Fashion for the Faithful

Turkish women's magazine Âlâ has discovered a market niche -- a fashion periodical for conservative Muslim women who wear the veil.
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Revenge for EU Sanctions: Iran Set to Turn Off Oil Supply to Europe
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The European Union embargo on Iranian oil will only come into effect in six months, but the leadership in Tehran wants to act first: Exports to Europe are set to be halted immediately. It is a move which could mean added difficulties for struggling economies in southern Europe.

It's a move which has tit-for-tat written all over it, but one which could nonetheless have a serious impact: The Iranian government wants to present a bill to parliament this weekend calling for an immediate halt to oil deliveries to Europe. The move, with most reports citing the Iranian news agency Mehr, has come about in response to the EU agreement to impose sanctions against Iran, which were announced earlier this week. » | dsk -- with wires | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hillary Clinton Says She’s Ready to Step Off ‘the High Wire of American Politics’

Maher: Enough with the Debates

Santorum: Colleges Diminishing Faith

Suspected 'Honor Murders' Shock Canada

Pelosi: I've Got Nothing on Newt
THE HILL: CAMBRIDGE, MD.— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday dismissed the idea that she has dirt on GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich.

The California Democrat said speculation that she's withholding scandalous information on the former House Speaker in hopes of derailing his candidacy is false. Her recent comments on the topic, she said, have been misinterpreted.

"I have said over and over again, as far as Speaker Gingrich is concerned, I refer you to the public record," Pelosi said at a press conference amid the Democrats' annual issues conference near the Chesapeake Bay. "It's a matter of public record."

Pelosi—who served on the Ethics Committee that investigated, and ultimately sanctioned, Gingrich for violating tax law and lying to investigators in the 1990s — raised eyebrows last month when she seemed to suggest she had damning information on Gingrich she was willing to spill. » | Mike Lillis | Thursday, January 26, 2012

THE HILL: Mystery: What Nancy Pelosi has on Newt » | Alicia M. Cohn | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

US Election 2012: Sending Home the Illegal Immigrants
As the Republican presidential candidate race heats up, the telegraph travels to the border state of Texas to see how policy discussed in Washington affects lives on the ground.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Newt Gingrich would like to see an amnesty, Ron Paul thinks government, not business should take responsibility for the problem and Mitt Romney would veto any path to citizenship, but on the ground in Texas the problem of illegal immigration defies a soundbite solution.

In a border state where the economy is buoyed by the work of illegal immigrants, the idea of shipping them all home isn’t quite as simple as it seems. » | Alastair Good, Texas | Monday, January 23, 2012

US Election 2012: Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney Go On the Attack in Florida
Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney ratchet up the rhetoric ahead of the crucial Florida primary.

Read short article here | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Turkish Film Highlights Gay Honor Killing

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Shortly after telling his parents he was gay, Ahmet Yildiz was gunned down inside his car by his father in Istanbul. It was Turkey's first officially recognized gay "honor killing."

An award-winning film partly inspired by Yildiz's story, which opened in dozens of cinemas across Turkey last week, is putting the spotlight on gays in a Muslim country that is seeking European Union membership but remains influenced by conservative and religious values.

The film "Zenne Dancer" — or male belly dancer — is not the nation's first gay-themed movie but is the first to explore the little-known phenomenon of men killed by family members for being gay. So-called honor killings in Turkey usually target women accused of disgracing the family.

"Our main aim was to convey Ahmet's story, but by doing so we also wanted to expose the pressure the (gay and lesbian community) faces from their family, the society and the state," said Mehmet Binay, who co-directed and produced the film with his partner, Caner Alper. » | Suzan Fraser, Associated Press | Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Gay Actors Say Coming Out Affects Roles They Get
THE GUARDIAN: Equity survey finds only 57% of gay actors feel they can be open about their sexuality to their agents

A survey has revealed that gay actors still feel that coming out affects the roles they get to play. Though recent years have seen successful, out actors from Russell Tovey to Ian McKellen playing heterosexual parts like Steve in Him & Her and King Lear respectively, only 57% of the gay actors who responded to the survey, by the actors union Equity, felt they could be open about their sexuality to agents.

One gay actor, quoted in theatre trade paper the Stage, said: "A previous agent of mine once told me to keep quiet about my sexuality and though I am out, I do not broadcast it."
However, 81% described themselves as out in their professional lives and 94% said they did not conceal their sexuality to fellow performers.

Over half of the gay actors who responded to the survey said that they feared being offered only stereotypical roles if they came out, while being denied romantic leads in particular.

One said: "I have seen others sidelined due to their sexuality and I know that I have been sidelined too." Another said: "It's OK for a straight actor to play gay roles but harder, if not impossible, the other way round."

Last January, Rupert Everett told the Observer that he regretted coming out, saying: "For an actor to be working (at all) is a kind of miracle, because most actors aren't. So it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay' – especially if you're a leading man." » | Alex Needham | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Michael White: Britain, Proud Home of Euroscepticism
THE GUARDIAN: Distrust of Europe seems inherently British, born of geographic distance and political loyalties

The British do not have a monopoly on Euroscepticism. But suspicion towards the European project has existed for longer within the British mainstream than anywhere else. It was evident in the lofty mistrust displayed by both Labour and Tory governments towards the EU's first faltering steps. At the signature of the treaty of Rome in 1957, Britain sent Russell Bretherton, a middling trade official, not even a minister. To observe, not join.

When the then prime minister, Harold Macmillan, acknowledged the strategic error and applied to join in 1961, his wartime ally, Charles de Gaulle, feared Britain would be an Anglo-Saxon Trojan horse and kept it out until 1973. In those early days it was Labour's leader, Hugh Gaitskell, who raised the Eurosceptic standard against losing "1,000 years of history" as an independent state. His enemies on the Labour left, who saw Europe as a capitalist ramp, cheered him on. Fellow moderates were appalled.

The Tories had their sceptics too – including pro-Commonwealth nostalgics – preaching the angry language of betrayal. They were marginalised, their rebellious votes neutralised by Europhile Labour and Liberal (later Lib Dem) MPs, as well as most of Fleet Street where – as at Westminster – most top jobs were held by "never again" veterans of the second world war.

With the exceptions of the pro-empire Daily Express and the communist Daily Worker, Fleet Street voted yes in the 1975 referendum on UK membership. Seven Labour cabinet members – led by Michael Foot – were allowed to campaign for a no. Margaret Thatcher campaigned for a yes with Harold Wilson, Ted Heath, David Steel and Roy Jenkins.

Only in the late 80s, as vivid wartime memories faded, did the centre of gravity shift in both main parties. Claiming to have been deceived, in 1988 Thatcher denounced "federalism" in Bruges, just as Neil Kinnock – encouraged by the visionary French European Commission president, Jacques Delors – led Labour to embrace a social Europe. It would protect workers against the free market capitalism of Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. As Labour swung towards Europe, most of Fleet Street swung the other way. So it has remained. » | Michael White | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Scientists Urge Unis to Axe Alternative Medicine Courses
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: MORE than 400 doctors, medical researchers and scientists have formed a powerful lobby group to pressure universities to close down alternative medicine degrees.

Almost one in three Australian universities now offer courses in some form of alternative therapy or complementary medicine, including traditional Chinese herbal medicine, chiropractics, homeopathy, naturopathy, reflexology and aromatherapy.

But the new group, Friends of Science in Medicine, wrote to vice-chancellors this week, warning that by giving "undeserved credibility to what in many cases would be better described as quackery" and by "failing to champion evidence-based science and medicine", the universities are trashing their reputation as bastions of scientific rigour. » | Kelly Burke | Thursday, January 26, 2012

Scots Land First Blow in Battle to End Union

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: EDINBURGH: Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has taken the first formal step towards an independence referendum that the government in Edinburgh hopes will secure a mandate for the country's withdrawal from the United Kingdom in as little as five years.

In a Scottish government consultation paper published on Wednesday, the leader of the Scottish National Party said the 2014 referendum would ask Scotland's 4 million voters: “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”

Mr Salmond's plan for the independence vote set the stage for what some in Britain have described as a high-stakes constitutional poker game pitting Mr Salmond against the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, with the prize the right to dismantle, or preserve, Britain's existence as a united country.

Mr Cameron has insisted that only parliament in London has the legal power to approve a referendum on the potential breakup of the union between England and Scotland, which was forged in the Act of Union of 1707. He has also said London, not Edinburgh, should set the terms and timing of the vote.

Mr Salmond has rejected those positions and on Wednesday he threw down the gauntlet. Outlining his own terms for the ballot, he set a May deadline for the conclusion of a public consultation['] on its terms and suggested that Mr Cameron would have little choice in the end but to bow to whatever format Mr Salmond's government adopted. » | John Burns, Alan Cowell | Friday, January 27, 2012

Marriage Made Easier for Same-sex Couples
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: THE federal government will help Australian same-sex couples marry in countries where gay marriage is legal by issuing them with documents currently available only to heterosexuals.

In several nations that allow gay marriage, including Portugal, Spain, Norway and South Africa, a person must produce a Certificate of No Impediment, which proves they are at least 18, unmarried and that there is no other barrier to them taking part in a marriage ceremony.

The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, will announce today that from February 1 same-sex couples will be able to apply for the certificates. » | Dan Harrison | Friday, January 27, 2012

Julia Gillard Attacked in Riot
Prime Minister Australia Julia Gillard is attacked by Aboriginal Protestors on Australia Day.

Hogg Bowled Over by His Own Tastelessness in Pot Shot at Muslims

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: RODNEY HOGG took fans "inside the mind of a lunatic fast bowler" in his autobiography and did so again yesterday with a Muslim slur that has landed him in controversy.

The outspoken former Test cricketer, who terrorised batsmen during his six-year international career, was forced to duck and weave after delivering a tweet described as "more than despicable" by the leader of an Islamic group.

"Just put out my Aussie flag for Australia Day but I wasn't sure if it would offend Muslims … So I wrote 'Allah is a shit' on it to make sure," Hogg tweeted at about noon yesterday. » | Andrew Wu | Friday, January 27, 2012

Soziale Frage in den USA: Im Land der Ungleichen
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Bei der Präsidentenwahl 2012 tritt ein anderer Barack Obama an als vor vier Jahren: Gefragt ist nicht mehr der Versöhner, sondern der Klassenkämpfer, der für soziale Gerechtigkeit eintritt. Das ist eigentlich unamerikanisch, aber trotzdem nötig. Denn angesichts eines extrem ungerechten Steuersystems, das schamlos die Reichen bevorzugt, haben viele US-Bürger das Grundvertrauen verloren: dass jeder die Chance habe, sein Glück zu machen.

Vor vier Jahren war Barack Obama als Versöhner angetreten. Die Amerikaner hatten ihn gewählt, weil sie hofften, dass er die Gräben zuschütten könnte, die sich in den ersten Jahren des neuen Jahrtausends unübersehbar aufgetan hatten: die tiefe Animosität zwischen den beiden politischen Lagern im Land und die klaffenden Unterschiede zwischen den Profiteuren der Boom-Jahre und dem Rest der Gesellschaft, in der immer mehr Menschen der Absturz drohte.

Inzwischen ist alles anders. Die Hoffnung, die Obama seinerzeit entgegenbrandete, ist längst dahin. Deshalb wird sich diesmal ein anderer Obama zur Wahl stellen. Das hat er in seiner Ansprache zur Lage der Nation im Kongress unmissverständlich zu verstehen gegeben. 2012 tritt Obama der Klassenkämpfer an. » | Ein Kommentar von Reymer Klüver | Mittwoch 25. Januar 2012

Obama Hits the Road amid Republican Attacks on State of the Union Speech

THE GUARDIAN: President kicks off tour of swing states as Gingrich and Romney accuse him of 'class warfare' in asking rich to pay more

Barack Obama left Washington on a tour of swing states crucial to his re-election in November after delivering a populist state of the union speech that launched his 2012 campaign.

Obama called for a fairer, more equal America, the theme he is to pursue throughout the campaign, branding the Republicans as the party of the rich elite.

Republicans accused him of promoting "class warfare" and adopting "left-wing demagoguery".

Although Obama did not mention by name one of the Republicans chasing the party nomination to be his challenger, Mitt Romney was the president's target when Obama called for a minimal tax rate of 30% for millionaires.

"Washington should stop subsidising millionaires," the president said.

He added: "Now, you can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense." » | Ewen McAskill in Miami | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

'It Really Makes Me Think about Becoming a Muslim': Liam Neeson Considers Converting to Islam Following Trip to Istanbul

MAIL ONLINE: He may have been named after the local priest in his Irish hometown but Liam Neeson could be leaving his Roman Catholic beliefs behind.

The 59-year-old actor is said to be considering converting to Islam following a working trip to Istanbul.

According to The Sun, Neeson admitted that Islamic prayer 'got into his spirit' while he was filming in Turkey.

'The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing,' he said.

'There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim.'

Neeson was raised in Northern Ireland as a devout Roman Catholic due to his parents[‘] beliefs. » | Kirsty McCormack | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

DOPPIO SCHERMO: Liam Neeson verso la conversione all'Islam: L'attore ha confessato che la preghiera islamica "gli è entrata nello spirito", durante le riprese di un nuovo film a Istanbul. » | Scritto da Sonia Arpaia | Mercoledì 25 Gennaio 2012