Pope Francis names Pietro Parolin as secretary of state
Pietro Parolin was the Vatican’s representative in Venezuela Pope Francis has named a new secretary of state, in what is seen as his most significant appointment since he became leader of the Catholic Church in March. Archbishop Pietro Parolin, a 58-year-old Vatican diplomat, replaced Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 79, who is retiring. Cardinal Bertone, appointed by Francis’ predecessor Pope Benedict, had been widely criticised over last year’s so-called “Vatileaks” scandals. Leaked documents revealed corruption and infighting at the Vatican. The secretary of state heads the Roman Curia, the central administration of the Catholic Church, and is the Pope’s chief adviser. Analysis…
Hitting Syria to deter Iran?
Although President Barack Obama may soon launch a limited military strike on Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons, a second Middle Eastern country has loomed large in his administration’s calculations over the decision. One of the risks of “doing nothing” in response to the alleged large-scale attacks of Aug. 21 on the people of East Ghouta, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Aug. 30, is that “Iran, which itself has been a victim of chemical weapons attacks, will now feel emboldened, in the absence of action, to obtain nuclear weapons.” The “hit-Syria-to-deter-Iran” argument is embedded…
Muslim Brotherhood leader suffers heart attack in prison
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie reportedly suffered from a heart attack.Reuters Egypt’s Interior Ministry said Saturday the top leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, was in good health after reportedly suffering from a heart attack while in jail. Any severe deterioration in Badie’s health in prison would certainly deepen hostilities between the organization and the army-backed government that deposed the Brotherhood-backed president, Mohamed Morsi, in July. The Interior Ministry’s Facebook page said Badie, the Brotherhood’s general guide, was “enjoying good health.” State-run al-Ahram newspaper reported earlier that he suffered a heart attack while in jail but his condition had…
Faites Vos Jeux:Bayern Munich vs Chelsea @2:45pm ET
QuestCinq.com/Sports 12:00 PM ET Lechia Gdansk vs Gornik Zabrze 18:00 CET 12:00 PM ET Ruch Chorzow vs Zaglebie Lubin 18:00 CET 12:00 PM ET CSKA Moscow vs Amkar 18:00 CET 12:30 PM ET Odense vs Aarhus 18:30 CET 12:30 PM ET 1860 Munchen vs Sandhausen 18:30 CET 12:30 PM ET 2. Bundesliga Konferenz 18:30 CET 12:30 PM ET Bielefeld vs Fortuna Dusseldorf 18:30 CET 12:30 PM ET FSV Frankfurt vs Greuther Furth 18:30 CET 1:00 PM ET Brann vs Sogndal 19:00 CET 1:00 PM ET Konyaspor vs Kasimpasa 19:00 CET 1:05 PM ET Helsingborg vs Brommapojkarna 19:05 CET 2:00 PM…
An Ala. state lawmaker wants Toni Morrison’s first book banned; calls it ‘objectionable.’
QuestCinq.com/News An Alabama state senator is pushing to ban the first novel of Nobel and Pulitzer winner Toni Morrison on the grounds that its content and language are “objectionable.” State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, a Republican, wants The Bluest Eye pulled from high school reading lists, and says he also would support pulling it from high school libraries, according to the Alabama Media Group. “The book is just completely objectionable, from language to the content,” Holtzclaw said of the book, which includes mention of incest and child molestation. The novel is based in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison’s hometown, and details the story of Pecola Breedlove,…
U.S. to release intelligence on Syria chemical attack on Friday: official
QuestCinq.com/Obama vs UN inspectors WASHINGTON | Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:10am EDT (Reuters) – The White House plans on Friday to release an unclassified version of an intelligence assessment of a chemical weapons attack last week in Syria, a U.S. official said. The report may give Americans more insight into why President Barack Obama has said that his officials have concluded that the Bashar al-Assad government is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in a Damascus suburb. Obama administration officials shared some of the evidence with lawmakers on Thursday and cited intercepted communications from Syrian officials among other details. Obama and…
David Cameron loses Commons vote on Syria action
QuestCinq.com/News British MPs have rejected possible UK military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government to deter the use of chemical weapons. A government motion was defeated by 285 to 272, a majority of 13 votes. PM David Cameron said “the government will act accordingly”, effectively ruling out London’s involvement in any US-led strikes against Damascus. The US said it would “continue to consult” with London – “one of our closest allies and friends”. “President Obama’s decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States,” a White House statement said. It added that Mr…
Fiorentina vs Grasshoppers+Deportivo La Coruna vs Real Madrid
QuestCinq.com/Sports 1:00 PM ET Deportivo La Coruna vs Real Madrid 19:00 CET 1:00 PM ET Deportivo La Coruna vs Real Madrid 19:00 CET 1:00 PM ET Alkmaar vs Atromitos 19:00 CET 1:00 PM ET Slovan Liberec vs Udinese 19:00 CET 1:00 PM ET St Etienne vs Esbjerg 19:00 CET 1:30 PM ET Besiktas vs Tromsø 19:30 CET 1:30 PM ET Petrolul Ploiesti vs Swansea City 19:30 CET 2:00 PM ET Nice vs Apollon Limassol 20:00 CET 2:00 PM ET Skenderbeu vs Chornomorets 20:00 CET 2:00 PM ET Thun vs Partizan …
Zimmerman’s wife to ‘think about’ staying married
The Associated Press SANFORD, Fla. — George Zimmerman’s wife says she’s going to have to “think about” whether she stays married to him. Shellie Zimmerman made the comments to ABC in an interview aired Thursday on “Good Morning America.” She pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor perjury charge for lying during a bail hearing following her husband’s arrest for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Her husband, who was acquitted on second-degree murder charges in July, wasn’t in the Sanford courtroom Wednesday as she was sentenced to a year’s probation and 100 hours of community service…
UK’s Cameron forced to delay strike against Syria
(Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron was forced on Wednesday to push back his plans for an imminent military strike against Syriain a humiliating climb-down for Britain’s leader after coming under fierce domestic and international pressure. Just a day after recalling Britain’s parliament to vote on how to respond to Syria’s suspected use of chemical weapons, Cameron was ambushed when the opposition Labour party said it wanted greater parliamentary scrutiny and rebel lawmakers in his own ruling Conservative party said they would oppose him. Earlier on Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had sought more time for inspectors to complete…
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