Les Français n’aiment plus le pape
lePARISIEN.fr: Selon un sondage CSA, les Français ne sont plus que 23 % à juger favorablement Benoît XVI, contre 53 % il y a six mois. Chez les catholiques, le désamour est encore plus grand.

Entre les Français et le pape qui poursuit aujourd’hui sa visite officielle en Angola, le divorce est prononcé. Quelques jours après avoir déclenché une tempête d’indignations par ses déclarations sur le préservatif (il a affirmé hier son opposition à l’avortement), Benoît XVI voit sa cote de popularité chuter brutalement. Selon un sondage CSA pour « le Parisien » et « Aujourd’hui en France », les Français sont désormais 57 % à avoir une mauvaise opinion du souverain pontife. Il y a six mois, juste avant sa visite très attendue en France, seul un sur quatre le désavouait. >>> Charles de Saint Sauveur | Samedi 21 Mars 2009

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Italiens Rechte schart sich hinter Silvio Berlusconi
BASLER ZEITUNG: Die postfaschistische Alleanza Nazionale löst sich auf, um mit Berlusconis Partei Forza Italia zu fusionieren. AN-Chef Fini bringt sich damit als Berlusconis Nachfolger in Stellung.

Zum letzten Mal wird am Wochenende in Rom jene politische Formation zusammentreten, deren Exponenten sich einst als die Erben von Benito Mussolini verstanden hatten. Die Alleanza Nazionale (AN) löst sich auf, um am darauffolgenden Wochenende endgültig mit Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia zu verschmelzen. Damit wird vollzogen, was Berlusconi bereits vor den Parlamentswahlen im April vergangenen Jahres angekündigt hatte: Unter Zugzwang gesetzt durch die neue Mitte-Links-Partei von Walter Veltroni, sollte auch rechts der Mitte eine neue starke Partei entstehen. >>> Von Kordula Doerfler, Rom, Tages Anzeiger | Freitag, 20. März 2009

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Fanatics in New Outrage
DAILY EXPRESS: FURY erupted last night after exiled preacher of hate Omar Bakri Mohammed was allowed to address a public meeting and warn of fresh terror attacks on Britain.

Hate preacher Bakri's rant was broadcast by Anjem Choudary. Photo: Daily Express
The fundamentalist cleric came out of hiding to issue a chilling warning that Britain should prepare for a September 11-style atrocity.

Speaking from his bolthole in Lebanon, Bakri, who was kicked out of Britain four years ago, gave his support to fanatics who abused brave British soldiers in a vile attack during their homecoming parade in Luton last week.

Addressing a meeting held at an east London hotel by telephone, he said British troops had declared war on Islam and must suffer the consequences – along with innocent civilians. “You want to declare war against us, we will declare Islam against you,” he said. “It is time for you to wake up before it is too late.

“If you put pressure on Muslims and push them underground, people will come and rise and retaliate against you. >>> By David Pilditch and Martin Evans | Saturday, March 21, 2009

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Irans Religionsführer weist Obama zurück
BASLER ZEITUNG: Das geistliche Oberhaupt des Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, bleibt trotz der Redes des amerikanischen Präsidenten an sein Land skeptisch – er wolle ihn zuerst «beobachten».

Bild vom skeptischen Khameini dank der Basler Zeitung
«Wir haben keine Erfahrung mit der neuen amerikanischen Regierung und dem neuen amerikanischen Präsidenten», sagte Khamenei. «Wir werden sie beobachten und urteilen.» Er sagte das vor tausenden Iranern in der heiligen Stadt Maschhad. Seine Rede wurde am Samstag vom staatlichen Fernsehen übertragen. «Wenn Sie Ihre Haltung ändern, werden wir unsere Haltung ändern», sagte er an die USA gewandt. >>> oku/sda | Samstag, 21. März 2009

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Change Your Attitude, Say the Iranians to the Americans
TIMESONLINE: Aides to President Ahmadinejad welcomed the appeal for a ‘new beginning’ but urged the US to change its attitude

Iran cautiously welcomed Barack Obama’s videotaped message for a “new beginning” between the US and Tehran yesterday, but said that the new Administration needed a change in attitude for relations between them to improve.

Aliakbar Javanfekr, an aide to President Ahmadinejad of Iran, reacted to the appeal by saying: “The Iranian nation has shown that it can forget hasty behaviour.” Iran, he said, would “not show its back” to Mr Obama if the US put its words into practice, but the new Administration needed “a fundamental change in attitude”.

Mr Javanfekr added that “minor changes will not end the differences” existing between Tehran and Washington. “Obama has talked of change but has taken no practical measures to address America’s past mistakes in Iran,” he said. Barack Obama Tells Iran to Choose between Terror and Peace >>> Tim Reid in Washington | Saturday, March 21, 2009

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And This Fanaticism Has Been Allowed to Come to the Shores of the United Kingdom!

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Scharia in Pakistan: Im Swat-Tal beginnt die Talibanisierung des Alltags
WELT ONLINE: Jetzt wird es ernst: Nach dem Beschluss, im pakistanischen Swat-Tal die Scharia einzuführen, nehmen die ersten islamischen Richter ihre Arbeit auf. Was Recht ist und was nicht, bestimmen vor allem die Taliban. Ihre Regeln erstrecken sich auf alle Lebensbereiche – von Schulen über Computergeschäfte bis zu Friseuren. >>> Von Dietrich Alexander | Freitag, 20. März 2009

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Beziehungen zu USA: Iran stellt nach Obamas Botschaft Forderungen
WELT ONLINE: US-Präsident Barack Obama hat dem Iran einen Neuanfang in den bilateralen Beziehungen angeboten. Begeisterung erntet er dafür nicht: Jetzt müsse man Taten sehen, erklären Regierungsvertreter in Teheran. Die Sanktionen gegen Iran müssten enden. Die "feindliche und aggressive Haltung" der USA könne man nicht einfach vergessen.

Der Iran hat mit der Forderung nach praktischen Schritten auf die jüngste Offerte von US-Präsident Barack Obama reagiert. Dieser hatte dem Iran in einer Videobotschaft einen Neuanfang der Beziehungen angeboten.

Ein ranghoher Regierungsvertreter in Teheran sagte dazu: „Die USA könnten uns freundlich die Hand reichen, indem sie ihr Verhalten grundlegend ändern.“ Die vom Westen initiierten und von den Vereinten Nationen (UN) verhängten Sanktionen gegen den Iran bezeichnete er als falsch. Sie müssten revidiert werden.

Ein Sprecher von Präsident Mahmud Ahmadinedschad sagte, Obamas Äußerungen müssten Taten folgen, um „die Fehler der Vergangenheit zu reparieren“. Die Beziehungen der beiden Staaten könnten aber nicht dadurch neu begründet werden, dass „die Iraner die vorherige feindliche und aggressive Haltung der USA vergessen“. >>> Reuters/AFP/cn | Freitag, 20. März 2009

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Frankreich: Krawalle nach Großdemo gegen Sarkozy
Reuters Video zuschauen: Nach friedlichen Protesten in ganz Frankreich gegen die Wirtschaftspolitik von Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy kam es am Abend und in der Nacht zu Ausschreitungen in Paris >>> Welt Online | Freitag, 20. März 2009

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Anti-gay US Christians Theaten to Picket London Primary School
THE GUARDIAN: Kansas fundamentalists plan protest against lessons about homosexual relationships

Photo of Fred Phelps, the US anti-“fag” fundamentalist, courtesy of The Guardian
A group of American Christian fundamentalists whose slogan is "God hates fags" is threatening to picket an east London primary school over its anti-homophobia work.

A row broke out at George Tomlinson primary school in Waltham Forest, north-east London, earlier this month when some parents pulled their children out of lessons planned for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender history month. The school used books on homosexual relationships, in one case between two male penguins.

Members of the Westboro Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas – which has been the subject of a Louis Theroux television exposé – say they will picket the school next Friday afternoon.

The group's founder, Reverend Fred Phelps, was barred from entering Britain last month to stop him spreading "extremism and hatred". He had intended to picket a play about a homophobic killing.

A message on the group's website announcing their plans said: "God hates the UK and the Tomlinson school fag tyranny, where conscientious parents face religious persecution for withdrawing their children from lessons on lying fag so-called history." >>> Polly Curtis, Education Editor | Friday, March 20, 2009

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The Showman and the Showman: Obama on the Jay Leno Tonight Show

Hat tip: AlwaysOnWatch >>>

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Barack Obama Calls for 'New Beginning' with Iran
THE TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama, the US President, has called for a “new beginning” of "honest" relations with Iran in a video released on YouTube.

Obama’s Nowruz message to Iran
In a dramatic reversal of White House policy, the president announced that America was determined to pursue “constructive ties” with its former arch enemy.

He pledged that Tehran could take its “rightful place” in the world if it renounced terror in favour of peace.

The two nations have had no diplomatic ties for 28 years.

George W Bush, Mr Obama's predecessor, famously banded Iran within a so-called “Axis of Evil”, along with Syria and North Korea.

Mr Obama said: My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community.”

He added: “For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained.

“But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together.

“Indeed, you will be celebrating your new year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays – by gathering with friends and family; exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.”

Mr Obama’s comments, timed to coincide with the start of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, are due to air today on various Middle East networks carrying English and Farsi subtitles. The format of the message suggests it is an attempt to reach the Iranian people directly. >>> By Mark Coleman in Los Angeles | Friday, March 20, 2009

TIMESONLINE:
Iran Rebuffs Barack Obama's Surprise Offer of 'New Beginning' >>> Anne Barrowclough and David Byers | Friday, March 20, 2009

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Obama Signs $500,000 Book Deal
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama signed a $500,000 (£343,000) book deal five days before he entered the White House, his Senate financial disclosure report has revealed.

Crown Publishing will carry out the abridging for the president's approval. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
The deal was part of an arrangement negotiated by the lawyer Robert Barnett with Crown Publishing, a division of Random House, involving an abridged version of his book "Dreams From My Father" for children.

According to the Washington Times, half will go to Mr Obama and half to the publisher, who will carry out the abridging for the president's approval.

The deal is on top of nearly $2.5 million in book royalties paid to Mr Obama last year for "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" memoirs. >>> By Toby Harnden in Washington | Thursday, March 19, 2009

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P*** O**, Big Brother! I’ll Look After My Own Health, Thank You Very Much!
THE TELEGRAPH: Well-meaning 'snoops' are being recruited by the Government to nag their colleagues, family and neighbours into living healthier lives.

Photo thanks to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Public health "mentors" will be enlisted by the NHS to offer 'on the spot' advice in their local neighbourhood when they see people smoking, eating or drinking too much.

The Government hopes that the volunteers will help to get across its messages on healthy living in a new and influential way but the plans have been criticised as evidence of the creeping 'nanny state'.

Speaking at the Royal Society of Arts yesterday , Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, said mentors could be "amazingly successful" and that he hoped that they could revolutionise the nation's health.

The mentors, who as volunteers are not paid, are expected to work to influence the people around them, offering advice to workmates, family and friends about how they should change their unhealthy habits.

Eating a third fried breakfast of the week in the office canteen, having a drink 'for the road' at your local pub or chain-smoking another cigarette while waiting for the bus could all see the mentors spring into action to offer the Government's advice.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that it was hoped that mentors would spread the word among "people they come in contact with on a daily basis, including their friends and neighbours, and also be able to point them to NHS services, such as smoking cessation services". 'Snoops' to Nag Their Friends to Live Healthier Lives >>> By Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent | Thursday, March 19, 2009

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Vatican Insiders Declare the Pope a 'Disaster'
THE TELEGRAPH: Pope Benedict's repeated gaffes and the Vatican's inability to manage his message in the internet era are threatening to undermine his papacy, Vatican insiders have said.

Photo of Pope Benedict XVI courtesy of The Telegraph
The Holy See is struggling to contain international anger over the Pope's claim on his first official visit to Africa that Aids "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

The Pope's remarks about condoms, and a recent furore over his lifting of the 20-year excommunication of a British bishop who has questioned the Holocaust, has left him looking isolated and out of touch, prompting calls for a radical shake-up of the way the Holy See delivers its message.

The Pope is isolated and fails to adequately consult his advisers, said a Vatican source with 20 years' knowledge of the Holy See.

Another Vatican insider described Pope Benedict's four-year-old papacy as "a disaster", recalling the pontiff's previous inflammatory remarks on Islam and homosexuality.

"He's out of touch with the real world," the Italian insider said. "On the condom issue, for example, there are priests and bishops in Africa who accept that condoms are a key part of the fight against Aids, and yet the pope adheres to this very conservative line that they encourage promiscuity. The Vatican is far removed from the reality on the ground." >>> By Nick Squires in Rome | Thursday, March 19, 2009

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Obama the Showman Demeans His Office by Appearing on the Jay Leno Tonight Show
Obama 'goes Hollywood' and is to appear on the Jay Leno Tonight Show. Photo courtesy of TimesOnline
TIMESONLINE: He's in the midst of the worst economic crisis in 80 years, his Treasury Secretary is facing calls to resign and questions are being asked of his Administration, yet President Obama today prepares to fight back by treading a path usually reserved for Hollywood actors.

In an unprecedented step for a sitting president, Mr Obama will appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on which he will attempt to explain to an increasingly angry public how $165million in bonuses were paid to employees of the failed insurance company AIG after it was bailed out with public money.

National anger over the case stems from the fact that the bonuses, awarded to 418 employees and including $1 million each to 73 people, were paid after the company had to be rescued by $170 billion of state cash. The bailout represented the biggest injection of public money into a single company since the financial crisis began last year, and another $30bn will be paid soon.

The controversy has already taken its toll on Timothy Geithner, Mr Obama's new Treasury Secretary, whose position has become increasingly fragile. He has faced repeated Republican criticism - and at least one call to resign - for not stopping the bonus payments, along with questions over when he became aware of them. President Obama Uses Jay Leno Show to Wriggle Out of Economic Crisis >>> David Byers and Tim Reid in Washington | Thursday, March 19, 2009

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Head Teacher Who Suffered Stress from Racism Accusations Wins £400,000 Damages
THE TELEGRAPH: A headteacher whose health and career were ruined by false accusations of racism and religious discrimination at a primary school dominated by Muslims has won £400,000 in damages.

Erica Connor was forced into early retirement through stress after governors at New Monument School in Woking turned her into a scapegoat by claiming she was Islamophobic.

But the local education authority failed to help her as its "excessively tolerant" officers were more worried about complaints to the race equality watchdog than her suffering.

The High Court agreed that the Surrey County Council was negligent in not stepping in to support the headteacher, and ordered it to pay £407,781 in compensation. This includes damages for psychiatric injury, loss of income and pension, medical expenses and the premature end of the career she loved.

As she left court, Mrs Connor, 57, said: "The last five years have been a long haul at great personal cost to myself and my family, so I am thrilled that justice has prevailed.

"It is so unfortunate that matters have taken so long to resolve and at such a financial cost, but I finally feel vindicated in terms of the accusations of racism and Islamophobia against myself.

"For a protracted length of time I was subjected to dreadful pressure from a small group of individuals, unrepresentative of the local community, without the support I would have expected from Surrey County Council." >>> By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Thursday, March 19, 2009

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La Corée du Nord arrête 
deux journalistes américaines
Photo d’Euna Lee et Laura Ling (AP) grâce au Figaro
LE FIGARO: Pyongyang accuse les deux reporters d'avoir franchi la frontière. Mais selon des médias sud-coréens, les gardes-frontières les auraient arrêtées sur le sol chinois.

Le cas de deux journalistes travaillant pour une chaîne du câble risque de compliquer un peu plus les relations, déjà tendues, entre Washington et Pyongyang. Les autorités nord-coréennes détiennent depuis mardi deux journalistes américaines pour un délit présumé de violation des frontières, a confirmé le département d'Etat américain jeudi. La sino-américaine Laura Ling et sa collègue américano-coréenne Euna Lee ont été interpellées alors qu'elles filmaient le long du fleuve Tumen, qui marque la frontière entre la Chine et la Corée du Nord.

Une certaine confusion règne quant à l'endroit exact de leur arrestation. Les médias sud-coréens, qui ont révélé leur détention, affirment que les jeunes femmes auraient été arrêtées alors qu'elles filmaient sur la rive chinoise du fleuve et que donc les gardes-frontières nord-coréens auraient fait une incursion en sol chinois pour les interpeller. Les journalistes auraient ignoré plusieurs avertissements des soldats nord-coréens les sommant de cesser de filmer. Mais selon une source diplomatique citée par l'AFP, les reporters qui travaillaient pour Current TV, une chaîne basée en Californie, se seraient trop approchées de la rive nord-coréenne et auraient tourné sans le savoir en Corée du Nord. Laura Ling et sa collègue réalisaient un sujet sur les réfugiés nord-coréens qui empruntent le fleuve pour fuir la dictature de Kim Jong-il. >>> C.J. (lefigaro.fr) avec AFP | Jeudi 19 Mars 2009

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Pakistan : les USA envisagent de nouveaux bombardements
Des soldats pakistanais patrouillent près de la frontière afghane, une zone devenue un sanctuaire pour les talibans. Contrairement à Washington, Islamabad considère que la stabilité du Pakistan est une affire intérieure. Photo (AP) grâce au Figaro

LE FIGARO: Washington s'inquiète de la montée en puissance des talibans près de la frontière afghane. La nouvelle stratégie américaine pourrait toutefois se heurter à l'opposition de la population pakistanaise.

La timide victoire remportée lundi par les démocrates pakistanais pourrait, paradoxalement, contrecarrer les plans de Washington dans la région. La société civile, qui a soutenu la longue marche des juristes emmenée par le principal parti d'opposition, est profondément hostile aux opérations militaires menées en territoire pakistanais contre les talibans et al-Qaida. Or, affaibli, le très pro-américain président Asif Ali Zardari pourra difficilement ignorer son opinion publique. Résultat, la nouvelle stratégie américaine, visant à étendre les frappes de missiles à l'aide de drones (avions sans pilotes) au-delà des zones tribales pakistanaises, risque de réveiller une fois de plus la colère de la population au Pakistan.

Selon le New York Times, Washington envisagerait de bombarder la région de Quetta (Sud-Ouest), là où Mollah Omar, le chef spirituel des talibans, est suspecté de diriger en toute impunité un gouvernement taliban en exil. Et pas des plus modérés. Le quotidien américain rapporte également que nombre d'insurgés auraient fui les zones tribales, régulièrement pilonnées par les missiles américains, pour se réfugier à Quetta. D'où les recommandations de deux rapports sur le Pakistan et l'Afghanistan, remis récemment à la Maison-Blanche. Ils pressent Washington de ne pas laisser aux rebelles islamistes le temps de consolider leur nouveau sanctuaire. >>> Marie-France Calle, envoyée spéciale à Lahore | Jeudi 19 Mars 2009

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1 Billion Dollar gepumpt: Das gefährliche Spiel der US-Notenbank
WELT ONLINE: Ben Bernanke hat zum Äußersten gegriffen: Der US-Notenbankchef wirft die Geldpresse an, pumpt 1,15 Billionen zusätzliche Dollar in den Markt. Das schürt zwar Inflationsängste. Doch viele Analysten glauben an den Erfolg der Maßnahme. WELT ONLINE erklärt, was die 1200 Milliarden Dollar bedeuten.

US-Notenbankcehf Ben Bernanke: Er schmeißt die Geldpresse an. Bild dank der Welt
In den Neunziger Jahren, als Ben Bernanke noch Ökonomie-Professor war, soll er auf einer Tagung einmal folgenden Satz gesagt haben: „In einer richtigen Krisensituation muss eine Notenbank notfalls auch Ketchup kaufen.“ Mit diesem Spruch wollte Bernanke deutlich machen, dass in einer Rezession nicht nur die Leitzinsen fallen müssen. Eine Notenbank müsse auch Wertpapiere und Staatsanleihen aufkaufen, um die Märkte zu stabilisieren.

Heute, als Chef der Federal Reserve, hat Bernanke seinen damals locker dahingesagten Satz Realität werden lassen. Auf ihrer Sitzung am Mittwoch beschloss die Federal Reserve, den unvorstellbaren Betrag von mehr als einer Billion US-Dollar in den Markt zu pumpen, um den Kreditmarkt wieder in Schwung zu bringen. Das riesige Paket wirft viele Fragen auf. WELT ONLINE beantwortet die wichtigsten: >>> Von Martin Greive und Viktoria Untereiner | Donnerstag, 19. März 2009

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