Race to Save the Language of Jesus: Aramaic in Danger of Becoming Extinct as Number of Speakers of Ancient Tongue Plummets

MAIL ONLINE: Language once widely used in Middle East but speakers are now scattered / Aramaic is believed to have been used by Jesus and his disciples / British linguist Geoffrey Khan developing database of recordings

It is thought to have been spoken by Jesus Christ and his disciples more than 2,000 years ago.

But now Aramaic, an ancient language related to both Hebrew and Arabic, is threatened with extinction as the number of speakers worldwide has dwindled.

Linguist Professor Geoffrey Khan of the University of Cambridge, has launched a quest to record the language before it dies out by visiting the scattered communities where it is still used.

By recording some of the remaining native Aramaic speakers he hopes to preserve the language which is one of a number threatened with extinction worldwide.

The 3,000-year-old language was once common throughout the entire Middle East and was used for trade, government and divine worship from the Holy Land to India and China.

As a key language used in Israel from 539 BC to 70 AD, experts believe it was likely to have been spoken by Jesus.

It is also the language of large sections of the biblical books of Daniel and Ezra, and is the main language of the Talmud (a key Jewish text).

Parts of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls were written in Aramaic. As Jesus died on the cross, he cried out in Aramaic, 'Elahi, Elahi, lema shabaqtani?' ('My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?').

But speakers are now scattered across the globe, with pockets even found in US cities such as Chicago where several thousands Assyrians live. Prof Khan told Smithsonian.com that he felt his 'calling' to record the language after speaking to a Jew from Erbil, a northern Iraqi city.

'It completely blew my mind,' he said. 'To discover a living language through the lips of a living person, it was just incredibly exhilarating.' Read on and comment » | Sam Adams | Friday, January 25, 2013

Duma beschneidet Rechte von Homosexuellen

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Schwule und Lesben sollen in Russland nicht mehr über ihre Sexualität reden dürfen. Nachdem mehrere Großstädte "Homosexuellen-Propaganda" unter Strafe gestellt haben, droht nun auch ein landesweites Verbot. Vor der Duma kam es zu Zusammenstößen zwischen Aktivisten und fanatischen Gläubigen.

Moskau - Die russische Staatsduma hat erwartungsgemäß in erster Lesung ein umstrittenes Verbot von "Homosexuellen-Propaganda" mit breiter Mehrheit angenommen. 388 von 450 Abgeordneten stimmten für den Entwurf. Er sieht für öffentliche Äußerungen über HomosexualitätGeldstrafen bis zu umgerechnet 12.500 Euro vor. Das meldete die Agentur Itar-Tass am Freitag. Für das Gesetz sind eine zweite und dritte Lesung notwendig.

Der Abgeordnete Sergej Dorofejew von der Regierungspartei EinigesRussland sagte vor der Abstimmung, mit dem Gesetz sollten Minderjährige "vor den Auswirkungen der Homosexualität" geschützt werden. Die Abgeordnete Elena Misulina von der liberalen Oppositionspartei Gerechtes Russland sagte, "homosexuelle Propaganda" schränke "das Recht der Minderjährigen zur freien Entwicklung" und zur freien Wahl ihrer sexuellen Orientierung ein.

Dutzende fanatische Gläubige attackierten mit faulen Eiern und Farbe homosexuelle Aktivisten, die sich aus Protest gegen das Vorhaben vor derDuma öffentlich küssten. "Moskau ist nicht Sodom", riefen die Gläubigen gegen "Sünde und Lasterhaftigkeit". Aber nicht die Angreifer kamen in Polizeigewahrsam, sondern die lesbischen und schwulen Aktivisten, die um ihr Recht auf Selbstbestimmung und freie Meinungsäußerung kämpften. "Wir haben auch ein Recht auf Liebe", riefen sie an diesem eisigen Tag. » | ler/dpa/AFP | Freitag, 25. Januar 2013

North Korea Threatens to Attack the South
North Korea threatens to attack the South if Seoul joins a new round of tightened UN sanctions. Pyongyang has declared a boycott of all dialogue aimed at ending its nuclear programme. The country has also vowed to conduct more rocket and nuclear tests following UN security council sanctions for a long-range missile launch in December

Read the article here

Ägypten: Polizei setzt Tränengas gegen Demonstranten ein
SPIEGEL ONLINE: In der ägyptischen Hauptstadt Kairo haben sich Regierungsgegner und Polizei heftige Auseinandersetzungen geliefert. Die Sicherheitskräfte schossen mit Tränengas auf Hunderte Demonstranten - sie haben sich zum zweiten Jahrestag des Revolutionsbeginns auf dem Tahrir-Platz versammelt.

Kairo - Ihr Protest gilt Präsident Mohammed Mursi: Zwei Jahre nach dem Beginn der Massenproteste gegen den damaligen Machthaber Husni Mubarak haben Tausende Ägypter gegen die neue islamistische Regierung demonstriert. » | hen/Reuters | Freitag, 25. Januar 2013

Berlin: Gericht verurteilt Qaida-Mitglieder zu langjährigen Haftstrafen
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Sie ließen sich im afghanisch-pakistanischen Grenzgebiet im Umgang mit Waffen und Sprengstoff ausbilden - und reisten dann zurück nach Europa, um sich "für bestimmte Operationen" bereitzuhalten: Das Kammergericht Berlin hat jetzt zwei Qaida-Terroristen zu mehrjährigen Haftstrafen verurteilt.

Berlin - Rund zwölf Monate dauerte das Verfahren, jetzt hat das Berliner Kammergericht sein Urteil gegen zwei Mitglieder des Terrornetzwerks al-Qaida gesprochen: Ein 23-jähriger Österreicher muss für sechs Jahre und neun Monate ins Gefängnis, ein 27-jähriger Deutscher für neun Jahre. » | hen/dapd/dpa | Freitag, 25. Januar 2013

Iran Creates Fake Blogs in Smear Campaign against Journalists in Exile

THE GUARDIAN: BBC Persian staff victims of online identity theft designed to discredit them, with family in Iran facing harassment as well

Iran has been conducting a smear campaign designed to intimidate Iranian journalists living in exile, including apparent death threats. Cyber-activists linked to the Islamic republic have fabricated news, duplicated Facebook accounts and spread false allegations of sexual misconduct by exiled journalists, while harassment of family members back in Iran has been stepped up by security officials.

Staff at the BBC's Persian service in London are among dozens of Iranian journalists who have been subjected to what appears to be an operation sponsored by the authorities and aimed at discrediting reporters in the eyes of the public in Iran.

It is not the first time the Iranian authorities have resorted to such tactics, but Sadeq Saba, head of BBC Persian, said the number of incidents and level of harassment has increased in the last few weeks.

"In comparison to previous round of harassment, this time the language they were using in Iran [against the family members] was more threatening," he said. According to Saba, members of journalists' families have been summoned to the intelligence service headquarters for questioning. One journalist whose parents were interrogated several times said they were told he should stop working for the BBC or risk being killed. » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Thursday, January 24, 2013

'Muslim Patrol' Gang: Police Arrest Three More After Homophobic Video
THE GUARDIAN: New arrests bring total to five after incidents and YouTube videos in which east London gang harass members of public

Detectives investigating a self-styled Muslim patrol gang have made three more arrests, Scotland Yard has said.

Officers are investigating a string of incidents in east London over the weekend where the group harassed members of the public.

A video posted on YouTube showed the gang hurling homophobic abuse at one man, whom the police have urged to come forward.

In the film, titled "Muslim vigilantes in London harass and taunt gay male", they are heard to shout "get out of here you fag … don't stay around here any more".

In a second video, also posted online, men from the gang in Whitechapel tell another man "no drink in this area, it's a Muslim area" before ordering him to pour away his alcohol.

Det Chief Inspector Wendy Morgan from Tower Hamlets borough said: "The Met takes such homophobic behaviour very seriously. (+ video) » | Press Association | Thursday, January 24, 2013

Fewer Than One In Four People Think Islam Is Compatible With British Life, Faith Minister Warns

MAIL ONLINE: Baroness Warsi accuses critics of Islam of being 'un-British' / She points to polling which shows just 24% think Islam is compatible with being British and 23% ay it is not a threat to Western civilisation

Fewer than one in four British voters believes Islam is compatible with the British way of life, the UK's first Muslim woman Cabinet Minister reveals today.

Baroness Warsi will quote private police figures which show that more than half of race hate attacks in Britain are against Muslims as she condemns critics of Islam for peddling 'hate'.

Lady Warsi sparked huge controversy two years ago when she said Britain's approach to Muslims has made Islamophobia acceptable at middle class dinner parties.

But in a new speech today she accuses critics of Islam of being 'un-British' themselves by grouping ordinary Muslims with extremists.

The Minister for Faith and Communities reveals stark polling conducted by YouGov which found that just 24 per cent of voters think Islam is compatible with being British, while more than half disagree. Only 23 per cent say Islam is not a threat to Western civilisation.

An unrepentant Lady Warsi, whose parents emigrated from Pakistan, said that she was right to speak out before and will use the new evidence to warn that the 'underlying, unfounded mistrust' of Muslims is fuelling extremism. Read on and comment » | Tim Shipman | Thursday, January 24, 2013

David Cameron Europe Speech: Germany's Bild Pays Tribute to 'Crazy Brits'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Germany's Bild newspaper has published an impassioned editorial in defence of the "crazy Brits" and David Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on the European Union.

Going against the grain of most European press coverage of the Prime Minister's speech, which is hostile, the popular German newspaper, praises Britain for "once again making an extra sausage", or seeking an extra democratic advantage.

"Crazy Brits. The Brits put Europe into a frenzy," the newspaper opines.

"Most EU countries have tacitly agreed to build Europe above the heads of the people. Motto: The European project is simply too important for democratic participation. And then along comes this Cameron!"

The German newspaper upbraids those who are seeking to kick Britain out of the EU and to lecture Britons on their national interest as defined by outsiders in Brussels or elsewhere on the continent.

"Nice that the rest of the world knows better than the Brits do the interests of their country. » | Bruno Waterfield | Thursday, January 24, 2013

BILD.DE: Bitte geht nicht, ihr seid so schön crazy! : Kaum hat Großbritanniens Premier David Cameron eine Volksabstimmung über die Zugehörigkeit der Insel zu EU-Europa angekündigt, steht der alte Kontinent Kopf. » | Mittwoch, 23. Januar 2013

Trillions of Dollars Worth of Oil Found in Australian Outback
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Up to 233 billion barrels of oil has been discovered in the Australian outback that could be worth trillions of dollars, in a find that could turn the region into a new Saudi Arabia.

The discovery in central Australia was reported by Linc Energy to the stock exchange and was based on two consultants reports, though it is not yet known how commercially viable it will be to access the oil.

The reports estimated the company's 16 million acres of land in the Arckaringa Basin in South Australia contain between 133 billion and 233 billion barrels of shale oil trapped in the region's rocks.

The find was likened to the Bakken and Eagle Ford shale oil projects in the US, which have resulted in massive outflows and have led to predictions that the US could overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's largest oil producer as soon as this year.

Peter Bond, Linc Energy's chief executive, said the find could transform the world's oil industry but noted that it would cost about £200 million to enable production in the area. Shale oil is more costly to extract than conventional crude oil and involves the controversial process of fracking, in which water and chemicals are used to break up the rocks.

"If you took the 233 billion, well, you're talking Saudi Arabia numbers," Mr Bond told ABC News. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Thursday, January 24, 2013

Pentagon Lifts Ban on Women in Combat
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is lifting the military’s ban on women in combat, which will open up hundreds of thousands of additional front-line jobs to them, senior defense officials said on Wednesday.

The groundbreaking decision overturns a 1994 Pentagon rule that restricts women from artillery, armor, infantry and other such combat roles, even though in reality women have found themselves in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, where more than 20,000 have served. As of last year, more than 800 women had been wounded in the two wars and more than 130 had died.

Defense officials offered few details about Mr. Panetta’s decision but described it as the beginning of a process to allow the branches of the military to put it into effect. Defense officials said Mr. Panetta had made the decision on the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. » | Elisabeth Bumiller | Wednesday, January 23, 2013

This is the West’s unrelenting quest to turn men into women, and women into men. Soon, there will be no masculine men or feminine women left. – © Mark

Prince Harry: 'I Don't Know What Normal Is'

Muslim Patrol: Thugs Abuse Man in Second 'Vigilante' Video
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A second inflammatory video featuring Islamic vigilantes emerged today, which appeared to show members of the group hurling homophobic abuse at a man and telling him to leave their "Muslim area".


The footage, from a group calling themselves Muslim Patrol, shows the gang abusing the unnamed man who was walking by himself in Whitechapel, East London.

Today Scotland Yard said they were investigating the video, which was posted on YouTube. Muslim leaders also condemned the thugs' behaviour.

It comes after the gang uploaded another video called "The Truth About Saturday Night", in which white women were called "naked animals with no self-respect".

In the latest video, hooded thugs shout at the terrified man, who appears to be wearing make-up, before one tells him: "Mate, don't you know this is a Muslim area. What's wrong with your face?"

Another then shouts: "This is a Muslim area get out of here. Get out here you b----- f--. You can't stay round here anymore."

During the latest filmed confrontation, the victim can be heard to say: "I am a homosexual."

A yob then asks: "Why are you dressed like that?"

The same yob then tells the man: "You are walking through a Muslim area dressed like a f--. You need to get out of here. "Get out of here quicker. You're dirty mate."

The man then forces the victim to admit he is dirty, he can be heard saying: "Are you dirty? Say it again." » | Telegraph Reporters | Tuesday, January 22, 2013

EU-Partner zeigen London kalte Schulter

DIE PRESSE: David Cameron droht mit seinem Druckmittel eines Referendums zu scheitern, weil die großen EU-Partner den Briten keine Sonderrechte mehr zugestehen wollen. Ein EU-Austritt wird realistisch.

London. Die Reaktion kam rasch und war eindeutig: Die beiden großen EU-Länder Frankreich und Deutschland wollen Großbritannien keine neuen Sonderrechte mehr zugestehen. Sie möchten sich auf das Druckmittel des britischen Premiers, der am Mittwoch ein Referendum über den Verbleib seines Landes in der EU angekündigt hat, nicht einlassen.

David Cameron hat den Einsatz in der Europapolitik mit seiner Rede in London noch einmal erhöht. Bleiben die EU-Partner hart, werden die Briten möglicherweise Ende 2017 nicht über eine neue Sonderrolle der Insel in der Europäischen Union, sondern lediglich über ein Ende der Mitgliedschaft entscheiden. Ein Recht, das ihnen der Lissabon-Vertrag mit der Austrittsklausel zugesteht. » | Gabriel Rath | Die Presse | Mittwoch, 23. Januar 2013

Thousands Convert to Islam in Dubai

KHALEEJ TIMES: DUBAI — Statistics say that Islam is the fastest growing among over 4,200 religions in the world today, with the emirate of Dubai seeing the conversion of more than 4,000 people last year.

There were 4,229 in all who converted to Islam at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (Diaca) and the Islamic Information Centre of the Dubai government-run Dar Al Ber Society.

Diaca saw the conversion of 2,322 residents from 77 different countries — 70 per cent of whom were women. Diaca director-general Hamad Al Shaibani said the department spared no effort to convey the tolerant message of Islam, develop awareness about Islamic culture, and enhance national identity.

“We also pay much attention to new Muslims and provide them with an array of lectures, activities and training courses for them and their family members.” » | Ahmed Shaaban | Wednesday, January 23, 2013

EU-Referendum: Lasst die Briten gehen!
STERN.DE: David Cameron hat den Briten ein Referendum zur EU versprochen. Und sie bekommen es. In vier Jahren. Aber es bleibt die Frage: Wird das Land dann noch abstimmen oder ist es nicht jetzt schon raus? Ein Kommentar von Cornelia Fuchs

Während meiner Zeit als Korrespondentin in London habe ich viele Vorträge von Politikern und Politikbegeisterten gehört, die ihre Theorien zur EU vor mir ausbreiteten. Ob dies im Pub passierte oder in einem Vortragsraum - die Mehrheit hatte einen eindeutigen Grundtenor: Wir brauchen Euch nicht, aber Ihr braucht uns.

EU-Gegner riefen dabei nicht selten das alte Empire ins Gedächtnis: Die ehemaligen Kolonien seien eine viel natürlichere Gemeinschaft für das Vereinigte Königreich, der Commonwealth mit dem beliebten, weißen und weisen Oberhaupt Königin Elizabeth II. Oder man folge der Muttersprache und vereine von Indien bis zu den Vereinigten Staaten alle Länder der "Anglosphere", des englischen Einflusses. » | Cornelia Fuchs | Mittwoch, 23. Januar 2013

David Cameron Calls for UK Exemption from EU's 'Ever-closer' Union

THE GUARDIAN: Prime minister strikes at heart of the European project in speech setting out his plans for an 'in or out' referendum by 2017

David Cameron has outlined the scale of his ambition to transform the terms of Britain's membership of the EU by calling for the UK to be exempted from its founding principle: the creation of an ever-closer union.

In his long-awaited speech on the EU, the prime minister cast himself as a modern-day heretic as he pledged to challenge established thinking.

Speaking at the London headquarters of Bloomberg, Cameron confirmed plans to hold an in-out referendum after the next election but warned: "The biggest danger to the European Union comes not from those who advocate change, but from those who denounce new thinking as heresy. In its long history Europe has experience of heretics who turned out to have a point."

The prime minister said that nothing would be off the table when he puts forward demands for the repatriation of a series of powers to Britain if he wins the 2015 general election. A new settlement would then be put to voters in a referendum by the end of 2017.

"I believe in confronting this issue – shaping it, leading the debate. Not simply hoping a difficult situation will go away," he said.

The prime minister concluded by saying that he would campaign with all his "heart and soul" for Britain to remain in the EU if he succeeds in renegotiating its membership terms. "When the referendum comes, let me say now that if we can negotiate such an arrangement, I will campaign for it with all my heart and soul," he said.

But Cameron declined to be drawn on whether he would campaign for a no vote if he failed to secure changes in the negotiations. Read on and comment » | Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent | Wednesday, January 23, 2013


My comment:

The Conservatives under David Cameron are playing fast and loose with our future. They dream of re-creating England's past glory. But it's never going to happen, of course. It is becoming ever-clearer now that David Cameron is truly out of his depth. He is a man with little foresight, and still less charisma. If he thinks he is going to move the Europeans over to his way of thinking, he's got another think coming.

The way things are going, the Europeans will soon be telling us to "get on our bikes." Then the UK will find itself truly isolated: it won't have any pull at the top tables in Europe, and the Americans will shun us because we won't have any bargaining power there. Nice one, Dave!

I am old enough to remember a time when the UK was not in Europe; I am old enough to remember the referendum which took us into the club. Although it wasn't stated, anyone with any political savvy knew in his heart of hearts that it would lead to an ever-closer union. It wasn't rocket science. Further, I can add that the UK was an infinitely poorer place to live in. The selection of goods in the shops was as nothing by comparison with what we have today in the way of variety of continental foodstuffs. If you wanted continental foods, you'd have to travel to your nearest large town or city and pay a visit to the expensive, exclusive delicatessen to buy them, and even then the selection was severely limited by comparison with today. If you wanted to travel in Europe, you'd need your papers for different countries; if you were taken ill abroad, you wouldn't have access to local health services; if you wanted to work in a European country, you'd have to go through a great deal of red-tape (if it was even possible at all).

If this is the scenario that cast-iron Dave wants to re-create, then the man is a fool. It's a great shame that he isn't a little bit older. If he were, he'd be able to remember the status quo ante. It would do him a lot of good to have some idea of it. – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Mariage pour tous : Chanel fait défiler deux mariées

METRO: SOCIETE - Karl Lagerfeld a présenté mardi matin la collection printemps/été de Chanel au Grand Palais à Paris. L'occasion pour lui de faire un coming-out fashion en plein débat sur le mariage homosexuel.

Comme un pied de nez à l'actualité. Karl Lagerfeld a conclu le défilé haute couture Chanel ce mardi de manière un peu moins traditionnelle qu'à l'accoutumée : avec deux mariées. En plein débat sur le mariage pour tous, effet immédiat garanti. "Je ne comprends même pas cette discussion en France car depuis 1901 l'église et l'Etat sont séparés", a expliqué Karl le couturier de la maison Chanel à l'issue du défilé. "Pourquoi les gens qui vivent ensemble ne peuvent pas avoir la même sécurité que les bourgeois mariés ?".

Dans une interview accordée au magazine anglais Vice il y a deux ans, il se disait pourtant opposé à l’idée du mariage gay. "Je suis contre pour la simple raison que, dans les années 60, tout le monde réclamait le droit à la différence. Et maintenant, soudainement, tout le monde veut une vie bourgeoise" faisait-il valoir alors. » | mardi 22 janvier 2013

Barack und Michelle Obama feiern zweite Amtszeit
Start in Runde Zwei: Bei einer Parade und einem Ball in Washington ließ sich das US-Präsidenten-Paar von seinen Anhängern feiern. Zuvor schwor Barack Obama den Amtseid.

Eis und Schnee sorgen für Chaos an Flughäfen
Schnee und Eisregen haben auch am Montag für Ausfälle im Flugverkehr und starke Behinderungen auf den Straßen gesorgt. In Frankfurt und München mussten zahlreiche Flüge gestrichen werden.