Last week, hearings began at the International Court of Justice in The Hague which could prove to be of immense importance to Israel. Although the case in question relates to the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia last year, it touches upon a deeper and far more contentious issue in international relations: the right to and limits of self-determination. And while issues of international law usually evoke little more than yawns from most of us, this is one debate that we should all try to stay awake for and perhaps even follow closely, if only because of its potential ramifications for the conflict in the Middle East. The question before the court is whether the province of Kosovo had the legal right to break away from Serbia. Some 63 countries, including most Western states, have recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state, but many, such as Serbia and Russia, do not, and Belgrade has asked the World Court to issue an advisory ruling regarding the legitimacy of the Kosovar move. What does any of this have to do with Israel, you might be asking? Well, the answer is: quite a lot. To begin with, the right of self-determination is one that the Palestinians regularly invoke to justify their demand for statehood. There is hardly a speech that is made in the halls of the UN on the subject that does not summon this "right" in an effort to substantiate the Palestinian claim. Where this right begins, and ends, in international relations is of course hardly ever discussed. Indeed, just what exactly are its limits? For example, as a matter of principle, could residents of Brooklyn claim to be a unique nation with their own history, geography and even accent, and seek to break away from the US and form their own state? It might sound silly, or even absurd, but where exactly does one draw the line? Perhaps Gazan Arabs can assert their uniqueness and distinction from their brethren in Judea and Samaria, and insist on separating from them as well, in the process giving new meaning to the term "two states for two peoples". That is what makes the court ruling on Kosovo potentially so significant, because of the impact it may have on the commonly held, yet vaguely defined notion of just who has the right under international law to seek sovereignty and independence. As a result, it could indirectly strengthen, or possibly even weaken, the Palestinian argument on this issue. But even more compelling than all the legalities is the usual spectacle of duplicity that is on display, as various countries weigh in on the matter with what can only be described as a selective approach to self-determination. Take Russia, for example. Moscow has vigorously defended Serbia's right to Kosovo and rejected the province's arguments in favor of independence. And yet, it was just last year that Russia supported moves by the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to break away from the Caucasus nation of Georgia. Various European countries are no less incoherent. France was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, and it has even opened an embassy in the province's capital of Pristina. But in Paris' own backyard, it has proven far less amenable to the idea of self-determination when it comes to either the Corsicans or Basques, many of whom would like to be free of French rule. Apparently, not all "rights to self-determination" were created equal. This, too, is another reason why Israel should be following events at the World Court closely. After all, we regularly take a battering from various countries who preach to us about the need to grant statehood to the Palestinians. They stand on principle in lecturing us about Ramallah's right to self-rule, even as they adopt wildly inconsistent positions on a range of other international disputes. However briefly, the hearings at The Hague will cast a spotlight on the hypocrisy of their stance. It behooves us to take notice, and to remind our critics of it with unflinching frequency.
Five young American Muslims admitted traveling to Pakistan for jihad, and were on their way to a training camp when they were swept up in an anti-terrorism raid, according to Pakistani law enforcement officials. The Americans allegedly met with representatives of an Al Qaeda-linked group and asked for training but were turned down because they lacked references from trusted militants, officials said Thursday. They were arrested Wednesday at a house in Sargodha linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, a banned military organization, Pakistani officers said. This is the same group suspected in the abduction of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Investigators are sharing their findings with FBI officials now in Sargodha. Regional police chief Javed Islam said the men wanted to join militants in Pakistan's tribal area before crossing into Afghanistan and said they met with Jaish-e-Mohammed in Hyderabad, and with representatives of a related group, Jamat-ud-Dawa, in Lahore. Another law enforcement official, Usman Anwar, the local police chief in the eastern city of Sargodha, told The Associated Press that the five are "directly connected" to the Al Qaeda terrorist network. "They are proudly saying they are here for jihad" or holy war, Anwar said.
Iran must allow the United Nations to investigate allegations of human-rights abuses during the post-election unrest, Amnesty International says. "The supreme leader should order the government to invite in U.N. special rapporteurs on torture and on summary and arbitrary executions to help ensure that investigations are both rigorous and independent," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Program. Iran launched an aggressive campaign to silence the voice of dissent in the wake of disputed June elections that secured a second term for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Amnesty in its report on the post-election unrest characterized the government response as among the most grievous human-rights violations in decades. Amnesty in its report documents accounts from detained protesters who claim they were tortured, raped or otherwise abused while in custody. Others said some prisoners died from the ill-treatment they received during their detention. In the latest crackdown Monday during Students' Day protests, more than 200 were arrested as riot police respond with tear gas and batons. Manfred Nowak, U.N. special rapporteur on torture, and Philip Alston, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, have asked Iranian authorities for permission to investigate. Amnesty said at least 36 protesters were killed in the post-election unrest, more than 4,000 were arrested and as many as 200 remain in custody.
US President Barack Obama has irked some Norwegians for truncating a three-day schedule of events organised around his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr Obama will spend only 24 hours in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, because of his busy schedule. He is due to meet the Norwegian prime minister but has turned down an invitation to have lunch with the king. Nor will he be attending the Nobel concert, a children's event or giving a full press conference. He will, however, attend a banquet and deliver a lecture - among other activities - before he leaves early on Friday morning. He will also watch a torch-light procession from a balcony of the Grand Hotel, fitted with bullet-proof glass. Norwegian daily Aftenposten carried a story about how everybody but Obama wants to visit Oslo's Peace Centre, one of the locations that has been removed from his schedule. An expert interviewed in the article called his attitude "a bit arrogant". Under the headline: "Norwegians' verdict: Obama is impolite" the daily tabloid VG published details of a poll, according to which only a third of those questioned believed it was acceptable for Mr Obama to cancel his lunch with King Harald. Some 44% said they thought it was impolite. "I think the impression is that, firstly, we've spent a lot of money preparing for this visit and then he should be more visible and be doing things in our country," said Jan-Erik Laure, news editor of the newspaper. He said that though Mr Obama would be meeting the king, he was skipping the official lunch and the Norwegian press would not have the opportunity of asking him questions during a brief press conference. "I think Norwegians also feel let down," he added. "There is the impression that the cancellation is somewhat because of policy in the US - he doesn't want to be that much exposed to those who think he shouldn't have won it, and accuse him of not concentrating enough on internal politics." Mr Obama has spoken of his surprise of being chosen for the award and has admitted he did not feel he deserved to be in the company of some of the "transformative figures" who had previously received it. The Nobel committee has defended its choice, saying it wanted to support the US president's goals, especially in strengthening international institutions and working towards a world free of nuclear arms. The Nobel laureate - chosen by a five-member committee - wins a gold medal, a diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.4m).
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday he hoped a time would come when Russia and Georgia would end mutual visa requirements. "We are currently moving toward a visa-free area with the European Union. I hope that this will happen in the very near future. I also hope that this time will come for Georgia and Russia," he told a European and Asian media forum hosted by RIA Novosti. Medvedev said Russian-Georgian political links had been damaged through no fault of Moscow. "I have repeatedly said that I have no plans for contacts with the current president or other top officials [in Georgia]; our paths have diverged, and our views are too wide apart," he said. "I believe that President Saakashvili bears direct legal responsibility for the crime that was committed, but this does not mean that we must freeze all other relations. Our peoples have centuries-old friendship, a special history." Diplomatic ties between the two countries were cut off following a five-day war in August 2008, which began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.
It's a claim that's sure to put the cat among the pigeons. A study into character, intelligence and usefulness shows dogs are better pets than cats - but only by a whisker. In the 'great pet showdown' experts compared 11 traits from brain size to environmental impact by looking at research published in scientific journals. Dogs came out on top in six categories to cats' five. Staff at New Scientist magazine first listed the areas where cats fared best. These included having bigger brains in proportion to their body size. Cats' brains also contain more cells, with about 1.4million more devoted to complex functions such as memory and attention than dogs' brains. The cats' second point was awarded for being more popular, with 204million living in the top ten cat-owning nations compared to 173million dogs in the ten countries where canines are most in vogue. Felines also get more attention from humans, with blissed-out purrs actually disguising a call to be noticed that their owners find irresistible. Although dogs can vary the length, range, pitch and frequency of their barks, they cannot compete with the attention-seeking of cats. It is a similar story when it comes to senses. Cats can see in lower light than dogs and have a far wider hearing range and a keener sense of smell. They are said to be 'greener' pets because their smaller appetites equate to a smaller ecological footprint - the area of land required to farm their food. Even a small dog such as a chihuahua has a bigger annual footprint than the average cat. But in the other six categories examined - many of which related to how the animals interact with humans - dogs had the edge. Dogs have a longer shared history with humans, and may have been domesticated as long as 135,000 years ago. Cats are relative newcomers to our homes. Similarly, dogs have a greater ability to bond with their masters. Even four-month-old puppies choose a human companion over another dog, research has shown. Dogs scored a third point for their superior powers of understanding. One study found that a border collie called Rico had mastered the meaning of more than 200 words. Dogs can also follow human gestures, such as an outstretched finger or a nod of the head to find food. While this may not seem impressive, chimps struggle to do it. The ability to perform roles such as being a guide dog for the blind meant dogs were rated better than cats when it came to their problem-solving abilities. And they are also said to be easier to train. With the scores tied at five-all, the deciding point was awarded for usefulness - with dogs coming out on top. Dogs, studies show, help cut human stress, while taking them for walks keeps their owners fit and helps them meet new people. New Scientist says: 'Dogs can hunt, herd and guard. 'They can sniff out drugs and bombs; they guide blind and deaf people, race for sport, pull sledges, find someone buried by an avalanche, help children learn and possibly even predict earthquakes.' And in a conclusion bound to set tongues wagging, it adds: 'Cats are good if you have an infestation of rodents.'
Nearly seven years after an electrical fire heavily damaged the interior of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, a world renowned artist from Greece is painstakingly laboring to restore its artwork. Vlasios Tsotsonis, an iconographer whose body of work includes some of the most prominent monasteries and churches throughout Europe and the Mideast, has been busy since mid-October adorning the walls and ceilings of the church with holy images through the use of mosaics, paintings and 22-karat gold leaf artwork. At an estimated cost of $1.5 million, the restoration is being funded through insurance money and church donations and is expected to take about five years to finish. A portrayal of the Virgin Mary enthroned and holding the Christ child with angels watching over them is nearing completion above the church altar, and Phase I of the restoration will be completed next year. "His work is absolutely magnificent," said Fr. Michael Varlamos, 47, senior priest at the church. "Rarely do you see work of this caliber in this country." "It's awesome," John Sheoris, 82, of Grosse Pointe Woods, a retired architect and a parishioner for more than 50 years, agreed Wednesday. Tsotsonis' works include a mosaic composition above the entry of the Most Holy Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem and restoration work at the Monastery of St. Stephen in Meteora, Greece, which was destroyed during World War II. After the Assumption fire in December 2002, a church committee was formed to select an iconographer for restoration of the interior artwork. It took several years to get Tsotsonis because of the demand for his work around the world, and church officials had to wait another three years before he could even begin. Along with his assistant of 20 years, Nicholas Gaitanides, 40, the pair have been busily working 16-hour days on scaffolds to complete the project. Speaking little English, Tsotsonis said through an interpreter: "It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to bring old-world beauty ... to the Detroit area," he said.