Anders Behring Breivik se décrit comme une personne sympathique
REUTERS FRANCE: OSLO (Reuters) - Anders Behring Breivik, jugé à Oslo pour le meurtre de 77 personnes le 22 juillet 2011, s'est décrit vendredi comme une "personne sympathique" et a expliqué avoir appris à refouler ses émotions avant de pouvoir passer à l'acte.

Le militant d'extrême droite islamophobe de 33 ans a reconnu avoir tué huit personnes à Oslo dans un attentat à la voiture piégée et 69 jeunes gens réunis dans un camp d'été des jeunesses travaillistes sur l'île d'Utoya.

Au cinquième jour de son procès, il est revenu sur les circonstances de la tuerie, fournissant des détails sur son parcours meurtrier, traquant ses victimes jusque dans le lac entourant l'île.

Face à un public glacé d'effroi, Breivik a expliqué avoir tiré à plusieurs reprises sur ses victimes: une première balle pour les neutraliser et une seconde dans la tête.

"Ça a été extrêmement difficile de tirer la première balle, c'est contraire à la nature humaine. Mais (une fois cette première balle tirée), c'est devenu plus facile", a-t-il dit. » | par Victoria Klesty et Walter Gibbs | vendredi 20 avril 2012

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Analysis: Don't Pin Breivik's Massacre on Video Games

REUTERS.COM: That Anders Breivik was a regular player of violent video games does not explain why the Norwegian became the calm killer of 77 mostly young people, many of whom would have shared his gaming passion.

An obsession with games such as "World of Warcraft" might seem a plausible explanation for why the apparently unremarkable 33-year-old, now on trial for murder in Oslo, came to carry out the shooting spree and bomb attack last July, but it is a dangerous simplification driven by our need to understand.

"People want an answer for why these thing happen. That's completely understandable," said Seena Fazel, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at Britain's University of Oxford. "That's also why mental illness is often an attractive avenue, because it does seem to provide some sort of answer."

The motive, in part, is to understand what distinguishes a mass killer from the rest of us, experts say. Breivik's game-playing, however, doesn't do that. » | Kate Kelland | LONDON | Friday, April 20, 2012

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David Frum: Mourning Christopher Hitchens
NATIONAL POST: They came to mourn Christopher Hitchens in the Great Hall of New York’s Cooper Union, where Abraham Lincoln gave the speech that launched his campaign for president in 1860.

The hall was filled with family, friends and readers; intimates of 40 years’ standing, and those who knew him only from the printed page and stage appearance; all still wounded by a loss that remains fresh at four months’ distance.

Most of the memorial took the form of readings from Christopher’s own works, occasionally enlivened by editorial comment. The biggest laugh was claimed by the writer, actor and gay-rights exponent, Stephen Fry.

Christopher, he said, had condemned as more trouble than they were worth: champagne, lobster, anal sex and picnics. “Three out of four, Christopher,” said Fry.

The piano was played — beautifully — by one of the directors of the National Institutes of Health, who also proudly identified himself as “a follower of Jesus Christ.” He had guided Christopher through some experimental therapies for the esophageal cancer that killed him. He and Christopher had many fierce debates over Christopher’s assertive atheism. He reminded the audience of the words of Proverbs: As iron sharpeneth iron, so a friend sharpens the mind of his friend. » | David Frum | National Post | Saturday, April 21, 2012

Leading Article: No Credit to Bahrain or Formula One
THE INDEPENDENT: The Formula One Grand Prix should not be happening in Bahrain this weekend. That is the long and the short of it. Although the security situation is evidently better than it was last season, when the race was first postponed and then cancelled, this is largely a result of the repression exerted by the authorities.

It does not mean there has been any serious accommodation with the opposition, still less that the regime has become any more democratic. Several dozen people have been killed in protests since the start of the year and a leading opposition activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is on hunger strike in prison. Even John Yates, formerly of Scotland Yard, who is currently advising the Bahrain government, has said that the security of the race cannot be guaranteed. » | Leading article | Saturday, April 21, 2012

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Robert Fisk: This Is Politics Not Sport. If Drivers Can't See That, They Are the Pits
THE INDEPENDENT: Supposing it was Assad shelling out £40m for a race. Would Ecclestone be happy to give him a soft sporting cover for his repression?

When the Foreign Office urges British motor racing fans to stay away from Bahrain, this ain't no sporting event, folks, it's a political one. The Bahraini authorities prove it by welcoming sports reporters but refusing visas to other correspondents who want to tell the world what's going on in this minority-run, Saudi-dominated kingdom.

But what do our lads tell us from the circuit, 25 miles from the Bahraini capital, Manama? Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are only in it for sport. Bahraini repression of its democratic majority? Nothing to do with us, governor. And Sebastian Vettel? "I think it's a lot of hype." Hype? HYPE? The Arab Awakening came to Bahrain a year ago, a majority Shia people demanding a democratically elected government – with a minority Sunni monarch still at its head, for heaven's sake, as generous an Arab Spring as you could find – and it's met with police gunfire, torture and death. And Master Vettel – is there anything left of the old cliché "moral compass"? – claims "it's a lot of hype". What a disgraceful man. » | Robert Fisk | Saturday, April 21, 2012

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L'Islam en France

L'Islam en France by wanzea

”Asma Assad, verstecke dich nicht”

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Berlin und Paris wollen Kontrolle über Grenzen behalten

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Sarkozy droht Machtverlust

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Gespannte Lage in Bahrain
Das Video hier abspielen | Freitag, 20. April 2012
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Mass. Student Defends Norwegian Massacre Suspect
WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE: BOSTON — A senior at a Roman Catholic college in Massachusetts who has written letters of support to a Norwegian mass murder suspect will not be on campus "for the foreseeable future," according to school officials.

Officials at Assumption College in Worcester wouldn't say Friday whether student Kevin Forts would graduate in May. Renee Buisson, the school's public affairs director, released a statement saying that Forts has a right to express personal opinions as a U.S. citizen, but that his conduct was "under administrative review."

The review includes the English major's comments to a Norwegian news outlet in support of Anders Breivik, as well as an arrest for an alleged assault on campus this year.

Breivik is standing trial in Norway in a shooting and bombing massacre in July that killed 77 people, including children. He confessed but rejects guilt by claiming he was trying to protect Norway and Europe by targeting political forces he says opened the country to immigration. He has said an anti-Muslim network he is part of will lead a revolt with the aim of deporting Muslims.

An English-language video interview on the website of VG Nett shows Forts defending Breivik's actions. Forts called the deaths of the children "a necessary political sacrifice that is not necessary again." Forts said people need to look at Breivik's political platform, "rather than his atrocious actions."

The student also called Breivik a patriot whose act "demonstrates a sense of nationalism and a moral conscience." » | The Associated Press | Friday, April 20, 2012

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Bahrain Grand Prix: Protester Found Dead after Clashes with Authorities

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Anti-government protesters in Bahrain have claimed a man has been found dead after a night of violent clashes with police ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix.

Opposition leaders in Bahrain said the man's body was found at a site where protesters had clashed violently with security forces during the night.

Protesters had flooded a main highway in a march stretching for miles while the authorities deployed armoured vehicles on to the streets of the country's capital and the main road heading to the race track.

Security forces fired tear gas into the crowds as the country's leaders struggle to contain opposition anger ahead of the Grand Prix.

The government allowed the massive Friday demonstration in an apparent bid to avoid the hit-and-run street battles that are the hallmark of the Gulf nation's 14-month uprising – and an embarrassing spectacle for Bahrain's Western-backed rulers as F1 teams prepare for Sunday's race.

But violence flared as small groups in the march peeled away from the route to challenge riot police, who answered with volleys of tear gas and stun grenades.

Some protesters sought refuge in a shopping mall and nearby shops about 12 miles north of the Formula One track, where practice runs took place and Bahrain's crown prince vowed the country's premier international event would go ahead. » | Saturday, April 21, 2012

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Bahrain Grand Prix: Thousands Rally in Manama Calling for Democracy

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Church of England Should 'Rejoice' Over Gay Marriage, Bishops Say
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Church of England should “rejoice” at the prospect of marriage between homosexual couples rather than fear it, senior bishops and clergy have said.

In a public letter, the influential members of the Anglican Church claimed that “God’s grace” was at work in allowing same – sex couples to marry.

The group, including members of the General Synod, the CoE’s governing body, dismissed “mistaken” impressions that church leaders were “universally opposed to an extension of civil marriage”.

Instead, they argued that same-sex couples who wanted to “embrace marriage should be a cause for rejoicing in the Christian Church”.

They wrote: "Recent statements by church leaders past and present may have given the mistaken impression that the Church is universally opposed to the extension of civil marriage to same-sex couples. We believe that does not adequately reflect the range of opinion which exists within the Church of England.

“The Church calls marriage holy or sacramental because the covenant relationship of committed, faithful love between the couple reflects the covenanted love and commitment between God and his Church.

“Growing in this kind of love means we are growing in the image of God."

They added: “That there are same-sex couples who want to embrace marriage should be a cause for rejoicing in the Christian Church.”

"We believe that the Church of England has nothing to fear from the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples. » | Andrew Hough | Saturday, April 21, 2012

Bahrain Grand Prix: Crown Prince Backs Race Despite Protests
BBC: Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa says the weekend's grand prix will go ahead despite protests.

"Cancelling the race just [em]powers extremists. Having it allows us to build bridges and celebrate our nation as an idea that's positive," he said.

Unrest in the Gulf state has led to calls for the race to be cancelled for the second year running.

On Friday, thousands attended a protest in Budaiya, demanding an end to the crackdown on dissent.

Riot police initially showed restraint, but when a group of about 100 protesters broke away and attempted to reach the site of the former Pearl Roundabout - the focus of last year's pro-democracy demonstrations - they fired stun grenades and tear gas.

The overnight demonstrations called for the "overthrow of the regime" and the release of the human rights and political activist, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike in prison for more than 70 days in protest at the life sentence he received from a military tribunal in June. (+ video) » | Friday, April 20, 2012

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Meet Anders Breivik’s American Pen Pal
TIME: “I dream of meeting Breivik,” 23-year-old Kevin Forts told a Norwegian tabloid.


With each passing day, Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik appears increasingly remorseless and smug during his ongoing trial for the murders of 77 people, and with each passing day the crimes he’s accused of look even more reprehensible. It is most people’s idea of a nightmare even to be in the same room as the murderous extremist.

But not all people.

Meet 23-year-old Kevin Forts of Worcester, Mass., who says it is his “dream” to meet the fanatical right-wing killer and that he agrees with his “cause” of fighting “cultural Marxism and the Islamization of Norway.”

In this videotaped interview with a reporter from Norwegian tabloid VG, Forts calls Breivik’s bombing of government offices in Oslo and the systematic executions of 69 people at a youth camp on the nearby island of Utoya a “necessary political sacrifice.” The deliberate killing of small children, he says, was “atrocious but necessary” in that it raised awareness for his cause. » | Anoosh Chakelian | Friday, April 20, 2012

SKY NEWS (AUSTRALIA): US student writes to defend Breivik: A senior at a Roman Catholic college in Massachusetts who has written letters of support to a Norwegian mass murder suspect will not be on campus 'for the foreseeable future,' according to school officials. ¶ Officials at Assumption College in Worcester wouldn't say on Friday whether student Kevin Forts would graduate in May. » | Saturday, April 21, 2012

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François Hollande: The Socialist 'Pup' On Course to Become France's Next Leader

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jacques Chirac once joked that François Hollande, the bashful Socialist pup sent to challenge him in his rural power base, was less well known than François Mitterrand's labrador.

Today, Mr Hollande is on course to succeed the late Mr Mitterrand as France's first Socialist President in 24 years, and the quiet man of French politics is finding it increasingly hard to conceal his glee.

Riding high in the polls ahead of Sunday's first round vote, France's self-styled Mr Normal told a crowd of 12,000 in Bordeaux at his final rally: "Nicolas Sarkozy said he could see a wave rising. For once he was right. The wave's coming; it's high, its strong, and it's going to smack him in the face".

"François President, we're going to win," the crowd chanted back. » | Henry Samuel, Bordeaux | Friday, April 20, 2012

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy is a victim of his own courage: The president should be applauded for his courage, hard work, plain-speaking and his love for France. » | Anne-Elisabeth Moutet | Friday, April 20, 2012

THE WASHINGTON POST: French prez race all about emotion: Fear of finance and Islam, anger at Sarkozy and the rich: PARIS — Like Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy swept to power on a wave of hope for change. Sarkozy’s wave crashed on the global financial crisis and his own failings. On Sunday, the French leader faces a tough fight against nine challengers in presidential elections awash in fear and anger. » | Associated Press | Friday, April 20, 2012

A Look Back at The Queen's Life as She Turns 86
As Queen Elizabeth II marks her birthday on Saturday April 21, the Telegraph takes a look back at Her Majesty's 86 years.
Read the article here | Friday, April 20, 2012
A note to our non-English visitors: The word ‘sixth’ is pronounced ‘siXth’ in English, not ‘siKth’, as it is pronounced in this video. It appears to be an ever-increasing practice in England these days to MIS-pronounce that word. – Mark

Céline Dion & Andrea Bocelli: The Prayer (Live In Boston Taking Chances Tour 2008)

Please don’t forget to view the video full screen. It’s quite spectacular!

As Ina Garten would say: “How fabulous is that?”!

'God Hates Signs' - Gay Rights Protesters' Placards
There are two ways to get your placard noticed at a gay rights protest: be cute or be funny

To the photo gallery » | Hannah Booth | Friday, April 20, 2012