‘We are already at war,’ Ukrainian PM tells FRANCE 24

In an interview with FRANCE 24 on Wednesday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk discussed granting more autonomy to east Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fight “against the Western world” and said that Ukraine is “already at war”.

Responding to criticisms that the ceasefire called for by the “Minsk II” agreement signed in February has been repeatedly violated by both sides, Yatseniuk said Ukraine is “eager” to hold up its end of the deal.

“But too much, if not everything, depends on Putin – whether he wants peace and stability,” Yatseniuk said.

It’s like 1938, says Israeli ambassador to Germany: Outbreaks of anti-Semitism on the rise across Europe

• Yakov Hadas-Handelsman has expressed fears over attacks on Jews
• Germany: pro-Palestinians are chanting race-hate slogans against them
• Recent Israeli military action in Gaza has killed hundreds of Palestinians

Jewish people are being attacked and abused on the streets of Germany as though the country were back in the Nazi era, political and religious leaders warned yesterday.

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Murderous slogans dating back to the days of Hitler have been chanted at pro-Palestinian rallies in Germany. Jewish-owned shops were attacked and burned in riots in France at the weekend.

The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, said: ‘They pursue the Jews in the streets of Berlin… as if we were in 1938.’

Saudi Arabia and Qatar in ‘war on Iraq’: Maliki

Baghdad (AFP) – Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supporting militant groups in Iraq and have effectively declared war on the country, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said as nationwide violence left 15 dead Saturday.

The rare direct attack on the Sunni Gulf powers, with Maliki also accusing Riyadh of supporting global terrorism, comes with Iraq embroiled in its worst prolonged period of bloodshed since 2008, with more than 1,800 people killed already this year, ahead of parliamentary elections due next month.

Nuclear accord ‘possible this week’, says Iran’s Zarif

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (pictured) told FRANCE 24 Tuesday that an agreement with the international community over the country’s nuclear programme could be reached at talks in Geneva later this week.

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Zarif also said that Iran could use it its influence to encourage non-Syrian forces fighting in Syria to withdraw from the country.

Greece secures new bailout, but recovery still in doubt

One month’s worth of funding is all this is good for. Another five ‘bailouts’ won’t make a difference. Greece is on borrowed time, literally. They will either default in orderly fashion or capitulate sovereignty in exchange to stay afloat, effectively becoming a German satellite nation.

Eurozone finance ministers have approved a new EUR130-billion bailout package for Greece. While the fund allows the country to meet debt payments next month, analysts say the threat of Greek bankruptcy remains.

“This deal is coming with very strong strings attached. Greece will now be put under very strict surveillance,” said FRANCE 24 journalist Frederic Simon by phone from Brussels. “A mechanism is being put in place to monitor each and every installment which is going to be disbursed under this new programme.”

“Effectively this means Greece is being placed under some sort of international trusteeship. This is the price that Athens has to pay to avoid bankruptcy,” Simon said.

Full article: Greece secures new bailout, but recovery still in doubt (France 24)