Free Republic

Israel's foreign minister has denounced as "unforgivable" remarks by his Russian counterpart that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler "had Jewish blood". Russian FM Sergei Lavrov made the comments to try to justify Russia's portrayal of Ukraine as "Nazi" despite the fact that its president is Jewish. Israel's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador for "clarification" and demanded an apology. Nazi Germany murdered six million Jews in the Holocaust in World War Two. Mr Lavrov made the remarks in an interview with the Italian news channel Zona Bianca on Sunday, days after Israel marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, one of the most solemn occasions...

Lawmakers and advocates for the developmentally disabled on Thursday slammed as vague and too rushed Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to cut $750 million from developmental services. Most areas of Brown's budget proposal include specific reductions, but the plan lists only $216.5 million in detailed cuts in the Department of Developmental Services. The budget asks for another $533.5 million in unspecified reductions, with the department expected to come up with ideas by the end of March. "I think we need to really look at the issue in a more full manner than just say, 'We're going to have an arbitrary number...

Some politicians and farming community members have reacted angrily to a High Court decision to quash a destruction order on a "sacred" bullock Shambo. Shambo, who lives at the Skanda Vale multi-faith temple in Carmarthenshire, tested positive for bovine TB after a routine screening. A High Court judge ruled that the assembly government acted unlawfully in ordering his slaughter. The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) said it could set back disease control. "This ludicrous ruling contradicts the principles upon which successful TB eradication programmes throughout the world have been based for generations," said Evan R Thomas from the FUW. "It...

Welsh Hindus fight to save "Shambo" the sacred bull Wed May 9, 2007 11:32AM EDT By Avril Ormsby LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A Hindu group in Wales are fighting to save the life of a bull they believe is sacred from slaughter after it tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. Followers at the Skanda Vale Hindu temple in the western Welsh town of Llanpumsaint, Carmarthen, are considering forming a human chain in an attempt to save Shambo the temple bull from the abattoir, and have launched a petition on their Web site. Appeals to the Welsh Assembly and Britain's Department for...

It's been nearly a month since Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakahan blamed "Zionists and neo-cons" for "manipulating" President Bush into invading Iraq - before blasting "wicked Jews" in Hollywood for promoting "lesbianism [and] homosexuality." Yet, outside of a few newspapers in Chicago, the same press that showers positive coverage on Farrakhan's Million Man marches has yet to get around to covering his Feb. 26 Saviours Day speech. "These neo-cons and Zionists have manipulated Bush and the American government and our boys and girls are dying in Iraq and in Afghanistan for the cause of Israel, not for the cause...

<p>SLAUGHTERVILLE, Okla. — An animal rights group is asking the residents of Slaughterville, Okla., to reconsider the town's name.</p> <p>The alternative? Veggieville.</p> <p>The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a latter to Slaughterville administrator Marsha Blair suggesting that the town undergo a moniker makeover to sound less hostile to furry and feathered friends. "Veggieville [is] a friendly name honoring a heart-healthy and compassionate alternative to animal corpses," the letter said.</p>