Muslim Charged with Plotting Genocide of Canadian Jews
THE TELEGRAPH: A Muslim immigrant who called for "the slaughter of Jews" in online postings has become the first person to be charged with promoting genocide in Canada, police said on Friday.

Salman Hossain, a 25-year-old from Bangladesh who apparently left Canada in May, was charged with five counts of promoting hatred and advocating or promoting genocide over postings on his website and blog, as well as on a third-party website, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.

He "wilfully promoted hatred and advocated genocide of the Jewish community," said a statement.

Until now, Canada has only prosecuted suspects accused of mass atrocities abroad, in countries such as Rwanda. The Canadian government has also deported war crimes suspects to be tried in foreign courts.

Mr Hossain, who immigrated to Canada as a child, openly called for "violent regime change in Western nations in order to remove the presence of Jews" and "the slaughter of Jews," according to reports.

He also advocated terrorist attacks in Canada, cheered the killing of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, and urged fellow Muslims to overthrow the "Jewish-run Canadian government". >>> | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Rauchverbot: Feuer, bitte!
ZEIT ONLINE: Zur Psychologie der Anti-Raucher-Lobby

Ein überzeugter Raucher protestiert gegen Rauchverbote. Bild: Zeit Online
Um gleich ein Missverständnis beiseitezuräumen. Es ging bei der Abstimmung über ein totales Rauchverbot in Bayern ganz offenkundig nicht darum, eine Belästigung, die durch Raucher und ihr Laster verursacht wird, zu beseitigen. Vom Rauchen wird kaum mehr jemand belästigt. Man muss schon die finstersten Kneipen aufsuchen, räudig in Rotlichtmilieus sich herumtreiben oder in Berlin wohnen, um noch auf einen Raucher in geschlossenen, öffentlichen Räumen zu stoßen. Es muss aber selbst in dieser verkommensten, wunderbarsten aller deutschen Städte jemand schon arg viel Fleiß an den Tag legen, um etwa noch ein Restaurant in Neukölln oder im Wedding zu finden, in dem geraucht wird. In den Zügen wird seit Jahren nicht geraucht, in den Büros nicht, zu Hause nur noch auf dem Balkon. Wer heute Rauch abkriegt, muss mit allergrößter Entschlossenheit die Belästigung gesucht haben, die er dann bebend beklagt. Verräterischerweise ging es bei der Abstimmung um das Rauchverbot in Bayern ja auch gerade darum, die letzten kleinen, zumeist eh unsichtbaren Ausnahmen, die man für das Laster notgedrungen erfand, auszumerzen. Kleine Nebenräume in Gaststätten etwa, die ein Nichtraucher mit guten Gründen zu betreten vermeidet. Weiter lesen und einen Kommentar schreiben >>> Von Adam Soboczynski | Mittwoch, 07. Juli 2010

Spendenskandal in Frankreich: Durchsuchung bei Sarkozys mutmaßlicher Geldgeberin
ZEIT ONLINE: Die reichste Frau Frankreichs soll dem heutigen Präsidenten illegal gespendet haben. Nun wurde ihr Haus durchsucht. Die Ansehen des Präsidenten sinkt indessen rapide.

Fahnder der Finanzpolizei durchsuchten das Haus des Vermögensverwalters von L'Oréal-Milliardärin Liliane Bettencourt, die als Schlüsselfigur der französischen Spendenaffäre Affäre [sic] gilt. Sie bestritt bei einer Vernehmung in Paris die Vorwürfe, 150.000 Euro für Sarkozys Wahlkampf übergeben zu haben.

Bettencourts Vermögensverwalter Patrice de Maistre war am Donnerstag bei einer Gegenüberstellung mit der früheren Buchhalterin der reichsten Frau Frankreichs konfrontiert worden, Claire Thibout, die den Vorwurf der illegalen Wahlkampf- und Parteispenden erhoben hatte. Thibout gibt an, sie habe 50.000 Euro abheben müssen. De Maistre habe weitere 100.000 Euro besorgt, die dem Schatzmeister der regierenden UMP, Eric Woerth, für den Präsidentschaftswahlkampf von Sarkozy 2007 übergeben werden sollten. Laut einem Bericht der Onlineausgabe der Zeitung Le Monde wies de Maistre dies zurück und sagte: "Ich habe kein Geld an Herrn Woerth übergeben und hatte nie die Absicht." >>> AFP | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Office of financial advisor to L'Oreal heiress raided in Sarkozy funding investigation: Police raided the offices of the financial advisor to France's richest woman on Friday amid allegations that she made £400,000 in illegal cash payments to Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign. >>> Peter Allen in Paris | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Russland und USA tauschten Agenten am Flughafen Wien
Video von Krone.at hier abspielen.
KRONE.at: "Agententanz" auf dem Flughafen Wien: Nur etwas mehr als eine Stunde hat der Agententausch zwischen den USA und Russland auf dem Flughafen Wien-Schwechat gedauert. Das amerikanische Flugzeug mit den zehn enttarnten russischen Spionen, das in der Nacht auf Freitag in New York abgeflogen war, landete am späten Vormittag in Wien. Wenige Meter daneben parkte sich kurz darauf der russische Jet ein, in dem sich drei CIA-Doppelagenten befanden. Russland bestätigte am Nachmittag den "Erhalt" seiner zehn Staatsbürger und damit den Austausch. Von den österreichischen Behörden heißt es statt "Wir wissen nichts" nun "Kein Kommentar". >>> | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

Fatwa Decrees Vuvuzela Haram Above 100 Decibels
A fan sounds the vuvuzela in Kimberley, South Africa. In the UAE, the instruments have sold steadily since the tournament began. Photograph: The National
THE NATIONAL: It’s a bit of a blow. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments’ fatwa number 11625 has decreed that, above 100 decibel levels, the vuvuzela, clarion call of the World Cup, is haram. Will this spell the end for the loved – and loathed – trumpet?

ABU DHABI // Three weeks ago, most people had never heard of the vuvuzela. Now, many wish they never had.



For players and fans alike, the plastic trumpet, whose drone has been likened to a swarm of bees, has become the unmistakable background sound to South Africa’s World Cup.

Some – including no less a figure than Archbishop Desmond Tutu – have defended the instrument, but many have grumbled that its blare drowns out the crowd’s terrace chants, robbing matches of atmosphere. Players, meanwhile, say they cannot hear each other on the field. >>> Eugene Harnan | Friday, July 09, 2010

«L’ère Sarkozy, c’est l’ère de l’indécence»
LE TEMPS: En pleine affaire Woerth-Bettencourt, alors que 64% des Français jugent les dirigeants politiques plutôt corrompus, des Annéciens et des Annéciennes disent leur ras-le-bol des mœurs politiques. Indignation, écœurement, exaspération

Le contraste est saisissant. Sur le présentoir à journaux de ce petit tabac de la vieille ville d’Annecy, sous les arcades fraîches et ombragées, l’affaire Woerth-Bettencourt occupe la une de tous les grands quotidiens nationaux du mercredi 7 juillet. Juste à côté, au sommet d’une pile de journaux, François et Edouard, deux frères qui ont fréquenté le Lycée Saint-Michel d’Annecy, affichent leur fierté, tout sourire. Ils ont été reçus au bac avec une note supérieure à 20. Cela leur vaut la première page du Dauphiné Libéré, le quotidien régional.

545 kilomètres séparent Paris d’Annecy. Dans les troquets de la Venise des Alpes, écrasée de soleil, les vacances d’été ont commencé. Les touristes affluent pour visiter cette ville de carte postale. Les commerçants, les restaurateurs, les employés des compagnies de navigation ou les loueurs de pédalos des bords du lac déploient des trésors d’énergie pour attirer les clients. Les affaires dans lesquelles le ministre du Travail, Eric Woerth, la milliardaire Liliane Bettencourt, les secrétaires d’Etat démissionnaires, Alain Joyandet et Christian Blanc, sont empêtrés, semblent bien loin. >>> Catherine Dubouloz | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

Mißbrauchsskandal: Vatikan erlaubt Ettaler Abt Rückkehr ins Amt
WELT ONLINE: Abt Barnabas Bögle und Prior Maurus Kraß sollen bei der Aufklärung von Missbrauch in dem bayerischen Kloster richtig gehandelt haben.

Barnabas Bögle dürfte bald in sein Amt als Abt des Klosters Ettal zurückkehren. Foto: Welt Online
Die wegen des Missbrauchsskandals im Benediktinerkloster Ettal (Oberbayern) zum Rücktritt gedrängten Ordensoberen könnten bald in ihre Ämter zurückkehren. Laut dem Vatikan haben Abt Barnabas Bögle und Prior Maurus Kraß keine Fehler bei der Aufklärung der Fälle von sexuellem Missbrauch und gewalttätigen Misshandlungen begangen.

Das geht aus einem Brief von Kardinal Franc Rodé hervor, der im Vatikan für die Orden zuständig ist. Einer Neuwahl beider Patres an die Spitze der oberbayerischen Benediktinerabtei stehe „nichts entgegen“, heißt es in dem am Freitag vom Kloster veröffentlichten Schreiben.

Mehr noch: Die von Papst Benedikt XVI. angeordnete Untersuchung kommt zu dem Schluss, dass keiner der beiden Ordensoberen die Meldepflicht verletzte, die die Leitlinien der Bistümer bei Verdacht auf sexuellen Missbrauch vorschreiben. Man sei "vielmehr der Ansicht, dass Abt Barnabas alles getan hat, was von der Sache her geboten war“, so Rodé in seinem Brief. >>> dpa/jw | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

L’Iran ne lapidera pas Sakineh l’adultère
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Sakineh, l'Iranienne condamnée à la lapidation pour adultère, dont le cas avait suscité un tollé international, ne sera finalement pas exécutée.

«Selon les informations transmises par les autorités judiciaires compétentes en Iran, (Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani) ne sera pas lapidée», a annoncé l'ambassade d'Iran à Londres dans un communiqué cité par le Times.

Le communiqué ne précise toutefois pas si la condamnée, âgée de 43 ans, sera épargnée ou finalement exécutée par pendaison, souligne le quotidien.

Selon l'association de défense des droits de l'Homme Amnesty International, elle avait été condamnée en 2006 ou 2007 et a déjà reçu 99 coups de fouet.

La lapidation prévue vendredi avait suscité de nombreuses condamnations de par le monde, Washington et Londres en tête. >>> afp | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

La lapidation pour adultère choque les USA
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Les Etats-Unis ont condamné jeudi la sentence de lapidation de Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, une Iranienne condamnée à mort dans son pays pour adultère.

Les Etats-Unis ont appelé jeudi l'Iran à ne pas mettre à exécution la condamnation à mort par lapidation d'une Iranienne pour adultère, qualifiant cette sentence de «barbare». «La lapidation comme moyen de mise à mort s'apparente à de la torture. C'est un acte barbare et odieux», a déclaré un porte-parole du département d'Etat, Mark Toner.

«Nous condamnons avec la plus grande fermeté l'utilisation de la pratique de la lapidation, où qu'elle se pratique, comme forme légale de condamnation à mort», a-t-il ajouté. >>> afp | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Iran cancels plan to stone woman to death for adultery: Iran has announced that a woman will not be stoned to death after being convicted of adultery following an international outcry. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010

Un Américain détenu en Corée du Nord tente de se suicider
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: DÉTRESSE | Un ressortissant américain détenu en Corée du Nord pour entrée illégale sur le territoire, a tenté de mettre fin à ses jours. Il avait été arrêté en janvier et condamné à une peine de huit ans de travaux forcés.

Aijalon Gomes a été admis dans un établissement hospitalier à la suite de sa tentative, a indiqué l'agence KCNA sans fournir de précision sur son état. KCNA, porte-voix de la propagande du régime, a attribué son geste présumé à un "fort sentiment de culpabilité" et à la "déception et au désespoir nourris à l'égard du gouvernement américain qui n'a pris aucune mesure pour sa libération".

L'ambassade de Suède, qui représente les intérêts américains en Corée du Nord, "s'est renseignée sur l'état de santé du patient à l'hôpital", selon KCNA. >>> ATS | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

Obama Delivers Calming Message to Israel
YNET NEWS: US president tells Channel 2 Israel currently receives more aid than during any previous term, adds he is reaching out to Muslims to 'reduce antagonism' towards state. 'My middle name is Hussein, which creates suspicion,' he says

Netanyahu, Obama in Washington. Photo: Ynet News
US President Barack Obama gave an interview to Channel 2 Wednesday night in which he said his administration had provided Israel with more aid than any other before it.

The president also told news anchor Yonit Levy that Iran and its nuclear program have been the US's first priority for the past 18 months. "I have said consistently that it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, (and) that we are going to do everything we can to prevent it from happening," Obama said.

In an interview aimed at assuring Israelis of the US's support, Obama ventured a guess as to why they were mistrustful of him. "Some of it may just be the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and that creates suspicion," he said.

"Ironically, I've got a Chief of Staff named Rahm Israel Emmanuel. My top political advisor is somebody who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors. My closeness to the Jewish American community was probably what propelled me to the US Senate."

Obama added that his direct appeals to the Muslim world may have also fostered some misgivings among the Israeli people. >>> Ynet | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Britain's Lebanese Ambassador Praises Hizbollah Founder
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain's ambassador to Lebanon has been condemned by victims of Middle East terror groups for writing an appreciation of the spiritual leader of Hizbollah who masterminded the 1980s Lebanese hostage crisis.

1985: Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, centre, surrounded by his bodyguards walks to a mosque in Beirut's southern suburbs for the funeral ceremony of the victims of a car bomb explosion from which he escaped unharmed, which took place only a few yards away from his home in the Ghobeiri suburb of Beirut. Photo: The Telegraph
Frances Guy, who has been ambassador since 2008, wrote a blog marking the death of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah who died last week. She described the ayatollah as a "decent" man who ranked as the person she most admired out of all those she had encountered.

Hizbollah has been proscribed by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2008.

Ayatollah Fadlallah was a hugely divisive figure in the Middle East. He help found the Hizbollah movement that fought the American intervention in Lebanon and then went on to take dozens of foreigners as hostages, including Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan.

Fatwas or religious instructions issued by Fadlallah authorised suicide bombers who attacked American troops or Israel. Hizbollah carried out the 1983 suicide bomb attacks that killed more 300 people at the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

"If I was sad to hear the news I know other peoples' lives will be truly blighted," she wrote. "The world needs more men like him willing to reach out across faiths, acknowledging the reality of the modern world and daring to confront old constraints. May he rest in peace."

The Israeli government said it was astounded that an official representative of the British government had not remembered the devastation caused by fighters loyal to Fadlallah. >>> Damien McElroy and Adrian Bloomfield in Jerusalem | Thursday, July 08, 2010

UK Envoy's Praise for Lebanon Cleric Draws Israel Anger
BBC: Israel has criticised Britain's ambassador to Lebanon for eulogising a recently deceased Lebanese cleric said to have inspired Hezbollah.

Frances Guy wrote on her personal blog that Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was a "decent man" who rated among the people she most admired.

An Israeli spokesman said Ayatollah Fadlallah was "unworthy of praise".

The UK foreign office says it has taken down the blog after "mature consideration".

It said the comments reflected Ms Guy's personal opinion, not official UK policy.

Ayatollah Fadlallah, Lebanon's top Shia Muslim cleric, died on Sunday at the age of 74. Thousands of people attended his funeral in Beirut and tributes poured in from all over the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Two days ago, CNN sacked a veteran Middle East editor who wrote on Twitter that she "respected" the late cleric, saying that her credibility had been compromised. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010

British Diplomat Eulogizes Fadlallah
YNET NEWS: In personal blog, Britain's ambassador to Lebanon calls Hezbollah spiritual leader 'decent man'

Britain's ambassador to Lebanon surprised many people in London and Beirut Thursday by venerating Hezbollah's recently deceased spiritual leader.

In her personal blog, Frances Guy wrote that Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was "a decent man". Israel's Foreign Ministry said in response later that Fadlallah is "unworthy of praise". >>> Roee Nahmias | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Frances Guy should be given her marching orders forthwith, as was Octavia Nasr by CNN for coming out with a similar stupid statement. Frances Guy should not be allowed to represent Her Majesty’s government. – © Mark

Mel Gibson Investigated in Domestic Violence Incident
THE TELEGRAPH: Mel Gibson is being investigated in a possible domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva earlier this year.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department listed the actor as a potential suspect in the alleged attack on Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva at an undisclosed location in Malibu.

The two have been involved in a heated custody dispute over their infant daughter – the subject of a confidential court case. >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Archbishop of Canterbury Accused of Second 'Betrayal' of Gay Cleric
THE TELEGRAPH: The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of “betraying” an openly homosexual cleric for the second time over his bid to become a bishop.

Dr Rowan Williams was said by some in the Anglican Communion of abandoning his former liberal credentials by failing to vote for Dr Jeffrey John as the next Bishop of Southwark.

It comes exactly seven years after the Archbishop forced Dr John, an old friend of his, to refuse his appointment as Bishop of Reading following an outcry from conservatives.

Liberals said that by not supporting the current Dean of St Albans at a secret meeting this week, Dr Williams has missed an importance chance to make the Church of England more progressive as well as humiliating his friend again. >>> Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Friday, July 09, 2010

Biggest Revolution in the NHS for 60 Years
THE TELEGRAPH: Doctors are to be given sole responsibility for overseeing front-line care to patients under Coalition plans described as the biggest revolution in the NHS since its foundation 60 years ago.

About £80billion will be distributed to family GPs in a move that will see strategic health authorities and primary care trusts scrapped.

The plan, contained in a white paper to be published next week, is designed to place key decisions about how patients are cared for in the hands of doctors who know them. Tens of thousands of administrative jobs in the health service will be lost as a result.

At present, funds are given by the Government to primary care trusts, which pay for patients from their area to be treated in hospital.

Under these plans, GPs — who are currently not responsible for paying for hospital referrals — would receive the money instead and pay the hospitals directly.

The change will be compulsory.

The Coalition hopes the new system will be less bureaucratic and give doctors and patients more control over treatment. GPs will also have to organise out-of-hours services, which may see family doctors offering 24-hour care once again. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Céline Dion: The Prayer (Duet with Josh Groban)


GALA.fr : Deux nouveau petits gars pour René et sa chanteuse >>> J.-F.T. | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

Céline Dion
Watch and listen: All By Myself >>>

Céline Dion: Think Twice


Céline Dion: Official Website >>>

Relatives Charged in India ‘Honor Killing’

The Stoning of Soraya M.


The Stoning of Soraya M. : Official Trailer

Britain: Ruling for Gay Asylum Seekers
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the right of gay asylum seekers not to be deported if they could show that they faced persecution in their home countries. The court ruled unanimously in favor of two men — a Cameroonian who fled his country after being attacked by an angry mob, and an Iranian who was attacked and expelled from school when his sexuality was discovered — who had lost appeals against deportation in a lower court. The lower court judges had ruled that the men could live “reasonably tolerable” lives in their home countries if they concealed their sexuality. The Supreme Court said that “to compel a homosexual person to pretend” that his sexuality does not exist amounted to denying “his fundamental right to be who he is.” The coalition Conservative-Liberal Democrat government embraced the ruling, which reversed the policy of the former Labour government. [Source: The New York Times] John F. Burns | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: UK: Decision on Gay Asylum Seekers is to be applauded and is long overdue >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010