A top rights body said today (March 4, 2015) that France was in violation of a European treaty because it did not fully ban the smacking of children, reigniting debate over the divisive issue, according to the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website.
The Council of Europe -- which is based in Strasbourg, France -- said France's laws on corporal punishment for children were not "sufficiently clear, binding and precise."
France bans violence against children but does allow parents the "right to discipline" them.
French law does forbid corporal punishment in schools or disciplinary establishments for children.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Petraeus in Plea Deal, Gave Lover Classified Info; Prosecutors to Ask for 2 Yrs. Probation, $40K Fine
Gen. David Petraeus -- the best-known military commander of his generation -- has reached a plea deal with the Justice Department and admitted providing his highly classified journals to his mistress when he was director of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), the NY Times website reports today (March 3, 2015).
Petraeus has agreed to plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, a misdemeanor. He could be sentenced to a year in prison, but prosecutors say they will recommend a sentence of probation for two years and a $40,000 fine.
The plea deal completes a spectacular fall for Petraeus -- a retired four-star general -- who was once considered as a possible candidate for vice president or even president. He led the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was the architect of a counterinsurgency strategy that at one time seemed a model for future warfare.
His mistress, Paula Broadwell, is a former Army Reserve officer who had an affair with Petraeus in 2011, when she was interviewing him for a biography she was writing titled "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."
Petraeus has agreed to plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, a misdemeanor. He could be sentenced to a year in prison, but prosecutors say they will recommend a sentence of probation for two years and a $40,000 fine.
The plea deal completes a spectacular fall for Petraeus -- a retired four-star general -- who was once considered as a possible candidate for vice president or even president. He led the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and was the architect of a counterinsurgency strategy that at one time seemed a model for future warfare.
His mistress, Paula Broadwell, is a former Army Reserve officer who had an affair with Petraeus in 2011, when she was interviewing him for a biography she was writing titled "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."
Franklin Graham:Muslims Sway Obama Admin.; Says US Won't Fight ISIS Due to Islam Pressure
Evangelical leader Franklin Graham has spoken his mind once again regarding United States politics. While appearing on The O'Reilly Factor TV show, the son of Billy Graham said that he believes the U.S. is unwilling to fight ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) because Muslims have "infiltrated" the White House, the Christian Headlines website reports today (March 3, 2015).
"One of the problems we have in the West is our governments, especially in Washington, have been infiltrated by Muslims who are advising the White House," Graham said on the Fox show.
"I'm not saying they're sitting next to the president whispering in his ear, but they are in the halls, and they are speaking to the staffers."
Graham did not name any politicians specifically.
"One of the problems we have in the West is our governments, especially in Washington, have been infiltrated by Muslims who are advising the White House," Graham said on the Fox show.
"I'm not saying they're sitting next to the president whispering in his ear, but they are in the halls, and they are speaking to the staffers."
Graham did not name any politicians specifically.
Monday, March 2, 2015
IS Starts to Kill the Christian Hostages It Seized; Still Holds Over 350 Assyrians,Killed 15 of Them
Terrorist group Islamic State (IS) has started to kill hostages it seized after it took control of Assyrian Christian villages in Syria's Hassake governorate -- with reports that around 15 of them are dead -- the Independent Catholic News website reports today (March 2, 2015).
In a message sent to Catholic agencies working in the region -- including Aid to the Church in Need -- Archimandrite Emanuel Youkhana passed on news of the executions from a contact in Hassake city, and said the number still being held exceeds 350.
Archimandrite Youkhana -- who supports persecuted Christians in the Middle East -- said: "Around 15 young Assyrians are martyred. Many of them were fighting to defend and protect the villages and families."
From the village of Tel Hormizd 14 people were taken -- 12 men and two women -- who were fighting to defend their homes. Reports indicate that of the Tel Hormizd fighters, one woman has been beheaded and two men have been shot.
In a message sent to Catholic agencies working in the region -- including Aid to the Church in Need -- Archimandrite Emanuel Youkhana passed on news of the executions from a contact in Hassake city, and said the number still being held exceeds 350.
Archimandrite Youkhana -- who supports persecuted Christians in the Middle East -- said: "Around 15 young Assyrians are martyred. Many of them were fighting to defend and protect the villages and families."
From the village of Tel Hormizd 14 people were taken -- 12 men and two women -- who were fighting to defend their homes. Reports indicate that of the Tel Hormizd fighters, one woman has been beheaded and two men have been shot.
UN: Over 840 Killed in Ukraine Since Mid-Jan.; Over 6,000 Killed Since Fighting Began in April
The United Nations said today (March 2, 2015) that a sharp escalation in the fighting in eastern Ukraine from mid-January to the middle of last month had left at least 842 people dead and over 3,400 wounded, with hundreds missing and many buried without their deaths being recorded, the NY Times website reports.
Ivan Simonovic -- the United Nations assistant secretary general -- told reporters in Geneva that more than 6,000 people had been killed since the fighting started last April.
The casualty figures were in a United Nations report issued today that also said an influx of troops and heavy weapons from Russia had intensified the conflict in Ukraine's east.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- which is monitoring developments in Ukraine -- had confirmed the inflow of troops and heavy weaponry from Russia, Simonovic said.
Ivan Simonovic -- the United Nations assistant secretary general -- told reporters in Geneva that more than 6,000 people had been killed since the fighting started last April.
The casualty figures were in a United Nations report issued today that also said an influx of troops and heavy weapons from Russia had intensified the conflict in Ukraine's east.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- which is monitoring developments in Ukraine -- had confirmed the inflow of troops and heavy weaponry from Russia, Simonovic said.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Report:Obama Threatened to Destroy Israeli Jets; Foiled Israeli Plans to Attack Iran's Nuclear Sites
In a shocking but trustworthy report, a Kuwaiti newspaper asserts today (March 1, 2015) that President Barack Obama once threatened to shoot down Israeli jets if they went through with a plan to target Iranian nuclear sites, the Daily Caller website reports.
Citing "well-placed sources," Al-Jarida claims that in 2014, the Israeli government made plans to attack Iran when it heard that the United States and Iran were on the verge of striking a secret nuclear deal behind Israel's back. The decision was made after Israel learned the terms of the deal were supposedly "a threat to Israel's security."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly came to the decision after four nights of deliberation with commanders, and Israeli jets even managed experimental test flights in Iranian airspace after evading Iranian radars.
But when an Israeli official with good ties to the Obama administration revealed the planned airstrikes, Obama threatened to shoot down the Israeli jets, thus foiling the Israeli attack.
Citing "well-placed sources," Al-Jarida claims that in 2014, the Israeli government made plans to attack Iran when it heard that the United States and Iran were on the verge of striking a secret nuclear deal behind Israel's back. The decision was made after Israel learned the terms of the deal were supposedly "a threat to Israel's security."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly came to the decision after four nights of deliberation with commanders, and Israeli jets even managed experimental test flights in Iranian airspace after evading Iranian radars.
But when an Israeli official with good ties to the Obama administration revealed the planned airstrikes, Obama threatened to shoot down the Israeli jets, thus foiling the Israeli attack.
Netanyahu Heads to D.C. to Address Congress; Hot Speech Seeks to Halt US-Iran Nuclear Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boarded a plane for Washington, D.C. today (March 1, 2015), telling reporters at the airport that he would deliver a speech to the U.S. Congress -- even though it has proved contentious on both sides of the Atlantic -- out of a "deep and genuine concern" for Israel's security, according to the Times of Israel website.
During Netanyahu's controversial 48-hour visit he will address a joint session of Congress in an effort to garner last-minute support for a halt to an emerging U.S. deal with Iran over its nuclear program. The move has infuriated the White House -- President Obama and Vice President Biden do not plan to hear Netanyahu's address -- and several Democratic lawmakers. Many view the speech as being politically-driven; that is, to gain votes in Israel's election later this month.
The invitation to Netanyahu was extended by House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, who did not consult with the Obama administration before inviting him.
Many Israelis believe that Iran and world powers are likely to reach a deal that eases international sanctions on Tehran without applying sufficiently stringent safeguards to stop it from developing nuclear weapons.
During Netanyahu's controversial 48-hour visit he will address a joint session of Congress in an effort to garner last-minute support for a halt to an emerging U.S. deal with Iran over its nuclear program. The move has infuriated the White House -- President Obama and Vice President Biden do not plan to hear Netanyahu's address -- and several Democratic lawmakers. Many view the speech as being politically-driven; that is, to gain votes in Israel's election later this month.
The invitation to Netanyahu was extended by House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, who did not consult with the Obama administration before inviting him.
Many Israelis believe that Iran and world powers are likely to reach a deal that eases international sanctions on Tehran without applying sufficiently stringent safeguards to stop it from developing nuclear weapons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)