'Britain Treats Europe Like a Self-service Restaurant' Claims Francois [sic] Hollande as New French President Takes Second Swipe at Cameron

MAIL ONLINE: New French president outlines aggressive position towards Cameron by saying he will only meet PM 'quickly' / Hollande previously criticised Britain's supposed obsession with protecting City of London from Brussels

France's new president Francois [sic] Hollande made another thinly-veiled on David Cameron today when he claimed Britain treats Europe 'like a self-service restaurant'.

The new Socialist president-elect made his aggressive position towards the UK clear while outlining plans for his first meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Asked by the news website Slate how he planned to deal with Mr Cameron, given the fact that the Conservative leader had snubbed him during a visit to London earlier this year, Mr Hollande also said he would meet him 'quickly'.

But Mr Hollande, who openly describes himself as an 'enemy of finance', said he would make his antipathy towards the City of London clear.

Mr Hollande had only this week fired a broadside at the coalition government by criticising Britain's supposed 'obsession' with protecting the City of London from Brussels-inspired legislation.

Mr Hollande said: 'Let us recognise that the British have been particularly timid about the question of financial regulation and only concerned by the interests of the City, hence their reticence on the establishment of a financial transactions tax and European fiscal harmonisation.

'And to that is added a relative indifference to the fate of the Eurozone, because Great Britain is protected against speculation since its central bank can intervene directly to finance its debt.

'Europe is not a cash till and less still a self-service restaurant.' Read on and comment » | Peter Allen | Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Grooming Offences Committed Mostly by Asian Men, Says Ex-Barnardo's Chief

THE GUARDIAN: Martin Narey urges inquiry into why Pakistanis and Afghans are 'overrepresented' in child exploitation crimes in northern towns

The former head of Barnardo's has said that grooming of teenage girls for sex in the north of England appears to be "overwhelmingly" carried out by men of Pakistani and Afghan origin and urged and investigation into the issue.

Martin Narey's comments came as nine men – one from Afghanistan and the rest of Pakistani backgrounds – await sentencing for being part of a child exploitation gang that passed vulnerable girls around a group of men for sex in the Heywood area of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 2008 and 2009.

He said he was not stigmatising the Asian community as a whole, noting that during his time managing the prison service – prior to joining Barnardo's – sex offenders were "overwhelmingly white", but the Labour MP Keith Vaz warned that the BNP was setting the agenda.

Narey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "For this particular type of crime, the street grooming of teenage girls in northern towns … there is very troubling evidence that Asians are overwhelmingly represented in the prosecutions for such offences."

The former Barnardo's chief executive said he did not know the reason for their "overrepresentation" and rejected the idea they were specifically targeting white girls. He suggested that vulnerable girls on the streets were more likely to be white, while Asian girls subjected to strict parenting were more likely to be at home and so less prone to fall victim to such crimes. He added: "I'm not saying this is just Asian or Pakistani men… [but] street trafficking in the north does appear be overwhelmingly about Pakistani and Afghan men." » | Haroon Siddique | Wednesday, May 09, 2012

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Rochdale grooming trial: Police accused of failing to investigate paedophile gang for fear of appearing racist – Police and social workers were last night accused of failing to investigate an Asian paedophile gang for fear of being perceived as racist, allowing them to prey on up to 50 young white girls. » | Nigel Bunyan | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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Thank God Somebody’s Got Some Balls! Harrods Owner Rejected by Co-operative Board of New York Building

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: He is the owner of Harrods and developed one of the most luxurious apartment blocks in the UK, but it seems that the Prime Minister of Qatar's money cannot buy a home in one of New York's most exclusive buildings.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani has seen his $31.5 million (£19.5m) bid for two apartments on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue rejected by the co-operative board of the building.

While the official reasons for the rejection has not been announced, suggestions in the New York media ranged from the number of children – he has 15 – and staff that would be using the apartments, to his diplomatic immunity status to the fact that the board were uncomfortable with one person having such a large share in the building.

Sheikh Hamad bid a combined total of $31.5 million for apartments 8E and 8W at an auction held by the estate of the reclusive millionaire Huguette Clark, the previous owner of the apartments.

But he was not even granted an interview by the buildings board which, according to various media reports, had concerns over allowing the prime minister of a foreign country to live in the building. » | Mark Hughes, New York | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Islamic School Under Investigation for Anti-Semitic Teachings
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: A Toronto-area Islamic organization is facing a police investigation over a Sunday school text that compares Judaism with Nazism and writes that “treacherous” Jews “conspired to kill” Mohammed.

The East End madrassah has apologized for the statements, removed them from its website and pledged to review all its teaching material to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Asked about the materials Tuesday, premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters: “There is no room for hatred or intolerance in this province.” » | Adrian Morrow | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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Alcohol-related Violence Increases in Australia
Alcohol drinking has been on the rise in Australia, where bing-drinking has correlated to violent acts that sometimes land people in the hospital. On average, almost 200 Australians every day are victims of alcohol-related assaults.

South Korea Cracks Down on "Human Flesh Capsules"
South Korean authorities say they plan to crackdown on the illegal smuggling of so-called "human flesh capsules". The pills contain parts of human foetuses or infants and are believed to be sold as stamina enhancement drugs. But customs officials say they can cause serious health problems. Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay is in Seoul.

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Tackling the Trade in Human Flesh Pills
BBC: South Korea has stepped up customs inspections to try and stop capsules filled with powdered human flesh being smuggled into the country from China.

Thousands of the pills have been found in luggage and in the post, often disguised as energy boosters.

Catharina Moh reports Watch BBC video » | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Rochdale Grooming Trial: Gang Convicted for Sex Trafficking
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Six members of a gang who preyed on under-age white girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester have become the first in Britain to be convicted of sex trafficking.


They and three other men used a one-time victim to recruit other girls so they could be driven to “chill” houses around the north of England for sordid sex.

Some of the teenagers had sex willingly, but others were raped by up to five men at a time.

The paedophiles who paid small sums of money for the frequently violent encounters were predominantly British Pakistanis.

Of the 11 defendants on trial at Liverpool Crown Court, 10 were Pakistani and the other an Afghan asylum seeker. » | Nigel Bunyan | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

BBC: Rochdale grooming trial: Nine found guilty of child sex charges: Nine men have been convicted of being part of a child sexual exploitation ring in Greater Manchester. ¶ The men, from Rochdale and Oldham, "groomed" girls, one as young as 13. ¶ Liverpool Crown Court heard the men plied their victims with drink and drugs so they could "pass them around" and use them for sex. ¶ The case, involving Asian defendants and white victims, sparked protests by far-right groups but police insist the grooming was not "racially motivated". ¶ The offences which centred on Heywood included rape, trafficking girls for sex and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child. ¶ Two of the defendants on trial, Qamar Shazad and Liaquat Shah both of Rochdale, were acquitted and walked free from court. » | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Fliegender Wechsel im Elysée-Palast

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Das wahre Gesicht der Salafisten | Deutschland wach auf!

Investigate Islam »

Inside Story – France: A New Political Era
Is François Hollande, the French president-elect, up to the challenges facing his country and Europe?

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Glorifying Gaddafi Banned in Libya
In Tripoli, bookstores are full of selections on a range of topics from democracy building to Libya's modern history. Many of these books were banned under the rule of the late Muammar Gaddafi who was removed from power last year. Now, international rights groups fear the the country's interim National Transitional Council could be headed down a similar path of restricting freedom of speech, after it passed a new law that criminalises the glorification of the former regime and its leader. Al Jazeera's Omar Al Saleh reports from Tripoli.

Greece: Golden Dawn Warns 'The Time for Fear Has Come'
Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn warn rivals and reformers that "the time for fear has come"…

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Netanyahu Surprise Gives Israel Grand Coalition

REUTERS.COM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a unity government on Tuesday in a surprise move that could give him a freer hand to attack Iran's nuclear facilities and seek peace with the Palestinians.

The coalition deal, negotiated secretly over the past days and sealed at a private meeting overnight, means the centrist Kadima party will hook up with Netanyahu's rightist coalition, creating a wide majority of 94 of parliament's 120 legislators.

The coalition, which replaces plans announced just two days earlier for a snap election in September, will be one of the biggest in Israeli history.

"This government is good for security, good for the economy and good for the people of Israel," Netanyahu told a joint news conference with Kadima's leader, Shaul Mofaz.

The new coalition would focus on sharing out the duty of military conscription among all Israelis, redrawing the national budget and advancing electoral reform, he said.

Ultra-Orthodox parties in the coalition had opposed plans to extend conscription to their supporters, who are now exempt. » | Allyn Fisher-Ilan | JERUSALEM | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

John Travolta Sued for $2m by Masseur 'Over Sexual Assault'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The actor John Travolta is being sued for $2 million (£1.2 million) by an unidentified masseur who claims the Hollywood star assaulted him sexually during a massage in January inside a room at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to court documents.

The masseur, referred to as John Doe in court papers obtained by Reuters and filed last Friday, claims that Travolta rubbed his leg, touched his genitals and tried to initiate at least one sex act inside a private bungalow at the exclusive hotel on Jan. 16.

Travolta's spokesman dismissed the claim in a statement as a "baseless lie."

"On the date when plaintiff claims John met him, John was not in California and it can be proved that he was on the East Coast," the statement said. "John intends to get this case thrown out and then he will sue the attorney and plaintiff for malicious prosecution."

The masseur's lawyer, Pasadena, California-based Okorie Okorocha, said that under California law, a victim of a sexual assault like his client can file as John Doe if he fears extreme embarrassment if his identity is known. » | Source: Reuters | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to Resume Singing Career

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is to start singing live again and will release a new album of songs in the autumn, her promoter confirmed on Tuesday.

There are even rumours of France's outgoing first lady starring in a new biopic about her family history.

News of the 44-year-old's desire to revive her showbusiness career came after her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy, announced his retirement from politics.

The 57-year-old suffered a humiliating electoral defeat on Sunday night, meaning that he became the first French head of state to be rejected after just one term for 31 years.

Sarkozy is facing an uncertain future – his poor English means he is unlikely to be able to make money on the lucrative US lecture circuit, and he has ruled out any return to politics.

Veronique Rampazza, spokeswoman for Sarkozy's wife, said: "Carla did not put her career on hold during Nicolas Sarkozy's five years in office. She continues to compose.

"What she gave up for practical reasons was her public concerts, which she is now able to start again." » | Peter Allen in Paris | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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Extremists vs. Extremists: Salafists and Right-Wing Populists Battle in Bonn

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Germany's right-wing populists are fond of insulting Islam in order to attract attention. On Saturday, violence prone Salafists took the bait, resulting in a riot that left 29 police injured. Despite the clash, however, the anti-Islam party can continue to display their anti-Islam caricatures, a court has decided.

It was clear from the start that the tiny, right-wing populist group Pro-NRW would stop at nothing to attract attention in the run-up to state elections in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia this Sunday. With Salafists in the state now reacting violently to Pro-NRW's inflammatory parading of Muhammad caricatures in front of Muslim establishments, the splinter party appears to have gotten its wish.

On Saturday, violence flared anew when Salafists attacked police protecting a Pro-NRW demonstration in front of a Saudi Arabian school in Bonn. Twenty-nine officers were wounded, two of them having been stabbed, and more than 100 people were arrested. On Monday, a 25-year-old man was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the knife attacks.

Ralf Jäger, interior minister for the state, promised that there would be "severe consequences," adding that he would "join the federal government in exploring all legal possibilities for countering these extremists." The police president in Bonn, Ursula Brohl-Sowa, spoke of an "explosion of violence like we haven't seen for some time."

The Pro-NRW march in Bonn consisted of just over two dozen people, but some 500 to 600 counter-demonstrators also gathered, including, according to police estimates, some 200 Salafists who had travelled to Bonn from across the country. Several hundred police were also present to keep the two groups separated. » | Charles Hawley | Monday, May 07, 2012

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Geert Wilders on the Glenn Beck Show: “Islam’s Ideology Is Dangerous”

HT: Always On Watch »

Pro-NRW-Demo vor Moschee: Kölner Polizei fürchtet neue Salafisten-Krawalle

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Köln rüstet sich für neue Ausschreitungen mit militanten Salafisten. Weil die rechtsextreme Gruppe Pro-NRW dort am Nachmittag vor einer Moschee demonstrieren will, könnte die Gewalt eskalieren. Die Union fordert ein schärferes Vorgehen gegen die Radikalen.

Köln/Berlin - Nordrhein-Westfalen fürchtet eine weitere Eskalation zwischen der rechtsextremistischen Kleinstpartei Pro-NRW und den radikalislamischen Salafisten. Am Dienstagnachmittag wollen Pro-NRW-Anhänger erneut demonstrieren, diesmal vor der im Bau befindlichen Kölner Zentralmoschee im Stadtteil Ehrenfeld.

Aus einer internen Lageeinschätzung der nordrhein-westfälischen Polizei, die SPIEGEL ONLINE vorliegt, geht hervor, dass die Behörden sich auf eine mögliche Verschärfung der Auseinandersetzung einstellen. Es sei bekannt geworden, heißt es in dem Papier, dass sich die Salafisten intensiv auf die heutige Kundgebung vorbereitet hätten. "Konkret will sich die Szene mit Schlagstöcken und Tränengas aufrüsten, um sich an den Einsatzkräften für die jüngsten Ereignisse in Bonn rächen zu können." Auch seien die Parteibüros und Anhänger von Pro-NRW weiterhin Ziele der radikalen Muslime.

"Wir werden den friedlichen Protest gegen die Wahlkampfveranstaltung ermöglichen. Gegen jede Form von Gewalt werden wir frühzeitig und konsequent vorgehen," kündigte Michael Temme, Einsatzleiter der Kölner Polizei, an. » | jdl/syd/heb/dpa | Dienstag, 08. Mai 2012

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Press Freedom Alarm Over Greek Party's Treatment Of Journalists
GUARDIAN – GREENSLADE BLOG: International press freedom watchdogs are watching the political situation in Greece with growing alarm following the treatment of journalists by the far-right Golden Dawn party.

After Golden Dawn obtained 7% of the vote, a press conference was staged by its leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos. Before his arrival, waiting reporters were ordered by party members to stand as a sign of respect.

Journalists who refused to do so were then expelled from the room.

This move came as little surprise to the Greek journalist Xenia Kounalaki. Last month, she wrote an article about Golden Dawn in the German weekly Der Spiegel, which prompted an attack on her on the party's website. Read on and comment » | Roy Greenslade | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

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Gay Couples to Win Legal Right to Marry Before Next Election
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Gay couples will be guaranteed the legal right to marry before the next general election, a Liberal Democrat minister has said.

Lynne Featherstone, the equalities minister, defied Tory backbench MPs who want the proposal to be dropped, declaring: “There will be no U-turn on equal marriage.”

She said the Coalition would continue to focus on “core issues”, such as reducing the deficit, at the same time as introducing laws allowing same-sex couples to marry by the end of this Parliament.

Her remarks, on her constituency blog, will fuel tensions between Liberal Democrats and Tories over the direction of the government.

Since last week’s poor election results for both Coalition parties, a succession of Conservatives have demanded that David Cameron and Nick Clegg abandon “fringe issues” and focus on the economy.

Miss Featherstone insists that the coalition can introduce equal marriage and secure the economic recovery at the same time. » | Tim Ross, Political Correspondent | Monday, May 07, 2012

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Al-Qaeda Underwear Bomb Plot Proof of 'Perverse' Lengths They Will Go To
Al-Qaeda's plot to blow up a US-bound plane with an underwear bomb is proof of the "perverse and terrible" lengths they are willing to go, according to Hillary Clinton.

Read the article here | Raf Sanchez | Washington | Tuesday, May 08, 2012
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CIA Foils New Al-Qaeda Underwear Bomb Plot
The CIA has disrupted an al-Qaeda plot to bring down a US-bound airline using a new underwear bomb around the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death.

Read the article here | Raf Sanchez | Washington | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Angela Merkel Facing Political Fight of Her Life over France and Greece Austerity Rejection

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Angela Merkel is under pressure to defeat the popular backlash against austerity to save her own political skin and to preserve Germany's dominance in the eurozone system.

Over the next four weeks, the German chancellor has the fight of her political life on all fronts, domestic and European, at a moment when one slip could sink her government and tear down the European Union's single currency.

In the coming days, Mrs Merkel must take the lead in trying to find an answer for the Greece [sic] crisis after three[-]fifths of Greek voters rejected EU austerity measures, crafted in Frankfurt, the home of the European Central Bank.

German taxpayers have put 211 billion euros on the line to bail-out [sic] countries like Greece, and Germany's patience is running out with countries that reject the economic medicine they are prescribed to cut debt while continuing to demand the hand[-]outs.

In order to appease her highly taxed voters worried that EU bailouts breached Germany's constitution, Mrs Merkel made German economic aid conditional on all eurozone countries signing the "fiskalpakt [sic]".

The treaty, signed by 25 EU countries, gives Brussels officials the right to block budgets that break spending rules that must be enshrined in national constitutions, as is the case in Germany. » | Bruno Waterfield, Paris | Monday, May 07, 2012

French and Greek Political Earthquakes Point to Rise of the Anti-austerity Movement

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Anti-austerity movements are gathering pace across Europe following political earthquakes in France and Greece, with 12 governments dismissed over the last three years.

With unemployment in Europe at its highest level since the creation of the single currency, resentment has been growing over whether strict budgetary discipline is the best way to brace a spiral of debt.

Street protests have been seen across Italy, Spain and Portugal as people reacted to spending cuts that have slowed economies across Europe.

Savings have been wiped out and in Spain, a real estate crash has helped swell unemployment to 25 per cent of the workforce.

Many economists have advocated a greater emphasis on growth, but it has only gained traction among European policy-makers and politicians in the past few weeks.

Paul Krugman, an economics Nobel Prize winner, welcomed the anti-austerity groundswell in Europe, saying the bloc’s voters proved “wiser than the Continent’s best and brightest”.

He said the health of the German economy was “an argument for much more expansionary policies elsewhere, and in particular for the European Central Bank to drop its obsession with inflation and focus on growth”. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Monday, May 07, 2012

Greek Immigrants Urge Parties to Isolate Far-Right Golden Dawn

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Greece's immigrant community on Monday urged political parties to work together to isolate a far-Right, virulently anti-immigrant party that won more than 20 seats in parliament for the first time.

Chrysi Avgi, or Golden Dawn, regarded as a fringe group only a year ago, stunned political observers by winning 6.97 per cent – 21 seats – in Sunday's election.

Leader Nikos Michaloliakos, who gave the fascist salute upon taking his seat in the Athens town council two years ago, said: "The time for fear has come for those who betrayed this homeland."

Flanked by menacing shaven-headed young men who form the party's core, he added: "No one should fear me if they are a good Greek citizen. If they are traitors – I don't know." » | Alex Spillius, Athens | Monday, May 07, 2012

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Rechtsextreme dürfen Mohammed-Karikaturen zeigen: Polizei fürchtet weitere Salafisten-Krawalle in NRW*

FOCUS ONLINE: Gewaltbereite Salafisten machen in NRW nach Erkenntnissen der Polizei erneut mobil. Nach den Krawallen in Bonn wollen sie sich in Köln gegen die rechtsextreme Splitterpartei Pro NRW versammeln. Einen Angriff auf Polizisten werten die Ermittler als Mordversuch.

Nach den schweren Ausschreitungen in Bonn hat die Polizei Hinweise auf weitere geplante Gewalttaten von Salafisten an diesem Dienstag in Köln. Dort ist eine Wahlkampf-Kundgebung der rechtsextremen Splitterpartei Pro NRW geplant. Die Behörden haben es mehr als 100 Islamisten verboten, Kölner Stadtgebiet zu betreten, teilte das Innenministerium in Düsseldorf mit. Außerdem dürfen die Rechtsextremisten von Pro NRW nicht in unmittelbarer Nähe einer Moschee demonstrieren und auch keine islamkritischen Karikaturen zeigen.

Verwaltungsgerichte in Minden und Arnsberg haben indes das Zeigen der Mohammed-Karikaturen erlaubt. Bei Ausschreitungen zwischen Salafisten und der Polizei waren am Samstag in Bonn 29 Polizisten verletzt worden, zwei durch Messerstiche schwer. Gegen einen 25-jährigen Islamisten wurde Haftbefehl wegen dreifachen versuchten Polizistenmordes erlassen. Der Mann aus Hessen sei wegen mehrfacher gefährlicher Körperverletzung bekannt, sagte ein Sprecher der Bonner Staatsanwaltschaft. Er habe den Angriff auf die Beamten gestanden, bestreite aber eine Tötungsabsicht. » | jba/dpa | Montag, 07. Mai 2012

*NRW – Nordrhein-Westfalen target=_blank> » [E]

France's Hollande Plunges into Debt Crisis
President-elect Francois Hollande's decisions on eurozone austerity and NATO troop withdrawals will be closely watched.

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AT&T to Pay Muslim Woman $5m in Harassment Case
THE KANSAS CITY STAR: KANSAS CITY, MO. -- A former Kansas City woman who converted to Islam in 2005 said she was harassed for years at AT&T, and that the abuse boiled over in 2008 when her boss snatched her head scarf and exposed her hair.

A Jackson County jury on Thursday awarded Susann Bashir $5 million in punitive damages in her discrimination lawsuit, along with $120,000 in lost wages and other actual damages.

The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/JKWbqR) reported Saturday the award appears to be the largest jury verdict for a workplace discrimination case in Missouri history.

Bashir said in court documents that her work environment became hostile immediately after she converted, with her co-workers making harassing comments about her religion and referring to her hijab as "that thing on her head."

"I was shocked. I thought, 'What is going on?'" she told the newspaper. "Nobody ever cared what I wore before. Nobody ever cared what religion I was before."

Bashir worked at AT&T's office in Kansas City for 10 years as a fiber optics network builder before being fired from her $70,000-a-year job. She claimed she endured religious discrimination nearly every day of the final three years she worked there, including being asked if she was going to blow up the building and being called a "towelhead" and a terrorist.

AT&T said Friday it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal. » | The Associated Press | Saturday, May 05, 2012

Toronto Islamic School Removes Parts of Curriculum from Website Casting Jews as ‘Treacherous,’ Akin to Nazis

NATIONAL POST: A Toronto Islamic school said Monday it had removed part of its curriculum from its website following a complaint about the material, which depicts Jews as “treacherous” and comparable to Nazis.

“We are looking into it,” said Masuma Jessa, principal of the East End Madrassah, which operates out of David and Mary Thompson Collegiate Institute, a Toronto District School Board facility.

In a press release, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs complained the madrassa’s curriculum was rife with antisemitic slurs. The document refers to “Jewish plots and treacheries” and calls Jews “crafty.”

“Using religion to promote hatred among youth is not just offensive and abhorrent – it shows a stunning disregard for Canada’s basic values of decency and tolerance,” David Spiro, Greater Toronto Co-Chair of centre said.

“Canadians of all backgrounds would be outraged to learn that horrific conspiracy theories are included in this curriculum, including the blood libel that Jews plotted to kill Muhammad. » | Stewart Bell | Monday, May 07, 2012

Nicolas Sarkozy arrête définitivement la politique

LE FIGARO: Le président sortant Nicolas Sarkozy a confirmé lundi aux poids lourds de la majorité qu'il quittait la vie politique et livré son regard sur sa défaite.

De l'émotion. De la gravité aussi. Nicolas Sarkozy a reçu son comité de campagne lundi à 14 heures, à l'Élysée. Une vingtaine de personnes, dont François Fillon, Jean-François Copé, et les représentants des différentes sensibilités, ainsi que des ministres et ses principaux collaborateurs, dont sa plume Henri Guaino. Le président sortant les a reçus à l'heure dite. La réunion a duré une heure. Fatigué, le teint gris et les traits marqués, Sarkozy a toutefois fait bonne figure en se montrant calme et serein, au lendemain d'une défaite à laquelle il a cru jusqu'au bout pouvoir échapper. Il a une nouvelle fois confirmé qu'il arrêtait la politique: «Une page se tourne pour moi, a-t-il confié. Je ne serai pas candidat aux législatives, ni aux élections à venir.» Il a ajouté, dans un sourire: «Soyez rassurés, je renouvellerai ma carte (de l'UMP) et je payerai ma cotisation. Mais je quitte l'opérationnel.» » | Par Solenn de Royer | lundi 07 mai 2012

Une vidéo en relation avec cet article »

Sarkozy is quitting politics for good. He loves life too much to be bitter. He’d leave tomorrow if he could, but he has to respect tradition. The French falling out of love with him, his personality, his politics will be worse for him than his divorce from Cécilia. Carla will welcome his withdrawal from political life. »

Schwere Verluste für Regerierungsparteien

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Angry Greeks Send a Message by Punishing Parties of Austerity
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Greek voters on Sunday delivered a resounding message to Europe's leaders that their tolerance for austerity has reached its limits by choosing a parliament with a majority of MPs from anti-bailout parties.


The two mainstream parties that approved the second international £110 billion rescue loan and its stringent requirements for cuts were heavily punished as support surged for the Left and Right.

The shattering of the political status quo threw into doubt Greece's commitment to meeting the terms of its debt and could spread instability throughout the euro zone. Weeks of uncertainty are likely to follow as numerous parties vie to cobble a majority coalition, with a fresh election within two months a distinct possibility.

There will also be fears that ensuing political instability will see a return to the street violence that has scarred Athens since the debt crisis surfaced two years ago. » | Alex Spillius, Athens | Sunday, May 06, 2012

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eKathimerini »

Falklands: Argentina Ambassador Calls for Britain to Hand Back 'Colonial Enclave'
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: British relations in South America could falter if the UK Government refuses to hand over the Falkland Islands to Argentina, the country's ambassador to London said today.

Alicia Castro tried to pull Argentina's immediate neighbours into the dispute, claiming UK diplomatic and business relations could be damaged if the islands were not handed over to Buenos Aires.

She said Las Malvinas – Argentina's name for the Falklands – would be better off if they cut their ties with the UK.

Describing the islands as a "colonial enclave", she said her government would send teachers to the islands to teach Spanish, while it also wanted to re-establish direct flights between the Falklands and the mainland.

She told Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News that Argentina "did not want to change the way of life" on the Falklands, insisting the islands had to be "given back to Latin America as a whole". Read on and comment » | Sunday, May 06, 2012

Penguin News »

Benjamin Netanyahu Calls Early Israel Election

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Israel was propelled into election season one year ahead of schedule on Sunday night with an announcement from Benjamin Netanyahu that the country will take to the polls in four months.

“I am not interested in a year and a half long election campaign that would damage the country. I would rather have a four-month swift election campaign that would bring political system to stability quickly,” Mr Netanyahu told fellow Likud party members during his opening address at their annual conference in Tel Aviv.

Mr Netanyahu praised leaders of rival parties, whom he conceded had “much to offer” but swiftly dismissed them as viable candidates to replace him as prime minister.

“The state of Israel cannot afford to have a prime minister without the economic, diplomatic and security experience necessary [for the job],” he said.

Mr Netanyahu's announcement had long been predicted by Israeli media and government officials. » | Phoebe Greenwood in Tel Aviv | Sunday, May 06, 2012

US Election 2012: Joe Biden Weighs into Gay Marriage Debate

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Joe Biden, the US vice president, said he was "absolutely comfortable" with gay marriage on Sunday as he waded into one the most divisive issues of the forthcoming presidential election.

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties," he said a television interview.

His remarks came as the Obama administration continued to walk a political tightrope over same-sex marriages, with Barack Obama's own position on the issue said by aides to be "evolving".

In a sign of how sensitive an issue gay marriage is for Mr Obama's campaign strategists, gay rights groups initially took Mr Biden's words on NBC's "Meet the Press" as a significant step towards full endorsement, only for senior Obama aides to say the position remained unchanged.

David Axelrod, the Obama campaign chief strategist, clarified on Twitter that Mr Biden had only "precisely" stated Mr Obama's position that "that all married couples should have exactly the same legal rights".

A Biden aide then added further clarification: "The vice president was saying what the president has said previously – that committed and loving same-sex couples deserve the same rights and protections enjoyed by all Americans, and that we oppose any effort to rollback those rights. » | Peter Foster, Washington | Sunday, May 06, 2012

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Bahrain Arrests Prominent Rights Activist

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab, a leader of protests against authorities in the Gulf kingdom, has been arrested on his return from a trip abroad, the interior ministry and activists said on Sunday.

Mr Rajab, who heads the non-governmental Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), was arrested at the airport late on Saturday over charges of "participating in illegal assembly and calling others to join," the centre said in a statement.

His trial is expected to begin on Sunday.

"Nabeel Rajab arrested by order of public prosecution. All legal procedures are being taken," the interior ministry said on its Twitter account.

Mr Rajab was returning from Lebanon where he met the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, according to activist Mohammed al-Maskati, who travelled with him.

He was led away by people in plainclothes, Mr Maskati wrote on his Twitter page.

The BCHR said Mr Rajab could face further charges, as he was summoned for interrogation on April 26 accused of "insulting the statutory bodies". » | Source: AFP | Sunday, May 06, 2012

Nicolas Sarkozy : "Je porte toute la responsabilité de cette défaite (...). Il me faut en tirer toutes les conséquences."

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François Hollande raconté par sa famille et ses mentors
Son visage est apparu sur la scène politique en 1981 lorsqu'il est devenu conseiller de François Mitterrand. Pourtant, il y a quelques mois encore, ils étaient peu nombreux à imaginer François Hollande à L'Elysée. Sa passion de la politique l'a forgé, dès l'enfance. – FTVi / Hélène Hug et Frédéric Faure - France 2

Clinton 'Hurt' by Charges of Anti-Islam US Bias

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was hurt by the idea that the United States was against Islam, during a public forum in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Clinton claims the US has gone farther than most countries to guarantee legal protections for minorities.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday she was deeply hurt by charges that the United States was biased against Muslims, staunchly defending her country's record in protecting minorities.

Clinton, visiting the world's third largest Muslim-majority country Bangladesh, was asked by a student at a public forum about perceptions that the United States was against Islam.

"That hurts me so much," Clinton said. "It's a painful perception to hear about and I deeply regret that anyone believes that or propagates it."

Clinton said that the decade of US-led war was "self-defense" after the September 11, 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda and said extremists "perverted" the teachings of Islam. » | AFP | Sunday, May 06, 2012

Al Qaeda Releases New Video of Elderly American Hostage

Read the article here | Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz | Monday, May 07, 2012

Syria Goes to Polls amid Deadly Unrest
For the first time in decades, Syria will hold multi-party elections on Monday. The parliamentary vote is seen by supporters of Bashar al-Assad as proof of his committment to political reform. But critics say it is anything but. Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reports on whether this election is likely to achieve any political change.

Putin Sworn In as Russia's President
Vladimir Putin attends glittering Kremlin ceremony a day after police clashed with thousands of protesters in Moscow.

François Hollande Elected as French President
With the celebrations barely over, France's president-elect has already got down to business, promising massive change. Francois Hollande says he'll spend more and create new jobs. The Socialist leader says he'll also challenge the strict economic austerity measures imposed by Europe. Al Jazeera's Emma Hayward reports from Paris, the French capital.

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Socialist Hollande Wins French Presidency
Francois Hollande has been elected president of France, the country's first Socialist leader in nearly two decades. Addressing jubilant supporters in the French capital, Paris, he called for a change in Europe's austerity direction. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reports.

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Pro-bailout Parties Weakened in Greece Vote
Greeks have voted heavily against austerity measures in Sunday's parliamentary poll. The country's two main political parties, both backers of the eurozone's stringent bailout scheme, suffered a dramatic fall in support. With no outright majority, the next government will most likely be a coalition. Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips reports from Athens.

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