Michael's List- Black Tea Party; Obama heckled, DADT; Iran missiles; Islamists blame US; France-Turkey-EU; Jerusalem "never be divided"; Prayer & Life

I. REASON - Black Tea Party Protesters vs. Keith Olbermann

A couple of months back, in response to criticism about his multiple characterizations of Tea Party activists as racists, MSNBC oxygen-generator Keith Olbermann issued this agonized open letter to his antagonists: [A]sk yourself, when you next go to a Tea Party rally, or watch one on television or listen to a politician or a commentator praise these things or merely treat them as if it was just a coincidence that they are virtually segregated. Ask yourself: Where are the black faces? Who am I marching with? What are we afraid of? And if it really is only a President's policy and not his skin, ask yourself one final question: Why are you surrounded by the largest crowd you will ever again see in your life that consists of nothing but people who look exactly like you? Instead of asking himself, Nathanial Alexander Stuart took a video camera to one of the hundreds of Tax Day rallies April 15, and asked a handful of black protesters. This is what Stuart came up with - video.

II. YAHOO - Obama clashes with gay rights hecklers in L.A.

President Obama is used to hearing his name yelled angrily at conservative Tea Party protests. On Monday night, however, he faced hecklers at a more unlikely venue: a Democratic fundraiser in Los Angeles for California Sen. Barbara Boxer. And yes, the hecklers were attacking the president from the left. "Repeal 'don't ask, don't tell'!" the protesters yelled, referring to the 1993 military policy that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving. Obama responded, "We are going to do that; hey, hold on a second, hold on a second." During the 2008 campaign, Obama repeatedly pledged to kill the controversial policy, and in January's State of the Union address, he reiterated that vow. But progress has been slow. The administration claims that's because a full repeal would require a separate bill in Congress repudiating the congressionally approved 1993 law — and it's been hard to work such a bill into an already overcrowded Capitol Hill agenda. In March, the Pentagon announced it was relaxing enforcement of the ban, to clear the path for eventual repeal. Obama returned to the issue of repeal in his Monday speech. "When you've got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you've got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don't know exactly why you've got to holler, because we already hear you, all right," Obama remarked to applause. "I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it." But the hollering didn't let up. "It's time for equality for all Americans," shouted one. Obama again stressed his opposition to the ban, and again said, "I don't know why you're hollering."

III. YNET - Iranian missile may be able to hit US by 2015

Iran may be able to build a missile capable of striking the United States by 2015, according to an unclassified Defense Department report on Iran's military sent to Congress and released on Monday. "With sufficient foreign assistance, Iran could probably develop and test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States by 2015," said the April report, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

IV. AP - Pakistan: Islamist blames US for suicide bombing

An Islamist politician whose party lost several members in a suicide attack blamed Pakistan's alliance with the U.S. for the violence and urged Islamabad on Tuesday to break ranks in the war on terror. The comments showed the depth of anti-Americanism in Pakistan, whose support Washington considers key to stabilizing neighboring Afghanistan. In the past three days, attacks in Pakistan have killed some 74 people in a new wave of violence. Although authorities blamed the Taliban in the immediate aftermath of the attack in Peshawar, the Islamist party's leaders have declined to do so, instead alleging the CIA or Indian intelligence were behind it. "It is because we have brought America's war to our own country," Sirajul Haq, a provincial party leader, said Tuesday in Peshawar after attending funerals for some of the victims. "Still, there is time to end this alliance with America" to avoid more bloodshed. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban and al-Qaida militants based in the Afghan border region — who are fighting Pakistani police and the army — have carried out hundreds of attacks over the last three years. They have frequently targeted security forces, government officials and their supporters or family members in mosques, schools and markets, showing no concern for civilian casualties. Peshawar, the capital of the northwest region, has been one of the hardest-hit cities because it lies close to the border area.

V. SETIMES - Sarkozy stands between Turkey, EU

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting in Paris earlier this month with French President Nicolas Sarkozy has led to some optimism -- however cautious -- that France may rethink its opposition to EU membership for Turkey. Erdogan met with Sarkozy on April 8th. The French president's strong opposition has been a persistent roadblock for Ankara. Sarkozy has argued that "Europe must give itself borders" and that "not all countries have a vocation to become members of Europe." Turkey has no place within those borders, the French president has insisted. This has been Sarkozy's official line since he took power in 2007. But a recent visit by Erdogan -- to be followed by a Sarkozy trip to Ankara -- may signal a shift in Turkey's favour. "The most significant outcome of Erdogan's visit is Sarkozy's acceptance of his invitation to [visit] Turkey late this year," Dr. Cengiz Aktar of Bahcesehir University in Istanbul told SETimes. "Since he assumed the presidency, Sarkozy has changed his mind on almost all policy topics but Turkey," Aktar said. Erdogan said that he and the French president discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including economic and military ties, along with the possibility of co-operating to address regional and global problems. But Sarkozy has openly challenged Turkey's full membership and blocked the opening of five of the necessary 35 chapters of accession talks. The fact that Ankara could not get strong political support from France in efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute is another source of trouble.

VI. HAARETZ - Lieberman: Jerusalem is our eternal capital, it will never be divided

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the State of Israel and that it will never be divided - "neither directly nor indirectly." "Today," he said, "I stand before you in Jerusalem, and confirm Begin's words: the city will remain our capital and will never be divided." Lieberman stressed that the government of which he is a member seeks peace as long as there is a genuine partner. "The State of Israel has proven time and again that it is prepared to pay a high price for peace with its neighbors and has already evacuated territory three times its size," he said. "We must now create a new reality in the region based on security for Israelis, economic prosperity for Palestinians, and stability for both. Only then will it be possible to negotiate a final agreement between the parties." The foreign minister also addressed reports of possible future demands on behalf of the U.S. administrations that Israel and the Palestinians make certain moves towards a peace settlement. Earlier this month, U.S. President Barack Obama told French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he was determined to press Israel and the Palestinians to renew negotiations and make confidence-building measures. In response to this, Lieberman said Tuesday that "any attempt to force a solution on us without building a foundation of trust between the two sides will only deepen the conflict. Peace can't be forced - it must be built."

VII. PRAVMIR - Prayer & Life: Bringing Life to Deadness in Prayer

It is not a rare thing for zealous Christians to experience what the Church father call "dryness" in prayer. A daily rule of prayer requires effort and will, and these can be weakened by tiredness, and distracted by activity. Yet familiarity with prayers can often make them a mere set of words or - even worse - sounds. Much like students singing the national anthem each morning the heart of prayer, the life of prayer, can soon become deadness. One Church Father (perhaps Saint Dorotheos of Gaza) reminds us that even in cases where are prayers are said by wrote, with little attention and little feeling, we should still persevere: even if it benefits us little, it still bothers the devil. Yet this is not the ideal for which we should strive. The Lord looks upon our efforts in prayer - particularly the times when we truly struggle - as our sacrifice of prayer to Him. These struggles are blessed. Yet between these times of struggle, the practice of holy people down through the centuries offers us something more, which enriches, strengthens, and enlivens us, that we should not fall away to become "prey to the wolf of souls" (as we read in the prayers before Communion). In the practice of the Church, both in monasteries and in the world, the saying of the Jesus Prayer may be used if daily services must be missed. In this we must use great care, lest the practice become a routine one, simply to allow us to skip the trip to Church. The use of the Jesus Prayer, before or after our regular rule of prayer, can help to warm and to humble our hearts, and to prepare it to receive the holy words of other prayers. The Jesus Prayer is also ideal for the numerous "in between" times of contemporary life, in waiting rooms or on busses, in class or while on the telephone. With the help of a spiritual guide, the prayer rope may also be used to pray for the pressing needs of the day, such as the repeated Lord, have mercy for our spouse, our children, our colleague whose mother is chronically ill, or our boss who is disagreeable. Similarly, we might put to use more fully the inherited short hymns of the Church, particularly the Akathist Hymns (literally, the hymns that are sung or read without sitting). Since the composing of the first Akathist by Saint Romanos the Melodist, with prayer and praise to the Mother of God, a wide variety of other Akathists have been composed and blessed for use in the Church. It is most appropriate to read these prayers in time of real, everyday needs, including Akathists to St Xenia (for those seeking a spouse, a job, or a home), St Nectarios (for those with cancer), St John Maximovitch (for travellers, those in storms, and those far from home), and numerous other saints. Many of these are available online, and are worth printing out and using. The prayers of these saints make a real difference, granting us strength as well as help from God. It is good to endure periods of spiritual dryness in prayer: from these spring forth great stability of faith. But in our weakness, we also require spiritual tools we may use in the midst of those periods of spiritual dryness which might otherwise be a danger to our soul. It is these tools which help to return our prayers to a strong, lively state, and to connect the needs we feel in our hearts, with the words and purpose of our prayers.

Michael's List- Greek Parade,NYC;Cyprus Peace;Serbia-Russia;Obama,Poland,Golf; GovernmentDistrust;Census:Black or biracial?;Orthodox Church,Doha

I. EPOCHTIMES - Greek Parade Celebrates Enduring Culture in New York City

Hundreds of Greek New Yorkers took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate their rich cultural heritage. The celebration marked 189 years since Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire and 2,500 years since the epic Battle of Marathon that set the stage for Western culture as we know it. Fifth Avenue was flooded with floats, dancers, bands, and marchers as part of the annual tradition—the Greek Independence Day Parade. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks had a revolution against the Ottoman Empire, an amalgamation of Islamic states centered around Turkey. The parade also celebrated the 2,500-year anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, a pivotal moment in the European history by many accounts. The outnumbered Greeks defeated the Persian infantry, and shortly afterward, the rise of the Classical Greek civilization ensued, strongly influencing Western culture through the present. Around 100,000 people were on the ground to watch the parade.

II. CNN - Blow to peace as nationalist wins Cyprus vote

A nationalist candidate won presidential elections in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Sunday, dealing a blow to efforts to bring the Mediterranean island's long conflict to an end. Dervis Eroglu took just over 50 percent of the vote, giving him an outright victory over the moderate incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat and five other candidates, north Cyprus election authorities indicated Monday. All the votes have been counted, the agency said on its Web site. The breakaway region was created after Turkish forces invaded the northern section of the island in 1974.

III. B92 - Serbia express gratitude to Russia

FM Vuk Jeremić met in Belgrade today with United Russia party official and Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev. The Serbian minister thanked his guest for Moscow's continued support for the preservation of Serbia's territorial integrity, reports said. Jeremić stated that he extended "full gratitude for the continued support", as Serbia makes efforts to preserve the country's integrity. The MFA said in Belgrade on Friday that Jeremić and Kosachev also talked about bilateral relations, and ways to deepen cooperation in all areas. The two officials concluded that the stability of the Western Balkans and improved mutual cooperation of all states in the region was important, said a statement from the meeting.

IV. WASHINGTONTIMES - Obama skips Polish funeral, heads to golf course

A massive volcanic plume covering most of Europe forced President Obama to cancel a Sunday trip to Poland to attend the funeral of the nation's president. But the last-minute change left an opening in his schedule, so the president headed to the links for a round of golf instead. After canceling the Poland trip on Saturday, the White House announced that Mr. Obama had no public schedule for Sunday. He was to have arrived in Krakow in the morning, attend the 2 p.m. funeral and leave for home by 5 p.m., arriving back at the White House after midnight. Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, Maria, along with dozens of top Polish government officials were killed April 10 when their airplane went down in heavy fog after clipping a tree on approach to Smolensk, Russia. Mr. Obama has not gone to the Polish Embassy in Washington since the accident, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. both have. There, they signed a condolence book. Mr. Obama was not the only world leader to miss the funeral because of the expanding volcanic ash cloud. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also canceled. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, however, flew by plane from Moscow for the funeral. Other foreign leaders used different modes of transportation to get there. Slovenian President Danilo Turk decided to drive the 500 miles to Krakow. Romanian President Traian Basescu traveled to northwestern Romania by helicopter and then continue by car through Hungary and Slovakia. Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip made the 18-hour drive to the funeral, while Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus made the trip by car and train. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko left Kiev with his wife at 7 a.m. Saturday for the long road trip. Mr. Obama has played golf far more often than former President George W. Bush. It is the 32nd time Mr. Obama has played golf since taking office Jan. 20, 2009. In his eight years in office, Mr. Bush played just 24 times. His last time as president was Oct. 13, 2003. He said in 2008 that he gave up golf "in solidarity" with the families of soldiers who were dying in Iraq. "I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf," Mr. Bush said in a White House interview Saturday with the Politico. "I feel I owe it to the families to be as - to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

V. UPI - Government distrust, Pew poll

Less than one-quarter of U.S. residents polled indicated to the Pew Research Center that they trusted the U.S. federal government most of the time. The center issued poll results Monday indicating that 22 percent of respondents said they trusted the government almost always or most of the time. The percentage was among the lowest Pew recorded for the question. Pew researchers blamed "a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials" for the results. "Favorable ratings for both major parties, as well as for Congress, have reached record lows while opposition to congressional incumbents, already approaching an all-time high, continues to climb," Pew said in a release on its Web site.

VI. PANTAGRAPH - Black or biracial? Census forces a choice for some

There were 784,764 U.S. residents who described their race as white and black in the last census. But that number didn't include Laura Martin, whose father is black and mother is white. "I've always just checked black on my form," said Martin, a 29-year-old university employee in Las Vegas. She grew up surrounded by black family and friends, listening to black music and active in black causes -- "So I'm black." Nor did it include Steve Bumbaugh, a 43-year-old foundation director in Los Angeles, who also has a black father and white mother. "It's not as if I'd have been able to drink out of the white and colored water fountains during Jim Crow," he said. "And I most assuredly would have been a slave. As far as I'm concerned, that makes me black." This is only the second census to allow people to identify themselves by more than one race. About 7 million people, or 2.4 percent of the U.S. population, chose that option in 2000. It's impossible to know how many of the 35 million people counted as "black alone" in 2000 have a white parent. But it's clear that the decision to check one box - or more - on the census is often steeped in history, culture, pride and mentality. Exhibit A is President Barack Obama. He declined to check the box for "white" on his census form, despite his mother's well-known whiteness. Obama offered no explanation, but Leila McDowell has an idea. "Put a hoodie on him and have him walk down an alley, and see how biracial he is then," said McDowell, vice president of communications for the NAACP. "Being black in this country is a political construct," she said. "Even though my father is white and I have half his genes, when I apply for a loan, when I walk into the car lot, when I apply for a job, they don't see me as half white, they see me as black. If you have any identifying characteristics, you're black." There is evidence, though, that while some may be resistant to the idea of identifying as multiracial, white attitudes are moving in that direction. In a January poll by the Pew Research Center, 53 percent of white people said Obama is "mixed race" and 24 percent said he is black. In contrast, 55 percent of black people said Obama is black and 34 percent said he is mixed. This also may represent a new twist on the "one drop" concept, which for centuries held that even one black ancestor made a person black. Now a brown-skinned man is president, and for many white people, one white parent means you are NOT black. But the logic is simple for Ryan Graham, the brown-skinned son of a white-black marriage who defines himself as multiracial. "Say you're wearing a black-and-white shirt. Somebody asks, 'What color is your shirt?' It's black and white. There you go. People ask me, 'What race are you?' I say I'm black and white. It's that simple," said Graham, a 25-year-old sales consultant from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Graham's mother founded Project Race in 1991 to fight for a multiracial classification in the census. Graham testified before Congress on the issue when he was 8. He's disappointed that Obama chose not to check the white box on the census, but said that people should be allowed to define themselves however they choose. "It's frustrating from a point that there's a lot of multiracial people out there who see Obama out there doing that, knowing that he's multiracial, and they think maybe that's the right choice. But there's a lot of people saying maybe it's the wrong choice." For those who decline to check the white box: "Think about your family, think about what makes you you," Graham said. "How you are, who you are, where you come from." Most experts say there is very little genetic difference between people of different races - as little as 1 percent. "Race is a social concept, not a scientific one," goes a much-repeated quote from J. Craig Venter, who led one of the first projects to decipher the entire human genome. That's one reason why the American racial system is "facing taxonomical meltdown," said Nell Painter, a Princeton University history professor and author of "The History of White People." "The complications of the classification system, the resistance that people are mounting, the weight of immigration and marriage mixing, young people are checking more than one box," Painter said. "The system might just all fall away." Which would leave blackness to be defined person by person, according to how they think, the way they look at the world - blackness as a state of mind.

VII. GREEKREPORTER - His Beatitude Theophilos III’, Patriarch of Jerusalem lays the Foundation Stone of the Orthodox Church in Doha

The Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was performed last Friday in the newly founded Orthodox Church of Saint George and Isaak the Qatari, in Doha of Qatar. Immediately after the liturgy, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Theophilos III’, in the presence of many orthodox Christians and representatives of other Christian Communities living in the Emirate in the Persian Gulf, symbolically lay the Foundation Stone of the Church. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Greek, Arabic, Russian and Romanian. His Beatitude, Theophilos III, who is the first Orthodox priest who arrived in Qatar after many centuries, was able to obtain land, which was provided by the Emir of Qatar for the construction of the Orthodox Church. On the occasion of his pastoral visit in Qatar, the Patriarch of Jerusalem visited the Emir of Qatar H H Shiekh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Below you can read the Address of Greeting from the Patriarch of Jerusalem to the Emir of Qatar: Your Highness, It is an honour for Us, Your Highness, to be able to address you on the occasion of Our pastoral visit to the Roum Orthodox community of Doha for the laying of the foundation stone of our parish of Saint Isaak the Qatari and Saint George. This is the fruit of many years of careful work and co-operation between the Emirate of Qatar and the Roum Patriarchate of Jerusalem. We take this opportunity to praise the work that both Your Highness and Her Highness the Consort have done in encouraging all Qataris to help build in this country a culture of progress and openness. Qatar is well known for the breakthroughs that you have made in overcoming the barriers of prejudice, in encouraging freedom of worship, and in creating a society of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. The world sees in Qatar a country that has managed to combine remarkable progress in the economic realm with an equally remarkable progress in the spiritual realm, and as such Qatar serves as a leader and as a model of stability for our region. We see in his achievement the embodiment of the essence of Islam as a religion of tolerance, hospitality and intellectual rigour and achievement. In this region of the world, Christian and Muslim have enjoyed periods of peaceful co-existence that have been of mutual benefit to both our communities. We know each other well, we understand each other’s customs and traditions, and the well-being of our region depends on good relationships between us. We honour the leadership that Your Highness has shown, and continues to demonstrate, in the practical work of ensuring the ongoing religious and cultural diversity of our region. The Rum Patriarchate pledges itself to be loyal and firm supporters of Your Highness’s leadership in this regard. As we know that we have a place in Qatar, Your Highness has a respected place in Jerusalem, and we are privileged to have your photograph in our Patriarchate. We look forward to the day when Your Highness can visit us at our Patriarchate in Jerusalem, a city that is sacred to the Abrahamic traditions. We thank you, Your Highness, for this opportunity to address you, and we pray the blessings of the All-Merciful God on you, Her Highness the Consort, on your family, and on all the people of our beloved Emirate. God bless you.

Michael's List- National Day of Prayer Unconstitional; Health Insurers; EU,Cyprus,Greece; Volcanic Ash; Kyoto-Russia; Kosovo; Haiti Earthquake Relief

I. FOX - Judge Declares National Day Of Prayer Unconstitutional

The law establishing an annual National Day of Prayer has been declared unconstitutional by a federal judge. Judge Barbara Crabb issued the ruling Thursday in a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation against President Barack Obama and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Congress established the National Day of Prayer in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray. Crabb's injunction barring such proclamations won't take effect until appeals are exhausted, so an Obama spokesman says the president will still proclaim this year's observance on May 6. Obama issued a proclamation last year but didn't hold a public event with religious leaders.

II. CBS - Health Insurers' Fast Food Holdings Raise Flag

The investments of large insurers of health, disability and long term care in fast food chains like McDonald's and Pizza Hut have raised the interest of a study in the American Journal of Public Health. The Harvard Medical School's Dr. Wesley Boyd, an author of the study, finds it ironic that these firms would invest nearly $2 billion in companies that sell food often linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease. Among big investors in fast food companies are life and disability insurers, like Prudential Financial, Northwestern Mutual and Massachusetts Mutual. According to the study, Northwestern Mutual owns $422.2 million in fast-food stock, with $318.1 million invested in McDonald's. Massachusetts Mutual owns $366.5 million of fast-food stock, including $267.2 in McDonald's. Holland-based ING, an investment firm that also offers life and disability insurance, has total fast-food holdings of $406.1 million, including $12.3 million in Jack in the Box, $311 million in McDonald's, and $82.1 million in Yum! Brands, which owns Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell. New Jersey-based Prudential Financial Inc. sells life insurance and long-term disability coverage. With total fast-food holdings of $355.5 million, Prudential Financial owns $197.2 of stock in McDonald's and also has significant stakes in Burger King, Jack-in-the-Box and Yum! Brands.

III. KATHIMERINI - EU under fire over trade move, Cyprus

Greece yesterday criticized the European Commission for allegedly failing to consult Cyprus before seeking to unblock trade relations with the island’s breakaway Turkish-Cypriot north. Athens said the Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, had “given an impression of poor faith” in seeking to lift an embargo on the breakaway state that was illegally set up after a Turkish invasion in 1974. “There is an impression of poor faith on behalf of the Commission,” Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras told reporters, adding that Athens would support Cyprus in contesting the initiative. “Greece will stand by [Cyprus’s] side every step of the way with every means at its disposal both at the European Parliament and Council level,” the spokesman said. The European Union in June approved steps to facilitate trade relations between the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island and the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus to support ongoing reunification talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Turkey refuses to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes until negotiations on the status of the divided island are concluded. “The Commission must do what is self-evident, to cooperate with member states. It cannot treat this as a procedural matter when it knows that it concerns vital interests of a member state and could affect the [reunification] talks,” Delavekouras said. Turkey hopes reunification talks between the halves of the island divided since 1974 will clear the way for negotiations with the European Union on several policy issues stalling Turkey’s EU membership bid.

IV. RT - Icelandic volcano affects air traffic across Europe

European air traffic remains crippled for a second day as the colossal cloud of Icelandic volcanic ash continues to blow slowly across Northern Europe. Tens of thousands of passengers are stranded as airspace from Britain to Poland stays closed. It could affect Sunday's state burial of the late Polish president and his wife if heads of state cannot get to the funeral. The ash is now approaching the skies above Moscow, and many flights to Europe’s main airports are being cancelled. Paul Martin Holm, an associate professor in the University of Copenhagen's Department of Geography and Geology says that what makes this eruption particularly “violent” is the fact that it is taking place under ice. While anxious passengers wait in overcrowded terminals, specialists say the worst might not be over. “The eruption is not over yet, and we do not know when it is going to end. The eruptions are happening in series, and every one is bigger than the previous one. For example, this eruption is 15 times bigger than the first one which happened on March 21,”said Pavel Plechov from the Geology Department of Moscow State University. “So when it stops, we will be able to predict when the ash cloud will settle. But it won't happen soon. Although the ashes that prevent flights will settle in a few days, tiny particles might stay in the atmosphere for a few years and affect the climate.” “Icelandic scientists are now closely watching the neighbouring volcano, which is much bigger and much more dangerous. If that wakes up, it might destroy much of Iceland,” concluded Plechov.

V. RIANOVOSTI - Medvedev threatens Russian withdrawal from Kyoto agreement

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday the country will pull out of the Kyoto environmental agreement if a compromise cannot be found concerning the reduction of carbon emissions. "All countries, including developed and developing economies, should reach an agreement, or, if we do not agree on this [the common terms of carbon emissions reduction], Russia will not prolong its participation in the Kyoto agreement - you cannot have it both ways," the president said. The statement came after the BRIC summit in Brazil's capital, Brasilia. The top-level talks, bringing together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, were aimed at improving the current global economic situation and strengthen cooperation between the four countries. The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement restricting carbon emissions, some points of which expire in 2012. A new global climate deal is needed to continue efforts beyond 2012. The controversial UN climate summit, which took place in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, in December 2009, was originally expected to see the signing of a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, but countries only agreed to try to keep average increases in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius. India, China and other emerging economies have not undertaken any obligations concerning the reduction of carbon emissions. The United States said it would not participate in the agreement until at least 2013. The county considers that climate change should be tackled by modern technologies, not cuts in carbon emissions stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol. Medvedev earlier said that while the 2009 Copenhagen Summit was a disappointment, Russia was determined to push forward strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saying the country could then meet its target of a 25% cut by 2020. Medvedev signed Russia's climate doctrine in the midst of the summit. The document requires the government to integrate various programs aimed at tackling climate changes caused by man into the doctrine implementation. Medvedev also spoke of the need for a global climate agreement, but one that would "answer the interests of Russia's sustainable development." This, he said, would need a strong coordinated effort from all branches of Russia's government.

VI. B92 - Kosovo should not be defended with arms

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Irinej said that it is better to defend Kosovo with history, culture, holy sites and love for them, than with weapons. He told Odbrana (Defense) magazine that he hopes that the world would not make a great mistake and allow this holiest of Serbian land to belong to someone else, because such a solution would create a flashpoint between Serbia and its neighbors, since such a Kosovo would always be a danger to peace—“both our peace and world peace”. “For us, even possibility that Kosovo would not within Serbia is an unimaginable history. Serbia is Kosovo and Metohija. That is where our history and culture begins. The center of our church is there, the Peć Patriarchy,” Irinej said. According to the spiritual leader of Orthodox Serb Christians, the main weapon in the fight for preserving the province should be love for Kosovo, because “as long as Kosovo is in our thoughts, in our hearts, in our songs... it can only be Serbian.” Irinej said that the decision of KFOR to pull its unit that protects SPC churches and monasteries in Kosovo and give them over to the Kosovo police could be a tragic one, “given the current disposition of our neighbors the Albanians.”

VII. IOCC - IOCC Receives Support for Haiti Relief Efforts from Antiochian Faithful

IOCC's ongoing relief efforts in Haiti received a boost from the faithful of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP (Saliba) presented a check for $150,000 to IOCC Executive Director and CEO Constantine M. Triantafilou, in the presence of His Grace Bishop Antoun, Order of St Ignatius of Antioch chair Dan Abraham, and IOCC board members the Very Rev. Michael Ellias and Anne Glynn Mackoul on April 14 at Antiochian headquarters in Englewood, N.J. The gift brought the total raised by IOCC in response to the earthquake in Haiti to over one million dollars. When the earth shook in Haiti, it also shook our hearts and our souls. The faithful of the Antiochian Archdiocese responded generously to my appeal and I am pleased to present this check to IOCC," said His Eminence, Metropolitan PHILIP. "We are blessed to have IOCC as the humanitarian arm of the Orthodox Church in North America, representing us for such emergencies throughout the world," his Eminence continued. "We are grateful to His Eminence and the Antiochian faithful who generously provided this support from churches throughout the U.S.," said IOCC Board Chairman Alex Machaskee. "The generosity of Orthodox Christians has been tremendous in supporting our efforts to assist those who have been affected by this tragedy," he continued. From the first days of this tragedy IOCC has worked on behalf of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) with its Orthodox Christian and ecumenical partners to provide immediate food, shelter and other basic needs to the suffering people of Haiti. IOCC has delivered more than $2.7 million in immediate relief to Haitians since the middle of January. Medicines, medical equipment, water purification and sanitation equipment, tents, hygiene kits, shelter materials, fuel, food, blankets, jerry cans for water and mattresses have been shipped and distributed throughout Haiti in cooperation with Orthodox Christian partners, ACT Alliance members and other partners. IOCC has received support for Haiti from Orthodox churches throughout the U.S. including thousands of hygiene kits that were assembled or collected by Orthodox Christians. IOCC made an appeal for the kits following the January 12 earthquake. The kits were used to assist Haiti's survivors and will also be available for use in response to disasters and situations of need throughout the world. IOCC is the official humanitarian aid agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy. You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like the Haiti Earthquake, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org.

Michael's List- Polls: Health Care,Midterm Elections; Russian Adoptions; Cyprus, Turkey's EU Bid; Greece-FYROM; Serbia-Kosovo-EU; Diaconate Programs

I. AP - Poll: Opposition to Obama's health care law jumped, liability to Democrats in fall

Opposition to President Barack Obama's health care law jumped after he signed it — a clear indication his victory could become a liability for Democrats in this fall's elections. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds Americans oppose the health care remake 50 percent to 39 percent. Before a divided Congress finally passed the bill and Obama signed it at a jubilant White House ceremony last month, public opinion was about evenly split. Another 10 percent of Americans say they are neutral.

II. POLITICSDAILY - Polls Differ on Whether Voters Prefer Democrats or Republicans in the Midterms

Gallup and CNN reached different results in their latest "generic" congressional ballot surveys asking voters which party's candidate they would support if the election was held today, with Gallup finding the Republicans ahead 48 percent to 44 percent and CNN/Opinion Research putting the Democrats ahead 50 percent to 46 percent. Both polls were of registered voters and both asked them to respond based on the choice of candidates in their own congressional district. The Gallup poll was conducted April 5-11 and had a margin of error of 3 points. CNN's survey April 9-11 and had a margin of error of 3.5 points. Gallup and CNN also differed last month. Gallup's March 21 poll had Democrats ahead 47 percent to 45 percent, while CNN's March 19-21 survey had Republicans leading 48 percent to 45 percent. Gallup said of its finding: "This marks the third week since the U.S. House passed healthcare reform on March 21 that the Republicans have tied or led the Democrats." Gallup is still finding an "enthusiasm gap" between Republicans and Democrats with 48 percent of Republics saying they were very enthusiastic about voting in this year's midterms compared to 30 percent of Democrats. That represents a falloff compared to the two weeks after passage of the health care reform legislation when Republican enthusiasm peaked at 54 percent to 35 percent for the Democrats.

III. RT - US suspended from adopting Russian children

Moscow has suspended the adoption of Russian children by American families until the two countries sign an agreement on how the well-being of the children is safeguarded. The decision, announced by spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrey Nesterenko, was taken after an adopted Russian boy was rejected and sent back all alone to Russia by his adopted American mother. An American delegation headed by Michael Kirby, a senior diplomat who deals with adoption issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, will soon arrive to Moscow to discuss the issue. One principal question Russia wants from table is a bilateral agreement on international adoption, the Russian diplomat said. The agreement requested by the Russian side is now being prepared, confirmed US Ambassador to Moscow John Beyrle, commenting on the news for Itar-Tass news agency. He added such a document is long overdue. Earlier on Monday Dmitry Medvedev sponsored such an agreement when commenting on the scandalous case. The Russian president branded the American family’s rejection of the boy they adopted as both amoral and illegal and also mentioned several other cases when Russian children adopted by American citizens were mistreated and even died in their new parents’ care. The incident caused uproar in Russia, where mistreatment of Russian children in foreign families is taken to heart by many. Several top officials including the chair of the upper chamber of Parliament called for a moratorium on the adoption of Russian children by Americans after the incident. For Americans, Russia is the third most popular country to adopt a child from. Over the last five years US families have adopted more than 14,000 Russian kids.

IV. REUTERS - Cyprus talks, Turkey EU bid in balance in Sunday vote

A presidential election in a sliver of Cyprus on Sunday will have ramifications far beyond the territory's boundaries, from the island's fragile peace process to Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Barring a last-minute upset, hardline right-winger Dervis Eroglu is set to sweep to victory in northern Cyprus, a territory recognized as a republic only by Ankara. A staunch believer in independence from the rest of Cyprus, Eroglu has staked his claim to the presidency by accusing incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat of failing in talks with Greek Cypriots aimed at resolving their territorial dispute. The Greek side, which controls two-thirds of the island, wants reunification; Eroglu supports a two-state confederation. The independence calls are a red flag for Greek Cypriots, who represent Cyprus in the EU and will block Turkey joining the grouping until the conflict is resolved. Nominally, the entire island is in the EU, though effective membership is confined to the southern Greek Cypriot side, whose authority stops at a ceasefire line controlled by U.N. peacekeepers. Turkey started EU entry talks in 2005, but Cyprus has repeatedly used its position in the EU to block the opening of chapters, or areas to negotiate to ensure policies meet EU standards, as a pressure tactic on Ankara. Turkey is also under EU pressure to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic, which it has so far failed to do. The talks could turn into a waiting game to see which side will blink first if Eroglu introduces his publicly expressed position for a two-state deal instead of the bi-zonal bi-communal federation Turkish Cypriots have advocated up to now. Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Talat, a fellow leftist, have covered about half of the areas of negotiation in the peace talks launched in 2008.

V. ECONOMIST - Naming and blaming: A last word on the Greece-Macedonia name dispute

A USEFUL test for an outsider trying to analyse an argument is to assume that one side is right and then to work out the consequences. If an analysis of eggshells conclusively proves that an egg is better opened at the big end rather than the small one, what follows? And if the assumption is reversed, how bad would it be to have got it wrong? Eggshells, as Jonathan Swift so bitingly observed in “Gulliver’s Travels”, are not worth getting cross about. The cost of a lifetime spent opening eggs incompetently is a small amount of wasted time and some spilled yolk. At the other extreme, take the question of whether Iran has nuclear weapons: get that wrong and you may either see Israel wiped off the map, or, alternatively, a catastrophic and unnecessary pre-emptive strike on Iran. This column’s recent attempt to look at the name dispute between Greece and its northern neighbour (FYROM to the Greeks, Macedonia to the locals) became the most-commented article ever to appear on the Economist website. A second column, which highlighted some similar issues in the post-communist world (and suggested that they might be overblown), was a runner-up. At the risk of provoking ruptured spleens all round, here is a third attempt, using the principle outlined in the first paragraph. What if the Greeks are right? What if the other camp is right? In each case, does it matter? The Greek case (crudely stated) is that Macedonia is a title properly belonging a) to ancient Macedonia and b) to the northern Greek province that bears that name. Communist Yugoslavia applied the label to its southern province (which in fact speaks a dialect of Bulgarian) as a provocation, in the aftermath of the Greek civil war. If it were to accept “Macedonia” as a name for the former Yugoslav republic, Greece would legitimise that communist name-grab and lay itself open to territorial claims, or even terrorism. It stubbornly refuses to allow its northern neighbour’s application for European Union and NATO membership to proceed until it budges on the name issue. Assume Greece’s argument is right. Would it matter? The globe is studded with ancient, buried hatchets involving names and places (which came first: Bretagne or Grande-Bretagne? Who cares?) Logically preposterous toponyms are the rule, not intolerable exceptions. So set aside that argument, unless you are trying to drum up business for map publishers. Nor does the argument about dangerous irredentism stand up. As a relatively big country, and a member of the EU and NATO, Greece can scarcely plead persecution from its small northern neighbour. The last 20 years show that expanding the EU and NATO is the best way of making troubled neighbourhoods safer. But even if there is a danger of terrorism from Skopjean extremists, how should it be contained? By including Macedonia in western clubs, prosperous and, with luck, well governed? Or by keeping it weak, divided and isolated? So even if the Greeks are right, the course of action looks wrong. What of the Macedonian/FYROM side? Assume its most hardline protagonists are right: that they are the heirs to an ancient civilisation, whereas Greece is an ethno-nationalist bully with fascist undertones that oppresses a Slavic minority in the north. If that’s true, then the EU and others ought to be more worried than they are. But it has little bearing on the name of the northern neighbour. On that basis, the verdict is clear. If the Skopje authorities are right, then withholding recognition of their name is an outrage. If they are wrong, even if they are silly and provocative, it is not worth breaking eggshells to set them right.

VI. B92 - Serbia to EU: "Kosovo is a part of its territory"

Belgrade will state that Kosovo is a part of its territory as it submits answers to the European Commission (EC) questionnaire. This is according to EU Integration Office Director Milica Delević, who told B92 that she did not believe that "anybody will be surprised by the fact that Serbia will give answers in accordance with the Constitution". Delević also noted that she did not think there would be "any expectation about Serbia declaring itself in some way, since there is no consent about the issues in question among EU member states themselves". European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele told Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik recently that the EU was not forcing Serbia to "choose between membership and tendency to have Kosovo as a part of Serbia", which, he said, would be confirmed in the questionnaire – a document submitted to every country during a review of its candidacy. “The questions that the questionnaire will bring won’t be a surprise to anybody because they are directed to help the Commission which will sort the opinions about our application for membership, and about how close we are to the fulfillment of the criteria,” Delević stated. She pointed out that the questionnaire is the same for everyone, and that it could be expected that Serbia would receive the same documents as Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania had. Delević stressed that "there was no clear consensus in the EU about whether Kosovo was a state or not, but that there was agreement that it is necessary to include Kosovo into integration processes, on both European and regional level".

VII. OCA - Two training practicums for deacons and diaconal candidates to be offered this summer

Two intense liturgical training practicums for deacons, students in the Orthodox Church in America's Diaconal Vocations Program, and those interested in the diaconate will be held this summer at Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Yonkers, NY and Saint Herman's Seminary, Kodiak, AK.For the fourth year, Saint Vladimir's Seminary will offer the Diaconal Liturgical Practicum June 20-24, 2010. This year's practicum will be one day longer than last year to allow increased discussion and work on the deacon's vocation in the parish, the diaconal vocation in service to neighbor, and different experience levels. Faculty include Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov and Priests Alexander Rentel and Sergius Halvorsen. A similar practicum will be held at Saint Herman's Seminary August 4-7, in conjunction with the annual pilgrimage honoring Saint Herman of Alaska, which concludes on August 9. "Participants will be afforded a special opportunity to receive practical diaconal liturgical training, to engage in 'diakonia in action' on Spruce Island, and to participate in the pilgrimage in the unmatched beauty of Alaska's 'Emerald Isle,'" said Archdeacon Kirill, who with Archpriest John Dunlop, dean of Saint Herman's Seminary, will lead the practicum. "The two practicums are being held held in conjunction with the Orthodox Church in America's Diaconal Vocations Program and are highly recommended for participants in the Church's program by the Holy Synod," Archdeacon Kirill added. "According to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, diakonia is at the center of the vocation of every Christian. The hierarchs are thankful for the growth in diaconal vocations throughout our Church, and these annual practicums gives deacons a strong context for their service at the holy altar." During the practicums, practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates will be supported by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other services. Intensive workshops will provide participants with the skills needed to serve effectively. Attention will be given to the liturgical patterns of movement that inform the entire rite of the Church. Participants will also receive guidance on concelebration and hierarchical celebrations in order to effectively prepare for such occasions. In addition to practicums, focused presentations by faculty will augment the deacon's understanding of his place in the liturgical life of the Church and his broader vocation as a witness to the faithful of the diakonia of Christ. Instruction in public speaking and vocal technique will also be offered. The Diaconal Vocations Program is a program of theological study offered by the Holy Synod to prepare men who may be called for ordination to the Holy Diaconate. The Holy Synod recently blessed a process of evaluation and revision for the Program. Archdeacon Kirill was recently appointed Coordinator of the Diaconal Vocations Program. He can be reached for any questions about the Program and the summer practicums at www.oca.org. For more information and/or to register for the Diaconal Vocations Program at Saint Vladimir's Seminary see www.svots.edu. For more information and/or to register for the Diaconal Liturgical Praticum at Saint Herman Seminary see www.sthermanseminary.org.

Michael's List - Terrorism Trials; Ahmadinejad; Israel-Russia; Israelis, Sinai; Greece-Cyprus; EU-Serbia-Kosovo; Christ's Limitless Love

I. NPR - Senators Try To Pin Down Holder On Terrorism Trials

Attorney General Eric Holder was in the hot seat on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, as a Senate panel bombarded him with questions on Guantanamo Bay, the hunt for Osama bin Laden and a possible location for the trials for the Sept. 11 terrorism suspects. Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that a decision on the venue hasn't been finalized, though Manhattan is still a possibility. Five months ago, Holder announced that the Sept. 11 suspects -- including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-conspirators -- would be moved from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to stand trial in New York City. He was hammered for the decision, and the White House scuttled the plan after N.Y. officials and fearful residents expressed concerns that the trials would make the city a target yet again. "It should be clear to everyone by now that there are many legal, national security and practical factors to be considered here," Holder said Wednesday. Republicans repeatedly charged the attorney general with putting Americans at risk by trying to integrate terrorism suspects into the federal court system. "Pretending that terrorists can safely be treated as common criminals will not make it so," snapped Sen. Jeff Sessions, the committee's ranking Republican. Holder also stepped back from remarks he made last month that bin Laden wouldn't be tried for crimes against the U.S. because he wouldn't be taken alive. On Wednesday, he told lawmakers that the U.S. would like to capture bin Laden and put him on trial, but that it's unlikely the al-Qaida leader would allow himself to be taken alive. "Our plan is to capture him or to kill him," Holder told the committee. "Our hope would be to capture him and to get useful intelligence from him." At times, even Democrats seemed to pile on the attorney general. Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin tried to get Holder to say when the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba would be closed, but Holder threw part of the responsibility back on Congress, saying lawmakers must provide money for a replacement facility. A replacement prison is being planned for Illinois.

II. AFP - Ahmadinejad tells US to 'fight terrorism like Iran'

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged Barack Obama to follow Tehran's example in fighting terrorism in a letter sent to his US counterpart, the Iranian leader's office said on Wednesday. "Questions like the attack on Afghanistan, the expansion of instability and insecurity in the region and America's backing for terrorism were raised in the letter," said Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, the Iranian presidency's chief of staff. "The president has also asked Obama to learn from Iran on how to combat terrorism," Mashaie said. In the letter, which was sent in the Iranian month of Esfand (February 20 to March 21), Ahmadinejad also brought up the topic of Sunni militant Abdolmalek Rigi, whom Iran arrested in February and accuses of being backed by Washington. "The aim of writing this letter is for the world to grasp the view of the Islamic republic of Iran and also criticise US policies in the region," Mashaie said. Ahmadinejad had previously written a letter to Obama's predecessor George W. Bush in May 2006. The same year in November he had also written an open letter to the American people. In recent days, Ahmadinejad has raised fresh doubts over the occurrence of the 2001 attacks on the United States, and even written to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon to launch a probe into what he has called a "big lie."

III. RT - Israel and Russia to join efforts in war against terrorism

An Israeli parliamentary delegation has arrived in Moscow to discuss ways of tackling terror following the attacks on the Russian capital last week. Israel, which has been fighting Islamic terrorist groups for years, is going to share with Russia its anti-terrorism know-how. “Unfortunately, Israel is a laboratory for combating terrorism methods,” Tsakhi Anegbi, head of the Israeli parliament delegation, told RT. “Our country has been fighting terrorism in almost every version – in the air, in the sea, and on the ground. We have learned a lot, we can share our experience with every state that would like to take advantage of our experience and we definitely intent to help Russia in its efforts to put an end to terrorism.” Until now, Israel has only revealed its anti-terror tactics to the US, but the recent attacks made the country alter its principles. “Terrorism is like a disease. If you don’t fight it immediately and put an end to its growth, eventually you’ll find yourself paralyzed by this disease,” Anegbi said. Even though there is a big difference between Russian and Israel, which has been fighting terrorism from its first days of independence in 1948, the countries face the same difficulties. “The problem in Russia and in Israel is that we need very accurate, real-time intelligence in order to locate the leaders of terrorism and try to get to them,” Anegbi told RT. “What Russia should learn from our experience is that you can never rest. You always have to understand what the threats of terrorism are and to be one step ahead if you want to win the war against terrorism.” The Israeli delegation will also offer an assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities and is likely to try and persuade Moscow to back new sanctions on Iran. Also, further discussions will touch on regional issues, such as resumption of peace talks with Palestine and the arms trade. “We have just signed a treaty of cooperation in various fields,” Anegbi said. “We are establishing, together, a committee that will make this dialogue very fruitful and intensive.”

IV. JPOST - Sinai warning reiterated, Israelis to return home

Following an urgent call on all Israelis in Sinai to return home immediately and rumors of a kidnapping, the defense establishment reiterated the warning Wednesday, but said that there was no concrete evidence to suggest that an Israeli had been captured in the area. However, they stressed that the matter was “still being checked,” Army Radio reported. The National Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau reiterated its warning Wednesday that a terrorist cell was on its way to Sinai to kidnap an Israeli and transfer him or her to the Gaza Strip. While officials refused to reveal the cell’s affiliation, they said it was working on behalf of Hamas. Former OC Southern Command Brig.-Gen. Tzvika Fogel told Army Radio that various terror organizations, like the Islamic Jihad, “are likely to exploit the wide recognition of the Sinai being a hotspot for Israeli vacationers in order to get more ‘Gilad Schalits.’” He said the Sinai beach strip was an “extremely important asset for Egypt,” and that terror groups were operating there on a regular basis in order to “deal a blow to the soft belly of the Egyptian regime.” Head of the Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, Maj.-Gen. (res) Amos Gilad, reinforced the travel warning, telling the radio station Wednesday that it was based on quality intelligence. “It’s not a general warning, but concrete information that points to the possibility of the kidnapping of an Israeli with the possibility of his murder and transfer to the Gaza Strip,” he said. “It’s a justifiable concern for the welfare of Israelis and therefore, the advisory was of a concrete nature – there’s no need to invent anything in this place. The danger is severe.” Tourists, both from Israel and elsewhere, who decided to leave the Sinai continued to arrive at the border Wednesday. Nevertheless, according to police estimates, 550 Israelis were still there.

V. FINANCIALMIRROR - Greek Premier in Cyprus

Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou has stressed his country’s determination to continue working towards finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem. Arriving in Cyprus for a short working visit, Papandreou stressed Greece firmly supports the Republic of Cyprus, “standing by the side of the Cypriot leadership and people, in practice. I am here again, and together to send out the same firm message, in all directions”. He pointed out that “we move with determination, and I repeat that we will never stop working for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, our national issue”. The Greek Premier was met at Larnaka International Airport by Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and Under Secretary to the President Titos Christofides. Today in the morning Papandreou will hold a tete-a-tete meeting at the Presidential Palace with President Demetris Christofias. An extended meeting will follow with the participation of the leaders of the Cypriot parliamentary parties. The meeting will also be attended by the Greek Alternate FM Demetrios Droutsas, Greek Government Spokesman George Petalotis, Greek Ambassador to Cyprus Vasilis Papaioannou, Cypriot FM Markos Kyprianou, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou and Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou. In the afternoon Papandreou will meet the Primate of the Cyprus Church, Archbishop Chrysostomos II. Immediately after, he will depart for Athens. Papandreou’s visit takes place after UN-sponsored intensive rounds of talks between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, interrupted in view of the illegal elections in the areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974.

VI. B92 - EU: Belgrade won't have to choose, Kosovo

There is no connection between Serbia's EU path and the resolution of the Kosovo issue, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele stated. He also added that the European Commission (EC) expects that every EU candidate country should have good relations with the neighboring countries if it wants to make progress toward the EU. Fuele said in an interview for the Novi Sad-based daily Dnevnik that the EC questionnaire for Serbia's EU candidacy is impartial regarding Kosovo, adding that he believes that the EU member states will give a mandate to the EC in June to start drafting the assessment of Serbia's readiness for the candidacy status. "The content of the questionnaire will clearly show that the EC is unbiased concerning the status of Kosovo. There is no connection between the resolution of Belgrade-Priština relations and Serbia's future steps in the EU integration process. The questionnaire will prove that Belgrade is in no way made to choose between the EU path and Serbia's aspirations to maintain Kosovo as its integral part," Fuele pointed out. Fuele said that he hopes that in the years to come, a solution that would secure a European future for Serbia and Kosovo will be found in the EU integration process.

VII. PRAVMIR - Christ's Limitless Love

Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 No doubt, in today’s society we are exposed to many messages about the meaning of love. Countless song titles speak on the subject - “What’s love got to do with it?” “Will you still love me tomorrow?” “All you need is love.” Amidst thousands of songs, movies, and book titles, our Lord’s Resurrection reminds us that it ‘is’ about God’s limitless and sacrificial love. Mother Teresa said it well when she spoke of a paradox ‘that if you love until it hurts, there can be not more hurt, only more love. This is the limitless love God has given for us at Pascha. It is a love that transfigures pain, a love that continues to fill, inspires, and changes the world. It is a love that ignites hearts to be a light into the world. This limitless love of Jesus is freely given for all on Pascha! We see love in action. Christ pours out His self-sacrificial love and devotion to His people and His creation. He empties himself, and is crucified on the cross. His limitless loves takes Him to Hades to take on Satan to save and free us from the chains and shackles that restricts us from being united with Him with this limitless love. On Pascha, He didn’t measure the amount of blood shed for our salvation. He didn’t complain about the beatings and whippings or being spat upon. He never asked anything from anyone for carrying that cross. He didn’t complain about Peter’s denial or Thomas’ doubt. He just did it! In fact, Christ was not economical with His pain. He didn’t say this amount of suffering equals saving a few people. He didn’t give life for a few but for every precious person. He shed his blood for you and me. He commanded for His word to be preached to everyone and for us to become living temples of His Holy Spirit. There is no limit to His love. There is no waste for the things of God. He deserves it all and I wish we can learn to not waste but use every ounce of breath and energy on Christ as He freely gave us His life, breath, and energy. I am reminded that nothing is wasted when it is done from the heart. Before His crucifixion, Mary, Lazarus’ sister took a pound of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. Her heart burned for the love of Christ and she showed it while the cold heart of Judas asked why she is wasting this ointment. I am sure we say the same thing. What is this crazy woman doing wasting this on Jesus? We know you love Jesus but don’t be foolish spending a years worth of wages on that ointment to wipe Christ’s feet. But this ointment was an expression of the overflowing heart of Mary. It was an outward expression of love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed and it is this crazy expression of love that we are asked to offer Christ. I have experienced this limitless love when I see a parent of a child suffering from cancer sacrificing their will, their time, their energy to care for their child. There is nothing a parent will do to bring life, comfort, hope and joy to an ailing child. Nothing! St. Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 8:38-39. There is nothing that will keep us from God’s love. For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love; neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord! The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless we spend time with Him in prayer, listen to His voice in His Holy Word, and experience His love for us during the day. Just as she poured out the very best she had, we are asked to do the same. Money is never the issue, but a sincere expression of faith and love is. We offer our ointment when we practice faithful service wherever God has placed us- at home with the kids, at the office, leading a company, teaching, preaching, etc. Let us realize the limitless love of Christ offered at His Holy Resurrection and offer Him our faithful, diligent service as our gift with our tears. Many may consider our efforts crazy or wasted leading to no permanent change in the world. But what others may call insignificant or wasteful, God deems to be a fragrant aroma that fills His home of the universe with aroma. There is always something beautiful and fragrant about what we do out of love. No act performed out of a mere sense of duty or obligation can fill the air with that kind of fragrance. May the limitless love of Christ’s Resurrection enlighten you, challenge you, motivate you, and inspire you to freely practice offering everything you have to Jesus.

Michael's List - Baffled by Health Plan?; Greek Wines; Pope in Cyprus, Talks; Vatican on Kosovo; US-Russia, Nukes; Monasticism

I. NEWYORKTIMES - Baffled by Health Plan? So Are Some Lawmakers

It is often said that the new health care law will affect almost every American in some way. And, perhaps fittingly if unintentionally, no one may be more affected than members of Congress themselves. In a new report, the Congressional Research Service says the law may have significant unintended consequences for the “personal health insurance coverage” of senators, representatives and their staff members. For example, it says, the law may “remove members of Congress and Congressional staff” from their current coverage, in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, before any alternatives are available. The confusion raises the inevitable question: If they did not know exactly what they were doing to themselves, did lawmakers who wrote and passed the bill fully grasp the details of how it would influence the lives of other Americans? The law promises that people can keep coverage they like, largely unchanged. For members of Congress and their aides, the federal employees health program offers much to like. But, the report says, the men and women who wrote the law may find that the guarantee of stability does not apply to them. Lawmakers of both parties have repeatedly said their goal is to provide all Americans with access to health insurance as good as what Congress has. Congress must now decide what steps, if any, it can take to deal with the problem. It could try for a legislative fix, or it could adopt internal policies to minimize any disruptions. In its painstaking analysis of the new law, the research service says the impact on Congress itself and the intent of Congress are difficult to ascertain. The law apparently bars members of Congress from the federal employees health program, on the assumption that lawmakers should join many of their constituents in getting coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges. But the research service found that this provision was written in an imprecise, confusing way, so it is not clear when it takes effect. The new exchanges do not have to be in operation until 2014. But because of a possible “drafting error,” the report says, Congress did not specify an effective date for the section excluding lawmakers from the existing program. “If members of Congress cannot explain how it’s going to work for them and their staff, how will they explain it to the rest of America?”

II. VILLAGEVOICE - Greek Wines Are No Longer a Tragedy

Most people's first experience with Greek wine is pine-y, syrupy retsina -- that country white so ancient even Homer himself may have sipped it while composing his epics (poetry and booze being the classic combo that it is). But the cradle of winemaking civilization is now turning out wines that don't require a stiff ouzo chaser. A recent tasting of several Greek wines found good value bottlings that are easy to drink, if difficult to pronounce. Here were five standouts: 1. Domaine Porto Carras Limnio 2007 ($14): Made from the Limnio grape, the wine is made on the hillsides of Mount Meliton in Macedonia, near Turkey, and is certified organic. Reminiscent of a Pinot Noir with red fruit, clay notes, and a rusty color, you can find it on wine lists at Kefi and The Hideaway. 2. Harlaftis White 2009 ($12): This crisp white is made from Savatiano, the grape used to make retsina. It's clear in color, with great acidity and a saline minerality to it. Produced near Athens, the wines are pretty much organic, but the winery is too small to invest in the cost of certification. Sip it at Pera Mediterranean Brasserie. 3. Gai'a Assyrtiko Wild Ferment 2009 ($26): Pronounced yeai-ah, it's probably the only naturally fermented wine you're going to find from Greece. Based out of Santorini, winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos is one of the most acclaimed in the country. The Assyrtiko grape, indigenous to the region, is known for good acidity and the ability to age. The wine is pretty, floral, and a little wild. Look for it on the lists at Molyvos and wd~50. 4. Gai'a Estate Red 2006 ($17): Made from 100 percent Agiorgitiko (Ai-your-yee-tee-ko), the second most planted grape in Greece, this full-bodied red is full of forest fruit and moss, but could probably use a little more time in the bottle. Bar Boulud and Porter House stock it -- proving Greek wines don't only pair with Greek food. 5. Domaine Spiropoulos Ode Panos NV ($21): If you like your sparklers full of bread, then these bubbles are for you. A candied kiwi prickle adds to the effervescence of this aromatic 100-percent Moschofilero (Mo-sko-fee-le-ro). Made in the Peloponnese, it's one of the first Greek wines to receive organic certification from the USDA. Have a glass at Snack Taverna or Okeanos in Park Slope.

III. KATHIMERINI - Cyprus talks ‘must stay on track’

Prime Minister George Papandreou yesterday stressed the importance of momentum being maintained in the latest round of United Nations-mediated peace talks on Cyprus, irrespective of who wins scheduled elections in the Turkish-occupied north on Sunday. “The European Union and the international community will expect, regardless of who leads the Turkish-Cypriot community, that any gains made in the existing negotiation process not be lost,” Papandreou said following talks in Nicosia with Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias. “The talks cannot start from scratch,” Papandreou added. The Greek premier acknowledged that there had been some progress in the latest round of peace talks on Cyprus “though not to the degree that we had hoped.” He also praised the government in Nicosia for working “patiently and persistently toward a solution” and he called on Turkish Cypriots to contribute to the peace effort “in a more constructive way and with the will for a solution.” Christofias was more outspoken, noting that he would be unwilling to resume negotiations from scratch if hardliner Dervis Eroglu beats incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat, a moderate, in the elections. “I am not prepared to start from the beginning after 18 months of negotiations with Turkish-Cypriot leader Mr Talat which have created the basis for a negotiated settlement,” Christofias said. “I won’t even consider starting from zero. Whoever makes this demand must be willing to pay the price in Europe and internationally,” he added. Christofias was responding to reporters’ questions on what he would do if Talat is defeated by Eroglu, who might want to launch a new talks process. Eroglu, who has the lead in opinion polls, told a rally of supporters’ over the weekend that the current parameters outlining a peace deal “don’t make sense.” He also said he would “bring the reality” of the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus to the negotiating table. Talat has warned in interviews of Cyprus talks collapsing if Eroglu wins Sunday’s elections.

IV. EARTHTIMES - Pope to visit Cyprus in June

Pope Benedict XVI will visit Cyprus from June 4-6, the Vatican announced Saturday. During his stay the pontiff will unveil a working paper for the synod of bishops on the Middle East, that is due to take place at the Vatican in October. The pope will also meet the Orthodox Christian archbishop of the Mediterranean island, Crysostomus II, and hold an open-air economical service in the ruins of Paphos, a world cultural heritage. It will be the 16th foreign trip for the German-born pontiff, who is also due to travel to Malta and Portugal this year. The Orthodox Church on Cyprus, founded in AD 46, is one of the oldest in the world. Some 77 per cent of the Cyprus population are Christian Orthodox.

V. B92 - Vatican on Kosovo

The Vatican has not recognized Kosovo out of consideration for the Serbian Orthodox Church, Cardinal Walter Casper was quoted as saying. "We, naturally, know that Kosovo is a heavy wound and pain for the SPC. We know that Kosovo is the cradle and center of Serb orthodoxy. We understand that and wish to be considerate toward that," said the cardinal, who is a member of the Papal Council. Casper also pointed out that the Vatican stands in favor of protecting Orthodox monuments, monasteries and churches in Kosovo, and that he was "very upset over a certain cultural brutality". "Important historical, cultural and religious monuments are being destroyed in Kosovo," he said of the ethnic Albanian attacks on Serb heritage. "This must not be (happening). History cannot be erased in that way."

VI. AP - US, Russia ink deal on weapons-grade plutonium

The United States and Russia have signed an agreement to eliminate a massive amount of nuclear material that could used to fuel about 17,000 atomic weapons. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sealed the deal on Tuesday on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington. Under the pact, the two countries have committed themselves to dispose of 68 metric tons of excess weapons-grade plutonium beginning in 2018. The disposal will be inspected and monitored by experts and is aimed at ensuring that the stockpiles can never be used for weapons or other military purposes.

VII. PRAVMIR - Monasticism: The Angelic Evangelic Life

Almighty God has gifted Orthodox Christianity with monasticism. It is the “alternative lifestyle” of Orthodoxy to which some, but not all, are called. Many sources state that the monastic life is the angelic life. Going one step further, some sources even state that God has replaced the angelic ranks that fell with Satan with the men and women who have been called to the angelic (that is, monastic) life. When we think of monasticism, several images and ideas come to mind – such as monasteries, the prayer life, and asceticism. But what about evangelism? Does the angelic life have a connection with the evangelical life that we Orthodox Christians are supposed to be living daily (especially those of us in the “front lines” – in our parishes and in the secular world)? If we turn to the hymnography of the feastday of the Synaxis of the Angels (November 8), in particular to the stichera on “Lord, I call …” at Great Vespers, we get some surprising insights about the angelic life worthy of consideration and application in the monastic life. The angelic life is one of worship. Stichera 6 states: As thou hast been manifested standing all resplendent, before the triluminary Godhead, O Michael, leader of hosts, thou dost shout rejoicing with the powers on high, “Holy Father! Holy Coeternal Word! Holy, Holy Spirit! One Glory and Sovereignty, one Nature, one Godhead, and one Power.” We all share in the angelic life when we gather together and engage in the liturgical worship of the Church. Those of us who have not been called to the monastic life are kept busy with the everyday activities of work, school, and family. It is a blessing to know that we have men and women in the Church who have dedicated themselves to a life of prayer and worship. As a result, the Church around the world at every hour of the day is praying ceaselessly (I Thess. 5:17), even when you and I cannot. How uplifting it is to know that, included in the ceaseless prayer life of our monastics, are prayers for the welfare and growth of the Orthodox Church. The angelic life is one of obedience to God’s commands. Stichera 5 says: Thou art of fiery appearance and of wondrous beauty, O Archangel Michael, traversing the spaces with thine immortal nature, fulfilling the commands of the All-creator, and known as powerful by thy might. Verily, thou hast made thy temple a fount of healing, honoured by thy sanctified call. Jesus Christ, our Creator, gave every one of us (monastic or not) an important commandment that we are all to obey. After His resurrection, He gathered His eleven disciples and spoke to them saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). All Christians know that commandment as the Great Commission. It is the call to evangelism given to the Apostolic Church that all Orthodox Christians should strive to fulfill every day. If the angelic life is fulfilling the commands of the Creator, then one component of the angelic life should be active involvement in the evangelical life of the Church. Monks are to be evangelists! Continuing that same thought, Stichera 3 also speaks of the evangelical life: Verily, the Intelligence before the ages hath appointed thee, by divine partaking, a second light lighting the whole universe, and revealing to us the truly divine mystery, which is from eternity, namely that the Bodiless shall be incarnate in a virgin womb and become Man to save man. We see that God has appointed those living the angelic life to proclaim the mystery of the Incarnation and all that God has done in order to save man. Monastics are called to be lights; they are to illumine the whole universe with the good news of salvation. The angelic life should proclaim not just the incarnation, but all those things that have come to pass for us – the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and the second and glorious coming. Imagine monastic communities in this country with the evangelical spirit of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Kosmas of Aitolia, and St. Herman of Alaska, who themselves were dedicated to venturing out amongst the people to bring them to the true faith. The angelic life involves safeguarding the Church. Stichera 1 of the feast admonishes: Demolish, O Gabriel, leader of hosts, the attacks of heretics, rising constantly against thy fold. Heal the division of thy Church; still the tempest of countless temptations, and deliver from hardships and calamities those who eagerly celebrate thy memory, who hasten to the shadow of thy protection, O intercessor for our souls. Too often we forget that Orthodoxy and Orthodox monasticism is lived out in the time and culture in which it finds itself. There is no “golden age” of Orthodoxy, nor is there any particular culture to which Orthodoxy aspires. The angelic life requires one to be responsible for knowing the Truth and striving to preserve it unblemished so that it is worthy to pass on to all generations and all cultures. This requires monasticism (and Orthodoxy in general) to be free of fundamentalist tendencies and bizarre heretical teachings. These kinds of things do nothing but turn people away from the Orthodox faith and create scandal and division amongst the faithful. A Church divided against itself cannot bear witness to the unity of the faith, and thus cannot properly evangelize. Monasticism should be a defense against heresy and division, not a contributor to them. Monasticism should also be in the forefront of our struggle for Orthodox unity in this country – both administratively and theologically – so that with one voice and one mind we may proclaim the Gospel. Lastly, there are many other things that the “angelic life” of monasticism in America could do to benefit the spread of Orthodoxy in this country. Through iconography, skilled American monastics could produce affordable, high-quality iconography so that, as the faith grows, we can adorn homes, missions, and churches with “windows to heaven.” Through metallurgy, skilled American monastics could produce much-needed chalices and patens, candlesticks, baptismal fonts, and more, so that we would not have to rely on pricy imports. By making vestments, skilled American monastics could produce affordable, quality vestments for a growing population of clergy needed to fill the ranks of a growing Church. Through translation, monastics could commit themselves to translating into English the vast numbers of patristic writings that still exist only in Greek, Latin, and Syriac. What a blessing to all of us this would be! Additionally, through woodworking, candle-making, teaching, scholarly works, liturgical texts, and other things too numerous to elaborate, we can see how much monasticism has to offer to the evangelical life of the Church in America. In conclusion, we see that the angelic life – monasticism – can and should be an important component of the evangelical life of the Orthodox Christian faith everywhere. Likewise, we see also that evangelism is a necessary component (among many) of the monastic life. We realize the importance of monasticism for the Church in America in promoting, guarding, and providing for the apostolic faith,. All of us should be praying for authentic monasticism in this country – praying for dedicated men and women who will adhere to the genuine teachings of the Orthodox faith, be obedient to and supportive of our hierarchs, work harmoniously with our priests, and be dedicated to the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, in accordance with the angelic evangelic life.

Michael's List- Holocaust Day; Nuclear Summit Attendees, Iran, Air strikes, al Qaeda; Taliban-France; FYROM name solution?; Doubting Thomas

I. AP - Survivors' tales, Iran dominate Holocaust day

The mournful wail of air raid sirens pierced the air on Monday and the country came to a standstill as Israel, built on the ashes of the Nazi Holocaust, remembered the 6 million Jews who perished during the dark days of World War II. Looming over Israel's annual memorial for the Holocaust dead was the country's fear that the world would wake up too late to eliminate the threat of Iran's nuclear program, just as it woke up too late to eliminate the threat of Adolf Hitler. Melancholy music floated over the airwaves and tales of the fast-dwindling number of Holocaust survivors dominated the media as the world's largest survivor community mourned the dead. During the two-minute siren, an annual ritual heard across Israel, drivers switched off their engines and people put aside their daily activities to stand at attention. Sixty five years after the end of World War II, about 207,000 aging survivors, many of them destitute and alone, live in Israel, down 63,000 from just two years earlier. The Jewish state is home to the largest survivor community. Yad Vashem, Israel's state Holocaust memorial authority, picked "Voices of the Survivors" as the theme of this year's commemoration, which began Sunday night with a state ceremony and continues through Monday evening. At the Israeli parliament on Monday, people read the names of Holocaust victims under the "Every Person Has a Name" project, which is meant to break down the number of 6 million into stories of individuals, families and communities wiped out during the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Cabinet ministers, lawmakers and survivors read names of loved ones who were murdered. The annual remembrance is one of the most solemn on Israel's calendar. Restaurants, cafes and places of entertainment shut down, and radio and TV programming is dedicated almost exclusively to documentaries about the Holocaust, interviews with survivors, discussions about the significance of the genocide and lessons for the future.

II. THEHILL - Iran could steal focus of nuclear summit

Senior administration officials are stressing that this week's nuclear security summit is focused on the threat of nuclear terrorism, but the White House might find that its thunder is stolen by questions about Iran. President Barack Obama's summit in Washington, with heads of state and official representatives from 47 countries, is set up to discuss and find agreement in ways to prevent nuclear materials from ending up the hands of terrorists. But given Obama's recent tough talk on Iran, missed deadlines for sanctions and some positive developments from Russia, Iranian sanctions will be the underlying theme that analysts and observers are watching. Adding to that intrigue is Chinese President Hu Jintao's bilateral meeting with Obama. The White House was thrilled last week when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev appeared to endorse sanctions on Iran, even if the endorsement was somewhat lukewarm. China and Russia have been reluctant to join the U.S. and the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council because of energy concerns. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, noted on Friday that Iran "is an issue that is separate from the agenda of the summit." But Rhodes conceded that Iran "will be the subject at some of the president's bilats, as it was with President Medvedev." Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in September of last year they wanted to see sanctions in place by the end of the year. Obama returned to that theme, despite the missed deadline, by saying in an appearance with Sarkozy earlier this month that he wants to see UN sanctions in place this spring.

III. TIMESOFINDIA - Russia: Air strikes on Iran by US and Israel unacceptable

Air strikes on Iran by the US and Israel is "unacceptable" to Russia, a top general said today. "Any air strike against Iran by the United States or Israel would be unacceptable. This is a last resort that exists in the plans of both the United States and Israel," the chief of Russian General Staff Nikolai Makarov said. However, he expressed concern on Tehran's nuke programme saying it may help the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The US and Israel have not ruled out military action on Iran if diplomatic talks fails to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme. They have also expressed concern over the delivery of Russian S-300 air defence missiles. Makarov said the Iranian leadership should also take into account the global concern on its suspected nuclear plans. "We should hear Iran and Iran should hear us and the global community, and undertake measures," Makarov said expressing concern at other states will follow the suit if Iran develops nuclear weapons. "If Iran gets nuclear weapons, it might become an impetus for other states, and lead to further expansion of the nuclear club," Gen Makarov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. He added the decision to deliver S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran should be made by the leaders. "This decision should be made at state level. We, the military, will follow the leadership's commands," Makarov said. Russia signed a contract with Iran on the supply of at least five S-300 air defence systems to Tehran in December 2005. However, under the US and Israeli pressure has put the deal on the backburner.

IV. FOXNEWS - Officials Attending the Nuclear Summit in Washington, D.C.

A list of the head of each nation's delegation to President Obama's nuclear security conference, beginning Monday in Washington, as provided by the White House: Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci; Argentine President Cristina Fernandez; Armenian President Serge Sarkisian; Australian Defense Minister John Faulkner; Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme; Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Chilean President Sebastian Pinera; Chinese President Hu Jintao; Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer; Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit; European Union President Herman Van Rompuy; Finnish President Tarja Halonen; French President Nicolas Sarkozy; Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Indonesian Vice President Boediono; Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor; Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi; Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; Jordanian King Abdullah II; Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev; South Korean President Lee Myung-bak; Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak; Mexican President Felipe Calderon; Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi; Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende; New Zealand Prime Minister John Key; Acting Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan; Norwegian Prime Minister Jens toltenberg; Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani; Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski; Russian President Dmitry Medvedev; Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; South African President Jacob Zuma;Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero; Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt; Swiss President Doris Leuthard; Deputy Thai Prime Minister Trairong Suwankiri; Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych; Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces; British Foreign Secretary David Miliband; U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

V. ABCNEWS - President Obama: Al Qaeda Is Seeking a Nuke and They Will Use It

On the eve of his Nuclear Security Summit, President Obama issued a dire warning: terrorist groups are trying to obtain nuclear weapons -- and they will use it. “We know that organizations like al Qaeda are in the process of trying to secure a nuclear weapon -- a weapon of mass destruction that they have no compunction at using," the president said. Appearing alongside President Zuma of South Africa before a bilateral meeting, Mr. Obama said that "if there was ever a detonation in New York City, or London, or Johannesburg, the ramifications economically, politically, and from a security perspective would be devastating.” Leaders from almost 50 nations are attending the two-day summit, aimed at shoring up efforts to obtain loose nuclear materials throughout the world so they don’t fall into the hands of terrorists or rogue nations. The summit is the third event in the last week in which President Obama is trying to demonstrate a commitment to denuclearization. Last week he issued a new policy on nuclear deterrence and signed a disarmament treaty with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. South Africa is the only nation in the world that once had a nuclear weapons program and subsequently dismantled the weapons. "South Africa has special standing in being a moral leader on this issue," President Obama said.

VI. BOSTONHERALD - Taliban wants France to arrange detainee swap

The Taliban demanded Monday that the French government push the U.S. and Afghan governments to release detainees in exchange for two French journalists kidnapped in December in Afghanistan. In a statement sent by e-mail to news organizations, the Taliban said they submitted a list of "most ordinary detainees" — meaning not senior figures — to the French government and if it doesn’t respond quickly the lives of the two hostages would be in danger. "If those involved in this issue do not show swiftness and urgency, the life of the French will face danger," the English language statement said. It added that the French government should put pressure on the U.S. and the Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai to meet the Taliban demands. Detainees in Afghanistan are held either by the Afghan government or the Americans. A similar demand was made in a video posted late Sunday on a militant Web site, according to the SITE Intelligence Group that monitors extremist communications. The pair disappeared Dec. 30 along with two or three Afghan employees while traveling in Kapisa province northeast of Kabul, where the French are fighting the insurgents. The French government in the past has said it is aware of the kidnappings and is cooperating with NATO forces to obtain the release but has stated little publicly about the abductions. The French government has not identified the journalists beyond giving their first names as Stephane and Herve.

VII. KATHIMERINI - Athens senses FYROM name solution

The words “Northern Macedonia” could be the key to solving a longstanding bilateral dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the latter’s official name but Skopje will have to meet Athens halfway in approving a settlement, Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said at the weekend. “The name ‘Northern Macedonia’ fits with the framework for a settlement that we have set out,” Droutsas told Real News in an interview published on Saturday, referring to what is rumored to be the latest proposal by a United Nations mediator appointed to break the deadlock. According to Droutsas, a rejection of UN envoy Matthew Nimetz’s proposal would not bode well for Skopje’s bid to join the European Union. “He will have to explain to his people why he is depriving them of their European prospects,” Droutsas said of FYROM’s Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. “Skopje must demonstrate its political will,” he said.

VIII. PRAVMIR - Doubting Thomas

“Unless I see…I will not believe” (John 20:25). So said Thomas, one of Christ’s twelve disciples, in response to the joyful news of those who had seen their crucified and buried Teacher risen from the dead. Eight days later, as recorded in the gospels, when the disciples once again were all together, Christ appeared and told Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; be not faithless, but believing.” And Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” Then Christ told him: “You have believed because you have seen me; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe…” (John 20:24-31). Millions of people today think and speak essentially like Thomas, and assume that this is the only correct approach worthy of any thinking person. “Unless I see, I will not believe…” In our contemporary speech isn’t this the “scientific approach?” But Christ says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” This means that there is, and was, another approach, another standard, another possibility. True, others may say, but that approach is naïve and not rational; it’s unscientific; it’s for people who are backward; and since I’m a person of the modern world, “Unless I see, I will not believe.” We live in a world of great oversimplification and therefore spiritual poverty. “Scientific” or “Unscientific.” People use words like these all the time as if they were self-evident and self-explanatory, and they use them because everyone else also uses them, without reflection, without debate. In fact, they themselves believe these reductions blindly and simplistically, and so any other approach appears to them as neither serious nor worthy of attention. The question is already decided. But is that really true? I just said that we live in a world of great spiritual poverty. And indeed, if the end result of humanity’s interminable development boils down to this pronouncement, “I won’t believe it till I see it”; if the human race looks upon this as the height of wisdom and reason’s greatest victory, then our world truly is poor, superficial, and most all, incredibly boring. If I only know what I see, touch, measure and analyze, then how little I really know! The whole world of the human spirit falls by the wayside, all the intuition and profound knowledge that flow not from “I see” or “I touch,” but from “I think” and, most importantly, “I contemplate.” What falls away is that realm of knowledge which for centuries was rooted not in external, observable experience, but in another human faculty, an amazing and perhaps inexplicable ability that sets human beings apart from everything else and makes them truly unique. Even robots, machines and computers can now touch, handle and manipulate objects; they can make accurate observations, and even make predictions. We know that they actually perform better than human beings in measuring, comparing, making exact observations flawlessly; they are more accurate, more “scientific.” But here is what no robot, under any circumstances, will ever be able to do: to be filled with wonder, to be awed, to have feelings, to be moved by tenderness, to rejoice, to see what can’t be seen by measurement or analysis of any kind. No robot will hear those unheard sounds that give birth to music and poetry; no robot will ever cry, or trust. But without all this doesn’t our world become colorless, boring and, I would say, unnecessary? Oh yes, planes and spaceships will fly ever further and faster. But where to and what for? Oh yes, laboratories will conduct their analyses with ever increasing accuracy. But to what end? “For the good of humanity,” I’m told. I understand, so this means that one day we will have a healthy, well fed, self-satisfied human being walking about, who will be totally blind, totally deaf and totally unaware of his deafness and blindness. “Unless I see I will not believe.” Clearly, however, observable experience, empirical data, is just one form of knowledge, the most elementary, and therefore the lowest form. Empirical analysis is useful and necessary, but to reduce all human knowledge to this level is like trying to comprehend the beauty of a painting by a chemical analysis of its paint. What we call faith is at a second and higher level of human knowledge, without which, it can be claimed, man would be unable to live even a single day. Every person believes in something or someone, so the only question is whose faith, whose vision, whose knowledge of the world corresponds more accurately and more completely to the richness and complexity of life. Some say that the resurrection of Christ must be a fabrication since the dead do not rise. True, if there is no God. But if God exists, then death must be overthrown, since God cannot be a God of decay and death. Others will then say: but there is no God, since no one has seen him. But how then do you account for the experience of millions of people who joyfully affirm that they have seen, not with their physical eyes, but with a profound and certain inner sight? Two thousand years have passed, but when the joyful proclamation “Christ is risen!” descends as if from heaven, all still send out the same triumphant response, “Truly He is risen!” Is it really true that you neither see nor hear? Is it really true that in the deepest part of your consciousness, away from all analysis, measurements and palpation, you neither see nor feel any undying, radiant light, you do not hear the sounds of an eternal voice: “I am the way, the resurrection and the life…”? Is it really true that in the depth of your soul you do not recognize Christ within us, within me, answering Doubting Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe?”