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The Syrian President’s Speech: Surprise! There’s No Surprise

It’s not as if President Bashar al-Assad didn’t have time to go through a few revisions of his much anticipated, much delayed speech before he finally delivered it to Syria’s pliant parliamentarians on Wednesday. It fell well short of the expectations of many, but the MPs gushed over their 45-year-old leader, rising to their feet several times to cheer and chant “with our souls and with our blood we will sacrifice for you Bashar!” and “God, Syria, Bashar — only!” At least a dozen stood to shout their support during his speech, or spout sycophantic poetry — though some of the TV shots seemed to have been set up to capture these ostensibly spontaneous events before they happened.

In Britain, a Pop Star and a Politician Fuel Debates over Freedom of Speech

There’s usually not much common ground between a boy band singer and a far-right politician who would like to ban Muslim immigrants from his country. But in Britain this week, both have been at the center of fierce debates over freedom of speech.

Controversial Dutch lawmaker enters UK after ban overturned

Days after a court allowed him entry into Britain, controversial Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders said his arrival Friday marked “a victory for the freedom of speech.” “I hope, once again, that the UK government will never, never turn back somebody for political reasons because they don’t like what they are saying,” Wilders said at a news conference at the Houses of Parliament. Wilders, known for his much-criticized film about Islam, was denied entry into Britain in February when he flew there to screen the film, “Fitna,” at the House of Lords

Michelle Obama steals the show in Copenhagen

After flying through the night for seven hours aboard Air Force One, nobody would blame President Obama for being at least slightly groggy when he arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, for a quick four hours to make the final pitch for Chicago to host the 2016 Olympics.

Kanye West’s ‘Fame Kills’ tour meets swift death

Kanye West may be able to take time off to think about his life after all now that his concert tour has been canceled. Concert promoter Live Nation said Thursday that West’s concert tour with Lady Gaga, titled “Fame Kills,” has been canceled just two weeks after it was announced.

Chavez reveals personal side, criticizes U.S.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez revealed a deeply personal side in an interview Thursday night, saying he loves Jesus Christ and would have liked to play Major League baseball in Yankee Stadium. He also expressed a fondness for American people and culture, saying he likes the movie actor Charles Bronson and the poet Walt Whitman

Schneider: Why party conventions still exist

Conventions are relics. They don’t decide the nominees anymore — that’s been turned over to primary voters.

CNN Future Summit forum

A new breed of life-saving robot is being developed that take their shape and movement from snakes, and, it is hoped, will prove invaluable not only in search and rescue operations but also be a great asset to human surgery. (Full story) (CNN) — Conventions are relics.

Folk singer Mary Travers dead at 72

Mary Travers of 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, has died, according to her publicist. She was 72.

Kanye West calls Swift with ‘sincere’ apology

Kanye West called Taylor Swift with a “very sincere” apology Tuesday for interrupting her acceptance speech at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, Swift said. West phoned Swift following her appearance on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday, her publicist said.