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Latest update: 26/03/2009
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika - Algeria - anti-Semitism - Denmark - Jean-Marie Le Pen - obesity - presidential elections - terrorism
In the papers
FRANCE 24 journalists review highlights from the world's papers.
Politiken (Denmark)
We start with Danish T-shirt sellers: members of the 'Fighters and Lovers' collective have been convicted in Denmark for financing terrorism. They sold T-shirts with FARC logos and PFLP logos and gave proceeds to the groups. Both the Columbian and Palestinian groups are classified by Europe, Canada and the US as terrorist organisations. In Denmark’s Politiken newspaper, the article talks of how the issue has prompted debate with doubts raised over the difference between an organisation fighting an undemocratic regime or a power of occupation.
Haaretz (Israel)
Over in Israel, the Haaretz newspaper makes its stance clear. With the headline 'Six Danes convicted of selling T-shirts to fund Palestinian terror', the article describes how Human Rights watchdogs and the UN have both listed alleged terrorist acts by FARC and PFLP.
Liberte (Algeria)
It’s a week after Algeria’s election campaign officially started and daily private newspaper Liberte has published a study of how much media coverage the different candidates are getting. It's widely seen as a one-horse race for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika who recently changed the rules so he could serve a third term. Well-known opposition figures are boycotting the polls and there’s a lack of weighty challengers. In the last week there have been 800 articles written on President Bouteflika, with 1,341 mentions. To illustrate how farcical this election is, the second most mentioned candidate is from the Islah party with just 209 mentions.
Midi (Algeria)
Moreover in new newspaper Midi, the rest of the candidates are complaining of having insufficient funds for their campaigns… while the president has published a million flyers, 200 thousand posters and has a website.
Le Soir (Belgium)
Everyone’s talking about Le Pen’s repeated comments about Nazi gas chambers but in the Blegian press there’s a story about his close friend, French comedian Dieudonné. Le Pen is the godfather of Dieudonné’s daughter. The comedian used to be on the left but he’s been condemned in France for anti-Semitism.
Belgium’s Le Soir says Dieudonné - with his obvious links to the far right - has been told by Belgian authorities that he will have to pay for the security he used for his recent gig. There were at least 30 protestors (the photo shows a man holding up a placard asking if ‘Le Pen is a comedian too…’ ) The paper says that 80 police officers were mobilised in the area and 10 put inside to check for racist comments. The cost for Dieudonné is estimated at around 25 thousand euros… more than he possibly could have earned on ticket prices at around 35 euros each. He’s just not that popular these days.
Brisbane Times (Australia)
The picture tells the story… and it's no wonder America has some of the highest obesity rates in the world. This burger, launched at a baseball park in Michigan, has an artery-busting 4800 calories in it. What's worse is that anyone who manages to eat it gets a free T-Shirt. The burger costs 20 US dollars and for your money you get five beef patties, five slices of cheese, fries and a bun made with a POUND of dough.

























