Monday, April 12, 2010
LE FIGARO: Si officiellement, la France applaudit aux initiatives de désarmement nucléaire de Barack Obama, elle s'estime par ailleurs «hors concours» en matière de désarmement stratégique.
Officiellement, Paris applaudit aux initiatives de désarmement nucléaire de Barack Obama. À l'Élysée, on considère que le président américain a «raison de vouloir avancer sur tous les fronts». «Dans cet immense chantier, nous sommes à côté de lui», souligne-t-on.
En apparence, ce «chantier» lancé à Prague il y a un an par le nouveau président américain, qui rêve d'un monde débarrassé des armes nucléaires, avance à pas de géant. Russes et Américains ont enfin trouvé un accord pour renouveler le traité de désarmement stratégique Start, enclenchant ainsi une normalisation de leurs relations; la nouvelle posture nucléaire américaine (NPR) a réduit le rôle de la dissuasion; les experts en communication de la Maison-Blanche ont réussi à faire du sommet de Washington une réussite avant même qu'il ne commence… Bref, tout va bien dans le meilleur des mondes.
La réalité est en fait un peu différente. Les visions, d'abord. Celle d'Obama, même si elle s'inscrit dans un projet à très long terme, suscite parfois la controverse, des deux côtés de l'Atlantique. Dans un contexte général de prolifération, quotidiennement alimenté par l'Iran et la Corée du Nord, beaucoup estiment qu'il serait dangereux que les grandes puissances nucléaires baissent trop vite la garde. La France, qui a déjà largement diminué la taille de sa dissuasion pour la maintenir au strict niveau de suffisance, et qui considère qu'elle est la garantie ultime de sa sécurité et de son indépendance, s'estime par ailleurs «hors concours» en matière de désarmement stratégique. >>> Par Isabelle Lasserre | Dimanche 11 Avril 2010
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: South African police are investigating whether there was a link between homosexual sex and the murder of far-Right leader Eugene Terreblanche at him farm.
Puna Moroko, the lawyer for Chris Mahlangu, 28, the elder of two people accused of the killing, said that "something shocking happened on that day".
A police spokesman confirmed that was among possibilities being investigated. Police had earlier said a pay dispute had led to the killing of Mr Terreblanche, on the political margins since his efforts to preserve apartheid in the early 1990s.
"We are not going to focus on one thing," said Musa Zondi of the Hawks investigative unit, adding that a sexual link was among the many accusations being made over the case.
"We will investigate all pertinent facts that have a bearing on the matter," he said.
General Jan Mabula, head of the Hawks in the North West Province, said the suspects' clothes were to be examined as part of checks into whether there was a sexual link. >>> Sebastien Berger In Johannesburg | Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: The sudden death of 'Dynasty' actor Christopher Cazenove has put septicaemia back in the news.
The death of former Dynasty star Christopher Cazenove from septicaemia last week is a reminder that, despite advances in medical treatment and standards of hygiene, septicaemia or blood poisoning – a common cause of death in childbirth until the mid-1930s – remains a fast-acting and extremely dangerous condition.
The 66-year-old actor contracted the infection at the end of February after complaining of migraines during a business trip to California. On his return to the UK, he was treated at St Thomas's Hospital, in London, where he died on April 7.
Septicaemia occurs as a result of bacteraemia, the proliferation of bacteria in the bloodstream. In many cases, the source of the infection is never clear but it may be due to a wound, internal bleeding after an accident, or it can arise from an infection within the body, in the intestines or urinary tract, for example.
"Septicaemia occurs when toxins produced by bacteria in the bloodstream hyper-stimulate the patient's immune system," explains infections expert Prof Mark Enright, formerly of Imperial College London. "Your body is trying to fight the infection by pumping more blood around, so you get far too hot, which can lead to organ failure."
Any type of bacterium can cause septicaemia, but the most common types of infection are streptococcal, staphylococcal – which includes the hospital superbug MRSA* – and meningococcal. Sometimes there is an obvious site of infection such as a wound or laceration, but not always.
"In 40 per cent of septicaemia cases, there is no obvious site of entry," says George Griffin, Professor of Infectious Diseases at St George's Hospital, University of London. "The infection generally progresses quickly, and early symptoms are usually low blood pressure, altered consciousness and high fever, sometimes accompanied by chills." >>> Tammy Cohen | Monday, April 12, 2010
*THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Muslim staff escape NHS hygiene rule: Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to opt out of strict hygiene rules introduced by the NHS to restrict the spread of hospital superbugs. >>> | Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE GUARDIAN: A furious transatlantic row has erupted over quotes that were attributed to a retired Italian bishop, which suggested that Jews were behind the current criticism of the Catholic church's record on tackling clerical sex abuse.
A website quoted Giacomo Babini, the emeritus bishop of Grosseto, as saying he believed a "Zionist attack" was behind the criticism, considering how "powerful and refined" the criticism is.
The comments, which have been denied by the bishop, follow a series of statements from Catholic churchmen alleging the existence of plots to weaken the church and Pope Benedict XVI.
Allegedly speaking to the Catholic website Pontifex, Babini, 81, was quoted as saying: "They do not want the church, they are its natural enemies. Deep down, historically speaking, the Jews are God killers."
The interview was spotted on Friday by the American Jewish Committee, which said Babini was using "slanderous stereotypes, which sadly evoke the worst Christian and Nazi propaganda prior to world war two" [sic].
On its website, the American Jewish Group Committee quoted bishop Vincenzo Paglia, an official at the Italian Bishops' Conference, as saying Babini's remarks were "entirely contrary to the official line and mainstream thought of the Catholic church". >>> Tom Kington, Rome | Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: BUDAPEST—Hungary's center-right opposition party Fidesz garnered 52.8% of the vote in Sunday's first round of parliamentary elections, while all other parties gained considerably less support, the country's national election office OVI said after processing 99% of the votes.
The ruling minority Socialist Party gained 19.3% of the votes, while the extremist right-wing party Jobbik received 16.7% and green party LMP got 7.4%. No other party crossed the 5% threshold of voter support to get into Parliament.
Both Jobbik and the LMP will make it to Parliament for the first time. Considerable support for Jobbik, known for its anti-Semitic and anti-Roma statements, could be a concern because it could hinder economic reforms.
The final results from the first round are still due. The second round of the elections is scheduled for April 25.
If Fidesz prevails, the new government's stance on fiscal policy and structural reforms will be crucial for investor sentiment toward Hungary, the first European Union country that secured International Monetary Fund support amid the global financial crisis. >>> Margit Feher | Monday, April 12, 2010
THE NEW YORK TIMES: BUDAPEST - Hungary's Fidesz, which scored a sweeping victory at Sunday's election, said on Monday it would focus on creating jobs while the far-right Jobbik promised "spectacular" politics to clamp down on "Gypsy crime."
The leader of Jobbik, which bagged one in every six votes to win nearly as many seats as the punished ruling Socialists in Hungary's swing to the right, said it would not be invisible in the next parliament with its new-found clout.
The expectation on Fidesz to act quickly to put Hungary on the path to sustainable growth after near financial collapse will be huge, and investors are wary about whether Jobbik will try to hamper reforms. >>> Reuters | Monday, April 12, 2010
DEUTSCHE WELLE: In recent months, extreme right-wing and populist parties have won significant gains in regional and parliamentary elections in Europe. For them, times of crisis are a boon.
As Europe grows together, expanding its visa-free zone toward Iceland and the Ukrainian border, many citizens are beginning to see themselves firstly as Europeans rather than as citizens of their individual countries.
But not everyone supports the breaking down of national barriers. In recent months, xenophobic and right-wing parties have made spectacular political gains across Europe.
In Hungary on Sunday, the far-right Jobbik party won well over 16 percent of votes in parliamentary elections, marking the first entry of an openly right-wing extremist party into parliament. With the country hard-hit by recession, Jobbik capitalized on rising nationalism and a resurgence of anti-Semitism and anti-Gypsy sentiment to win votes.
Jobbik's rise echoes that of France's right-wing Front National party, Italy's xenophobic Northern League and the Netherland's conservative Party for Freedom, which all saw dramatic gains in recent elections.
Although right-wing ideology takes different forms across Europe, it shares a common strategy: exploiting the fears of voters in times of crisis. Right-wing populists focus on their followers' discontent, says Wolfgang Kapust of German public broadcaster WDR.
"They offer easy answers to complicated problems: the economic situation, unemployment or social insecurity," said Kapust. "Above all, they want to get rid of, deport or 'send home' foreigners and 'the others.' " >>> | Monday, April 12, 2010
NZZ ONLINE – Kommentar: Die ungarischen Parlamentswahlen haben die politische Landschaft des Landes umgepflügt. Die rechtskonservativen Jungdemokraten (Fidesz) unter Viktor Orban triumphieren. Die Sozialisten, die in den letzten acht Jahren regiert haben, erleiden eine Schlappe. Sie haben die Quittung für Misswirtschaft und Korruption erhalten. Ungarn, einst Spitzenreiter bei der Transformation in Ostmitteleuropa, ist zum Bittsteller geworden. Im Herbst 2008 stand das Land am Rande des Staatsbankrotts und konnte nur mit Hilfe des Internationalen Währungsfonds vor dem Absturz bewahrt werden. Hinzu kommt die Langzeitwirkung der sogenannten Lügenrede des damaligen Regierungschefs Gyurcsany. Dieser hatte nach dem Wahlsieg von 2006 hinter verschlossenen Türen erklärt, die Sozialisten hätten gelogen, um die Wahlen zu gewinnen. >>> C. Sr. | Montag, 12. April 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The far-Right is poised to take parliamentary seats for the first time since the Second World War, in Hungary's national elections.
Fidesz, Hungary's centre-right party, is expected to sweep out the unpopular Socialist government and Jobbik, a far-right party is predicted to take second place after Sunday's elections.
Hungary's largest Jewish organisation warned that the vote was "the first occasion that a movement pursuing openly anti-Semitic policies" has taken a step to power since the Nazi era.
Hungary's election gains for Jobbik follow a upsurge in support for the far-Right across Europe.
Last month, French regional elections, dominated by debates over immigration, saw electoral revival for the National Front. In June, Dutch elections could propel Geert Wilders, whose anti-Islamic, hard-right Freedom Party leads the polls, into power.
Amid rising unemployment, Hungary was the first European Union country to turn to the International Monetary Fund for an £18 billion bailout last year.
Jobbik has risen by using Hungary's deep economic crisis to revive traditional Hungarian scape-goating of Jewish and gypsy, or Roma, communities for joblessness and poverty.
It has close links with the Magyar Garda or Hungarian Guard, a banned paramilitary group with insignia modelled on the Arrow Cross of Hungary's wartime Nazis.
Gabor Vona, Jobbik's 31-year old leader, has vowed to be sworn in as an MP wearing the banned uniform. "I will keep my promise to go into parliament on the first day in a Garda vest," he said.
The Guards, founded by Mr Vona, have polarised Hungary by staging a series of marches against "gypsy crime" through small countryside towns and villages with large Roma communities. An unprecedented series of Roma killings in 2008 and 2009 claimed six lives in several villages. >>> Bruno Waterfield, in Brussels | Sunday, April 11, 2010
20MINUTEN.ch: Bei der Parlamentswahl in Ungarn hat die konservative Fidesz-Partei des ehemaligen Ministerpräsidenten Viktor Orban einen klaren Sieg errungen. Damit steht das wirtschaftlich angeschlagene EU- Mitgliedsland vor einem Rechtsruck.
Die Rechte hat in Ungarn am Sonntag die Parlamentswahlen nach Umfragen klar für sich entschieden. Den grossen Meinungsforschungsinstituten des Landes zufolge stimmten 54 bis 57 Prozent der Wähler für den rechts-konservativen Bund Junger Demokraten (FIDESZ). Damit kommt es wohl zum Regierungswechsel.
Auch die rechtsextreme Jobbik (Die Besseren) dürfte mit 15 bis 17 Prozent erstmals ins Parlament einziehen. Dagegen kam die regierende Ungarische Sozialistische Partei (MSZP) den Umfragen zufolge nur auf 19 bis 20 Prozent der Stimmen.
Die links-ökologische Partei «Politik kann anders sein» (LMP) dürfte mit 5,5 bis 6 Prozent erstmals den Sprung in die Volksvertretung geschafft haben.
Offizielle Ergebnisse wurden nicht mitgeteilt, da einige Wahllokale länger geöffnet bleiben mussten. Die FIDESZ-Partei erklärte, die Wahlleitung überschreite ihre Kompetenzen und müsse zurücktreten.
In mehreren Bezirken hatten sich lange Schlangen vor den Wahllokalen gebildet. Deshalb war dort die Stimmabgabe auch noch nach der offiziellen Schliessung um 19.00 Uhr möglich. Wie die Landeswahlkommission (OVB) in Budapest mitteilte, war jedoch nicht erhöhtes Wähleraufkommen Grund für die Warteschlangen, vielmehr hätten administrative Unzulänglichkeiten dazu geführt. Wohl absolute Mehrheit für FIDESZ >>> sda | Sonntag, 11. April 2010
LE MONDE: La Hongrie, qui exercera au premier semestre 2011 la présidence de l'Union européenne, se prépare à un bouleversement de son paysage politique lors des élections législatives des 11 et 25 avril. Tous les instituts de sondage prédisent une majorité absolue, peut-être même des deux tiers, à la principale force de l'opposition de droite, le Fidesz, de l'ancien premier ministre Viktor Orban.
L'autre enjeu de ce scrutin législatif, le sixième depuis la fin du communisme il y a vingt ans, sera de confirmer ou non la poussée du parti d'extrême droite Jobbik, qui a capté d'emblée près de 15 % des voix aux élections européennes en 2009, déjouant alors tous les pronostics. Sur sa lancée, le parti de Gabor Vona et de Krisztina Morvai, ses deux figures de proue, s'est donné pour objectif de décrocher la deuxième place au Parlement, devant MSZP, le Parti socialiste hongrois. Au pouvoir depuis 2002, ce dernier est usé par des affaires de corruption qui ont écœuré l'opinion publiqu, et par la politique de rigueur budgétaire qu'ils ont dû se résoudre à mener, avec le secours du Fonds monétaire international, pour sauver le pays de la banqueroute. Mais il semble que le Jobbik (son nom joue à la fois sur l'idée de "droite" et de "meilleur") a visé trop haut, et devra se contenter de la troisième place. >>> Joëlle Stolz | Dimanche 11 Avril 2010
WIKI: Gábor Vona >>>
TIMES ONLINE: A far-right party whose candidates have voiced anti-Semitic and anti-Gypsy rhetoric was on course for a breakthrough in Hungarian elections amid predictions that it could even beat the governing socialists into third place.
Jobbik, which maintains a uniformed wing that marches in military formation, was set last night to win its first parliamentary seats against the backdrop of anti-Government resentment and an economic downturn.
Opinion polls yesterday predicted a landslide victory for the opposition centre-right Fidesz party, which last ruled between 1998 and 2002.
It has promised to create a million jobs over the next decade, stamp out corruption and revamp the Byzantine tax system in a country where unemployment is 11 per cent. Harsh austerity measures have also been implemented under the terms of an IMF loan of €20 billion (£17.5 billion) in 2008.
However, there are fears that a strong showing by Jobbik, one of a number of far-right groups making gains in Europe, could weaken investor confidence and deepen the country’s crisis, which may account for a stream of recent stories attacking the party.
The Jobbik spokesman Andras Kiraly resigned after pictures of him at the Toronto Gay Pride parade appeared on the internet, and a female member of the Magyar Garda, the party’s uniformed organisation, was revealed to have starred in a lesbian pornographic film. >>> Adam LeBor, Budapest | Monday, April 12, 2010
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Virtually no television network has shown interest in Kitty Kelley's new biography of the chat-show host
She has built her fame and considerable fortune by baring her soul to a nation of telly addicts on an almost daily basis. But despite her carefully cultivated "woman of the people" image, Oprah Winfrey takes an exceedingly dim view of any outsiders impertinent enough to wonder what really makes her tick.
That, at least, is the verdict of the celebrity biographer Kitty Kelley, one of the book industry's foremost scandalmongers, who claims the magisterial chat-show host's personal privacy is protected by a brand of media censorship so far reaching that it might have turned Senator McCarthy green with envy.
Ms Kelley, who has previously taken a typewriter-shaped hatchet to the lives of such luminaries as Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra, and the British Royal Family, will tomorrow publish an unauthorised biography of Winfrey, which is expected to delve into her abusive childhood and somewhat mysterious sex life.
The eagerly awaited tome will have a print run of 500,000, and sufficient buzz already to be in the top 25 of Amazon's sales charts. Yet in contrast to almost every other biography of Ms Kelley's career (many of which have been number one bestsellers) the launch of Oprah has attracted virtually no interest from major TV channels.
Every US network – with the exception of NBC, which will have her on Monday's Today show – is reported to have decided, after some consideration, not to feature the author in its programmes. The management of ABC allegedly slapped a formal ban on her appearing on its airwaves.
In an interview this week, Kelley blamed the blackballing on a collective paranoia across the industry about upsetting Winfrey, who remains one of the most powerful individuals in broadcasting and exerts a mysterious hold over prominent talk show hosts who have refused to have anything to do with the new book.
"We have already been told by Barbara Walters' producer 'no, you cannot be on The View. I cannot disrupt my relationship with Oprah'," Kelley revealed to The New York Times last week. "Joy Behar, the same thing. Charlie Rose; Larry King said 'I will not do it, it might upset Oprah'. Even David Letterman." >>> Guy Adams | Sunday, April 11, 2010
FOX NEWS: Sen. Joe Lieberman slammed the Obama administration Sunday for stripping terms like "Islamic extremism" from a key national security document, calling the move dishonest, wrong-headed and disrespectful to the majority of Muslims who are not terrorists.
Sen. Joe Lieberman slammed the Obama administration Sunday for stripping terms like "Islamic extremism" from a key national security document, calling the move dishonest, wrong-headed and disrespectful to the majority of Muslims who are not terrorists.
The Connecticut independent revealed that he wrote a letter Friday to top counterterrorism adviser John Brennan urging the administration to "identify accurately the ideological source" of the threat against the United States. He wrote that failing to identify "violent Islamist extremism" as the enemy is "offensive."
The letter was written following reports that the administration was removing religious references from the U.S. National Security Strategy -- the document that had described the "ideological conflict" of the early 21st century as "the struggle against militant Islamic radicalism."
Lieberman told "Fox News Sunday" this isn't the first time the Obama administration has tried to tiptoe around referring to Islam in its security documents and that it's time to "blow the whistle" on the trend. >>> FOXNews.com | Sunday, April 11, 2010
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Office workers should have access to a slop bucket near their desks to dispose of apple cores, tea bags and under food waste, according to Government plans to improve recycling by business.
Already households are being forced to install “slop buckets” in kitchens so that unwanted food can be collected separately.
In a report drawn up to boost recycling rates by business, companies are also encouraged to also start collecting food waste separately.
Experts said this could mean introducing slop buckets into offices and some companies are already removing traditional bins from beside desks so that workers are forced to put paper, empty drinks cans or food waste in the correct recycling bin. >>> Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent | Sunday, April 11, 2010
*Wait for the hot summer weather! Then we’ll see the infestations of flies! And the rat population is set to soar, of course! Naturally, all will spread diseases. How long will it be, I wonder, before we start seeing people die of the plague? – © Mark
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY (JTA): BUDAPEST, Hungary -- On the eve of parliamentary elections in Hungary, the largest Hungarian Jewish umbrella organization called upon Jews to vote against anti-Semitic candidates.
“This is the first occasion that a movement pursuing openly anti-Semitic policies and challenging the basic values of Hungarian statehood” is on the verge of entering the Hungarian Parliament, the Association of Hungarian Jewish Religious Communities said in a reference to Jobbik, the Hungarian far-right party. >>> | Sunday, April 11, 2010
YNET NEWS: On eve of Holocaust Day, Institute for Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism report shows that in wake of Operation Cast Lead, 2009 was worst since monitoring of anti-Semitic acts began 20 years ago. Number of violent incidents totaled 1,129 last year compared to 559 in 2008
The year of 2009 saw an increase of more than 100% in the number of violent acts of anti-Semitic nature against Jews worldwide, according to a report released Sunday by the Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism at Tel Aviv University.
The Institute recorded 1,129 violent incidents in 2009, compared to 559 in 2008 – the highest number of incidents in the past 20 years.
The Institute's head, Prof. Dina Porat, noted in a press briefing that number of incidents, both violent and verbal, might actually be far higher than the figures presented in the report, as they do not include hundreds of instances of targeting of Jewish individuals or property (or public property), where there was no clear evidence of anti-Semitic motive. In addition, she said, Jews sometimes prefer not to file complaints, fearing reprisal or doubting the outcome[.] >>> Aviel Magnezi | Sunday, April 11, 2010
YNET NEWS: Berlin Jews alarmed by spate of anti-Semitic attacks: Jewish Community in Berlin warns of 'alarming' rise in anti-Semitic violence by Arab, Turkish immigrants following reports of two attacks against Jews over the weekend >>> Reuters | Monday, March 29, 2010
YNET NEWS: Muslim-Jewish tensions roil Swedish city: Malmo's Jewish community worried about rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes, which has prompted several families to leave >>> Associated Press | Sunday, March 28, 2010
YNET NEWS: Dan Calic says Obama doing great job convincing liberal Jews he's bad for Israel
As a G-d fearing conservative Jew I would like to thank President Obama. You might ask yourself why would someone like me wish to thank Mr. Obama.
When he became president I expressed concern to many in the Jewish community including family members that he would not act in Israel’s best interest. Since the majority of them can be described as "liberal," my concerns were not well received. “Let’s see what happens,” one said. “Give him a chance,” said another.
Since Obama has taken office he’s been “given a chance,” and we’ve “seen what’s happened.” His track record includes the following:
* Going to Cairo in the heart of the Arab world and making a personal appeal to reach out to the Muslims. Something no other president has done.>>> Dan Calic | Sunday, April 11, 2010
* Even though Iran has made it clear it intends to posses nuclear weapons and has publicly stated it’s desire to “wipe Israel off the map,” Obama has told Israel not to strike Iran
* He reportedly interrupted a shipment of bunker busting bombs destined for Israel
* He denies Israel’s right to maintain an undivided Jerusalem as its capital and wants Israel to give up all post ’49 land for "peace." Such a move on Israel’s part would bring terrorists committed to its destruction literally within a few meters of hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians, creating indefensible borders
* He supports a contiguous land link between Judea/Samaria and Gaza, splitting Israel in two.
* Every Arab group, Hezbollah, Hamas, PLO and Fatah have charters which call for the destruction of Israel, yet he says nothing to them about amending their charters.
* Mahmoud Abbas routinely attends events where the Palestinian flag is shown covering not just the biblical heartland of Israel, but the entire country. Obama is silent.
* Abbas has named public places after terrorists who collectively murdered over 45 Israeli civilians. Obama is silent.
* Should the UN vote to criticize Israel for constructing homes in east Jerusalem Obama reportedly threatened to abandon the long-standing US policy of vetoing an anti-Israel resolution.
* He treats Israel’s prime minister worse than our enemies.
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