Carla Bruni a accouché d'une fille
LE FIGARO – MADAME: Le bébé des Sarkozy est né en début de soirée à la Clinique de la Muette

Selon son entourage, l'épouse du chef de l'Etat a donné naissance à une petite fille vers 19h-19h30 mercredi, à la clinique de la Muette, dans le 16e arrondissement de Paris. Une déclaration qui vient confirmer les informations distillées précédemment par Europe 1 et BFMTV. « Pour l'instant on ne connaît pas le prénom », a précisé la source proche de la première dame. Et une autre proche de confier aux journalistes de l'AFP : « Tout s'est bien passé ». Nicolas Sarkozy est arrivé sur place en fin de soirée, à son retour d'un déplacement à Francfort où il a participé à une réunion avec Angela Merkel.

Il s'était déjà rendu à la clinique en fin d'après-midi avant de s'envoler pour l'Allemagne. Carla était prise en charge depuis le milieu de la matinée. C'est la première fois dans l'histoire de la République française qu'un président en exercice s'apprête à devenir père. L'Elysée a assuré qu'il ne communiquerait pas sur la naissance du bébé présidentiel. » | Fabrice Amedeo et Le Figaro | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

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THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni gives birth: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the wife of the French president, has given birth to a daughter. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Le Premier ministre tibétain en exil salue «le courage» des immolés

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Le Premier ministre du gouvernement tibétain en exil a salué mercredi «le courage» des 9 personnes qui se sont immolées par le feu en Chine pour la «cause du Tibet». Le dalaï lama a débuté lui une grève de la faim par solidarité.

S’exprimant depuis la ville indienne de Dharamsala (nord) où est installé le gouvernement tibétain en exil, le Premier ministre du gouvernement tibétain en exil, Lobsang Sangay, a déclaré mercredi qu’une journée de prières avait été organisée «par solidarité avec ces Tibétains qui ont sacrifié leur vie pour la cause du Tibet, en particulier ceux qui se sont immolés, leur famille et ceux qui souffrent de la répression au Tibet».

«Nous rendons par conséquent hommage à leur courage et sommes solidaires de leur esprit indomptable», a-t-il ajouté. Récemment retiré de la vie politique, le chef spirituel des Tibétains, le dalaï lama, a par ailleurs débuté une grève de la faim d’une journée. A New Delhi, des milliers de Tibétains en exil ont défilé mercredi en signe de solidarité.

Lobsang Sangay, qui a remplacé le dalaï lama au poste de Premier ministre, a expliqué au «Wall Street Journal» que «la politique de répression chinoise» était la cause des immolations. » | AFP | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

Perry and Romney Spar on Illegal Immigration
At the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas Tuesday night, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney went into a heated debate about illegal immigration. Courtesy of Fox News.

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Carla Bruni est en train d'accoucher

LE FIGARO – MADAME: L'épouse du chef de l'Etat est en train d'accoucher à la clinique de la Muette. Le bébé serait une fille…

L'épouse du chef de l'Etat, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy est en train d'accoucher à la clinique de la Muette, dans le 16e arrondissement de Paris, a indiqué une source médicale au Figaro. Nicolas Sarkozy lui a rendu visite avant de s'envoler pour Francfort.

La première dame est prise en charge depuis le milieu de la matinée et l'accouchement pourrait intervenir en fin d'après-midi, début de soirée. Le bébé serait une fille.

Depuis le début du mois d’octobre, la rue Nicolo et les abords de la clinique ont été bouclés en prévision de l'événement, au grand dam des habitants du quartier qui commencent à trouver le temps long. « Cela fait quinze jours que le quartier est truffé de forces de police et de paparazzi », commentait mardi soir, lasse, une riveraine. » | Fabrice Amedeo et Le Figaro | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni and Nicolas Sarkozy arrive at maternity clinic: Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, joined his wife Carla Bruni on Wednesday at the Paris maternity clinic where she is due to give birth. » | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Retour de Ben Ali à La Goulette

LE MONDE – BLOGS – BIG BROWSER: Une vidéo simule le retour de Ben Ali pour inciter les Tunisiens à voter : Le 17 octobre, un poster géant de l'ancien dictateur tunisien Ben Ali a été déroulé sur une des murailles à l'entrée de la Goulette, le principal port de Tunis. Médusés, des passants se rassemblent au pied de l'affiche. La colère, parfois la peur, se lit sur certains visages. » | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

Angriff: Türkische Armee bombardiert Ziele im Nordirak
ZEIT ONLINE: Kurdische Rebellen haben mehrere Soldaten im Südosten der Türkei getötet. Das türkische Militär reagierte mit Luftangriffen und schickte Truppen in den Nordirak.

Türkische Truppen sind einem Bericht zufolge auf der Suche nach kurdischen Rebellen in den Nordirak einmarschiert. Wie die kurdische Nachrichtenagentur Firatnews meldete, überschritten türkische Kommandoeinheiten von der Größe eines Bataillons die Grenze. Die Luftwaffe bombardierte zudem mutmaßliche PKK-Stellungen in den nordirakischen Kandil-Bergen, wie türkische Sicherheitsbehörden mitteilten. » | ZEIT ONLINE, AFP | Mittwoch 19. Oktober 2011

Das Video hier abspielen

Griechenland: Gewalt überschattet landesweiten Streiktag



SPIEGEL ONLINE: Generalstreik in Griechenland – Randalierer liefern sich Straßenschlachten mit der Polizei: Brandsätze und Steine fliegen, die Polizei reagiert mit Tränengas und Blendgranaten auf die Attacken der Randalierer: In Athen ist der Protest gegen die Sparpolitik der griechischen Regierung eskaliert. Es gibt bereits erste Verletzte. » | hen/heb/dpa/AFP/dapd | Mittwoch 19. Oktober 2011

Outrage over Property Deal: German State Sells Manor House to Right Extremists

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The German state of Thuringia spends millions of euros on combating right-wing extremism, but has now undermined its efforts by selling a manor house to a suspected member of a far-right organization. The group, which has links to Holocaust deniers, is already holding meetings there.

The eastern German state of Thuringia is under fire for unwittingly selling a large manor house to a suspected far-right sympathizer who has made it available as a meeting place for right-wing extremists.

The building stood empty in the village of Guthmannshausen, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northeast of the state capital, Erfurt, until its sale this year, and is now being used by a notorious right-wing extremist group called Gedächtnisstätte (Memorial Site), which plans to transform it into a center to commemorate the German victims of World War II.

The organization is run by a landscape architect, Wolfram Schiedewitz, who has been on the watch-list of the domestic intelligence agency for a number of years.

The group has links with known Holocaust deniers, such as Ursula Haverbeck-Wetzel, its founder and former chairwoman, who has been convicted of incitement several times and whose two other organizations have been banned.

In a statement to supporters, Schiedewitz said his group had at last found a new home. "We want to fill our manor with life in remembrance of our civilian victims of World War II through bombs, abduction and expulsion and in prison camps," Schiedewitz said. » | Maik Baumgärtner and Christina Hebel | Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Sweden: Ice Mosque Planned for Lapland

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Sweden's Muslims are planning to build an 'Ice Mosque' in Jukkasjärvi, the Lapland home of the country's famous Ice Hotel.

Imam Mahmoud Aldebe, head of the Swedish Muslim Association, said that the mosque would be an opportunity to tell tourists about Islam.

"It would be a new way of seeking dialogue between different cultures and religions," he told Norrländska Socialdemokraten, a local paper.

"It's not actually such a controversial idea. It has been received well with everyone we have spoken to."

Each winter, Ice Hotel founder Yngve Bergqvist, oversees the sculpting of a giant 5,500 square metre complex, using ice cut from the local Torne river. » | Richard Orange in Malmö | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Conservatives Ordered to Vote against EU Referendum

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron next week will order Conservative MPs to vote against holding a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

Even as MPs agreed to hold a Commons vote on a referendum, government sources made clear that the Tories would be whipped to vote against a poll.

Mr Cameron's decision to impose a three-line whip has angered many MPs, since the vote was called under rules the Coalition promised would give backbenchers more freedom.

The back-bench business committee yesterday voted to hold a debate on the issue on Oct 27 after more than 100,000 people signed a petition demanding a choice.

The Prime Minister, who has expressed his desire to take back some powers from Brussels, is publicly opposed to a referendum and will order his MPs to vote against it.

Although any vote would not be binding, the decision sets the scene for a Tory rebellion and a test of Mr Cameron's authority over his party. » | Christopher Hope | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Cameron would have been better off becoming a high class estate agent. He'd have done well at that. Leading the Conservatives, however, is another matter. Judging by the comments I have read on this thread, he's already a dead man walking. His chances of re-election are zilch.

I am no Europhobe, but if the people want a referendum, they should be given one. It isn't enough to talk about democracy, one has to show one's democratic credentials. David Cameron's are sadly lacking. But scorn will be heaped on him for this decision; and pay-back time is just a few years down the road. – © Mark

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US Elections 2012: Republicans Remove the Gloves in Assault on Mitt Romney
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney came under heavy attack on Tuesday night in the fieriest Republican primary debate so far, with rivals labelling him a hypocrite and a "flip-flopper" who "lacked all credibility".


With a CNN poll showing that 51 per cent of Republican voters believe the former Massachusetts governor has the best chance of beating President Barack Obama in 2012, other candidates clearly decided they had no option but to try and take him down before he walked off with the nomination. » | Alex Spillius, Las Vegas | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Queen Begins Her 16th, and Possibly Last, Visit to Australia

THE AUSTRALIAN: THE Queen has embarked on what may be her last tour of Australia.

Travelling with the Duke of Edinburgh, she touched down at Canberra's RAAF Fairbairn base tonight in a British Airways jet to be welcomed by hundreds of wellwishers, many holding flowers or waving flags.

The Queen emerged from the plane wearing a teal-coloured coat and hat to be greeted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

A military band played God Save the Queen and a 21-gun salute rang out before the 85-year-old monarch inspected the ceremonial royal guard made up of army, navy and air force personnel.

The Queen first visited Australia in 1954. Some expect that the 2011 tour will be her last. » | JAMIE WALKER | The Australian | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE AUSTRALIAN: New polling shows support for the monarchy in Australia is at its highest level since 1991: AUSTRALIANS are continuing to shun a republic and move back to the monarchy, research shows. » | CHRISTIAN KERR | The Australian | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

THE AUSTRALIAN: The Queen’s Visit: October 19–29, 2011 »


THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Queen and Britain are now part of Australia’s past: The booming country’s economic and cultural ties are moving towards Asia and the US. » | Oscar Humphries | Tuesday, October 18, 2011

LE FIGARO: Arrivée d'Elizabeth II en Australie : La reine Elizabeth II d'Angleterre a été saluée aujourd'hui par 21 coups de canon et des centaines d'écoliers agitant des drapeaux, à son arrivée à Canberra, pour sa seizième et probablement dernière visite en Australie, dont elle est la chef d'Etat. » | AFP | mercredi 19 octobre 2011

NET TRIBUNE: Königin Elizabeth II. in Australien herzlich empfangen » | dapd | Mittwoch 19. Oktober 2011

Israel-Palestine Prisoner Swap: First Interview with Gilad Shalit
In an interview shortly after his release, Gilad Shalit, 25, looked tired and dazed, hesitating as he replied to questions from an Egyptian TV reporter.

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Les «indignés» campent à la City

LE FIGARO: Quelques centaines de manifestants se sont installés à côté de la Bourse de Londres.

La nuit a été courte. Vent pinçant, carillon des cloches de Saint-Paul et arrivée des caméras dès l'aube ne facilitent certes pas le repos. Mais Bryn Phillips et Laura May, 28 et 30 ans, assis dans leur petite tente pliable, n'ont aucune intention de se laisser décourager. «On reste jusqu'à ce que le gouvernement démissionne», annonce Bryn, pianiste de son état.

Ils sont quelques centaines à camper ici depuis une manifestation, samedi, relayant le mouvement Occupy Wall Street de New York, sous une large bannière qui annonce : «Le capitalisme, c'est la crise.» Ils voulaient au départ s'installer devant la Bourse de Londres mais le propriétaire de l'esplanade privée où se situe son siège en a fait bloquer l'accès par la police. Les campeurs se sont donc réfugiés à deux pas, à l'ombre de la cathédrale Saint-Paul, avec le soutien inattendu du révérend Giles Fraser, qui a demandé aux forces de l'ordre de les laisser faire. » | Par Florentin Collomp | Correspondant à Londres | lundi 17 octobre 2011

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Proteste gegen Banken – Merkel: „Berechtigtes Gerechtigkeitsverlangen“ – Bundeskanzlerin Merkel versteht, warum „die Menschen auf die Straße gehen“. Darin drücke sich eine tiefe Sorge aus „und auch ein berechtigtes Gerechtigkeitsverlangen der Menschen.“ Es sei nötig, der Finanzwelt „Zügel anzulegen“.» | Quelle: Reuters, dpa | Montag 17. Oktober 2011

Assets Frozen over Alleged Iran Plot to Assassinate Saudi Envoy

THE GUARDIAN: UK Treasury action against five men after purported plan by Iran's elite Quds Force to kill Adel al-Jubeir in US

The UK Treasury has ordered the assets of five men frozen in connection with the alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US.

The finance ministry confirmed it had acted under the Terrorist Asset Freezing Act, after ministers pledged action over the purported plan to kill the Saudi envoy, Adel al-Jubeir, in a bomb attack. The decision does not necessarily mean that the five men hold assets in Britain.

Two men have been charged by US authorities, accused of attempting to hire an alleged Mexican drug cartel member to carry out the killing.

US officials have described the plot as a clumsy but serious operation by Iran's elite foreign action unit, the Quds Force.

The Treasury confirmed the ministry had imposed asset freezes against five men. They include both men charged in the case – Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old US citizen who also holds an Iranian passport, and Gholam Shakuri, an alleged member of Iran's Quds Force, who remains at large in Iran.

Britain also froze the assets of three other men – Hamed Abdollahi, a senior Quds officer alleged to have helped co-ordinate the plot, Abdul Reza Shahlai and Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds force who allegedly oversaw the plot. The US last week acted against the same five men. » | Associated Press | Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Hosni Mubarak Sons 'Have £215 million in Swiss Banks'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The two sons of ousted President Hosni Mubarak have an estimated $340 million (£215m) in Swiss bank accounts, a senior Egyptian Justice Ministry official said on Monday.

Assem al-Gohary said Swiss authorities are investigating whether one of the sons, Alaa, 49, was involved in money laundering along with other ex-regime figures.

Mr Mubarak and his sons have been charged with corruption and all three are under arrest in Egypt. Mr Mubarak is also charged with complicity in the killing of about 850 protesters during the Jan 25 to Feb 11 Egyptian uprising.

Rumours circulated during the uprising that Mr Mubarak and his sons had amassed tens of billions of pounds in corrupt practices, helping drive the anger that brought him down.

Switzerland has already frozen the assets of the Mubarak family and other ex-Egyptian regime figures, which al-Gohary estimated at nearly $450 million. He added that most of those assets belong to the sons. Continue reading and comment » | Monday, October 17, 2011

Sweden to Give £300 a Month Bonus to Stay at Home Dads
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Swedish parliament has voted to give couples where the father takes over caring for the baby a 'gender equality bonus' of 3,000 Swedish Kronor (£287) each month, on top of existing paternity benefits set at 80 per cent of salary.

The Swedish vote comes as the UK's coalition government is seeking to roll back an earlier pledge to change the UK system so that British parents can share leave, as they do in Sweden.

"The government wants parents to share more equally in their parental leave, so that women aren't discriminated against on the labour market," said Niklas Löfgren, a spokesman for Sweden's Social Insurance Agency. "It is also to ensure that the father gets a closer relationship to the child at an earlier stage of its life." » | Richard Orange, Malmö | Monday, October 17, 2011

Nach Einmarsch in Somalia: Al Shabaab droht Kenia mit Anschlägen
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Die radikale islamistische Miliz al Shabaab hat mit Selbstmordanschlägen in Kenia gedroht, sollte Nairobi seine Truppen nicht aus Somalia abziehen. Zuvor waren schwer bewaffnete kenianische Truppen ins Nachbarland eingerückt.

Die radikale islamistische Miliz al Shabaab hat mit Selbstmordanschlägen in Kenia gedroht, sollte Nairobi seine Truppen nicht aus Somalia abziehen. Zuvor waren schwer bewaffnete kenianische Truppen ins Nachbarland eingerückt, um, wie ein Sprecher der kenianischen Regierung sagte, die Milizionäre "auszuschalten", die für die Entführung von zwei spanischen Entwicklungshelferinnen sowie einer französischen und einer britischen Touristin verantwortlich seien.

Ein Shabaab-Sprecher sagte am Montag, die Kenianer sollten daran denken, was in Uganda geschehen sei. Bei einem Doppelanschlag in Kampala während der Übertragung des Endspiels der Fußballweltmeisterschaft im Juli 2010 waren 76 Personen getötet worden. Der Shabaab-Sprecher sagte, dieser Anschlag sei verübt worden, weil Uganda Soldaten für die Truppen der Afrikanischen Union nach Mogadischu geschickt habe. » | Quelle: tos.; F.A.Z. | Montag 17. Oktober 2011

Douglas Murray on Islam
David Cameron believes a core set of British values could help to combat extremist Islamic ideology. Should Muslims adapt to Britain or should Britain adapt to Muslims?

Writer Douglas Murray believes that British society has already gone too far in accommodating Islamic ideology into our culture and that we need to stand up for our hard-fought liberal values.

Watch the video here

The Stop and Go Back Man - The Netherlands
Watch Journeyman Pictures video here

Liliane Bettencourt : Qui est réellement sa fille Françoise ?

FRANCE SOIR: L'héritière du groupe L'Oréal, troisième fortune de France, et sa fille Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers sont en guerre ouverte depuis 2007. Pas sûr que la décision de la juge des tutelles de Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine), qui a placé Liliane Bettencourt sous tutelle vienne apaiser la relation mère/fille. Portrait de Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, par qui l'affaire a éclaté.

Elle est l'unique héritière de Liliane Bettencourt. Fruit de l'union d'André et Liliane Bettencourt, née Schueller. Françoise Bettencourt voit le jour le 10 juillet 1953 à Neuilly-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine). Élevée dans la religion catholique, elle est l'auteur de plusieurs ouvrages sur la Bible et les relations entre le christianisme et le judaïsme, méconnus du grand public avant « l'affaire Bettencourt », qui l'oppose à sa mère.

Elle rencontre Jean-Pierre Meyers, son futur époux, à Megève. Il est le petit fils de l'ancien rabbin de Neuilly-sur-Seine, déporté avec sa femme à Auschwitz. Le mariage civil a lieu le 6 avril 1984 à Fiesole, en Toscane. Ensemble, ils vont avoir deux enfants : Jean-Victor en 1986, et Nicolas, en 1988. Les deux fils sont élevés dans le judaïsme. » | Par Actu France-Soir | lundi 17 octobre 2011

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THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt placed under protection of family: L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt is to be placed under the guardianship of family members, a judge ruled on Monday. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, October 17, 2011

LE MONDE: Liliane Bettencourt préfère quitter la France que d'être mise sous tutelle » | LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | samedi 15 octobre 2011

Syria: I Saw 100 Taken to Be Killed, Says Defector from Assad’s Forces
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: In a safe house reached with the help of guides signalling a route through the warren of darkened streets, a clutch of Syrian army defectors plots the downfall of a feared regime.

The city of Homs is a virtual ghost town. Its medieval fort has been transformed into a garrison and checkpoints have been established around the city.

But in its back alleys groups of armed men have formed units to defend the population from the military onslaught.

Some are local revolutionaries, known as thwarr, who have joined the protests against President Bashar al-Assad that have convulsed the country for six months. Others are defectors from the armed forces who have now turned their guns on their former comrades.

The seven deserters at the safe house proudly display stolen weapons, including rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns and grenades.

One, a 19-year old conscript, had been shooting at protesters a week beforehand. "The [secret] security would stand behind us and make us shoot," he says. » | Hussein al-Haqq in Homs | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Indonesia's Transgender Couples Surrounded by Fear and Persecution

THE GUARDIAN: Kate Hodal reports on the dangers of defying taboos in the world's most populous Muslim country

It was anything but a normal wedding. The identity cards were forged, the groom's parents refused to attend, and only a handful of friends were invited. The event was so taboo it could have end[ed] with the bride and groom in jail.

"That day I felt like a freedom fighter, like liberty itself," says 28-year-old Noah of his Indonesian wedding, with the photograph album of last year's ceremony spread open across his knees. "But the truth is, we have no choice but to keep it a secret."

"It" is the fact that Noah, a small-boned man with teenage acne, a gelled-back crew cut and wispy moustache, is not yet – in the eyes of his government – a man.

One of a growing number of Indonesia's transgender people, Noah – who was born female, but is now pre-op female to male – is defying considerable sociocultural taboos in the world's most populous Muslim country to become who he feels he is: "A man who just wants to be with the person I love." » | Kate Hodal in Jakarta | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bulldozers Begin Demolition of Gaddafi's Tripoli Compound
THE GUARDIAN: Knocking down Gaddafi's Tripoli stronghold is seen by revolutionaries as erasing 'symbol of repression'

Libyan bulldozers began knocking down the green walls surrounding Muammar Gaddafi's main Tripoli compound, known as Bab al-Aziziya, on Sunday as the new leaders said it was time "to tear down this symbol of tyranny".

The sprawling, fortress-like compound has long been hated by Libyans who feared to even walk nearby during Gaddafi's more than four decades in power and its capture was seen as a turning point in the civil war as revolutionaries overran the capital in late August.

Ahmad Ghargory, commander of a revolutionary brigade, said the area would be turned into a public park.

"It's the revolutionary decision to tear down this symbol of tyranny," Ghargory said. "We were busy with the war, but now we have the space to do this." » | Associated Press | Sunday, October 16, 2011


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Barroso Proposes Penalties for Rogue Bankers
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Financiers accused of skulduggery could become subject to criminal sanctions under laws set to be proposed by the president of the European Commission.

Jose Manuel Barroso has said he will this week propose “individual criminal responsibility for financial players to be recognised in European law”.

The plans for an EU-wide directive would focus on curbing high frequency trading.

“We have seen abusive behaviour, and some of this caused the current crisis. We are going to clamp down on these practices,” Mr Barroso told Le Parisien. “Those who violate the rules will face criminal penalties. This will be a first in European legislation and a strong signal.”

The Commission will invoke new powers under Article 83 of the Lisbon Treaty allowing the EU to impose minimum rules and sanctions on member states when needed “to ensure the effective implementation” of EU policies.

The clause allows the EU to broaden the European Arrest Warrant beyond limited areas such as terrorism, drug-trafficking, and money-laundering to softer crimes if they have a “cross-border dimension”. Read on and comment » | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Thank God for someone like Barroso. At least he speaks for the people. The UK government won't act. The US government won't act. It looks as if the European government is willing to act. Let them do so! The banksters need to have their wings clipped. I'm all for it. I am foursquare behind Barroso. More power to him! – © Mark

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Religion ist eine Überlebensstrategie
Warum orthodoxe Juden an alten Bräuchen und Gesetzen festhalten

NZZ ONLINE: Viele Bräuche und Traditionen ultraorthodoxer Juden scheinen heute veraltet. Doch sie sowie das Studium heiliger Schriften sind die Gründe, warum das jüdische Volk jahrtausendelang auch ohne eigenes Territorium überleben konnte.

Bei einem Spaziergang durch Jerusalem kann man dieser Tage, wie jedes Mal im Herbst, allenthalben kleine aus Holz, Laub und Tüchern zusammengestellte Hütten sehen, in denen Familien ihre Mahlzeiten einnehmen oder trotz den kälter werdenden Herbsttagen sogar übernachten. Es handelt sich aber nicht um Obdachlose, sondern um orthodoxe Juden, die das Laubhüttenfest Sukkot, das biblische Erntedankfest, feiern. Auch in andern Ländern, in denen Juden leben, kann diese Tradition alljährlich im September oder Oktober beobachtet werden.

Die Hütten erinnern an die Behausungen, in denen die Juden nach dem Auszug aus Ägypten während ihrer vierzigjährigen Wanderung durch die Wüste lebten. Schon Tage zuvor war mitten in Jerusalem ein Markt entstanden, auf dem Hunderte von Männern vier vorgeschriebene Pflanzenarten kaufen, diese aber vorher mit Lupen minuziös kontrollieren, um sicherzugehen, dass sie keine Makel aufweisen. » | George Szpiro, Jerusalem | Neue Zürcher Zeitung | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

Larry Hagman Diagnosed with Cancer

THE GUARDIAN: The 80-year-old actor, who starred as JR in long-running US series Dallas, will go ahead with filming TNT's revival of the soap

Larry Hagman has been diagnosed with cancer but says he will continue to shoot the new series of Dallas.

The 80-year-old actor, best known for playing JR Ewing in the 1980s series Dallas, didn't specify what type of cancer he had but said it was a "very common and treatable form".

"As JR, I could get away with anything – bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer," he said in a statement to America's TV Guide.

The actor is currently working on a new Dallas series for TNT and says he has no plans to pull out because of his illness. » | Lisa O'Carroll | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Occupy-Bewegung: Die Globalisierung weckt ihre Kinder

SUEDDEUTSCHE: David gegen Goliath, 1 versus 99 Prozent, die Menschen gegen das Finanzsystem: Der weltweite Protest ist nicht typisch links oder rechts - es bildet sich eine europäische Öffentlichkeit, die ihren Zorn auf das System nicht einfach runterschlucken wird. Anstatt den Hindukusch zu verteidigen, gilt jetzt auch in Deutschland: die Demokratie gegen die Gier der Märkte zu verteidigen.

Die Globalisierung weckt ihre Kinder. Deren Protest ist nicht rechts und er ist nicht links. Er lässt sich nicht fangen mit den alten Lassos. Sicher: Der Protest ist Ausdruck der Empörung über soziale Ungerechtigkeit, das ist ein altes linkes Thema. Aber der Protest steht auch für das fatale Gefühl, dass die Staaten zu schwach sind und von den Finanzmärkten gewürgt und enteignet werden. Die Sehnsucht nach einem starken Souverän aber ist ebenso ein konservatives, rechtes Thema: die Marodeure der internationalen Finanzwirtschaft sollen gebändigt werden.

Die Proteste sind schließlich Ausdruck zorniger Enttäuschung. In der Finanzkrise 2008, als die Staaten ungeheuerlich viel Geld in die Banken pumpten, glaubten viele Bürger, sie erlebten eine Läuterung des Kapitalismus. Das war und blieb eine Täuschung. Die Großbanken haben mit den Mitteln und Methoden weitergezockt, die vorher die Finanzkrise herbeigeführt hatten. Sie konnten ihr Spiel weitertreiben; denn keine von den strikten Regeln, die von der internationalen Politik angekündigt wurden, trat in Kraft. Der Finanzkapitalismus wurde keinen Deut menschlicher, der Turbo des Kapitalismus blieb angeschaltet. » | Ein Kommentar von Heribert Prantl | Sonntag 16. Oktober 2011

François Hollande Wins French Socialist Presidential Election

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A mild-mannered French Socialist they call "Mr Normal" has been chosen to take on Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's presidential elections.

In the final round of Socialist primaries – the first of their kind in French political history – early results put François Hollande, 57, well ahead of his party rival, Martine Aubry, 60, who conceded defeat.

Aubry said as results rolled in, "I warmly congratulate Francois Hollande, who is clearly ahead. His victory is unquestionable."

With a million votes counted from an estimated 2.7 million cast, Mr Hollande's score was above 56 per cent compared to 43 per cent for Miss Aubry.

With his unassuming air of a provincial salesman – Mr Hollande, a consensual, moderate who has never held a ministerial post – had been favourite throughout. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Sunday, October 16, 2011

leJDD: Aubry reconnaît la victoire de Hollande : EN DIRECT - Peu avant 21h, Martine Aubry a reconnu la victoire de François Hollande lors de la primaire socialiste. Suivez le déroulé du scrutin en direct sur leJDD.fr. » | Election présidentielle 2012 | dimanche 16 octobre 2011

Occupy Wall Street: Over 80 Arrests as Protests Intensify

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Thousands of protesters decrying corporate greed and inequality marched on Times Square in New York, leading to more than 80 arrests, as similar demonstrations were held across America.

The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators moved north through Manhattan and held a rally for several hours in the square on Saturday night.

Estimates of the crowd ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 as they mixed with Broadway show-goers and tourists.

A police spokesman said arrests were made after protesters repeatedly ignored warnings to disperse.

The demonstration was largely non-confrontational but two police officers were hospitalised, including one with a head injury.

Protesters chanted "We got sold out, banks got bailed out" and "All day, all week, occupy Wall Street." » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Egypt's Arab Spring Turns Dark
THE AUSTRALIAN: EGYPT'S Coptic Christians are understandably terrified. And as a reality check for those who naively ignored all the warnings about Islamic extremism and insisted enlightenment and tolerance would follow the Mubarak dictatorship's downfall last February, their fate could hardly be more telling.

Sadly, the question that inevitably arises is whether, as a community, the Copts will survive the overblown hype of the Arab Spring. A new report from the Egyptian Union for Human Rights Organisations show that nearly 100,000 Christians have fled in the past six months - 14,000 of them to Australia. Copts are not emigrating voluntarily, according to the human rights group. They are coerced by threats and intimidation of hardline Salafists and a lack of protection from the Egyptian regime. An estimated 250,000 members of the Coptic community, which comprise 10 per cent of Egypt's 80 million people, will have fled by year's end. And who, given the way the ruling military junta has shamefully kow-towed to the Muslim Brotherhood and ultra-extremist Salafists and failed to protect the Copts, can blame them for fleeing? » | The Australian | Monday, October 17, 2011

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Threatens to Scrap Directly Elected President
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The deep internal divides at the top of Iranian politics sharpened on Sunday when the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned he could do away with the presidency, currently held by his rival, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In a speech, Ayatollah Khamenei made passing mention of the presidential system, which was his own route to power. "Presently, the country's ruling political system is a presidential one in which the president is directly elected by the people, making this a good and effective method," he said.

"However, if one day, probably in the distant future, it is deemed that the parliamentary system is more appropriate for the election of officials with executive power, there would be no problem in altering the current structure."

There is little chance of such a change before the next presidential elections are due in 2013. But his comments will be viewed, including by Mr Ahmadinejad himself, as a further warning against overstepping the limits of the authority he is granted under Iran's theocratic rule.

The Supreme Leader, appointed by an "Assembly of Experts", has final say in all major issues. Read on and comment » | Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bettencourt : "Si ma fille gagne, je pars à l’étranger"

leJDD: EXCLUSIF. Liliane Bettencourt attend en "tremblant" la décision, lundi, de la juge des tutelles qui doit, ou non, confier le reste de ses affaires à sa fille. La femme la plus riche de France confie ses angoisses au JDD.

Sur la table basse du salon, le bouquet d’hortensias est piqué de branches de saule tortueux. Il semble assorti aux lignes de la guitare du Picasso bleu accroché juste derrière. Le parc, en plein cœur de Neuilly, avec ses couleurs d’automne, est un petit bijou. Ce vendredi d’octobre, les dernières roses paressent au soleil. Liliane Bettencourt, en cette fin de matinée, profite des rayons dans le fauteuil de sa chambre, à l’étage. L’héritière L’Oréal, même fatiguée, a le sourire poli. Mais son visage de star d’une autre époque trahit une immense lassitude… "J’ai tout pour être heureuse", admet la première fortune de France. Et pourtant, non. Les mots qui reviennent dans sa bouche, "cauchemar", "étouffement", semblent incongrus dans ces murs tapissés de toiles de maître.

Lundi, à la demande de sa fille unique Françoise, la juge des tutelles de Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine) dira si Liliane Bettencourt doit, ou non, être placée sous tutelle et si le mandat de protection de Me Pascal Wilhelm doit être révoqué. L’avocate de Françoise Meyers a demandé que celle-ci et ses deux fils deviennent les tuteurs. "On ne veut aucun mal à Liliane, on demande simplement que ses affaires soient bien gérées", assure un porte-parole du camp Meyers.

Françoise Meyers, de son côté, refuse systématiquement "toute communication". "C’est une histoire de fous, réplique un proche de la mère. Sa fille dispose déjà de quasiment toute la fortune, tout s’est réglé dans l’accord de décembre dernier. Il ne reste en fait “que” deux milliards d’euros environ, correspondant aux liquidités restantes de Liliane. C’est cela l’enjeu de la dernière bagarre, car cet argent, par simple testament, Liliane Bettencourt peut le donner demain à la Croix-Rouge ou à une fondation de son choix…" » | Laurent Valdiguié - Le Journal du Dimanche | samedi 15 octobre 2011

Patrick Cockburn: Iran Had Better Watch Its Step Now Obama's Chasing Votes

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: A fumbling Tehran-backed plot to kill the Saudi ambassador was dismissed as bizarre by the rest of the world. But the White House is taking it very seriously

The plot in which an Iranian-American from Corpus Christi, Texas, notorious locally for his Clouseau-like dimwittedness, tries to hire a Mexican gangster to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington at the behest of the Iranian authorities has been greeted with incredulous hilarity across much of the world.

The allegations need to be taken seriously primarily because they show that the White House, by giving credence to them at the highest level, is seeking confrontation with Iran in the lead-up to next year's presidential election. It is shifting towards the Saudi position of seeing the hand of Iran behind its troubles in Iraq and the pro-democracy protests in Bahrain. The US is increasingly backing the Sunni side, and above all Saudi Arabia, in the struggle between Sunni and Shia which is escalating wherever the two communities live together.

The supposed conspiracy is bizarre even by the mendacious standards of stories pumped out by the Bush administration before 2003, purporting to show that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction. Manssor Arbabsiar, an Iranian-American who has lived for 30 years in the US, had a history of serial failure in small business ventures. He had a conviction for cheque fraud and a reputation for fumbling incompetence so great that his friends suspected he might have suffered brain damage when he was knifed and beaten up for flirting with Iranian-American women. But this man, with his rather sad history of personal and business failures, is suddenly appointed a frontline operator for Quds Force, the intelligence arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. » | Patrick Coburn | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Mitt Romney Leads the Charge as Mormonism Moves into the American Mainstream

THE OBSERVER: With two Mormons contending for the presidency and a growing media profile, the church has never been so popular – nor so closely scrutinised

The stone-clad building stands on a busy intersection in the heart of Manhattan's Upper West Side. There is little to distinguish it from any other modern place of worship in New York: it has a simple design, subtly decorated windows and a modest spire – one topped by a golden statue of a trumpet-wielding angel. And that is the difference: the angel, unfamiliar to most Christians, is called Moroni.

The building is the Manhattan temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known around the world as the Mormons. There are other temples scattered throughout New York, serving a growing community in the city of one of the world's youngest but fastest-spreading faiths. Normally associated with the desert mountains of Utah, where it has its headquarters, the church's 6 million-plus members are rapidly rising to prominence in America's consciousness: two Mormons are running for the Republican presidential nomination. Indeed, Mitt Romney is a frontrunner in that race and by 2013 the US could have a Mormon president.

There are already 15 Mormons in Congress, including Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid. Rightwing media firebrand Glenn Beck is a Mormon. So is rock star Brandon Flowers, lead singer of the Killers, and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, contending with Romney for the Republican nomination. Mormons run businesses such as hotel chain Marriott International, and shows about them – such as the HBO drama Big Love – are television hits. For a faith that has often been persecuted, Mormonism, it seems, has never been more American.

"I am not only a New Yorker and a Mormon, but I am proud to be so. I have raised a family here," says David Buckner, a business consultant who worships at the Manhattan temple. For Buckner, 48, who has called New York home since 1995, the city and Mormonism are a perfect fit. "There is a deep respect for different religions here in New York. People are respectful of our mores and values."

That is not true everywhere. Robert Jeffress, a leading conservative Baptist minister with links to Romney's rival for the nomination Rick Perry, recently launched a blistering attack on the faith, calling it a "cult" and saying it is "not Christianity". Others appear to view the emergence of Mormonism into everyday life with nervousness: a poll in June found one in five US voters would oppose a Mormon candidate for president.

Nor is that a reflection of concern only on the religious right. Mormonism takes a strong view against gay marriage: it has provided financial backing for campaigns to stop same-sex couples getting full married rights, notably in California in 2008. The church's actions triggered nationwide protests by campaigners. » | Paul Harris in New York | Sunday, October 16, 2011

Liam Fox Resignation Exposes Tory Links to US Radical Right

THE GUARDIAN: Labour and Lib Dem politicians have stepped up demands for the PM to explain ministers' involvement with Atlantic Bridge

David Cameron has been accused of allowing a secret rightwing agenda to flourish at the heart of the Conservative party, as fallout from the resignation of Liam Fox exposed its close links with a US network of lobbyists, climate change deniers and defence hawks.

In a sign that Fox's decision to fall on his sword will not mark the end of the furore engulfing the Tories, both Liberal Democrat and Labour politicians stepped up their demands for the prime minister to explain why several senior members of his cabinet were involved in an Anglo-American organisation apparently at odds with his party's environmental commitments and pledge to defend free healthcare.

At the heart of the complex web linking Fox and his friend Adam Werritty to a raft of businessmen, lobbyists and US neocons is the former defence secretary's defunct charity, Atlantic Bridge, which was set up with the purported aim of "strengthening the special relationship" but is now mired in controversy.

An Observer investigation reveals that many of those who sat on the Anglo-American charity's board and its executive council, or were employed on its staff, were lobbyists or lawyers with connections to the defence industry and energy interests. Others included powerful businessmen with defence investments and representatives of the gambling industry.

Fox's organisation, which was wound up last year following a critical Charity Commission report into its activities, formed a partnership with an organisation called the American Legislative Exchange Council. The powerful lobbying organisation, which receives funding from pharmaceutical, weapons and oil interests among others, is heavily funded by the Koch Charitable Foundation whose founder, Charles G Koch, is one of the most generous donors to the Tea Party movement in the US. In recent years, the Tea Party has become a potent populist force in American politics, associated with controversial stances on global warming.

Via a series of foundations, Koch and his brother, David, have also given millions of dollars to global warming sceptics, according to Greenpeace. Read on and comment » | Toby Helm and Jamie Doward | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Action mondiale: Berne, Bâle et Zurich: les autres manifestations des «indignés»

LE MATIN: Les villes alémaniques, à l'instar de Genève en Suisse romande, ont vu défiler samedi des manifestations clairsemées et pacifistes dénonçant la crise financière actuelle.

L’appel mondial des «indignés», qui devait rassembler des manifestants à Rome, Berlin, Bruxelles ou New York, a été suivi avec plus ou moins de succès en Suisse. Zurich a attiré près de 1000 «indignés». Genève, Bâle et Berne ont également réuni quelques centaines de personnes.

Un milliers d’«indignés»

Selon les organisateurs, environ 1000 personnes étaient rassemblées sur la Paradeplatz à Zurich dans le cadre de l’action mondiale des «indignés». Elles protestaient contre le système financier et l’élite politique.

L’ambiance était détendue. Beaucoup de manifestants étaient des jeunes, mais de nombreux adultes et des familles avec enfants étaient aussi de la partie. La manifestation zurichoise, non autorisée, a notamment été organisée par les jeunesses socialistes et les jeunes Verts.

De nombreuses patrouilles de police était présentes dans des rues proches de la place, où sont situés les sièges de nombreuses banques, a constaté une journaliste de l’ats sur place. Les forces de l’ordre sont restées en retrait, sans intervenir. » | LeMatin.ch & les agencies | Samedi 15 Octobre 2011

Arraï TV, dernière tribune de Kadhafi
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Basée à Damas, cette chaîne privée est l’ultime canal de communication de l’ex-dictateur.

Kadhafi a disparu des écrans radars, mais pas du paysage médiatique. Depuis son départ précipité de Tripoli, le 23 août dernier, le colonel continue à défier ses opposants et la communauté internationale sur les ondes d’une télévision syrienne. Inconnue du grand public, Arraï (l’opinion en arabe) focalise l’attention depuis qu’elle diffuse les messages sonores (sept à ce jour) du Guide déchu et de ses proches.

Dernière missive en date? Le 6 octobre. Dans un enregistrement – à peine audible – l’ancien maître de Tripoli a appelé le peuple libyen à descendre dans la rue pour faire entendre sa voix «contre les collaborateurs de l’OTAN». Quant à Aïcha, la fille de l’ancien leader réfugié à Alger, et son grand frère Seif al-Islam, le SDF du clan, ils ne se privent pas d’utiliser cette tribune pour relayer les discours de leur père. » | Yannick Van der Schueren | Samedi 15 Octobre 2011

Heurts contre les coptes: l'Egypte adopte une loi punissant les discriminations
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: L'armée égyptienne a adopté samedi une loi punissant les discriminations religieuses pour éviter de nouvelles violences à l'images de celles contre les chrétiens coptes le 9 octobre derniers.

L’armée, qui dirige l’Egypte depuis la chute du régime de Hosni Moubarak en février, a approuvé samedi une loi punissant les discriminations après les heurts entre forces de l’ordre et chrétiens coptes ayant fait 25 morts le 9 octobre au Caire.

Cet amendement au code pénal prévoit une amende de 30.000 livres égyptiennes (5'000 dollars) pour toute discrimination basée sur "le genre, l’origine, la langue, la religion ou les croyances". » | AFP | Samedi 15 Octobre 2011

Two Million People Hit by Thailand's Worst Floods for 50 Years
At least 283 people have been killed and more than 110,000 people left homeless by floods that have destroyed crops and livlihoods across Thailand.

Read short article here | Friday, October 14, 2011

Protesters in Rome Burn Cars, Break Windows
Protests inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement have become violent in Rome as 'black block' militants smash shop windows and set fire to two cars.

Comment here
THE TIMES: Rome riots in global ‘day of protest’ against corporate greed » | Sadie Gray | Saturday, October 15, 2011 [£]

Anwar al Awlaki's Son Killed in Yemen
THE AUSTRALIAN: A SON of the US-born dead al-Qa'ida cleric Anwar al Awlaki was among seven suspected jihadist militants killed by apparent US air strikes in Yemen.

"Abderrahman Anwar al Awlaki was killed in the raid," the tribal source said, adding that he received confirmation from the militant-controlled Yemeni hospital where the dead and wounded from the strikes were taken.

Awlaki himself was killed in a US drone strike on September 30, which US President Barack Obama hailed as a "major blow" to al-Qa’ida worldwide.

US intelligence officials believe Awlaki was linked to a US army major charged with shooting dead 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas, and to a Nigerian student accused of trying to blow up a US airliner on December 25, 2009.

He was also believed to be the leader of external operations of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). » | AFP | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Die Occupy-Welle geht um die Welt
Gewaltsame Ausschreitungen bei Sozialprotesten in Rom
NZZ ONLINE: Der Aktionstag gegen die Entartung des Kapitalismus hat weltweit Anklang gefunden. Vom Ostasien und Ozeanien ausgehend schwappte die Welle besonders heftig nach Europa. Insgesamt soll es Teilnehmer in 82 Ländern gegeben haben. Nur in Italien wurde es brenzlig.

Bei Protesten gegen die Macht der Finanzinstitutionen ist es am Samstag in Rom zu Ausschreitungen gekommen. Demonstranten, die sich von der Grosskundgebung abgesetzt hatten, warfen Schaufensterscheiben ein und setzten ein Auto in Brand. Schwarzer Rauch stieg in der Innenstadt auf. Zahlreiche Polizisten waren im Einsatz. Erwartet worden waren in der italienischen Hauptstadt rund 100'000 Demonstranten. » | ddp/dpa/Reuters | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

NZZ ONLINE: Kreative Besetzung des Paradeplatzes: Einige hundert Personen bekunden in Zürich ihren Widerstand gegen die Finanzwelt » | Andreas Schmid | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

BERNER ZEITUNG: In Rom brennen die Autos: Nach Australien sind auch in Europa Zehntausende dem weltweiten Aufruf zum Protest gegen die Macht der Banken gefolgt. In Italiens Hauptstadt kam es zu heftigen Ausschreitungen. » | kpn, jak/sda | Samstag 15. Oktober 2011

Occupy London – Live

Watch live streaming video from occupylondon2 at livestream.com

MAIL ONLINE: Day of 'Global Revolution' comes to London as thousands of demonstrators take over the City » | Lee Moran | Saturday, October 15, 2011

Protesters Hit the City of London

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Protesters descended on the City of London today as part of worldwide demonstrations against corporate greed and cutbacks.

Inspired by America's "Occupy Wall Street" and Spain's "Indignants", people took to the streets in Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo in the opening hours of the unprecedented global outcry.

Anger over unemployment and opposition to the financial elite hung over the protests in 951 cities in 82 countries, which coincided with a Paris meeting of G20 financial powers pre-occupied by the eurozone debt crisis.

But the demands and the sense of urgency among the activists varied depending on the city.

In London, more than 1,000 protesters gathered outside St Paul's Cathedral and struggled against police officers on horseback to enter Paternoster Square, the home of the London Stock Exchange.

Speaking at the protest, political campaigner Peter Tatchell proposed a one-off 20pc emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10pc of the UK population, as well as the introduction of a “Tobin Tax” on financial transactions.

"The richest 10pc of the UK population have a combined personal wealth of £4 million, million. A one-off 20pc tax on those people would raise £800 billion," he said.
"Those people can afford it, they'd feel no pain, they're so fabulously wealthy.

"With that sum of money you could pay off the entire government deficit. No need for any public spending cuts." Read on and comment » | Matthew Sparkes | Saturday, October 15, 2011