Merkel refuse à Hollande toute «réorientation de l'UE»

La chancelière Angela Merkel.

LE FIGARO: La capacité du gouvernement Hollande à redresser la situation économique en France suscite toujours autant d'inquiétude outre-Rhin.

C'est une question à laquelle Angela Merkel a déjà répondu. Pour la chancelière, il n'y a pas de raison de changer d'avis. Pourtant, dans son allocution lundi soir, François Hollande a une nouvelle fois plaidé pour une «réorientation de l'Europe». Il l'avait déjà promis durant sa campagne présidentielle, sans parvenir, une fois élu, à modifier en profondeur le cours des politiques de l'Union européenne. Angela Merkel n'avait, elle, consenti qu'à colorer son discours en y ajoutant des références à la croissance et à l'emploi. Mais il n'était pas question pour elle de changer de point de vue sur les instruments pour y parvenir: assainissement des comptes publics et réformes structurelles. Mardi soir à Bruxelles, pour la rencontre informelle des chefs d'État et de gouvernement de l'UE, elle ne devait pas atténuer ses positions. » | Par Nicolas Barotte | mercredi 28 mai 2014

A Real National Front: The French Far Right Aims High

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: After its triumph in European elections on Sunday, the French far-right Front National is hoping to increase its power back home, with Marine Le Pen aiming for the presidency in 2017. With François Hollande's popularity plummeting, it is not out of the question.

Marine Le Pen shed tears of joy after her triumph in European Parliament elections on Sunday. When she arrived after midnight at a Parisian night club for the victory celebration with her fellow party members, the head of the far-right Front National (FN) embraced fans and family before letting the champagne flow. Marine's father Jean-Marie, who was re-elected to the EU body for the seventh time, was also on hand to congratulate his daughter. "It was a historic victory," he said.

By Monday morning, the emotional evening had already been forgotten and strategists were once again busy at work at the party's headquarters in Nanterre. Until Sunday's election, the Front National had occupied but three seats in European Parliament -- one each for Marine, her father and his political companion Bruno Gollnisch -- and had led a largely unnoticed existence on the political fringes in Brussels. Now, though, the party's caucus will grow by 21 representatives.

After pulling in a triumphant 25 percent of the vote, the Front National will now have the largest number of seats of any French political party in the European Parliament. Marine Le Pen has every intention of using the party's presence at parliament's headquarters in Strasbourg and Brussels for political gain. Some within the far-right in France are already considering their political futures -- all the way up to the presidential palace in Paris. » | Stefan Simons in Paris | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Triumph für Marine Le Pen: Frankreich im Schockzustand » | Von Stefan Simons, Paris | Montag, 26. Mai 2014

D-Day-Jahrestag: Hollande lädt Putin in den Elysée

Präsident Putin: Hat seine Teilnahme an der Gedenkfeier
zum D-Day in der Normandie zugesagt

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Frankreichs Präsident will seinen russischen Amtskollegen im Elysée-Palast empfangen. Wladimir Putin reist zum 70. Jahrestag des D-Day nach Paris, am Abend zuvor wird er mit François Hollande über die Ukraine-Krise sprechen.

Moskau - Frankreichs Präsident hatte sich bereits für eine Teilnahme von Wladimir Putin an den Feierlichkeiten zum 70. Jahrestag der Landung der Alliierten in der Normandie stark gemacht. Nun will François Hollande seinen russischen Amtskollegen auch im Elysée-Palast in Paris empfangen. Thema der Gespräche: die Ukraine-Krise.

Am 5. Juni, also am Abend vor dem D-Day-Jahrestag, werden Putin und Hollande aufeinandertreffen. Das bestätigte der Kreml. Es wird Putins erstes Treffen mit der Führung eines westlichen Staats sein, seit Russland die Krim annektiert hat. » | vek/Reuters | Mittwoch, 28. Mai 2014

We Need Nick Clegg – Demanding His Resignation Is Absurd

'Nick Clegg and his colleagues in the coalition have been blamed
for many of its actions, even those they privately opposed.'

THE GUARDIAN: The Liberal Democrats are lucky to have such an able and committed leader – and one with a lot to be proud of

Nick Clegg has been a principled, honourable and brave leader of the Liberal Democrats. He has borne criticism, even insult and abuse, with remarkable grace, maintaining a political position based on reason and on strongly held values. Such politicians are rare. It would be absurd to demand his resignation now because some parliamentary candidates think that bowing to a populist anti-Europe campaign would somehow win their seats for them. As for polling in four seats reported today by the Guardian, the survey was conducted throughout April, undermining its credibility – and was clearly commissioned and leaked for political purposes. » | Shirley Williams | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Rupert Murdoch Paper Prints Picture of Duchess of Cambridge's Bare Bottom

A Rupert Murdoch paper has followed German tabloid Bild in
publishing photos of the Duchess of Cambridge's bare bottom
snapped on her Australian tour with Prince William.

THE GUARDIAN: Sydney Daily Telegraph criticises 'ridiculous' UK media ban as it follows German tabloid Bild in printing controversial image

One of Rupert Murdoch's Australian newspapers has published a picture showing the Duchess of Cambridge's bare bottom, refusing to follow a "ridiculous" ban imposed by the British media.

The image was taken during the royal couple's tour of Australia in April when they showed off their infant son George, and was run in the Sydney Daily Telegraph a day after it appeared in German tabloid Bild, which declared she had a "beautiful bum".

It shows the Duchess of Cambridge's blue and white summer dress lifted by a gust of wind when the royal couple got out of a helicopter in the Blue Mountains, 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Sydney.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph said British newspapers had refused to run the photo out of respect to the royals, but in a comment piece said this was "an antiquated code of etiquette" under the headline "My bare lady: Derri-heir to the throne is fair game."

"It seems a bit ridiculous to expect the rest of the world's media to follow suit, particularly in a world in which flesh and commercialism go hand in hand," said Telegraph social writer Annette Sharp.

"If the duchess can't be bothered protecting herself by having hem weights sewn into her garments, why should the media protect her?" Read on and comment » | Agence France-Presse | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

THE SYDNEY DAILY TELEGRAPH: Why should the media stick to an antiquated code of etiquette when Kate doesn’t bother to protect her own modesty? » | Annette Sharp | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Danke für dieses arschgeile Wochenende! »

Zeman: Islam Is to Blame for Attack on Jewish Museum in Brussels

Miloš Zeman, Czech President

PRAGUE POST: Czech president says he condemns any group that targets another based on religion

Prague, May 27 (ČTK) — Islamic ideology rather than individual groups of religious fundamentalists is behind violent actions similar to the gun attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels that killed four people, Czech President Miloš Zeman said Monday at the Israeli Embassy in Prague.

Two Israeli tourists and a member of the museum staff were killed by an unknown shooter Saturday, and another staff member died of his injuries Sunday.

Zeman's speech sharply condemning "the hideous attack" was posted on his official website today. Zeman took part in the celebration of the 66 years of independence of Israel.

"I will not be calmed down by statements that it is only small marginal groups. I believe, on the contrary, that this xenophobia and this racism or anti-Semitism stem from the very nature of the ideology on which these fanatical groups rely," Zeman said.

He said one of the sacred texts of Islam calls for the killing of Jews. » | Czech News Agency | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

WND Exclusive: ’Moderate’ Muslims Back Death for ‘Gays’

'Peace' conference speaker finds audience affirms Islamic-law punishments

Read the WND article here | Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Edward Snowden: I Was a Trained Spy, Not Just a Computer Analyst

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, former NSA Contractor Edward Snowden says he was much more than a low-level systems administrator

Read the short Telegraph article here
NBC News Releases Clip From Brian Williams’ Interview With Edward Snowden »

NBC NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: Edward Snowden Tells Brian Williams: ‘I Was Trained as a Spy’ » | Erin McClam

Auction Houses Fear Offending Middle Eastern Art Collectors With Nude Paintings

Modigliani's 'Romanian Beauty' and Lucien Freud's portrait
of a naked and pregnant Kate Moss

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Auction houses are thinking twice about offering nudes to some of their clientele for fear of offending collectors from Middle Eastern galleries and museums, experts say

It has been a staple of the art world for centuries, but it appears auction houses are thinking twice about offering nudes to their clientele for fear of causing offence.

Dealers and auctioneers are having to be mindful of the works they show to collectors from newer Middle Eastern galleries and museums, who are unable to put explicit or realistic-looking nudes on their walls.

One expert, from Sotheby's auction house, said the emerging market of the Middle East meant it was now important to consider how offensive a nude painting is before offering it.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, senior director Philip Hook said the level of nudity in a painting is a "new factor" auction houses will consider, with some works just not "permissible" in certain areas.

A spokeswoman for Christie's confirmed they too were careful about the type of paintings offered to Middle Eastern collectors, respecting their religious and cultural beliefs. Read on and comment » | Hannah Furness, Arts Correspondent | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Capitalism Is Doomed If Ethics Vanish, Says Bank of England Governor

'We simply cannot take the capitalist system for granted,' says Carney.

THE GUARDIAN: Mark Carney issues strong critique of City behaviour and warns of growing sense that basic social contract is breaking down

Capitalism is at risk of destroying itself unless bankers realise they have an obligation to create a fairer society, the Bank of England governor has warned.

Mark Carney said bankers had operated a "heads-I-win-tails-you-lose" system. He questioned whether traders met ethical standards and said that those who failed to meet high professional standards should face ostracism.

Speaking at a City conference, the Bank's governor warned that there was a growing sense that the basic social contract at the heart of capitalism was breaking down amid rising inequality. "We simply cannot take the capitalist system, which produces such plenty and so many solutions, for granted. Prosperity requires not just investment in economic capital, but investment in social capital."

In a strongly worded critique of City behaviour in the run-up to the financial crisis, Carney said market radicalism and light-touch regulation had eroded fair capitalism, while scandals such as the rigging of Libor markets had undermined trust in the financial system.

"Just as any revolution eats its children, unchecked market fundamentalism can devour the social capital essential for the long-term dynamism of capitalism itself. To counteract this tendency, individuals and their firms must have a sense of their responsibilities for the broader system."

Carney told delegates at a conference on inclusive capitalism in London – which was attended by the former US president Bill Clinton – that big banks had operated in a "heads-I-win-tails-you-lose bubble", with personal gain hotly pursued by bankers. » | Angela Monaghan | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Le leader de l'Ukip lance la bataille pour sortir de l'UE

Le chef de l'Ukip Nigel Farage, généralissime d'un parti
considéré hier encore comme marginal.

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Le chef de l'Ukip Nigel Farage, féru d'histoire militaire, a la métaphore guerrière pour célébrer son assaut victorieux aux Européennes et son projet de conquête du parlement de Westminster.

«Vous n'en avez pas fini avec nous», a lancé, triomphant au cœur de la nuit de dimanche à lundi, le chef de l'Ukip Nigel Farage, généralissime d'un parti considéré hier encore comme marginal, avec ses 36'000 adhérents. Les médias britanniques généralement hostiles évoquent des troupes «aux tempes grises», constituées majoritairement de quinquagénaires.

Mais le but de guerre ultime de l'«armée populaire» constituée par Nigel Farage est de sortir le Royaume-Uni de l'Union européenne. » | mardi 27 mai 2014

Pakistan : une jeune femme lapidée pour avoir fait un mariage d'amour

LE POINT: Opposée à ces noces, les membres de la famille ont porté plainte pour "kidnapping". Mais, à l'arrivée au tribunal, ils ont ouvert le feu.

Farzana Iqbal, une Pakistanaise âgée de 25 ans, s'était mariée récemment par amour et avait ainsi défié sa famille dans un pays où les mariages forcés demeurent la norme. Enceinte de trois mois, elle a été lapidée à mort mardi, dans le centre d'une grande ville du pays, par des membres de sa propre famille opposés à son mariage. Furieuse, la famille avait porté plainte pour "kidnapping" contre le Roméo de cette Juliette pakistanaise qui s'est présentée mardi à la cour de Lahore (est) où elle devait "dire au juge qu'elle s'était mariée par choix", selon son avocat, Rao Mohammad Kharal. » | Source AFP | mardi 27 mai 2014

Frankreichs Wahlsieger: Schäuble nennt Front National "faschistisch"

Bundesfinanzminister Schäuble: "Wir alle müssen uns fragen, was wir besser machen können"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Das wird vielen in Frankreich nicht passen: Nach dem Erfolg des Front National hat der deutsche Finanzminister Schäuble die Partei als "faschistisch" bezeichnet.

Berlin/Paris - In Frankreich sitzt der Schock tief - und auch im benachbarten Ausland wurde der Erfolg des rechtsextremen Front National (FN) bei der Wahl zum Europaparlament mit Schrecken registriert. Der deutsche Bundesfinanzminister Wolfgang Schäuble sagte am Dienstag auf einer Konferenz in Berlin, ein Viertel der Franzosen habe "für eine faschistische, extremistische Partei gestimmt".

Die von Marine Le Pen geführte fremdenfeindliche Partei strebt den Austritt des Landes aus EU und Euro-Zone an. Das Ergebnis der Europa-Wahl gilt als schwere Schlappe für Staatschef François Hollande, dessen Sozialisten abgeschlagen hinter dem FN (rund 25 Prozent der Stimmen) und den Konservativen auf dem dritten Platz landeten. » | jok/dpa/AFP | Dienstag, 27. Mai 2014

Archbishop of Canterbury Arrives in Pakistan to Support Embattled Christians

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Religious minority has suffered blasphemy accusations, terrorists attacks and forced conversions as persecution increases

The Archbishop of Canterbury has arrived in Pakistan to show his backing for the country’s persecuted Christian minority and to ask Muslim leaders for help in building better relations.

The Most Rev Justin Welby is due to meet politicians as well as bishops from the Church of Pakistan before travelling to Bangladesh and India.

The trip, conducted amid tight security, is part of a promise to meet leaders of the Anglican community as early as possible after taking up office and comes as Christians in some parts of the developing world suffer attacks at the hands of Islamist groups.

Xavier William, of Life for All Ministries who is due to meet the archbishop on Wednesday, said the visit was a source of comfort at a time when Pakistan’s Christian community - and other religious minorities – faced unprecedented pressure.

“We are seeing that persecution of Christians has got worse here in recent years,” he said. » | Rob Crilly, Islamabad | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Sudanese Woman Sentenced to Death for Apostasy Gives Birth

Meriam Ibrahim and husband Daniel Wani

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman awaiting the death penalty for refusing to convert to Islam, has given birth to a baby girl

The Sudanese woman who has been sentenced to hang for refusing to renounce Christianity has given birth to a baby girl named Maya, her lawyers told The Telegraph.

Meriam Ibrahim, 27, gave birth to the girl – her second child – in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in the hospital wing of the prison.

"They didn't even take Meriam to a hospital - she just delivered inside a prison clinic," As Elshareef Ali Elshareef Mohammed, her lawyer, told The Telegraph.

"But neither her husband nor I have been allowed to see them yet."

Mr Elshareef said he and Daniel Wani, Ms Ibrahim's husband, were still waiting outside the prison at 2pm in Khartoum (12.00 in the UK). » | Harriet Alexander | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Who, What, Why: What Language Would Jesus Have Spoken?

BBC: Israel's prime minister has verbally sparred with the Pope over which language Christ might have spoken. Several languages were used in the places where Jesus lived - so which would he have known, asks Tom de Castella.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Pope Francis appeared to have a momentary disagreement. "Jesus was here, in this land. He spoke Hebrew," Netanyahu told the Pope at a public meeting in Jerusalem. "Aramaic," interjected the Pope. "He spoke Aramaic, but he knew Hebrew," Netanyahu shot back.

It's broadly accepted that Jesus existed, although the historicity of the events of his life is still hotly debated. But language historians can shed light on what language a carpenter's son from Galilee who became a spiritual leader would have spoken. » | Who, What, Why, BBC News Magazine | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Scotland 'Becoming More Ethnically Diverse'

BBC: Scotland is becoming more ethnically diverse, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity, co-hosted by the universities of Glasgow and Manchester, analysed recent censuses in Scotland.

They found that one in six Scottish households, which contain two or more people, is now multi-ethnic.

The 2011 census contained 850,000 people who were not identified as being "white Scottish", however, almost half of these were "white: other British".

This category of ethnicity numbered 417,000, up 10% in the decade to 2011, with about three-quarters of these being born in England.

Other minority groups have seen "considerable increases" in size, according to researchers, including the African, Chinese, Pakistani and Indian populations. » | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Vince Cable Accused of Plot to Oust Nick Clegg

Lib Dems say Nick Clegg is 'toxic' on the doorstep due to
decisions on policies such as tuition fees

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Supporters of the Deputy Prime Minister claim the Business Secretary's team commissioned polls designed to encourage Lib Dems to ditch Nick Clegg as leader

Nick Clegg’s allies have accused supporters of Vince Cable of plotting to undermine the Deputy Prime Minister’s position as Liberal Democrat leader.

Supporters of Mr Clegg have said that the Business Secretary’s team is responsible for commissioning opinion polls that suggest the Lib Dems will do better at the general election if they get rid of Mr Clegg.

Senior ministers close to Mr Clegg are also demanding that ICM Research, the polling firm that conducted the surveys, reveals who paid for the work.

The Lib Dem row over the polling comes as Mr Clegg faces calls for his resignation over the party’s dismal performance in the European elections, where the Lib Dems were beaten by the Greens and lost all but one of their MEPs.

Some Lib Dem MPs and candidates believe the party needs to remove Mr Clegg to improve its chances in next year’s general election. » James Kirkup, Political Editor | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Tony Blair Urges Labour to Take On Ukip over Immigration and EU

Tony Blair says an anti-immigration platform would confuse
Labour supporters.

THE GUARDIAN: Former leader says Ed Miliband will not gain anything if he tries to follow 'nasty and unpleasant' party led by Nigel Farage

Tony Blair has urged the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, and the rest of the mainstream political class to take on and confront Ukip, saying it would only confuse Labour's own supporters if it now ran on an anti-immigration platform.

He also urged Miliband to stay put on the issue of an in/out EU referendum, saying that yielding to the pressure of Ukip had not done the Conservative party any good to date.

Behind the Ukip facade was something pretty nasty and unpleasant, Blair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The former Labour leader said: "For the Labour party, if it tries to follow Ukip either on its anti-European platform or, even worse frankly, on its anti-immigrant platform, all that will happen is that it will confuse its own supporters and will not draw any greater support."

Miliband has repeatedly apologised for Labour's lenient approach to immigration in the past, saying it had not understood enough about the downsides of globalisation for working-class communities. Read on and comment » | Patrick Wintour, political editor | Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Malaysian Muslim Groups Call for Jihad on Cadbury after Pork Traces Found in Chocolate

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic groups angry at Cadbury Malaysia after two batches found to contain pork DNA

Muslim groups are calling for a boycott of Cadbury after two of its products sold in predominately Islamic Malaysia were found to contain traces of pork.

The discovery was made during a periodic check for non-halal ingredients in food products by the country's Ministry of Health, which confirmed porcine DNA traces in bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond.

Cadbury Malaysia, like most food makers in the country where Muslims make up more than 60 per cent of the population, has all of its products certified halal to conform with Islam's dietary restrictions, one of which is a prohibition on pork. » | Josie Ensor | Tuesday, May 27, 2014