Brown Apologises Over 'Bigoted Woman' Jibe
YAHOO! NEWS: Prime Minister Gordon Brown has apologised "profusely" after he was caught on microphone branding a woman who spoke to him on the campaign trail "bigoted".

The PM's comments came as he was driven away from an event in Rochdale at which 65-year-old widow Gillian Duffy tackled him in front of the cameras about Britain's financial problems, taxes, student financing and immigration.

Unaware that his radio mic was still connected, Mr Brown told an aide that the encounter had been "a disaster" and said he should never have been made to speak with Mrs Duffy, adding: "She was just a bigoted woman."

Labour has changed its campaigning tactics in recent days to expose Mr Brown to ordinary voters more, after complaints that he had been appearing only in carefully controlled conditions in front of Labour supporters.

Immediately following her discussion with Mr Brown, Mrs Duffy said she would vote Labour and thought the PM was "nice".

However, in his car, a clearly angry PM was telling his aide: "That was a disaster - they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? It's just ridiculous..." Asked what Mrs Duffy had said, he replied: "Everything, she was just a bigoted woman." >>> ITN | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

NZ Garden Chain Was 'Cornerstone' of Marijuana Industry
The 16-store chain was described by police as forming part of the backbone of the country's cannabis industry. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: To most keen gardeners, a trip to the local garden centre means little more than the purchase of some bedding plants, a bag of potting mix and perhaps some gardening tips.

But when undercover police called in at Switched on Gardener, a New Zealand chain of garden supply shops, the advice they were given had nothing to do with rose blight. Instead, they were allegedly given tips on how to cultivate cannabis, and were able to buy cannabis plants and other drugs over the counter.

The 16-store chain, described by police as forming part of the backbone of the country's $800 million cannabis industry has now been closed down after one of the country's biggest ever anti-drugs crackdowns[.]

During a two-year operation police also raided 19 other gardening businesses across New Zealand arresting 250 people and dismantling over 100 commercial cannabis growing operatinos [sic] allegedly linked to the businesses. >>> Anne Barrowclough, Sydney | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

US Accuses Iran and Syria of Arming Hizbollah with New Rockets and Missiles
THE TELEGRAPH: Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, has accused Iran and Syria of arming Hizbollah with increasingly sophisticated rockets and missiles, saying the militia's arsenal undermined stability in the region.



"Syria and Iran are providing Hezbollah with rockets and missiles of ever-increasing capability," he said at a joint news conference with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak.

"And we're at a point now, where Hizbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world, and this is obviously destabilizing for the whole region and we're watching it very carefully."

Mr Gates did not say if Syria was supplying Hizbollah with Scud missiles as Israel has alleged. Mr Barak voiced serious concern over Syria's support for Hizbollah but did not repeat the allegation that it was providing Scuds to the Lebanese Shia militia. Damascus has vehemently rejected the charge.

Mr Barak said Syria was arming Hezbollah with "weapons systems that can turn or disrupt the very delicate balance in Lebanon", adding "we do not intend to provoke any kind of a major collision in Lebanon or vis-a-vis Syria". >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Nouvelles accusations à l'encontre de Liès Hebbadj
Lies Hebbadj, 35 ans, né à Alger et arrivé en France à l'âge de deux ans, aurait obtenu la nationalité française il y a une dizaine d'années par mariage. Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Brice Hortefeux a indiqué que le père de la femme verbalisée pour conduite en niqab aurait contacté la gendarmerie pour des violences présumées sur sa fille.

Une affaire encore loin d'être terminée. Brice Hortefeux a assuré mardi que l'affaire Liès Hebbadj, conjoint de la femme verbalisée pour conduite en niqab, irait «jusqu'à son terme» et a fait savoir que le père de cette dernière avait contacté la gendarmerie pour des violences présumées sur sa fille. Il aurait, à cet effet, déposé lundi un «renseignement» (proche de la main courante) à la brigade de gendarmerie de Vieillevigne (Loire-Atlantique). >>> Par Flore Galaud | Mercredi 28 Avril 2010

Liens en relation avec l’article ici

Ende der AIDS Diskrimierung: HIV-Infizierte dürfen nach China einreisen
WELT ONLINE: Zwanzig Jahre lang waren die chinesischen Grenzen für HIV-Infizierte geschlossen. Jetzt, kurz vor der Eröffnung der Weltausstellung in in [sic] Shanghai, hob die Regierung das Verbot auf. Man habe eingesehen, dass die Verfügung "sehr begrenzten Einfluss" auf die Ausbreitung der Krankheit habe, hieß es in der Erklärung.

Bild: Welt Online
China reiht sich in seinem Umgang mit HIV-Infizierten unter die medizinisch aufgeklärten Staaten ein. Pekings Staatsrat hob unmittelbar vor der am Sonnabend in Shanghai beginnenden Weltausstellung (Expo 2010), zu der Millionen Ausländer anreisen wollen, seine seit 20 Jahren geltenden Einreiseverbote für alle von der Immunschwäche-Krankheit Aids Betroffene ein. UN-Generalsekretär Ban Ki-moon begrüßte den Regierungsbeschluss, ebenso wie die Leiterin der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) Margaret Chan und Dutzende Aids-Initiativen in der Welt als ein wichtiges Zeichen, das nun auch China gegen die Stigmatisierung der Aids-Erkrankung setzt. >>> Johnny Erling | Mittwoch, 28. April 2010

Muslimische Ministerin: Kirchen stört die Gottesformel in Özkans Amtseid
WELT ONLINE: In ihrem Amtseid bat die neue niedersächsische Sozialministerin Aygül Özkan um Gottes Hilfe – so wie ihre Kollegen auch. Für die Deutsch-Türkin kein Problem: Sie habe sich an den "einen und einzigen Gott" gewandt, der Christen, Muslimen und Juden gemein sei. Die beiden christlichen Landeskirchen hingegen sind verärgert.

"So wahr mir Gott helfe." Aygül Özkan, die erste türkischstämmige Ministerin in Deutschland, hat sich bei ihrer Vereidigung in Niedersachsen auf Gott bezogen. Bild: Welt Online
Mit Unverständnis haben Kirchensprecher darauf reagiert, dass sich Aygül Özkan als erste muslimische Ministerin Deutschlands bei ihrem Amtseid auf Gott bezogen hat. „Wir Christen sehen schon einen deutlichen Unterschied zwischen unserem Gott und Allah“, sagte der Sprecher der Hannoverschen Landeskirche, Johannes Neukirch, der „Bild“-Zeitung. Der Sprecher des katholischen Bistums Essen, Ulrich Lota, kritisierte in „Bild“: „Theologisch sind der Gott der Christen und der Gott des Islam nicht gleichzusetzen.“ >>> dpa/ks | Mittwoch, 28. April 2010

Video ”Erste muslimische Ministerin vereidigt”
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Crisis Spreads in Europe: Debt Downgrades in Portugal, Greece Sow Fear of Contagion; World Markets Hit
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Europe's hopes of containing Greece's credit crisis dimmed as the country's debt woes spread to Portugal, sparking a selloff in markets across the globe and testing the European Union's ability to protect its common currency.

The euro tumbled to its lowest point in a year against the dollar after Standard & Poor's Ratings Services cut Portugal's credit rating two notches and downgraded Greece's debt to "junk" territory, a first for a euro-zone member. The move is bound to worsen Greece's already dire fiscal situation and hamper a recovery. The news sent the bond yields in both countries soaring, a sign of distress.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 213.04 points, or 1.9%, to 10991.99, suffering its worst decline in both point and percentage terms since Feb. 4. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index tumbled 3.1%. As investors opted for the safety of bonds, the yield on Germany's 10-year benchmark was pushed down to 2.99%, moving below 3% for the first time in more than a year. Yields on U.S. Treasurys also dropped as investors bought.

Asian stock markets tumbled in early trading Wednesday on renewed worries about Greece's problems, with Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average shedding 2.8%.

The force of the market reaction to the downgrades suggests that the EU's fraught, months-long effort to stem Greece's debt crisis has all but failed. Portugal's stagnant economy has been viewed as among the weakest in the euro zone, although its deficit and debt levels aren't as high as Greece's. The debt rating downgrade on Tuesday, to A-minus from A-plus, fueled concerns that Portugal is on the same trajectory as its southern neighbor, despite its more solid fiscal position.

Greece's own turmoil was triggered in part by a similar ratings downgrade in December amid growing concerns about its debt. >>> Matthew Karnitschnig, Stephen Fidler and Tom Lauricella | Tuesday, April 27, 2010



TIMES ONLINE: ‘Greece infection’ spreads as stricken nation’s debt is rated junk: Greece plunged deeper into financial turmoil last night after its government bonds were rated as junk by financial markets. The Portuguese government debt also took a hammering after panic spread that a Mediterranean virus of insolvency and bad debts would infect the rest of Europe. >>> Carl Mortished and David Wighton | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Greece acts to stop speculators as debt crisis escalates: Greece has moved to stem panic in the country and stop speculators taking advantage of its escalating debt crisis. >>> Malcolm Moore in Shanghai | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Papandreou ruft Griechen zur Geschlossenheit auf: Griechenland in «einer der schwierigsten Phasen seiner Geschichte»
NZZ ONLINE: In einer emotionalen Rede hat Griechenlands Ministerpräsident Papandreou seine Landsleute zum Zusammenhalt aufgerufen: «Griechenland geht durch eine der schwierigsten Phasen seiner Geschichte», sagte er am Dienstag in Athen.

«Die Beschlüsse, die jetzt gefasst werden müssen, werden von schwerwiegender Bedeutung auch für die kommenden Generationen sein», sagte Papandreou vor der Parlamentsgruppe seiner Panhellenischen Sozialistischen Bewegung (Pasok) weiter. «Lasst uns unser Vaterland neu beleben. Jetzt oder nie», sagte er in der Ansprache, die vom Fernsehen übertragen wurde. >>> sda/dpa | Mittwoch, 28. April 2010

WELT ONLINE: IWF erwägt zusätzliche Milliarden für Griechen: Der Internationale Währungsfonds (IWF) könnte sein Hilfsprogramm für Griechenland um zehn Milliarden aufstocken. Bislang war der IWF bereit, dem Land 15 Milliarden an Hilfsgeldern zu geben. Über ihre Hilfe will die Bundesregierung rasch entscheiden. Doch Ifo-Chef Sinn warnt: Die Griechen werden das Geld nicht zurückzahlen können. >>> dpa/dma | Mittwoch, 28. April 2010

LE TEMPS: Le supplice grec : Les taux d’obligations grecs sur 10 ans dépassaient les 11% à 11h00 ce matin, un nouveau record historique: la situation devient très difficile pour Athènes. Selon le Financial Times, le FMI va débloquer 10 milliards de plus que prévu pour sortir Athènes de la zone de danger. L’UE a aussi annoncé un sommet exceptionnel de la zone euro autour du 10 mai >>> Agences | Mercredi 28 Avril 2010

LE TEMPS: La rigidité d’Angela Merkel fustigée : La presse allemande estime que la gestion du dossier grec tend à isoler Berlin au sein de l’Union européenne >>> Nathalie Versieux | Mercredi 28 Avril 2010

Nick Clegg: I Want to Be Prime Minister
TIMES ONLINE: Nick Clegg has told The Times that the Liberal Democrats can supplant Labour and has stated that his ambition is to become prime minister.

He insists that the Liberal Democrats have become the leading progressive force at the ballot box. The latest Populus poll for The Times shows the party still in second place ahead of Labour with only eight days to go.

Mr Clegg believes that the May 6 vote is now a two-horse race between “two competing pitches for change” — the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. He says that Liberalism has replaced “Labour statism” as the driving argument of the Centre Left.

And whoever wins, he insists that the momentum for reform of the political system is unstoppable. “Reform is now unavoidable. You can’t duck it.”

In an interview yesterday, Mr Clegg insisted that he was not being arrogant or presumptuous about his chances, but he had set his sights high. In a febrile campaign that is changing by the day, he said that it was still possible that his party could poll more votes than either the Conservatives or Labour.

“I think the Lib Dems have a brilliant, brilliant team and I would love to see us in government and, of course, I want to be prime minister,” he said. He made plain during the lengthy interview that his bottom line in any negotiations with David Cameron in a hung Parliament would be electoral reform.

Although he ruled out dealing with Gordon Brown if Labour came third in the popular vote, he did not rule out working with Labour, saying that he would have a moral obligation to provide “good, stable government”. >>> Roland Watson and James Harding | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

David Cameron on the Campaign Trail

Will Israel Act Against Iran?

U.S.-born Terror Suspect on Video

Nick Clegg redessine la carte électorale britannique
Nick Clegg,en visite électorale, lundi à Édimbourg, en Ecosse. Les intentions de vote pour les libéraux-démocrates aux législatives du 6 mai se confirment dans l'ensemble du pays. Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Ce sont les travaillistes qui ont le plus perdu depuis la montée en puissance des libéraux-démocrates.

Le leader libéral-démocrate Nick Clegg n'en finit pas de rebattre les cartes de la politique britannique avant les législatives du 6 mai. Au départ, tous les experts pensaient que son succès lors du premier débat télévisé allait surtout priver David Cameron et les conservateurs de sièges précieux pour obtenir une majorité absolue au Parlement, faisant le jeu du premier ministre travailliste Gordon Brown.

Passé les premiers moments de panique, l'équipe de Cameron a réalisé que la montée des libéraux-démocrates a surtout provoqué une chute brutale du Labour. Une vingtaine d'anciens bastions travaillistes, auparavant considérés comme imprenables, pourraient finalement basculer à droite.

Au lieu de s'attaquer à des sièges tenus par les libéraux-démocrates dans le sud rural de l'Angleterre, qui vont être très difficiles à remporter après les performances de Clegg, les conservateurs vont viser 20 nouvelles circonscriptions tenues par la gauche et fragilisées par les progrès des LibDems. >>> Par Cyrille Vanlerberghe | Mardi 27 Avril 2010

Nach Griechenland jetzt Portugal? : Standard & Poor's stuft Kreditwürdigkeit herab - Griechenland mit «Junk»-Status
NZZ ONLINE: Nach dem vom Staatsbankrott bedrohten Griechenland gerät auch Portugal weiter unter Druck. Die Ratingagentur Standard & Poor's stufte die Kreditwürdigkeit des Landes auf A- herab. Portugal stehe «erweiterten Risiken» gegenüber, hiess es zur Begründung.

Angesichts der dramatischen Schuldenkrise in Griechenland wächst in EU-Kreisen die Befürchtung, dass demnächst auch Portugal sein Defizit nicht mehr in den Griff bekommen könnte. Die Ratingagentur Standard & Poor's hat die Kreditwürdigkeit Portugals am Dienstag auf A- herabgestuft. Damit reagiere man auf «die erweiterten Risiken, denen Portugal gegenübersteht», hiess es in London.

Portugal gilt mit einem Haushaltsdefizit von 9,4 Prozent des Bruttoinlandprodukts (BIP) nach Griechenland als eines der von der Wirtschaftskrise am meisten gefährdeten Mitglieder der Eurozone. >>> ddp | Dienstag, 27. April 2010

German Tabloids Campaign for Greece to Leave the Euro
Public transport employees on strike demonstrate outside the Greek Finance ministry in Athens. Photo: Times ONline
TIMES ONLINE: The crisis in the eurozone turned today into an extraordinary duel between Germany, Europe’s largest economy, and Greece, the euro’s weakest link.

A populist campaign in Germany, gathering force before regional elections on May 9, is urging Greece to leave the euro of its own free will rather than place a further burden on its northern partner.

“Why are we paying the luxury pensions of the Greeks?” asked the front-page splash headline of the mass circulation Bild. “If Athens goes broke then German and EU aid will flow into the Greek pension funds.”

German tabloid newspapers have sent teams to the country to hand out old drachma notes and encourage them to abandon the euro. One editorial said Greece had tricked its way into the euro. “With all respect to the oldest democracy in the world: you don’t trust someone who has lied to you once before.”

The Greeks, in turn, are blaming Germany for forcing unacceptably tough conditions on them. Civil servants today became the latest to join the rolling protest against Prime Minister Papandreou’s outstanding measures. Each demonstration lampoons Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and bemoans the lack of solidarity from the northern eurozone members. >>> Roger Boyes, Berlin | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Apple Sued Over Touch-screen Technology
TIMES ONLINE: The sale of Apple's iPhone and iPad in the US is under threat after the US International Trade Commission initiated a formal investigation into the company for allegedly infringing a patent covering multi-touch technology.

The ITC, which has the power to ban the import and sale of products, said it was responding to a request from the Taiwanese touchscreen maker Elan Microelectronics, which has a patent for technology that detects the simultaneous presence of two or more fingers on a touchscreen or touchpad.

This multi-touch technology is at the heart of many Apple products, including the new iPad, the iPhone and iPod Touch, which generate billions of dollars in sales.

Elan, which successfully settled a similar lawsuit against touchpad technology company Synaptics in 2008, accuses Apple of "knowingly and deliberately" infringing the patent. The semiconductor design company is also suing Apple in California, alleging that Apple is infringing two of its multi-touch patents.

An eventual victory by Elan could lead to an exclusion order barring the US import of infringing Apple products. A cease and desist order could also be granted to prevent Apple from selling any of the products that have already been imported.

Analysts said it is likely that Elan is seeking a licensing agreement with Apple for the multi-touch technology. >>> Mike Harvey | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

US Accuses Iran and Syria of Arming Hizbollah with New Rockets and Missiles
THE TELEGRAPH: Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, has accused Iran and Syria of arming Hizbollah with increasingly sophisticated rockets and missiles, saying the militia's arsenal undermined stability in the region.



"Syria and Iran are providing Hezbollah with rockets and missiles of ever-increasing capability," he said at a joint news conference with his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak.

"And we're at a point now, where Hizbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world, and this is obviously destabilizing for the whole region and we're watching it very carefully."

Mr Gates did not say if Syria was supplying Hizbollah with Scud missiles as Israel has alleged. Mr Barak voiced serious concern over Syria's support for Hizbollah but did not repeat the allegation that it was providing Scuds to the Lebanese Shia militia. Damascus has vehemently rejected the charge.

Mr Barak said Syria was arming Hezbollah with "weapons systems that can turn or disrupt the very delicate balance in Lebanon", adding "we do not intend to provoke any kind of a major collision in Lebanon or vis-a-vis Syria". >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Ousted Kyrgyzstan President Charged with 'Mass Killings'
THE TELEGRAPH: Kyrgyzstan's interim government has charged the country's ousted president Kurmanbek Bakiyev with "mass killing" and has formally prepared an extradition request.

Belarus took in Mr Bakiyev last week after he fled in the aftermath of a bloody revolt.

"The former president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, has been charged with mass killing," Azimbek Beknazarov, an interim vice premier in charge of security, said in the capital Bishkek. The extradition request would be sent "within days", he added.

He might also be charged with abuse of power in an official capacity, Mr Beknazarov told reporters. >>> | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Cruel Is As Cruel Does
THE TELEGRAPH: An advertising campaign mocking the 5ft 5 ins stature of President Nicolas Sarkozy has caused a scandal in France.

The posters by car hire firm, Sixt, urge customers to rent a small Citroen C3 hatchback, with the slogan, "Be like Madame Bruni, take a small French model".

The height difference between the 5ft 10 ins tall French First Lady and her husband has long been a matter of some discussion.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy, 43, is regularly photographed wearing flat soles to appear shorter beside him, while Mr Sarkozy, 55, wears footwear to make himself appear taller.

Fun is also frequently poked at the President for standing on a footstool behind podiums known as a "Sarkozy step" when making speeches.

The couple have sued two separate companies in the past for using their images in ad campaigns without permission. Car Advert Ridicules Nicolas Sarkozy's Height >>> | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Agency Lowers Greek Debt Rating as Crisis Deepens
THE NEW YORK TIMES: FRANKFURT — Europe’s debt crisis deepened still further Tuesday after the ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Greek and Portuguese debt, investors sold off government bonds amid fears of a default, and workers in those Mediterranean nations took to the streets to protest austerity measures.

S.&P. downgraded Greek government debt to junk status, saying in a statement, “Greece’s economic and fiscal prospects lead us to conclude that the sovereign’s creditworthiness is no longer compatible with an investment-grade rating.”

The ratings agency also downgraded Portuguese government bonds, but they remain well above junk status.

“This thing is getting more and more urgent and tense,” said Robert Barrie, head of European economics at Credit Suisse in London. He predicted, though, that markets could settle down once Greece manages to refinance €8.5 billion, or $11.2 billion, in bonds that mature in May. “But it’s anything but calm at the moment,” he added.

As transport workers in both Portugal and Greece went on strike against austerity measures Tuesday, the risk premium on Greece’s bonds set new records even before S.&P. announced the downgrades.

A European Central Bank official warned all euro-zone countries to cut their soaring budget deficits and suggested that Greece may need to impose even harsher austerity measures to bring its debt under control. >>> Jack Ewing | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Violent Extremists Calling Fighters to Somalia


CNN: Mogadishu, Somalia -- In Somalia's enduring chaos, militant groups have for years come and gone. Today's most powerful -- Al Shabaab -- are much more menacing, say those in Mogadishu.

In Arabic, Al Shabaab means 'the youth', but it is too far-reaching to be just a rabble of youngsters. It controls much of central and southern Somalia and large parts of the capital Mogadishu.

And after years of pledging allegiance to al Qaeda, Al Shabaab formalized the relationship in February. Since then, the Somali government says there's been an influx of foreign fighters.

"With regard to the fighting that's going on in Afghanistan, in Pakistan and in Yemen, some people are looking for a place to hide and Somalia is a good candidate for that," said Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who leads the weak, U.N.-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Ahmed was once a senior, moderate figure in the Union of Islamic Courts -- an alliance that included Al Shabaab and which held power in Somalia for six months in 2006 before being overthrown by Ethiopian forces.

The Ethiopians remained until early 2009 when the TFG took tentative control, clinging to a small part of Mogadishu, and protected by African Union (AU) peacekeepers mainly from Uganda and Burundi.

A quiet figure, President Ahmed sits in his office at the palace grounds while government troops outside fire warning shots to prevent people from venturing too close.

"We used to estimate the number of foreign fighters to be between 800 and 1,200 but that number seems to have been growing," he said.

Al Shabaab has reached out to Somalis living in the West, radicalizing young Muslims via the Internet and encouraging them to move back to the country to join the Jihad. >>> Jane Ferguson, for CNN | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Bankensektor: Republikaner bremsen Obamas Finanzmarktreform
ZEIT ONLINE: Die Pläne von US-Präsident Obama zur Regulierung des Finanzmarktes sind vorerst gestoppt: Die Republikaner stimmten im Senat gegen den Beginn des Gesetzgebungsverfahrens.

Die Reform der US-Finanzmärkte verzögert sich: Die Demokraten bekamen im Senat nicht die nötigen 60 Stimmen zusammen, um die Debatte über ihren entsprechenden Gesetzentwurf aufzunehmen. Allerdings kam das Ergebnis nicht überraschend – die Abstimmung galt von vornherein als eine Art Zwischenschritt. Denn aktuell laufen noch die Verhandlungen zwischen Demokraten und Republikanern über eine Kompromissformel. Bereits in dieser Woche könnte die Reform wieder Thema im Senat sein.

Gleichwohl zeigte sich US-Präsident Barack Obama in einer Erklärung "tief enttäuscht" vom Votum der Senatoren. Er griff die oppositionellen Republikaner scharf an, die geschlossen gegen die Eröffnung der Debatte stimmten. Diese verzögerten das Verfahren, um "hinter verschlossenen Türen, wo die Lobbyisten der Finanzwelt die Reform schwächen oder sogar kaputtmachen können, die Diskussionen weiter zu führen", erklärte er. Die Reform gehört zu Obamas wichtigsten innenpolitischen Vorhaben. >>> Zeit Online, dpa, AFP | Dienstag, 27. April 2010

Manuel Noriega Sent to France for Fresh Trial
Manuel Noriega. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Manuel Noriega, the former military dictator of Panama who was deposed by US troops, was extradited to France on money laundering charges after 20 years in US custody.

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, signed the extradition order two years after the general completed a US jail sentence for drug racketeering. Noriega, 76, was due to arrive in Paris today from Miami, Florida.

He was arrested in 1990 after the US ended years of secret co-operation by invading Panama and toppling the dictatorship. He was taken to Miami where he was convicted of drug trafficking, racketeering and conspiracy.

While in custody he was convicted in absentia in France on charges of laundering cocaine profits through European banks. At the end of his sentence in the US he stayed in a Florida jail to fight extradition.

Noriega, whose pock-marked complexion earned him the name Pineapple Face, will go on trial in France where he has been found guilty of using drug money to buy three luxury apartments. >>> Nico Hines in Washington | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Christmas Day Bomber Shown Shooting Union Jack in Training Video

TIMES ONLINE: A video showing the failed Christmas Day plane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab training with al-Qaeda in Yemen has been broadcast on America’s ABC television.

The video, which shows the 23-year-old Nigerian and other militants shooting at targets that include a Union Jack, a Jewish star and one labelled UN, appears to support Mr Abdulmutallab’s statements to American intelligence that there are “others like me” training in the Yemen to carry out attacks aginst Western targets.

Mr Abdulmutallab is charged with attempting to bring down a Detroit bound airliner on Christams Day by detonating explosives hidden in his underwear. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges but has been cooperating with US intelligence agencies interviewing him, discussing his contacts in Yemen and providing intelligence in multiple terrorism investigations, according to US officials.

He is shown on the tape making an apparent martyrdom statement in Arabic, justifying his actions as part of a battle against: “the enemy is in your lands with their armies, the Jews and the Christians and their agents.”

He also reads several passages from the Koran, adding “God said if you do not fight back, He will punish you and replace you.”
According to ABC News, which obtained and broadcast the tape on Monday, the video was produced by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP. >>> Times Online | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Shell Drafted Letter Tony Blair Sent to Gaddafi While Prime Minister
Tony Blair with Colonel Gaddafi. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Tony Blair lobbied Colonel Muammar Gaddafi on behalf of Shell in a letter written for him in draft form by the oil company, documents obtained by The Times reveal.

The correspondence, written while Mr Blair was Prime Minister, bears a striking resemblance to a briefing note by Royal Dutch Shell weeks earlier promoting a $500 million (£325 million) deal it was trying to clinch in Libya.

While it is common for government ministers to champion British interests abroad, Shell’s draft reveals an unusual assurance in its ability to dictate Mr Blair’s conversation with the Libyan leader. It also raises questions about the motives behind Britain’s improved relations with Libya and the subsequent release of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber. Lockerbie victims have claimed that the Government paved the way for al-Megrahi’s release as part of a deal with Libya to give British companies access to Libya’s lucrative oil and gas industry.

In the draft, Shell tells Mr Blair to discuss positive progress on weapons of mass destruction as well as the investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in London in 1984. >>> David Robertson, Business Correspondent | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Mistresses Are French Way of Life Says Accused Polygamist
THE TELEGRAPH: A Muslim Frenchman accused of polygamy defended himself on Monday by saying that keeping mistresses was the French way of life.

Brice Hortefeux, the French interior minister, said the citizenship of Lies Hebbadj should be revoked if allegations that he had four wives proved to be true.

But the Algerian-born butcher hit back, saying: "If we are stripped of nationality, for having mistresses, there would be a lot of French people stripped of nationality.

"As far as I know, mistresses are not forbidden, neither in France, nor in Islam."

Mr Hebbadj did not specify whether he lives under the same roof with the various women in his life, although French media reports have quoted neighbours who claimed he moved between several houses.

Mr Hebbadj is suspected of profiting from state subsidies for single women provided to each of the wives. >>> | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hortefeux, l'homme (trop) pressé
leJDD.fr: Loin de s'estomper, la polémique lancée vendredi soir par Brice Hortefeux sur le cas de Liès Hebbadj pourrait se retourner contre son auteur.

Brice Hortefeux a peut-être accéléré le calendrier du gouvernement. Photo : leJDD.fr
Brice Hortefeux est-il allé trop vite? En annonçant dès vendredi soir vouloir déchoir de sa nationalité française le sulfureux Liès Hebbadj, le ministre de l'Intérieur a provoqué une agitation certaine dans les rangs politiques. A gauche, bien sûr, où il est attaqué sur le fond de son initiative, mais également à droite. Dimanche soir, puis lundi matin, Eric Besson a tenté de ne pas se brûler les doigts en réceptionnant la patate chaude. Admettant qu'il était délicat, en l'espèce, de prouver que le jeune Nantais est effectivement polygame - et renvoyant ce dossier à la justice - le ministre de l'Immigration et de l'Identité nationale a trouvé comme seule porte de sortie l'idée d'une "adaptation législative" sur les critères permettant d'aboutir à une déchéance de nationalité. Au risque de rajouter de la confusion à la confusion, dans un contexte politique, voire social, déjà très tendu sur la question du voile intégral. C'est d'ailleurs dans une ambiance alourdie - au moins trois attaques contre la communauté musulmane ont été recensés ce lundi à Istres et Marseille- que François Fillon a insisté "sur la nécessité d'éviter les amalgames et les préjugés qui donnent une image déformée de l'islam de France". Le projet de loi en conseil des ministres le 19 mai >>> Nicolas Moscovici - leJDD.fr | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

LE FIGARO: Face à la polygamie, Besson prêt à faire évoluer la loi : Pour le ministre de l'Immigration, les personnes qui «ne respectent pas les valeurs de la République» ne méritent pas de conserver la nationalité française. >>> Par Cécilia Gabizon | Mardi 27 Avril 2010

Lien en relation avec les articles:

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Affaire du niqab: "Avoir des maîtresses n'est pas interdit!" >>> AFP | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

Related:

TIMES ONLINE: Muslim butcher's many wives 'no worse than French mistresses' >>> Charles Bremner, Paris | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hot and Steamy! More Sex, Please! We’re Brazilians!
THE TELEGRAPH: Brazilians can fight off chronic illness by engaging regularly in physical exercise, and particularly in sexual intercourse, the country's health minister said.

"People need to be active. A weekend football game must not be the only physical activity for a Brazilian. Adults need to do exercise: walk, dance and have safe sex," said Jose Gomes Temporao.

The minister gave the advice as he launched a campaign to prevent high blood pressure, which afflicts a quarter of Brazil's 190-million strong population. Brazilians told to have more sexual intercourse to avoid illness >>> | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Diplomat Disciplined Over Pope Memo Is Named
THE TELEGRAPH: The diplomat who has been disciplined over a Foreign Office memo mocking the Pope was accused last night of being “clueless” about the Catholic faith.

Anjoum Noorani, 31, was the leader of the Papal Visit Team which drew up a document suggesting the Pope should launch his own range of “Benedict” condoms, open an abortion clinic and stay in a council flat in Bradford.

Mr Noorani, whose identity has until now remained secret, was moved to “other duties” after he gave authorisation for the memo to be sent to Downing Street and three Whitehall departments.

The memo, which was leaked to The Sunday Telegraph, threatens to overshadow the Pope’s entire four-day visit in September after it prompted fury in the Vatican and among Catholics in Britain.

Senior members of the church have described Mr Noorani and his team as having “not the slightest understanding of Catholicism”. None of the four-strong group is thought to be a practising Catholic.

The memo, which also called for the Pope to bless a homosexual marriage, was emailed around Whitehall by Steven Mulvain, a 23-year-old Oxford graduate who describes his sexual orientation on a social networking website as “gay”.

Mr Mulvain has not been disciplined for his role in the fiasco.

Mr Noorani, who, like Mr Mulvain, is a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford, chaired the “brainstorm” session which led to the “Ideal Visit” memo, which also proposed that the Pope should sing a duet with the Queen and sponsor a network of Aids clinics.

He worked as press secretary at the British Embassy in Russia between 2002 and 2007, where he dealt with all Russian media inquiries about Britain’s response to the murder of the former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. He was unavailable for comment last night and his mother, who lives in Windsor, said she “can’t say anything”.

Although the Vatican is now trying to draw a line under the memo fiasco, Papal aides believe the Government’s choice of non-Catholic staff typifies the “lack of respect” being shown towards the first ever state visit by a Pontiff. >>> Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter | Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Related:

THE TELEGRAPH: Pope's Visit to Britain Will Go Ahead Despite Offensive Memo, Says Vatican >>> Monday, April 26, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Pope 'Could Cancel UK Visit' Over 'Offensive' Foreign Office Memo >>> Gordon Rayner and Nick Pisa in Rome | Sunday, April 25, 2010

My comment, Sunday, April 15, 2010:

Such disgusting behaviour from the Foreign Office. What kind of low-life do they employ there these days? This is no way to behave; and it is certainy no way to treat the Pope. Would these same people have had the courage to write these things about the visit of a Muslim cleric? I think we all know the answer to that question! Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting! And if the Pope cancels his visit, no one should be at all surprised. – © Mark

Today’s comment:

Forgive me for asking, but isn’t this man a Muslim? So why ever would the Foreign Office make a Muslim the leader of the ‘Papal Visit Team’? It’s the Foreign Office that’s “clueless”, not Anjoum Nourani! If this man is indeed a Muslim, he’ll be anything but “clueless” about Roman Catholicism; on the contrary, he’ll be all clued up! He knew exactly what he was doing. Isn't this just another attack on Judeo-Christianity by a member of the “Religion of Peace”? – © Mark

Change Is in the Air in Hungary


LE TEMPS: Hongrie – La revanche de Viktor Orban : Le Fidesz de l’ancien premier ministre Viktor Orban a décroché la majorité des deux tiers des sièges au parlement après le second tour des élections législatives dimanche. L’extrême droite Jobbik devient la troisième force politique du pays après les socialistes qui s’effondrent >>> Maurin Picard | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

The Battle Over the Facial Veil in France

Solidarität mit Richter Garzón: Kundgebungen in Spanien für den von Franco-Anhängern drangsalierten Juristen
NZZ am SONNTAG: Dem bekanntesten spanischen Strafverfolger drohen wegen seiner Ermittlungen zur Franco- Diktatur ein Prozess und die Suspendierung. Dagegen haben Spanier am Samstag in über zwanzig Städten protestiert.

Zehntausende Spanier haben am Samstag ihre Solidarität mit Baltasar Garzón demonstriert. Unter den Teilnehmern der zentralen Veranstaltung in Madrid waren viele Nachkommen von Franco-Opfern, die Fotos ermordeter Familienangehöriger hochhielten. Zu den Protestmärschen unter dem Motto «Gegen die Straflosigkeit der Franco-Diktatur» hatten Opferverbände aufgerufen. Sie wurden von Intellektuellen, darunter der Schriftstellerin Almudena Grandes und dem Regisseur Pedro Almodóvar, unterstützt.

Der Oscarpreisträger Almodóvar sagte zum Schluss der Veranstaltung, die Würde der Opfer stehe auf dem Spiel. In einem Manifest äusserte er sich besorgt über die Konsequenzen des gegen Garzón eingeleiteten Verfahrens: «Dieser Prozess verachtet den Schmerz von Kindern und Enkeln und macht den Wunsch Hunderttausender spanischer Familien nach Gerechtigkeit zunichte.» >>> Cornelia Derichsweiler, Madrid | Sonntag, 25. April 2010

THE OBSERVER: Charismatic Judge Who Pursued Spain's Fascist Assassins Finds Himself on Trial >>> Giles Tremlett Madrid | Sunday, April 25, 2010

Lionel Richie: Do It to Me

Lionel Richie: Ballerina Girl

Nick Clegg Names Price for Labour: No Gordon Brown
TIMES ONLINE: The Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg made clear today that he would be prepared to support a Labour Party that had slumped to third in the share of the vote — but not if Gordon Brown remained in No 10.

With opinion polls pointing to a hung Parliament, Mr Clegg said it would be “inexplicable” for Mr Brown to remain as Prime Minister if his party finished with fewer votes than the Tories or Lib Dems, even if Labour had the most seats.

But he said he would be prepared to work with anyone else within Labour or any other party that was prepared to deliver his aims — including electoral reform, which is an “absolute pre-condition” for renewing British politics. Read on and comment (With video) >>> Philippe Naughton | Monday, April 26, 2010

Griechenland-Hilfe: Die "Eiserne Kanzlerin" ist weich geworden
WELT ONLINE: Lange Zeit hat Angela Merkel Hilfen für Griechenland abgelehnt. Eine schnelle Hilfe für das krisengebeutelte Griechenland sei mit den Deutschen nicht zu machen, hatte die Bundeskanzlerin die anderen Regierungschefs im Euro-Club wissen lassen. Jetzt will sie doch zahlen. „Madame Non" gibt es nicht mehr.

Angela Merkel, die “Eiserne Kanzlerin”. Bild: Welt Online
Die Strategie Angela Merkels ist nicht aufgegangen. Lange Zeit verhandelte die Bundeskanzlerin auf europäischer Ebene über die Hilfe für Griechenland und versicherte gleichzeitig zu Hause, zu dieser Rettungsaktion werde es wohl nie kommen. Die Opposition spricht von einem monatelangen Versteckspiel, für das der Steuerzahler zusätzlich bezahlen müsse. Auch die FDP ist unzufrieden. Doch am Ende werden wohl alle Fraktionen die Griechenland-Hilfe mittragen.

Als „Madame Non“ und „Eiserne Kanzlerin“ war Merkel noch beim letzten EU-Gipfel Ende März in Brüssel tituliert worden. Eine schnelle Hilfe für das krisengebeutelte Griechenland sei mit den Deutschen nicht zu machen, hatte die CDU-Chefin die anderen Regierungschefs im Euro-Club wissen lassen. Der markige Auftritt kam hierzulande bei der Bevölkerung gut an. Innerhalb Europas dagegen warf man den Deutschen vor, sich unsolidarisch zu verhalten. >>> Von Dorothea Siems | Montag, 26. April 2010

Video “Finanzhilfe: Merkel für Griechenland-Hilfspaket” hier abspielen

L’ancienne ministre de la Justice a reçu les insignes de Grand Officier Wissam Al Alaoui
GALA.fr: Vendredi, Rachida Dati a été décorée par El Mostafa Sahel, l’ambassadeur du Maroc, qui a tenu à rendre hommage à la «trajectoire exemplaire» de l’eurodéputée.

«C’est un exemple pour tous les jeunes issus de l’immigration», expliquait vendredi dernier l’ambassadeur du Maroc, en parlant de Rachida Dati. L’ex-ministre de la Justice a été décorée des insignes de Grand Officier du Wissam Al Alaoui, au nom du roi du Maroc, Mohamed VI. >>> | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

Démission : La Belgique s’enfonce dans la crise
LE TEMPS: La Belgique s’est enfoncée dans la crise lundi avec la démission effective du gouvernement, faute de rapprochement entre Flamands et francophones. Cette situation rend probable des élections anticipées alors que le pays doit bientôt présider l’UE

«Le roi a accepté la démission du gouvernement que le Premier ministre lui avait présentée le jeudi 22 avril et a chargé le gouvernement de l’expédition des affaires courantes», a indiqué en fin d’après-midi le Palais royal dans un communiqué.
Une ultime tentative de conciliation faite par le ministre des Finances, le francophone Didier Reynders, pour relancer les négociations sur la question des droits linguistiques des francophones vivant dans la banlieue flamande de Bruxelles, a échoué lundi. Sonnant le glas des espoirs de compromis. Elections probables en juin >>> ATS | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

Egyptian Businessman Denies Murdering Lebanese Pop Star
THE TELEGRAPH: One of Egypt's most powerful businessmen has denied murdering his Lebanese pop singer lover in a case that has caused fascination across the Middle East.

Hisham Talaat Moustafa appeared in court along with one of his employees, Mohsen el-Sukkari, a former state security officer, who police say slit the throat of Suzanne Tamim in her Dubai apartment.

"It didn't happen. None of that happened," Mr Moustafa, dressed in white prison clothes, told the court from the black cage in which the men were held.

The two men have already been sentenced to hang by a court in Cairo, but a retrial was ordered by an appeal judge citing legal irregularities in the lower court.

The judge said defence requests went ignored in the trial and Mr Sukkari was first questioned in the absence of a lawyer.

The trial was postponed to Wednesday to allow the defence to review evidence. >>> Samer al-Atrush in Cairo | Monday, April 26, 2010

Related / Verbunden:

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Ägypten: Millionär soll wegen Mordes hingerichtet werden >>> dpa | Donnerstag, 21. Mai 2009

Pope's Visit to Britain Will Go Ahead Despite Offensive Memo, Says Vatican
THE TELEGRAPH: The Pope's visit to Britain will not be affected by the disclosure of a Foreign Office document mocking the Catholic Church, the Vatican said.



Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi has noted a Foreign Office apology and said the paper will have ''absolutely'' no impact on the Pope's visit in September, an official confirmed. >>> | Monday, April 26, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Pope memo sent by 23-year-old Oxford graduate: A “puerile” Foreign Office memo which has thrown the Pope’s state visit to Britain into doubt was circulated by a 23-year-old Oxford graduate who once included “drinking a lot” among his hobbies. >>> Gordon Rayner and Nick Pisa in Rome | Monday, April 26, 2010

Related:

THE TELEGRAPH: Pope 'Could Cancel UK Visit' Over 'Offensive' Foreign Office Memo >>> Gordon Rayner and Nick Pisa in Rome | Sunday, April 25, 2010

Affaire du niqab: "Avoir des maîtresses n'est pas interdit!"
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: NATIONALITÉ | Un ministre français a menacé un homme suspecté de polygamie du retrait de sa nationalité. Celui-ci rétorque: "avoir des maîtresses n'est pas interdit en France".

Photo : Tribune de Genève
Le gouvernement français, confronté à une incertitude juridique et à une montée des incompréhensions avec la communauté musulmane, était dans l’embarras lundi après avoir menacé un homme d’origine algérienne suspecté de polygamie de lui retirer sa nationalité française.

Sur fond de débat sur le port du voile islamique intégral en France, l’affaire a commencé par un banal contrôle routier début avril. Dans l’ouest de la France, un femme portant le niqab se voit infliger une amende de 22 euros, au prétexte que son habit réduit son champ de vision.

Cette jeune femme choisit de médiatiser l’affaire pour dénoncer le climat de stigmatisation qui frappe selon elle les musulmans de France où le président Nicolas Sarkozy veut présenter prochainement une loi d’interdiction du voile islamique intégral. >>> AFP | Lundi 26 Avril 2010

TIMES ONLINE: Muslim butcher's many wives 'no worse than French mistresses': President Sarkozy's campaign against full Muslim veils took a comic turn today when an Islamist butcher claimed that his niqab-wearing "wives" were no different from the mistresses that Frenchmen traditionally enjoy. >>> Charles Bremner, in Paris | Monday, April 26, 2010

Family Detective: Nick Clegg
Nicholas Peter William Clegg was born in Chalfont St Giles in 1967. Photograph: The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH: An investigation into our hidden histories. This week: Nick Clegg. Nick Barratt reports

Nick Clegg won a closely fought contest this week to be the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, beating Chris Huhne to be the party's third leader in two years. Clegg's career in politics is relatively short-lived: he was elected Euro-MP for East Midlands in 1999 and then became MP for Sheffield Hallam in 2005. Prior to front-line politics, he worked for the European Commission from 1994, latterly with former EU Commissioner Leon Brittan, and was previously a Financial Times reporter. His candidacy is not uncontroversial given his part in the downfall of both Campbell and his predecessor, Charles Kennedy.

Who is he related to?

Nicholas Peter William Clegg was born in Chalfont St Giles in 1967 and is only one-quarter English. His mother, Eulalie Hermance van den Wall Bake, is Dutch but was born in Indonesia in 1936. When the Japanese army invaded in 1942, she was sent to a concentration camp with her parents, Hemmy and Louise, and two sisters. They were separated and spent the next three years in terrible conditions. On liberation, the family returned to Holland, but in 1956 Hermance travelled to England, where she met and later married Nick's father, also called Nick. Nick senior is half-English. >>> Nick Barratt | Saturday, December 22, 2007

Naughty Brits Still Smack Their Children. Not Good Enough, Says Europe
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain is one of the few countries in the world not to have completely banned smacking, European Union leaders say, as they called for a change in the law.

The British government’s “unwelcome” intrusion into family affairs was to blame for the delay in the complete ban of the practice, the Council of Europe warned.

The Council, a body which monitors compliance with the European convention on Human rights, also blamed traditional parenting practices that were based on “authority”.

The comments come ahead of a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday where EU leaders and campaigners against the “corporal punishment of children” will criticise the UK government for not banning the practice completely.

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe, said on Monday that 20 countries had "formally abolished laws" against smacking since over the past three year.1998 ruling found it violated a child’s human rights.

"The UK is one of the countries that has not yet implemented a full ban," she said.

“In part, this is because the traditional parent-child relationship in the UK is one of authority [and] state intervention into family affairs is still not welcome.” Smacking ban delays caused by 'unwelcome government intrusion', Europe says >>> Andrew Hough | Monday, April 26, 2010

Labour in Turmoil as Pressure on Brown Grows
Gordon Brown. Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Labour’s struggle to overcome the Liberal Democrat surge broke out into the open yesterday when Alan Johnson positioned himself to lead the party’s post-election talks with Nick Clegg.

Hours after the Liberal Democrat leader had ruled out keeping a defeated Gordon Brown in No 10, the Home Secretary risked deepening internal tensions by using a television interview to say that he did not share the “horror” of some colleagues at the prospect of power-sharing.

With ten days to go until the election, a YouGov poll in The Sun today confirms that Labour is in third place. The first postal votes have been cast already and start arriving at town halls today.

Mr Brown appeared on edge at the launch of his green manifesto in London yesterday, arriving late for his speech. Instead of discussing the environment, he used the opportunity to attack a range of Tory policies. >>> Francis Elliott, Deputy Political Editor | Monday, April 26, 2010

Designierte Ministerin: Özkans Kruzifix-Kritik entfacht heftige Entrüstung
WELT ONLINE: Mit ihrer Aussage, Kruzifixe gehörten nicht in staatliche Schulräume, zieht die designierte Ministerin Aygül Özkan (CDU) bayerische Wut auf sich. Ein CSU-Politiker hält ihr das Grundgesetz vor, ein anderer nennt ihre Äußerung indiskutabel. Und die Schülerunion will Özkan nicht im niedersächsischen Kabinett sehen.

Die designierte niedersächsische Sozialministerin Aygül Özkan (CDU) erntet mit ihrer Forderung nach einem Kruzifixverbot an staatlichen Schulen weiter entschiedenen Widerstand in den eigenen Reihen. Entrüstet äußerten sich insbesondere Politiker der CSU.

Bayerns Innenminister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) bezeichnete die Haltung Özkans als völlig indiskutabel. Der CSU-Politiker Herrmann sagte der in Düsseldorf erscheinenden „Rheinischen Post“, Deutschland sei von der christlichen Tradition geprägt. Das solle auch der jungen Generation in den Schulklassen vermittelt werden.

Der frühere bayerische Wissenschaftsminister Thomas Goppel (CSU) verwies die Deutsch-Türkin Özkan auf das Grundgesetz. Dieses sei nach der NS-Zeit mit ausdrücklicher Rückbesinnung auf das christliche Menschenbild verabschiedet worden, sagte Goppel, Vorsitzender des Geprächskreises der „ChristSozialen Katholiken“. >>> EPD/cn | Montag, 26. April 2010

Altkanzler: Helmut Schmidt geißelt "Größenwahn" der Manager
WELT ONLINE: Er lobte Richard von Weizsäcker und rechnete mit den "verachtenswerten Typen von Finanzmanagern" ab. Altkanzler Helmut Schmidt hat bei einer Würdigung für den Altbundespräsidenten die Schuldigen an der Wirtschaftskrise attackiert. An deren "Größenwahn" habe die Menschheit noch Jahre zu leiden.

Henry Kissinger war aus den Vereinigten Staaten nach Berlin gekommen, Vaclav Havel reiste aus Prag an und Helmut Schmidt machte sich aus Hamburg auf dem Weg – sie alle ehrten im Berliner Konzerthaus auf Einladung der Körber-Stiftung den Mann, der vor wenigen Tagen sein 90. Lebensjahr vollendete: Richard von Weizsäcker.

Das Leben des einstigen Staatsoberhauptes, sein Anteil an der Ostpolitik und die berühmte Rede vom 8. Mai 1985 kamen mehrfach zur Sprache. Außerdem ging es um die Zukunft Europas und die Weltpolitik, etwa den Umgang mit dem Iran.

Der sozialdemokratische Bundeskanzler a. D. würdigte den Altbundespräsidenten, der einst in der CDU Karriere gemacht hatte. Hinter einem schlichten Tisch in seinem Rollstuhl sitzend, ehrte Helmut Schmidt von Weizsäcker, dessen „Gedankenreichtum“ und seine „moralische Disziplin“.

Schmidt, diesmal ohne Zigarette, sprach von Weizsäcker mit „lieber Richard“ an, hanseatisch vollendet in der Sie-Form. Er benötigte nur wenige Momente, um die im Publikum erwartete „Schmidt Schnauze“ ertönen zu lassen. Von Weizsäcker habe sich nie für persönlichen Luxus interessiert, sondern für diesen „höchstens Verachtung“ übrig gehabt.

Er stehe damit im Gegensatz zu den „verachtenswerten Typen von Bank- und Finanzmanagern“, die mit „zügellosen Größenwahn“ der Welt mit der Wirtschaftskrise eine Rezession beschert hätten, unter der „beinahe die gesamte Menschheit noch Jahre zu leiden haben wird“, polterte Schmidt. >>> Von Daniel Friedrich Sturm | Sonntag, 25. April 2010

The Rootless World of the Super-rich
THE TELEGRAPH: Once, very wealthy people owned big estates in the country. Now they have homes all over the world and flit to and fro in private jets, yachts - or even submarines. Mark Palmer reports

Even before rumours began to circulate that it was haunted, David and Victoria Beckham had never slept a night in Domaine St-Vincent, the estate in Var-Provence they bought three years ago for £1.5 million. This might seem odd for those of us who can only fantasise about a second home in the South of France, but to the money-bags crowd there's nothing unusual about it at all.

In 2006, the super-rich - that exclusive group - like to see themselves as citizens of the world. They flit from one continent to the next, wheeling and dealing at 30,000 ft, always a few hundred miles ahead of the tax man but only a couple of clicks away from their PAs, solicitors, financial advisers, accountants, wives, mistresses and children.

"I was at an amazingly swanky wedding in Paris recently," says Stephen Bayley, the style guru and art historian. "With my pitiable suburban reflexes, I asked another guest where he was from. He said: 'I've just flown in from Ibiza. I have a flat here in Paris, but my real home is Rio. Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to my apartment in New York.' Then he added, and this is the interesting bit, 'In this milieu, we don't commit adultery, we travel'."

Once upon a time, the rich were rooted. They had big estates in the country. They were chairmen of local charities; they hosted the summer fête. Today, they are rootless - international nomads forever in search of fertile ground in which to sow the seeds of another bumper financial harvest.

Wander down the Bishop's Avenue in north London - which boasts Britain's highest concentration of multi-million pound homes - and you'll find the place practically deserted.

"That's one of the problems we have," says Trevor Abrahmsohn, head of Glentree International, a firm of estate agents that specialises in upscale houses in the area. "For a lot of people, this is their third or fourth home and sometimes they lose interest. They can't be bothered to live here and they can't be bothered to sell."

So, where are they? Well, they're everywhere and nowhere. Some follow the sun while others follow their business investments - and the best chance of seeing them in the same room is likely to be at art sales in London or New York. Never has the phrase "jet set" been quite so appropriate to describe this tribe, were it not for the fact that if you want to buy a plane with room for five passengers, there is a two-year waiting list. And never has the gap between the super-rich and the middle classes been so wide >>> Mark Palmer | Wednesday, June 07, 2006

General Election 2010: David Cameron's Smash and Grab Raid on Labour
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron has been given renewed hope of securing an overall majority in the Commons after party strategists identified 20 Labour seats that have unexpectedly become winnable following the rise of the Liberal Democrats.

The success of Nick Clegg in the first two televised debates was thought to have reduced Tory prospects of forming a government after May 6.

However, Conservative strategists now believe that the increase in support for the Lib Dems has been far more damaging for Labour, which is in danger of coming third in the popular vote.

In response, Mr Cameron has ordered an aggressive “decapitation” campaign to try to snatch up to 20 seats that the Tories had previously thought unwinnable, including two held by Cabinet ministers. If successful, the party leadership believes the strategy could help the Conservatives achieve an overall majority of MPs. >>> Robert Winnett, Rosa Prince and James Kirkup | Sunday, April 25, 2010

British Ambassador Survives Suicide Bomb Attack in Yemen
THE TELEGRAPH: The British ambassador to Yemen has survived a suicide bomb attack by terrorists in the capital Sana'a.

The ambassador, Timothy Torlot, was in a convoy travelling to the embassy, situated on a hill overlooking the city, when the bomb was detonated on Monday morning.

One person was confirmed by the Yemeni authorities to have died, but it is not clear whether they were referring to the attacker, who was said to have been blown to pieces.

They confirmed that no-one from the embassy was killed, while Mr Torlot himself was said to be unhurt.

Witnesses said the attacker had failed after being "slow" to get close to the vehicle in which Mr Torlot was travelling.

The attack will add to concerns over Yemen's instability and use as a base by terrorist groups including al-Qaeda. >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Monday, April 26, 2010