Carles Puigdemont
Puigdemont was arrested on entering Germany last month on a Spanish-issued warrant.
Spain has accused the Catalan separatist of rebellion and corruption after he organised an unsanctioned independence referendum.
Society's Child
Spain has accused the Catalan separatist leader of rebellion, but a court in Berlin said the charge was not valid in Germany
Carles PuigdemontFormer Catalan President Carles Puigdemont can be released on bail, a German court said on Thursday, adding that while he could still be extradited to Spain on corruption charges he could not be extradited for the more serious charge of rebellion.
Puigdemont was arrested on entering Germany last month on a Spanish-issued warrant.
Spain has accused the Catalan separatist of rebellion and corruption after he organised an unsanctioned independence referendum.
Carles Puigdemont
Puigdemont was arrested on entering Germany last month on a Spanish-issued warrant.
Spain has accused the Catalan separatist of rebellion and corruption after he organised an unsanctioned independence referendum.
© Hannah McKay / Reuters
Police guard the cordoned-off area around the home of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, April 3, 2018
Police guard the cordoned-off area around the home of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, April 3, 2018
The niece of Sergei Skripal referred to the Salisbury pizzeria after visiting which her uncle and his daughter had been found by policemen after the March 4 incident. She pointed out that the two allegedly ordered fugu fish - quite a surprising suggestion as this dish is part of Japanese cuisine, and should be carefully prepared to avoid a lethal poisoning. The Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury does not offer any fugu-based dish in its menu.
"Is it difficult to obtain an account and see what people ordered at the restaurant? For some reason this information is classified. Did they eat some unknown dish that you cannot eat? Or is it forbidden in England?" Victoria Skripal said.
Fugu can be lethally poisonous due to its tetrodotoxin; therefore, it must be carefully prepared. The restaurant preparation of fugu, which is served as sashimi and chirinabe, is strictly controlled by law in Japan and several other countries, and only chefs who have qualified after three or more years of rigorous training are allowed to prepare the fish. Domestic preparation occasionally leads to accidental death.
According to police, Skripals had a drink at The Bishop's Mill pub and then ate lunch at Italian restaurant Zizzi, leaving around 3:35pm. However, it hasn't been immediately clear what exactly did they order.
Comment: As a Moon of Alabama commenter points out, the Daily Mail reported that the Skripals ate a seafood risotto pesce with prawns, mussels and squid rings - a dish with a reputation as a source for shellfish poisoning. That's because the paralytic seafood poison saxitoxin is a neurotoxin, which has been weaponized. And it can have similar effects as a nerve agent: "Respiratory difficulty, salivation, temporary blindness, nausea and vomiting may also occur. In extreme cases, paralysis of respiratory muscles may lead to respiratory arrest and death." Of course, if the Skripals simply had a near-fatal case of food poisoning, that still wouldn't explain how Det. Sgt. Nick Bailey also came down with it.
See also:
- John Helmer: 'The Empire Strikes Backwards'
- Yulia Skripal call to cousin and statement to police released - "everyone's health fine, will be discharged soon"
- Article 36: Yulia Skripal is not allowed to telephone her Grandmother?
© feliks/Shutterstock
St. Peter's Basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica.
Capella was recalled from the U.S. Nunciature in Washington, D.C. in September 2017, after the Vatican was informed Aug. 21, by the U.S. State Department, that there was a "possible violation of laws relating to child pornography images" by a member of the Holy See's diplomatic corps.
© Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Palestinians take cover from Israeli snipers during clashes at the Gaza-Israel border at a protest demanding the right to return to their homeland, in the southern Gaza Strip March 31, 2018.
Palestinians take cover from Israeli snipers during clashes at the Gaza-Israel border at a protest demanding the right to return to their homeland, in the southern Gaza Strip March 31, 2018.
The sources said that an armed Israeli military drone fired a missile at Palestinian protesters near Erez Crossing, in the eastern part of the Gaza Strip, killing one of them, and wounding several others.
Palestinian medics were unable to enter the area due to Israeli army fire, and severe military restrictions on border areas, and were only able to retrieve his body in the morning.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the slain Palestinian has been identified as Mojahed Nabil al-Khodary, 23, from Gaza city.
Medical sources at the Shifa Medical center in Gaza city, said Red Crescent Medics located the mutilated remains of the slain Palestinian, east of the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza city.
They added that the soldiers also shot five Palestinians with live fire and caused dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation in the same area.
Comment: The ritual slaughter continues:
- US lone Security Council member to block UN inquiry into Gaza violence
- UN warns Israel against "unjustified and unlawful" murder of Palestinians in military occupied Gaza is breach of Geneva conventions
- 'We see you very well': IDF's tweet threatening children with sniper fire enrages social media users
- To silence the press: Six journalists shot by Israel during Gaza protests
- Hard questions for Israel as video shows unarmed teen shot in back by IDF sniper
- Israel is prepared to murder more unarmed protesters in Gaza
- Great Return March: 7 Palestinian protesters killed after IDF launch tear gas and open fire on Gaza border
© David Oxberry / Global Look Press
"You can't decide in 24 hours what type of poison was used and where it comes from," Jose Bustani, a Brazilian diplomat and first director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in an interview with RT.
Many questions surround the UK's probe into the Salisbury incident, he said, in which former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned by an unidentified nerve agent. The UK began accusing Russia of the attack less than 24 hours after the incident.
"Why didn't they call immediately the OPCW?" Bustani asked. "And why didn't the OPCW volunteer to take action, because it's the role of the organization to go immediately and analyze the victims?"
© Darren Calabrese/Guelph Mercury
Searches for the book on e-commerce platforms JD.com and Taobao brought up no results, while staff at one of Beijing's biggest book stores said they no longer sell it.
There are currently tensions between China and Rome over a landmark deal that observers believe is close to being signed.
It would give the Vatican more control over the appointment of bishops in China but has sparked concern among some Chinese Catholics who believe recognising Beijing's role in the Church would represent a betrayal of their faith.
China's ruling Communist Party is officially atheist, but the Chinese government recognises Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism.
Chinese leaders have called for increased efforts to "Sinocise" religion in comments seen as being part of a wider clampdown on Western ideas.
Comment: More on the China-Vatican deal:
The deal is aimed at restoring relations between China and the Vatican, which were cut almost 70 years ago. But the group of leading Catholics say it could create a schism in the church in China.
"We are worried that the agreement would not only fail to guarantee the limited freedom desired by the church, but also ... deal a blow to the church's moral power," the letter says. "Please rethink the current agreement, and stop making an irreversible and regrettable mistake."
The letter comes less than two weeks after a senior Catholic leader in Asia accused the Vatican of selling out the church in its efforts to make a deal with the Chinese government.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, wrote in a blog post: "Do I think the Vatican is selling out the Catholic church in China? Yes, definitely, if they go in the direction which is obvious from all what they are doing in recent years and months."
Last month, the Vatican asked two "underground" bishops - who operate without Chinese government approval - to relinquish their positions in favour of government-appointed counterparts, one of whom was excommunicated by Rome in 2011.
One of them, Guo Xijin, said at the weekend he would "obey Rome's decision" and respect any deal struck between the Beijing and Vatican authorities. Guo and the second bishop, Zhuang Jianjian, are under police surveillance and Guo has been repeatedly detained, including for 20 days last year.
The issue of bishop appointments is at the centre of efforts to restore Vatican-Chinese relations, which were officially severed after the foundation of the Communist state in 1949.
There are an estimated 10 to 12 million Catholics in China, with about half worshipping in underground churches, and half in government-managed churches.
The Chinese government has appointed seven bishops, who are not recognised by Rome. Up to 40 Rome-backed underground bishops operate without Chinese government approval.
As an American living in the Russian Federation, I have the pleasure of having direct interaction with many Russian people from all walks of life. Many are Orthodox Christian believers who love the Church and love their own president, Vladimir Putin, and consider him as a Defender of Orthodox Christianity and Christianity everywhere in the world.
Many others are more jaded in their opinions and share skepticism of both their government and the Church, and still others hate Mr. Putin and don't understand what the big deal about any religion is about at all.
The educational background of my friends in Russia ranges from school age kids to doctors and diplomates, and the most expert computer engineers at Kaspersky Labs, where I do a lot of my independent teaching work in the English language.
Comment: It is likely that Trump would "rise above the fray" if he were not hamstrung by the Deep State neocons. He is pragmatic business man who sees possibilities abounding if the US could be made to behave like a reasonable country. This does not suit the oligarchy which desires to bring the entire world to heel.
- High profile and highly illegal leaks Deep State saboteurs have orchestrated against Trump
- It doesn't matter who wins the presidency, the Deep State maintains control
- Deeply committed to Cold War 2.0, the Deep State targets Trump
- Neocon Deep State admits to have finally "gotten a grip on Trump" - compares him with Bush Jr.
- Behind the Headlines: Illusion of democracy: Trump powerless against the Deep State?
Kevin Sharkey is calling for 'open dialogue' on immigration
In an appearance on The Ray D'Arcy Show on RTÉ last night the Donegal man said that he felt people were censoring themselves when it comes to the subject of immigration.
Sharkey, an artist and former television presenter, who confirmed that he was hoping to receive a nomination to run for the presidency later this year, spoke at length about the impact of immigration.
When Mr D'Arcy put it Mr Sharkey that his stance was somewhat ironic considering his own background, Mr Sharkey replied: "My father was an immigrant, there are a lot of positive aspects to immigration but it is going to end up coming down to one thing and that is numbers.
Comment: Mr. Sharkey has correctly identified the problem. Will he be able to do anything about it is another matter.
- EU Commission seeks demographic shift: Europe too white, mass third world migration must be 'new norm'
- United Nations stealthily prepares Europe for larger illegal migrant flows, regardless of nations' interests
- Russian envoy Vladimir Chizhov says migrant crisis is a timebomb for EU
- NATO is the root cause of Europe's migrant crisis
- The Truth Perspective: Weapons of Mass Migration: Interview with Michael Springmann on Europe's Migrant Crisis
© Nasim Najafi Aghdam / YouTube
The 39-year-old from San Diego also went by the name of Nasime Sabz, which means "Green Breeze" in Persian. She also harbored a grudge against the video-sharing platform. On her website, which has since gone offline, she accuses YouTube of "filtering my videos to reduce views & suppress & discaurage [sic] me from making videos."
Aghdam, who was of Persian origin, had at least four YouTube channels in English, Farsi and Turkish. All of her channels on social networks have now been suspended. However this has not stopped social media users sharing her videos, which have raised more than a few eyebrows.
© Julie Oliver / OTTAWA CITIZEN
Jonathan Pitre
Jonathan Pitre
He had one of the most painful diseases known to medicine, epidermolysis bullosa (EB), but was defiantly happy. He couldn't scratch without tearing his skin, but dreamed of playing hockey. Ostracized by other children, he thrived in the adult world: poised, thoughtful and genuine.
Jonathan found purpose in helping others with EB. He made himself the face of the disease, shared his story worldwide, and raised a small fortune for the EB charity, DEBRA Canada. His sunny, red-haired resilience charmed millions of people, and made him an Ottawa celebrity. None of it changed him.
Comment: Puigdemont breaks his silence in prison interview - 'I am not a criminal, we won the elections twice'