Egypt's New Coptic Christian Pope Speaks Out Against Islamic Tone In Draft Constitution
FOX NEWS: CAIRO – Egypt's new Coptic pope said Monday the constitution now being drafted will not be acceptable if it is overtly religious, a sign he would campaign with his Christian minority and secular groups against increasing Islam's role in the new charter.

In an interview aired Monday, a day after he was selected patriarch of Egypt's Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II said the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak last year has opened the way for a larger Coptic public role.

He said as pope, he will encourage the Christian community to participate more in political and public life, as well as elections. He charged that the country's Christian minority has been "intentionally" marginalized for years.

"After tens of years of marginalization and fake democracy, this has made some Copts isolated," he said in the interview aired on the private TV station ONTV.

"This is changing bit by bit, and it will take time. It needs encouraging, and so long as society is fair, and democracy is built fairly, you will see participation."

Tawadros said Egypt's richness lies in its cultural mix between Muslims and Christians. » | Associated Press | Monday, November 05, 2012

Minister Leaps to Romney's Defence

MSN NEWS: A Tory Cabinet minister has hit out at the "appalling demonisation" of Mitt Romney in the UK media.

Iain Duncan Smith praised his record as a governor and businessman and complained that the Republican presidential candidate had been wrongly portrayed as "stupid".

He also pointed out that under Barack Obama the US deficit had "gone from something like 4-500 billion dollars to three or so trillion dollars", and suggested the superpower's economy was stagnating.

Although Mr Duncan Smith stressed he did not know Mr Romney personally, and was not necessarily a "fan", the remarks appeared to risk breaching the convention against ministers taking sides in foreign elections.

"The demonisation of Mitt Romney over here has been appalling really," the Work and Pensions Secretary told BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics. "He may have faults. All politicians have faults. But this is a guy who ran a state very well.

"He got their debts and deficit down. He's turned around businesses. Whatever else you may say about him, he is not stupid, and he is made out to be stupid over here." » | pa.press.net | Monday, November 05, 2012

Merkel beim Kirchenparlament: "Das Christentum ist die am meisten verfolgte Religion"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Angela Merkel hält den Schutz verfolgter Christen für einen wichtigen Teil deutscher Außenpolitik. Auf der Synode der Evangelischen Kirche sagte die Kanzlerin, das Christentum sei weltweit die am stärksten verfolgte Religion. Für das Luther-Jahr 2017 erhofft sie eine "missionarische Komponente".

Lübeck - Angela Merkel ist Protestantin und Pastorentochter - und hat sich nun auf der Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) im Ostseebad Timmendorfer Strand klar positioniert: Keine Glaubensgemeinschaft werde weltweit stärker verfolgt als Christen, sagte die Bundeskanzlerin. Der Schutz verfolgter Christen sei deshalb ein wichtiger Teil deutscher Außenpolitik.

Die CDU-Chefin bezeichnete die Religionsfreiheit als elementares Menschenrecht und beklagte, dass dieses nicht überall geachtet werde. "Fanatismus, Einschränkung von Glaubensfreiheit, Geringschätzung von Glauben - das ist Teil unserer Welt", sagte Merkel vor den Protestanten. » | fab/dpa/dapd | Montag, 05. November 2012

Europe's Biggest Brothel – Complete with Coach Parking – To Open in Austria
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: An Austrian entrepreneur has announced plans to open Europe's biggest brothel, with a complex boasting a 147 rooms and coach parking.

When opened in 2014 the giant brothel, officially dubbed the "FunMotel", will have capacity for 1,000 "guests" a day with around 150 sex workers employed in the £12 million project. Along with room for buses it will also have 350 parking spaces and a three-metre high perimeter wall to ensure privacy.

Peter Laskaris, the businessman behind the project who already operates a brothel in Vienna, said that the glitzy bordello's "four-star hotel" facilities will be the sex industry's shift from "grocer to supermarket".

The FunMotel will offer "swinger parties, gangbangs" and "porn stars" along with more mundane hotel attractions such as restaurants, beauty salon and gym. But 8Quadrat Developers, the Vienna-based company developing the project, claim that "the number of females" and the "affordable prices" will "ensure absolute satisfaction for male customers".

The brothel will be built at a still undisclosed location in the north-eastern state of Lower Austria, which surrounds the Austrian capital. » | Matthew Day, Warsaw | Monday, November 05, 2012

DER STANDARD: Das Mega-Laufhaus vor den Toren Wiens: Für 15 Millionen Euro planen Wiener Rotlicht-Größen das größte Laufhaus Europas in Niederösterreich. Der genaue Standort ist noch geheim, die Option auf ein Grundstück wurde bereits bezahlt » | Julia Herrnböck | Freitag, 02. November 2012

David Cameron Defends Arms Deals with Gulf States
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Selling arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is "legitimate and right" as autocratic countries have a right to self defence, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister defended military deals with Gulf states, as he launched a major push to equip them with British-made Typhoon fighter jets on a three day visit to the region.
Mr Cameron's candid stance on arms sales - which is un[u]sual for Prime Ministers - was criticised by human rights campaigners. Amnesty International UK's head of policy and government affairs Allan Hogarth said: "Selling arms to countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE should only be considered if there are absolutely watertight guarantees over them not being used to commit human rights violations.

"Saudi Arabia has been the recipient of record-breaking arms deals involving the UK, yet these have been highly secretive and there's been little or no follow-up over how the weaponry was used."

Amnesty said that in 2009 the Saudi air force used "UK-supplied Tornado fighter-bombers in attacks in Yemen which killed hundreds -possibly thousands - of civilians".

But speaking in Dubai before later visits to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Mr Cameron said: "We have one of the strictest regimes anywhere in the world for sales of defence equipment but we do believe that countries have a right to self-defence.

“We do believe countries have a right to defend themselves. And we do believe Britain has important defence industries that employ over 300,000 people and so that sort of business is completely legitimate and right." » | Monday, November 05, 2012

Obama: Under Surveillance
As warrantless electronic surveillance in the US surges, how far have civil liberties been eroded under the president?

Ryan Says Obama Compromises Judeo-Christian Values
REUTERS.COM: (Reuters) - In a telephone call with evangelical voters Sunday night, U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan told potential voters that President Barack Obama's path for the United States compromises Judeo-Christian values.

The comment came during the final sprint for the U.S. election on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a leading group of Christian conservatives, Ryan attacked Obama's vision in stark terms.

In the campaign's last week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Ryan, his running mate, have argued that if elected, they would end partisan divisiveness and work with Democrats to find solutions in Washington.

"It's a dangerous path," Ryan said of Obama's plan for the United States. "It's a path that grows government, restricts freedom and liberty, and compromises those values, those Judeo-Christian, Western civilization values that made us such a great and exceptional nation in the first place." » | Samuel P. Jacobs | CASTLE ROCK, Colorado | Sunday, November 04, 2012

Tunisie : la communauté juive réclame sa protection par l'armée
LE POINT: Un policier tunisien a été arrêté alors qu'il préparait avec quatre Libyens l'enlèvement d'un jeune juif pour obtenir une rançon.

La communauté juive en Tunisie a réclamé dimanche sa protection par l'armée après l'arrestation de quatre Libyens et d'un policier tunisien préparant l'enlèvement d'un jeune juif tunisien pour obtenir une rançon, a déclaré le président de cette communauté à Djerba (sud). "Après l'implication d'un policier dans cette affaire, nous voulons que notre protection soit aussi assurée par l'armée", a précisé Perez Trabelsi, ajoutant que la communauté juive a "une grande confiance en l'armée". » | LePoint.fr | dimanche 04 novembre 2012

Pat Condell on the Enemy Within
Pat Condell describes the inherent dangers of Sharia Law and the Islamic enemies that are now becoming established within Western society.

He strongly urges everyone (esp Americans) to read the book 'Muslim Mafia'.

New Zealand PM in Trouble over David Beckham 'Thick' Comment
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has found himself at the centre of a social media storm over insulting remarks he is reported to have made about football player David Beckham.

Mr Key appeared on television on Monday parrying questions over whether he had, as reported in New Zealand media, branded David Beckham, who plays for LA Galaxy and was a celebrity ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics, "thick as bat ----"

The media said Mr Key made the remark last week when telling school pupils about Beckham's visit to New Zealand in 2008 for an exhibition match between the LA Galaxy and the Oceania All-Stars in Auckland.

Radio New Zealand said Mr Key described Beckham as handsome and "a really nice guy" but "thick".

He was repeatedly asked on breakfast TV about his alleged comments.

"That is someone that thinks they have overheard a conversation I have had. I am not going to engage in that because otherwise I am engaging in every conversation that someone thinks I have," Mr Key said.


THE GUARDIAN: New Zealand PM accused of calling David Beckham 'thick': John Key reported to have insulted former England football captain during a school visit in Auckland » | Press Association | Monday, November 05, 2012

Ultranationalisten gegen Putin
Erstmals seit Jahren hat die russische Regierung Ultranationalisten durch die Moskauer Innenstadt marschieren lassen. Präsident Wladimir Putin straften sie mit Schlachtrufen – weil er zu viel für Immigranten tue und das Volk vernachlässige.

Neuer Papst für Kopten
Die grösste christliche Gemeinschaft im nahen Osten, die ägyptischen Kopten, hat einen neuen Papst. Bischof Tawadros ist in Kairo zum 118. Kirchenoberhaupt erkoren worden.

Lien en relation avec cette vidéo »

Enquête: Une délégation lausannoise examine la tombe d'Arafat

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Une délégation de l’Institut de radiophysique de Lausanne est arrivée en Cisjordanie pour préparer l'exhumation de la dépouille du leader palestinien. Elle sera rejointe par des enquêteurs français et des experts suisses.

Une équipe suisse s’est rendue lundi à Ramallah pour examiner la tombe de Yasser Arafat, ont indiqué des sources officielles palestiniennes sous couvert de l’anonymat. Elle doit effectuer des prélèvements sur la dépouille du dirigeant historique palestinien.

La délégation de l’Institut de radiophysique de Lausanne est arrivée lundi à Ramallah et a discuté «des prochaines étapes» avec les ministres de la Santé et de la Justice, Hani Abdine et Ali Mhanna, ainsi que le chef de la commission d’enquête palestinienne sur la mort d’Arafat, Taoufiq Tiraoui, selon ces responsables.

La délégation a visité le mausolée où repose Yasser Arafat. Les enquêteurs français chargés d’une instruction sur la mort du dirigeant palestinien historique et les experts du laboratoire suisse sont attendus à Ramallah le 26 novembre, selon une source proche du dossier. » | ats / afp / ap/Newsnet | lundi 05 novembre 2012

Islamic Radicalism a Real Threat in Malaysia
RADIO AUSTRALIA: Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced an exchange programme between Australia and Malaysia, which he says aims to foster moderate Islam.

Under the programme, six Australians with Islamic backgrounds will travel to Malaysia and their counterparts will visit Australia.

A prominent Islamic moderate in Malaysia has applauded the proposed programme.

Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, who's a cardio-thoracic surgeon by profession, is also director of the Islamic Renaissance Front.

He says Islamic radicalism poses a real threat to Malaysia and the region, and that some people are using it for political ends.

Presenter: Sen Lam

Speaker: Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, director of the Islamic Renaissance Front. Dr Farouk is also a cardio-thoracic surgeon at the Monash University Medical School, Malaysia (+ audio) » | Monday, November 05, 2012

Égypte : l'évêque Tawadros choisi comme nouveau patriarche copte

LE POINT: Une foule de fidèles était présente dimanche dans la cathédrale Saint-Marc du Caire pour la cérémonie.

L'évêque Tawadros, 60 ans, a été choisi dimanche comme nouveau patriarche des Coptes orthodoxes d'Égypte, la plus grande communauté chrétienne du Moyen-Orient, inquiète face à la montée de l'islamisme.

Les yeux bandés, le petit Bichoy Girgis Masaad a tiré le nom de Tawadros au sort dans un calice de verre au cours d'une cérémonie religieuse à la grande cathédrale Saint-Marc du Caire, conformément aux règles de cette Église. L'évêque Pachomius, qui assure l'intérim depuis la mort de Chenouda III, en mars, après quatre décennies à la tête de cette communauté, a pris le papier choisi par le jeune garçon et l'a brandi en proclamant "évêque Tawadros". Les deux autres papiers, portant les noms des deux autres candidats encore en lice - l'évêque Raphaël, 54 ans, du Caire et le moine Raphaël Ava Mina, 70 ans -, ont ensuite été montrés à la foule et aux caméras de télévision. » | Source AFP | dimanche 04 novembre 2012

David Cameron in Dubai to Promote UK Arms Trade
The prime minister arrives in Dubai on Monday at the start of a three day trip aimed at persuading the United Arab Emirates to buy 60 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets in a deal reported to be worth more than £3bn. On Tuesday David Cameron is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Britain's biggest trading partner in the region

Related »

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Begin Tour of Australia
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Australia today as they begin the second leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour.

Prince Charles and Camilla landed at Longreach Airport, Queensland, where the heir to the throne named a new plane used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, before joining a traditional Australian barbeque.

In Australia the royal couple have set themselves the task of visiting four major cities - Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and the capital Canberra - and the island state of Tasmania in just six days.

A royal aide said: "The theme of the Jubilee is service to others and their royal highnesses are determined to meet as many people as possible in the time available which is why we're trying to get around so many states and territories as we possibly can." » | Telegraph reporters | Monday, November 05, 2012

Churchill Bust in Jerusalem Pays Tribute to Great Leader, Friend
ARUTZ SHEVA: Winston Churchill was honored in Jerusalem with a statue proclaiming him a friend of the Jewish people and supporter of Zionist aspirations.

Almost half a century after his death, Winston Churchill was honored in Jerusalem on Sunday with a statue and tribute proclaiming him a friend of the Jewish people and supporter of Zionist aspirations.

A large bronze bust, constructed by renowned sculptor Oscar Nemon, was unveiled at Mishkenot Sha'ananim, outside of the Old City walls, in recognition of the wartime British leader, who remains arguably one of the most outstanding historical personalities.

The ceremony was attended by the former prime minister's great grandson, Randolph Churchill, as well as Israeli and British diplomats and politicians.

While many argue that Churchill's failure to bomb the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz outweighed his support for the Jewish people, he is widely regarded as a friend of the Jewish nation and the state of Israel. » | Rachel Hirshfeld | Monday, November 05, 2012

Malaysia – The Islamic State
FREE MALAYSIA TODAY: A dark humour piece on a perceived puritan Islamic state which PAS is insistent on championing one day in the future.

The Muslims in this country have certainly come of age. Lovingly protected by the government against the pitfalls of sin and eternal damnation, today a growing majority of Muslims are attracted to the beautiful notion of being governed by the hudud penal code and becoming a true Islamic nation.

It is wonderful to know that a Muslim NGO has called for the banning of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s “My Name Is Khan” movie which confuses Muslims as it promotes liberal Islam and religious pluralism. It has also warned Malaysian broadcasters against airing the hit film and called for the blocking of the distribution of the film CD.

Malay right-wing group Perkasa also called for Muslims nationwide to boycott award-winning singer Jaclyn Victor for singing the Malay-language Christian song “Harapan Bangsa”.

PAS Youth has done its bit to ban Valentine’s Day, a well-known Western celebration and live concerts which promote a loose lifestyle. And now it wants to meet the King, because the MCA president refuses to apologise for purportedly insulting Islam.

PAS is also ready to hold a discussion with former Perlis mufti Prof Madya Mohd Aszri Zainul Abidin on the “Ayatollah” issue should it ever come to power.

Malay bibles have been banned in the Peninsula and the government is serious to disallow Allah’s name to be uttered by non-Muslims.

Maybe, the time is ripe for the Muslims in this country to have an Islamic state.

Umno and PAS

Umno has been instrumental in the past to Islamise this nation, and it is satisfied that Malaysia is already a thriving Islamic state. It has even planned a mandatory mosque law to build a mosque in every new housing estate.

PAS, however, feels that more should be done and that the hudud penal code be part and parcel of an Islamic state.

Both parties agree that Muslims in Malaysia are weak and open to the temptations of the world. Some form of “state control” is needed to ensure that Muslims do not breach religious etiquette or go over the line.

Weak Muslims cannot be allowed to go through life without the state monitoring their progress and to provide them spiritual guidance. » | Iskandar Dzulkarnain | Monday, November 05, 2012

Malaysia, Australia Launch Young Muslim Exchange Programme
AUSTRALIA NETWORK NEWS: Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr says six young Australians with Islamic backgrounds will be able to hone their leadership skills during an exchange program with Malaysia.

Senator Carr and his Malaysian counterpart, Anifah Aman, signed off on the Australia-Malaysia Young Muslim Exchange Programme after recent talks in the Malaysian state of Sabah.

Under the programme - which is based on a model Australia has run with Indonesia and Thailand - participants from Malaysia will also travel to Australia.

Senator Carr says fostering cultural understanding is important for the future of both countries.

"I think it's one of the most important challenges we face today - getting a dialogue with the forces of moderate Islam," he said.

"To a large extent, the clash we see in the world today reflected in the forces of terrorism and unrest is a clash within Islam and we want to be engaging with the forces of moderate Islam." (+ audio) » | ABC | Monday, November 05, 2012