Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko says he has agreed with Russian President Putin by phone on a ‘ceasefire process’ for the east. His office initially reported that a ‘permanent ceasefire’ had been agreed but later revised its statement. The earlier version of the statement on the Ukrainian presidential website read: ‘Their conversation resulted in agreement on a permanent ceasefire in the Donbass region [the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk].’ However, this has now been changed to: ‘Their conversation resulted in agreement on a process for ceasing fire in the Donbass region.’ The statement adds that the two presidents ‘reached a mutual understanding on steps leading to peace’. More than 2,600 civilians and combatants have been killed and more than a million people have fled their homes since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April, when pro-Russian separatists there declared independence.
Several thousand people - many of them from different walks of life and faiths, but all organised by a group of Norwegian Muslims - rallied on Monday evening in Oslo against the Islamic State militant group, which has recently spread terror and committed atrocities in Iraq and Syria. The rally was also aimed at groups in Norway that have voiced support for IS. Co-organiser Yousuf Gilani said the protest was ‘an initiative of young, terrific Muslims’ and described the initiative as ‘historic’. ‘We do not accept terrorism in the name of religion,’ he said, adding that protesters rejected the Norwegian Islamist group Prophet‘s Ummah, which earlier this month expressed support for the Islamic State. Protesters gathered in the inner city area of Gronland - known for its diverse, multi-ethnic immigrant population - before marching to the parliament building. Faten Mahdi Al-Hussaini, 19, who had called for a rally against Islamic extremism, was the first speaker. ‘It is important that the Norwegian society can see the difference between ordinary Muslims and people who call themselves Muslims, but lack Muslim views,’ she said. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the last speaker at the rally, said, ‘We are gathered against extremism, violence, and killings’.
A new government without a natural majority in parliament and little popular support will attempt over the next two years to impose the economic reforms which France has resisted for two decades. If anyone needs to be comfortable being unpopular, it's President Hollande. Officially the administration that took office Tuesday (the fourth government of his 27-month presidency) will be a band of like-minded individuals loyal to the courageous, reformist line of the President and his Prime Minister Manuel Valls.however, in practice it means that opponents of economic reforms have been removed. The French leader has had some terrible polls recently - fewer than 20% of voters believe in his ability to turn the economy around. If growth rebounds Mr Hollande could recover too. But things could also get worse - confidence in him could ebb further, the in-fighting could continue, and his programme could become stuck in the National Assembly. It looks like rough seas ahead for the new government. See also:
Ukraine: All-out war v peace process
30 Aug 20142,000+ people have died in fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. On Tuesday evening the Ukrainian and Russian presidents talked face to face, but there appeared to be no breakthrough. Poroshenko said a roadmap would be prepared to end fighting. Although Putin would assist a dialogue he said stopping the fighting was a matter for Ukraine. The two leaders agreed to further consultations between Ukraine's and Russia's border guard agencies. Back in Russia the Moscow Times reported a statement by the ruling United Russia party stating a ‘thin line’ separates the two countries from an all-out war, and this risk has prevented Russia from sending aircraft to protect its borders from what it claims is rocket fire against its territory by Ukrainian forces. See
Russia says no progress on Ukraine ceasefire
22 Aug 2014Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says no progress has been made in Berlin talks on establishing a ceasefire between government and rebel forces in the east of Ukraine. Following the talks between Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine on Sunday, Lavrov said all issues related to sending a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine have been resolved. ‘One place where we cannot report positive results is in, first and foremost, establishing a ceasefire and [starting] a political process,’ Lavrov told a Berlin press conference that was carried live by Russian state television. Talks concluded with an agreement for the sides to meet again and continue trying to de-escalate the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War. Lavrov accused Kiev's new pro-European leaders of continually changing demands over what it would take to establish a truce after more than four months of fighting with pro-Russia separatists that has claimed more than 2,000 lives.
for all involved in these attacks that they will learn to live together in peace. (Ps.140:4)
14 Aug 2014Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea on Thursday with senior politicians of his government. They are expected to discuss Russia’s development plans for the Crimea. This is more than just a meeting of the security council, he has effectively taken a large chunk of the Russian government to Crimea with what many believe is his intention to integrate Crimea into Russian structures. For instance Mobile phone operators’ in the Crimea currently are routed through the Ukraine, but he proposes to invest millions of dollars to have the systems routed through Russia. His aims appear to have Crimea part of the Russian federation, which is something the world does not accept. Meanwhile, 260 lorries carrying 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Eastern Ukraine are heading towards the Ukraine border, but they may not be able to enter Ukraine territory. At the time of writing, the International Red Cross have not sanctioned the convoy. Ukraine politicians describe the convoy as a provocation, Russia is determined to push the aid through, while Donetsk continues to come under heavy fire. More at:
August 2014: Christians seeking asylum in Germany are reported to suffer anti-Christian attacks in homes for asylum seekers. Victims claim to have been verbally abused and beaten by Muslim asylum seekers. Syrian Christian Toni said: ‘It started with the children. They told them: You are Christians, non-believers. You eat pigs, we won’t play with you.’ Christian fellow countryman Farid adds: ‘We were watching our children day and night. Several times they were beating them. We were afraid to lose our temper and react to the provocations and cause even more problems.’ An Iraqi-Christian family was mobbed until they decided to return home. Other cases are reported in German media.
France: Move border checks back to Britain
07 Aug 2014David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has been warned that measures designed to keep illegal immigrants out of Britain could collapse unless he pledges to address a new immigration crisis. As violent clashes took place in an illegal refugee camp in Calais, French officials wrote to Mr Cameron to say they would no longer support British border officials working in France. Philippe Mignonet, the deputy mayor and immigration chief at Calais, told The Telegraph he was losing patience with a treaty which allows British border guards to check passports in France before passengers board ferries or Channel Tunnel services. The British border was moved to France in 2003 as part of a deal to close the infamous Sangatte refugee camp, and to stop illegal immigrants reaching British soil to claim asylum. ‘We are suffering in Calais. Calais is a city, not a country. We are suffering by having the English border on its territory,’ said Mr Mignonet.