Anti-Islamization protesters in Ireland staged a protest modeled on PEGIDA in front of the Clonskeagh Mosque. They were outnumbered by “anti-racist” counter-protesters, who tore up some of their banners. The Gardai were present to protect the demonstrators from any possible violence.

In other news, concerning the Islamic State mujahideen who executed two Japanese hostages, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to find the killers and bring them to justice.

To see the headlines and the articles, click “Continue reading” below.

Thanks to C. Cantoni, Fjordman, Gaia, Insubria, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.

Notice to tipsters: Please don’t submit extensive excerpts from articles that have been posted behind a subscription firewall, or are otherwise under copyright protection.

Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. We check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.

4 Out of 10 Italians Want to Leave Euro, Poll

More than half Euroskeptics say euro is chief cause of woes

(ANSA) — Rome, January 30 — Four out of 10 Italians think the Italian economy would do better outside the eurozone, according to a survey released Friday.

The percentage of Italians wanting out of the euro rose from 26% at the start of 2014 to 40% now, said Eurispes.

More than half the Euroskeptics think the single currency is the chief cause of Italy’s economic woes, it said.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Eurozone Not in “Outright Deflation”, Says EU Commission

(AGI) Brussels, Jan 30 — The 0.6 percent drop in eurozone consumer prices estimated by Eurostat for January is not what the European Commission considers a sign of “outright deflation”, the Commission’s spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said on Friday during a press conference. “If you look at core inflation, which we consider to be a better measure of the underlying price pressure, that still remains positive at 0.6 percent”, she stated, adding that the deflationary pressures are due to external factors such as food and oil prices.

— Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]



Italian Economy to Start Recovering Early 2015 — ISTAT

Istat say key index returned to positive territory in November

(ANSA) — Rome, January 30 — The recession-battered Italian economy will start to recover in the first few months of this year, national statistics agency Istat forecast on Friday. “The Italian economy’s anticipatory index returned positive in November, indicating a recovery in economic activity in the first months of the year,” Istat said in its monthly report.

Istat said the key index had returned to positive territory for the first time since March 2014.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Italian Jobless Rate Drops in December to 12.9%

Down from historic high of 13.3%, for youth down to 42%

(ANSA) — Rome, January 30 — Italy’s unemployment rate dropped in December to 12.9% from the revised 13.3% in November, national statistics agency Istat said Friday.

The news comes as both a surprise and good news for the government of Italian Premier Matteo Renzi.

Istat said that the decrease of 0.4% represented a recovery from what had been the highest rate since it began this measurement in 1977.

The jobless rate had been stuck at 13.3% for both October and November, making it difficult for Renzi to argue his government is a good steward of the economy.

At the same time, Istat reported that the youth jobless rate also dropped dramatically in December, to 42% from the previous 43%.

It added that its statistics are provisional and could be revised further.

Istat said that 22.42 million Italians were employed last month, while 3.322 were unemployed and looking for work.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Italy: Confindustria Says GDP Up 2.1% This Year, 2.5% in 2016

QE, lower energy costs to push economic growth, says report

(ANSA) — Rome, January 28 — Italy’s economy should grow by as much as 2.1% this year, rising to 2.5% in 2016, thanks to a series of events and measures including the new quantitative easing program from the European Central Bank (ECB), researchers with employers group Confindustria said Wednesday.

Factors including a falling exchange rate and lower energy prices will also be good for growth, the research centre of Confindustria said.

Just one day earlier, the Bank of Italy also predicted that the new QE program unveiled last week by the ECB should provide a lift to growth.

The ECB program will see massive bond purchase starting in March that will ultimately be worth more than one trillion euros. The Confindustria researchers said that “the more lively trade” environment globally should also encourage growth.

The Italian economy has shown no real signs of expansion since 2008 and a week before QE was introduced the Bank of Italy had slashed its growth forecast for 2015, predicting an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) of a mere 0.4% this year, compared to the 1.3% it forecast in July. The central bank added at that time that the recession-battered Italian economy should grow 1.2% next year but warned that “considerable uncertainty remains”.

It also estimated that Italy’s GDP fell by 0.4% in 2014.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Morocco: Positive Forecasts for 2015

But some estimates are considered too optimistic

(by Diego Minuti) (ANSAmed) — ROME, JANUARY 30 — Economic forecasts on the Moroccan economy for 2015 are positive, according to the High Commission for Planning, which eyes the future of the Kingdom with optimism.

According to the 2015 provisional budget, Morocco’s GDP growth in 2014 should be around 2.6%. The same data for the ongoing year should go up to 4.8%, supported by the significant growth in internal demand.

These numbers, according to the High Commission for Planning, should lead to a reduction of the budget deficit worth 4.5%, while inflation should grow to 0.8% from 0.4% in 2014.

The forecasts change data released by the commission in June last year which, in a way, echoed the far from positive forecasts of the International Monetary Fund. The IMF has been putting pressure on the kingdom to pass the necessary reforms against a persevering crisis that has been afflicting the country for years.

GDP growth would be a consequence of the primary sector (the food industry and fishing) which, with the contraction registered in 2014, would record in 2015 an inversion of the trend with a 9.3% growth.

Non-agricultural activities would continue to grow, for their part, from 3.4% in 2014 to 4.1%.

The forecasts released by the High Commission for Planning, however, have failed to convince analysts, mainly as they are based on uncertain data and hypotheses considered as too optimistic, although they are based on math models.

An example comes from forecasts regarding the agricultural sector which are positive as they expect a “good campaign”, without giving certain economic parameters. Also, the optimism connected to the tourism industry (which is getting fresh injections of funding) appears perhaps excessive when it quantifies a 1% growth from the 0.2% in 2014 — a desirable increase which is however not sufficiently motivated.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Most Italian Workers Fear Being ‘Unable to Support Families’

Some 28% have to ask for help from relatives

(see related) (ANSA) — Rome, January 30 — Almost two-thirds of Italian workers (64.7%) fear that they will not be able to provide for their families with their salaries, according to a report published by the Eurispes research institute on Friday. The study added that 28% of workers need to ask for financial assistance from parents or other relatives to get by.

Over 38% of the people surveyed said they were certain that they won’t be able to save money, even in the future, while another 41% said they saw this as unlikely, Eurispes said.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Nearly Half Italians Want to Leave Italy — Poll

46.7% paying medical bills in installments

(ANSA) — Rome, January 30 — Nearly half of Italians, or 45%, would like to leave the country and live abroad, a poll said Friday.

This marked an increase of 8% from 2006, two years before the global economic crisis, said the Eurispes polling agency in its annual report.

It also found that almost half of Italians, 47%, say they can’t make it financially to the end of the month.

This was 16.4% up on last year, Eurispes said.

As well, four out of 10 Italians think the Italian economy would do better outside the eurozone.

The percentage of Italians wanting out of the euro rose from 26% at the start of 2014 to 40% now, said Eurispes.

More than half the Euroskeptics think the single currency is the chief cause of Italy’s economic woes, it added.

The poll also showed that nearly half of Italians are paying medical bills on installment plans, part of a growing trend for all kinds of spending.

The 46.7% of those surveyed who reported paying medical bills gradually has jumped by 24.3% from 2013, the pollster said. As well, 62.4% said they were paying for their cars on installments, 60.4% used such plans for appliances, and just over 50% bought computers and mobile phones by installment.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



‘American Sniper’ Sets New Super Bowl Weekend Record

“American Sniper” is nearing the $250 million mark, picking up $31.8 million to set a new Super Bowl weekend record.

The previous high-water mark for football’s big weekend, was “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour,” which picked up $31.2 million when it premiered in 2008.

If it continues on this torrid clip, Clint Eastwood’s biopic of Chris Kyle could challenge “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1” as the highest grossing 2014 release and will pass “The Matrix Reloaded” to become the second biggest R-rated release in history. It’s earned $248.9 million — an unbelievable result for an adult drama about such hard-hitting topics as war and its psychological effects.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Michael J. Totten: The Truth About American Sniper

Chris Kyle wasn’t a savage; he killed savages.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



New Mexico Toddler Shoots Father, Pregnant Mother, Police Say

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A 3-year-old boy found a handgun in his mother’s purse and fired just one shot that wounded both his parents at an Albuquerque motel on Saturday, police said.

According to investigators, the toddler apparently reached for an iPod but found the loaded weapon. Police believe the shooting to be accidental.

Both injuries are non-life threatening, authorities said.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



EU Council Says Essential Workers Missing Strike Rights

Human rights committee says Italian rules too rigid

(ANSA) — Strasbourg, January 22 — Essential workers in Italy should have better labour guarantees that would protect their right to strike, a European Union human rights committee said Thursday.

In Italy between 2009 and 2012, that right was practically unavailable because strikes in services deemed to be essential were regulated in a way that was “excessive”, said the committee of social rights of the Council of Europe.

The Italian government has not proven why such rules that exceed the European Social Charter are justified, the committee added.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



EU Says Italy Still Has 4 Bn Euros of Funding Uncommitted

European fund for 2014-2020 included 6.2 bn for Italian projects

(ANSA) — Brussels, January 20 — Italy has more than four billion euros of European Union funding from 2014 still available — about 66% of the total budget available, the EU said Tuesday.

Only one-third of the total 6.2 billion euros available for projects has been committed by Italy, making it one of the slowest to make use of money available from Brussels.

EU officials say they will transfer the excess money to the 2015 budget for Italy.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Greece Shakes Europe’s Political Kaleidoscope: Expect the Unexpected

(Reuters) — By catapulting to power an improbable alliance of the hard left and nationalist far right, Greece has shaken up Europe’s political kaleidoscope and may have signalled the end of an era of centrist consensus.

With eight general elections due in the European Union this year, as well as regional votes, the earthquake in Athens may be a harbinger of other shocks to come.

Expect the unexpected in 2015 from Britain to Finland and Denmark to Spain as voters who have endured five years of economic crisis, falling real incomes and welfare cuts vent their anger, anxiety or apathy at the ballot boxes.

Mainstream centre-right and centre-left parties that have dominated European politics since the end of World War Two are bleeding support to populists at both ends of the spectrum, and to mavericks like Italian comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



IPHRC Squarely Condemned the Anti-Islamic Protest Marches of German Party PEGIDA as Racist and Islamophobic

OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) strongly condemned the recent protest marches organized by German right wing movement PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West) as racist and manifestation of growing Islamophobia in Europe and in particular in Germany. Despite organizers’ efforts to conceal their real intentions under the rhetoric of simple objection to Germany’s migration policies, motives of both the protests and organizers were clearly racist and xenophobic. The fact is not only made evident by the very name of the movement that organized these protest marches but also from its manifesto that seeks to protect the specific cultural bounds of German society as well as the support it receives from far right politicians to neo-Nazi factions and football hooligans groups.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



IPHRC Strongly Condemns the Recent Publication of Blasphemous Caricatures of Prophet Mohammad (Pbuh) By the French Magazine Charlie Hebdo

The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) is appalled by the recent repeated publication of sacrilegious caricature of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and squarely condemns this act as an intolerant, disrespectful and manifest expression of hatred as well as insensitivity towards the feelings of more than 1.6 billion Muslims around the world.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Ireland: Protester Tears Up Anti-Islam Banner at Clonskeagh Mosque March

Gardaí confirm there were no incidents at today’s demonstration.

BOTH ANTI-RACISM and anti-Islam protesters gathered outside Clonskeagh Mosque in Dublin this afternoon.

Gardaí were present to facilitate a peaceful protest and said that there were no incidents to report.

Protest

It is estimated that the there were about 60 or 70 protesters outside the gates today, with both groups holding up banners.

It is believed that anti-racism protesters outnumbered the opposing side at the demonstration…

— Hat tip: Gaia [Return to headlines]



Italy: Finmeccanica Seeks Partner for DRS Technologies

Moretti says ‘no more sacred cows’ as giant seeks savings

(ANSA) — Milan, January 28 — Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica is seeking a partner to help “strengthen” its American defence subsidiary DRS Technologies, Chief Executive Officer Mauro Moretti said Wednesday.

“(We must) find a way to strengthen the company, including through a partner, in order to start growth,” Moretti said while presenting Finmeccanica’s new business plan to financial analysts.

The Italian company is finding with DRS that “there are difficulties in managing the company effectively in the US defence market if you are not a domestic player,” said Moretti.

Other measures Finmeccanica intends to take to shore up DRS include selling “non-core” assets.

Meanwhile, Moretti is also said to be in talks with Japan’s Hitachi and China’s Insigma as he continues efforts to sell Finmeccanica’s unprofitable AnsaldoBreda unit, which produces trains, and its stake in Ansaldo STS, which produces railway signaling equipment.

“There are no more sacred cows,” Moretti said as he outlined measures to save up to 150 million euros by 2019 through increased efficiency That is part of the company’s new industrial plan aimed at “strengthening the core business, high-technology, aerospace, defence, and security,” he said.

Shortly before closing Wednesday on the Milan financial market, Finmeccanica shares were trading up 2.49% at 9.25 euros.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Italy: ENI in Strong Position Despite Low Prices, Says CEO

(AGI) Rome, Jan 28 — Italian oil and gas giant Eni is in a strong position even in a context of low oil prices, said CEO Claudio Descalzi, at a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday. “We are not engaged in difficult, costly or complex production. From the point of view of break-even we are in good shape”, he said. However, he stressed: “to produce profits we need higher prices. Fifty dollars a barrel is better than 45 dollars. The whole industry is cutting investment in a range between 10 percent and 15 percent. If the price of oil remains the same, they will cut investments again next year. However, if they do slash projects, in five or six years we’ll be a lot of barrels short — and in great danger of a return to high prices, as has happened in the past”, the CEO added.

— Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]



Italy: FCA Closes 2014 With Revenues Up 11 Percent

(AGI) Rome, Jan 28 — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) closed 2014 with revenues up 11 percent to 96.1 billion euros. The carmaker owed this result to growth in NAFTA (15 percent), APAC (34 percent) and Maserati (67 percent), with increases also for EMEA (4 percent) and Components (7 percent). Net profit for the year was 632 million euros, of which 568 million was attributable to owners of the parent company. Adjusted for unusual items, net profit was 955 million (as compared to 943 million for 2013, recast for the retrospective application of IFRS 11, adjusted for unusual items and a 1.5 billion positive deferred tax impact). Net industrial debt at year-end was 7.7 billion euros, compared with 7.0 billion at year-end 2013.

Excluding the effect of the acquisition of the minority interest in Chrysler and Q4 capital transactions, net industrial debt increased by 0.3 billion. Investments in material and immaterial activities, a total of 8.1 billion euros, were almost fully covered by cash flow from operations.

FCA expects to see a 2015 net income in the 1.0 to 1.2 billion range, with earnings per share between 0.64 and 0.77. The group foresees worldwide shipments of 4.8 to 5.0 million vehicles, earnings of around 108 billion and net industrial debt in the 7.5 billion to 8.0 billion range. A statement said that these figures “do not include any impact for the previously announced capital transactions regarding Ferrari.” The statement also specified that the Board of Directors had “declined to recommend a dividend payment on FCA common shares in order to further fund capital requirements of the Group’s five-year business plan presented on May 6, 2014.” .

— Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]



‘Major’ Oil and Gas Reserves in Italy Says ENI

‘Interesting’ break-even rates says Descalzi

(ANSA) — Rome, January 28 — Italy has “major” reserves of oil and gas, fuels giant ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi told the House Wednesday.

“Especially gas, which is the ideal source to accompany the development of renewable energy,” he added.

Asked if it made economic sense to extract petrochemicals in Italy with an oil price down to $60 a barrel, Descalzi replied: “extraction in Italy has interesting break-even rates, at around $20-30”.

He acknowledged that higher prices, of around $50, were needed to turn tidy profits but said Italy could cope with low prices better than other countries because it had not invested in “complex operations”.

— Hat tip: Insubria [Return to headlines]



Romanian Mountain Ice Church Draws All Types of Christians

High on a remote mountain in Romania, priests have blessed a church made entirely from ice, outstanding both for its architectural style as well as being a place for religious tolerance.

Builders have once again created the Ice Church, which is only reachable by cable car at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,600 feet). Water from Balea Lake, 300 kilometers (190 miles) northwest of Bucharest, is blessed by priests. Chunks of ice are then cut with a chain saw and cemented together with water and snow to make the church.

The structure — 6 meters (20 feet) tall, 14 meters (46 feet) long and 7 meters (23 feet) wide — is a copy of an old church in Transylvania.

Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant clerics held a service there this week.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Spain: PM and Socialist Leader Seek to Finalize Anti-Terrorist Agreement

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez sought on Friday to hammer out the last details of a new cross-party anti-terrorist agreement.

The deal being drafted by the government and the opposition will extend beyond the national arena to connect with European and international cooperation agreements on the issue, said sources in the ruling Popular Party (PP) and opposition Socialists (PSOE).

Those in the Sánchez camp were hoping that each side would make some last-minute concessions in order to obtain a document satisfactory to both parties.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Sweden: Malmö Murder Could be Linked to Gang Wars

A man who was shot to death at a shopping centre parking lot in Malmö Saturday night had allegedly been involved in gang wars in the city and lived under threat.

The man was reportedly in his thirties and involved in gang warfare between 2007 and 2011, regional newspaper Sydsvenskan reports. He was previously a member of a criminal gang called Brödraskapet, meaning the Brotherhood.

According to reports, the man played a part in the 2007 attack on the home of prosecutor Barbro Jönsson in the southern Swedish town of Trollhättan.

Jönsson was at work when the explosives went off outside her front door. The bombing was a revenge action taken after Jönsson handled several cases against criminal gangs, Sydsvenskan reports. Two people were convicted over the attack.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Sweden: ‘The Perfect Workout’: Gym Clears Snow for Free

A gym in northern Sweden has turned this week’s monster snowfall into “the perfect workout”, sending its members out for an hour on Saturday to shovel snow around the city for free.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Sweden: Man Shot Dead at Malmö Shopping Centre

Two hooded gunmen opened fire at a man in a kebab restaurant at one of Malmö’s largest shopping centres on Saturday afternoon, in full view of several families and their children.

Their victim, thought to be Ashkan Moayed Abedi, a member of the Wolfpack Brotherhood criminal gang, escaped into the carpark where he was then gunned down in front of shocked shoppers. He died later in hospital.

Abedi, 30, was a key player in the gang war which took place in Sweden’s third largest city between 2007 and 2011, leaving at least two men dead. He had been convicted more than 25 times, notably for attempting to murder a prosecutor in 2007 by planting a bomb at her home.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



The Failure of Pope Francis

by Rebecca Bynum

If the Pope will not speak for Jesus, who will?

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



The Swedish Schindler Who Disappeared

During World War Two, a young Swedish diplomat saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazis. But in January 1945 Soviet troops arrested him — he was never seen in public again.

“Raoul Wallenberg had such power and charisma and God knows what gave him the strength”

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Think Greece is in a Mess? Wait Till the UK’s Debt Mountain Explodes in Our Face

Would we cope with misery as well as the Greeks? If our great fat cushion of state-backed jobs, welfare payments, tax credits and easy loans were whipped away one morning, how would we get on?

I think we would do very badly.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Croatia Writes off Debts for Poorest Citizens

Thousands of Croats will see their debts written-off on Monday as part of an attempt to boost the economy by helping households to regain access to basic facilities including bank accounts.

The scheme, which has been dubbed “fresh start”, will see the debts of around 60,000 citizens erased by banks, telecoms and utilities operators as part of a deal with the government.

Around 2.1bn kuna (£20m) worth of bad debts are expected to be written off by creditors who have signed up to the scheme. None will be refunded for their losses.

Qualifying households must have debts lower than 35,000 kuna (£3,500), and their monthly income should not be higher than 1,250 kuna. Croats who own property or have any savings will not benefit from the deal.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Egypt Under Al-Sisi: An Interview With Raymond Stock

by Jerry Gordon

Gordon: Given your Egyptian sojourn does al-Sisi have both the domestic and international support to implement his agenda?

Stock: Domestic, yes—all but a quarter to a third of the country wants him to succeed. But internationally is another story. Al-Sisi’s greatest enemy is not the MB, or even IS, but the president of the United States. When the State Department invited key figures from the pro-MB alliance of groups to a major conference in Washington this week, he was signaling his desire (and only Obama sets our foreign policy) to overthrow al-Sisi—just as his invitation to the leaders from the banned MB to sit in the front row of his Cairo speech in 2009 signaled that he wanted to remove Mubarak. So U.S.-dependent international institutions and allies may not be too supportive of al-Sisi.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Tunisia’s Islamist Party Agrees to Join Coalition Government

TUNIS: Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party Ennahda has agreed to join its main rival secular party Nidaa Tounes in a coalition government, party leaders said on Sunday.

The agreement could bolster stability in Tunisia, which is just emerging from its transition to full democracy four years after the uprising that ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

The deal came after Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid’s new cabinet faced a threat of rejection in parliament last week from key parties, including Ennahda, because they opposed his choice of ministers.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Israel Ranked 5th in Bloomberg Innovation Index

Israel is the world’s fifth most innovative country, according to the 2015 Bloomberg Global innovation index.

South Korea topped the list, followed by Japan, Germany and Finland ahead of Israel, while the United States was just behind it at number six.

The index was comprised based on rankings in six sub-fields: Research in development, in which Israel ranked #2, manufacturing (#21), high-tech companies (#11), post-secondary education (#4) research personnel (#4) and patents (#31).

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Ghost Ships: Turkey Becomes Springboard for Syrians Heading to Europe

Turkey has become a hub for human traffickers, with freighters picking up Syrians in the port city and smuggling them on to Europe. It’s a lucrative business built on the hardships of others.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Islamic State Burning All Books Except Islamic Texts

BAGHDAD (AP) — When Islamic State group militants invaded the Central Library of Mosul earlier this month, they were on a mission to destroy a familiar enemy: other people’s ideas.

Residents say the extremists smashed the locks that had protected the biggest repository of learning in the northern Iraq town, and loaded around 2,000 books — including children’s stories, poetry, philosophy and tomes on sports, health, culture and science — into six pickup trucks. They left only Islamic texts.

The rest?

“These books promote infidelity and call for disobeying Allah. So they will be burned,” a bearded militant in traditional Afghani two-piece clothing told residents, according to one man living nearby who spoke to The Associated Press.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



More Than 1,300 Die in Iraq Violence in January, UN Says

The United Nations mission to Iraq says more than 1,300 people have died in violence in the country in January. Baghdad was the worst-hit city with regard to civilian casualties.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Robert Gates: Destroying ISIL ‘Unrealistic’ And ‘Unattainable’

President Barack Obama’s goal to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is “unrealistic” and “unattainable,” former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, the former Pentagon chief under both Obama and President George W. Bush said U.S. forces should should not focus entirely on eradicating the terrorist group but should create an operation that contains the spread of ISIL militants and “denies them the ability to hang onto territory.”

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



‘Saudi Arabia Says ‘I Am Charlie’ But it is Not’: Charlie Hebdo Cartoonist Attacks Hypocrisy of Leaders Who Marched in Name of Free Speech But Censor Their Press

A cartoonist who survived the Charlie Hebdo massacre has attacked the hypocrisy of world leaders who march in the name of free speech but censor their press.

The cartoonist Renald ‘Luz’ Luzier has given his first on-camera interview about the day of the massacre, how he missed death by minutes and criticised world leaders for hypocrisy over press freedoms.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal to Launch Pan-Arab News Channel

An outspoken, billionaire Saudi prince will on Sunday launch a pan-Arab satellite news channel aimed at challenging established networks in the region.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a nephew of King Abdullah, who died on January 23.

In a highly conservative Islamic kingdom, Alwaleed, who holds no government rank, is unusual for his high profile and periodic comments about economic issues.

Broadcasting from 1300 GMT on Sunday, his Bahrain-based Alarab News Channel will be the latest player in the Arabic-language television market, after Qatar-subsidised Al-Jazeera became the first regional news broadcaster 19 years ago.

It will also be a rival for Dubai-based Al-Arabiya, established in 2003 and owned by Sheikh Waleed al-Ibrahim, a brother-in-law of Saudi Arabia’s late King Fahd.

Alwaleed chairs Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Co, which has interests ranging from the Euro Disney theme park to Four Seasons hotels, Citigroup and media giant News Corporation.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



UN Says Violence in Iraq Kills at Least 1,375 in January

The United Nations mission to Iraq said Sunday that violence in the country amid the war against the extremist Islamic State group killed at least 1,375 people in January.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI, put the number of civilians killed at 790, while identifying the rest as security forces members. It said at least 1,469 civilians and 771 security forces members were wounded.’

It said the worst affected city was the capital, Baghdad, with 256 civilians killed and 758 wounded.

According to UNAMI figures, last year was the deadliest in Iraq since 2006-2007, with a total of 12,282 people killed and 23,126 wounded.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Finnish Fighter in Ukraine: “I’m Not a Nazi”

A 26-year-old with Finnish and Swedish citizenship is fighting in Eastern Ukraine as part of a pro-government volunteer brigade with close ties to far-right and neo-Nazi groups.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Chechnya’s Lost Boys

Why young Muslims from Russia’s war-torn republic are succumbing to the lure of the Islamic State.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Pakistan: Between Civility and Fanaticism

by Salim Mansur

It is from these madrasas that the jihadi fighters come forth as cannon fodder for an endless jihad that has become a growth industry in Pakistan. The entire political elite in Pakistan has profited, just as the Iranian elite continues profiting by doing the same.

For many, being “pure” required separating oneself from non-Muslims.

“The Taliban were not providing strategic depth to Pakistan, but Pakistan was providing strategic depth to the Taliban.” — Ahmed Rashid, foremost scholar of the Taliban.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Uzbekistan Could Miss the Train in the Transport Area

Tashkent is far from the hub of Central Asia trade. The Chinese government is putting pressure on Kyrgyzstan for a transnational railway project. Moscow closely watches over regional transport region and Iran favours projects in Uzbekistan to reach China. Turkmenistan is a potential competitor and “regional leader in transportation linkages” in the region.

Tashkent (AsiaNews) — Uzbekistan is conveniently located at the center of Central Asia and borders on all Central Asian countries as well as Afghanistan; moreover, it lies in relatively close proximity to the various prodigiously developing markets of Asia. Nonetheless, Uzbekistan has been slow to embrace or champion significant regional transportation schemes, thus holding the country back from becoming a Eurasian transit hub. Yet, several large transportation projects involving Uzbekistan are currently in various stages of planning.

The Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway project has long had presidential-level backing of two out of the three countries the railroad corridor will traverse. The presidents of Uzbekistan and China, Islam Karimov and Xi Jinping, respectively, often call on speeding up the implementation of this project during their frequent meetings, and they say their countries are ready to start construction at any time. The latest such call came during President Karimov’s trip to China in August 2014 (Xinhuanet.com, August 19, 2014). Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev announced back in 2013 that the railroad would be beneficial only to Uzbekistan and that Kyrgyzstan would not participate. But Xi Jinping’s envoy Yang Jiechi visited Atambayev this past month (January 2015), prompting the Kyrgyz leader to change his attitude toward the project (Kyrtag.kg, January 9, 2015). If that visit truly bears fruit, it will allow the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway to move beyond a concept stage.

Kyrgyzstan has now made clear that it is interested in building the “China-Kyrgyzstan” section of the railroad on its own terms; and further negotiations are planned for some time this year (Azattyk.kg, January 9, 2015). However, with Kyrgyzstan under Russia’s close watch as a soon-to-be member of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, any negotiations on this railway project involving Bishkek will most likely also involve Moscow. Given that Russia sees the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railroad as a rival for the transport corridor across Russian territory, which it offers to China to move goods to Europe (Review.uz, December 25, 2014), there are reasons to believe that Russia will attempt to heavily control the project-assuming the Kremlin allows for its realization at all. Nevertheless, it looks like China is particularly interested in the project and is ready to champion negotiations with Kyrgyzstan and, most likely, with Russia as well in order to ensure the success of this railway. Given China’s economic importance to both Central Asia and Russia, Beijing’s full backing may be enough to bring the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway project to fruition.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is working on developing closer relations with its southern neighbors and signed intergovernmental agreements on a transportation corridor with Turkmenistan, Iran and Oman, in August 2014 (Uzdaily.uz, August 7, 2014). Iran is enthusiastic about the project and has already proposed its intention to start deliveries of oil to Uzbekistan via this planned north-south route. Tehran promises to ship up to one million tons of oil per year “via the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman transport corridor” to cover the supply shortage Uzbekistan normally imports from Kazakhstan and Russia, according to the ambassador of Iran in Uzbekistan, Ali Mardani Fard (12news.uz, August 13, 2014). Ambassador Fard also added that Uzbekistan sits at the heart of Central Asia and that Iran offers the “nearest, secure, and economical” way to access other markets in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. The Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman railway, the Iranian diplomat stated, is “the most important prerequisite for the development of economic relations between Iran and Uzbekistan” (Trend.az, February 11, 2014). Nevertheless, the main reason behind Iran’s enthusiasm for the railway might be the potential access it would open to sell Iranian raw materials on China’s market via Central Asia. Moreover, Tehran is surely looking to gain political clout in Central Asia and strengthen its influence in the region (Review.uz, December 25, 2014).

A number of similarly strategic regional transportation and trade corridors are gaining traction under the championship of Turkmenistan. For example, the Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railroad (a part of the so-called International North-South Transportation Corridor), launched in December 2014, has already resulted in the signing of several important import-export agreements among the regional neighbors (Irib.ir, October 15, 2014). Other emerging trade corridors are the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan railroad, to be finished by the end of this year (Centralasiaonline.com, January 5, 2015), and the proposed Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey project (Trend.az, November 17, 2014).

So given Uzbekistan’s central geographic position, rich human capital and overall potential, why has the country, to date, not been much more involved in regional transportation links? According to Bakhtiyor Ergashev, of the Center for Economic Research (Uzbekistan), first, Uzbekistan’s policy of import substitution makes this Central Asian republic an undesirable destination for foreign goods due to its high duties on imported and transited goods and complicated customs rules and other regulations. Second, Uzbekistan’s transit infrastructure remains underdeveloped; whatever investment currently exists tends to be funneled toward renovating existing rail and highway roads, while the construction of auxiliary infrastructure is lagging. Third, the main international road junctions on the territory of Uzbekistan are concentrated in major cities, which does not help reduce cross-country transit costs. Fourth, most roads in Uzbekistan are not fit for the international standard axial load of up to 13 tons. Rather they are being retrofitted for an axial load up to 10 tons, which will cause speedy wear and tear of the roads (Review.uz, December 25, 2014). As a confirmation of the problems listed above, among other issues, in 2014, Uzbekistan was placed last out of 189 countries surveyed for the ease of trading across borders in the World Bank’s annual Doing Business report (Doingbusiness.org, October 29, 2014).

Central Asian countries are almost destined to be integrated into major international trade networks in the coming decade through the development of various new transport corridors. The already launched Iran-Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan railway and the incipient Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Oman, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan, and Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia corridors are laying the ground work for future transit and trade. But locked out of most major regional transportation corridor projects, Uzbekistan, in the meantime, is consumed with developing transportation and rail links within the country-which, granted, can become a precursor for cross-border trade in the future. At the moment, industrial development and overall economic development to increase the annual growth rate are top priorities for the government of Uzbekistan. This leads one to conclude that the country is most likely not interested in becoming a regional leader in transportation linkages. Turkmenistan, on the other hand, appears to be seizing the opportunity to take on and sustain that role instead.

(Courtesy of the Jamestown Foundation)

— Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]



Chinese Retiree Designs a Robot Horse

While many retirees take up interesting hobbies when they leave the workforce, Su Daocheng, 60, might be able to claim the title of most unusual post-work activity — designing a rideable robotic horse. Su built the robot that stands just under five feet and weighs about 550 pounds over a two-month period, according to CNET.

Su, who lives in the Shiyan, in the eastern Hubei province of Central China, is something of an avid inventor. He has created a mechanical robot and a helicopter designed for the road in the past. This time, his petrol-powered horse was inspired by the mechanical inventions of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period about 1,800 years ago. Among Liang’s inventions was a “Muniuliuma,” which was a freight transport vehicle that moved military provisions over rugged terrain, reports China Daily.

Su’s horse contains a re-used go-kart engine, and is powered along by spring-loaded legs. The front of the robot is supported by wheels with the legs only for show, while the rear legs actually propel the horse forward.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Crisis Awakens Japanese to Shortcomings, Realities

The hostage crisis that blew up on Jan. 20 and ended so tragically taught Japan about the reality of life in a strife-filled part of the world, and the video journalist who had tried so hard to explain that with images ended up doing so with his own life.

Moreover, the extremist who put a knife to his throat on camera declared coldly that Japan’s nightmare of terror is about to begin. Bravado or not, it was a sinister and hate-filled declaration — and one that may contain some truth.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters Return to the Streets

Several thousand have marched in Hong Kong in the first large pro-democracy demonstration since protesters staged sit-ins in the city center last year. This time, organizers say no sites will be occupied.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Protesters Return to Streets

Thousands of pro-democracy activists have returned to the streets of Hong Kong for their first big rally since mass protests last year.

But the number of protesters — put by organisers at 13,000 but by police at half that figure — was far lower than the earlier demonstrations.

Their key demand is fully democratic elections for the territory’s leader.

A large police presence was in force to prevent demonstrators from occupying key areas of Hong Kong.

But the protesters did not carry out a repeat of the occupations that shut down parts of the city for more than two months last year.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Japan’s Muslims Dismiss Islamic State as UN-Islamic

Muslim residents of Japan on Sunday expressed their condolences for the murder of journalist Kenji Goto and said they were angry about the Islamic State group’s actions.

“We are very, very sorry about this bad news and I am telling the Japanese people that we are very, very sorry,” said Mohamad H. Loghmani, a 44-year-old Iranian resident of Tokyo.

He said the Islamic State group has non-Islamic aims: a hunger for money, power and blood. He said he does not consider its fighters to be Muslims.

“I am telling the Japanese people that Muslim people in the world . . . like Japanese people because they are kind and friendly people,” he said. Loghmani was speaking at a charity bazaar at the Iranian ambassador’s residence in Tokyo on Sunday to raise funds for victims of natural disasters in Iran.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Japan PM Vows Justice After is Beheading of Goto

The purported beheading of high-profile Japanese journalist Kenji Goto has prompted a sharp response from the Japanese government. Prime Minister Abe has vowed to help bring the “Islamic State” killers to justice.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Nigeria’s Boko Haram Launches Offensive on Maiduguri

(AGI) Maiduguri (Nigeria), Feb 1 — Boko Haram militants have launched a new offensive to take over Maiduguri, the strategic capital of Borno State, in northeastern Nigeria. Local residents have witnessed the attack and reported loud explosions and gunfire coming from the southern gate to the urban centre. Fighting is reportedly concentrated in the Mulai district. “The whole city is in a state of panic and people are afraid that Boko Haram might defeat the security forces”, said several eye-witnesses. The take-over of Maiduguri would represent a very important strategic and symbolic victory for the Islamic jihadists. At the moment Boko Haram already controls most of the regions along the borders with Cameroon and Chad, a territory the size of Belgium.

— Hat tip: C. Cantoni [Return to headlines]



Oil Cash Waning, Venezuelan Shelves Lie Bare

Venezuelans have put up with shortages and long lines for years. But as the price of oil, the country’s main export, has plunged, the situation has grown so dire that the government has sent troops to patrol huge lines snaking for blocks. Some states have barred people from waiting outside stores overnight, and government officials are posted near entrances, ready to arrest shoppers who cheat the rationing system.

Because Venezuela is so dependent on oil sales to buy imports of food, medicine and many other basics, the drop in oil prices means that there is even less hard currency to buy what the country needs.

Even before oil prices tumbled, Venezuela was in the throes of a deep recession, with one of the world’s highest inflation rates and chronic shortages of basic items.

One of the nation’s most prestigious public hospitals shut down its heart surgery unit for weeks because of shortages of medical supplies.

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



Raúl Castro Urges Obama to Make Up for the “Human Cost” Of the Embargo

During his speech at the Third Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban President Raúl Castro criticized the United States for the trade and financial embargo it has imposed on the island despite the fact that he and US President Barack Obama both announced plans to open bilateral dialogue on December 17, 2014.

Before a crowd that included most heads of states from CELAC’s 33 member nations, Castro said the normalization of bilateral relations would “not be possible while this embargo exists, or as long as they do not return the territory illegally occupied by the naval base in Guantánamo, or stop radio and TV transmissions that violate international regulations, and as long as there is no just reparation to our people for the human and economic costs they have suffered.”

— Hat tip: Fjordman [Return to headlines]



UK: Insurance Row Over Vicar’s Jesus Christ Car Stickers

An insurance company has threatened to void the policy of a Christian minister because she put religious stickers on her car.

Reverend Wena Parry, 75, was told that stickers saying “Christ Must Be Saviour” and “Christ For Me” could be regarded as “modifications” and could invalidate her insurance policy.

Reverend Parry, from Cymmer in Neath Port Talbot, told BBC Wales’ X-Ray she believes she has been treated unfairly because of her religious beliefs by Age UK insurance.

“There might be somebody within that company that hates Christianity.” she said.

Age UK denied there was a religious motive behind the move.