In the Papers
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By James Creedon / FRANCE 24
Gulf News (Dubai)
Sudan’s Al Bashir says ICC has no jurisdiction
The arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Sudanese President Al Bashir has caused quite a stir, especially in countries traditionally allied with Sudan. The Gulf News highlights Sudan’s rejection of the ICC’s jurisdiction, pointing out that this is the first time the arrest of a sitting head of state has been requested by the Court. The article goes on to quote Ban Ki-moon who has sounded a note caution regarding the arrest. He believes it could have negative consequences for delicate peacekeeping operations on the ground.
El Pais (Spain)
Genocide in action (editorial)
El Pais’s editorial is quick to call Al Bashir a despot and reminds readers that he consistently torpedoed the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces over recent years. Despite this, the Spanish daily laments, big hitters in the UN Security Council, Russia and China will no doubt continue to support the Khartoum regime. Both countries are likely to protect their oil and other commercial interest in Sudan by blocking any UN-based drive to uphold the arrest warrant. As a result, El Pais says, months and years could pass before any movement on the arrest comes into fruition.
La Charente Libre (France)
Omar, Bashar and International Justice
The French regional daily drew a parallel between China’s support of Sudan and its despotic regime and France having invited the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Paris to participate in the summit for the Mediterranean Union. The paper says that “You can rest easy in your bloodbath once an ally such as China or France finds an interest in guaranteeing your impunity.”
New York Daily News (US)
New Yorker mag runs for cover; ‘discussion’ cartoon’s goal, says editor
The New York daily has picked up on the controversial cartoon on this week’s cover of the New Yorker magazine. It depicts the Democratic presidential nominee in the Oval Office wearing full Muslim attire, alongside his wife, Michelle, replete with a foot-high afro and an AK-47 slung over her shoulder. As if that wasn’t hard-hitting enough, Osama Bin Laden is visible in a portrait hanging over the fireplace and adding fuel to fire (!) is the American flag, kindling in the grate below. The Daily News recounts the arguments on boths sides. Obama’s campaign is insistent on the cartoon’s bad taste. Not so, says the Editor of the New Yorker who emphasizes the satirical nature of the cartoon. The magazine intended to provoke a debate on the “the politics of fear”… the technique whereby opponents of Obama have variously sought to cast him as a Muslim, weak on terror.
The Age (Australia)
New Yorker raises ire as satire backfires
On the same story, the Australian daily, The Age says that the contents of this particular issue of the New Yorker are potentially far more damaging to Obama than the cartoon itself, which most readers of the magazine will surely indentify as satire, perhaps of questionable taste. Articles within however show Obama in a somewhat unfavourable light. He is depicted as power hungry and someone who spent a lot of energy on courting wealthy and influential friends.
Japan Times (Japan)
Cigarettes, lies and impressionable film fans
The Indian correspondent reminds readers that while smoking has largely disappeared from the silver screen in the West, Bollywood still features many a-smoking star!
The paper is critical of the smoking lobby in India which it says is using the cinema industry to poach young smokers. 60% of Indians regularly watch Bollywood movies and the audience is often very young.
According to an Indian Health Ministry survey, 76 percent of Indian movies show feature smoking.
The Daily Mail (UK)
He's behind you! The moment a 6ft shark leapt from the water just yards from surfers
Surfers, click on this link and shiver! Unbeknownst to this gent as he negotiated the peaks and troughs of the Florida surf, a 6-foot shark was jumping out of the sea in very close proximity…
