Not taking any chances on Russia's current war-like modus operandi in Ukraine from spreading to its country, Poland will build six watchtowers to survey its 200-kilometer-long border with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, the Newsmax website reports today (April 7, 2015).
The six towers will be up to 164 feet high and ready in June of this year for round-the-clock surveillance, the spokeswoman for Poland's border police told the Polish news agency, PAP.
They will cost more than $3.8 million, but 75 percent of the amount will come from the EU (European Union) fund for external borders.
Kaliningrad is near the Baltic Sea -- sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania -- both EU members. Russia's seizure and annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea -- and its continued aggression in Ukraine -- have caused unease in the Baltic states and Poland, all of which were controlled by Soviet Russia after World War II until 1991.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
UK PM Cameron Praises Nation's Christian Roots; Urges Britons Rebuff World Christian Persecution
British Prime Minister David Cameron has encouraged Britons to take pride in the United Kingdom's (UK) Christian roots and to use the Easter season as a time to remember the persecution of Christians around the world, the Gospel Herald website reports today (April 7, 2015).
In delivering his annual Easter message on April 5, Cameron said, "Across Britain, Christians don't just talk about 'loving thy neighbor,' they live it out... in faith schools, in prisons, in community groups."
The prime minister explained that while Britain is a nation that welcomes and accepts all faiths, it is nevertheless a predominantly Christian country, and thus has a responsibility to speak out about the persecution of Christians worldwide.
"It is truly shocking to know that in 2015 there are still Christians being threatened, tortured, even killed, because of their faith from Egypt to Nigeria, Libya to North Korea," Cameron said.
In delivering his annual Easter message on April 5, Cameron said, "Across Britain, Christians don't just talk about 'loving thy neighbor,' they live it out... in faith schools, in prisons, in community groups."
The prime minister explained that while Britain is a nation that welcomes and accepts all faiths, it is nevertheless a predominantly Christian country, and thus has a responsibility to speak out about the persecution of Christians worldwide.
"It is truly shocking to know that in 2015 there are still Christians being threatened, tortured, even killed, because of their faith from Egypt to Nigeria, Libya to North Korea," Cameron said.
Monday, April 6, 2015
French Muslims Want to Double No. of Mosques; France Would Double Its 2200 Mosques By 2017
A call by Muslim leaders for the number of mosques in France to be doubled has aggravated community tensions barely three months after the Charlie Hebdo killings, the Telegraph (British) website reports today (April 6, 2015).
"We have 2,200 mosques and we need double that within two years," the Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, told applauding French Muslims at a conference.
Many Muslims believe local authorities in France block applications to open or build mosques and prayer-rooms, leading to overcrowding and protests over prayers held in the streets.
The demand for more mosques is unlikely to find favor with the French government, still struggling to work out common strategies with Muslim leaders to combat radicalization in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, and concerned about a rise in support for the far-Right Front National.
"We have 2,200 mosques and we need double that within two years," the Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, told applauding French Muslims at a conference.
Many Muslims believe local authorities in France block applications to open or build mosques and prayer-rooms, leading to overcrowding and protests over prayers held in the streets.
The demand for more mosques is unlikely to find favor with the French government, still struggling to work out common strategies with Muslim leaders to combat radicalization in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, and concerned about a rise in support for the far-Right Front National.
Many in E.Europe Adapt for Russian Aggression; Fear Russian Invasion Due to Attack of Ukraine
NATO aircraft scream across eastern European skies, and American tanks rumble near Poland's border with Russia on a mission to reassure citizens that they're safe from Russian aggression, the Yahoo News website reports today (April 6, 2015).
But these days -- due mainly to Russia's ongoing aggression in nearby Ukraine -- ordinary people aren't taking any chances.
In Poland, doctors, shopkeepers, lawmakers and others are heeding a call to receive military training in case of a Russian invasion. Neighboring Lithuania is restoring the draft and teaching citizens what to do in case of war. Nearby Latvia has plans to give university students military training next year.
Many people in eastern Europe are worried that their independence won from Soviet Russia in 1991 is threatened once again, as hostilities between Russia and the West intensify due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, where more than 6,000 people have been killed during the past year.
But these days -- due mainly to Russia's ongoing aggression in nearby Ukraine -- ordinary people aren't taking any chances.
In Poland, doctors, shopkeepers, lawmakers and others are heeding a call to receive military training in case of a Russian invasion. Neighboring Lithuania is restoring the draft and teaching citizens what to do in case of war. Nearby Latvia has plans to give university students military training next year.
Many people in eastern Europe are worried that their independence won from Soviet Russia in 1991 is threatened once again, as hostilities between Russia and the West intensify due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, where more than 6,000 people have been killed during the past year.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Czech Pres. Blocks US Envoy from Prague Castle; Ambas. Aired Opposition to Pres. Visiting Russia
Czech President Milos Zeman has "closed the door" of Prague Castle to the U.S. ambassador following comments perceived as critical of the Czech's decision to attend a World War II commemoration in Moscow, the Reuters website reports today (April 5, 2015).
European Union (EU) leaders are boycotting the ceremony in May due to Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, but Zeman -- who has often departed from the EU line -- has said he would attend.
"I can't imagine the Czech ambassador in Washington would give advice to the American president where to travel," Zeman told the Czech news media. "I won't let any ambassador have a say about my foreign travels. Ambassador [Andrew] Schapiro has the door to the castle closed."
Schapiro had told Czech television a few days ago that it would be "awkward" for Zeman to attend the World War II commemoration in Moscow, since all the other EU nations are boycotting it.
European Union (EU) leaders are boycotting the ceremony in May due to Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, but Zeman -- who has often departed from the EU line -- has said he would attend.
"I can't imagine the Czech ambassador in Washington would give advice to the American president where to travel," Zeman told the Czech news media. "I won't let any ambassador have a say about my foreign travels. Ambassador [Andrew] Schapiro has the door to the castle closed."
Schapiro had told Czech television a few days ago that it would be "awkward" for Zeman to attend the World War II commemoration in Moscow, since all the other EU nations are boycotting it.
Hundreds Protest Islamic Extremism in Australia; Rally to Safeguard Traditional Australian Culture
Protesters waving Australian flags and carrying signs such as "Yes Australia. No Sharia" rallied around the country yesterday in events organizers said were against Islamic extremism, the Yahoo News website reports today (April 5, 2015).
The "Reclaim Australia" events drew hundreds of supporters, but also triggered counter-rallies from other groups that criticized them as racist and called for greater tolerance.
"We are pro-Australian values and anti-extreme Islam, but we're not anti-Muslim," Reclaim Australia spokeswoman Catherine Brennan said.
She added, "Since when is it being racist to love your country and to love the values and culture that you've been brought up with?"
The "Reclaim Australia" events drew hundreds of supporters, but also triggered counter-rallies from other groups that criticized them as racist and called for greater tolerance.
"We are pro-Australian values and anti-extreme Islam, but we're not anti-Muslim," Reclaim Australia spokeswoman Catherine Brennan said.
She added, "Since when is it being racist to love your country and to love the values and culture that you've been brought up with?"
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Muslims Hold an Anti-Semitic Protest in Vienna; Wave Pal. Flags, Yell "Free Palestine!,Kill Jews!"
Bosnian soccer fans joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Vienna, Austria yesterday and shouted anti-Semitic epithets in one of the city's central plazas, the Times of Israel website reports today (April 4, 2015).
A video posted on You Tube shows several dozen Muslim demonstrators waving Palestinian flags in Stephansplatz and calling "free, free Palestine!"
The Bosnian fans are seen standing among the protesters and joining them in their cries, before setting out on a chant of their own: "Kill, kill the Jews!"
Bosnians were in Vienna to watch a match between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina later in the day. Austrian police are investigating the incident.
A video posted on You Tube shows several dozen Muslim demonstrators waving Palestinian flags in Stephansplatz and calling "free, free Palestine!"
The Bosnian fans are seen standing among the protesters and joining them in their cries, before setting out on a chant of their own: "Kill, kill the Jews!"
Bosnians were in Vienna to watch a match between Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina later in the day. Austrian police are investigating the incident.
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