BNP Election Candidate Arrested Over Qur'an Burning
THE OBSERVER: Footage leaked to the Observer shows Welsh Assembly candidate setting fire to Islamic holy book in his garden

A senior member of the BNP who burned a copy of the Qur'an in his garden has been arrested following an investigation by the Observer.

Footage of the burning shows Sion Owens, 40, from south Wales and a candidate for the forthcoming Welsh Assembly elections, soaking the Qur'an in kerosene and setting fire to it.

A video clip of the act, leaked to the Observer and passed immediately to South Wales police, provoked fierce criticism from the government.

A statement from the Home Office said: "The government absolutely condemns the burning of the Qur'an. It is fundamentally offensive to the values of our pluralist and tolerant society.

"We equally condemn any attempts to create divisions between communities and are committed to ensuring that everyone has the freedom to live their lives free from fear of targeted hostility or harassment on the grounds of a particular characteristic, such as religion." » | Mark Townsend | The Guardian | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Frost Over the World - Debating the Face Veil
Just days before a ban on the full face veil starts in France, Sir David Frost is joined by British politicians Salma Yaqoob and imam Taj Hargey to discuss whether France has made the right decision. Plus, Guma El Gamaty discusses the situation in Libya and Knox Chitiyo talks about events in Cote d'Ivoire

Inside Story - Appeasing Syria's Kurds
Protests have continued in Syria a day after Bashar al-Assad granted citizenship to a quarter of a million stateless Kurds living in Hasaka, in the northeast of the country. Some Kurdish leaders have said that being granted their rights should not be considered a favour and that they will continue their non-violent protests demanding civic, political, cultural and social rights. Will such concessions succeed in containing pro-democracy protests? Inside Story discusses

Col Gadhafi Makes Public Appearance at Tripoli School
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: State-run Libyan television has shown footage of Muammar Gaddafi at a school in Tripoli on a visit it said took place on Saturday.

In the footage Gadhafi is seen entering the school surrounded by bodyguards and receives a rapturous reception by the pupils.

The TV anchor said the visit took place on Saturday morning.

Gaddafi pointed to the date written on whiteboards in the classrooms a number of times to highlight that he is both alive and still in Libya.

The Libyan leader was last seen in public on April 4. Watch the video » | Saturday, April 09, 2011

At Least Six Killed in Amsterdam Shooting
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A gunman has killed at least six people and wounded 13 others after opening fire with an automatic weapon at a shopping centre outside Amsterdam.

The shooting happened in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn, 13 miles southwest of Amsterdam.

"A man with an automatic weapon, whose identity we cannot reveal, started shooting and killed five people and then himself," Mayor Bas Eenhoorn said.

"Four people were very badly injured, five mildly wounded, and at least two slightly injured."

Mr Eenhoorn called the shooting "unprecedented" and said there were a large number of people in the shopping centre when the shootings occurred. » | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Aussie Dollar Boosted by Its Own 'Gold Standard'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Australian dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world because it is a commodity-backed currency. That’s why it hit a 29-year high against the US dollar today – and it’s all related to the gold price.

The gold price is hitting new all-time highs on a daily basis because many investors have lost faith in paper money. They believe that central bank printing presses are devaluing currencies on a daily basis.

It is the same lack of belief in paper money that has been boosting the Aussie dollar. Paper money used to be backed by gold held in a central bank, but this was abandoned all over the world, allowing central banks to print money via processes such as quantitative easing.

Today, no currency in the world is on the gold standard – all money is “fiat” money.

However, Australia has significant resources of gold, uranium, iron ore, coal and many other important and valuable commodities. They are in the ground, not in a central bank, but this is the nearest thing the world has to the old gold standard. That’s why the Australian currency is so strong.

The same is also true of currencies in Canada, South Africa and Russia. They are effectively backed by commodities in the ground. » | Garry White | Friday, April 08, 2011

Britain's Deficit-cutting Plans Are 'Oxymoronic' Says Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Larry Summers, President Obama's chief economic adviser for his first two years in office, has labelled Britain's plan to revive growth by tackling its deficit as "oxymoronic", in an unusually outspoken attack.

"I find the idea of expansionary fiscal contraction in the context of the world in which we now live to be every bit as oxymoronic as it sounds," Mr Summers told a gathering of economists and policy makers at the resort of Bretton Woods in New Hampshire.

The analysis from Mr Summers, who also served as US Treasury Secretary under President Clinton, will be unwelcome to a Coalition government that's pushing through tax increases and cutting spending.

The government insists that tackling the budget deficit is required to prevent bond investors losing confidence in the country's fiscal policy in the way they did with Greece and Portugal and have threatened to with Spain and Italy.

In last month's Budget, George Osborne, the chancellor of the exchequer, outlined plans to cut the budget deficit, which has reached 10p of gross domestic product (GDP), to £29bn in 2015 from £146bn this year.

Though it has damaged the Government's rating in the opinion polls, the policy has won the backing of business leaders in the UK who are now tasked with helping to drive the recovery.

However, Mr Summers said he was sceptical that a policy focused on improving "fiscal hygiene" would generate the confidence a recovery needs. "I'd be happy to say that if Britain enjoys a boom for the next two years from increased confidence," I will change my opinion, he said.

The attack from Mr Summers underlines the extent to which many in Washington DC are watching Britain to see whether the government's effort drives the economy back into recession or helps lays the foundation for a lasting recovery. » | Richard Blackden, US Business Editor | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Sadr Calls for an End to 'US Occupation'
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Shia cleric threatens to relaunch armed resistance unless the US withdraws from Iraq by year-end.

Moqtada al Sadr, a prominent Iraqi Shia cleric, has threatened to revive his Mehdi Army and relaunch armed resistance against continued US presence in the country.

The threat came as tens of thousands of people marched across the capital Baghdad, marking the eighth anniversary of former leader Saddam Hussein's fall on Saturday.

A spokesperson of al Sadr, said the US had until the end of the year to meet the cleric's demands. » | Source: Al Jazeera | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Yale University Hit by Sexual Harassment Row
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As the esteemed Ivy League university that taught five US presidents, 18 Nobel laureates and countless captains of industry, Yale has one of the loftiest names in education.

But the £25,000-a-year alma mater of Bill Clinton and both George Bushes has been plunged into a sexual harassment scandal that threatens to drag its reputation through the mud.

The US government has launched an investigation into a complaint by 16 students at the Connecticut college. They allege a string of serious assaults and rampages by gangs of men that went unpunished.

Yale's management has allowed the cultivation of a "sexually hostile environment", in which misogyny flourishes and sexual attacks on young women are frequent, they claim.

Now the university's £300 million-a-year public funding could be in jeopardy if the Obama administration finds it broke a law dictating everyone must have equal access to education.

The Yale complaint's most serious charges – concerning the sexual assaults of several girls – have not been made public to protect the victims' identities.

The 26-page dossier also discloses many other unpleasant incidents on campus. Several have dragged the college's boozy and laddish fraternities into the spotlight. » | Jon Swaine, New York | Friday, April 08, 2011

Abusing Women Is Un-Islamic: Saudi Mufti
ARAB NEWS: JEDDAH: Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has strongly warned against maltreating women in any form and said this is totally against Islam.

In his Friday sermon at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, the mufti said only bad people treat women badly.

"The psychological or physical abuse of wives, daughters and sisters is against the Islamic Shariah and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)," he said.

Al-Asheikh warned husbands and fathers who take the salaries of their wives and daughters that they are committing anti-Islamic acts.

"The fathers who make it a condition to have their daughters' salaries before they give their consent for marriage are equally wrong. Husbands who force their working wives to share in home expenses are committing erroneous acts. Islam made it the responsibility of the man to spend on the house," he told the worshippers. » | Muhammad Humaidan, Arab News | Friday, April 08, 2011

Gutachten: Guttenberg hat absichtlich abgeschrieben
SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG: So viel Plagiat kann kein Zufall sein: In einem Gutachten kommt die Universität Bayreuth zu dem Schluss, dass der Ex-Minister mit Absicht abgeschrieben haben muss. Anders lassen sich die kopierten Passagen nicht erklären. Veröffentlichen darf die Hochschule ihre Analyse noch nicht - Guttenbergs Anwälte haben etwas dagegen.

In der Plagiatsaffäre hat Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg zwar Fehler eingeräumt und sich entschuldigt. Er hat aber stets bestritten, absichtlich abgeschrieben und die Hochschule mit seiner Doktorarbeit getäuscht zu haben. Die Kommission der Universität Bayreuth, die den Fall geprüft hat, sieht es anders. Nach Informationen der Süddeutschen Zeitung kommt sie zu dem Urteil, dass Guttenberg mit Absicht gehandelt haben muss. Ausmaß und Art der Plagiate in Guttenbergs Doktorarbeit ließen keinen anderen Schluss zu. » | Von Tanjev Schultz | Freitag, 08. April 2011

Marine Le Pen rate son grand oral d'économie
LE POINT: La présidente du FN a tenté d'expliquer son programme économique pour la France. Sans convaincre.

"De quoi ? Qui ça ? Ah oui ! Borloo a quitté l'UMP... Très bien, vous savez, moi, je suis pour la concurrence !" plaisante Marine Le Pen, vendredi matin. Pour la concurrence en politique, peut-être, mais en économie, rien n'est moins sûr... Tout sourire, lunettes de soleil sur la tête, veste couleur crème et bottines noires, la présidente du Front national fume une dernière cigarette avant de se livrer à un exercice dont elle n'a pas l'habitude. Son équipe a en effet convié des journalistes économiques - et non pas les "politiques", qu'elle connaît bien - à un "petit-déjeuner de travail " pour expliciter les grandes orientations de son programme dans ce secteur. "Nous ne sommes pas légitimes que sur l'immigration et l'insécurité", veut-elle convaincre. Elle souhaite démontrer que son programme n'est "ni simpliste, ni fantaisiste, ni ringard". » | Par Pauline de Saint Remy | Vendredi 08 Avril 2011

Australians Up In Arms Over Carbon Tax
On a per-capita basis, Australians are among the world's worst polluters, and the government is trying to put a price on carbon.



But the plan to change that -- by taxing polluting industries -- is running into stiff opposition, with thousands turning out to protest the move.



Al Jazeera's Andrew Thomas reports from Sydney. (08 April 2011)

The 'Arab Spring' Uprisings of 2011 Are Being Hailed in Washington as the 'Al-Jazeera Moment'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are among the millions of Americans turning to Al-Jazeera English.

Walking back from the White House this week, Abderrahim Foukara, Washington bureau chief for Al-Jazeera television, could have been forgiven for pinching himself. He’d just met senior aides to President Barack Obama who had lavished praise on the Arab television network.

“They told us that during Egypt basically Al-Jazeera English was all they watched to try to make sense of what was going on,” he said, taking off his overcoat in the channel’s bureau on K Street, the boulevard that houses the city’s top lobbyists. The President, they made clear, had been one of those glued to the screen.

On Capitol Hill four weeks ago, Hillary Clinton, the United States Secretary of State, delivered what amounted to an advertisement for Al-Jazeera to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “Viewership of Al-Jazeera is going up in the United States because it's real news,” she said.

“You may not agree with it, but you feel like you're getting real news around the clock instead of a million commercials and, you know, arguments between talking heads and the kind of stuff that we do on our news.”

In London, where Moroccan-born Foukara worked for the BBC World Service for nearly a decade before moving to the US in 2001, David Cameron has also made clear he is a fan. The Prime Minister has told friends that he considers Al-Jazeera to be essential viewing, the only network that gives the texture of what the Arab Street is thinking. » | Toby Harnden | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Tahrir Square Comes Alive with Protesters Again
THE GUARDIAN: Military the target of Egyptian demonstrations as people demand more prosecutions against Hosni Mubarak-era ministers

Protesters have packed Cairo's Tahrir Square, piling pressure on the ruling military council to meet demands including the prosecution of Hosni Mubarak in one of the biggest demonstrations since he was ousted.

By early afternoon the protest had swollen to more than 100,000. Thousands waved red, white and black Egyptian flags in scenes reminiscent of the height of the protests that toppled Mubarak and helped ignite revolts in other Arab countries.

"Oh field marshal, we've been very patient!" chanted some of the protesters, gathered in the square that was the hub of protests that toppled Mubarak from the presidency and left the army, led by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, in charge.

"Tantawi, Tantawi get your act together or do you want a pool of blood?" chanted some of the protesters.

The military has enjoyed broad support since it took control of the country on 11 February but frustrations have grown over the pace of reform. Attention is now focused on the perceived tardiness of legal steps against Mubarak and his entourage. » | Reuters in Cairo | Friday, April 08, 2011

Libya: Moussa Koussa 'Could Leave Britain'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Moussa Koussa, the Libyan defector, could be allowed to leave the country, William Hague has said.

The foreign secretary said Mr Koussa, who faces inquiries from the International Criminal Court and families of the victims of Libyan terrorists, would not be forced to return to Libya, adding: "There are quite a range of places that he could go to live."

Mr Hague's comments, in an interview with Sky News, came as relatives of the Lockerbie bombing victims accepted he may never face trial in Britain.

Susan Cohen, who lost her only daughter on Pan Am Flight 103 said the former intelligence chief "should probably be hanged for what he has done" but she had no expectation of him ending up in a Scottish court.

She added that American relatives were more interested in the British authorities using him to "get to" Col Muammar Gaddafi than in seeing Mr Koussa on trial. » | Auslan Cramb, James Kirkup and Duncan Gardham | Friday, April 08, 2011

US Government Shutdown Averted by Late Night Deal in Congress
THE GUARDIAN: Obama and Democrats forced to accept $39bn package of cuts while Republicans gave way on health care for women

A shutdown of the US federal government scheduled to begin on Saturday was averted after the Democrats and Republicans reached agreement only hours before midnight on budget spending cuts.

The shutdown would have triggered major disruptions across the country and could have set back the country's fragile economic recovery. Hundreds of federal agencies would have closed down and about 800,000 federal staff faced suspension.

The deal came after days of negotiation between Obama and the Republican House Speaker, John Boehner, and the Democratic leader in the Senate Harry Reid. A deal had appeared to be tantalisingly close several times but was not finalised, until Friday night.

Boehner, an hour before midnight, told journalists in Congress: "I am pleased that Senator Reid and the White House have come to an agreement that will cut spending and keep government open."

It would have been the first federal government shutdown since 1995-96 when there was a stand-off between the Republicans and the Clinton White House. » | Ewen MacAskill | Saturday, April 09, 2011

Saudi Arabia: There Has Been ‘No Crackdown’ in Bahrain
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH – BLOGS – ALEX SPILLIUS: I just attended an eye-opening roundtable discussion with several members of Saudi Arabia’s Majlis al-Shura, the advisory council to King Abdullah, at the New America Foundation here in Washington.

It was a great chance to assess the Saudi government’s take on the change sweeping the Arab world, and where it is positioning itself. It was hard to conclude that its location is currently on the wrong side of history.

The level of denial about Bahrain, which is the kingdom’s key concern in the region, was startling. One delegate said there was “no major crackdown” in Bahrain, despite the fact that the security forces opened fire in Manama’s Pearl Roundabout, You-Tube footage can be seen of protestors being shot at point blank range, the main opposition newspaper has just been shut down amid the emergency rule imposed a month ago. Not forgetting that Gulf Co-operation Council forces agreed to a cry for help from Bahrain’s royal family, resulting in the Saudi-led intervention of 1,000 troops. Continue reading and comment » | Alex Spillius | Friday, April 08, 2011

Can You Live By the Bible?
Apr 8, 2011 – Group attempts living by the biblical rules of the Old Testament

‪Stevie Wonder‪ - I Just Called To Say I Love You‬

Fall of Roman Empire Caused by 'Contagion of Homosexuality'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A prominent Italian historian has claimed that the Roman Empire collapsed because a "contagion of homosexuality and effeminacy" made it easy pickings for barbarian hordes, sparking a furious row.

Roberto De Mattei, 63, the deputy head of the country's National Research Council, claimed that the empire was fatally weakened after conquering Carthage, which he described as "a paradise for homosexuals".

The remarks prompted angry calls for his resignation, with critics saying his comments were homophobic, offensive and unbecoming of his position.

The fall of the Roman Empire was a result of "the effeminacy of a few in Carthage, a paradise for homosexuals, who infected the many.

"The abhorrent presence of a few gays infected a good part of the (Roman) people," Prof Mattei told Radio Maria, a Catholic radio station.

The Roman Republic achieved domination over Carthage, in present-day Tunisia, during the Punic Wars of the third and second centuries BC, during which Hannibal made his ultimately abortive crossing of the Alps with war elephants.

After the third and final Punic War, Carthage fell into Roman hands, followed by most of the other dependencies of the Carthaginian Empire.

Prof Mattei claimed that it was as the capital of Rome's North African provinces that Cartagena became a hotbed of sexual perversion, gradually influencing Rome itself, which eventually fell to barbarian tribes in 410AD. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Friday, April 08, 2011

Japan Aftershock Raises Fears
Another powerful earthquake shook the same region hit by the quake and tsunami that devastated much of Japan's coastal areas last month.



Power and water were cut, people were evacuated, and fears were once again raised about the potential effect on the country's nuclear power facilities.



Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Mizusawa.


Related links here and here

Turkey's "Benevolent" Rôle in Libya Sparks Some Resentment
Turkey has become the latest in a line of countries to offer a plan to bring about a negotiated end to the conflict in Libya.



But despite its humanitarian efforts to aid civilians under the guns of the Gaddafi regime, Turkey has angered opposition forces in the east by appearing to put a brake on NATO's military efforts.



Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught reports from Tripoli.

School Shooting Rocks Even Violent Rio de Janeiro
A former student wielding two handguns entered a school in the western part of the violence-plagued Brazilian city and opened fire, killing at least 11 students and wounding 18 more.

Parents who arrived to pick up their students instead found a chaotic scene, with police helicopters landing nearby to ferry away the injured.

One man told Al Jazeera he never thought such a shooting could happen in his country.

Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Rio de Janeiro.


Related video »

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Gunman captured on security video »

Japan vier Wochen nach der Katastrophe: Ein Gespenst namens Tokio
STERN.DE: Tokio vor dem großen Beben: Laut, bunt, quirlig, exzessiv. Tokio heute: Dunkel, bedächtig, ständig schwankend. Streifzug durch eine Stadt, die weit entfernt ist von Normalität. Von Mareike Dornhege, Tokio

s will einfach kein Ende nehmen. Am Donnerstagabend wackelten die Häuser in Tokio wieder. Die Menschen gewöhnen sich an den dauerhaft erscheinenden Zustand, dass sich der Boden unter seinen Füssen bewegt, gewöhnt. "Als ich vor ein paar Tagen in Deutschland ankam, bildete ich mir noch immer ein, der Boden bebe, wenn ich einmal ganz ruhig an meinem Schreibtisch saß” sagt ein deutscher Japanologe, der für ein paar Tage in seine Heimat zurückgekehrt ist. Fast wie ein Seemann, der einmal von Schiff gegangen, "landkrank" wird.

Doch es sind nicht nur die immer wiederkehrenden Nachbeben, die Tokio fortwährend daran erinnern, dass es noch lange nicht wieder so ist, wie vorher. Nachts geht man nun durch ein dunkles Tokio. "Bukimi" – gespenstisch, unheimlich, sagen die Japaner. Wo einem sonst an jeder Häuserwand die Neonschilder in allen Farben entgegenleuchteten, ist es heute sehr dunkel. Es wird überall an Beleuchtung gespart: In den meisten Straßenzügen brennt nur jede zweite Laterne, moderne Hochhäuser, die sonst hellerleuchtete Blickpunkte der Stadt bildeten, bleiben dunkel. Erloschenes Wahrzeichen » | Von Mareike Dornhege, Tokio | Freitag, 08. April 2011

Libya to Unleash Wave of Migrants on Europe
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya is unleashing a wave of migrants against Europe as retaliation for the coalition's military strikes against the country.

The opening of immigration floodgates came as Italy announced that it would grant travel permits to more than 20,000 Tunisian refugees who have reached its southernmost islands in recent weeks.

The Italian government said the temporary permits would grant the refugees freedom of movement within the visa-free Schengen area, but in reality most want to head to France.

Paris reacted angrily to the move, with Claude Gueant, the interior minister, saying the country would not tolerate "a wave of immigration" and warning that migrants without appropriate identity documents and sufficient funds would be prevented from entering.

The Schengen zone excludes Britain and Ireland, but migrants could attempt to enter the UK illegally from the Continent.

The Tunisians are among nearly 26,000 migrants who have managed to reach the tiny island of Lampedusa, Italy's southernmost territory, since January, when president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled by a popular revolt.

In neighbouring Libya, Col. Muammar Gadaffi's regime is alleged to have been actively encouraging boatloads of migrants to leave the country's shores since March 22, when the first vessel sailed from Tajoura, a suburb of Tripoli. » | Nick Squires, Rome and Damien McElroy in Valletta | Thursday, April 07, 2011

La France ne veut pas des migrants de Tunisie
LE POINT: Paris a rappelé à ses préfets les conditions d'accueil des migrants. Un reproche à peine caché aux autorités italiennes.

Le ministère de l'Intérieur a rappelé, dans une circulaire aux préfets mercredi, les conditions d'accueil des immigrés passés par un pays de l'espace Schengen, au moment où des dizaines de clandestins tunisiens venus d'Italie sont interceptés chaque jour en France. Alors que Rome reproche à la France de lui renvoyer ces clandestins, cette circulaire énumère les conditions de séjour des ressortissants issus "d'un pays tiers" et "en provenance du territoire d'un autre État membre de l'espace Schengen". » | Le Point.fr | Vendredi 08 Avril 2011

LE FIGARO: Lampedusa : une circulaire contre les flux migratoires » | Par Jean-Marc Leclerc | Jeudi 07 Avril 2011

Nicolas Sarkozy ‘Threatened to Smash the Face of Editor Who Said Carla Bruni Was Maneater’
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to “smash the face” of a political editor during a 40-minute conversation after his magazine suggested Carla Bruni was a maneater, a new biography claims.

The French president’s alleged threat was sparked by an article in Le Point news magazine offering “24 tips to the President ahead of his marriage to Mademoiselle Bruni”.

One piece of advice was: “Do not introduce your new wife to your sons, Barack Obama or any handsome men.”

In a new book called M. Le President, Franz-Olivier Giesbert, director of Le Point, gives what he says is a blow by blow account of the president’s tirade following the article.

The president allegedly called shortly after publication in January 2008, started with a few niceties before suddenly turning apoplectic.

“This article is filth and I should smash your face in,” he reportedly told Mr Giesbert.

Mr Giesbert replied: “Are you threatening me?” Mr Sarkozy hit back: “You deserve it. I don’t know what’s holding me back.”

“There’s no reason for you and Carla to feel insulted,” replied the author.

“I’m sure you’d blow your top if I wrote that your wife was a whore that everyone had slept with and even wanted to have sex with your children,” the president went on.

“Never did our magazine suggest Carla was a whore,” said Mr Giesbert. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, April 07, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy biography: extracts from M Le President – Here are some extracts from the new biography M Le President Scenes of political life 2005-2011. » | Friday, April 08, 2011

New Zealand Churches Upset Over Hot Cross Buns 'Like Jesus'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A pizza company has caused outrage in New Zealand with billboards advertising hot cross buns accompanied by the slogan: "For a limited time. A bit like Jesus."

Instead of the traditional Christian cross, the buns bear an inverted pentagram, a design symbolic of Satanism.

The giant billboards, placed by the Hell Pizza company, have been plastered around Auckland, the country's largest city.

Lloyd Ashton, a spokesman for New Zealand's Anglican Church, condemned the advertising campaign as disgraceful.

"It's disrespectful to what a lot of people hold very dear," he said.

"They've dared here to take a clumsy poke at something that numbers of people hold sacred." » | Paul Chapman in Wellington | Thursday, April 07, 2011

"Die Islamisten wären schlimmer als Gaddafi" meint ein Stammesführer
Die libysche Führung ist nach Angaben eines Regierungssprechers zu Diskussionen über politische Reformen bereit. Es könne sowohl über Wahlen als auch über ein Referendum gesprochen werden, sagte Regierungssprecher Mussa Ibrahim vor Journalisten

Islam-Debatte in Frankreich
Der französische Präsident Sarkozy will dem Islam im eigenen Land Grenzen setzen. Die National-Versammlung traf sich zu einer Sitzung und diskutierte über die Trennung von Religion und Staat

Related »

Deadly School Shooting in Brazil
A Brazilian gunman fatally shot 12 children at a Rio de Janeiro public school before killing himself, police said, shocking the South American nation that has never seen such an incident before.



Twenty-two people, including children, were wounded in Thursday's shooting spree, several of them seriously.



Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo has this report from Rio.

Barack Obama Locked in Last Minute Budget Talks
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama was locked in crisis budget talks with congressional leaders as the US faces the prospect of a costly government shutdown.


The shutdown would see 800,000 workers asked to stay at home and could cost taxpayers more than $100 million (£61 million) a day.

Mr Obama called for a “sense of urgency” as America sought to avoid the first shutdown since 1996 when Bill Clinton was president.

Failure to reach a deal by midnight on Friday would mean that Washington would essentially run out of money. » | Toby Harnden, Washington | Thursday, April 07, 2011

Witness - Malta's Cry for Freedom
EU member Malta has tough censorship rules and a conservative approach to free speech, but Maltese artists and writers are fighting back

Situation Remains Fluid in Libya Fighting
NATO's latest air strike in the eastern Libyan town of Brega that killed at least five people -- the second such incident -- has raised doubts in the minds of many, who wonder whether it was really a mistake.

At the same time, rebel fighters who criticised NATO's mission failure to protect civilians in Misurata, do realise that they cannot win the battle against the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, alone.

Thousands of civilians have also begun to flee intense fighting particularly in the coastal areas between Brega and Ajdabiya, further east.

Al Jazeera's Gerald Tan reports. (07 April 2011)

Riz Khan - PJ Crowley and the Pentagon
On Wednesday's Riz Khan we speak with PJ Crowley, the former US state department spokesperson, about his inflammatory remarks that led to his forced resignation last month

Japan Earthquake: 7.4 Magnitude Quake Hits Devastated Region
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Japan has been hit by a strong earthquake, with emergency workers at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant ordered to evacuate.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which operates Fukushima, says it is checking on the situation, but efforts to assess any damage were complicated by the evacuation.

"After the earthquake and the tsunami warning, all the workers evacuated to a safe area. The company confirmed all the workers have cleared the plant safely," a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power said.

"We don't know if there is any impact to the facilities as all the workers have cleared the area."

The Japan meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for a wave of up to 6 feet (two metres) after the magnitude-7.4 aftershock. The warning, which was later cancelled, was issued for a coastal area already torn apart by last month's tsunami, which is believed to have killed some 25,000 people and has sparked an ongoing crisis at a nuclear power plant.

"Please do not hesitate to leave for higher ground, nor try to return to the coast line. Please do not try to check the status of the coastline," broadcaster NHK said repeatedly. » | Barney Henderson | Thursday, April 07, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Japan hit by earthquake and tsunami warning: Alert for wave of up to two metres issued for area devastated by last month's quake » | James Meikle | Thursday, April 07, 2011



REUTERS: Major aftershock shakes Japan's ruined coast: A major earthquake shook the northeast of Japan late on Thursday, and a tsunami warning was issued for the coast already devastated by last month's massive quake and tsunami that crippled a nuclear power plant. » | Kiyoshi Takenaka and Yoko Nishikawa | TOKYO | Thursday, April 07, 2011

REUTERS FRANCE: Alerte au tsunami levée dans le nord-est du Japon : TOKYO - Les alertes au tsunami émises pour les côtes nord-est du Japon ont été levées, rapporte vendredi matin (heure japonaise) la chaîne de télévision publique NHK. » | © Reuters | Jeudi 07 Avril 2011

REUTERS DEUTSCHLAND: Katastrophenregion in Japan erneut von Beben erschüttert: Tokio - Knapp vier Wochen nach dem schweren Erdbeben in Japan ist das Katastrophengebiet am Donnerstag erneut von heftigen Erdstößen erschüttert worden. » | © Reuters | Donnerstag, 07. April 2011

Women, Art and Revolution in Saudi Arabia

Love in Saudi Arabia – The New York Times
Watch New York Times video here

Inside the Hidden Kingdom - Saudi Arabia
Watch the Journeyman Pictures video here

Inside story: Power Change in Yemen
There is mounting pressure for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to go before the end of year elections.



Inside Story with Kamahl Sanatamaria discusses with: Shiraz Maher, a senior fellow at the centre for the study of radicalization at King's college London; and Hakim Almasmari, Editor in Chief of the Yemen post.



This episode of Inside Story aired on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.

Just Imagine That! A Honeymoon as Sweet as Bitter Aloes!
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A newly-wed couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by six natural disasters, including the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami.

Stefan and Erika Svanstrom left Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6 and were immediately stranded in Munich, Germany, due to one of Europe's worst snowstorms.

Travelling with their baby daughter, they flew on to Cairns in Australia which was then struck by one of the most ferocious cyclones in the nation's history.

From there, the couple, in their 20s, were forced to shelter for 24 hours on the cement floor of a shopping centre with 2500 others.

"Trees were being knocked over and big branches were scattered across the streets," Mr Svanstrom told Sweden's Expressen newspaper. "We escaped by the skin of our teeth."

They then headed south to Brisbane but the city was experiencing massive flooding, so they crossed the country to Perth where they narrowly escaped raging bush fires. Swedish couple have honeymoon from hell » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Portugal Asks for Bail-out Which Could Cost Britain £4.4 Billion
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Portugal last night became the third European Union country after Greece and Ireland to formally request an emergency bail–out which could cost Britain £4.4 billion.


The country's caretaker prime minister José Sócrates said the measure had been taken after the stricken nation had run out of options.
Economists last night put the UK's involvement in a Portuguese bail–out at up to a potential £4.4billion.

After months of resisting having to apply for a bail–out from the EU and the International Monetary Fund, Portugal's cost of borrowing has reached unsustainable levels.

Addressing the nation last night Mr Sócrates, said: "I have always said that asking for aid would be the final way to go, but we have reached the moment."

It is understood that the rescue fund could be as high as £70 billion, or €80 billion.

Sources close to the Treasury said last night that Britain would take part in any Portugal–related discussions involving the EU's 27 member states. However, the type of bail–out is yet to be discussed and therefore the extent of the UK's exposure was impossible to gauge, the sources said. » | James Hall | Thursday, April 07, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Spain 'won't follow Portugal' with bail-out: Spain said it will not follow ailing neighbour Portugal in seeking a European bail-out. » | James Hall | Thursday, April 07, 2011

One on One - Richard Dawkins
Meet the evolutionary biologist, best-selling author and staunch athiest

Richard Dawkins Debunks "Atlas Of Creation" by Harun Yahya
Richard Dawkins debunks the publication "Atlas Of Creation" by Harun Yahya (aka) Adnan Oktar

Part 2 »
Part 3 »
Part 4 »

Mexico's Indigenous Minority Converting to Islam
Compared to other countries in Latin America with sizeable Muslim communities, Mexico's Muslim population is tiny.



In southern Mexico, the indigenous Mayan population is a minority.

But another minority is being created within that group, as more and more Mayans convert from Catholicism.



In Chiapas, Frank Contreras takes a look at how Islam is gaining a foothold in the region.

Old Benghazi Reveals Pre-Gaddafi Days
Before Muammar Gaddafi took control of Libya in 1969, it was the Italians who ran the show, and their Mediterranean architecture still colours Benghazi's side streets.



But the Italians aren't the only foreign force to have asserted themselves over Libya's second city. Only under Gaddafi has Benghazi been wrestled into subservience to Tripoli, and the new leader did his best to erase meaningful traces of the old.



Now, those who have lived through both eras hope to see a new one that will be Benghazi's own.



Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee reports from Benghazi.

A Jewish Renaissance in Poland
THE GUARDIAN: There are signs that Poles are discovering their lost Jewish heritage and that antisemitism is in decline

In Kazimierz, once the Jewish heart of Krakow, signs of a revival are everywhere. There are restaurants with Hebrew lettering, a new community centre where students drop in for a Sabbath meal, and even a Jewish kindergarten. And once a year, this quarter is dominated by a celebration of Jewish music, theatre and film that attracts up to 13,000 visitors.

Krakow's Jewish Culture festival is the most prominent symbol of an apparent rejuvenation in the shadow of the Holocaust. This is the nearest Polish city to Auschwitz, but it has also become a place where Poles are discovering their lost Jewish heritage.

The Jewish community centre on Miodowa Street, neighbouring a synagogue defiled by the Nazis but now restored for worship, has seen a steady stream of visitors. Opened in 2008 by Prince Charles, the centre offers Hebrew and Yiddish language lessons and an introductory religious course, alongside yoga, belly-dancing and basketball.

Jonathan Ornstein, the centre's director, says: "I think that people for a few years have been talking about a Jewish renaissance in Poland, in Krakow especially, and that was primarily an interest by non-Jews in Jewish culture, and I think that now we're in a second stage that is totally made possible by this first stage. That's people with Jewish roots getting involved in the Jewish community."

Ornstein says the centre has young people coming in every day who have no contact with Jewish life but want to explore their Jewish roots. One local rabbi tells a story of a Pole who discovered from his mother's birth certificate that she was Jewish, born in Krakow's wartime ghetto. She told him that she had kept it a secret all her life – and then they discovered that the man's father was Jewish, too.

There are reckoned to be slightly more than 100 official members of the Jewish community in Krakow, but 400 who consider themselves Jewish. » | Jeevan Vasagar and Julian Borger | Thursday, April 07, 2011

Clinton unbeeindruckt von Ghadhafis Brief
Appell zum Stopp der Nato-Luftangriffe auf Libyen zurückgewiesen
NZZ ONLINE: Die amerikanische Aussenministerin Clinton hat den Appell des libyischen Machthabers al-Ghadhafi, die Nato-Luftangriffe zu stoppen, zurückgewiesen. Ghadhafi hatte sich in einem Brief an Amerikas Präsidenten Obama gewandt.

Libyens Machthaber Muammar al-Ghadhafi ist beim amerikanischen Präsidenten Barack Obama mit einem persönlichen Bittschreiben abgeblitzt. US-Aussenministerin Hilary Clinton wies Ghadhafis Appell zurück, die Nato-Luftangriffe zu stoppen, und forderte ihn auf, ins Exil zu gehen.

«Es ist überhaupt kein Geheimnis, was derzeit von Herrn Ghadhafi erwartet wird», sagte Clinton bei einer Pressekonferenz. Je früher «das Blutbad aufhört, desto besser ist das für alle». » | sda/Reuters/afp | Donnerstag, 07. April 2011

Clinton Rebuffs Personal Appeal from Gaddafi to Obama

Krieg in Libyen: Gaddafi schreibt an Obama
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Der Militärführer der libyschen Regimegegner hat den Einsatz der Nato als nicht entschieden genug kritisiert. Gleichwohl soll Gaddafi den amerikanischen Präsidenten Obama in einem Brief um ein Ende der Angriffe des Bündnisses gebeten haben.

Der libysche Staatschef Muammar al Gaddafi hat den amerikanischen Präsidenten Barack Obama in einem Brief um ein Ende der Nato-Angriffe in seinem Land gebeten. In dem Brief vom Mittwoch, der der Nachrichtenagentur AP vorlag, sprach Gaddafi von einem „ungerechten Krieg gegen ein kleines Volk eines Entwicklungslandes“.

Aus amerikanischen Regierungskreisen verlautete, man halte den dreiseitigen Brief für echt. Darin erkläre Gaddafi weiter, die Nato-Luftangriffe hätten seinem Land moralisch stärker geschadet als militärisch. Ein demokratische Gesellschaft könne nicht mithilfe von Raketen und Kampfflugzeugen errichtet werden. Gaddafi wiederholte außerdem, seine Gegner seien Mitglieder des Terrornetzes Al Qaida. Der libysche Machthaber sprach Obama in seinem Brief mit den Worten „unser Sohn“ an und erklärte, er wünsche dem amerikanischen Präsidenten die Wiederwahl 2012. » | FAZ.NET mit dapd/AFP/Her./nbu. | Mittwoch 06 April 2011

Nick Clegg: I Cry to Music and Even My Sons Ask Why Everyone Hates Me
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg has admitted that he feels like a "punch bag" in the face of public hostility towards him and that he "cries to music", in his latest toe-curling magazine interview.

Insisting that he is a human being with feelings, the Deputy Prime Minister said even his sons ask their “Papa” why he is hated by students following the row over tuition fees.

In words which will irritate No 10, he distanced himself from the Prime Minister, who he referred to as “Dave,” and insisted that, despite appearances, the two are not friendly.

He also admitted telling “white lies” to his family to explain his absences, adding that he was often "quite miserable" at the amount of time he was forced to spend away from them.

The candid interview, in this week’s New Statesman magazine, was conducted by Jemima Khan, the heiress and socialite, and is almost certain to raise questions about Mr Clegg’s judgement.

It follows another frank interview he gave to Piers Morgan for GQ magazine three years ago, in which he admitted to having had “no more than 30” previous lovers. » | Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Le Portugal demande l’aide financière de la Commission européenne
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Le Portugal a demandé mercredi à bénéficier d’une assistance financière de l’Union européenne, a annoncé le président de la Commission européenne José Manuel Barroso dans un communiqué.

"Le Premier ministre du Portugal José Socrates a informé ce jour (mercredi) le président de la Commission européenne José Manuel Barroso de son intention de demander l’activation des mécanismes de soutien financier" de l’UE, a précisé la Commission.

"Le président de la Commission a assuré que cette demande serait examinée le plus rapidement possible (...) et s’est dit confiant dans les capacités du Portugal de surmonter ses difficultés actuelles avec la solidarité de ses partenaires", a ajouté la commission. Peu auparavant, le Premier ministre portugais José Socrates avait annoncé lors d’une allocution télévisée que le gouvernement portugais avait "décidé aujourd’hui même d’adresser une demande d’assistance financière à la Commission européenne". » | AFP | Mercredi 06 Avril 2011

Yemen Protesters Hold Firm
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Yemen, demanding an end to the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
 More than a hundred people have been killed in anti-government demonstrations since February. Our special correspondent has this report from the Yemeni capital Sanaa. 
We are not naming her due to security reasons

Gaddafi Sends Message to Barack Obama
YAHOO! NEWS UK: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has sent a message to US President Barack Obama, the White House has confirmed, as Nato claims his forces are using human shields for protection.

Colonel Gaddafi sent the message "following the withdrawal of America from the crusader colonial alliance against Libya", Libya's official news agency JANA said.

No further details were given by the state broadcaster about the message to Mr Obama. » | Sky News | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

US Defense Chief in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Mideast Unrest
VOICE OF AMERICA: Officials say talks with Saudi ruler to focus on political change across the region, progress on $60 billion arms deal, missile defense[.]



U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Saudi Arabia to meet King Abdullah for talks on the recent spate of political unrest sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. » | VOA News | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Gaddafi Forces Using Civilians as Human Shields, Says France
THE GUARDIAN: Libya rebels accuse coalition of standing by as Misrata assault continues, saying air strikes have abated since Nato took charge

Muammar Gaddafi's forces are using civilians as human shields to foil Nato air strikes, France said after rebels accused the western-led coalition of standing by while government troops continue their assault on Misrata.

The French foreign minister, Alain Juppé, conceded that the position of rebel-held city – under daily shelling and sniper fire from the army – was intolerable but said there was little more which could be done immediately.

"We've formally requested that there be no collateral damage for the civilian population," he told France Info radio [Radio France]. "That obviously makes operations more difficult."

The head of France's armed forces gave a similar response to complaints from rebels that the pace of air strikes has abated since Nato took over control of Libyan operations from the US, France and UK on 31 March.

"I would like things to go faster, but as you are well aware, protecting civilians means not firing anywhere near them," Admiral Edouard Guillaud told Europe 1 radio. "That is precisely the difficulty." » | Peter Walker and agencies | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Fox News to Drop Glenn Beck's Show
THE GUARDIAN – BLOGS – RICHARD ADAMS: Fox News announces it is dropping Glenn Beck's daily talkshow - but spins it as a "new partnership"

Fox News announced today it is dropping Glenn Beck's daily talkshow – but in its official statement said the network and the controversial host would work together on unnamed future projects.

That may just be a face-saving device for Beck and the network, or it may be an attempt by Fox to find a way to use Beck in a form that avoids alienating advertisers. » | Richard Adams | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Glenn Beck 'to transition off' Fox News: Network axes Tea Party icon's daily slot amid mounting controversies and exodus of advertisers » | Richard Adams in Washington | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

L'infirmière de Kadhafi
LE POINT: Oksana Balinskaya décrit deux années "heureuses" passées au côté du chef de la Jamahiriya.

La jeune femme s'est confiée au quotidien russe Komsomolskaya Pravda. Selon elle, sûr, Kadhafi est en très bonne forme. "Il prend soin de sa santé et, tous les ans, il fait des examens médicaux. Et sa tension artérielle, on ne peut que l'envier... " déclare l'infirmière. Le personnel du leader a pris l'habitude de l'appeler Papa. C'est d'ailleurs ainsi qu'elle-même le désigne. "Côté gastronomie, Papa est un homme sans prétention. Il aime le couscous à la viande de chameau ou de mouton. Comme tous les Libyens, il adore la cuisine italienne, surtout les pâtes." » | Le Point.fr | Mercredi 06 Avril 2011

Syria Relaxes Veil Ban for Teachers
THE GUARDIAN: Bashar al-Assad also orders closure of Syria's only casino in bid to appease Muslims ahead of proposed anti-regime protests

Syria has closed the country's only casino and reversed a ban on teachers wearing the Islamic veil – moves seen as an attempt to reach out to conservative Muslims ahead of calls for pro-democracy demonstrations.

Syrian activists have urged protesters to take to the streets on Wednesday and the following two days to honour more than 80 people who were killed in a crackdown on demonstrations that erupted nearly three weeks ago.

President Bashar al-Assad's decisions on Wednesday were unusual concessions to religious concern in Syria, which promotes a strictly secular identity.

The recent protests, however, have brought sectarian tensions into the open with thousands of people taking to the streets calling for democracy in a country where Alawites – followers of a branch of Shia Islam who represent just 11% of the population – have been in power for nearly 40 years. The country is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim. » | Associated Press in Cairo | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Österreich: "Nazi-Bäcker" laufen die Kunden davon
KURIER.AT: Die Torte mit Nazi-Symbolen eines Bäckers bleibt nicht ohne Folgen. Der Konditor aus Maria Enzersdorf entschuldigte sich.

Ich wurde am Telefon als Nazi-Schwein beschimpft, man hat mir und meiner Familie den Tod gewünscht und Gäste haben mir ausrichten lassen, dass sie nicht mehr ins Lokal kommen." - Konditor Manfred Klaschka aus Maria Enzersdorf (NÖ) bekommt die Auswirkungen der "Torten-Affäre" deutlich zu spüren. Wie berichtet, hatte das "Mauthausen Komitee Österreich" Anzeige erstattet, weil sich in einer Mustermappe von Klaschka Fotos von Torten mit Nazi-Symbolen (vom Hakenkreuz bis zum Hitlergruß) fanden. » | Mittwoch, 16. April 2011

KURIER.AT: Zuckerbäcker bot Nazi-Torten an: Im Bezirk Mödling wurden Süßwaren gespickt mit Nazi-Symbolen feil geboten. Das "Mauthausen Komitee Österreich" hat Anzeige erstattet. » | Mittwoch. 04. April 2011

FOCUS ONLINE: Konditor wegen Nazi-Torten angezeigt: Österreich ist für seine vielfältigen Süßspeisen bekannt – eine sehr geschmacklose Kreation hat einem Konditor nahe Wien nun aber eine Anzeige eingebracht: Der Bäcker bietet mit Nazisymbolen verzierte Torten für jeden Anlass an. » | jba/dapd/dpa | Dienstag, 05. April 2011

DIE PRESSE: Niederösterreich: Konditor bäckt Torten im Nazi-Design – Im Bezirk Mödling wurde ein Konditor angezeigt, der mit NS-Symbolen verzierte Torten im Programm hatte. Er selbst "würde auch Gaddafi backen". » | APA | Dienstag, 05. April 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Austria: 'Nazi' cakes cause outrage – A pastry maker in Austria has had a complaint filed against them [sic] by a Holocaust survivors group for baking cakes decorated with Nazi designs. » | Emanuelle Degli Esposti | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

24HEURES.CH: Signes nazis sur des gâteaux: un pâtissier autrichien dans la tourmente – Une association autrichienne de survivants de l’Holocauste a porté plainte contre un pâtissier qui décorait, à la demande, ses gâteaux avec des symboles nazis comme des croix gammées. » | AFP | Mercredi 06 Avril 2011

Witness - Shahrbanoo
The encounter of an American woman with a super-conservative Iranian family living in one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Tehran. An extraordinary trip deep into the heart of conservative Iran

Egypt Military Trying Political Prisoners
Mohamed Ibrahim Soliman, Egypt's former Housing Minister, has been arrested on corruption allegations, becoming the latest member of the former Mubarak government to be detained over allegations regarding deals worth billions of dollars.



Much less publicised in Egypt, however, are the cases of political activists who have been detained since the fall of Hosni Mubarak. Many have been charged with spreading "false information" and insulting the country's powerful military, which currently controls the state.



Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports on one such case from Cairo.

Inside Story: Tensions in the Gulf
Internal unrest through the Arabian gulf.
 


But the country being painted as the aggressor is just 300 kilometres across the famous stretch of water - Iran.



The unrest is being billed as one between the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nations and their Persian neighbour.



The foreign ministers of the six nations - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recently met in Riyadh. 



They released a statement criticising what they called Iran's blatant interference in internal affairs, particularly in Bahrain and Kuwait.

This comes after Iran's objection to Saudi Arabia sending in troops to Bahrain during the uprising there.
 


In return, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday the GCC statement was issued under the pressure of the US government and its allies.



This episode of Inside Story discusses what 'Iranian meddling' may or may not amount to, and just what the GCC and indeed Iran are achieving by ratcheting up the rhetoric at this time.



Inside Story, with presenter Kamahl Santamaria, discusses with guests: Hussein Shobokshi, a columnist for Asharq Alaw-sat newspaper; Ghanbar Naderi, a political commentator and jounalist; and Fahad Shulemi, a security analyst and a former colonel in the Kuwaiti army. 



This episode of Inside Story aired on Tuesday, April 5, 2011.

French Panel Debates Secularism and Islam
THE NEW YORK TIMES: PARIS — France’s governing party pressed ahead on Tuesday with a controversial debate on the nature of secularism and the challenges of Islam, an exercise criticized by some in the government and numerous religious leaders and ridiculed as cynical by both the Socialist opposition and the far-right National Front.

Held at a Paris hotel in the presence of some 600 religious leaders, legislators and journalists, the debate was shunned by prominent members of the government, and its title was altered to remove any reference to Islam, resulting in the anodyne “Secularism: To Live Better Together.”

It was three hours of debate after two months of fierce political squabbling.

Initiated by President Nicolas Sarkozy, the debate was organized by the leader of his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, Jean-François Copé. But the prime minister, François Fillon, quietly refused to take part, fearing that it would push the party too far to the right and might lead to “a stigmatization of Muslims,” he said, leading Mr. Copé to accuse him of “not being a team player.”

The concern is to help along a Westernized version of Islam that fits within the behavioral and cultural norms of France, which accept gender equality and the private nature of religious belief.

Mr. Copé said the debate was “controversial but necessary,” saying that “the values of France are like the Three Musketeers: liberty, equality, fraternity.” He would add a fourth, he said — secularism. » | Steven Erlanger and Maïa de la Baume | Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Florida Pastor Does Not Plan To Burn More Qurans
NPR: The pastor of a Florida church says he does not plan to burn any more Qurans — but Terry Jones has said that before.

Jones first made headlines around the world last September, when he announced — and then called off — plans to publicly burn a copy of the Quran at his church in Gainesville, Fla. But on March 20, he actually did it — and though it drew little media attention at the time, it has since sparked protests in Afghanistan that have claimed 20 lives.

Jones' event was markedly different from the scene outside his church last year, when reporters, cameras and satellite trucks made him a dubious worldwide celebrity — at least for a while.

To make sure the word got out, Jones' church, the Dove World Outreach Center, videotaped the event and put it up on its website. It was a mock trial, complete with a prosecutor, a jury of church members and a judge played by Jones himself. The charges: "The Quran is charged with death, rape, torture of people worldwide whose only crime is not being of the Islamic faith."

At the conclusion of the trial, Jones and his jurors pronounce the Quran guilty, and a kerosene-soaked copy of the Muslim holy book is placed on a barbecue grill and set aflame.

Jones says he did it to raise awareness about the nature of radical Islam and was surprised when it attracted little notice at first. A few days later, however, the small flame Jones lit in Gainesville was kindled into something much larger half a world away.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai strongly condemned the act, leading to a series of protests in Afghanistan that have claimed more than 20 lives, including those of seven U.N. employees.

Jones says he feels no responsibility for those deaths. » | Greg Allen | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

David Cameron: Britain Caused Many of the World's Problems
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain is responsible for many of the world’s historic problems, including the conflict in Kashmir between India and Pakistan, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister appeared to distance himself from the imperial past when he suggested that Britain was to blame for decades of tension and several wars over the disputed territory, as well as other global conflicts.

His remarks came on a visit to Pakistan, when he was asked how Britain could help to end the row over Kashmir.

He insisted that it was not his place to intervene in the dispute, saying: “I don’t want to try to insert Britain in some leading role where, as with so many of the world’s problems, we are responsible for the issue in the first place.”

His remarks about Kashmir were greeted warmly by the audience of Pakistani students and academics, but drew accusations from historians that the Prime Minister was wrongly apologising for Britain’s past.

Daisy Cooper, the director of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, said: “This is typical of the UK’s schizophrenic relationship with former colonies where it is both proud and embarrassed about its past. The Coalition has said that it has big ambitions for a modern Commonwealth and the UK should stop being embarrassed about its colonial past and they should work with other countries to help improve their human rights.” » | James Kirkup, in Islamabad and Christopher Hope | Tuesday, April 05, 2011