Prince Charles Attacks Modern Housing Scheme Backed by Qatar Royal Family
THE TELEGRAPH: The Prince of Wales has intervened to try to block a £1 billion modern flats development which is backed by the Qatari royal family.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jaber Jasim al-Thani has been urged by the Prince to reconsider the Chelsea scheme. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
The Prince has written to the Prime Minister of Qatar appealing for him to scrap plans for a modern steel and glass luxury flats scheme, designed by Lord Rogers, at Chelsea barracks. He has proposed instead an alternative, more traditional scheme by one of his favourite architects.

The intervention has put the future King on collision course all over again with the architect Lord Rogers, whose proposed extension of London's National Gallery 25 years ago he memorably described as a "monstrous carbuncle".

Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, however has accused the Prince of trying to circumvent the lawful planning process.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jaber Jasim al-Thani, the prime minister of Qatar - part of the ruling royal family, has been urged by the Prince to reconsider the Chelsea scheme. He has proposed instead, at a classical design by one of Quinlan Terry one of his favourite architects.

In the letter written last month, the Prince urged Qatari Diar, the development arm of the Qatar royal family, to involve him in discussions over the future of the site.

The Prince had already described the Rogers' scheme, headed by the developers Nick and Christian Candy, "unsympathetic" and "unsuitable" for the area. The brothers, with Qatari Diar, bought the site from the Ministry of Defence in May 2006 for almost £1 billion.

Lord Rogers drew up plans for 350 luxury flats on the barracks site. The original scheme was for the apartments to be housed in a series of ' pavilions' rising to ten storeys. But the plans were opposed by the local Belgravia Residents' Association. >>> By Andrew Pierce | Monday, April 6, 2009

President Barack Obama Rejects Allegations that US at War with Islam
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama has declared that "the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam" and spoken of his "deep appreciation for the Islamic faith" in a speech to Turkey's parliament.

The US leader was introduced to the parliament as 'Barack Hussein Obama' . Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
"So let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam," he said.

Many Americans "have lived in a Muslim-majority country – I know, because I am one of them" Obama, on the first stop of a two-day trip to Turkey, his first as president to a Muslim country, said earlier that the U.S. and Turkey can forge a "model partnership" that bridges the religious and cultural divide between the western world and the predominantly Muslim east.

The US leader was introduced to the parliament as "Barack Hussein Obama"

In a speech that celebrated the cultural ties and shared history between American and Turkey, Obama said their alliance has made the world "more secure." He pledged to give U.S. support to combat the "terrorist activities" of the Kurdish separatist movement, the PKK, winning applause from lawmakers. The U.S. is prepared to be a partner to help work through the issue of Armenian massacres in 1915, and "strongly supports" Turkish membership of the European Union, Obama said. >>> By Toby Harnden in Ankara | Monday, April 6, 2009

WATCH GUARDIAN VIDEO:
Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical, says Barack Obama: US president tells Turkish parliament US is not and never will be at war with Islam >>> | Monday, April 6, 2009

TELEGRAPH BLOGS – Iain Martin: Barack Obama Really Does Go On a Bit

Isn't it time for him to go home yet? It is good, in theory, that the new President of the United States is taking so much time to tour Europe. He arrived in London last Tuesday, has been to Strasbourg, Prague yesterday and now he's off to Turkey. It shows, I suppose, that he cares about the outside world and that is 'A Good Thing'. But his long stay means that we are hearing rather a lot from him, way too much in fact.

His speeches have long under-delivered, usually leaving a faintly empty sensation in this listener even though I welcomed, moderately, his victory last year as offering the possibility of a fresh start and a boost to confidence.

Yet, we are told that he is a great orator and in one way he certainly is. He does have a preternatural calm in the spotlight and a mastery of the cadences we associate with the notable speakers in US history - such as JFK and MLK. But beyond that, am I alone in finding him increasingly to be something of a bore?

His performance at the first press conference in London with Gordon Brown featured moments in which he sparkled - his riff on loving the Queen was a high-point. But most of the serious answers that I listened to were interminable, windy and not very impressive. At points there were pauses so long that it appeared he had simply lost his train of thought.

Today, we were treated to another set-piece Obama speech, and my didn't he go on a bit? The crowd in Prague was huge, and initially wildly enthusiastic, but what he served up was not any more impressive than his damp squib in Berlin last year. Is there a computer which churns this stuff out for him? >>>

Prime Minister Objects to ’Moderate Islam’ Label
HÜRRIYET: ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rejected attempts to call Turkey the representative of moderate Islam. "It is unacceptable for us to agree with such a definition. Turkey has never been a country to represent such a concept. Moreover, Islam cannot be classified as moderate or not," Erdoğan said, speaking at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies late Thursday.

Erdoğan’s statements came only days before the visit of U.S President Barack Obama whose administration signaled a dramatic shift from George W. Bush in identifying Turkey as a moderate Islamic country. U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had praised Turkey as "a democratic country with a secular constitution" during her visit to Ankara in March. In his speech, "Alliance of Civilizations and Turkey’s role," Erdoğan pointed to the lack of dialogue between different religions and cultures, which has led to distressing incidents in the world history.

"The animosity, unfortunately, strengthens the scenarios that there is a so-called clash of civilizations in the world. Those, who defend such speculations, may go further to identify the terrorism with Islam which is based on peace," he maintained, adding that the situation helps those who try to globalize Islamophobia.

Erdoğan also wanted Western societies to be more open to cooperation and dialogue with the East. "It should be known that adopting a malicious and offending approach toward the sensitive issues of Islamic world by hiding behind some democratic freedoms like freedom of speech and right of free publication is unacceptable," he said.

Drawing attention to the importance of mutual understanding and respect, Erdoğan stated that he believes and respects Moses and Jesus, and accepts them as prophets. "I expect the same attitude from a Jew or a Christian toward my own prophet," Erdoğan noted. He underlined the importance of Turkey’s European Union membership in terms of establishing connections between the West and the East. >>> | Monday, April 6, 2009

Obama, Sarkozy and Turkey’s Accession to the Union

Italian Earthquake: At Least 16 Dead and Thousands Displaced
THE TELEGRAPH: A strong earthquake in central Italy's Abruzzo region has killed at least 16 people, including five children, and left thousands displaced, according to officials.

Deadly earthquake strikes Italy
Italian media reported at least 30 people were missing and several had been injured when buildings collpased during the powwerful quake.

An Italian civil protection official told the BBC that between 3,000 and 10,000 buildings may have been damaged by the earthquake.

Massimo Cialente, mayor of Abruzzo capital L'Aquila, said around 100,000 people had left their homes as a result of the damage. >>> | Monday, April 6, 2009

Obama Should Keep His Nose Out of Europe’s Affairs
BBC: US President Barack Obama has arrived in Turkey on a two-day visit, after giving his support to Ankara's efforts to join the European Union.

He said Turkey's accession to the EU would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor the country in Europe.

But French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU itself to decide who joined the bloc. Obama Backs Turkey EU Accession >>> | Sunday, April 5, 2009

THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama Arrives in Turkey on Last Stop of European Tour

President Barack Obama has arrived in Turkey on the last stop of his maiden tour to Europe, hours after he urged the European Union to accept the country as a full member.

Air Force One touched down at Ankara's Esenboga airport at around 9.10pm local time in what was Obama's first trip to a majority Muslim nation since becoming president in January.

The president arrived direct from an EU summit in Prague where he endorsed Turkey's accession to the bloc, despite opposition from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and guarded remarks from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Obama told EU leaders: "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests. Moving forward toward Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe." >>> By Alastair Jamieson | Monday, April 6, 2009

TIMESONLINE: Leave Turkey’s Bid to Join EU to Us, Nicolas Sarkozy Warns Barack Obama

The love-in between Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama proved short-lived after the French President warned his US counterpart yesterday to keep his nose out of the issue of Turkey’s membership of the European Union.

President Obama used his first EU-US summit, on the eve of his visit to Turkey, to encourage European leaders to embrace the Muslim country and “anchor it in Europe”. However, Mr Sarkozy, a long-standing opponent of full membership for Turkey, rebuffed the US leader in language that seemed to sour the revival of Franco-US relations.

Support for Turkey in joining the EU, a process that it began formally in 2005 and hopes to complete before 2020, has long been an American foreign policy goal.

Mr Obama, who flew to Turkey last night, clearly wanted to leave on a positive note. He told EU leaders: “The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence.

“Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe.”

Mr Sarkozy, who has talked of offering Turkey a privileged partnership rather than membership, did not wait to hit back. “I have been working hand in hand with President Obama but when it comes to the European Union it is up to member states of the European Union to decide [on membership],” Mr Sarkozy said in an interview on French television. “I have always been opposed to this entry and I remain opposed,” he added.

His comments laid bare the continuing EU split over Turkish membership, with France and Austria openly opposed and deep reservations in Germany and the Netherlands. Turkey would become the most populous EU country and Germany in particular is said to have concerns about the shift in power that this would cause, with the largest number of MEPs coming from Turkey, along with strong voting rights in European Council decisions. >>> David Charter in Prague | Monday, April 6, 2009

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Mecca Mosques 'Wrongly Aligned’
BBC: Some 200 mosques in Islam's holiest city, Mecca, point the wrong way for prayers, reports from Saudi Arabia say.

All mosques have a niche showing the direction of the most sacred Islamic site, the Kaaba, an ancient cube-like building in Mecca's Grand Mosque.

But people looking down from recently built high-rises in Mecca found the niches in many older mosques were not pointing directly towards the Kaaba.

Some worshippers are said to be anxious about the validity of their prayers.

There have been suggestions that laser beams could be used to make an exact measurement.

Tawfik al-Sudairy, Islamic affairs ministry deputy secretary, downplayed the problem in remarks quoted by the pan-Arab newspaper al-Hayat.

"There are no major errors but corrections have been made for some old mosques, thanks to modern techniques," he said.

"In any case, it does not affect the prayers." >>> | Sunday, April 5, 2009

Wine Thrives in Muslim Morocco
Image: Google Images
ASSOCIATED PRESS: MEKNES, Morocco — The gently rolling hills planted thick with vineyards are an unlikely sight for a Muslim country partly set in the deserts and palms of North Africa. Yet the grapes, and the wine they produce, are thriving in Morocco despite Islam's ban on alcohol consumption.

Morocco has become one of the largest winemakers in the Muslim world, with the equivalent of 35 million bottles produced last year. Wine brings the state millions in sales tax, even though Islam appears to be on the rise politically.

"Morocco is a country of tolerance," said Mehdi Bouchaara, the deputy general manager at the Celliers de Meknes, the country's largest winemaker, which bottles over 85 percent of national output. "It's everybody's personal choice whether to drink or not."

The Celliers have flourished on this tolerance. The firm now cultivates 2,100 hectares (5,189 acres) of vineyards, bottling anything from entry-level table wine to homemade champagne and even a high-end claret, Chateau Roslane, aged in a vaulted cellar packed with oak barrels imported from France. The winery now dwarfs virtually any other producer in Europe.

On paper, wine is "Haram," or forbidden to Muslims. But Bouchaara said the firm's distribution is all legal since it only sells to traders authorized by the state, who in turn officially sell exclusively to non-Muslim tourists.

Statistics, however, show that Moroccans consume on average 1 liter (a quarter of a gallon) of wine per person each year, and the Moroccan state itself is the largest owner of the country's 12,000 hectares (29,652 acres) of vineyards.

The paradox illustrates Morocco's delicate balancing act.

The fast-modernizing country thrives on tourism and trade with Europe, but its people remain deeply conservative. The country's ruler, King Mohammed VI, is also "commander of the believers" and protector of the faith. Islamists authorized to take part in politics are the second-largest force in parliament, while support for non-authorized groups is believed to be even larger. >>> By Alfred de Montesquiou | Sunday, April 5, 2009

Obama in Turkey for First Visit to Muslim Country
REUTERS: ANKARA - U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in NATO member Turkey on Sunday in his first visit as president to a Muslim country.

Obama's visit, on the last leg of an eight-day trip that marks his debut as president on the world stage, is a recognition of the secular but predominantly Muslim country's growing clout and Washington's desire for its help to solve confrontations and conflicts from Iran to Afghanistan.

U.S.-Turkish relationship suffered badly in 2003 when Ankara opposed the invasion of Iraq. But Obama will seek help from Turkey as he pushes a new regional strategy in Afghanistan and as it prepares to reduce the number of troops in Iraq.

Obama's motorcade got plenty of friendly waves from small groups along a route from the international airport to the city center lined with security personnel. A few people waved tiny Turkish flags. Bush got a mostly indifferent response from the public in visits to the Muslim world.

Turkey will not be the venue for Obama's promised major speech in a Muslim capital, but his April 5-7 trip will be a way to emphasize his message of reaching out to Muslims. >>> Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alison Williams | Sunday, April 5, 2009

Obama Calls for End to Nuclear Weapons in Prague Speech
DEUTSCHE WELLE: US President Barack Obama has announced ambitious plans to rid the world of nuclear weapons at a speech in Prague. Yet his support for a controversial US missile shield in Eastern Europe could anger Russia.

An estimated 30,000 people streamed into the historic center of Prague on Sunday to hear Obama deliver his first major public speech in Europe since becoming president. With Prague Castle as a backdrop, Obama proposed measures to eliminate existing nuclear weapons, stop further nuclear proliferation and prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons or materials. The US leader's speech comes as the Czech Republic marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism.

"As the only nuclear power who have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act," Obama said. "We cannot succeed in this endeavor alone, but we can start it."

Germany’s foreign minister Frank Walter Steinmeier has called for nuclear disarmament plans to be mobilized this year. “Nulcear [sic] weapons and their unchecked proliferation are a major threat to us all,” Steinmeier told the mass circulation German tabloid Bild am Sonntag. >>> th/tw, dpa/afp | Sunday, 5. April 2009

Ignore Our Christian Values and the Nation Will Drift Apart
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain is suffering because we have been too willing to forget what made us who we are, writes Michael Nazir-Ali.

I have resigned as Bishop of Rochester after nearly 15 years. During that time, I have watched the nation drift further and further away from its Christian moorings. Instead of the spiritual and moral framework provided by the Judaeo-Christian tradition, we have been led to expect, and even to celebrate, mere diversity. Not surprisingly, this has had the result of loosening the ties of law, customs and values, and led to a gradual loss of identity and of cohesiveness. Every society, for its wellbeing, needs the social capital of common values and the recognition of certain virtues which contribute to personal and social flourishing. Our ideas about the sacredness of the human person at every stage of life, of equality and natural rights and, therefore, of freedom, have demonstrably arisen from the tradition rooted in the Bible.

Different faiths and traditions will not necessarily produce the values and virtues which have been so prominent in the history of this country. It is quite wrong to presume that they will, as Gordon Brown appeared to do last week in his speech calling for "value-based" rules at St Paul's Cathedral. Some faiths may emphasise social solidarity more than personal freedom, others publicly enforce piety over a nurturing of the interior life and yet others stress honour and shame rather than humility, service and sacrifice. It may be, of course, that there is a useful overlap among these traditions in terms of values by which to live. It may also be that people of different faiths can "own" many of the values produced by a Christian framework in this nation, but this cannot take place in a vacuum.

One of the surprising aspects of what you could call our values vacuum is the historical amnesia which is so prevalent today – or, rather, a selective sort of amnesia. The perfectly virtuous pages of history, such as Magna Carta, the campaign to abolish the slave trade and, later, slavery itself, the easing of conditions of labour for men, women and children and the introduction of universal education, which all took place under the inspiration of the Christian faith, are forgotten or ignored. Instead 
of which we get large doses of guilt along with an emphasis on our involvement in the slave trade, religious and ethnic persecution, exploitative colonialism and other wrongs which certainly need repentance. But repentance for past wrongs without the celebration of what has been good has deprived people of a common vision by which to live and a strong basis for the future. >>> By Michael Nazir-Ali | Sunday, April 5, 2009

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’Slave of the King’ – Abdulmalik* – عبدالمالك

*The name ‘Abdulmalik’ means 'slave of the king'. It is therefore an apt name for a president who bows in this manner to the king of Saudi Arabia.

Tausende protestieren in der Türkei gegen Obama: Kundgebungen vor dem Besuch des amerikanischen Präsidenten
NZZ Online: In der Türkei hat es am Samstag Demonstrationen gegen den amerikanischen Präsidenten Obama gegeben. Im Visier von linksgerichteten Kundgebungen war auch die Nato. Im Südosten der Türkei beteiligten sich auch Kurden an den Demonstrationen gegen Obama.

Mehrere tausend Personen sind am Samstag in der Türkei zu Protesten gegen die USA und die Nato auf die Strasse gegangen. «Yankee Go Home!» war bei den Aktionen einen Tag vor dem Besuch des amerikanischen Präsidenten Barack Obama zu hören. «Obama komm nicht! Wir wollen dich nicht» riefen Demonstranten in Ankara. Auf einem Transparent in Istanbul hiess es: «Obama geh' zurück nach Hause». Die Demonstranten forderten ausserdem die Auflösung der Nato. >>> ap | Samstag, 4. April 2009

NZZ Online: Europa zeigt Obama die kalte Schulter

A. R.

Selten hat eine Serie von Gipfeltreffen solche Aufmerksamkeit ausgelöst wie der gegenwärtige diplomatische Marathon von London bis Istanbul. Der Star der Veranstaltung ist Barack Obama, was zeigt, dass Amerika auch in geschwächtem Zustand noch immer als Vormacht wahrgenommen wird. Obama unterzieht sich auf seiner ersten Europareise seit der Wahl einer Parforcetour, als gelte es, die Welt – oder zumindest die heutige Weltordnung – in einem biblischen Kraftakt in einer Woche neu zu erschaffen. Am ersten Tag bahnte der Amerikaner einen neuen strategischen Dialog mit China und Russland an, am zweiten baute er am Treffen der G-20 an einer neuen globalen Finanzarchitektur mit.

Der dritte und der vierte Tag sind dem Versuch gewidmet, der Nato ein neues strategisches Konzept zu verpassen und die Mission in Afghanistan auf ein stabileres Fundament zu stellen. Am fünften stürmt Obama zum Gipfel mit der Europäischen Union, und am sechsten will er mit seinem Besuch in der muslimischen Türkei das Signal zur Versöhnung mit der islamischen Welt geben. Am siebten Tag, an Bord der «Air Force One», wird Obama ruhen und sein diplomatisches Werk betrachten. Ob es ihn mit Wohlgefallen erfüllen wird? Kaum – denn seine Begegnung mit Europa erweist sich für ihn schon jetzt als herbe Enttäuschung. >>> | Samstag, 4. April 2009

Welsh Guard Plays "Darth Vader" for Saudi King

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Saudi Secrets (October 2007)

Michelle Obama Gets Rave Reviews Abroad - But Top US Fashion Designers Are Bitter
THE TELEGRAPH: The reviews for Michelle Obama on her overseas debut as First Lady have been fulsome but some of the best known names in American fashion are not among the cheerleaders.

For her meeting with her glamorous French counterpart Carla Bruni, Mrs Obama opted for a dress by a Thai-born designer. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
Mrs Obama has mixed her sartorial sources during her first foreign foray - switching between young foreign-born US designers such as Jason Wu and Isobel Toledo, her high street look from J Crew and new foreign names such as Azzedine Alaia (Tunisian-French) and Junya Watanabe (Japanese).

But missing from the roster are the big names who have dominated the industry in the US for years. And some of them are none too happy.

Leading the criticism was Oscar de la Renta, a favourite of several former first ladies. "American fashion right now is struggling," he told Women's Wear Daily (WWD), the "fashion industry bible".

"I think I understand what [Obama and her advisers] are doing, but I don't think that is the right message at this particular point. >>> By Philip Sherwell in New York | Saturday, April 4, 2009

Doch noch versöhnliches Ende des Nato-Gipfels: Rasmussen wird neuer Generalsekretär - Strategie für Afghanistan gutgeheissen
NZZ Online: Die Türkei hat am Nato-Jubiläumsgipfel in Strassburg doch noch eingelenkt und der Ernennung von Anders Fogh Rasmussen zum neuen Nato-Generalsekretär zugestimmt.

Der dänische Ministerpräsident Anders Fogh Rasmussen wird neuer Nato-Generalsekretär. Dies gab der amtierende Generalsekretär Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, dessen Amtszeit im Juli ausläuft, am Samstag am Nato-Gipfel in Strassburg bekannt. Die Einigung auf Rasmussen kam überraschend. Die Türkei hatte erst im Laufe der Beratungen am Mittag ihren Widerstand gegen den Dänen aufgegeben, der wegen der Mohammed-Karikaturen in Teilen der muslimischen Welt als rotes Tuch gilt. >>> ap/sda | Samstag, 4. April 2009

Iran: Jews Undercover
Watch YouTube video: HERE >>>
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Nato 60th Summit in Strasbourg Marred by Street Battles and Arson
THE TELEGRAPH: Buildings were set on fire and running battles were fought between protesters and riot police in the streets of Strasbourg, where Barack Obama and world leaders have gathered for a Nato summit.

A violent anti-NATO protest takes place during NATO's 60th-anniversary summit. Anti-NATO activists set up a barricade with a Strasbourg road sign, near the German border at the Europe bridge, east of Strasbourg. Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
Anarchists and demonstrators set fires at a hotel, a disused border post and a tourism office around Strasbourg's Pont de l'Europe, a bridge that joins France and Germany.

Police fired volleys of teargas to try to stop groups of violent French and German protesters joining forces to rampage across the city.

Masked youths threw petrol bombs, smashed windows and ransacked shops, forcing police to retreat until riot officers could regroup to seize back control.

Eyewitnesses saw black-clad protesters storm the nearby Ibis hotel, pilfering alcohol from its bar and setting the building ablaze.

"The hotel and the other buildings were completely engulfed in flames," said a resident of the city who witnessed the mayhem. >>> By Bruno Waterfield and Peter Allen in Strasbourg | Saturday, April 4, 2009

World Record Islamic Auction Cancelled
THE DAILY STAR: Sotheby's calls of[f] scheduled sale of key after doubts are raised about its authenticity

LONDON: The 2008 sale of a key thought to have been made in the 12th century for the holy Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which set an auction record for an Islamic work of art, has been cancelled, Sotheby's said.

Shortly after the sale last April at Sotheby's in London, when the key sold for 9.2 million pounds ($13.49 million) - over 18 times its pre-sale estimate - experts raised questions about its authenticity, prompting the auctioneer to annul the result.

"In light of the divergence of academic views," Sotheby's said in a statement, "Sotheby's and the consignor decided to cancel the sale in May 2008, pending further research and scientific analysis.

"The key is a fascinating object and interested parties are still captivated by this rare and intriguing piece. Consequently there continues to be interest in a sale, notwithstanding the divergence of both academic views and scientific analysis, which remain inconclusive." >>> Mike Collett-White, Reuters | Saturday, April 04, 2009