23 Feb 11
Obama Orders Justice Department to Stop Defending Defense of Marriage Act
President Obama has decided that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and has asked his Justice Department to stop defending it in court, the administration announced today. "The President believes that DOMA is unconstitutional. They are no longer going to be defending the cases in the 1st and 2nd circuits," a person briefed on the decision said. The administration will formally notify Congress later today. The act sought to restrict single-sex unions.
MEDITERRANEAN: FRATTINI, ISRAEL IS THE ONLY DEMOCRACY
The wave of tensions, peaceful uprisings, but also the bloodbaths, like the one in Libya, which are shaking the Mediterranean area make the statement, "Israel is the only real democratic state in the area" more true today than ever. Today Foreign Minister Franco Frattini underlined the validity of Italy's foreign policy regarding Israel ("Italy's best friend in Europe") - "Time has shown," said the minister, "that the other partnerships with the West had more to do with convenience and coexistence than with shared values, like the respect for rights." The "shared values" that "unite Israel and Italy and their people" and upon which a "true European action for the Mediterranean" must be founded, said Frattini.
Oil Rises on Libya Turmoil; Wheat, Stocks Fall, Euro Rallies
Oil rose for a fifth day, approaching $100 a barrel in New York, and stocks retreated as Libya’s uprising threatened crude exports. Wheat tumbled, while the euro advanced amid speculation of an interest-rate increase.
Tony Blair keynote speech at Monterrey Tecnológico University in Mexico
You may be a Catholic, Protestant or simply agnostic. Yet regardless of your personal belief, can you be effective without an understanding of religion in the public sphere?
Renewed call for 'Jasmine rallies' in China
The new call, posted this week on the overseas-based website Boxun.com, appeared to be from the same group behind a mysterious web campaign for protests last Sunday echoing those that have rocked the Arab world.
Revolts Will Topple Ahmadinejad and Nasrallah, Peres Says
The people of Iran and Lebanon will overthrow Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah, President Shimon Peres told Spanish Jews during a visit marking 25 years of Spanish-Israeli ties.
Arizona Senate Panel Passes Sweeping Bills Targeting Illegals, Birthright Citizenship
The committee earlier Tuesday also approved a bill that would deny automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants in a measure designed to set up a possible U.S. Supreme Court case on the issue.
Palestinian FM: Statehood by September
In an interview conducted on eve of UN Security Council vote on a resolution condemning settlement construction, Dr. Riyad Al-Malki, the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, spoke to The Media Line about Iranian backing for Hamas, Palestinian statehood on-track for a September declaration and growing international support. The Media Line: Yasser Abed-Rabo said to me the other day that Mahmoud Abbas will not run for president. So, who will?
Weaker New Zealand quake packed a deadlier punch
The latest New Zealand earthquake was a deadly combination of distance, depth and timing. While weaker than the one that rocked the area last September, it did more damage and cost lives, primarily because of its location. Tuesday's magnitude-6.3 quake was centered about 3 miles from the populated hub of Christchurch, toppling buildings, killing dozens and trapping others.
Organizers urge sustained street protests in China
A renewed call for Middle East-style democracy protests in China urged citizens to take strolls at specific locations on weekend afternoons and demanded authorities release activists apparently still in custody Wednesday. Only a handful of participants answered the initial calls for protests, which authorities met with a show of force last weekend. Because of China's pervasive Internet censorship, few people were likely to know about the campaign for ongoing rallies.
Thousands protest against high food prices in Delhi
Thousands of people have gathered in the Indian capital, Delhi, to take part in a rally to protest against rising food prices and unemployment. A steady stream of protesters, carrying red flags, has been marching through the streets of central Delhi since early morning. The rally has led to massive traffic jams in the city.
Saudi King offers benefits as he returns from treatment
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has announced increased benefits for his citizens, as he returned after months abroad getting medical treatment. There will be extra funds for housing, studying abroad and social security, according to state television. King Abdullah has been away from the country for three months, during which time mass protests have changed the political landscape of the Middle East.
Oil prices push higher on Libya supply concerns
Oil prices have continued to climb after Libya's Col Gaddafi refused to stand down and investors feared unrest could worsen across the region. US light, sweet crude was up $0.61 at $96.03 - its highest for two years. It has now risen almost $10 since the start of the week. Brent crude in London was $1.58 higher to $107.36 in early trading.
UK pushes to reform European Union aid to Middle East
The UK government has said it wants to "turn off the tap" of European Union aid to Middle East countries which fail to bring in political change. An aide to David Cameron, in Qatar as part of his tour of the region, said funding of £1.5bn a year had not brought "anything in return". The UK contributes about £200m annually to the EU's project to promote better governance in the Middle East.
Israel and EU clash over handling of Arab-Israeli conflict
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has said there is "no link" between the Arab uprisings and the Arab-Israeli conflict, even as the EU presidency called on him to re-engage in peace talks as a matter of urgency. "I don't see any linkage between our dispute with the Palestinians and the unrest in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya. The main reason is poverty, misery and inefficient governments," Mr Lieberman told journalists after an EU-Israeli meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (22 February).
Dan Shapiro to be named US envoy to Israel
Senior White House adviser Dan Shapiro is set to be nominated as the next US ambassador to Israel, Washington sources said on Tuesday. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement has been made, though one is expected soon. Shapiro, born in 1969, currently serves as the National Security Council’s senior director for the Middle East and North Africa.
'Gaddafi orders explosion of Libya's oil pipelines'
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has ordered his security forces to sabotage oil facilities, Time magazine reported Wednesday, quoting a source close to Gaddafi. According to the report, the forces were ordered to start blowing up oil pipelines in order to cut off flows to ports in the Mediterranean.
Ahmadinejad: Mideast upheaval will spread to West
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday warned that the wave of protests sweeping the Middle East will spread to Europe and North America. Ahmadinejad stated that popular demands for change will put an end to the oppression of what he called "arrogant powers." Without singling out nations by name, he said similar uprisings will strike Europe and North America.
Fayyad willing to visit Gaza to discuss Hamas unity deal
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayad on Wednesday said he was prepared to go to Gaza to discuss with Hamas the establishment of a unity government, Israel Radio reported. Hamas has responded with suspicion to the recent offer by Fayad to create a unified government that would rule until new elections, set for September, reported AFP on Tuesday.
