In der Türkei scheint die Kandidatur von Gül von der Armee nicht begrüßt zu sein
Scharfe Erklärung im Internet veröffentlicht
NZZ: Mit ungewöhnlich scharfen Worten hat das türkische Militär die Präsidentenwahl kritisiert. Die Streitkräfte seien entschieden für die Trennung von Staat und Religion, erklärte der Generalstab. Im ersten Wahlgang im türkischen Parlament hat der Kandidat der islamisch-konservativen Regierungspartei AKP, Aussenminister Abdullah Gül, die Zweidrittelsmehrheit knapp verfehlt. Türkische Armee mischt sich in Wahlen ein (mehr)

Mark Alexander

After the smoking ban, it was always only ever going to be a matter of time before alcohol would be targeted. The targeting has begun
BBC: Parents who give alcohol to children aged under 15 should be prosecuted, a charity has said.

The call comes in an Alcohol Concern report on the government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy. Call to stop children’s drinking (Read on)

Mark Alexander

Are Premium Bonds About to Become Shari'ah-Compliant?
BNP: Another day and yet another concession to Islamic forces in Britain from the Labour regime.

In a desperate bid to woe Muslim voters the Treasury want all types of government-sponsored savings products to be accessible to those who adhere to Islamic Sharia law.

Sharia law forbids gambling and the paying and/or levying of interest and many High Street banks have established Muslim friendly bank accounts and mortgages.

Premium Bonds, a favourite among small savers for 50 years — with the numbers that decide the winning bonds generated by a machine called “Ernie” — will be among the National Savings products to be tested for suitability. All other National Savings accounts will also be examined. Ernie to become Muslim friendly (Read on)

Mark Alexander

Euro stärker denn je

Image courtesy of Google Images

Reaktion auf die US-Wachstumsschwäche
NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der Euro ist so stark wie noch nie seit seiner Einführung. Die Gemeinschaftswährung erreichte am Freitag den Rekordstand von 1,3682 Dollar. Grund ist die überraschende Konjunkturschwäche in den USA, die den Dollar belastet. Auch gegenüber dem Schweizer Franken verlor der Dollar an Wert. Euro so stark wie noch nie (mehr)

Mark Alexander

L'armée britannique hésite à envoyer Harry en Irak

Photo grâce à Google Images

Raison avancée : la sécurité.
LE FIGARO: L'armée britannique pourrait renoncer à envoyer le prince Harry en Irak, au vu des risques élevés que représente un tel déploiement pour la sécurité du sous-lieutenant royal, alors que les pertes britanniques se multiplient. La décision d'envoyer le prince, troisième dans l'ordre de succession au trône d'Angleterre, est « en cours d'examen constant », a indiqué le ministère de la Défense hier. L’armée britannique hésite à envoyer le prince Harry en Irak (encore)

Mark Alexander

Rania Al-Baz: “Eine ungebrochene, stolze Frau”

Foto von Rania Al-Baz dank der WELT

WELTONLINE: Immer wieder wurde die populäre Moderatorin von Ihrem Mann geschlagen - nicht ungewöhnlich in Saudi-Arabien. Doch dann durchlebte Rania Al-Baz eine Gewaltorgie, die sie fast umgebracht hätte. Das Foto von Ihrem zerstörten Gesicht ging um die Welt. Unser Autor traf eine ungebrochene, stolze Frau. Ein Sandkorn im Auge der Fundamentalisten. Frauen sind nichts wert, überall herrschen Männer (mehr)

Mark Alexander

More Signs of West’s Capitulation to Islam and Shari’ah in Economic Markets
FINANCIAL TIMES: The British government will announce on Monday that it is set to become the first western state to issue Islamic bonds, seeking to meet what it believes is a significant demand for this financial product both inside and outside the UK.

In what ministers believe will be an important gesture to Britain’s Muslim community, the Treasury will say Monday that it is paving the way for the launch of the first Sharia compliant UK government bonds by 2008.

The move, to be announced by Ed Balls, the City of London minister, is unprecedented by any western state.

Sharia compliant bonds have hitherto been issued by the governments of Pakistan and Malaysia and also by corporate issuers around the world, but never by a western state.

The UK will not only be looking to issue these government bonds on wholesale financial markets. It will also be looking at using Sharia compliant bonds to allow Muslims in Britain to invest in domestic National Savings products through banks and post offices. UK to issue west’s first Islamic bonds (Read on) by James Blitz and Gillian Tett

Mark Alexander

US Protests Britain’s Dropping of Fraud Investigation into Alleged Bribery of Saudi Officials by BAE
FINANCIAL TIMES: The US issued a formal diplomatic protest to the British government over its decision to drop a fraud investigation into alleged bribery of Saudi officials by arms manufacturer BAE Systems.

The verbal protest was delivered in January by a US embassy official in London to the UK Foreign Office within days of the contentious decision being taken in December. Several governments, including the US, had raised the issue at a meeting of the anti-bribery working group of the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development.

The demarche, though discreetly delivered, was nonetheless strikingly forceful for a key military and security ally.

Diplomatic insiders told the Financial Times that Washington said the British decision put the Blair government in breach of both the spirit and the letter of the OECD anti-corruption convention that requires member states to have a “level playing field” in which to conduct commercial relations.

It is also embarrassing for BAE, whose corporate responsibility report, published this month, plays down the controversy surrounding the ditching of the investigation. US protested at axing of BAE probe (Read on) by Jimmy Burns and James Boxell

Mark Alexander

Hillary Clinton in Lead After First Televised Debate for Democrat Frontrunner

Photo of Hillary Clinton courtesy of THE TIMES

TIMESONLINE: A crisp and sure-footed performance by Hillary Clinton last night appeared to confirm her status as the frontrunner - by a narrow margin - for the Democratic presidential nomination after the first televised debate with her rivals.

She was helped by a format for questioning all eight candidates which allowed little time for dwelling on any issue, including that of Iraq on which she has faced criticism from Democratic activists over her refusal to apologise for voting to authorise the war.

Instead, the tone of last night's debate was polite to the point of being lacklustre, as the top tier candidates - Mrs Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards - avoided the risk of direct confrontation with each other.

"I think that what Barack said is right," was Mrs Clinton's only direct reference to her chief opponent last night. A Wall Street Journal poll this week had her still in the lead with 36 per cent support, against the gathering challenge of Mr Obama at 31 per cent and Mr Edwards at 20 per cent. Clinton edges ahead after first Democratic debate (Read on) by Tom Baldwin

FINANCIAL TIMES: Democrats blast Bush on Iraq in first debate

Mark Alexander

Bush in der Klemme

Foto dank der NZZ

Bush kündigt Veto an

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Nach dem Repräsentantenhaus hat auch der Senat einer Gesetzesvorlage zugestimmt, die die Finanzierung des Militäreinsatzes im Irak mit einer Frist für den Abzug der Truppen verknüpft. Damit kommt es zur Kraftprobe zwischen dem Kongress und dem Weissen Haus. Präsident Bush kündigte umgehend sein Veto gegen das «Datum zur Kapitulation» an. Auch der Senat für einen Truppenabzug (mehr)

Mark Alexander

Les autorités iraniennes lancent une campagne contre les femmes
LE FIGARO: Comme chaque année, avec les beaux jours, les autorités iraniennes lancent une campagne contre les femmes qui ne respectent pas à la lettre le code islamique en vigueur. Exemple en images de l'arrestation musclée d'une "rebelle".

Cliquez ici pour les photos:

Iran : la chasse à la féminité est ouverte

Mark Alexander

Tensions Heightened Between Russia and US
Our partners... are using the present situation to boost the presence of military bases and systems close to our borders - Vladimir Putin

BBC: Russia may stop implementing a key defence treaty because of concerns over US plans for a missile shield in Europe, President Vladimir Putin said.

Mr Putin made the threat during his annual address to parliament - which he said would be his last as president.

He also hit out at an influx of foreign money which he said was being used to meddle in Russia's internal affairs.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed Russian concerns over the missile shield as "ludicrous".

BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Mr Putin's speech marks a significant raising of diplomatic stakes.

The Russian president suggested that his country should freeze its compliance with the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty - which limits military deployments across the continent - until all Nato countries had ratified it. Russia in defence warning to US (Read on)

Mark Alexander

SpiegelOnline Interview mit al-Dschasira
SPIEGELONLINE: Der internationale Ableger des arabischen Senders al-Dschasira ist erst seit fünf Monaten auf Sendung. Dennoch hat es seitdem geschafft, den weltweiten Nachrichtenmarkt zu beeinflussen, sagt der US-Medienexperte Mohammed el-Nawawy im Interview mit SPIEGEL ONLINE. Warum sollte al-Dschasira anti-amerikanisch sein? (mehr)

Mark Alexander

The Criminalisation of Holocaust Denial
FINANCIAL TIMES: Laws that make denying or trivialising the Holocaust a criminal offence punishable by jail sentences will be introduced across the European Union, according to a proposal expecting to win backing from ministers Thursday.
Offenders will face up to three years in jail under the proposed legislation, which will also apply to inciting violence against ethnic, religious or national groups.

Diplomats in Brussels voiced confidence on Tuesday that the controversial plan, which has been the subject of heated debate for six years, will be endorsed by member states. However, the Baltic countries and Poland are still holding out for an inclusion of “Stalinist crimes” alongside the Holocaust in the text – a move that is being resisted by the majority of other EU countries. EU aims to criminalise Holocaust denial (Read on) by Tobias Buck

Mark Alexander

The Welfare State Is Destroying Britain
DAILY MAIL: Earlier this week, the Tory leader David Cameron said a number of very sensible things about civility. Our culture was becoming progressively de-civilised, he declared.

Whether expressed through public rudeness or neglecting the elderly, there was an alarming general decline in social responsibility.

To combat this, he repeated his commitment to encourage marriage, and strong and stable families.

He also argued that governments alone could not be responsible for people's behaviour or the delivery of public services, and that Labour's addiction to 'state interventionism' was stopping people taking responsibility for themselves. Admirable sentiments indeed.

Yet as he spoke, a very large elephant was lumbering unremarked around the room. That elephant is called the welfare state.

It is the welfare state which, more than anything else, has created the culture of incivility, irresponsibility, family breakdown and disorder of which Mr Cameron spoke.

The direct link between welfarism and the 'me-society', between welfare rights and the erosion of the ties of duty that should bind us together, is unmistakable.

Yet no politician, even Conservative ones, will go near this subject. For all the windy rhetoric about irresponsibility and state interference, the root cause of these problems — the welfare state - remains a political untouchable. How welfarism is destroying Britain! (Read on) by Melanie Philips

Mark Alexander

Growing Threat of Cyber Terror
THE TELEGRAPH: Terrorists could attempt to cause economic chaos or plane crashes in an electronic attack on the UK's computer networks John Reid, the Home Secretary, said yesterday.

Mr Reid's warning of the "devastating consequences" of cyber terrorism came as he said the reshaping of the Home Office would enable him to "wake up and think about the security of the nation first and foremost every morning".

The Home Office is to be split on May 9, to concentrate on crime reduction, terrorism and mass migration, with Mr Reid directly accountable for assisting the Prime Minister in co-ordinating the Government's security strategy.

Mr Reid said priority was being given to protecting what he described as the country's critical national infrastructure from terrorist attack.

He said al-Qa'eda's aim was to "bleed us to bankruptcy", by attempting to "cripple" financial markets. Western energy supplies were among targets threatened by the terrorist group. Cyber terror threat is growing, says Reid (Cont’d) by George Jones

Mark Alexander

EU Pressure Grows for Wolfowitz to Resign

Photo courtesy of the BBC

BBC: The European Parliament has added its voice to those calling on World Bank boss Paul Wolfowitz to resign over a promotion row involving his partner.

MEPs voted by 332 to 251 to ask Germany, which currently holds the EU Presidency, to call for his departure at next week's EU-US summit.

Their resolution states his resignation would be a "welcome step" in supporting the body's anti-corruption strategy.

Mr Wolfowitz is accused of intervening to secure a big salary for Shaha Riza. MEPs call on Wolfowitz to resign (Read on)

Mark Alexander

When the rug is about to be pulled from under one’s feet

Photo of Wolfowitz courtesy of SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The seats are getting hotter for World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Both still enjoy the support of the US president, but dismissals may be just around the corner.

It was hardly an evening for merrymaking, and US President George W. Bush decided he wouldn't even try. Traditionally, the US president pokes fun at himself at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, but with the Virginia Tech massacre still on everyone's minds, the timing at Sunday's dinner simply wasn't right.

There were other reasons for Bush to be somber as well. His press secretary Tony Snow has been diagnosed with life-threatening cancer. Over in Iraq, last week's deadly suicide bombs made a mockery of Bush's push for more security in Baghdad.
And then there were the two guests sitting at the very back of the hall.

Alberto Gonzales, still the US Attorney General, and Paul Wolfowitz, still the World Bank President, smiled bravely through the show -- but it certainly wasn't out of smugness for their futures. All of Washington is puzzling over whether and when Bush will drop one or both of them. Indeed, not even Bush confidantes deny that a presidential coup de grace for Gonzales and Wolfowitz is long overdue. Both have lost the one quality that is absolutely indispensable for their offices: moral authority. Fredo and Wolfie facing unemployment (Read on) by Georg Mascolo

Mark Alexander

McCain will Präsident werden
Kein Favorit im innerparteilichen Wettstreit der Republikaner

NZZ: Der amerikanische Senator John McCain hat am Mittwoch offiziell seine Bewerbung um die Präsidentschaftskandidatur der Republikanischen Partei bekannt gegeben. McCain kandidiert nun offiziell (mehr)

Mark Alexander

Gül nominated as candidate for president
Turkey's ruling party on Tuesday nominated Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül as its candidate for president. The move set aside a possible controversy over Prime Minister Erdogan's potential candidacy. But is Gül any better? First lady in headscarf? (Read on) by Annette Grossbongardt

Mark Alexander