed Mursi reverses Egyptian parliament dissolution
President Mohammed Mursi has ordered Egyptian parliament to reconvene, a month after it was dissolved. The Supreme Court had ruled parliament unconstitutional as party members contested seats reserved for independents. The military, then running the country, enforced the move. But Mohammed Mursi, whose Muslim Brotherhood won most seats, said the chamber should reconvene until a… Continue reading Mohammed Mursi reverses Egyptian parliament dissolution
Francois Hollande vows Armenian genocide law
France’s President Francois Hollande has said he plans a new law to punish denial that the 1915-1916 killing of Armenians was genocide. A previous law approved by the French parliament was struck down in February by the Constitutional Council, which said it infringed freedom of speech. Turkey rejects the term “genocide” for the deaths of… Continue reading Francois Hollande vows Armenian genocide law
Mexico march against poll winner Enrique Pena Nieta
Tens of thousands of people in Mexico City are marching against the result of the presidential election, which was won by Enrique Pena Nieto. The demonstrators, who are not necessarily linked to any particular party, say the vote was not fair. They accuse Enrique Pena Nieto’s party, the PRI, of buying votes; some carried banners… Continue reading Mexico march against poll winner Enrique Pena Nieta
Cholera outbreak reaches Havana
A patient has been diagnosed with cholera in the Cuban capital, Havana, days after three people died in a rare outbreak in the south-eastern town of Manzanillo. More than 50 people were infected and about 1,000 have received medical attention. The authorities say the outbreak is under control but four hospitals are prepared to isolate… Continue reading Cholera outbreak reaches Havana
Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams overcomes Agnieszka Radwanska and wins fifth singles title
Serena Williams overcame Agnieszka Radwanska to clinch a hard-fought 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory and earn her fifth Wimbledon singles title. Serena Williams, 30, a winner in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010, had eased through the opener with Agnieszka Radwanska rarely threatening to pierce her defences. But the Pole regrouped as rain delayed the second set,… Continue reading Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams overcomes Agnieszka Radwanska and wins fifth singles title
Russia flash floods: at least 99 people killed after torrential rain swept Krasnodar region
According to Russian officials, at least 99 people have been killed after flash floods caused by torrential rain swept the southern Krasnodar region. The floods, the worst there in living memory struck at night, reportedly without warning. Emergency teams have been sent from Moscow by plane and helicopter. TV pictures showed people scrambling onto their… Continue reading Russia flash floods: at least 99 people killed after torrential rain swept Krasnodar region
Kate Middleton with decaying teeth on the front page of The New Republic
Kate Middleton has been pictured on the front page of U.S. magazine The New Republic with a set of yellow, decaying teeth. Duchess of Cambridge was PhotoShopped like the American stereotype of a Brit with bad gnashers for a special issue of the politics and arts publication The New Republic about the future of Britain.… Continue reading Kate Middleton with decaying teeth on the front page of The New Republic
Mexico election: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will mount legal challenge to the result
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the second-placed candidate in Mexico’s presidential election, has said he will mount a legal challenge to the result. He said he would prove that illicit money was used to buy votes and secure the victory of centrist candidate Enrique Pena Nieto, who denies this. Enrique Pena Nieto was confirmed the winner… Continue reading Mexico election: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will mount legal challenge to the result