Koweït: des milliers de manifestants demandent le départ du Premier ministre
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Plus de 5000 Koweïtiens ont manifesté hier en criant «Va-t’en» à leur Premier ministre, Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, un neveu de l’émir. Il serait impliqué dans une affaire de corruption.

Plus de 5000 Koweïtiens ont manifesté mercredi dans leur capitale, à l’appel de l’opposition. Les protestataires ont exigé la démission du premier ministre après une affaire de corruption impliquant de nombreux parlementaires.

En présence de centaines de policiers et de membres des forces spéciales, les manifestants ont défilé dans l’une des plus fortes mobilisations depuis des années pour crier à nouveau «Va-t’en» au premier ministre Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, un neveu de l’émir. » | AFP | Jeudi 22 Septembre 2011

Pope to Receive Hostile Welcome on Return Home to Germany
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Pope will receive a hostile reception from politicians, paedophile sex victims and gay groups when he arrives in Germany today on his first state visit to his homeland.

The pontiff left Rome on Thursday for the state visit. Even ordinary Catholics are expected to give him at best a lukewarm welcome when he lands in Berlin at the start of the four-day trip.

The shadow of Nazism will hang over an address that Benedict XVI, a former member of the Hitler Youth, will give in Berlin's Olympic stadium, where Adolf Hitler presided over the 1936 Games.

Germans were filled with pride in 2005 when the then Josef Ratzinger was elected the first German pope in nearly 1,000 years, but that enthusiasm has long since faded for many.

He was strongly condemned in 2009 for lifting the excommunication of Richard Williamson, a maverick British bishop who questioned the Holocaust, as well as his perceived inaction over priests who sexually abuse children.

The Bavarian-born pontiff's visit is likely to be marred by protests over his conservative doctrinal views on celibacy for priests and his opposition to admitting women to the Church.

Many Catholics in Germany, as well as in Austria and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, are frustrated with the Vatican's resistance to moving with the times on such issues. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Thursday, September 22, 2011

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THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope's visit to Germany is potential minefield: He may be heading home, but the Pope's visit to Germany is a potential minefield. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Thursday, September 22, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope visit: German-speaking Catholics want reform from Rome: Pope Benedict XVI faces a clamour for change as he heads to Germany for his first state visit, with calls for reform on many fronts – from recognising gays to ordaining women to the priesthood. » | Thursday, September 22, 2011

Protest gegen den Papst: Ein leichtes Ziel für Unzufriedene

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Gleich wo die Päpste in der jüngeren Vergangenheit zu Gast waren - fast immer gehörte der Protest gegen ihr Kirchenbild und ihre Sexualmoral mit dazu. In Berlin waren die Gegner schon immer besonders dreist - etwa beim Besuch von Papst Johannes Paul II. im Jahr 1996.

Während der mehr als hundert Auslandsreisen von Papst Johannes Paul II. ging es auf Kuba am ruhigsten zu. Im Januar 1998 gab Fidel Castro persönlich für den Gottesdienst mit dem Oberhaupt der römisch-katholischen Kirche die Parole aus: „Macht keine Zwischenrufe, pfeift nicht, zeigt keine Spruchbänder.“

Der Wunsch ihres größten Führers, der von Meinungs- und Gewissensfreiheit ebenso wenig etwas wissen wollte wie zuvor seine langjährigen Mentoren in Moskau, war den Kubanern Befehl. Andernfalls hätte sich Papst Johannes Paul II. auf Kuba wohl ein ähnliches Schauspiel geboten, wie es sich seit den frühen achtziger Jahren regelmäßig abspielte: Kaum eine Reise wurde nicht von Protesten begleitet.

Johannes Paul II. reagierte nicht

Zu Beginn seines Pontifikats im Herbst 1978 war dem ersten nichtitalienischen Papst seit der Renaissance noch viel Sympathie entgegengebracht worden, vor allem in Polen, wo Karol Wojtyla sofort zu einer Ikone des Widerstands gegen das kommunistische Regime wurde. Doch auch im notorisch skeptischen Westen flogen dem bis dahin weitgehend unbekannten Kirchenoberhaupt zunächst die Herzen zu. „Habt keine Angst“ hatte der neue Papst der Welt vom Petersplatz aus zugerufen. Als er sich aufmachte, um seine Botschaft persönlich Land für Land vorzubringen, kannten Neugier und Begeisterung in den meisten Ländern keine Grenzen. » | Von Daniel Deckers | Donnerstag 22. September 2011

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WELT ONLINE: Wulff bittet um Verständnis für Wiederverheiratete: Bundespräsident Christian Wulff wünscht sich mehr Verständnis vom Papst – besonders für wiederverheiratete Katholiken. Er selbst ist betroffen. » | WON | Mittwoch 21. September 2011

Le vague à l'âme des catholiques allemands
LE FIGARO: En Allemagne, Benoit XVI est aujourd'hui perçu comme un conservateur dogmatique, auquel il est reproché de brider la modernisation de l'Église.

Le Pape Benoît XVI n'est plus prophète en son pays. Dès son arrivée à Berlin, ce jeudi matin, le Souverain Pontife sera accueilli par des responsables politiques illustrant l'éloignement croissant des Allemands vis-à-vis de l'Église catholique. Le président de la République fédérale, Christian Wulff, est un catholique divorcé et remarié, contraint à l'interdiction de communier, tout comme de nombreux ténors de l'Union chrétienne au pouvoir. Le maire de Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, catholique et homosexuel déclaré, soutient ouvertement les représentants de la communauté gay qui organisent des défilés de protestation contre la venue de Benoît XVI dans la capitale… Légère consolation pour le Pape, relèvent les médias outre-Rhin : la chancelière, remariée, et le ministre des Affaires étrangères, homosexuel, sont tous deux protestants.

En panne d'euphorie, l'Allemagne ne se reconnaît plus en son pape. En avril 2005, l'élection à la tête du Saint-Siège du bavarois Joseph Ratzinger, vécue comme un triomphe national, avait fait la fierté de tous les Allemands. Dans une «une» restée célèbre, le quotidien populaire Bild, le plus lu du pays, s'était enthousiasmé en titrant : «Nous sommes pape !» Cette semaine l'hebdomadaire, Der Spiegel, titre «Der Fremde», l'étranger, se faisant l'écho de la désillusion. Les Allemands s'étaient rêvés un pape à l'image de la nouvelle Allemagne : assumant le passé, sans le renier, ouvert et libéral. Benoit XVI y est aujourd'hui perçu comme un conservateur dogmatique, auquel il est reproché de brider la modernisation de l'Église. » | Par Patrick Saint-Paul | Mercredi 21 Septembre 2011

Chinese Primary Schools Sponsored by Tobacco Firms

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More than 100 primary schools in China are now sponsored by tobacco companies on the hunt for the next generation of smokers, according to antismoking campaigners.

The schools often bear the names of Chinese cigarette brands, such as Zhongnanhai or Liqun, over their gates and in some cases have slogans in the playground.

"Talent comes from hard work – Tobacco helps you become talented," says one slogan, in foot-high gilt letters, on the front of the Sichuan Tobacco Hope Primary School.

The school, which was built by the local tobacco company after a deadly earthquake in 2008, also bears the green leaf logo of China Tobacco, the country's all-powerful state-controlled monopoly, on its parapet.

China Tobacco is the world's largest manufacturer of tobacco products, with over 900 brands, and is owned by the Chinese government. China is the world's largest tobacco market and as many as 60 per cent of its men smoke.

Regulations to prevent smoking in public places, including schools, have been widely ignored and the World Health Organisation estimates that two million Chinese will die each year of smoking-related diseases by the end of the decade – accelerating the need to find more young smokers. » | Malcolm Moore, Shanghai and Stephen Adams | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

«Berlusconi muss gehen»
Italiens bürgerliche Presse fordert den Rücktritt

NZZ ONLINE: Ministerpräsident Berlusconi ist am Mittwoch vom «Corriere della Sera» wie auch von «Il Sole 24 Ore», den zwei führenden bürgerlichen Blättern Italiens, zum Rücktritt aufgefordert worden.

Am Mittwoch haben sich auch die zwei führenden bürgerlichen Zeitungen Italiens dezidiert gegen Ministerpräsident Berlusconi gewandt und ihn aufgefordert, zum Wohl des Landes zurückzutreten. Sowohl der angesehene Mailänder «Corriere della Sera» wie auch die führende Wirtschaftszeitung «Il Sole 24 Ore» verlangten den Schritt in unverblümt formulierten Kommentaren auf der Titelseite. » | Nikos Tzermias, Rom | Mittwoch 21. September 2011

Pour Obama, la paix ne sera pas accélérée par une reconnaissance de l'Etat Palestine à l'ONU

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Les Etats-Unis, proches alliés d’Israël, ont déjà annoncé qu’ils opposeraient leur veto au Conseil de sécurité à toute demande d’admission à l’ONU d’un Etat de Palestine. Barack Obamal a affirmé mercredi qu’il n’existait pas de "raccourci" onusien.

Le président des Etats-Unis Barack Obama a affirmé mercredi qu’il n’existait pas de "raccourci" pour parvenir à la paix au Proche-Orient, rejetant à la tribune de l’ONU la démarche des Palestiniens pour y obtenir la reconnaissance de leur Etat.

"Je suis convaincu qu’il n’existe pas de raccourci à la fin d’un conflit qui persiste depuis des décennies. La paix ne viendra pas de déclarations et de résolutions à l’ONU. Si c’était aussi facile, cela aurait déjà eu lieu à l’heure actuelle", a déclaré M. Obama devant l’Assemblée générale de l’organisation internationale à New York.

"Il y a un an, j’ai souhaité une Palestine indépendante à cette tribune", a reconnu M. Obama. "Je croyais, et je crois toujours, que les Palestiniens méritent leur propre Etat. Mais j’ai aussi dit qu’une paix véritable ne peut être obtenue qu’entre les Israéliens et les Palestiniens eux-mêmes", a-t-il affirmé. » | AFP | Mercredi 21 Septembre 2011

Corée du Nord: les soldats volent les civils pour pouvoir manger
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Au nord-est de la Corée du Nord, les soldats meurent de faim et son forcés de voler les civils, encore plus rationnés qu'eux, pour pouvoir manger. La presse sud-coréenne dénonce une situation alimentaire alarmante.

Des soldats dans le nord-est de la Corée du Nord volent les civils pour pouvoir manger à leur faim, malgré les avantages dont ils bénéficient, signe supplémentaire de la dégradation de la situation alimentaire dans ce pays, rapporte mercredi une publication de Corée du Sud.

La police militaire s’est déployées dans les rues de la ville de Hyesan (nord-est) pour contrôler l’identité des soldats, indique Daily NK, un journal sur internet publié par des transfuges en Corée du Sud, qui s’appuie sur les témoignages nord-coréens. » | AFP | Mercredi 21 Septembre 2011

Italian Police Beat Migrants in Lampedusa Clashes
Trouble continues at the overcrowded Lampedusa camp as Italian riot police charge migrants[,] a day after asylum seekers started fires in protest against forced repatriations.

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Dramatic Increase in the Number of Women Reverting to Islam in California
ALLVOICES: What is there about the religion of Islam that draws so many Sacramento and other California women to join the faith? What invites the women to follow the customs, rules, and laws and go through an official conversion? It's not always marrying into a Muslim family. Many single women are joining the Islamic faith, including many older women as well as younger students. Is it about community support and making new friends? New ideas to learn? What do women seek when they join the Islamic faith coming from Western European, Native American, Hispanic, African-American, or other ethnic groups--it it the basic teachings of Islam they read about in books, the closeness of the family life, the food, or the social life?

What is there about the faith and customs that appeals to so many women in California and in other areas such as Northern Europe or Latin America? What religion do you join if you're half Middle Eastern and half European and your family practices several different faiths?

How often does Sacramento celebrate diversity? Once a year is Celebrate Diversity Month, but besides that special day, celebrating diversity is a daily event. Anthropologists may be interested in asking what motivates an increasing number of Sacramento women of nearly all ethnic backgrounds to convert to Islam? There's even a local website for those looking for Muslim wives and/or husbands to start a family at Salaam Love. Is Islam the fastest growing religion in Sacramento? » | AnneHart | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Settlers for Peace – Israel
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The Chancellor and the Dominatrix – UK
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Ugly Female Candidates 'Repel Voters', Says Former Polish Prime Minister

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A former Polish prime minister has angered feminists by saying unattractive women candidates "repel voters", just weeks before the country's general election.

During a television interview Leszek Miller, once leader of the left-wing and officially pro-women Democratic Left Alliance, said parties should avoid fielding less-than-beautiful candidates.

"If the parties revolve around unattractive women, then this is something anachronistic and will repel voters," he said as Poles prepare to vote on the October 9 election.

The comment riled women, who have often complained that conservative and old-fashioned attitudes in Polish public life hold women back. » | Matthew Day, Warsaw | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Europe Bans 'Despotic' Soviet Hammer-and-sickle from Commerical Use

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A top European court banned the Soviet Union's famous hammer and sickle from being used as a commercial trademark as it is "a symbol of despotism" in some EU countries.

The European Court of Justice said it was forced to refuse the request on the grounds of public morality, ending a five-year battle by a Russian designer to register the iconic coat of arms as a trademark across the 27-nation European Union.

It stated:"The symbols in question would be seen as contrary to public policy and to accepted principles of morality by a substantial section of the relevant public living in the part of the European Union which has been subject to the Soviet regime."

The court singled out EU member states such as Latvia and the Czech Republic which were either part of the Soviet Union or Soviet satellite states.

It also noted that in Hungary such Soviet-era symbols "are considered to be 'symbols of despotism' and their use is contrary to public policy." » | Andrew Osborn, Moscow | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Swedish Cartoonist Target of Foiled Attack

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A Swedish cartoonist who has received death threats for depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a dog was the target of a planned attack in Gothenburg earlier this month, according to reports.

The daily Metro said it had obtained classified documents that showed the prosecutor believes three men arrested on September 10 had planned to kill cartoonist Lars Vilks.

The Swedish prosecutor's office refused to comment on the report.

An elite counter-terrorism unit arrested four people in Gothenburg and shortly afterward evacuated hundreds of people from a building hosting an art fair "after concluding that there was a threat that could endanger lives or health or cause serious damage."

Vilks had initially said on his blog that he would attend the art fair though he did not in the end.

One of the suspects had bought a pocketknife to be used in the attack, and one of the men had asked for Vilks at the art fair, according to Metro. » | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

US Hikers 'Released by Iran'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two American hikers arrested in Iran two years ago were released and handed over to the Swiss embassy on Wednesday, state media claimed.

Earlier the hikers' lawyer Masoud Shafii said a $1 million bail-for-freedom deal has been approved by the courts, clearing the way for the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal after more than two years in custody.

"Inshallah (God willing) it is over.... the judge has signed the order," he said.
Iran's judiciary has confirmed the release, according to new reports.

The Swiss embassy looks out for American interests in the Islamic Republic. "As a rule, the only people they have here are from the US interest office in the Swiss embassy... they are going to be present at the prison too," Mr Shafii said.

He said he is to go to Tehran's Evin prison later on Wednesday to begin the procedures for the release. » | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Lampedusa Burned Down by Tunisian Refugees
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hundreds of Tunisians protested against their imminent repatriation by setting fire to the reception centre they were being held in on the remote Italian island of Lampedusa.

The devastating fire, which started when the migrants allegedly set fire to their bed mattresses, reduced much of the controversial centre to a smoking ruin.

It dealt a heavy blow to Italy's ability to deal with a continuing flood of refugees from North Africa in the wake of the popular revolts in Tunisia and Egypt and the civil war in Libya.

More than 48,000 have reached the shores of southern Italy since the start of the year.
Many of the 1,200 migrants held in the centre fled when three fires broke out late on Tuesday.

As police stationed on the island rounded them up, the fires blazed out of control and destroyed three buildings in the complex. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Tony Bennett in Bizarre Rant as He Claims 'America Caused 9/11' and 'George Bush Told Me He Regretted the War in Iraq'

MAIL ONLINE: Legendary singer Tony Bennett said in an interview with Howard Stern on Monday night that 'we caused' the 9/11 attacks.

He also went on to say that President George W. Bush confided in him that the war in Iraq was a mistake.

Speaking on Stern's Sirius Radio show, Mr Bennett, who describes himself as a pacifist, said: 'They flew the plane in, but we caused it.

'Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.'

Stern had asked the singer, a World War II vet, how the U.S. should deal with the terrorists responsible for the World Trade Centre attacks.

'But who are the terrorists?' Mr Bennett said, according to ABC News.

'Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don't make a right.'

The 85-year-old spoke of the night in 2005 when then-President Bush made that astonishing statement.

Mr Bennett said: 'He told me personally that night that, he said, 'I think I made a mistake".'

The event was in honour of Mr Bennett and he said he believed Mr Bush made the admission because he liked the singer.

Mr Bennett said that his experiences as a teenager in combat in the Second World War forever changed his position on war.

'I’m anti-war,' he said. 'It’s the lowest form of human behaviour.' Read on and comment » | Daily Mail Reporter | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Al-Jazeera Chief's Surprise Resignation Raises Fears for Channel's Independence

THE GUARDIAN: Wadah Khanfar stood down after eight years that consolidated the satellite network's reputation and his own position

Seated behind a vast desk, surrounded by TV screens, deep leather sofas and a wall of global media awards, Wadah Khanfar always cut an impressive figure in his director-general's office at al-Jazeeraheadquarters in the Qatari capital, Doha.

But his career at the top of the most important news organisation in the Arab world ended on Tuesday when he was replaced by a member of the Qatari royal family. It was an abrupt and dramatic move at a critical time in the Middle East.

Khanfar, credited with revolutionising the Arab media landscape, said he was resigning after eight years that consolidated the satellite network's reputation and his own highly influential position.

The new boss is Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, a little-known executive at Qatargas and a member of the fabulously wealthy Gulf country's ruling dynasty – pointing to a clear attempt to exercise greater control.

It is thought that Khanfar had become too independent a figure for the Qataris, and that he had come under pressure from them. Recently al-Jazeera has been accused of pulling its punches over the uprising in Bahrain, where Saudi Arabia dominates regional policy. Al-Jazeera's Lebanon chief, Ghassan Bin Jiddo, resigned in April, apparently in disagreement over coverage of some of the revolts.

But on Tuesday night Khanfar denied speculation that his departure was linked to outside pressure. He told the Guardian: "I have spent eight years with the network. We have been talking in this part of the world about change, about presidents who stay for decades in their posts. I thought maybe it is good to give an example as well, while the network is at the peak of its performance. It's the right moment." » | Ian Black, Middle East editor, and Luke Harding | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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Chris Huhne Attacks Tory Hard Right
THE INDEPENDENT: Chris Huhne has launched a scathing attack on the Tory hard right, bracketing them with the "madcap" American Tea Party movement and warning they will "wreck the nation's economy".

The Energy Secretary used his speech to round on Conservatives who "slaver over tax cuts for the rich" and claimed if they failed to compromise Britain's economic recovery would be "put in peril".

Mr Huhne's criticism is the most explicit verbal assault made from the conference platform by a senior Liberal Democrat on their coalition partners this week.

He said: "This coalition government saved Britain's credit standing by compromise.

"The danger if you don't compromise is now clear from America.

"There the markets looked over the brink when the mad-cap Republican right in Congress would not compromise with the President.

"Let that be a warning to the Conservative right here - we need no Tea Party Tendency in Britain. » | Sam Lister | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Baroness Williams of Crosby warns Chris Huhne to stop bashing the Tories: Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, has been chastised by one of his party’s senior figures for his “unhelpful” attacks on the Conservatives. » | James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, September 20, 2011