Carey Attacks Judges After Nadia Eweida Loses BA Crucifix Case
TIMES ONLINE: A Christian has lost her appeal against a ruling that British Airways did not discriminate her by banning her from wearing a visible cross at work.

The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, immediately condemned the decision by three Court of Appeal judges against Nadia Eweida and warned that it would lead to more cases of religious discrimination.

Ms Eweida, 58, from Twickenham, southwest London, went to the Court of Appeal to try to overturn a decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal that she was not a victim of indirect religion or belief discrimination.

But today Lord Justice Sedley said that her case of indirect discrimination was defeated by BA’s case that its actions were justified. >>> Frances Gibb, Legal Editor | Friday, February 12, 2010

Alexander McQueen Is Found Hanged
DAILY EXPRESS: ICONIC fashion designer ­Alexander McQueen was found dead at home yesterday after committing suicide days after his beloved mother died.

He is thought to have hanged ­himself on the eve of her funeral, which was reported to be today.

McQueen, 40 – known to friends by his first name, Lee – was “devastated” when Joyce died on February 2. He was pronounced dead by ­paramedics at the scene in his flat in exclusive Mayfair, central London. >>> Elisa Roche, Showbusiness Editor | Friday, February 12, 2010

Angela Merkel Dashes Greek Hopes of Rescue Bid
THE GUARDIAN: German chancellor refuses to rescue Greece's ailing economy amid Berlin's domestic austerity

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, mounted stiff resistance tonight to any swift bailout of Greece, as a rift opened up between European capitals over how best to tackle the risks posed to the euro.

Despite a show of Franco-German unity on the crisis and the first statement from EU leaders pledging to safeguard the currency's stability, hopes on the markets of a German-led rescue plan to shore up Greece's critical public finances were dashed by Merkel, who repeatedly emphasised that Athens would need to put its own house in order and brushed aside all questions of financial support.

"Germany is stepping totally on the brakes on financial assistance," said a senior EU diplomat. "On legal grounds, on constitutional grounds and on principle." Another senior diplomat said of the Germans: "They're not waving their chequebooks." >>> Ian Traynor | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Kommentar: Die Hilfe für Griechenland muss dem Land weh tun
WELT ONLINE: Der griechische Staat hat nicht nur unverantwortlich gewirtschaftet, er hat auch über Jahre hinweg systematisch seine Bilanz gefälscht. Deswegen ist es ein Fehler, dass sich die EU-Staaten auf eine Rettung Griechenlands verständigt haben, ohne die Bedingungen konkret festzuzurren, zu denen das geschehen soll. >>> Von Clemens Wergin | Donnerstag, 11. Februar 2010

Visumpolitik: Türkei ärgert EU mit Grenzöffnung nach Nahost
WELT ONLINE: Ankara hebt die Visumpflicht für mehrere Länder des Nahen Ostens auf, darunter Syrien und Libyen. Für die Harmonisierung mit der EU ist das ein Rückschlag. Denn über die Türkei reisen schon jetzt zahlreiche illegale Migranten in EU-Länder ein. Die Entscheidung ist nur ein Beispiel für einen neuen Konfrontationskurs.

Der türkische Staatschef Recep Tayyip Erdogan wird ungeduldig mit der EU - und orientiert sich anderweitig. Foto: Welt Online
Der türkische Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan wurde kürzlich in Saudi-Arabien gefragt, ob sich mit einer EU-Mitgliedschaft der Türkei seine Politik gegenüber muslimischen Ländern ändern würde. Er antwortete mit einem Koran-Zitat: „Strebe nach dem, was richtig ist, wie es (von Gott) befohlen ist.“ Zugleich wetterte er, noch nie habe man einen EU-Beitrittskandidaten so lange vor der Tür stehen lassen. Parierte Ankara Unsicherheit in Brüssel nach Bemerkungen dieser Art bislang mit Beteuerungen, man sei immer noch an einem EU-Beitritt interessiert, kommen diesmal andere Signale.

Normalerweise gehört zu einem Beitritt eine Harmonisierung der eigenen Politik mit der der EU. Von 2004 bis 2006 gab sich die Türkei diesbezüglich viel Mühe. Neuerdings ist davon nicht mehr viel zu spüren, es gibt in manchen Bereichen sogar eine „Ent-Harmonisierung“. Das deutlichste Beispiel ist die Visumpolitik. In Saudi-Arabien war es Erdogans Wunsch, die gegenseitige Visumpflicht aufzuheben. Das wünschen auch viele fromme Türken, um millionenfach nach Mekka pilgern zu können.

Die Saudis sind nicht angetan. Begeistert sind hingegen Länder wie Syrien und Libyen. Mit ihnen sowie mit Jordanien und dem Libanon hat die Türkei die Visumpflicht aufgehoben – zum Entsetzen Brüssels. Denn die Türkei ist ein Durchreiseland für illegale Migranten auf dem Weg in die EU. >>> Von Boris Kalnoky | Donnerstag, 11. Februar 2010

Grèce : Georges Papandréou, l’homme de la rupture
Le premier ministre grec Georges Papandréou. Crédits photo : Le Temps
LE TEMPS: Le premier ministre grec a déjeuné mercredi avec Nicolas Sarkozy et a répété sa détermination à réformer son pays. Son style politique tranche avec celui de ses prédécesseurs

Il incarne une nouvelle génération d’hommes politiques. Elu avec une très confortable majorité, il promet, dès le début de son mandat, de changer son pays en lançant des réformes ambitieuses. Aujourd’hui, bien qu’il soit toujours très populaire, des milliers de citoyens descendent dans la rue pour contester déjà sa politique. Son nom: Barack Obama? Non, Georges Papandréou.

Le premier ministre grec est soumis ces jours à une pression extrême de l’Union européenne et des marchés en raison de la grave crise financière que connaît la Grèce et qui secoue la zone euro. Le pays a une dette de 300 milliards d’euros et un déficit public de 12,7% du PIB. Mercredi, pour desserrer l’étau dans lequel son pays est pris, le chef du gouvernement grec a répété au président français Nicolas Sarkozy, lors d’un déjeuner de travail à l’Elysée, sa détermination à «prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires» pour sortir la Grèce de ses lancinants problèmes structurels.

A 57 ans, Georges Papandréou dont le père Andreas et le grand-père Georges furent aussi des premiers ministres, n’est pas de nature à se décourager par les premiers mouvements sociaux dans les rues des villes grecques. Féru de fitness et de vélo, mais aussi soucieux d’une alimentation saine, il a l’énergie de celui qu’une vision titille, pousse à l’action. Il ne craint pas l’adversité. Son frère Nicholas se souvient: «Quand il était ministre des Affaires étrangères, Georges était déjà prêt à dialoguer, mais aussi à durcir le ton quand il le fallait. Un jour, il avait insisté pour continuer à négocier des droits de pêche avec l’Espagne et la Scandinavie jusqu’à ce qu’une solution soit trouvée. Le calvaire des négociateurs espagnols et suédois dura quarante heures.» >>> Stéphane Bussard | Jeudi 11 Février 2010

UE/Grèce : «L’Allemagne a changé les règles de la zone euro»
La chancelière allemande Angela Merkel, le premier ministre grec, George A. Papandreou et le président français Nicolas Sarkozy lors du sommet extraordinaire de l’Union européenne. Crédits photo : Le Temps
LE TEMPS: L’Allemagne est le maître d’œuvre de la mobilisation européenne en faveur de la Grèce. Elle pourrait apparaître comme une nouvelle avancée de l’intégration européenne. C’est du moins l’analyse d’Antonio Missiroli, directeur de recherche du European Policy Center (EPC) à Bruxelles

Le sommet informel des chefs d’Etat européen s’est transformé en sommet de crise pour aider la Grèce et sauver la zone euro attaquée par les marchés financiers. Ce jeudi, le président de l’Union européenne a annoncé que les pays de la zone euro prendront si nécessaire, des mesures «déterminées et coordonnées» pour préserver leur stabilité financière ébranlée par la crise grecque. Directeur de recherche du European Policy Center (EPC) à Bruxelles, Antonio Missiroli revient sur cette concertation au sommet. >>> Frédéric Koller | Jeudi 11 Février 2010

French Feminist Warns Green Movement Forcing Women to Stay at Home
THE TELEGRAPH: Elisabeth Badinter, a leading French feminist, has warned the green movement is threatening decades of improvements in gender equality by forcing women to give up their jobs and become earth mothers.

Elisabeth Badinter: Mrs Badinter contends that this politically correct cabal is burdening mothers with intolerable guilt unless they stay at home and breast-feed for as long as possible. Photo: The Telegraph
Mrs Badinter claims a "holy reactionary alliance" of green politicians, breast-feeding militants, "back to nature" feminists and child psychologists is turning Frenchwomen into slaves to green "fads" like re-usable nappies and organic food.

In her new book, Conflit, la Femme et la Mere (Conflict, the Woman and the Mother), Mrs Badinter contends that this politically correct cabal is burdening mothers with intolerable guilt unless they stay at home and breast-feed for as long as possible.

Their perfect French mother, she writes, "breastfeeds for six months and doesn't put her baby in a crèche or not too early, because baby needs to be with mum and not in a nest of germs; she is wary of all things artificial and is ecologically-minded. The jar of baby food has become a sign of selfishness; we're back to the purée mashed by mum."

Women in childbirth are even made to feel that epidurals are wrong, she goes on, adding: "We don't need to bow down to nature."

Those who choose to stay at work or to not have children are ostracised.

"It's as if we were all female chimpanzees," says Mrs Badinter, 65, who is widely admired in France for her outspoken views. >>> Henry Samuel in Paris | Thursday, February 11, 2010

leJDD.fr: "J'accuse un certain féminisme réactionnaire" : Elisabeth Badinter dénonce, dans un livre à paraître cette semaine, la tyrannie de la maternité et les nouvelles contraintes qui pèsent sur les femmes d'aujourd'hui. >>> Marie-Christine Tabet | Dimanche 07 Février 2010

Iran Opposition Leaders Attacked as Regime Floods Streets
TIMES ONLINE: Iran’s regime sought to thwart another massive opposition protest today by turning out its own supporters in huge numbers, imposing draconian restrictions on the media and making the headline-grabbing announcement that the Islamic Republic was now a “nuclear state”.

Determined to prevent the so-called Green Movement from hijacking the biggest day in Iran’s calendar, the anniversary of the 1979 revolution, the regime also flooded Tehran with security forces who moved swiftly and violently to break up opposition demonstrations.

The opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mohammed Khatami - a former president - were attacked. Zahra Eshraghi, the granddaughter of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 revolution, was briefly arrested. She is married to Mr Khatami's brother and her own brother, Hassan, has made clear his hostility to the regime. >>> Martin Fletcher | Thursday, February 11, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Iranian opposition leaders and protesters attacked on anniversary of revolution: Iranian opposition leaders and anti-government protesters were attacked as crowds gathered to mark the anniversary of the 1979 revolution today, according to reports from inside the country. >>> Heidi Blake | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Con Coughlin: Iran Shows Its True Colours As It Marks the Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOG: It is just like old times in downtown Iran today, with government forces battling to prevent anti-government protesters from voicing their opposition to the hardline clerics that control the country.

It was the same 31 years ago, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established the Islamic revolution after his triumphant return from exile in Paris. Thirty-one years ago the street protests quickly led to summary executions, with Khomeini’s supporters setting up special courts to try those accused of trying to prevent Khomeini from establishing his Islamic dictatorship.

My fear now is that Khomeini’s heirs – people like President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader – will resort to similar tactics as they try to suppress the pro-reform movement that has grown in strength since last summer’s hotly disputed election contest. Read on and comment >>> Con Coughlin | Thursday, February 11, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Iranian opposition leaders attacked during anniversary rallies: Opposition leaders were attacked and security forces flooded the streets of Iran's major cities on Thursday as the authorities put down protests they feared would mar rallies to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic. >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Google Refuses Australian Government Request to Censor YouTube
THE TELEGRAPH: Google has refused to bow to a request by the Australian government to censor videos on YouTube, saying the move would stifle public debate on important issues such as euthanasia and drug use.

Stephen Conroy, the communications minister, asked the search engine to "voluntarily" censor videos that fall within the government's broad new "refused classification" category.

However, Google said blocking access to videos in the category would lead to the removal of many politically controversial, but essentially harmless, clips.

The Australian government is preparing to introduce new legislation that will force internet service providers to block a blacklist of "refused classification" websites, in an attempt to clamp down on pornography and websites used by criminals.

YouTube's own guidelines already block videos featuring sex, violence, bestiality and child pornography. But under the "refused classification" rules, videos featuring subjects as diverse as euthanasia, drug use and graffiti, would also be banned.

Google said it would not voluntarily censor videos on these subjects because exposing the topics to public debate was vital for democracy.

Iarla Flynn, Google Australia's head of policy, said the company had a bias in favour of freedom of expression. >>> Bonnie Malkin in Sydney | Thursday, February 11, 2010

The West Falls Apart, and Britain Leads the Way: Marriage Rate in Britain Falls to Lowest Level Since 1862
THE TELEGRAPH: The number of people getting married has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1862.

For the first time ever fewer than 2 in 100 women, over the age of 16, got married in a single year. In 2008 the marriage rate for women fell from 2 per cent to 1.96 per cent, less than half the rate 25 years ago.

The rate for men has shown a similar decline, according to the annual figures published by the Office for National Statistics.

The figures highlight how marriage has substantially fallen out of favour. From a peak in 1940, when 426,1000 young couples – spurred on by the urgency of World War II – married for the first time, just 147,130 marriages in 2008 were where both partners were getting wed for the first time.

In total, just 228,204 marriages took place during 2008 in England and Wales. >>> Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Germany and France Strike Deal to Rescue Greece from Debt Crisis
THE TELEGRAPH: Germany and France have agreed a deal to “safeguard financial stability” for Greece and the wider eurozone following crisis talks at a European Union summit.

Political agreement on general principles was thrashed out during tense negotiations between Germany, France, Greece and the European Central Bank on Thursday morning.

”There is an agreement on the Greek situation. We will communicate now the agreement to the other leaders,” Mr Van Rompuy said.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, said that Greece would receive support in return for and aligned to progress on sweeping austerity cuts.

”Greece needs to do whatever is necessary, including additional measures, to ensure that the deficit reduction targets for this year are met,” said an official. ”Secondly, in that case the euro zone members should be ready to safeguard financial stability in the euro zone area as a whole.”

The EU summit was delayed to buy time as Germany and France brokered frantic negotiations with the ECB and Commission to save the eurozone by putting together a rescue package for Greece. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Markets Target Euro as Doubt Swirls Over Greece
TIMES ONLINE: The leaders of France and Germany agreed today to work together to tackle the Greek debt crisis but failed to reassure jittery European financial markets.

Both the euro and Greek government bonds enjoyed a moment of respite after reports that the new EU President, Herman Van Rompuy, had brokered a bailout deal in a meeting this morning with President Sarkozy, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the European Central Bank.

“Euro area member states will take determined and co-ordinated action if needed to safeguard stability in the euro area as a whole," Mr Van Rompuy told reporters in Brussels, reading from a statement agreed by all 16 eurozone states. "The Greek government has not requested any financial support."

But as the EU's 27 leaders went into summit talks this afternoon, the lack of detail began to weigh with market traders looking for action - and hard cash - not words. The euro, which has lost some 10 per cent in value against the dollar since late 2009, initially rose slightly on Mr Van Rompuy's statement to $1.3755 before falling back $1.3688.

"It just looks like a pledge of solidarity, but no actual details of a program which is why the euro is still in the doldrums,” said Neil Mackinnon, global macro strategist at VTB Capital. “Unless, there’s further news out later this afternoon, the markets will consider the EU summit response as a disappointment." >>> Philippe Naughton and David Charter in Brussels | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Germany, Forced to Buoy Greece, Rues Euro Shift
THE NEW YORK TIMES: BERLIN — As Europe edges toward emergency guarantees to stem market panic over one of the most profligate members of the euro bloc, the country that the region turns to for leadership, Germany, is suffering from growing doubts about the European experiment it long championed.

Reluctant German leaders now find themselves forced to help Greece remain solvent, or risk watching markets attack one weak member after the next, from Portugal to Spain to Italy, threatening the stability of the euro, the European currency Germany fought so hard to create.

On Thursday, European leaders meeting in Belgium announced they had agreed to a political statement to try to reassure bond markets and head off the crisis, and said that finance ministers would work through the details next week.

Earlier, in a conference call with the finance ministers from the 16 countries that use the euro and the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, officials said that some action had to be taken to calm markets and take pressure off Greece. It appeared clear that Germany, with an assist from France, would have to take the lead. “The Germans are the only ones with deep pockets,” said Daniel Gros, director of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels. “If it was just Greece, they could consider letting them go down the drain, but it threatens the entire euro zone.”

Berlin has been mostly silent on the matter. That is partly to put pressure on Greece, as civil servants struck there Wednesday to oppose cutbacks that the government has promised in order to rein in its enormous budget deficit.

But a bailout will be politically awkward for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. It is precisely the financial millstone that opponents warned about when Germany gave up its treasured mark, a move that a majority of people here, in contrast to their political leaders, opposed at the time.

“If the German government would just transfer money to Greece, people in Germany would feel their worst fears had come true,” said Thomas Mayer, chief economist at Deutsche Bank. >>> Nicholas Kulish | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Watch New York Times video 1: Financial Crisis Deepens in Greece >>>

Watch New York Times video 2: Greeks Strike Amid Financial Crisis >>>

Iran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Defies World Over Uranium Enrichment
THE TELEGRAPH: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has announced that Iran is producing its first uranium enriched to 20 per cent, defying the world to stop him.

"I want to announce with a loud voice here that the first package of 20 per cent fuel was produced and provided to the scientists," he told a crowd of hundreds of thousands celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic in Tehran.

He said the uranium enrichment plant in the city of Natanz was capable of enriching to the much higher levels necessary to build a nuclear weapon and could triple its production of low-enriched uranium.

But he insisted that the country did not intend to construct a device.

"When we say we do not manufacture the bomb, we mean it, and we do not believe in manufacturing a bomb," he said. "If we wanted to manufacture a bomb, we would announce it. Our nation has the courage to explicitly say it and build it and not fear you."

He went to attack the West's attempts to curtail Iran's nuclear programme.

"We told them the Iranian nation will never give in to bullying and illogical remarks," he said.

Mr Ahmadinejad's decision to press ahead with enrichment would appear to put an end to a negotiated settlement put forward by the International Atomic Energy Agency to swap Iran's low-enriched uranium for prepared fuel rods for a medical research reactor in Tehran. >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Thursday, February 11, 2010

THE INDEPENDENT: Huge rallies as Iran proclaims 'nuclear state': Hundreds of thousands of government supporters today massed in central Tehran to mark the anniversary of the revolution that created Iran's Islamic republic - while president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad chose the day to proclaim his nation is now a "nuclear state". >>> Associated Press | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Cashmere Loo Roll, the Ultimate Bathroom Indulgence
THE TELEGRAPH: Quilted, embossed, ultra soft aloe vera – the humble loo roll has gone steadily more upmarket in recent years. But surely it has now hit the apogee of indulgence: a cashmere version has gone on sale.

Cashmere loo rolls. Photo: The Telegraph
Cashmere, one of the softest and most prized materials, has been used to add an extra layer of extravagance to the sheets of paper, ensuring consumers enjoy the bottom line in comfort.

The loo rolls have gone on sale in Waitrose, the supermarket with a legion of loyal and discerning middle-class customers. >>> Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Steel Town Divided Over Mosque Minaret Amid Fears of Islamic Quest for Power
The Turkish community association says it is its democratic right to have places of worship, like the churches. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: An unassuming former cinema opposite a giant steelworks on the banks of the Saar river is at the centre of a stand-off over plans for a minaret to mark its new role as a mosque. The row highlights concerns about the spread of Islam in Germany’s traditionally conservative rust belt.

In a confrontation reminiscent of the debate in Switzerland, which led to a national referendum verdict banning new minarets, the 40,000-strong town of Völklingen has become divided over plans by the Selimiye mosque for three domes and an 8m (26ft) spire.

It would be the first minaret in Saarland, which has fallen on hard times since the heyday of steel production in the 1960s and 1970s, leaving many of the Turks who arrived to work in the smelters unemployed.

Although Germany has about 170 mosques, a further 200 are said to be under construction and tensions are beginning to show in communities such as Völklingen, where about 5 per cent of the population are Muslim.

“We are being quietly infiltrated by the Turks,” said one resident at a meeting called last month, according to Die Tageszeitung. The audience of 250 was asked to fill in forms, with one stating: “Minarets have nothing to do with Gemany.” >>> David Charter in Völklingen | Thursday, February 11, 2010

Johnston nackt im "Playgirl": Happy Birthday, Mrs. Palin
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Ein republikanisches Vorzeigeleben kann hart sein: Erst schwängerte Levi Johnston die Tochter der Politikerin Palin, dann nahm er Reißaus und stritt ums Geld. Jetzt lässt der 19-Jährige auch noch Aktfotos veröffentlichen - kurz vor dem Geburtstag der Ex-Gouverneurin.

New York - Levi Johnston, der Vater von Sarah Palins Enkelsohn, hat sich hüllenlos für "Playgirl" ablichten lassen. Der 19-Jährige sei nackt in dem aktuellen Magazin zu sehen, melden US-Sender am Mittwoch - einen Tag vor Palins Geburtstag.

Dabei kennt der Jäger aus Alaska allerdings eine Grenze: Einige wichtige Körperteile bedeckt er auf den Fotos mit seinen Händen. Er hatte schon vor Wochen angekündigt, er wolle stilvoll in dem Blatt erscheinen. >>> jdl/dpa | Mittwoch, 10. Februar 2010

Related / Verwandt:

Levi Johnston's Mother Sentenced to Three Years in Prison >>> Philip Sherwell in New York | Sunday, November 22, 2009

Election Candidate in Headscarf Causes Uproar in France
THE GUARDIAN: Feminists and politicians protest after anti-capitalist Olivier Besancenot fields Muslim woman who covers her hair

Olivier Besancenot, the postman-turned-revolutionary at the helm of France's anti-capitalist movement, has been fiercely criticised from all sides of the political spectrum for fielding a headscarf-wearing candidate in forthcoming elections.

Ilham Moussaid, a 21-year-old Muslim woman who describes herself as "feminist, secular and veiled", is running for the far-left New Anti-Capitalist party (NPA) in the south-eastern region of Avignon.

But, despite her insistence that there is no contradiction between her clothing and her political role, Moussaid's candidacy in the regional vote due in March has angered other feminists and politicians.

In an echo of the controversy raised by recent moves to ban the full, face-covering veil in public places such as schools, hospitals and buses, critics have said that the young activist's headscarf, which conceals only her hair, goes against values of laïcité – secularism – and women's rights.

Today, in a sign of how deep concerns are running, a leading feminist group announced it would file an official complaint against the NPA's list of candidates in the Vaucluse département to protest against what it called an "anti-secular, anti-feminist and anti-republican" stunt.

"In choosing to endorse 'open' laïcité, the NPA is perverting the values of the Republic and suggesting we reread them in a manner which conforms with regressive visions of women," said the Ni Putes Ni Soumises (Neither Whores Nor Submissives) association in a statement.

Others have expressed their shock at Besancenot's attempt to field a candidate who sees no problem with making an overt statement about her religion in the public sphere, a practice considered taboo. >>> Lizzy Davies in Paris | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Iran Shuts Down Google Mail
THE TELEGRAPH: Iran has announced plans to permanently ban Google's email service from being used within its borders.

In a move ahead of Thursday's 31st anniversary of the creation of Iran's Islamic Republic, the national telecoms agency in Tehran said that it will ban Gmail and will instead facilitate its own national email service.

The decision, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, comes just a month after Google threatened to leave China amid concerns that its systems had been attacked by Chinese hackers.

The Iranian announcement is understood to be part of a wider crackdown on opposition protests ahead of today's anniversary, which is likely to bring significant protests from both dissenters and supporters of the Islamic revolution. >>> James Quinn in New York | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Polemics! Ronald Reagan Jr Sparring with Pamela Geller

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