Liberté, égalité … austérité? Sarkozy Clamps Down on French Ministers' Perks
THE GUARDIAN: No more cigars, flights or luxury hotels for politicians, says French president, after spate of expenses scandals

The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, cancelled his own summer party and has insisted his ministers tighten their belts. Photograph: The Guardian
Spare a thought – and perhaps a euro – for the poor French politician.

No more taxpayer-funded Cuban cigars, private jets, or even luxury hotels. And, if Nicolas Sarkozy has his way, no more overstaffed offices and unfettered use of the ministry photocopier.

Having cancelled the Elysée palace summer garden party, the French president has decided everyone else must "make an effort" to tighten their professional belts. Anxious to be seen wielding the austerity axe following a spate of scandals over official perks, not to mention a ballooning public deficit, he is demanding ministers' spending be "vigorously reduced".

Ministers have been told that their official visits will be "strictly curtailed" and they will be encouraged to take the train, not the plane, with a reduced retinue of advisers. Away from home they must only stay in a hotel if there are no bedrooms available in state-owned buildings, such as embassies and consulates.

The order came in a letter to the prime minister, François Fillon, in which Sarkozy warned that those defying his austerity measures would face "punishment". >>> Kim Willsher in Paris | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

A Friend and Foe: Warlord Who Thwarted the Russians Threatens Nato
Jalaluddin Haqqani was once described as 'goodness personified' by Charlie Wilson, the US congressman who helped to fund CIA support for the Afghan resistance. Photo: The Times
THE TIMES: In the year before the Soviet Army’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, there was one Mujahidin leader in particular who frustrated the efforts of General Boris Gromov, the Soviet commander.

He was Jalaluddin Haqqani, an ethnic Pashtun once described as “goodness personified” by Charlie Wilson, the US congressman who helped to fund CIA support for the Afghan resistance. From his base in northern Pakistan, Haqqani hounded Soviet troops, strung out several rounds of failed negotiations and thwarted the last big Soviet offensive, Operation Magistral, in 1987-88.

Today, Wilson is dead and General Gromov has turned to Russian politics. But Haqqani remains the figurehead of a militant army, now led by his eldest son, Sirajuddin, that is considered al-Qaeda’s main ally in the region — and as much of a threat to Nato forces as it was to the Soviets.

As a deadline looms for US troops to start withdrawing next year, the “Haqqani network”, as it is known, is playing as central a role in deciding the future of Afghanistan as it did in 1988. “The big question now is how to deal with the Haqqanis, and that’s where the US and Pakistan disagree,” one Western official familiar with operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan said. Continue reading and comment >>> Jeremy Page, Zahid Hussain, Islamabad | Monday, June 28, 2010

Pope Launches Team to 'Re-evangelise' the West
THE TELEGRAPH: The Pope launched a team to stem the secularisation of Catholic countries and "re-evangelise" the West.

Pope Benedict XVI. Photo: The Telegraph
Benedict XVI announced the creation of a new Vatican department dedicated to tackling what he called "a grave crisis in the sense of the Christian faith and the role of the Church."

He expressed deep concerns that previously staunch Catholic countries in Europe and North America were facing "the eclipse of a sense of God". Tens of thousands of worshippers are deserting the Church over issues such as clerical sex abuse and the ban on married priests.

"I have decided to create a new body with the aim of promoting a renewed evangelism," in countries that are going through "progressive secularisation of society", the 83-year-old Pope said.

The new department, to be called The Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation, will try to reinvigorate belief among Catholics in rich, developed countries – or, in the pontiff's words, "find the right means to re-propose the perennial truth of the Gospel." >>> Nick Squires in Rome | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Saudi King in Washington


Obama praises King Abdullah in mutual love fest >>>

Obama, King Abdullah: Must be bold in the pursuit of a Palestinian state >>>

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Saudis urge US on Middle East peace >>> | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The ‘Sarkosizing’ of France’s Media
Nicolas Sarkozy. Photograph: The Globe and Mail
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: The dismissal of a pair of political satirists is seen as one more move in the President’s campaign to control the fourth estate

Most of the two million listeners who tuned in to hear French political satirists Stéphane Guillon and Didier Porte thought their routines were hilarious. Not so President Nicolas Sarkozy, who found their sendups of politicians, including himself, “insulting, vulgar and nasty.”

As it often goes when France’s media and government clash, Mr. Sarkozy’s view prevailed. And so Mr. Guillon and Mr. Porte signed on one recent morning to announce they had been fired from public broadcaster France Inter radio.

“Step right up, ladies and gentlemen. Total clear-out sale of satirists,” Mr. Guillon railed in his farewell sketch. “My chances of being on the air again next year are about as good as the chance the French team will make the second round of the World Cup.”

Although the two comics maintained their humour until the end, their firing has raised serious new concerns about political interference in the French media. Continue reading and comment >>> Anita Elash | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Related:

THE TELEGRAPH: French Radio Station Fires Political Satirist: France's fiercest and most popular satirist, who has become the scourge of President Nicolas Sarkozy and top politicians, has been fired from the country's leading current affairs radio programme, sparking cries of political censorship. >>> Henry Samuel in Paris | Wednesday, June 23, 2010

No God for Blod!
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Julia Gillard's honesty in not paying lip service to a belief in God could harm her at the ballot box, says a Christian lobby group.

The Prime Minister, who as a child won prizes for remembering Bible verses, said yesterday she did not believe in God and, therefore, would not go through the motions of religious rituals.

''I am not going to pretend a faith I don't feel. For people of faith I think the greatest compliment I could pay to them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine.''

Ms Gillard's position drew immediate praise from atheists, but a word of caution from the Australian Christian Lobby.

''I don't think it is a case of being disappointed,'' the lobby's chief-of-staff, Lyle Shelton, said. ''It is great that the Prime Minister is being so open and honest on such an important question in life, but I think it would be naive to think that it may not have some electoral implication.''

Only last week the group arranged for the former prime minister Kevin Rudd and the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, to address churches across the nation in a live webcast. PM nudged about wrath of God >>> Jacob Saulwick | Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Moscow Admits Members of ‘US Spy Ring’ Are Russian Citizens
Anna Chapman, one of those accused of spying for Moscow. Photograph: The Times
THE TIMES: Main points:
11 arrested over spy ring in United States /
‘Mastermind’ held in Cyprus
/ One suspect used fake British passport
/ Married couples and journalist among those held
/ Investigation lasted a decade

The Russian Government has admitted that 11 people accused of spying for Moscow in the US include Russian citizens, but denies that they acted against American interests.

The Foreign Ministry urged the US to take into account the “positive character” of relations between the two countries, after President Obama and President Dimitry Medvedev offered a show of unity and dined together on hamburgers last week.

“We are talking about Russian citizens who came to the United States at different times,” the ministry said in a statement. “They have not committed any kind of actions directed against the interests of the United States.”

Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister, who has a background in the security services, was more aggressive.

He told the former US president Bill Clinton, “Back at your home, the police went out of control (and) are throwing people in jail.

“I hope that all the positive gains that have been achieved in our relationship wll not be damaged by the recent event.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry called for lawyers and diplomats to have access to the suspects, who had posed for years as middle-class professionals from a range of countries including Uruguay and Canada. Continue reading and comment >>> Judith Evans, Tony Halpin in Moscow and Giles Whittell in Washington | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Greek Police Clash with Protesters over Austerity Reforms
Riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades. Photograph: The Times
THE TIMES: Masked youths fought running battles with police in Athens today as violence broke out during the country’s fifth general strike this year.

Riot police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse dozens of protesters who threw chunks of marble and set rubbish bins on fire.

Ferry passengers at Greece’s main port of Piraeus had to run a gauntlet of protesters who succeeded in blockading some departures to Aegean islands and there were marches in other major cities.

The strike was timed to coincide with the start of a parliamentary debate on reforms designed to make it easier for companies to sack employees and raise the retirement age.

Greece has had to agree to sweeping austerity measures in return for help to meet its sovereign debts.

The country avoided bankruptcy last month only after receiving the first instalment of a 110 billion euro emergency loan package from the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF). >>> David Charter, Europe Correspondent | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Suspected Spies Head to Court

Catholic Church Raids

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah: Barack Obama's Most Important Friend
Barack Obama with King Abdullah at the G20 conference. Photograph: The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH BLOGS – RICHARD SPENCER: President Obama meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia later today, and though I don’t suppose it will be picked up much it’s probably far more important than any White House meetings he will have with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinians, or even David Cameron.

There’s something so weird to Western eyes, obsessed with youth and the cut of your suit and the colour of your tie, about seeing an 86 year-old in a white robe turn up at the White House that it doesn’t compute into importance in our minds. Saudi Arabia, too, is a subject that makes both liberals and neo-cons nervous. Nervous? Apoplectic with rage, more like.

But the facts have to be faced: Saudi is America’s second-most important ally in the Middle East, and nowadays a lot easier to deal with than the number one. It is certainly a strategic asset, and King Abdullah represents a better hope for a Saudi Arabia we can grow to respect than most other leaders it has had. Abdullah may be an absolute monarch of a state where Christianity is banned, executions are public, jihadism is rife and women are, well, not given to overt displays of “Girl Power”. But he argues for a Middle East that tackles fundamentalism head-on but humanely, that is willing to accept the existence of Israel, even if it does not actively welcome it, and above all is tough on Iran. Tough on Iran? If Saudi Arabia poses a real problem to America it is that its hatred of Iran is so intense that sometimes it cannot think straight about it. Continue reading and comment >>> Richard Spencer | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

La rigueur met les LibDems en position difficile
Le ministre des Finances conservateur, George Osborne, a annoncé des mesures drastiques. Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Le plan d'austérité présenté par le chef du gouvernement britannique fragilise sa coalition.

La politique de rigueur mise en place par le gouvernement de David Cameron provoque déjà des tensions au sein de la coalition organisée avec les libéraux-démocrates de Nick Clegg. Plusieurs députés LibDems protestent ouvertement contre les hausses d'impôts annoncées la semaine dernière par le ministre des Finances conservateur, George Osborne. Quatre d'entre eux sont même allés à l'encontre des consignes de leur parti, en proposant un amendement au budget qui rendrait inapplicable la hausse de la TVA de 17,5 % à 20 %, qui devrait avoir lieu en début d'année prochaine. Ces élus s'inquiètent de l'impact de la hausse de la TVA sur les foyers les plus modestes, et auraient préféré que les nouveaux impôts soient plus «progressistes », en faisant porter la facture sur les plus riches.

Le petit parti libéral-démocrate n'a décroché que 55 députés sur 650 sièges lors des dernières législatives, mais il est devenu un partenaire indispensable pour les conservateurs de David Cameron qui, avec 306 élus, étaient restés en deçà du seuil de la majorité absolue. Pendant toute la campagne, et lors des négociations de coalition avec les tories, le groupe de Nick Clegg a avancé un programme fiscal progressiste, insistant sur la nécessité de rendre les impôts «plus justes », en allégeant le fardeau des revenus modestes. La semaine dernière, le groupe d'analyse Institute for Fiscal Studies a commenté que la hausse de la TVA allait avoir un impact plus sensible pour les plus pauvres et a qualifié le budget de «plutôt réactionnaire ». >>> Par Cyrille Vanlerberghe | Mardi 29 Juin 2010

La violente charge du roi Abdallah contre l’Iran et Israël
LE FIGARO – BLOG DE GEORGES MALBRUNOT: Le monarque saoudien, qui rencontre ce mardi Barack Obama à la Maison Blanche, n’a pas mâché ses mots lors de la récente visite à Djeddah d’Hervé Morin, le ministre de la Défense. « Il y a deux pays au monde qui ne méritent pas d’exister : l’Iran et Israël », lui a déclaré le roi Abdallah, le 5 juin dernier.

Cette violente diatribe contre les deux ennemis désignés de l’Arabie nous a été confirmée par deux sources, diplomatique et militaire, françaises à Paris. On ignore quelle a été la réaction du ministre de la Défense, qui était entouré d’une poignée de diplomates et de hauts-gradés lors de l’audience avec le roi, point d’orgue d’une visite de deux jours en Arabie, un mois avant celle du souverain à Paris.

La charge d’Abdallah est intervenue quelques jours après l’assaut israélien contre la flottille humanitaire au cours duquel neuf Turcs ont été tués par les forces de sécurité de l’Etat hébreu. La bavure a suscité une vague de critiques dans le monde arabe et placé Israël sur la défensive au plan international. L’impunité dont jouit, selon lui, Israël exaspère le roi Abdallah, déçu que l’Etat hébreu n’ait jamais accepté son plan de paix global, présenté au nom des 22 pays arabes lors d’un sommet à Beyrouth en 2002.

Toute aussi profonde, sa colère contre l’Iran est alimentée par les craintes que suscitent en Arabie les ambitions nucléaires de Téhéran. Il faut y ajouter l’antagonisme traditionnel entre les deux pôles principaux de l’islam : Riyadh pour le monde sunnite et Téhéran pour les chiites. Continuez à lire et écrire un commentaire >>> Par Georges Malbrunot | Mardi 29 Juin 2010

Près de 80% des prêtres autrichiens veulent abolir le célibat
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: SONDAGE: Près de 80% des prêtres autrichiens souhaitent que l'Eglise ordonne des hommes mariés pour faire face au manque de vocations, selon une étude rendue publique lundi.

Et une majorité (51%) se prononce en faveur de l'ordination des femmes.

L'institut de sondage GfK a interrogé 500 ecclésiastiques, soit environ le tiers des prêtres autrichiens, dans le cadre d'une émission de la télévision publique ORF. L'enquête réalisée par téléphone montre que la base souhaite plus de modernité dans l'Eglise. >>> ATS | Mardi 29 Juin 2010

6 Year-Old Northeast Ohio Girl on 'No Fly' List Welcome to the NWO Police State


TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: A 6 ans, les Etats-Unis la soupçonnent de terrorisme: La petite Alyssa Thomas aime jouer à la poupée dans sa chambre rose. Ses parents ne comprennent pas pourquoi le FBI la considère comme une terroriste. >>> Rédaction Online | Mardi 29 Juin 2010

The Naked and the Dread

THE TIMES: The hills are alive with the joys of nudity in Switzerland after its courts ruled that ramblers had the right to roam around naked. Our writer joined the hikers

Puistola Grottenpösch looks out across a jagged Swiss horizon, the early-summer snow still fresh on the higher pastures. “I always had the feeling I was alone,” he says, bending over to touch an alpine orchid. “I went on secret walks, early in the morning — hiding behind bushes and feeling unlawful.” We reach an electric fence, and he turns suddenly before straddling it. “Be careful,” he says, “that your little brother is not electrocuted.”

My little brother is cold, as it happens, but unharmed. It, along with the rest of me, is 2,000m (6,561ft) up a Swiss mountain — here to experience the joys of naked hiking, in the month when its advocates won the right to roam freely in the Swiss Alps. Puistola no longer walks alone. Not since he started appearing in the courts. These days he is — reluctantly — one of the world’s most prominent naked hikers.

“I never wanted to start a hubbub,” he says of his celebrity — that has led to appearances on Swiss chatshows and in papers around the world. “I’m not a militant. But they started making trouble.”

The trouble began two years ago. And “they” are the Swiss courts. In 2008 a man was arrested while naked hiking in the mountainous Appenzell region. He argued, successfully, that Swiss law is not a moral codex — and has no prohibitions on nudity. But as a result, one of the Swiss cantons changed its laws so as to make naked hiking an offence. When another hiker was arrested, Puistola — a long-time practitioner of the sport, as well as having some legal experience — offered to represent him. The law, he argued successfully last month, was itself superseded by Swiss federal law.

“It is now accepted there is no law in Switzerland against naked hiking,” Puistola says. “The people have given us the freedom to be naked.” He swings slightly — whether in the wind, which is bracing, or from excitement, which is evident, it is difficult to tell. But the battle is not over, the canton is appealing the decision. Continue reading and comment >>> Tom Whipple | Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Related articles here and here and here.

And on the same theme, this article

Russian 'Secret Agents' Arrested in US
THE TELEGRAPH: Ten alleged secret agents of the Russian government living in "deep-cover" in the United States and engaged in Cold War-style espionage have been arrested in a coordinated operation by the FBI.

The FBI accuses the SVR, the successor organisation to the Soviet Union's KGB, of running a network of "illegals", described in court documents as Russians who received training in languages, codes and ciphers, invisible writing and counter-surveillance before living in the United States under false identities.

Each of the 10 was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison on conviction.

They were alleged to have met US government officials given codenames such as "Farmer", "Parrot" and "Cat" as well as engaging such tried and tested espionage methods as dead drops and brush passes.

The arrests come after President Barack Obama met his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Washington, praising him as a "solid and reliable partner" and taking him out to a burger restaurant.

As well as the 10 arrested in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Virginia over the weekend, the FBI identified an eleventh suspect, known as "Christopher R. Metsos" who remains at large. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Monday, June 28, 2010

David Cameron: 'The World Doesn't Owe Us a Living
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain has no automatic right to prosperity, David Cameron has said, declaring: “The world doesn’t owe us a living.”

Mr Cameron told business leaders in London that Britain has no automatic right to prosperity. Photograph: The Telegraph
The Prime Minister said many people are under the “delusion” that just because the UK has historically been one of the richest countries on earth, it will always remain so.

Only if we “reboot and rebuild” the UK economy can the country’s future prosperity be assured, he said.

Mr Cameron used a speech to business leaders in London to argue that the spending cuts and other changes his Government is planning are not discretionary political choices but essential economic moves to stop the country falling behind its competitors.

He said: “I think too many people in this country are living under the delusion that a prosperous past guarantees a prosperous future. But it isn’t written anywhere that this country deserves a place at the top table.

He added: “It was once said that freedom once won is not won for ever; it’s like an insurance premium – each generation must renew it. Economic prosperity is the same. Just because we’ve had it before doesn’t mean we’ll automatically get it again.” >>> James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Monday, June 28, 2010

Sex and the City 2 Opens in Istanbul

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