Benedict Brogan: Should We Bang Up Some Bankers?
THE TELEGRAPH: Gillian Tett, the FT whizz whose book Fool’s Gold is the best explanation so far of the financial crisis, has a fascinating piece today which considers why we have not seen some of the bankers responsible for the mess put behind bars. She points out that in the wake of the Savings & Loan scandal in the US, 1,852 S&L officials were prosecuted and 1,072 of them served time. A further 2,558 bankers were also sent to prison.

So far there is no sign of a campaign of retributive justice on the same scale to deal with those who led the system to collapse. Is that a good thing? Locking up the casino boys may satisfy public hunger for revenge, but it does nothing to repair global finance.

Gillian Tett argues: “But if there is no retribution against financiers, it will be difficult to force a real change in behaviour. After all, no amount of twiddling with Basel rules or pious statements about bonuses will ever scare a financier as much as the thought of jail. Moreover, without some retribution it will also be hard to persuade voters that finance is really being reformed, or has any credibility or moral authority. That is bad for politicians and regulators. However, it is also bad for bankers too.” She reckons we should keep an eye out for signs of legal cases against bankers. And presumably prison sentences too? [Source: The Telegraph] Comment here | Benedict Brogan | Friday, September 04, 2009

Five Die in Urumqi Protests


WALL STREET JOURNAL:
Read article >>> Gordon Fairclough | Friday, September 04, 2009

Press War Fuels Row In Italy
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: ROME -- An influential Roman Catholic newspaper editor who questioned the lifestyle of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned his post Thursday -- a casualty of a bruising newspaper war that has opened a rift between the Vatican and the premier.

Dino Boffo stepped down as editor in chief of Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian Bishops Conference, following a weeklong barrage of coverage -- led by Il Giornale, a national newspaper owned by Mr. Berlusconi's brother Paolo -- alleging that Mr. Boffo was involved in a homosexual affair that led to a 2002 harassment case. The existence of a plea bargain in the case couldn't be independently verified. >>> Stacy Meichtry | Friday, September 04, 2009

Adolf Hitler Sex Video Condemned by Aids Charities
THE TELEGRAPH: An Aids-awareness advert depicting Adolf Hitler having unprotected sex has been condemned by mainstream health charities for stigmatising people infected with the virus.

Adolf Hitler sex video condemned by Aids charities
The provocative commercial, which ends with the tag-line "AIDS is a mass murder", aims to scare young people into using condoms by associating the deadly disease with the German dictator.

In the highly-sexualised clip which can only be shown after the watershed, a couple undress and begin to make love in a dimly-lit bedroom.

But what appears to be a typical, if steamy, advert for perfume or underwear takes a macabre twist when the camera pans to man's face at the moment of climax - revealing him to be Adolf Hitler.

The commercial has been released to coincide with 2009 World Aids Day, but established HIV/Aids charities have distanced themselves from its message, saying that it could make life more difficult for sufferers. >>> Matthew Moore | Friday, September 04, 2009

Aids Is a Mass Murderer >>>

L’humiliation, nerf de la guerre que livre la Libye à la Suisse
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: CRISE DIPLOMATIQUE | De l’arrestation d’Hannibal Kadhafi à Genève aux appels à disloquer la Suisse: le ressort du contentieux entre Berne et Tripoli est un sentiment de perte d’honneur.

Hannibal Kadhafi. Photo : Tribune de Genève
La Libye va-t-elle tenter de réclamer la dislocation de la Suisse devant l’assemblée générale de l’ONU qui débute le 15 septembre? Ce serait là l’humiliation ultime pour le gouvernement helvétique qui s’est déjà aplati devant Muammar Kadhafi, sans pour autant obtenir le retour de nos deux concitoyens. Si cette dernière provocation n’a bien sûr aucune chance d’aboutir (lire ci-dessous), elle montre bien que la bataille se livre avant tout sur le plan de l’honneur. Une valeur que cette société bédouine estime être bafouée par notre pays, explique Hasni Abidi, directeur à Genève du Centre d’études et de recherche sur le monde arabe (Cermam). Décryptage.

D’abord, les domestiques…



L’humiliation, c’est d’abord celle des domestiques d’Hannibal Kadhafi et de son épouse Aline El-Skaf, qui ont appelé au secours la police genevoise le 12 juillet 2008. Les deux employés, une Tunisienne et un Marocain, accusent alors leurs patrons de maltraitance. Pour prouver leur bonne foi, ils vont jusqu’à montrer leurs blessures à la presse. «Aujourd’hui encore, en Libye, les gens ne croient pas à cette version», assure Hasni Abidi. «Ils savent Hannibal capable de ce qui lui est reproché, mais ils pensent tout de même que les domestiques voulaient simplement s’installer en Suisse.

Pour cette société profondément marquée par la tradition tribale des Bédouins, la parole des employés n’a pas le même poids que celle des patrons. Et l’intervention de la police genevoise est perçue comme une violation de la sphère privée. Donc, de l’étranger qui se mêle de leurs affaires.» >>> Andrés Allemand | Vendredi 04 Septembre 2009

Polizeifotos von Hannibal Ghadhafi: «Tribune de Genève» illustriert ein «Gefühl von Entehrung»
Hannibal Ghadhafi nach der Festnahme in Genf am 15. Juli 2008, Polizeifoto. Bild: Neue Zürcher Zeitung Online
NZZ ONLINE: Die Genfer Zeitung «Tribune de Genève» hat am Freitag zwei Polizeifotos von Hannibal Ghadhafi veröffentlicht. Nach Angaben der Zeitung wurden sie anlässlich von dessen Verhaftung am 15. Juli 2008 gemacht.

Die Schwarz-Weiss-Aufnahmen zeigen das Gesicht des Sohnes des libyschen Herrschers Muammar Ghadhafi von vorne, respektive von der Seite. Die Zeitung erklärt, sie sei bereits seit mehreren Monaten im Besitz der Aufnahmen und betrachte es heute als angebracht, diese zu veröffentlichen. Sie zeugten von einem Gefühl der Entehrung, wie es von den Libyern wahrgenommen werde.

Der Leiter des Zentrums für arabische Studien in Genf, Hasni Abidi, wird mit der Aussage zitiert, es sei die Verhaftung des Sohns von Oberst Ghadhafi gewesen, die den Zorn Libyens provoziert habe. Es sei während 40 Jahren der Herrschaft das erste Mal gewesen, dass ein Angehöriger des Ghadhafi-Clans eine Nacht im Gefängnis verbracht habe. >>> (ap)/awy. | Freitag, 04. September 2009

Netanyahu veut accélérer la colonisation de la Cisjordanie
LE TEMPS: Le premier ministre israélien envisage de donner son feu vert à la construction de plusieurs centaines de logements, alors que les Etats-Unis réclament avec insistance un gel total de la colonisation.

Le Premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu veut donner un coup d’accélérateur à la colonisation en Cisjordanie occupée avant tout gel partiel, a-t-on appris vendredi auprès de la présidence du conseil à Jérusalem.

Il envisage de donner son feu vert à la construction de plusieurs centaines de logements supplémentaires dans ces colonies édifiées dans le territoire palestinien, avant de décider d’un arrêt temporaire des constructions, a indiqué un haut responsable de la présidence sous couvert de l’anonymat.

«Le Premier ministre va faire approuver ces prochains jours des projets de construction dans les implantations et ce n’est qu’ensuite qu’il pourrait accepter un moratoire de plusieurs mois», a déclaré à l’AFP une autre source gouvernementale. >>> AFP | Vendredi 04 Septembre 2009

Doppelzüngiger Netanyahu: Ankündigung von Siedlungsstopp und gleichzeitig neue Genehmigungen
NZZ ONLINE: Die USA wissen derzeit kaum, woran sie mit Israel sind. Auf der einen Seite signalisiert Ministerpräsident Netanyahu die Bereitschaft zum Siedlungsstopp. Auf der anderen Seite sollen in den nächsten Tagen noch Baugenehmigungen für Hunderte von neuen Wohnungen erteilt werden. >>> ap | Freitag, 04. September 2009

Nordkorea kurz vor der Urananreicherung: Bedrohliche Alternative zum Bau von Atomwaffen
NZZ ONLINE: Nordkorea hat nach eigenen Angaben seine Drohungen wahrgemacht und ein Programm zur Urananreicherung für den Bau von Atombomben aufgelegt. «Die Tests zur Urananreicherung waren erfolgreich und befinden sich nun in der Endphase», meldete die amtliche Nachrichtenagentur.

Nordkorea hat sein Atomprogramm allem internationalen Druck zum Trotz weiter ausgebaut und wird nach eigenen Angaben bald über zwei Möglichkeiten zum Bau von Atombomben verfügen. Wie die staatliche Nachrichtenagentur KCNA am Freitag meldete, steht die Urananreicherung kurz vor der Vollendung. Der Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen sei informiert worden, dass das Atomprogramm weiter vorangetrieben werde.

In der kurzen Meldung von KCNA hiess es, Plutonium werde waffenfähig gemacht und die Urananreicherung nähere sich ihrer Vollendung. Nordkorea hatte erst kürzlich enthüllt, dass es eine Anlage zur Urananreicherung aufbaut. Experten hatten aber schon länger vermutet, dass ein solches Programm insgeheim in Nordkorea betrieben wird. >>> ap | Freitag, 04. September 2009

Kadhafi veut humilier la Suisse à l’ONU
LE TEMPS: Rayer la Suisse de la carte et répartir ses régions linguistiques entre ses voisins: le président libyen envisage d’intervenir aux Nations unies avec cette requête absurde. Une lettre, restée sans réponse, a été envoyée à Ban Ki-moon

Il a osé. Mouammar Kadhafi a bien déposé une requête pour ­«démanteler la Suisse» auprès des Nations unies. Les menaces, il les avait déjà proférées en juillet, lors du G8 à L’Aquila (Italie). Là, le colonel a fait un pas de plus. C’est ce qu’a affirmé haut et fort Christa Markwalder (PLR/BE), vice-présidente de la Commission de politique extérieure du National, mercredi soir à l’émission 10 vor 10. En soulignant que la diplomatie suisse va devoir retrousser ses manches pour éviter un scandale. >>> Valérie de Graffenried | Vendredi 04 Septembre 2009

Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds!
The ever-colourful Colonel Gaddafi! Photo: Google Images

Ein schöner Redneck aus Alaska
TAGES ANZEIGER: Levi Johnston, der beinahe Palin-Schwiegersohn, hat einiges zu erzählen.

Ein Bild aus glücklicheren Zeiten: Levi Johnston mit seiner einstigen Freundin Bristol Palin. Bild: Tages Anzeiger
Vor Jahresfrist noch war es wie im Biedermeier, und Spitzweg hätte seine helle Freude am Motiv gehabt: Die werdende Mutter, jung und rehäugig, daneben der werdende Vater, ein muskulöser Eishockeycrack mit einem herb-hübschen Gesicht, in Liebe ineinander versunken. Das waren noch Zeiten, damals auf dem republikanischen Präsidentschaftskongress in Minneapolis, als Levi Johnston der von ihm geschwängerten Bristol Palin schöne Augen machte, derweil die Schwiegermutter in spe die republikanischen Getreuen in Verzückung versetzte und dabei sogar den Kandidaten John McCain überstrahlte.

Idylle ist implodiert

Die Idylle ist in der Zwischenzeit implodiert: Levi würde es nicht im Traum einfallen, sich auf einer Bühne mit der ehemaligen Gouverneurin von Alaska zu zeigen. Sie ihrerseits würde ihn aus dem Saal werfen lassen. Denn Levi, dieser Redneck aus Wasilla in Alaska, bewirft sie mit publizistischen Handgranaten. Im Hochglanzmagazin «Vanity Fair» packt er über Sarah Palin aus. Erst machte er sie zur Grossmutter, nun zum Gerede der Nation.

Palin habe geheimhalten wollen, dass Bristol schwanger war, behauptet er. Sie habe das Kind selbst adoptieren wollen, damit niemand herausfinde, woher es in Wirklichkeit stammte. Überhaupt sei Palin keine gute Mutter und Hausfrau gewesen, behauptet Levi weinerlich: «Sarah hat nicht gekocht, ihr Ehemann Todd auch nicht – die Kids haben alles selber gemacht: gekocht, saubergemacht, die Wäsche gewaschen, sich für die Schule fertig gemacht.» >>> Von Martin Kilian, Washington | Freitag, 04. September 2009

Levi Johnston: Money Prompted Palin to Resign

Immoral And Incompetent
THE SPECTATOR: The Spectator on the release of Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi

So who to believe? Saif al-Gaddafi, son of the Libyan dictator, has said that the release of Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi was ‘on the table’ during trade talks with Britain. Lord Mandelson, who was holidaying with the young prince of Tripoli in Corfu a few weeks ago, says such a suggestion is not just wrong but ‘quite offensive’. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, insists it is a ‘slur’ even to suggest that the release of the only man convicted for the Lockerbie bombing would be raised.

As this squalid story has unfolded in the last few weeks, it is becoming all too clear that Megrahi was indeed ‘on the table’. The Libyans were told that Gordon Brown personally wished that Megrahi should not die in a Scottish prison. It is all too typical of the Prime Minister that he has not had the courage to share this view with the British public — we found out via an ambassador, a minister and a declassified document. And this is why the scandal is lasting so long: it offers wider insights into the nature of the government.

Officially, British policy is to encourage Libya to become a responsible actor on the world stage — this has been the case since Gaddafi’s decision six years ago to relinquish weapons of mass destruction that no one had known that he possessed. But the Megrahi affair demonstrates deep flaws in this strategy. If Libya was going to become a genuine partner in fighting terror it should not have been so keen for the return of a terrorist convicted on 270 counts of murder. Nor should the British government bend principles of foreign policy to suit the oil companies hungry for a slice of Libya’s offshore resources. >>> | Wednesday, September 02, 2009

BP Lobbied Jack Straw Before He Changed Mind Over Lockerbie Bomber
TIMES ONLIONE: Jack Straw was personally lobbied by BP over Britain’s prisoner transfer agreement with Libya just before he abandoned efforts to exclude the Lockerbie bomber from the deal.

The Times has learnt that the Justice Secretary took two telephone calls from Sir Mark Allen, a former M16 agent, who was by then working for BP as a consultant, on October 15 and November 9, 2007.

Having signed a $900 million oil exploration deal with Libya earlier that year, BP feared that its commercial interests could be damaged if Britain delayed the prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) through which the Gaddafi regime hoped to secure the return home of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi.

For six months, talks with Libya were deadlocked as Britain — under pressure from the devolved Scottish government — vainly sought to ensure that the deal would not cover al-Megrahi.

On December 19, 2007, Mr Straw wrote to Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Minister, to say that he had been unable to secure an exclusion for al-Megrahi from the deal. “The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom I have agreed that in this instance the PTA should be in the standard form and not mention any individual,” he wrote.

Britain has faced criticism from the Obama Administration for signing the transfer agreement despite a decade-old promise to the US that anyone convicted of the Lockerbie bombing would serve out the sentence in Britain.

The fresh disclosures last night may yet throw doubt over Gordon Brown’s assertion on Wednesday that there had been “no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double-dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to Colonel Gaddafi”.

An aide to the Justice Secretary confirmed last night that Sir Mark, who had dealt often with Mr Straw when he was Foreign Secretary, “wanted to know what was happening with the PTA and get Jack’s perspective”. He added: “BP wanted to make its case because they were concerned that not making progress might have an effect on their deal with Libya.” >>> Tom Baldwin and Philip Webster | Friday, September 04, 2009

British National Party Forced to Admit Non-whites
TIMES ONLINE: The British National Party is poised to give up its whites-only membership policy after a legal challenge accusing it of racial discrimination.

Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right party, indicated yesterday that the BNP would accept members of different ethnicities for the first time, blaming Britain’s “undemocratic Orwellian equality laws”.

In a statement published on the BNP’s website, Mr Griffin said that the party would have to adapt or die, even though amending its constitution would “stick in the craw of all dedicated nationalists”. The party is considering the change in light of an injunction being sought by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which claims that the BNP’s membership rules breach the Race Relations Act.

Any alteration to policy would mark a significant moment for the party, which since it was founded in 1982 has only accepted white members.

Mr Griffin, elected as a North West MEP in June, has a criminal conviction for distributing material likely to incite racial hatred.
His push to open up membership is likely to cause factional rows within the BNP, with the party’s most conservative elements resisting such change.

The BNP currently restricts its membership to “indigenous Caucasians”, which it defines broadly as Celts and Anglo-Saxons. The commission says that this is in breach of the Act as it discriminates on the basis of ethnicity. It issued proceedings against the party last month, seeking an injunction to ban such criteria.

The case was due to begin at Central London County Court on Wednesday but was adjourned after the BNP changed solicitors at the last minute.

In his statement, Mr Griffin said that to continue fighting the commission would bleed the party dry. He claimed that it would cost more than £1million to appeal and said would strip the party of the ability to fight the next general election. He appeared resigned to losing the case, saying that it was a matter of “evolving and living to fight another day or going down in a blaze of glory”. >>> Fiona Hamilton, London Correspondent | Friday, September 04, 2009

MAIL ONLINE:
Muslim community leader arrested for 'making up BNP kidnap story' >>> | Friday, September 04, 2009

LA Wildfires 'Were Arson'
THE TELEGRAPH: The huge wildfires burning in the foothills above Los Angeles were started by arson and will be investigated as a homicide after two firemen died tackling the blaze, according to the authorities.

A firefighter monitors a fire in the suburb of Glendale on the outskirts of Los Angeles city. Photo: The Telegraph
Investigators found evidence of arson at the point of origin for the largest of eight fires burning in the county, which has blackened an area the size of Chicago.

"Arson investigators from the US Forest Service [and other agencies] ... have concluded that the Station Fire was the result of an arson," Forest Service Commander Rita Wears told reporters at a press conference. >>> Alex Spillius, in Washington | Friday, September 04, 2009

Critique du livre : Iran : l’heure du choix – Entretiens avec Michel Taubmann

Ce livre très intéressant donne l'utilisateur un aperçu de l'Iran et sa politique intérieure.

Reza Pahlavi montre d'une grande compréhension et d'équilibre dans son approche du problème que l'Iran est pour le monde aujourd'hui.

Il est très sympathique et raisonnable. Si le peuple iranien de choisir de devenir une monarchie constitutionnelle, puis Reza Pahlavi est l'homme à être couronné.

Et si cela se produit, l'Iran aura un avenir beaucoup plus prometteur, et au Moyen-Orient deviendra un lieu beaucoup plus sûr.

Ce livre est une lecture incontournable si l'on veut être bien informés en matière de politique iranienne. – Mark

Extremism: Egypt Charges 13 with Promoting Shiism
YNET NEWS: Prosecutors accusing Shiite cleric, 12 others group of receiving funds from Iran to promote 'extremist ideas to sow unrest in Egypt'

An Egyptian official says a Shiite cleric and 12 others have been accused of receiving funds from Iran to promoting "extremist" Shiite doctrine in Sunni-dominated Egypt.

Shiites form a small minority in Egypt, where Sunni Islam is the official state religion.

The official said Thursday that prosecutors are accusing the group of insulting Sunni Islam and promoting extremist ideas to sow unrest in Egypt. >>> Associated Press | Thursday, September 03, 2009

Iranian DM: We'll Respond with Force to Israeli Attack
YNET NEWS: Moments after Islamic Republic's parliament approves president's nominee for defense minister, Ahmad Vahidi, accused of involvement in 1994 bombing of Jewish center in Argentina, new minister says Every [sic] move from the Zionist entity against Iran, will be met with powerful response'. Meanwhile, Official says willing to talk with world powers, but not about nuclear program

Iran's new Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi, accused of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Argentina, used his first moments in office to send a clear message to Israel that any attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities would yield a powerful response from Iran.

Vahidi is one of five prominent Iranians sought by Argentina in the bombing, which killed 85 people. He was the commander of a special unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guard known as the Quds Force at the time of the attack.

Iran's conservative-dominated parliament approved Vahidi's appointment on Thursday.

Following the approval of his appointment, Vahidi addressed the possibility that Israel may attack his nation's nuclear facilities: "Every move from the Zionist entity against Iran, will be met with a harsh and powerful response from Iran."

He said his great success in the Thursday's Majlis vote "attests to the anti-Zionist spirit of the Iranian parliament and people".

In response to objections voiced by heads of the Argentinean Jewish community, as well as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to his appointment. "The Zionist regime's propaganda always has a reverse effect on the Iranian regime," he said.

Regarding the West's suspicion of his involvement in the Buenos Aires bombing, he said, "Everyone knows that what was published was under pressure from the Zionist lobby."

Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament rejected in the vote the nominees for the energy, education, as well as welfare and social security ministries, two of them women.

But Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi was approved as health minister, the Islamic Republic's first female minister since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran won't discuss nuclear work with powers >>> Dudi Cohen | Thursday, September 03, 2009

UK Foundation to Distribute Textbook that Lauds Muslim World's Scientific and Cultural Heritage
THE JERUSALEM POST: An educational foundation in the UK has announced plans to distribute to high schools a free book that highlights the scientific and cultural legacies of Muslim civilization.

1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our World is the creation of the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilization (FSTC), a Manchester-based organization set up to raise awareness of the contributions of the Muslim world to modern civilization.

FSTC said the contribution that Muslim and other civilizations have made to the modern world has been widely overlooked and that its team of academics has focused on debunking the myth of the so-called "Dark Ages of Civilization."

"The period between the 7th and 17th centuries - which has been erroneously labeled 'the Dark Ages' - was in fact a time of exceptional scientific and cultural advancement in China, India and the Arab world," Prof. Salim Al-Hassani, chief editor of the book, said.

"This is the period in history that gave us the first manned flight, huge advances in engineering, the development of robotics and the foundations of modern mathematics, chemistry and physics."

The foundation said it hoped to distribute 3,000 copies of the book to UK schools by October and is seeking public support for the campaign through a sponsorship scheme. >>> Jonny Paul, JPost Correspondent in London | Thursday, September 03, 2009

Indian Gets Jail, Lashes for Suicide Attempt
SAUDI GAZETTE: JEDDAH – An Indian man has been sentenced to two months’ prison and 50 lashes of the whip for attempting to commit suicide.

The case was first brought to the District Court after a member of the public informed authorities of a man’s attempt to kill himself, and upon investigation it transpired that he had made repeated attempts to end his own life, prompting the prosecutor general to seek prison and lashes for the accused.

The ruling, which is not open to appeal and received no objection from the accused, has not met with the approval of everyone, however.

“The first thing that should happen is that the man should be given psychiatric examination and treatment to help him overcome his problem,” said legal consultant Umar Al-Khouli.

“Taking him to court and then putting him in prison may only make things worse for him and maybe others as well.” – Okaz/SG [Source: Saudi Gazette] Adnan Al-Shabrawi | Thursday, September 03, 2009

Saudis 'Must Offer Shia Equality'
Qom. Photo: Google Images
BBC: A report by the Human Rights Watch pressure group has detailed what it says is systematic discrimination in Saudi Arabia against Shia Muslims.

Unfavourable treatment of minority Shia extends from education and employment to the justice system, leading to a big increase in sectarian tension, it says.

They comprise 10 to 15% of the Saudi population, and have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens.
Human Rights Watch wants a government commission to tackle the problem.

Saudi Arabia follows the puritanical form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, and many Wahhabi clerics regard Shia Muslims as unbelievers.

Equal opportunities

The report focuses on an incident in February, when Shia pilgrims in the holy city of Medina clashed with religious police.
This led to Shia demonstrations in the Eastern Province followed by the arrest of a number of the protestors.

Shias want equal opportunities in government and the military as well as freedom of worship.

They want to be able to build their own mosques, have their civil courts granted more power and to print their own religious books. >>> | Thursday, September 03, 2009