Queen's Speech Sets Out Election Battle Lines
THE TELEGRAPH: The Government has unveiled its final legislative package before the General Election, with the Queen's Speech containing pledges to help the neediest pensioners and crack down on excesses in the financial sector.

The unashamedly political address made clear to the public Labour's "aspirations" for a fourth term, including free care in old age for the elderly, and action on child poverty, according to Lord Mandelson, the First Secretary.

Speaking ahead of the speech on BBC Radio 4's today programme, Lord Mandelson denied accusations that this year's speech was lacking in substance.

With less than seven months before the country must go to the polls, Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, put forward a series of populist bills designed to set out election battle lines in what is the final legislative programme before next year's vote.

As well as ensuring free personal care for 280,000 elderly and disabled people with the highest needs, there were guarantees on health care and schooling as well as a crackdown on "risky" bank bonuses.

With parliamentary time running out, few, if any, of the streamlined package of around 15 new bills stand much chance of making it to the statute book before Parliament is dissolved.

The Queen told the assembled MPs and peers: "My Government's overriding priority is to ensure sustained growth to deliver a fair and prosperous economy for families and businesses, as the British economy recovers from the global economic downturn. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Wednesday, November 18, 2009



TIMES ONLINE: Queen's Speech: 15 Bills, but only 33 days left of Parliament >>> Sam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Britische Regierung will Staatsdefizit halbieren: Regierungserklärung von Queen mit traditioneller Thronrede verlesen
NZZ ONLINE: Die britische Regierung plant für das kommende Parlamentsjahr ein Gesetz zur Halbierung des Staatsdefizits und zur Begrenzung der Sonderzahlungen für risikofreudige Bankmanager. Diese Absicht gab die Queen in ihrer Thronrede bekannt.

Traditioneller Pomp: Die Queen beim Einzug in das Oberhaus vor ihrer Thronrede. Bild: NZZ Online
Die alles übertreffende Priorität meiner Regierung liegt darin, in der gegenwärtigen Phase der Erholung von der globalen Rezession ein nachhaltiges Wirtschaftswachstum sicherzustellen und eine faire und florierende Wirtschaft für Familien und Geschäftsleute zu ermöglichen», hiess es in der sogenannten Thronrede zur Eröffnung des neuen Parlamentsjahres.

Zugleich mit der Reduktion des Staatsdefizits soll das soziale Netz enger geknüpft werden, besonders für bedürftige Rentner. Dies sind einige der Kernpunkte in Premierminister Gordon Browns alljährlicher Regierungserklärung, die am Mittwoch nach alter Tradition von Königin Elizabeth II. im Londoner Oberhaus verlesen wurde. Viele Beobachter werteten die Erklärung vor allem als Wahlkampfmanifest der Labour Party. >>> ap | Mittwoch, 18. November 2009

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Photogallery: Queen’s Speech Opens Parliament: Royal pageantry met hard-nosed electioneering as Queen Elizabeth II donned the diamond-encrusted Imperial State Crown to announce the government’s plan for the next parliamentary session >>>

Related WSJ article >>>

Somali Woman Stoned for Adultery
BBC: A 20-year-old woman divorcee accused of committing adultery in Somalia has been stoned to death by Islamists in front of a crowd of about 200 people.

A judge working for the militant group al-Shabab said she had had an affair with an unmarried 29-year-old man.

He said she gave birth to a still-born baby and was found guilty of adultery. Her boyfriend was given 100 lashes.

It is thought to be the second time a woman has been stoned to death for adultery by al-Shabab.

The group controls large swathes of southern Somalia where they have imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law which has been unpopular with many Somalis.

'Lenient'

According to reports from a small village near the town of Wajid, 250 miles (400km) north-west of the capital, Mogadishu, the woman was taken to the public grounds where she was buried up to her waist.

She was then stoned to death in front of the crowds on Tuesday afternoon.

The judge, Sheikh Ibrahim Abdirahman, said her unmarried boyfriend was given 100 lashes at the same venue. >>> | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Heart Disease Was Rife Among Affluent Ancient Egyptians
THE GUARDIAN: X-rays of mummies reveal atherosclerosis, suggesting there may be more to heart disease than bad diet and smoking

Heart disease plagued human society long before fry-ups and cigarettes came along, researchers say. The upper classes of ancient Egypt were riddled with cardiovascular disease that dramatically raised their risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Doctors made the discovery after taking hospital X-ray scans of 20 Egyptian mummies that date back more than 3,500 years.

The scans revealed signs of atherosclerosis, a life-threatening condition where fat and calcium build up in the arteries, clogging them and stiffening their walls.

On a visit to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, one of the researchers had been intrigued by a nameplate on the remains of Pharaoh Merenptah, who died in 1,203BC. The plate said the pharaoh died at the age of 60 and suffered diseased arteries, arthritis and tooth decay.

The US and Egyptian experts got permission to examine the mummified pharaoh and others that were on display or stored in the museum's basement.

Despite their extraordinary age, 16 mummies had identifiable hearts and arteries. Of these, nine showed evidence of atherosclerosis. Hard calcified deposits were seen either in the walls of arteries or along the path an artery would have taken. In some individuals, up to six different arteries were affected.

The most ancient mummy afflicted with heart disease was the maid of Queen Ahmose Nefertiti, Lady Rai, who lived around 200 years before the time of King Tutenkhamun. She is thought to have been between 30 and 40 years old when she died in 1,530BC. >>> Ian Sample, science correspondent | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Vitamin D: Wenn das Sonnenvitamin fehlt
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Schon ein geringer Mangel an Vitamin D führt einer US-Studie zufolge bei über 50-Jährigen zu einem erhöhten Risiko für Herzkrankheiten.

Ältere Menschen mit einem Mangel an Vitamin D haben einer Studie zufolge ein deutlich höheres Herzinfarkt-Risiko. Außerdem laufen sie Gefahr, häufiger Schlaganfälle zu erleiden und früher zu sterben, wie aus einer Untersuchung von US-Wissenschaftlern hervorgeht.

Mehr als ein Jahr lang sammelten die Forscher vom Intermountain Medical Center (IMC) in Salt Lake City im US-Bundesstaat Utah Daten von 27.686 Patienten ab 50 Jahren ohne vorherige Herzerkrankungen. Die Sterbewahrscheinlichkeit lag bei Probanden, die wenig Vitamin D im Blut aufwiesen, demnach um 77 Prozent höher als bei Menschen mit normalen Werten. Vitamin-D-Mangel erhöht den Angaben zufolge das Risiko von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen um 45 Prozent, die Gefahr eines Schlaganfalls sogar um 78 Prozent. >>> AFP/beu | Dienstag, 17. November 2009

Nubian Fury at 'Monkey' Lyric of Arab Pop Star Haifa Wehbe
THE GUARDIAN: Black Egyptians sue and demand album be banned / Row casts fresh light on racism in region

Haifa Wehbe, one of the Middle East’s biggest pop stars. Photo: The Guardian
One of the Arab world's biggest pop stars has provoked a torrent of outrage after releasing a song which refers to black Egyptians as monkeys.

Haifa Wehbe, an award-winning Lebanese diva who has been voted one of the world's most beautiful people, is now facing a lawsuit from Egyptian Nubians claiming the song has fuelled discrimination against them and made some Nubian children too afraid to attend school.

The row has cast fresh light on the position within Egyptian society of Nubians, who are descended from one of Africa's most ancient black civilisations and yet often face marginalisation in modern Egypt.

Wehbe, a 35-year-old model turned actress and singer, is widely regarded as the Middle East's most prominent sex symbol and has been no stranger to controversy in the past. Her skimpy outfits and provocative lyrics (one previous hit was entitled Hey, Good Little Muslim Boy) have earned her the wrath of religious conservatives and forays into the political arena have also sparked debate, including her very public praise for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

The latest accusations of racism came after the release of her new song, Where is Daddy?, in which a child sings to Wehbe, "Where is my teddy bear and the Nubian monkey?". >>> Jack Shenker in Cairo | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Colonel Gaddafi Hosts Second Gathering of Glamorous Italian Women
THE TELEGRAPH: The Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has hosted a second evening event in Rome to which he invited 200 beautiful Italian women.

Two Italian girls show a copy of the Koran they received after attending a 'party' given by Libyan Leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Photo: The Telegraph
They were under orders not to show too much leg or cleavage. But a strict dress code for 200 glamorous young Italian women appeared to have slipped somewhat when they were entertained for a second time by Libya's eccentric leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Many of the women were photographed turning up for the unusual soiree on Monday night wearing tight black leather mini-skirts, high heels and tops with plunging necklines.

The dress code had relaxed considerably since Sunday, when another group of 200 Italian girls were invited to a reception by the Libyan leader, who is in Rome for the UN World Food Summit.

For that occasion, they were told by the modelling agency that recruited them not to wear jeans, see-through or suggestive clothing or skirts above the knee.

Col Gaddafi again used the agency, Hostessweb, to hand-pick a fresh batch of 200 women - each paid 60 euros (£53) - and have them brought by bus to the Libyan ambassador's residence.

Each was given a copy of the Koran. But unlike on Monday night, when the first group of girls sat through a meandering discourse on Islam, sexism in the West and Col Gaddafi's belief that the crucifixion of Jesus was fraudulent, this time he permitted the women to ask him questions. >>> Nick Squires in Rome | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Islam is Tearing the World Apart

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The Great EU Debate: Daniel Hannan, Conservative MEP
Mr. Hannan, you’d better be careful what you wish for! You seem not to be taking into consideration that the people of Scotland and Wales might well not wish to come out of the EU as you so desperately wish to do. So, if the time came to vote on it, the Scots and the Welsh could well decide to remain in the EU. After all, the Irish have done very well out of the EU, haven’t they? Indeed, the EU has brought the Irish a great deal of prosperity.

There is a strong separatist element in Scotland. In Wales it is rather weaker, but it is there nevertheless. It is not beyond the realms of possibility, therefore, that the Scots and Welsh would indeed choose to remain in the European Union even if England were to choose to come out. If this happened, it would leave England very badly isolated. Then the English would have neither Europe nor Scotland nor Wales to count on. Be careful, therefore, what you wish for, Mr. Hannan. The outcome might not be that which you intended. – © Mark



The Case for Leaving the EU >>> Daniel Hannan | Saturday, November 14, 2009

The Great EU Debate >>>

Australia: Church Wars

Christians 'Would Rather Vote BNP Than Labour', Pastor Claims
THE TELEGRAPH: Christians would rather vote for the British National Party than Labour because they are so disillusioned with the Government’s discrimination against them, a pastor has claimed.

Reverend George Hargreaves, who leads the conservative Christian Party, said people were “sick” of “Labour’s anti-Christian, anti-free speech agenda and laws”.

Rev Hargreaves said: “Christians in the past may have voted Labour, but [they] have silenced Christians and their anti-traditional family policies have created a vacuum which Nick Griffin can fill." >>> Andy Bloxham | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Obama Fails to Convince China’s Ruling Élite
THE TELEGRAPH: America and China have been forced to agree to disagree on a wide range of issues following several hours of talks between US president Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Beijing.

Despite reaffirming the importance of deeper US-China co-operation to world peace and stability, the two sides were unable to disguise the deep differences that separate them on trade, security, climate change and human rights.

Speaking after the talks which formed the centrepiece of Mr Obama's five day tour of Asia, the two presidents laid out their separate positions on key issues during a press conference at which no questions were allowed.

Trade protectionism was high on the agenda with the US and China currently embroiled in its worst round of trade spats since China entered the World Trade Organisation in 2002.

"I stressed to President Obama that under the current circumstances our two countries need to oppose and reject protectionism in all its manifestations in an even stronger stance," Mr Hu said, in a thinly veiled attack on recent US trade measures against Chinese goods.

On Monday a poll by the CNN news network found that more than 70 per cent of Americans viewed China as a threat to the US, putting further domestic pressure on Mr Obama to protect US industries from cheap Chinese imports.

Mr Hu studiously avoided mention of China's currency, which the International Monetary Fund has warned is undervalued, but was prodded firmly on the long-standing issue of contention by Mr Obama. China: talks between Barack Obama and Hu Jintao yield few agreements >>> Peter Foster in Beijing | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Merz appelle par vidéo au rejet de l’initiative antiminarets
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: PREMIÈRE | Hans-Rudolf Merz appelle au rejet de l’initiative contre les minarets dans une vidéo mise en ligne sur le site du Département fédéral des finances (DFF).

Le président de la Confédération a rappelé la longue tradition de tolérance religieuse en Suisse. Photo crédits : Tribune de Genève
Rappelant la longue tradition de tolérance religieuse en Suisse, le président de la Confédération invite à accepter les symboles d’autres religions. Il a souligné qu’il n’y aura pas d’appel à la prière du muezzin en Suisse.

"Nous vivons dans un pays multiculturel et ouvert", déclare le conseiller fédéral dans son message. Chaque religion arbore ses particularismes architecturaux, qu’il s’agisse d’églises, de synagogues ou de minarets. "J’y vois l’expression de la diversité de notre société". >>> AP | Mardi 17 Novembre 2009



«Den Ruf des Muezzins wird es hier nicht geben»
TAGES ANZEIGER: In einer Videobotschaft ruft Bundespräsident Hans-Rudolf Merz zu einem Nein bei Minarett-Initiative auf. Und erzählt von seiner Zeit in arabischen Ländern.

Bundespräsident Hans-Rudolf Merz ruft in einem Video zur Ablehnung der Minarett-Initiative auf. Religiöse Symbole seien Ausdruck unserer vielfältigen Gesellschaft, sagt er in der am Dienstag auf der Seite des Finanzdepartements aufgeschalteten Botschaft. Den Ruf des Muezzins werde es in der Schweiz aber nicht geben. >>> sam/sda | Dienstag, 17. November 2009

Muslim Scholars Rejecting Darwin's Theory of Evolution as 'Unproven'
THE TELEGRAPH: Muslim scholars around the world are increasingly rejecting Darwin's theory of evolution as an "unproven".

Muslim students and academics also said they felt they were being asked to make a "binary choice" between Darwinism and creationism, rather than both having a place.

The claim was made by Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, at a conference organised by the British Council to celebrate the bicentenary of Darwin’s birth.

He told his audience that in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia, only 15 per cent of people surveyed believed Darwin’s theory was “true” or “probably true”.

A poll he conducted at his own university showed that 62 per cent of Muslim professors and students believed evolution to be an “unproven theory”, compared with 10 per cent of non-Muslim professors.

“The rate of acceptance of evolution and of the idea of teaching evolution was extremely low,” he said. “I wondered, who are all these educated people rejecting evolution? They are even rejecting the fact that it should be taught as scientific knowledge.” >>> | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Muslim Academics and Students Are Turning Against Darwin's Theory
TIMES ONLINE: Muslims in many countries are increasingly rejecting Darwin’s theory of evolution, under the influence of conservative elements in Islam, a science conference was told yesterday.

Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, told the conference, being held in Egypt by the British Council, that in too many places students and academics believed they had to make a “binary choice” between evolution and creationism, rather than understanding that one could believe both in God and in Darwin’s theory.

Dr Guessoum, who is a Sunni Muslim, said that in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia, only 15 per cent of those surveyed believed Darwin’s theory to be “true” or “probably true”. This stand was equally prevalent among students and teachers, from high school to university. Most alarmingly, he claimed, science teachers were misrepresenting the facts and theories of evolution by mixing it with religious ideologies.

A survey of 100 academics and 100 students that he conducted at his own university showed that 62 per cent of Muslim professors and students believed evolution to be an “unproven theory”, compared with 10 per cent of non-Muslim professors. “The rate of acceptance of evolution and of the idea of teaching evolution was extremely low,” he said. “I wondered, who are all these educated people rejecting evolution? They are even rejecting the fact that it should be taught as scientific knowledge.”

Evolution did not contradict Islamic beliefs, Dr Guessoum said, unless a literal reading of the texts were adopted. “Many Muslim scholars, from the golden age of Islam to today, adopted an evolutionary world view,” he said. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sarkozy's £165m Jet Cleared for Takeoff
THE GUARDIAN: French opposition protest as 'Air Sarko One' fulfils president's ambition to fly world-statesman class

For Nicolas Sarkozy – a 1.65m (5ft 5in) head of state with a statuesque wife, a penchant for cuban heels and an arch-enemy who refers to him as "the dwarf" – size most certainly matters.

But the French president can take comfort in the knowledge that, in one area at least, his diminutive stature will no longer be a reason for ridicule: his ageing, relatively petite Airbus 319s will soon be replaced by an airliner with measurements better suited to a leader of his lofty aspirations.

The budget for the new model, an Airbus A330-200 which opposition critics have dubbed "Air Sarko One", was approved earlier this month in a low-key vote which passed largely unnoticed by the French media.

Despite attempts by the Socialist party to derail it, a package worth €185m (£165m) was given the green light by MPs. To the horror of the opposition, the money for the purchase and lavish modernisation of the jet will come out of the already strained defence budget.

Reserved for use by Sarkozy and his entourage, the A330 has been bought second-hand from the Air Caraibes airline. It is currently undergoing a multimillion-pound renovation and is not expected to be in use before the end of 2010. >>> Lizzy Davies in Paris | Monday, November 16, 2009

Bernanke's Rare Intervention Fails to Calm Fears Over Weak Dollar
With the dollar going into steep decline, with the price of gold rising to record levels, with the US’s huge deficit having to be financed through printing money (or ‘quantitative easing’ as they prefer to call it by way of euphemism these days), with Ben Bernanke talking about the dollar “remaining strong” and a “source of global financial stability”, one really has to question the competence, judgment and ability of the head of the Fed – Ben Bernanke! This is, after all, the age of the resurgence of soup kitchens in America, a country in which fifty million Americans are finding it difficult to get adequate nourishment. It is also an age in which bankers continue to pay themselves ginormous bonuses. Surely, this must be the age of ultimate financial mismanagement. Shame on Ben Bernanke! Shame on them all! – © Mark

THE TELEGRAPH: Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's attempt to shore up support for the US currency failed yesterday as the dollar fell to fresh 15-month lows.

In a rare moment of intervention into the currency markets from America's leading central banker, Mr Bernanke admitted the Fed is watching the dollar "closely" as part of its focus on employment growth and price stability.

Mr Bernanke stressed the dollar will remain "strong" and continue as a "source of global financial stability". >>> James Quinn, US Business Editor | Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Wirtschaftskrise: 50 Millionen Amerikaner fehlt das Geld für Nahrung
ZEIT ONLINE: Die globale Krise trifft viele Menschen in der stärksten Wirtschaftsnation der Welt hart: Rund 50 Millionen Amerikaner konnten sich 2007 nicht ausreichend Essen leisten.

Suppenküche in Charlotte, North Carolina: 2008 hatten Millionen Amerikaner nicht genügend Geld, um sich ausreichend zu ernähren. Bild: Zeit Online
Im Jahr 2007 waren noch elf Prozent der Haushalte nicht angemessen mit Lebensmitteln versorgt. Ein Jahr später, im Krisenjahr 2008, sind es 14, 6 Prozent gewesen. Das geht aus einer Studie des US-Landwirtschaftsministeriums hervor. Demnach hatten rund 50 Millionen Amerikaner zeitweise nicht genügend Geld, um sich ausreichend Essen zu kaufen. >>> Zeit Online, dpa | Dienstag, 17. November 2009

Rekordhoch am Goldmarkt: Misstrauensvotum gegen den Dollar
ZEIT ONLINE: Der Goldpreis bricht Rekord um Rekord. Schwellenländer stocken aus Angst vor einem Dollarverfall ihre Goldreserven auf – und treiben so die Nachfrage. Von Stefan Frank

Ein Juwelier in New York wirbt um Kunden, die Gold und Diamanten verkaufen. Der Goldpreis erreichte am Montag ein neues Rekordhoch. Bild: Zeit Online
Am Montag brach der Goldpreis einen neuen Rekord: Auf mehr als 1.130 US-Dollar kletterte der Preis für eine Feinunze. Das sind hundert Dollar mehr als noch vor zwei Wochen. Innerhalb eines Jahres hat sich das Edelmetall sogar um rund 400 Dollar – oder 50 Prozent – verteuert. Begonnen hat der jüngste Anstieg im September, als der Preis zum ersten Mal seit Anfang 2008 die psychologisch wichtige 1000-Dollar-Marke überspringen konnte.

Vor zwei Wochen beschleunigte sich die Entwicklung. Da wurde bekannt, dass sich der Internationale Währungsfonds (IWF) von der Hälfte seiner Goldreserven trennt – das sind 200 Tonnen. Diese Nachricht hätte den Goldmarkt eigentlich belasten müssen. Doch der IWF wirft das Gold nicht auf den Markt, sondern verkauft es an die indische Notenbank, die damit in die Gruppe der zehn Zentralbanken mit den größten Goldreserven aufsteigt. Offenbar sind die Schwellenländer selbst bei den derzeit hohen Preisen bereit, ihren Dollarreserven einen größeren Anteil Gold beizumischen.

Das ist ein Misstrauensvotum gegen Amerikas Währung. Der Wert des Dollars wird immer fragwürdiger, weil die USA immer mehr Geld drucken müssen, um ihr Budgetdefizit in Höhe von geschätzten zwei Billionen Dollar zu finanzieren. Gold hingegen kann von Regierungen oder Notenbanken nicht aus dem Nichts geschaffen werden. Seine Menge wächst nur sehr langsam. Obwohl sich der Goldpreis seit Beginn des Jahrzehnts vervierfacht hat, sind die Minenbetreiber nicht in der Lage, die Fördermenge zu erhöhen. >>> Von Stefan Frank |, Zeit Online | Dienstag, 17. November 2009

Le roi Abdallah invite Sarkozy à la ferme
LE FIGARO: Le président traite ce mardi avec le monarque saoudien des dossiers du Proche-Orient.

Nicolas Sarkozy se familiarise avec les mœurs bédouines. Pour sa troisième visite en Arabie saoudite, le président de la République va passer presque vingt-quatre heures, à partir de mardi après-midi, dans la ferme du roi Abdallah, à 70 km au sud de Riyad, la capitale. Sans ministre. Sans Carla. Et très peu de journalistes pour l'accompagner. Ses deux précédents séjours, menés au pas de charge, avaient irrité les Saoudiens, qui préfèrent disposer d'un peu de temps pour parler affaires ou politique, et si possible dans la discrétion. Or sur les dossiers chauds du moment, Paris et Riyad convergent le plus souvent. Mieux valait donc, cette fois, se conformer aux usages locaux.

À l'instar de Nicolas Sarkozy, le roi Abdallah est inquiet de la menace nucléaire iranienne. Les relations sont mauvaises entre les deux pôles de l'islam - Téhéran pour les chiites et Riyad pour les sunnites. Le monarque saoudien approuve la fermeté de ton française contre l'Iran. Mais il ne veut pas d'une attaque israélienne, qui déstabiliserait la région et risquerait de compromettre son programme de réformes dans le royaume. «Comment mettre sur pied une politique de sanctions qui tienne la route pour éviter la confrontation ?», se demande-t-on côté français. >>> | Mardi 17 Novembre 2009