Une fashionista est née
GALA.fr: Après avoir enflammé le cœur de milliers de jeunes hommes, et attiré l’œil du dragueur invétéré Son Altesse Royale le Prince Consort Philip dans sa tenue de demoiselle d’honneur signée Alexander McQueen, Pippa Middleton ne s’est pas arrêtée là...

Philippa n’a rien à envier à sa sœur la Duchesse de Cambridge: elle possède une plastique tout aussi avantageuse, un sourire aussi éclatant, et une chevelure aussi jolie… Et l’attention qu’on lui porte est égale! C’est tout juste si elle ne lui a pas volé la vedette à son propre mariage, notamment grâce à ses fesses remarquables, sacrées «plus beau derrière de l’événement» par plus de 176 000 personnes sur Facebook! » | Marion Buiatti | Mardi 03 Mai 2011

Switzerland Identifies $1bn Worth of Dictators' Assets
THE GUARDIAN: Three-year freeze for Swiss bank assets of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, Egypt's Hosni Murbarak and Tunisia's Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

The Swiss government says it has identified potential assets to be frozen worth 830m Swiss francs (nearly $1bn or £600m) belonging to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the ousted presidents of Egypt and Tunisia.

Swiss president and foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, speaking in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, said the assets include 360m Swiss francs that may belong to Gaddafi or his entourage.

She said Switzerland had also linked 410m Swiss francs to the former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, and 60m Swiss francs to Tunisia's deposed autocrat, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Switzerland has ordered banks and other financial institutions to freeze possible assets belonging to the three men and their key supporters to prevent the funds from being secretly withdrawn. The Swiss government has said Tunisia and Egypt have already started legal proceedings to claim the assets.

The government added that neither country has yet provided the necessary evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing involving the money. » | Associated Press in Geneva | Tuesday, April 03, 2011

Schweizer Halbbruder von Osama Bin Laden
Yeslam Binladin. Seit 28 Jahren lebt der Halbbruder des Terroristen Osama bin Laden in Genf. Seit vergangenem Mai besitzt er einen Schweizerpass. Doch seit den Angriffen vom 11. September ist Yeslam Binladin immer wieder neuen Verdächtigungen ausgesetzt über mögliche Verbindungen zu Osama bin Laden. Zum ersten Mal gab er dem Fernsehen ein Interview -und distanziert sich von seinem Halbbruder
Das Schweizer Fernsehen Video hier abspielen

Dans la résidence de Ben Laden
La pièce, qui ressemble à une chambre, est maculée de sang. Ce serait ici qu’Oussama Ben Laden aurait été tué

Konservative siegen bei Neuwahlen

Islamisten protestieren nach Tod bin Ladens

Merkel gratuliert den USA

Al-Qaeda: The Next Generation
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As America celebrates the death of its greatest foe, a younger cadre is ready to direct jihad against the West – including one whose real name no one knows.

["]History," wrote Abdullah Azzam, Osama bin Laden's mentor, "does not write its lines except with blood… Glory does not build its lofty edifice except with skulls; honour and respect cannot be established except on a foundation of cripples and corpses." Osama bin Laden has become one of those corpses. But even as America celebrates the death of the man who more than any other came to represent evil in our time, there is little reason for jubilation.

The stark truth is this: a decade after 9/11, the jihadist movement is more powerful than at any time in the past. Bin Laden himself, the scholar C. Christine Fair has noted, has emerged as a "kind of Che Guevara of the jihadist movement" – an inspirational icon who could fire the imagination of young recruits. Bin Laden's death – or, to the faithful, his martyrdom – might prove to be his last service for his macabre cause.

In 2001, on the eve of 9/11, al-Qaeda had a core of just less than 200 cadre – 120 of them in a crack fighting unit. Perhaps 1,000 men had graduated from its Afghan training camps, but they were riven by ideological dissension. Now, jihadist groups that associate themselves with al-Qaeda's project are asserting influence from eastern China and central Asia to the furthest reaches of North Africa. The war against terror has thus seen al-Qaeda flower, not die. Continue reading and comment » | Praveen Swami |
Monday, April 02, 2011

Osama bin Laden Dead: Code Name Geronimo
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As President Barack Obama and his team sat on tenterhooks in the Situation Room, the CIA director Leon Panetta broke the silence with the memorable words: "We have a visual on Geronimo."

It was the first confirmation that Osama bin Laden, who had been given the 19th Century Apache leader's name as a code word, was definitely in the compound in Pakistan.

Shortly afterwards, a Navy Seal halfway across the world sent the message "Geronimo EKIA" – meaning enemy killed in action – which was relayed to a jubilant White House Situation Room.

US President Barack Obama watched events unfold sitting in the thousands of miles away from the al-Qaeda leader's compound in Abbottabad. » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Carla Bruni 'Pregnant with Twins'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni is pregnant with twins at the age of 43, according to the latest reports.

The former supermodel has been at the centre of frenzied media speculation this week that she is expecting her first child with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Now glossy showbiz magazine Voici claims that she is expecting twins in October.

The claims come after Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy – who is also said to have given up smoking – herself hinted she and her 56-year-old husband were expecting a baby.

When asked directly if she was pregnant in an interview on Monday, she replied teasingly that she would "remain tight-lipped about that to protect something".

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy was asked by one of six readers of Le Parisien newspaper invited to the Elysee [sic] Palace to interview her: "Are you expecting a baby?"

She answered: "If you'll allow me, I'd rather not answer these questions about my family. » | Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Inside Story - The End of Osama bin Laden

German Muslims Welcome Bin Laden's Death

Al Jazeera Speaks to Ana Murison, Global Jihad Analyst

US Muslims Hope for New Start
Muslim American groups have welcomed the news of Bin Laden's killing.

After September 11, 2001, many Muslims claimed they were treated with suspicion and endured increased discrimination in the United States.

Al Jazeera's Monica Villamizar has more.

Bahrain Protests: 'Ex-Shia MPs Detained' Amid Crackdown
BBC: Bahrain has arrested two former members of parliament from the main Shia opposition party, al-Wefaq, members of the group say.

The arrest of Matar Matar and Jawad Fairuz is the latest step in Bahrain's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The Sunni rulers declared martial law in March to crush the protests led by the country's Shia majority, who are demanding greater political rights.

Since then, hundreds of people have been detained. Four have died in jail.

The unrest in Bahrain started on 14 February, when protesters - emboldened by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt - took to the streets urging democratic reform. Some have called for the overthrow of the monarchy.

About 30 people, including four policemen, were killed during weeks of unrest, until the ruling al-Khalifa family called in troops from other Sunni-ruled Gulf neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, to put down the protests. » | Tuesday, April 03, 2011

Inside Story - Al-Qaeda Decapitated?

Prinzenhochzeit: „Ich hoffe, wir haben ihren Geschmack getroffen“
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Nach der Trauung gab es bei der Königin köstliche Häppchen, aber keinen Pimm's: Hochzeitsgast Philipp Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, der Großneffe der Queen, erzählt, was die Fernsehkameras nicht filmten.

Philipp Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, wie begann für Sie der große Tag?

Ganz entspannt. Wir haben uns ins Taxi gesetzt und sind ganz früh in der Westminster Abbey gewesen. Die Stadt war erstaunlich leer, zumindest die Straßen, auf denen wir gefahren sind.

Dann gab es aber bestimmt strenge Sicherheitsvorkehrungen?

Es gab schon Schleusen und einen Metalldetektor. Und es war auch ein bisschen wie am Flughafen. Wir wurden kontrolliert, nachdem wir unsere Zulassungskarte vorgezeigt hatten. Die Karten hatten unterschiedliche Farben, je nachdem, wo man saß. Unsere Karte war orange. Aber weil wir so früh da waren, ging das alles ganz schnell.

Saßen Sie mit der Königsfamilie zusammen hinter der Chorschranke und damit nahe am Altar?

Ja. Wir hatten ganz wunderbare Plätze. Meine Frau und ich saßen direkt hinter der königlichen Familie - vielleicht neun Meter vom Altar entfernt. William und sein Trauzeuge Harry waren ja auch schon früh in der Kirche und sind zweimal direkt an uns vorbeigelaufen in die Sakristei. » | F.A.S. | Die Fragen stellte Peter-Philipp Schmitt | Dienstag, 03. Mai 2011

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Philipp Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg: Der Hochzeitsgast von der Jagst – Philipp Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg ist zur Prinzenhochzeit geladen - als einer von wenigen Deutschen. Der Grund: Einer seiner Vorfahren war mit einer der Schwestern von Philip Mountbatten verheiratet, dem Großvater des Bräutigams. » | Von Peter-Philipp Schmitt, Langenburg | Donnerstag, 28. April 2011

WIKI: Philipp zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg »

WIKI: Hohenlohe (Adelsgeschlecht) »

WIKI: Philipp, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg »

WIKI – Français: Philipp zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg »

WIKI: Langenburg »

WIKI: Schloss Langenburg »

L’icône de la terreur
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: PORTRAIT | Oussama ben Laden personnifiait le terrorisme islamique depuis les attentats du 11/9/2001.

Je le veux mort ou vif!» En lâchant cette phrase en septembre 2001, quelques jours après les attentats contre les tours jumelles du World Trade Center à New York et contre le Pentagone à Washington, le président des Etats-Unis George W. Bush a hissé Oussama ben Laden au rang de nouvel ennemi suprême de l’Occident.

Le «financier de l’extrémisme islamique», qui figurait déjà depuis 1998 en tête de liste des «criminels les plus recherchés» du FBI mais restait peu connu du grand public, est alors devenu l’incarnation du terrorisme dans le monde entier. Sa traque a déclenché, quelques semaines plus tard, l’invasion militaire de l’Afghanistan, alors dirigé par les talibans, alliés du chef du réseau Al-Qaida. Et l’épouvantail Ben Laden a même été agité pour préparer l’opinion publique des Etats-Unis dans le but d’attaquer l’Irak en 2003 et faire tomber un Saddam Hussein accusé par Washington d’avoir des liens – pourtant très improbables – avec le milliardaire saoudien.

La jeunesse



Né à Riyad en 1957, Oussama – prénom arabe se référant au lion – serait le 17e enfant d’une fratrie de 52 frères et sœurs. Mais les Ben Laden ne sont pas n’importe quelle famille nombreuse. Bien que né au Yémen, le père, Muhammad, a créé un véritable empire de la construction en Arabie saoudite, en devenant un proche de la famille régnante. L’entreprise familiale a notamment été mandatée pour reconstruire la mosquée al-Aqsa de Jérusalem – incendiée par un chrétien en 1969 – et pour rénover celles de La Mecque et de Médine, soit les trois plus hauts lieux saints de l’islam.

Au cours des années 70, le jeune Oussama étudie le génie civil à l’Université du roi Abdul Aziz de Jeddah. Elevé dans la tradition wahhabite – la branche la plus rigoriste de l’islam – il commence à fréquenter les courants islamistes les plus radicaux. L’année 1979 sera charnière: un accord de paix est signé sous l’égide des Etats-Unis entre l’Egypte et Israël, la révolution islamique chasse le shah d’Iran et les Soviétiques envahissent l’Afghanistan. » | Gustavo Kuhn | Mardi 03 Mai 2011

Is Gaddafi Plotting Chemical Assault Against Libyan Rebels? Troops Seen Wearing Gas Masks
MAIL ONLINE: Fears that Colonel Gaddafi is planning to use chemical weapons against rebels grew yesterday when forces loyal to the Libyan tyrant were seen wearing gas masks.

After giving rebels in the besieged city of Misrata until midnight tonight to surrender or face the ‘fires from Hell’, Gaddafi’s troops were yesterday seen wearing the masks for the first time since the uprising against his rule began seven weeks ago.

The chilling development prompted rebel fighters in Misrata, which is surrounded on three sides by Gaddafi’s forces, to radio for immediate supplies of their own protective masks to be shipped from Benghazi, their stronghold in the East.

With more than 1,000 dead in Misrata after fierce pounding by Gaddafi’s forces, the prospect of a chemical attack has sent a new wave of fear and panic through the city, with civilians also desperately trying to find gas masks.

A doctor, who asked not to be named, said sources inside Gaddafi’s regime had warned him to flee with his family by yesterday – before the dictator takes revenge against the people of Misrata when the deadline expires. » | Andrew Malone | Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The Death of Bin Laden: Robert Fisk: Was He Betrayed? Of Course. Pakistan Knew Bin Laden's Hiding Place All Along
THE INDEPENDENT: A middle-aged nonentity, a political failure outstripped by history – by the millions of Arabs demanding freedom and democracy in the Middle East – died in Pakistan yesterday. And then the world went mad.

Fresh from providing us with a copy of his birth certificate, the American President turned up in the middle of the night to provide us with a live-time death certificate for Osama bin Laden, killed in a town named after a major in the army of the old British Empire. A single shot to the head, we were told. But the body's secret flight to Afghanistan, an equally secret burial at sea? The weird and creepy disposal of the body – no shrines, please – was almost as creepy as the man and his vicious organisation.

The Americans were drunk with joy. David Cameron thought it "a massive step forward". India described it as a "victorious milestone". "A resounding triumph," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu boasted. But after 3,000 American dead on 9/11, countless more in the Middle East, up to half a million Muslims dead in Iraq and Afghanistan and 10 years trying to find Bin Laden, pray let us have no more "resounding triumphs". Revenge attacks? Perhaps they will come, by the little groupuscules in the West, who have no direct contact with al-Qa'ida. Be sure, someone is already dreaming up a "Brigade of the Martyr Osama bin Laden". Maybe in Afghanistan, among the Taliban.

But the mass revolutions in the Arab world over the past four months mean that al-Qa'ida was already politically dead. Bin Laden told the world – indeed, he told me personally – that he wanted to destroy the pro-Western regimes in the Arab world, the dictatorships of the Mubaraks and the Ben Alis. He wanted to create a new Islamic Caliphate. But these past few months, millions of Arab Muslims rose up and were prepared for their own martyrdom – not for Islam but for freedom and liberty and democracy. Bin Laden didn't get rid of the tyrants. The people did. And they didn't want a caliph. » | Robert Fisk | Tuesday, May 03, 2011