Foreign secretary says ‘elected presidents are for countries, and the EU is not a country and never will be’ Foreign secretary William Hague has dismissed Tony Blair’s vision for an elected head of the European Union by insisting that member states have more pressing priorities than further “constitutional tinkering”. Hague made clear his view after Blair argued that a directly elected president of Europe, representing almost 400m people from 27 countries, would give the EU clear leadership and enormous authority. In an interview with the Times, Blair set out the agenda that he thought a directly elected EU president should pursue, although he conceded there was “no chance” of such a post being created “at the present time”. Asked about the former prime minister’s call for further European integration and the creation of an elected president, Hague suggested that Blair may have been thinking of the role for himself. “I can’t think who he had in mind,” Hague joked. Speaking at a Lancaster House press conference following talks with his South African counterpart, Hague added: “Elected presidents are for countries. The EU is not a country and it’s not going to become a country, in my view, now or ever in the future. It is a group of countries working together. “So the appropriate solution is not an elected president for a group of countries, it’s for those countries each to promote economic growth in their countries, to bring their deficits under control. They are the immediate priorities for Europe, rather than further constitutional tinkering or change.” Blair, speaking to the Times to mark the publication of the his autobiography, A Journey, in paperback, warned that Europe should be ready to unify to avoid losing out to the economic and military power of China and other booming economies, such as Brazil and India. “We won’t have the weight and influence a country like Britain needs unless we’re part of that European power as well,” Blair said. “Europe has got a fantastic opportunity, but only if it’s prepared to reform and change radically in the way it works.” He said the process of holding an election would give Europeans a greater affinity with the EU and would also change citizens’ beliefs that unity was only about sustaining peace in Europe. Blair said: “For Europe, the crucial thing is to understand that the only way you will get support today is not on the basis of a sort of postwar view that the EU is necessary for peace. For my children’s generation, that is just a bizarre argument. “They don’t see that as a real threat, that European nations will go to war with each other. But they can understand that in a world in which China is going to become the dominant power of the 21st century, it is sensible for Europe to combine together, to use its collective weight in order to achieve influence. And the rationale for Europe today, therefore, is about power, not peace.” He set out five areas in which the EU should become closer: tax policy and “the social model”; completion of the single market; and in forging a common energy policy; a common defence policy; and a common immigration and organised crime policy. Tony Blair William Hague European Union Europe Hélène Mulholland guardian.co.uk
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IAEA vote rules against Syria for failure to co-operate with inquiry into suspected nuclear project at Dair Alzour site The UN’s nuclear watchdog has referred Syria to the security council for failure to co-operate with an enquiry into its suspected covert nuclear weapons programme. The decision, by a 17-6 vote at the 35-nation governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), increases Syria’s isolation. It reflects a formal judgment that it is not in compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) after an IAEA report found that a site known as Dair Alzour, bombed by Israel in 2007, was “very likely a nuclear reactor” for producing plutonium, which Syria should have declared. However, the security council referral is unlikely to lead to sanctions in the near future. The council is not required to act, and both Russia and China have signalled that they would oppose punitive measures. Both powers voted against Syria’s referral, which had been proposed by the US and 12 allies at the IAEA board meeting in Vienna. Russia described the resolution as “untimely and not objective”, and complained that its suggestions for changes to its resolution had been ignored. The Russian ambassador to the IAEA, Grigory Berdennikov, said that there may have been some Syrian wrongdoing, but that Dair Alzour no longer posed a threat to international security. China agreed that the matter could be dealt with within the IAEA. The resolution against Syria passed by a majority of 17 to six, with 11 abstentions and one absentee. The political split on the board will be a troubling for a UN body which has generally sought consensus. Syria has insisted that the building in Dair Alzour was a non-nuclear military installation. But an initial IAEA inspection of the site in June 2008, nine months after it was bombed by Israeli warplanes, found traces of uranium and graphite. The IAEA report presented to the board this week said that Syria did not provide an adequate explanation for their presence, nor did the government in Damascus give permission for further inspections. Satellite photographs of the site showed extensive efforts to destroy evidence, removing wrecked equipment and burying the ruins of the building in soil. The inspectors judged that the Dair Alzour building closely resembled a type of gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor used by the North Koreans to produce plutonium for their nuclear weapons. Syria United Nations Nuclear weapons Non-proliferation treaty (NPT) Russia China Julian Borger guardian.co.uk
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US singles out Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Germany and Poland as big Nato countries that are not doing their share Britain, France and the other six countries engaged in the Libya bombing campaign will struggle to keep up the intensive attacks on Colonel Gaddafi without other countries joining in, the Nato alliance has been told. “Those who are bearing the brunt of the strike burden are increasingly pressed,” said Robert Gates, the US defence secretary. “I think they’ll be able to sustain it. But the question is just how much more painful it becomes, if other countries that have the capabilities don’t step up.” With the Nato-commanded air strikes on Libya to be prolonged by 90 days from the end of this month, only eight of its 28 member states are involved in the campaign, which has reached a peak in tempo and intensity this week. France and Britain are doing most of the attacks, while Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Canada are also heavily involved. The Americans are supplying the intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance air capacity as well as most of the air-to-air refuelling. At a closed meeting of Nato defence ministers on Wednesday, Gates singled out the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey for refusing to take part in the attacks on ground targets. He also voiced his exasperation with Germany and Poland who have refused to commit to any aspects of the Libyan operations. “To the degree that specific countries were named, it was because they’re the big countries that have actual military capacity,” Gates added. Liam Fox, the UK secretary of defence, amplified the criticism. “We will await their responses to what were uncompromising and crystal-clear messages,” he said. “We need to show Colonel Gaddafi that not only is there no lack of resolve, but also that there is no lack of capacity.” Nato planners are worried that the pace of the bombing campaign is taking its toll on the limited number of air crews involved. According to sources, James Stavridis, the US admiral and Nato supreme commander, told the meeting: “Sustainment is the key factor. We need to broaden the burden of resources among more nations.” Nato members have decided to extend the bombing campaign by three months from 27 June, raising questions about longer-term military capacity. “It’s in the next 90 days, that’s when there’s going to be problems,” said an official. Germany, which was strongly opposed to intervention in Libya and abstained in the UN security council vote authorising the air strikes, brushed aside the Anglo-American criticism. Thomas de Maiziere, the German defence minister, said Berlin had decided not to get involved. “That’s the way it will stay.” But he added that if the UN were to mandate an international force in a post-Gaddafi Libya, he would “constructively examine” the potential for dispatching German troops. Gates, who was an early sceptic about the Libya campaign and disagreed with President Barack Obama’s decision to intervene, stressed Washington’s determination. “There will be more assets. The United States is committed to this. We’re in this thing with our allies to the finish.” Libya Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Muammar Gaddafi Nato US military Foreign policy Liam Fox Ian Traynor guardian.co.uk
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MP for North West Leicestershire, 46, released on bail after arrest on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting of a 29-year-old woman. The 46-year-old newly-elected MP was arrested at an address in central London in the early hours of Thursday. It is understood the woman was an employee on the parliamentary estate, but not in Bridgen’s office. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said: “A 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a 29-year-old woman at an address in SW1 in the early hours of Thursday 9 June. The man has been bailed to return on a date in mid-July.” Bridgen – who is regarded as being on the right of the Conservative party – won the North West Leicestershire seat with a 12% swing from Labour at the 2010 election. A key marginal, it had been held by Labour since 1997. In 2010 there was also a sizeable Liberal Democrat vote. Bridgen has been a low-profile MP since he won the seat in May. He is a member of the regulatory reform committee and holds no other official posts in parliament. His most high-profile intervention came on Tuesday when he defended the Conservatives’ NHS reforms, saying: ‘If we fail to go through with these reforms, we are caving in to Stalinist protectionist elements.” On Tuesday he joined Twitter , where news of his arrest emerged. On his parliamentary website he lists business and enterprise, civil liberties, law and order and the armed forces as his interests. Bridgen is a married father of two. He trained as a Royal Marines officer before returning to his family’s successful agricultural business, which sells pre-washed vegetables. He is currently the non-executive chairman of his own company, AB Produce plc. He was previously the east Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors, and served on the East Midlands Regional Assembly as a business representative. A spokesman for the Conservative party said: “This is a matter for the police.” Conservatives Crime Polly Curtis guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …If you haven’t heard about the DropFox initiative , now is a good time to learn about it. It’s the same effort that was undertaken with the StopBeck campaign — pressure advertisers to drop their ads on Fox News in order to make their bias and hate cost something. Today, it has cost Fox something to continue down the path of right-wing lies and hate, because Orbitz has agreed to review their advertising across the entire Fox News network. As a pro-LGBT company, advertising on the notoriously homophobic Fox News is damaging their brand. Courage Campaign : After nearly 200,000 members of the Courage Campaign, Media Matters for America, Equality Matters, CREDO Action and the League of Conservation Voters asked Orbitz to stop funding Fox News’ homophobic rhetoric with their advertising, Orbitz agreed to become the first company in America to review their advertising on not just the worst Fox News programs, but the ENTIRE network. This sets the standard for other companies. Orbitz said their review will take weeks, not months. Can you sign up to help us “trust but verify” that Orbitz does not go on Fox News, and make sure more pro-LGBT companies do not fund Fox News? Let’s keep up the pressure on Fox. There’s a list of some of their major advertisers here , and you can send a letter asking them to drop Fox here . Update: Alternet reports that this is the first of several upcoming initiatives: Specifically, LGBT groups are asking organizations to drop their advertising from the network because of Fox’s acceptance of figures who have made grossly unjust anti-gay statements, and its far from fair-and-balanced reporting on “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” Environmental groups are making the same request, citing the network’s repeated parroting of scientifically disproven climate-change denial. Other issue-related campaigns will be rolled out in coming weeks and months , says Angelo Carusone at DropFox (a subset of Media Matters for America), which was behind the successful “Stop Beck” campaign and is spearheading the more recent efforts.
Continue reading …The American Values Network just produced an ad pitting Paul Ryan’s love of Ayn Rand against Christian values: GOP leaders and conservative pundits have brought upon themselves a crisis of values. Many who for years have been the loudest voices invoking the language of faith and moral values are now praising the atheist philosopher Ayn Rand whose teachings stand in direct contradiction to the Bible. Rand advocates a law of selfishness over love and commands her followers to think only of themselves, not others. She said her followers had to choose between Jesus and her teachings. GOP leaders want to argue that they are defending Christian principles. But, at the same time, Rep. Paul Ryan (author of the GOP budget) is posting facebook videos praising Rand’s morality and saying hers is the “kind of thinking that is sorely needed right now.” Simply put, Paul Ryan can’t have it both ways, and neither can Christians. This is turning into an interesting development. Conservatives that say they are part of the religious right and support the odious principles of Ayn Rand are starting to get called out on it by other Christians. You would then presume to believe that the Catholic Bishops would be also siding against Paul Ryan and Ayn Rand, but as I’ve written before, lookie here: It seems sacrilegious to suggest the leader of the America’s Catholic Bishops has made a deal with the devil. But his latest political gesture makes me wonder if he is in negotiations. Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York and president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a letter on Wednesday to House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan. The subject of the letter was the House Republican Budget, which Ryan wrote, and it was part of an ongoing dialogue between the two men. Dolan’s letter did not endorse the Republican budget per se. But it praised Ryan for his attention to the Church’s values and, if you read the text, you can see why Ryan has (according to Politico ) been brandishing it as a signal of support You can see why I believe the Conference of Catholic Bishops is more of a lobbying arm for the pro-life movement than anything else. I agree with Jonathon Chait that Dolan’s letter seems to try to ease the pain for Rep. John Boehner when this happened: Professors At Catholic Colleges Tell John Boehner: Your Budget Fails To Uphold Church Moral Teachings And then Ryan got called out over his budget a short time ago: by a ‘Catholic’ at Faith And Freedom Conference 2011 Let me remind you of this Amy Sullivan post in TIME : Across the street from the Faith & Freedom Conference Friday afternoon, a group of religious leaders continued the attack on what they now consistently refer to as “The Ayn Rand Budget.” Father Cletus Kiley, a Catholic priest, declared the Ryan budget “does not pass our test” of Catholic teachings, and suggested that supporters of the budget “drop Ayn Rand’s books and pick up their sacred texts.” Rand’s influence on Ryan’s politics is also the subject of a new ad produced by the religious group American Values Network, which hopes to run the spot in Ryan’s district. It’s a stinging attack, and again, one that was wholly unanticipated by the Republican rising star. ( Is Paul Ryan a coward? ) This ad isn’t for the hard core Religious Right that is embedded in the GOP, but Independent voters that work too hard to support their families to get involved in politics like we do. Will it be effective? One thing is for sure. It’s a message that Paul Ryan doesn’t want to hear.
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A bumper crop of cabaret acts will take to the stage this year in the largest Edinburgh festival fringe ever announced The comedians, actors and street performers who dominate the Edinburgh fringe have a brash new competitor: cabaret shows featuring feminist burlesque, ukeleles, acrobats and mind-reading psychics. As the world’s largest arts festival gets even bigger – even though the number of venues is reduced – the fringe has opted to give cabaret its own space in the programme for the first time. The 65 cabaret events will feature a damsel slaying “inner dragons”, a rabbit-hating magician, nostalgic celebrations of jazz, swing and Judy Garland, a DJ playing “disco bingo” and somewhat saucier revues, many of which will carry an adults-only warning. But they will be competing for audiences with attractions such as a John Malkovich-directed celebration of playwright Harold Pinter (featuring Julian Sands), and the Soft Cell singer Marc Almond, who will appear at the Traverse theatre . There will also be shows by Diana Quick and Art Malik , and established comedians Sarah Millican , Al Murray , Mark Thomas and Phill Jupitus .The British Council has funded new shows from Brazil and South Korea, while the “international sex symbol” Paul Daniels will present a show with the lovely Debbie McGee. The actor and director Steven Berkoff, meanwhile, directs an acclaimed reinterpretation of the Greek tragedy Oedipus , with an ensemble cast. The fringe has again broken its own record for the number of shows, with a near 4% increase in the overall number of shows to hit 2,542, with more than 21,000 performers expected to perform more than 41,000 shows, including more than 930 comedy shows and 760 theatre productions. Audiences will, for the first time, be able to buy tickets using smartphone apps from early August. Kath Mainland, the fringe’s chief executive, said she was delighted with the scale of this year’s event. A recent economic impact report found the fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, was worth £141m to Edinburgh and the Scottish economy. “The fringe, over its 65-year history, has matured into an enormous, enormously important, world-class festival and arts market,” she said. The rise in cabaret “mirrors the fact that cabaret across the world is something of an art form in itself, is good and high quality, and not just a second cousin. We’ve been wanting to give cabaret its own space on the fringe for a number of years.” Despite the record number of shows, up from 2088 in 2008, there is growing criticism of the shrinking number of venues in Edinburgh and the increasing concentration of events around the Royal Mile and several sprawling sites south of the Old Town, dominated by the large venues. Tommy Sheppard, owner of the Stand Comedy club, said that the Fringe Society (the event’s governing body) and the city council needed to find more venues in other neighbourhoods. “The concentration of venues in one small part of the city is bad for the city and it’s also bad for visitors, because they get squeezed into one small [area] and don’t leave it.” Pip Utton, deputy chair of the Fringe Society, said these large sites at Bristo Square, George Square and the Royal Mile added to the intensity of the event, and that many venues in other areas were only a few hundred metres walk away. “I can understand the misgivings [but] it’s difficult to avoid the intensity; it’s just the nature of the beast. That energy is driven quite often by the performers and the visitors,” he said. • Tickets for the Edinburgh festival fringe 2011 go on sale on Friday 10 June at edfringe.com . Edinburgh festival Comedy Circus Burlesque Theatre Festivals Edinburgh Edinburgh Severin Carrell guardian.co.uk
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A bumper crop of cabaret acts will take to the stage this year in the largest Edinburgh festival fringe ever announced The comedians, actors and street performers who dominate the Edinburgh fringe have a brash new competitor: cabaret shows featuring feminist burlesque, ukeleles, acrobats and mind-reading psychics. As the world’s largest arts festival gets even bigger – even though the number of venues is reduced – the fringe has opted to give cabaret its own space in the programme for the first time. The 65 cabaret events will feature a damsel slaying “inner dragons”, a rabbit-hating magician, nostalgic celebrations of jazz, swing and Judy Garland, a DJ playing “disco bingo” and somewhat saucier revues, many of which will carry an adults-only warning. But they will be competing for audiences with attractions such as a John Malkovich-directed celebration of playwright Harold Pinter (featuring Julian Sands), and the Soft Cell singer Marc Almond, who will appear at the Traverse theatre . There will also be shows by Diana Quick and Art Malik , and established comedians Sarah Millican , Al Murray , Mark Thomas and Phill Jupitus .The British Council has funded new shows from Brazil and South Korea, while the “international sex symbol” Paul Daniels will present a show with the lovely Debbie McGee. The actor and director Steven Berkoff, meanwhile, directs an acclaimed reinterpretation of the Greek tragedy Oedipus , with an ensemble cast. The fringe has again broken its own record for the number of shows, with a near 4% increase in the overall number of shows to hit 2,542, with more than 21,000 performers expected to perform more than 41,000 shows, including more than 930 comedy shows and 760 theatre productions. Audiences will, for the first time, be able to buy tickets using smartphone apps from early August. Kath Mainland, the fringe’s chief executive, said she was delighted with the scale of this year’s event. A recent economic impact report found the fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, was worth £141m to Edinburgh and the Scottish economy. “The fringe, over its 65-year history, has matured into an enormous, enormously important, world-class festival and arts market,” she said. The rise in cabaret “mirrors the fact that cabaret across the world is something of an art form in itself, is good and high quality, and not just a second cousin. We’ve been wanting to give cabaret its own space on the fringe for a number of years.” Despite the record number of shows, up from 2088 in 2008, there is growing criticism of the shrinking number of venues in Edinburgh and the increasing concentration of events around the Royal Mile and several sprawling sites south of the Old Town, dominated by the large venues. Tommy Sheppard, owner of the Stand Comedy club, said that the Fringe Society (the event’s governing body) and the city council needed to find more venues in other neighbourhoods. “The concentration of venues in one small part of the city is bad for the city and it’s also bad for visitors, because they get squeezed into one small [area] and don’t leave it.” Pip Utton, deputy chair of the Fringe Society, said these large sites at Bristo Square, George Square and the Royal Mile added to the intensity of the event, and that many venues in other areas were only a few hundred metres walk away. “I can understand the misgivings [but] it’s difficult to avoid the intensity; it’s just the nature of the beast. That energy is driven quite often by the performers and the visitors,” he said. • Tickets for the Edinburgh festival fringe 2011 go on sale on Friday 10 June at edfringe.com . Edinburgh festival Comedy Circus Burlesque Theatre Festivals Edinburgh Edinburgh Severin Carrell guardian.co.uk
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Gay marriage still unauthorised but California bishop gives support to same-gender civil marriages, domestic partnerships and relationships A bishop in the US Episcopal church has authorised the use of blessings for same-sex couples, breaking a ban on one of the most divisive issues affecting the Anglican communion. Chester Talton, from the diocese of San Joaquin, in California, has told clergy they may perform blessings of “same-gender civil marriages, domestic partnerships and relationships which are lifelong committed relationships characterised by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect [and] careful, honest communication”. The US state recognises domestic partnerships between gay and heterosexual couples as long as one or both of the people involved is 62 or older. Same-sex marriages were also legal for a short while in the state. A statement from the diocese said: “We must also recognise there are same-gender couples in relationships who have not entered in domestic partnerships, perceiving them to be inferior to marriage and who, for various reasons, did not or could not marry during the brief time when same gender marriages were legal. “Couples in such relationships are part of the diocese of San Joaquin. They are in our congregations and in positions of leadership. They are our friends, neighbours and brothers and sisters in Christ. It is now time, to the extent permitted by California law and the canons of the Episcopal church, to extend to these couples the generous pastoral response necessary to meet their needs as members of this church.” Talton’s authorisation states that no diocesan priest may perform a gay marriage until both sets of laws, and the diocesan bishop, allow it and that no priest is required to bless same-gender relationships. His decision follows years of discussion in the US on how to be more inclusive towards homosexual parishioners and clergy, a direction that has angered conservative evangelicals. The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has frequently voiced his opposition to moves allowing the consecration of lesbian and gay bishops and same-sex blessings – two of the three temporary bans in place designed, supposedly, to keep the disparate communion provinces together until a more permanent solution to disagreements is found. Gay rights Religion Anglicanism Christianity United States California Riazat Butt guardian.co.uk
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Application turned down because of man’s ‘degrading attitude’ towards his wife An Algerian-born man living in France has been refused French nationality because of his “degrading attitude” towards women. The man, who has not been named, is married to a Frenchwoman, but does not allow her to leave the family home freely, it was claimed. In what is seen as a legal precedent, his application for French nationality was turned down because “his idea of sexual equality is not that of the republic”, according to a high-ranking official quoted by French radio station Europe 1. The French constitution states that the government can refuse nationality or strip nationality for a “lack of integration”. The interior minister, Claude Guéant, has made it clear he expects candidates for nationality to not only integrate but “assimilate” into French society. A spokesman for the minister told the Guardian that concerns were raised when police interviewed the man as part of the application process. The refusal, she added, had been confirmed by the State Council – the legal body that advises the government on legislation – and was awaiting signature by the minister. “The man was eligible for French nationality as he had been married to a French citizen for more than four years. In such cases, however, it can be refused by a disrespect of or lack of assimilation into the French community or if the person practises polygamy. “In this case, during the interview at the police station his behaviour showed a lack of assimilation into the French community; it was incompatible with the values of the French republic, notably in respect to the values of the equality of men and women. This justifies the decision for not giving him French nationality. The case was examined by the State Council, which agreed and a decision to that effect was given.” The case emerged a week after far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote to French MPs asking them to support an end to dual nationality, claiming it “undermines republican values”. Le Pen has made no secret that her demand is aimed at people from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. A delegation of 50 MPs from the ruling right-of-centre UMP party met President Nicolas Sarkozy recently to press for an end to dual nationality. Afterwards one of the MPs said Sarkozy was “very favourable” to the idea. Henry Guaino, one of the president’s closest advisers, told French radio: “It’s an idea that merits debate. Whatever the National Front’s position, it’s not wrong to discuss this issue.” Socialist MP Manuel Valls, who chairs a parliamentary committee on nationality rights, said scrapping dual nationality would be counter-productive and that French expatriates with dual nationality acted as “ambassadors” for their country around the world. Christophe Girard, the Socialist deputy mayor of Paris, wrote in Le Monde that the history of France and its mix of cultures was under threat. “This return to nationalism that locks and narrows pits citizens against each other in fear and hatred and is a proven risk,” he wrote. “The atmosphere fostered by the current government is even more revolting given that the current head of state himself is the son of an immigrant father and his third wife is French-Italian. “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the backbone of France. We need to strengthen it. I would appeal to all those who are able to obtain a second citizenship to take the necessary steps now.” France Equality Europe Nicolas Sarkozy Algeria Africa Kim Willsher guardian.co.uk
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