Autriche: L’idéologie pangermaniste de Barbara Rosenkranz
LE TEMPS: La candidate du FPÖ se présente à la présidentielle dimanche en Autriche

La voix est posée, presque fluette. Chevelure d’argent, regard clair, Barbara Rosenkranz parcourt les campagnes et les villes d’Autriche depuis deux mois, vêtue d’une Trachten (robe traditionnelle), martelant son credo d’une «politique familiale» refondée. Sous des abords de femme au foyer sans histoires, Barbara Rosenkranz, candidate à l’élection présidentielle ce ­dimanche, paraîtrait presque inoffensive. Depuis deux mois, pourtant, toute l’Autriche tremble devant cette élue du Parti de la liberté (FPÖ, extrême droite), apôtre d’une idéologie pangermaniste de sombre mémoire.

A 51 ans, «Frau Rosenkranz» règne sur une impressionnante tribu de dix enfants, tous affublés d’un prénom issu de la mythologie germanique: Hedda, Horst, Arne, Mechthild, Hildrun, Volker, Sonnhild, Alwine, Ute et Wolf. Avec son mari Horst, elle met un point d’honneur à organiser tous les ans la «fête du solstice d’été», vieille tradition païenne héritée du national-socialisme et célébrant les «familles saines, fortes et nombreuses». Son époux dirige une revue, Fakten, qui fait la part belle aux négationnistes et dénonce pêle-mêle «les Turcs, les Tchétchènes, les Asiatiques, les Tziganes et les nègres». >>> Maurin Picard | Samedi 24 Avril 2010

General Election 2010: Rise of the English Democrats

BNP Launches Election Manifesto

British Lapdog Gets Ready to Be Set Loose

John Paulson's Donations to Carla Bruni Could Embarrass Nicolas Sarkozy
THE TELEGRAPH: French president Nicolas Sarkozy faced potential embarrassment on Friday after it emerged that the most generous donor to his wife's charitable foundation was John Paulson – the man whose hedge fund is at the heart of the US government's case against Goldman Sachs.

Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni. Photo: The Telegraph
The US investment bank is accused of defrauding investors by failing to say that Mr Paulson, a prominent hedge fund manager, bet against a Goldman sub-prime debt product that he helped design.

Mr Paulson correctly bet that the US housing bubble would burst, reaping a £10bn profit for his Paulson & Co hedge fund in 2007. The speculator banked a £2.4bn bonus that year in one of the largest payouts in the history of corporate America.

It transpires that Mr Paulson and his wife, Jenny, pledged to donate €500,000 (£435,000) to Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy's foundation "every year for three years". >>> Henry Samuel, in Paris | Friday, April 23, 2010

Austria's 'Reich Mother' Poised to Return Far-Right to Prominence
THE TELEGRAPH: A far-Right politician whose support for Holocaust deniers and 10 children have earned her the nickname “Reich Mother” is poised to take her Freedom Party to second place in Austria’s presidential race on Sunday.

Campaigning on an anti-immigrant, anti-Islam, anti-feminist ticket, Barbara Rosenkranz, 51, is poised to pave the way for her party to return to its glory days a decade ago under Jörg Haider, the popular and charismatic leader who died in a car crash in 2008.

Mrs Rosenkranz has shocked Austria by calling for the country’s Holocaust denial laws to be repealed. She later signed a statement distancing herself from Nazism.

Germany’s Central Council of Jews has described Mrs Rosenkranz’s position as the main electoral challenger to Heinz Fischer, 71, the Austrian president, as part of a “terrifying shift to the Right” across Europe, following recent gains for far-Right parties in Hungary and France over the last two months.

Earlier this month, the far-Right took more parliamentary seats in neighbouring Hungary’s national elections than at any time since the Second World War and French regional elections last month saw an electoral revival for the National Front. In June, Dutch elections could propel Geert Wilders, whose anti-Islamic, hard-Right Freedom Party leads the polls, into power.

While the role of president in Austria is largely symbolic, it still has significant moral influence, and Mrs Rosenkranz’s personal background and political views have polarised the campaign.

Her husband, Horst, with whom she has had six daughters and four sons, publishes an extremist magazine, raises funds for imprisoned neo-Nazis, and was a member of a neo-Nazi party banned under the Holocaust denial legislation. >>> Phil Cain in Graz | Friday, April 23, 2010

Dramatische Austrittswelle: Missbrauchsskandal treibt Katholiken aus Kirche
WELT ONLINE: Deutsche Katholiken reagieren mit einer dramatischen Austrittswelle auf den Missbrauchsskandal in ihrer Kirche. In Bistümern sowie bei Standesämtern haben sich die Austrittszahlen vielerorts stark erhöht. Die Fluchtbewegung ist dort am stärksten, wo der Katholizismus besonders tief verwurzelt ist. >>> dpa/omi | Samstag, 24. April 2010

ZEIT ONLINE: Missbrauchsskandale – Katholiken treten in Scharen aus der Kirche aus: Die Katholische Kirche erlebt eine Austrittswelle: Wegen der Skandale haben sich die Zahlen in vielen Gemeinden vervielfacht. >>> Zeit Online, dpa | Samstag, 24. April 2010

Europe : L’extrême droite s’enracine
Manifestation de partisans du Front national à Paris. Photo : Le Temps
LE TEMPS: A la présidentielle en Autriche et aux législatives hongroises ce dimanche, des candidats ostensiblement racistes sont en lice. Crise économique, globalisation effrénée, tour d’ivoire bruxelloise… Les électeurs européens sont-ils de plus en plus réceptifs aux plaidoyers de la droite de la droite?

On a parlé d’une vague verte déferlant sur l’Italie. Pour la première fois en mars, la Ligue du Nord a enlevé deux régions. Peu avant en France, le Front national (FN) est sorti de son purgatoire en frôlant 12% des voix au premier tour des régionales. En Hongrie, grâce à sa percée spectaculaire au premier tour des législatives (16,7%), le Jobbik, un parti raciste, entrera au parlement. Le second tour se joue ce dimanche, comme la présidentielle en Autriche, qui oppose le grand favori, le sortant Heinz Fischer, à Rudolf Gehring, un contempteur de minarets, et à Barbara Rosenkranz, candidate du FPÖ ostensiblement antisémite (lire ci-dessous).

On pourrait multiplier les exemples. Ainsi, le British National Party (BNP) de Nick Griffin rêve de décrocher un ou deux strapontins à la Chambre des communes le 6 mai. Au Pays-Bas, le populiste Geert Wilders est assuré de connaître un moment de gloire aux législatives de juin. Crise économique, globalisation effrénée, tour d’ivoire bruxelloise… Les électeurs européens sont-ils de plus en plus réceptifs aux plaidoyers de la droite de la droite? «Les idées du FN progressent partout en Europe et même hors d’Europe», assure Bruno Gollnish, candidat à la succession de Jean-Marie Le Pen à la tête du FN. Selon lui, «un nombre croissant d’Européens réalisent que leurs pays sont privés de la souveraineté, qui est à la Nation ce que la liberté est à la personne. Ils constatent aussi qu’avec la libre circulation, l’immigration devient de plus en plus incontrôlable et substitue des populations à d’autres dans une espèce de brassage universel.» >>> Angélique Mounier-Kuhn | Vendredi 23 Avril 2010

Financial Crisis Has Created Fertile Ground for the Far Right in Europe
TIMES ONLINE: The far Right is notching up astonishing ballot box victories across Europe. The financial crisis has created a sense of victimhood and a need, it seems, for parties that use nationalist rhetoric to criticise globalisation — and which are prepared to offer up scapegoats.

From Geert Wilders in the Netherlands to Umberto Bossi in northern Italy; from Hungary’s Viktor Orban to Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front in France, strong personalities are coming foward to exploit the mood. They use terms that were once monopolised by the Left — community, social cohesion, solidarity — but, overwhelmingly, they are concerned with the politics of fear; fear of the outsider.

The far-Right grouping Jobbik did well in the Hungarian elections because it appealled to an almost tribal reflex. Hungarians were worried that funds were running out, that the welfare system was beginning to crack, that there was not enough to go round. Jobbik blamed the Gypsies and won seats in parliament. And its rhetorical drum beat, drawn from centuries of central European anti-Semitism, suggested that a cosmopolitan global plot was making nonsense of the toil of honest Hungarians. >>> Roger Boyes: Commentary | Saturday, April 24, 2010

U.S.’s Toughest Immigration Bill Is Signed in Arizona
Protesters recited the Pledge of Allegiance as groups rallied against the immigration bill in front of the Arizona State Capitol Building on Friday. Photograph: The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the toughest illegal immigration law in the country on Friday, aimed at identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants. The governor’s move unleashed immediate protests and reignited the divisive battle over immigration reform nationally.

Even before Governor Brewer signed the law at a 4:30 p.m. news conference here, President Obama strongly criticized it.

Speaking at a naturalization ceremony for 24 active-duty service members in the Rose Garden, Mr. Obama called for a federal overhaul of immigration laws — an overhaul that Congressional leaders signaled they were preparing to take up soon.

He said the failure of officials in Washington to act on immigration would open the door to “irresponsibility by others.” He said the Arizona bill threatened “to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and our communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe.”

The law, which opponents and critics alike said was the broadest and strictest immigration measure in the country in generations, would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime. It would also give the police broad power to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Opponents have decried it as an open invitation for harassment and discrimination against Hispanics regardless of their citizenship status. >>> Randal C. Archibold | Friday, April 23, 2010

Welcome to Smokebook: Big Tobacco Subverts Ban
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: TOBACCO giants are using Facebook to subvert bans and international conventions against cigarette advertising, a study by University of Sydney researchers published in the British Medical Journal has found.

''We have gathered here to pay homage to Lucky Strike, the bestest cigarette in the whole widest world,'' says one Facebook page administered by an employee of the tobacco company RJ Reynolds highlighted by the study.

Other Lucky Strike pages, one with tens of thousands of members, had images of old and new tobacco ads and various Lucky Strike tobacco products and merchandise. The report also found employees of British American Tobacco Australia had established similar pages.

In a statement BAT Australia's managing director, David Crow, said: ''It's absolutely not our policy to use social networking sites such as Facebook to promote our tobacco product brands. To do so could breach local advertising laws.

''Our rules mean that employees should not post branded material on social networking sites, blog sites, chat forums or other 'user-generated content' sites such as YouTube - whatever the intention in posting the material may be.''

The statement said ''if we find group employees have posted material that they shouldn't, perhaps out of naivety, we will be telling them to remove it''. >>> Nick O’Malley Investigations | Saturday, April 24, 2010

Dozens Killed in Baghdad in 'Revenge al-Qaeda Attacks'
BBC: A wave of bombings in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 58 people and wounded more than 100.

Most of the attacks occurred near Shia mosques during Friday prayers. At least two went off near the offices of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr.

A top official blamed al-Qaeda, which in the past has targeted Shia areas.

He said the bombing had been carried out in revenge for the recent killing of three senior al-Qaeda leaders by security forces.

There were at least six bombings in Baghdad on Friday, with some reports putting the total at 13.

The targets included mosques and a market, as well as Mr Sadr's offices in the mainly Shia area of Sadr City. Read on (with video) >>> | Friday, April 23, 2010

Roger Vangheluwe, Bishop of Bruges, Resigns Over Child Sex Abuse
TIMES ONLINE: A senior Catholic bishop has resigned after admitting to sexually abusing a child. He is the latest and most senior cleric to stand down in the crisis engulfing the church.

Roger Vangheluwe, Belgium’s longest-serving bishop, said that he was “enormously sorry” for the “wound” he had inflicted on a young boy about 25 years ago.

“When I was not a bishop, and some time later, I abused a boy,” he said in a statement. “This has marked the victim forever. The wound does not heal. Neither in me nor the victim,” he said.

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the bishop’s resignation, which is the first among senior clerics since the crisis over paedophile priests began. >>> Joanna Sugden | Friday, April 23, 2010

So When Will British Politicians Find Their Balls? Nicolas Sarkozy Ally 'Received Death Threats' Over Muslim Veil Ban
THE TELEGRAPH: A French conservative politician at the forefront of a campaign for a full ban on Islamic veils has been placed under police protection after reportedly receiving death threats.

Jean-François Copé, who leads the parliamentary group of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, has had a security officer accompanying him since January, it emerged on Friday.

Mr Copé submitted a proposed bill on banning the veil in public in January, on grounds of security and women's equality. On Wednesday, the government announced its intention to push through a full ban as early as this summer.

Mr Sarkozy, who has said that full veils oppress women, chose to defy France's highest administrative body, which says a full ban could be declared unconstitutional.

In a sign the French are already clamping down on the wearing of the garment, it emerged on Friday that a woman driver wearing an Islamic face veil had been fined 22 euros (£20) by French police for not having a clear field of vision.

Traffic police in the western city of Nantes fined the 31-year-old woman in early April. >>> Henry Samuel in Paris | Friday, April 23, 2010

Hypocrisy! Nick Clegg Interview - On the Smoking Ban and Drug Policy

The Leaders On the Pope’s Visit


THE TELEGRAPH – BLOG: Pope Benedict XVI floored the party leaders during the Sky debate. What will they do when he’s really here? >>> Will Heaven | Friday, April 23, 2010

Infographie : Les différents types de voile musulman
Pour les voir, cliquez ici >>> LeMonde.fr | Mercredi 24 Juin 2009

France’s Model Muslim: 'Imam for Peace' Sows Discontent
Hassen Chalghoumi. Photograph: Spiegel Online International
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: What happens when a Muslim cleric embraces the values of the West? In France, President Sarkozy is using the teachings of one imam for his own purposes. Hassen Chalghoumi, who has backed calls for a burqa ban, now faces threats from his own community.

Hassen Chalghoumi is the best-known imam in France and easily the most controversial, even though he preaches peace instead of hate. Police cars are stationed in front of his mosque during Friday prayers, and he has two bodyguards with him at all times when he goes out in public. Sometimes, when it all becomes too much for him, he takes his wife and their five children and goes away for a week or two, in the hope that all the excitement over him and the ideas he preaches will calm down again,. But the tactic hasn't worked so far, because the whole thing flares up again as soon as he returns home. Chalghoumi has led a hectic life in recent weeks.

There are 5 million Muslims in France, although there could even be as many as 8 million, no one knows for sure. Some have been there for a long time while others are recent immigrants. Within this population, there are believed to be 1,400 women who wear either the large full-body veil, the burqa, in black or blue, or the niqab, the full veil that covers the face apart from the eyes, although that number could also be as low as 400. In any case, Chalghoumi dared to publicly condemn the wearing of the full veil, and he welcomed the idea of outlawing it -- something that may have been ill-advised.

Chalghoumi's is a man who doesn't reveal much about himself, while others seem to think that they know everything about him. What is indisputable is that he was born in Tunis in 1972, immigrated to France in 1996 and became a French citizen in 2000, or perhaps it wasn't until two years later. Sometimes Chalghoumi contradicts himself, or he doesn't remember the details correctly, or he is quoted out of context. It isn't easy to figure him out, but it is easy to like him. He is a gentle person, a man with the grace of a professional dancer. Journey Into a Different World >>> Ullrich Fichtner, Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan |Friday, April 23, 2010

Nick Clegg: Faith Schools Should Teach Children That Homosexuality Is ‘Normal’
THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has said that children attending faith schools should be taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless".

In a pitch for the “pink vote,” he called on all the parties to prove that they supported full equality for homosexuals, and accused David Cameron, the Conservative leader, of being untrustworthy on the issue.

The Liberal Democrats support measures forcing teachers, including those working in faith schools, to implement policies to combat homophobic bullying, with lessons teaching that same-sex relationships are “normal”.

Mr Clegg said: “Crucially faith schools should have a requirement to have an anti-homophobic bullying policy at their school.”

In an interview with Attitude magazine, the Liberal Democrat leader also called for lesbians and homosexual men who have undergone a civil partnership ceremony to be given the formal and symbolic status of a “married” couple.

Rules which bar homosexual men from giving blood should be scrapped, and refugees who flee persecution on the grounds of their sexuality should receive an automatic right of asylum in the United Kingdom. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Greece Calls for Activation of Financial Rescue Package
Prime Minister George Papandreou announces in a televised address on Friday from the island of Kastelorizo that Greece has requested international bailout funds. Photograph: The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: ATHENS — Describing his country’s economy as “a sinking ship,” the Greek prime minister formally requested an international bailout on Friday, an unprecedented step that will test the bonds of the European Union.

In a nationally televised address, Prime Minister George Papandreou said two waves of austerity measures introduced by the government over the past few months “had failed to convince the markets” that Greece would get its finances under control or be able to avert defaulting on a mountain of debt.

“There is the risk of the sacrifices of the Greek people being lost as rates of borrowing continue to rise,” he said, speaking from the Aegean island of Kastellorizo.

“The time has come for us to ask our partners in the E.U. to activate the mechanism we formulated together,” he said, referring to an emergency aid package arranged two weeks ago. The plan foresees up to €30 billion, or $40 billion, in loans from Greece’s euro-zone partners, as well as up to €15 billion from the International Monetary Fund.

The activation of the E.U.-I.M.F. rescue plan, Mr. Papandreou said, “will send a strong message to the markets that the E.U. is not playing their game and will not leave its currency at risk.”

The announcement means that funding from the I.M.F. can be expedited once the board of the fund has approved the terms. The fund is expected to provide €12 billion, according to E.U. officials.

“We are prepared to move expeditiously on this request,” Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the I.M.F. managing director, said in a statement issued in Washington. >>> Niki Kitsantonis and Matthew Saltmarsh | Friday, April 23, 2010

Obama Slams Wall Street in Push for More Regulation
MAIL ONLINE: President Barack Obama rebuked fat cat executives for shady dealings as he pushed last night for sweeping reforms to stop another financial meltdown.

Without laws imposing stronger scrutiny of the financial industry America is doomed to repeat the past, the Presidents believes.

In a speech today at New York's Cooper Union college, near Wall Street, Mr Obama was outlining the need for new financial regulations and explaining what the nation would be risking if the existing framework is allowed to remain in place unchanged.

Echoing remarks he made in the same place two years ago, he said: 'A free market was never meant to be a free licence to take whatever you can get, however you can get it.

'That is what happened too often in the years leading up to the crisis. 'A free market was never meant to be a free licence to take what you can get': Obama slams Wall St in push for more regulation >>> Mail Foreign Service | Friday, April 23, 2010

Roman Polanski Loses Bid to Be [sic] Avoid Extradition
TIMES ONLINE: Oscar-winning film director Roman Polanski has lost his latest bid to be sentenced while outside the United States for having unlawful sex with a minor more than three decades ago.

Affirming the decision of a Los Angeles judge in January, a state appeals court ruled Polanski must return to California before he can be sentenced and bring his 33-year-long legal saga to a close.

The decision clears the way for Swiss authorities to extradite the 78-year-old fugitive filmmaker to the US. >>> Times Online | Friday, April 23, 2010

David Cameron Edges Second Leaders’ Debate, According to Times Poll
Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: David Cameron scored a narrow victory over Nick Clegg in the second leaders’ debate last night after an impassioned contest turned personal.

The Tory leader scraped a win — on 37 per cent to Mr Clegg’s 36 per cent — according to a Populus poll for The Times. Some 27 per cent gave the verdict to Gordon Brown as the pressure of tightening polls saw the trio trading ill-tempered barbs.

A series of aggressive exchanges over Trident, Europe, the expenses scandal and election tactics replaced last week’s more consensual style as all three responded to the Liberal Democrat surge by taking their performances up a gear.

Mr Clegg, who took the election by storm last week, gave an edgier performance, playing it anything but safe. “You’re the boss,” he told voters as he urged them to seize the opportunity to change British politics. >>> Roland Watson, Political Editor | Friday, April 23, 2010

Future of Belgium Under Threat Over Language Row
THE TELEGRAPH: The "survival" of Belgium as a unified country was called into question last night after a row between French and Dutch speakers brought the government to the verge of collapse.

The wrangle has already brought down the government four times in the past three years but the latest spat is the gravest yet and threatens to split the country into Flemish areas and French-speaking areas.

King Albert II warned politicians that the political crisis "seriously threatens" the country's role in Europe, after the Prime Minister, Yves Leterme tendered his resignation. >>> Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, April 22, 2010

An Artist Has Not Been Doing Naughty Things with the French Flag! And He’s Going to Have to Pay for It
THE TELEGRAPH: A photograph of a man wiping his bottom with the French flag has prompted the government to demand criminal proceedings against the artist that produced it.

The image, one of the winners in a photo contest organised by the book and record shop FNAC in the southern city of Nice, sparked a controversy after it appeared last month in a free national newspaper, Metro.

Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie "has demanded that criminal proceedings be launched against this unacceptable act," according to justice ministry spokesman Guillaume Didier. French government calls for punishment for flag-bottom wiping artist >>> | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

US Abuse Victim Sues Pope to Gain Access to 'Secret Files'
THE TELEGRAPH: The alleged victim of a US priest accused of being a serial pedophile is suing the Pope and the Vatican in an attempt to gain access to secret files containing internal investigations into sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.

"There is a painful and long history of the Vatican and the top officials... muffling and suppressing the truth and protecting themselves and their own reputation instead of protecting the children," lawyer Jeff Anderson said at a press conference.

"This suit demands further action by the Vatican and the removal of every single priest that has offended a single child and every single bishop and cardinal that has been complicit in those crimes."

Mr Anderson, who has spent decades pursuing justice for victims of child sex abuse, said the case was "unprecedented" in its scope and demands.

That case is currently before the Supreme Court to determine whether the Vatican, which claims sovereign immunity, can be sued in a US court. >>> | Friday, April 23, 2010

TIMES ONLINE: US court action accuses Pope of failing to protect children from priest: The Pope was named in a lawsuit in a new court action in America yesterday by a man who says that he was abused as a child by a Roman Catholic priest. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Roger Boyes and David Sharrock | Friday, April 23, 2010

BBC: Vatican says US lawsuit against Pope 'without merit': The Vatican says a lawsuit brought against Pope Benedict and two Church officials by a US man who says he was abused by a priest is "without merit". >>> | Friday, April 23, 2010

Self-censorship and Dhimmitude! Comedy Central Censors South Park Mohammed Episode
Image: The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH: Comedy Central, the television network, has censored the latest episode of South Park, following threats by a radical Muslim group that its producers could be killed.

The second episode of a two-part storyline contained further references of the Prophet Mohammed, but his body was purposely blocked out while all audio mentions to him were bleeped out.

Comedy Central also censored 35 seconds worth of a conversation towards the end of the show between the characters Stan, Jesus Christ and Father Christmas.

It led to speculation that Parker and Stone had censored themselves as part of a joke or a wider commentary, but they issued a statement in response to Comedy Central's decision to alter the episode.

It said: "In the 14 years we’ve been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn’t stand behind. >>> | Thursday, April 22, 2010

South Park Episode Featuring the Prophet Muhammad Blocked by Network
The episode included a character representing Muhammad, who spoke from inside a giant bear suit. Image: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: An American television network has blocked global internet broadcasts of an episode of South Park featuring the Prophet Muhammad after death threats from a radical Islamic group.

The 201st edition of the satirical animation was aired on Comedy Central last night but only after the channel had introduced a slew of audio and visual obfuscations in addition to the self-censorship applied by the programme’s makers.

A spokesman confirmed that the network had not granted permission to play the episode online and that producers had edited the programme before it was broadcast. >>> Nico Hines, Washington | Thursday, April 22, 2010

South Park Censored After Threat of Fatwa Over Muhammad Episode
South Park, the animation created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is well known for its satirical attacks. Photo: The Guardian
THE GUARDIAN: Extremist group's death warning leads TV network to censor 201st episode, to fans' dismay

They have depicted the Queen blowing her brains out after a failed attempt by the British army to reinvade America, Saddam Hussein as Satan's gay lover, and Jesus as a trigger-happy superhero. Mormons, Scientologists, Catholics, Jews, politicians and film stars have all been skewered on the razor-sharp wit of South Park.

Now the caustic animated satire appears to have reached its limits within the confines of mainstream US television. Fans and pundits alike were taken aback last night when an episode featuring the prophet Muhammad purportedly dressed in a bear costume had bleeps and "Censored" blocks slapped liberally throughout to remove all audio and visual reference to the prophet.

The censorship followed a warning from a New York-based group of extremist Muslim converts that could be construed as a death threat. The group, through its website Revolutionmuslim.com, had reacted to last week's episode of South Park which first depicted Muhammad dressed as a bear by saying its originators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, "will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh".

To underline the point, the website carried a picture of Van Gogh, the Dutch film-maker killed in 2004 after he made a documentary on the abuse of women in Muslim countries, with his throat cut and a knife in his chest. They also listed the New York headquarters of Comedy Central, the cable television channel that broadcasts the show, and South Park's production company, adding: "You can pay them a visit at these addresses."

In the aftermath of the show's censorship, the chatrooms on South Park's website hummed with the indignation of its fans. "Do you seriously think that will appease the extremists from more terrorism?" one wrote.

As controversy raged, Comedy Central confessed that it was responsible for the cuts. "I can't go into the thinking behind it, but I can confirm it was Comedy Central that inserted the bleeps and not South Park," a spokesman for the station said. >>> Ed Pilkington in New York | Thursday, April22, 2010

Clarifying the South Park Response and Calling on Others to Join in the Defense of the Prophet Muhammad – RevolutionMuslim.com >>>

Try also Revolutionmulim.blogspot.com

THE GUARDIAN: South Park Muhammad episode censored: US Muslim group warns creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker they could 'wind up like Van Gogh' for depiction of prophet >>> Alexandra Topping and agencies | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Related:

South Park Creators Warned by Islamic Website >>> Nick Allen in Los Angeles | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Benjamin Netanyahu Defies Barack Obama's Demands Over East Jerusalem
THE TELEGRAPH: Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has formally defied a US call to halt Jewish construction in East Jerusalem, according to officials in Washington.

Benjamin Netanyahu with Barack Obama in the Oval Office last month. Photo: The Telegraph
Mr Netanyahu is said to have written to Barack Obama over the weekend officially rejecting his demand to freeze settlement expansion in the city – a move that takes relations between Israel and its superpower patron into uncharted territory.

The Israeli prime minister's response came nearly a month after a tempestuous meeting at the White House in which he was instructed to make a series of confidence-building measures towards the Palestinian leadership.

Until now, Mr Netanyahu has equivocated as he tried to balance the demands of his coalition's right-wing, which urged him to make no compromises, against the intense pressure of the US president.

Although he offered to make some concessions, such as releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners, Mr Netanyahu held firm on the issue of East Jerusalem, which Israel captured and annexed after the Six-Day War of 1967.

Israeli officials, however, denied that their prime minister had made any formal reply to Mr Obama's demands.

"The idea that there was some formal response is just not true," one said.

Mr Netanyahu has made his feelings on East Jerusalem clear in recent days. Stopping construction in the city's Jewish settlements is "totally, totally a non-starter", he told the US television network ABC on Sunday. >>> Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Binyamin Netanyahu Tells US: We Won't Stop East Jerusalem Settlement Building
THE GUARDIAN: Israeli prime minister defiant ahead of visit from US special envoy, George Mitchell, despite deadlock in peace talks

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has reportedly told the US administration that his government will not stop settlement construction in east Jerusalem, despite US pressure and long-running deadlock in peace talks.

The message was delivered to US officials at the weekend, according to reports by AP and the Wall Street Journal, and comes ahead of a visit to the Middle East by George Mitchell, the US special envoy, later today.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Netanyahu, would not discuss the details of Israel's talks with the US administration but he said: "We want this process to succeed and to see the restart of talks. We hope that this is possible soon."

Earlier this week Netanyahu insisted again that construction in east Jerusalem would continue. "The Palestinian demand is that we prevent Jews from building in Jewish neighbourhoods in Jerusalem. That is an unacceptable demand. If we made it in London or made it in New York or in Paris, people would cry foul," he told US television network ABC.

He admitted there were outstanding issues with the US. "We're trying to resolve them through diplomatic channels in the best way that we can," Netanyahu said. >>> Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Obama’s Smarm >>>

Clegg Reveals His Smoking Habit
POLITICS.co.uk: Nick Clegg is an occasional smoker, he has admitted.

The Liberal Democrat leader revealed his habit during a half-hour interview with politics.co.uk, conducted in association with Yahoo!.

Asked if he would repeal the ban on smoking in public places, Mr Clegg admitted the ban made him miss the days of smoking in pubs, but insisted he believed it was the right thing to do.

"I have a confession to make," he told politics.co.uk. "I do take the occasional puffs of cigarettes myself.

"I understand that if you do, the days of sitting in a pub drinking a pint and having a cigarette is something you feel very attached to."

But the Liberal Democrat leader insisted the ban confirmed to his liberal philosophy.

"One of the first principles of a liberal is that you allow people to do what they want as long as it doesn't harm others," he said. >>> Ian Dunt | Friday, April 02, 2010

Live Coverage - General Election 2010
Watch BBC video here or on a larger screen via The Telegraph here
Where They Stand: Guide to party election policies >>>

Full Text of Letter from Ronald S. Lauder to President Obama
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS:

Dear President Obama:

I write today as a proud American and a proud Jew.

Jews around the world are concerned today. We are concerned about the nuclear ambitions of an Iranian regime that brags about its genocidal intentions against Israel. We are concerned that the Jewish state is being isolated and delegitimized.

Mr. President, we are concerned about the dramatic deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel.

The Israeli housing bureaucracy made a poorly timed announcement and your Administration branded it an “insult.” This diplomatic faux pas was over the fourth stage of a seven stage planning permission process – a plan to build homes years from now in a Jewish area of Jerusalem that under any peace agreement would remain an integral part of Israel.

Our concern grows to alarm as we consider some disturbing questions. Why does the thrust of this Administration’s Middle East rhetoric seem to blame Israel for the lack of movement on peace talks? After all, it is the Palestinians, not Israel, who refuse to negotiate.

Israel has made unprecedented concessions. It has enacted the most far[-]reaching West Bank settlement moratorium in Israeli history.

Israel has publicly declared support for a two-state solution. Conversely, many Palestinians continue their refusal to even acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.

The conflict’s root cause has always been the Palestinian refusal to accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. Every American President who has tried to broker a peace agreement has collided with that Palestinian intransigence, sooner or later. Recall President Clinton’s anguish when his peace proposals were bluntly rejected by the Palestinians in 2000. Settlements were not the key issue then.

They are not the key issue now.

>>> Ronald S. Lauder, President, World Jewish Congress | Thursday, April 15, 2010

The New Star of British Politics: Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg. Photo: The Globe and Mail
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: From fringe candidate to the most popular politician in Britain, it’s been quite a week for Liberal Democrats Leader Nick Clegg

week ago this morning, it was still possible to refer to Nick Clegg as a fringe candidate, the nerdy leader of a third-place British party who could walk down city streets without being recognized.

What has happened to him in the past seven days has no precedent in British politics, and few in elections anywhere. You probably have to reach to the world of reality television, where fellow Briton Susan Boyle rose, in similar one-night fashion, from spinsterdom to celebrity.

As of Thursday, Mr. Clegg, leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, is the most popular politician in Britain, with his party either leading or tied with the Tories throughout the week. An Ipsos MORI poll Wednesday showed his party tied with the Conservatives at 32 per cent, with Labour at 28 per cent – a doubling of the Liberal Democrat standing last week. Other polls had his party ahead.

“We have never seen anything like this sort of an instant rise before in the history of British elections, and it means that the entire system has changed, quite literally overnight,” said Bobby Duffy of the London office of polling firm Ipsos MORI. “What had been a fairly staid election to choose between Gordon Brown and David Cameron has suddenly sparked into life, and nobody knows where things will go now.” >>> Doug Sanders | Wednesday, April 22, 2010

British Far Right Party Told to Stop Using Marmite in Ads
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Maker of the yeasty spread says it did not authorize the use of Marmite's image by the anti-immigration British National Party

The maker of Marmite spread is demanding that a far-right party stop using the product's image in election ads.

Marmite's owner, Unilever NV, says it did not authorize the use of Marmite's image by the British National Party. A jar of the yeast spread appears without explanation in the upper left corner of the online broadcast. >>> The Associated Press | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pope Ally Offers Resignation in Germany Over Abuse Claims
THE TELEGRAPH: A close friend and ally of the Pope Benedict XVI, has offered to resign over allegations that he abused children in his care.

Bishop Walter Mixa. Photo: The Telegraph
Bishop Walter Mixa of Augsburg, in southern Germany, denied for weeks that he had used violence against youngsters. But the bishop from the Pope's native Bavaria later admitted that he "may have" slapped the children while a priest decades ago.

Some of the victims, who are now adults, allege that he hit them in the face with full force and beat their bare skin, shouting: "Satan is in you and I must drive him out."

In his letter of resignation to the Pope, the bishop wrote: "I ask the forgiveness of all those to whom I may have been unfair and to those who I may have caused heartache."

The 68-year-old bishop said he was "fully aware of my own weaknesses" and would co-operate with investigators.

A statement released by the diocese said: "With his resignation, he wants to avert further damage to the Church and to allow a new start."

Adding to Bishop Mixa's troubles, a special investigator has found financial irregularities at the children's home he was in charge of at around the same time as the allegations of beatings.

The case does not involve allegations of sexual abuse. However, the bishop, who was appointed by the Pope in 2005, is a controversial figure who has tried to explain paedophilia in the Church by claiming the sexual liberation movement must share a "significant" part of the blame. >>> Nick Squires in Rome | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Belgium to Vote on Islamic Veil Ban
THE TELEGRAPH: Belgium will today vote on whether to ban on wearing the Islamic burka in public, the first such move in Europe, just a day after the French government promised a similar law.

But a political crisis threatening the Belgian government and objections from France's constitutional watchdog mean the controversial measures might not make it into law.

Belgium's parliament was to vote on the law after its home affairs committee unanimously backed a nationwide ban on clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified, including the full-face niqab and burka.

With both the governing parties and the opposition supporting the measure, Thursday's vote is expected to approve the draft law.

It would allow fines of 15-25 euros (£13-£21) and/or a jail sentence of up to seven days, for anyone ignoring it unless they had police permission to wear such garments. Read on (including politically correct video) >>> | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Catholic Church Child Abuse Scandal: Archbishop Vincent Nichols Expresses 'Deep Shame'
THE TELEGRAPH: The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, has issued a statement expressing "deep shame" over the child abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church.

The Archbishop of Westminster referred to the "inadequate response by some church leaders" to the "terrible crimes" committed.

He said: "The criminal offences committed by some priests and religious are a profound scandal. They bring deep shame to the whole church."

"We express our heartfelt apology and deep sorrow to those who have suffered abuse, those who have felt ignored, disbelieved or betrayed.

"We ask their pardon, and the pardon of God for these terrible deeds done in our midst. There can be no excuses.

The statement made at the Bishops' Conference in England and Wales said the church would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We recognise the failings of some Bishops and religious leaders in handling these matters. These, too, are aspects of this tragedy which we deeply regret and for which we apologise. >>> Peter Hutchison | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Interview with Nick Clegg
THE MUSLIM NEWS: Clegg backs engagement with Muslims

In an exclusive interview with the Editor of The Muslim News, Ahmed J Versi, 
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP, on March 4 at his offices in the House of Commons, answers questions on a wide range issues related to Muslims in the run up to the general election. His central theme is his party’s support for engagement with the community to overcome any tensions and disagreements. “I’ve always felt that engagement is an absolute necessity in order to reach a common understanding,” he said. 



Clegg admits that the Lib Dems are “too white” as well as “too male,” and goes as far as encouraging Muslims to join his party and become potential candidates to widen its diversity. “There’s no prejudice, no hostility. Quite the reverse,” he insists, even though the Lib Dems seems nowhere nearer having their first Muslim MP elected.

The Lib Dem Leader agrees the Government’s discredited Prevent extremism strategy needs changing. “If you really want to re-establish trust in communities you’ve got to start from the bottom up,” he suggests. He also accepts there are many excesses in the country’s anti-terrorism laws saying his party was the only one to vote against renewing control orders. “The Government has used anti-terror powers in a way which diminish all of our freedoms and has a disproportionately worrying effect on those Muslim communities who feel they are being the object of those measures,” he further added. 


With regard to the incitement against religious hatred, the Lib Dem leader insists that his party’s amendment in 2005 improved it rather than watering it down to render prosecutions under the law as virtually impossible. 



On the Middle East conflict, he believes the UK and the EU should be much tougher, but applied evenly on both the Israelis and the Palestinians. “Whilst the Israeli state is very effective at deciding its next military move it seems to me it’s not working towards a long term solution which will actually help safeguard Israeli’s own security,” he said. >>> Ahmed J Versi, Editor of The Muslim News | Friday, March 26, 2010

Catholic Church Will Confront Sex Abuse Scandal, Pope Says
THE TELEGRAPH: The Pope has pledged that the Catholic Church will take action to confront the clerical sex abuse scandal, in his first public remarks calling for change since the crisis erupted.

During his weekly public audience Wednesday in St. Peter's Square, the pontiff recounted his tearful weekend encounter in Malta with eight men who say they were abused as children by priests in a church-run orphanage. Benedict met with the men in the Vatican's embassy for more than 30 minutes, praying with them and listening to their stories.

"I shared with them their suffering, and emotionally prayed with them, assuring them of church action," Benedict told the audience.

He said he told the victims in the tearful meeting "not to be afraid of life's storms or even shipwrecks, because the love of God is greater than storms or shipwrecks." >>> | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Nick Clegg: Britain Bears Cross 'Bigger Than Germany's Nazi Past'
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain has a more insidious “cross to bear” than Germany does over its Nazi history, according to Nick Clegg.

The Liberal Democrat leader said the British have “a misplaced sense of superiority, sustained by delusions of grandeur”.

In an article written in 2002, Mr Clegg, who was then MEP for the East Midlands, described the shame he felt over an incident on a school exchange trip to Germany.

“A boy called Adrian started it,” Mr Clegg wrote. “He shouted from the back of the coach, 'We own your country, we won the war’.”

The future Lib Dem leader said this was an example of what he described as a “warped” British obsession with Germans and the Second World War. “It is easy enough to explain the mixture of arrogance and insecurity that fuels this peculiar British obsession,” he wrote. “Watching Germany rise from its knees after the war and become a vastly more prosperous nation has not been easy on the febrile British psyche.” >>> Jon Swaine | Thursday, April 22, 2010

Don't Mention the War. Grow Up
THE GUARDIAN: Britain is still stuck in a childish rut of anti-German prejudice, argues Nick Clegg MEP

I still cringe when I remember what happened on the school bus. The shame of it still lingers.

We were all travelling together - a class of 17-year-olds from my school and our German "exchange" partners - on an excursion to the Bavarian mountains. The German teenagers had already endured a month at our school in central London. Now it was our turn to spend a month in Munich, living with our "exchange" families and attending the local school.

A boy called Adrian started it. He shouted from the back of the coach, "we own your country, we won the war". Other boys tittered. One put a finger to his upper lip - the traditional British schoolyard designation for Hitler's moustache - threw his arm out in a Nazi salute, and goose-stepped down the bus aisle. Soon there was a cascade of sneering jokes, most delivered in 'Allo 'Allo German accents.

I remember two things vividly. First, none of the girls in my class joined in. It seemed to be a male thing. Second, the German schoolchildren did not appear angry, or even offended. That was what was so heart wrenching. They just looked confused, utterly bewildered. To a generation of young Germans, raised under the crushing, introspective guilt of postwar Germany, the sight of such facile antics was simply incomprehensible. >>> Nick Clegg MEP | Tuesday, November 19, 2002

New Global 'FAT' Tax to Rein in Banks
THE GUARDIAN: Gordon Brown claims credit for International Monetary Fund plan to impose tough levy on biggest banks' profits and pay

Tough proposals to cut the world's biggest banks down to size by taxing their profits and pay were outlined by the International Monetary Fund tonight in an attempt to spare taxpayers another massive public bailout of the financial sector.

In measures more stringent than Wall Street and the City had expected, the fund called for the introduction of a twin-track approach to the three-year banking crisis that would both force firms to pay for any future support packages and raise new taxes on their profits and remuneration.

The report, prepared by the Washington-based institution for the G20 group of developed and developing nations, was seized upon by Gordon Brown as evidence that his push for an international crackdown on the banking sector was gaining support.

Leaked in advance of the fund's meeting this weekend, the blueprint emerged as the investment bank Goldman Sachs released better than expected first quarter revenues and admitted its bonus and pay pool had reached $5.5bn (£3.3bn) in the first three months of 2010.

The anticipated study called for a financial stability contribution (FSC), which should be paid by all financial institutions, not just banks, and used to bail out weak and failing firms. It would initially be paid at a flat rate but eventually be tailored to suit institutions' size and riskiness.

While banks had been braced for the FSC plan, they were caught unawares by the proposal for a financial activities tax (FAT), which would be based on the profits and the pay structure of the firms. >>> Larry Elliott, Jill Treanor and Patrick Wintour | Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Conservative Party to Send Gay MP to Quell EU Extremists
THE GUARDIAN: Most senior gay member of Conservative party sent to Poland to encourage EU allies to abandon homophobic views

David Cameron is to dispatch the most senior gay member of his frontbench team to Poland to encourage the Tories' rightwing allies in the European parliament to abandon their homophobic views.

In a move designed to defuse criticism in tonight's leaders' television debate that the Tories have allied themselves with extremists in the EU, Cameron has revealed that the shadow environment secretary, Nick Herbert, will attend a gay rights march in Warsaw in July.

Cameron told the Guardian that Herbert's trip to Poland is designed to persuade the highly conservative Law and Justice party to embark on a "journey" to moderate its views on sexuality.

The party was founded by the late Polish president Lech Kaczynski, who died earlier this month in a plane crash in western Russia. Kaczynski banned gay rights marches in Warsaw when he was the city's mayor.

Nick Clegg, who supported British membership of the euro, and Gordon Brown are expected to use the second TV debate tomorrow night to embarrass the Tories by highlighting the party's links with hard-right groups in the European parliament. >>> Nicholas Watt and Patrick Wintour | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

South Park Creators Warned by Islamic Website
THE TELEGRAPH: The creators of South Park, the controversial American cartoon show, have been warned by an Islamic website that they could face violent retribution for depicting the Prophet Mohammed disguised in a bear suit.

The cartoon series made by Matt Stone and Trey Parker has attracted criticism throughout its award-winning run. Photo: The Telegraph
The 200th episode of the show, which was broadcast last week, included a satirical discussion about whether an image of Mohammed could be shown.

An image was not shown and instead other characters suggested that Mohammed was inside the suit.

South Park, which was created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, previously portrayed a cartoon image of Mohammed in 2001 but the episode is now rarely seen.

A posting on a New York-based website Revolutionmuslim.com was accompanied by a graphic photograph of the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh. >>> Nick Allen in Los Angeles | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Kollision oder Kollusion der Werte? In Frankreich wird heftig über das Kopftuchverbot debattiert. Bild: NZZ Online
Wie hast du's mit der Religion, Europa? : Ein Interview mit dem französischen Islamexperten Olivier Roy
NZZ ONLINE: Der französische Politologe Olivier Roy zählt zu den herausragendsten Islamexperten in Europa. Sein neues Buch, «Heilige Einfalt – Über die politischen Gefahren entwurzelter Religionen», erscheint demnächst auf Deutsch. Eren Güvercin befragte ihn zu aktuellen Themen in der Debatte um den Islam.

Die Mehrheit der Schweizer Wähler hat sich unlängst für ein Minarettverbot ausgesprochen; in Frankreich und Belgien diskutiert man das Verbot von Burkas; auch in Deutschland ist der Islam ein Dauerthema. Was irritiert die Europäer so sehr an religiösen Symbolen oder «fremden» Religionen?

Die Debatte in Europa hat sich in den letzten 25 Jahren vom Thema Immigration auf die sichtbaren Symbole des Islam verlagert. Das bedeutet, dass sogar die Gegner der Immigration mittlerweile zugestehen, dass die zweite oder dritte Einwanderergeneration sich hier auf Dauer niedergelassen hat und dass damit auch der Islam in Europa Wurzeln schlägt. Die diesbezügliche Diskussion hat nun eine merkwürdige Wendung genommen: Während die Polemik gegen die Immigration in erster Linie von der konservativen Rechten kam, wird der Islam von rechter wie linker Seite her angegriffen, allerdings mit sehr unterschiedlicher Begründung. Die Rechte findet, dass Europa christlich ist und der Islam als eine zwar tolerierte, aber inferiore Religion behandelt werden sollte. Man gesteht – eher widerwillig – zu, dass der Islam aufgrund der verfassungsmässig garantierten Religionsfreiheit nicht verboten werden kann, nimmt aber Möglichkeiten wahr, seine Sichtbarkeit einzuschränken; so hat sich etwa der Europäische Menschenrechtsgerichtshof nicht gegen das Kopftuchverbot in Frankreich ausgesprochen. Die Linke dagegen plädiert für Säkularismus, Frauenrechte und gegen religiösen Fundamentalismus; man kritisiert die Verschleierung, nicht weil sie zum Islam gehört, sondern weil man sie als Verstoss gegen die Rechte der Frau empfindet. Deshalb verbirgt sich hinter der Islamdebatte eine wesentlich komplexere Problematik – die Frage nämlich nach der Beschaffenheit einer europäischen Identität und nach der Rolle des Religiösen in Europa. Und obwohl die Rechte und die Linke in dieser Hinsicht sehr unterschiedliche Positionen vertreten, sehen wir nun neue populistische Bewegungen – etwa Geert Wilders' Freiheitspartei in den Niederlanden –, in denen sich die beiden Denkweisen vermischen; es sind Parteien, die grundsätzlich der Rechten zuneigen, aber linke Argumente verwenden. >>> Olivier Roy | Mittwoch, 21. April 2010

General Election 2010: Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem Donors and Payments into His Private Bank Account
THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg received a series of payments from party donors directly into his private bank account, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

The Liberal Democrat leader was paid regular monthly sums by three senior businessmen during 2006.

The same account was used to pay his mortgage, shopping and other personal expenditure, documents seen by this newspaper show.

The businessmen bankrolling Mr Clegg were Ian Wright, a senior executive at the drinks firm Diageo; Neil Sherlock, the head of public affairs at the accountants KPMG; and Michael Young, a former gold mining executive. All are registered as Liberal Democrat donors.

Records of Mr Clegg’s personal bank account show the three men each paid up to £250 a month into the account.

The Liberal Democrat leader is likely to face questions over the arrangement.

MPs have historically sought to distance party donors from their personal finances to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Last night Mr Clegg denied the money had been used for his own personal spending and said that it had subsidised his parliamentary work. >>> Robert Winnett and Jon Swaine | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Will Christians Swing the 2010 UK Election?
BBC: Tony Blair's spokesman Alastair Campbell famously once said the prime minister didn't "do God" when talking to the media.

Religious pronouncements were kept to a minimum, for fear of risking the broad political support for the New Labour project.

Mr Campbell's simple words illustrate how Christianity is generally treated at Westminster.

Explicit mention of religion is seen as "un-British", a bit "American" and a "turn-off" to the electorate.

But, with a closely fought election in the offing and a desperate fight taking place for marginal seats, might candidates become more open about their beliefs if it means a few more votes? >>> Justin Parkinson | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Syria Smoking Ban Enters Into Force
BBC: Syria has become the first Arab state to implement a ban on smoking in public places, such as restaurants and cafes.

The decree also outlaws smoking in educational institutions, health centres, sports halls, cinemas and theatres and on public transport.

Workers must not smoke during meetings and businesses need to provide well-ventilated areas for smokers.

The restrictions include the nargile, or hubble-bubble pipe, which is popular among locals and tourists.

The decree was signed last November by President Bashar al-Assad, a qualified medical doctor.

According to the official news agency SANA, fines for violating the ban range from 500 to 100,000 Syrian pounds (US$11 to $2,169). >>> | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Philip Johnston: We Need to Consider This: Could Nick Clegg Be Prime Minister?
Are the doors opening for Nick Clegg? Photograph: The Telegraph
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOG: The second televised election debate could be a pivotal event in modern British politics. If Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, performs well and further improves his poll ratings, we could be looking at a totally changed landscape. Instead of musing about the prospect of a Lab-Lib Dem coalition that sustains Gordon Brown in office, we might seriously have to contemplate a Lib Dem win and Clegg himself in Number 10.

The latest opinion polls have the Liberal Democrats on around 33 per cent of the vote, some 10 points ahead of where they normally are. This may be less to do with the party’s policies and more to do with a desire to stick one on the other two parties. But the reasons are less important than the reality of where we are.

In the past, the Lib Dems have found it difficult to pick up support in general elections because it is assumed that in national terms a Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote. David Cameron is playing on this with the Vote Clegg, Get Brown attack. But what if voting Clegg gets Clegg as PM? Once that idea takes hold, what happens then to the Lib Dem vote? >>> Philip Johnston | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

TIMES ONLINE: Prep school, privilege and charm smoothe Clegg’s rise to prominence >>> Sam Coates, Will Pavia | Wednesday, April 21, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: General Election: the Tories have a fortnight to save themselves from disaster: The nation wants change - and Cameron must show that he's the man to deliver it, says Benedict Brogan. It is customary to wait for the patient to expire before performing the autopsy, but impatience is one of the weaknesses of modern politics, and everyone wants to know why the Tories threw away the election. >>> Benedict Brogan | Wednesday, April 21, 2010