Eurozone Faces New Challenge as Portugal Blocks Cuts
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The eurozone crisis threatens to flare up again this week after Portugal's constitutional court blocked the country's planned austerity programme.

The single currency bloc has already been destabilised by Cyprus and now faces fresh uncertainty if Lisbon cannot find new savings to meet the conditions of its €78bn (£66bn) bail-out.

Pedro Passos Coelho, Portugal’s prime minister, said last night that the rejection posed “serious obstacles and risks” to Portugal’s progress in meeting its bail-out commitments, but that it would “do everything to avoid a second rescue”.

“The government is committed to all the objectives of the programme,” he said. Luis Marques Guedes, secretary of state for cabinet matters, said at the weekend: "The constitutional court's decision places serious difficulties on the country to comply with the goals and budget targets it has to meet. The government doesn't agree with the interpretation of the constitution."

The court ruled that planned cuts in salaries to state workers and payments to pensioners were in breach of the constitution. The measures were expected to save as much as €1.3bn annually, a large slice of the €5bn of fiscal consolidation planned for this year. Mr Passos Coelho said that he had asked ministries to slash spending in order to avoid further tax rises. » | Philip Aldrick, Economics editor | Sunday, April 07, 2013

Young Muslim Became a Christian Pastor...Testimony

Afshin Ziafat »

Pat Condell: I'm Offended by Islam

Pat Condell: Pigs Will Fly

Robert Spencer and David Wood on the International Push for Blasphemy Laws

HT: Robert @ Jihad Watch »

Muslims Trying Hard to Spread Islam in the West: Let's Talk Live with Malik: Defending Islam Featuring Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad and Pierre Vogel

Saudis Crack Down on Foreign Workers in Bid to Boost Job Prospects for Locals
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Shops and schools are being ‘raided’ in Saudi Arabia in a country-wide crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Expatriate workers have been left ‘hiding in fear’ as the Saudi government targets companies with foreigners, seeking to deport those with invalid working visas.

The crackdown has forced the indefinite closing of more than 250 schools and ‘thousands’ of convenience stores across the country, as these are staffed mostly by immigrants.

More than 8 million people make up Saudi Arabia’s foreign workforce, a quarter of whom are suspected of working under invalid sponsorship, and could be removed in such inspections.

The country has long been dependent on a large foreign workforce, but the Ministry of Labour has been attempting to implement a ‘Saudisation’ program since 2011 to boost employment of locals.

Recent figures suggest that more than 12% of Saudi citizens are without a job, and with an estimated £4.8bn being sent out of Saudi Arabia each year in remittances, the government is now moving to keep as much of this as possible within the confines of the country. » | Matthew Murphy | Saturday, April 06, 2013

Inside Britain's Sharia Courts
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A new documentary that goes undercover in Britain's Islamic courts reveals the shocking discrimination some women are suffering

In a terraced house in East London, just a stone’s throw from the glittering stadiums of the Olympic Park, a handful of people wait in a small reception room. A young Asian woman and her mother hitch their scarves over their heads while a Somali couple stare at the floor.

This is Leyton Islamic Sharia Council, the oldest and most active such council in the country where scholars hear about 50 cases a month, most of them marital disputes. Nine out of 10 cases are brought by women because, in an Islamic marriage, it is far easier for a man to divorce; the only way for a woman is through one of these Sharia councils. No one knows how many there are in Britain today, in mosques and in houses – one report estimates at least 85. Although they cannot enforce their judgments, these councils control the lives of many Muslim women who may only have had a religious marriage. Even if they had a civil marriage too, some feel the need for a Sharia divorce as a way of moving on with their lives and finding a sense of resolution.

A sign outside one of the rooms says “Arbitration”. Inside it looks like a court, a wall lined with religious books and a raised dais for the judge. The tension in here crackles as a couple, who do not want to be identified, argue in front of Leyton’s most senior Islamic scholar, Dr Suhaib Hasan, an elderly man with a white beard wearing long robes.

They have been coming here for a year now. The woman accuses her husband of refusing to work, ignoring the children and verbally abusing her, all of which he vehemently denies. When he is ordered to leave for a moment, she breaks down in tears. “I hate him, he has ruined my life,” she cries. “I cannot bear to even look at him.”

Dr Hasan’s face is impassive as he tells her to give her husband one more month to try and reconcile, with the help of Allah. The woman sobs as she begs him to grant the divorce as she only had a religious marriage and her fate is in the council’s hands. » | Jane Corbin | Sunday, April 07, 2013

Pastor Rick Warren's Son Matthew Commits Suicide
Best-selling author, faith leader releases public letter about his family's tragedy.

Watch More News Videos at ABC | Technology News | Celebrity News

«Das Feuer wird auf die Türkei übergreifen»
TAGES ANZEIGER: Sollte seine Regierung stürzen, käme es in Nahost zu einem Flächenbrand, sagte der syrische Präsident Assad in einem TV-Interview. Gleichzeitig greift er den türkischen Regierungschef und die Arabische Liga an.

Der syrische Präsident Bashar al-Assad hat in einem Interview mit türkischen Medien vor einem Flächenbrand in Nahost gewarnt, sollte seine Regierung stürzen. Die Folge einer solchen Machtübernahme durch «Terroristen» wäre ein «Domino-Effekt», der die gesamte Region «für viele Jahre, sogar Jahrzehnte» destabilisieren würde, sagte Assad in dem am Freitag von der syrischen Präsidentschaft auf ihrer Seite beim Online-Netzwerk Facebook veröffentlichten Gespräch mit dem TV-Sender Ulusal und der Zeitung Aydinlik.

Den türkischen Regierungschef Recep Tayyip Erdogan kritisierte Assad scharf. Erdogan habe seit dem «Beginn der Krise in Syrien» vor rund zwei Jahren «nicht ein einziges Wort der Wahrheit gesprochen». «Das Feuer wird auf die Türkei übergreifen, leider sieht er (Erdogan) nicht die Realität hier.» » | chk/AFP | Samstag, 06. April 2013

Things You Dont Know About: Adolf Hitler | History Channel Documentary

Australia Gets First Muslim Woman MP
ON ISLAM: SYDNEY – Making history in the multicultural country, a Pakistani-origin Muslim has been appointed as the first Muslim woman in the Australian parliament, breaking new grounds for politics in Australia.

"We do need a spectrum of diverse politicians in Australian parliaments who can represent our communities,” Mehreen Faruqi told 9MSN News on Sunday, April 7.

"It shows the world that we really value multiculturalism.” » | OnIslam & News Agencies | Sunday, April 07, 2013

BBC: The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler

Documentary: Hitler’s Escape
According the official public record, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker as allied troops stormed Berlin at the end of World War II. But no one actually saw him die. No body was ever produced. No photographs were ever taken. Some believe Hitler managed to escape, and for years there were sightings of the former dictator in many parts of the world. Then, in the 1990s the Russians revealed secret evidence taken from Hitler's bunker decades earlier that they said proved he had died there. Among the evidence is a piece of skull, but the testing results were startling.

Revealed: Hitler in Argentina
Highlight Films presents: Revealed, a new documentary film in production following the theory of Hitler's escape to Argentina.

In 1945, the world was convinced that Adolf Hitler and his mistress Eva Braun had committed suicide in a Berlin bunker, though this theory lacked proper documentation and evidence. It wasn't long until flaws in the theory surfaced. As further historical research was conducted, rumors began to circulate that challenged the suicide theory with claims of Hitler's escape to Argentina - particularly with news of sightings of German U-boats off the Argentinean coast.

Yet, it wasn't until the recent declassification of certain documents by the Argentinean government and the FBI concerning the post-WWII era that researchers began to take the rumors seriously. Revealed will examine the declassified reports and eyewitness accounts of Hitler's life in Argentina in order to recreate the dictator's final years. In spite of the intense secrecy under which he lived, many saw and even worked for Hitler. Revealed will present the disturbing possibility that one of the world's most evil men was allowed to live out his final years in utter tranquility.


Highlight Films: Revealed: Hitler in Argentina »

Saudi Arabia Backs Push to Carve Out Liberated Southern Syria
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia is backing a push by Syrian opposition rebels to carve out a "liberated" area in southern Syria, opening a key route of attack on Damascus.

The Kingdom is working with American intelligence officials in Jordan to help build a strong rebel force in southern Syria that can fight to seize control of Damascus, and offer a 'west friendly' counterweight to the proliferating hardline Islamist rebel groups, high level Syrian opposition sources and eyewitnesses have told the Daily Telegraph.

"Saudi Arabia is supporting groups here that are not religious extremists.

Americans are supervising the flow of arms and the Saudis pay for them," said a rebel who called himself Ahmed Masri speaking to the Daily Telegraph from the southern city of Deraa.

Saudi Arabia is also said to be supporting a US-led programme to train Syrian rebel fighters in Jordan. A well-placed opposition lobbyist based in Jordan told the Daily Telegraph that "the Americans are doing the training, but Saudi is paying the money for it".

Those receiving training are mainly moderate Sunni Muslim tribesmen from central and southern Syria, many of whom have served in the Syrian army.

Many are chosen by local opposition military councils established in southern Syria.

"They are asking us to take part in a 15-day training programme," said one Syrian fighter in Jordan speaking on the condition of anonymity. » | Ruth Sherlock, Magdy Samaan and Suha Maayeh in Amman | Friday, April 05, 2013

Lecture on Muhammad Kicks Off Islamic Awareness Month
THE HARVARD CRIMSON: In celebration of its annual Islamic Awareness Month, the Harvard Islamic Society kicked off a series of events this week in order to bring attention to Islamic issues and the Muslim community at Harvard.

“We want to present this sense that Islamic values are very much a part of American life,” said Hassaan Shahawy ’16, who is HIS’s Director of Islamic Learning. “We have events that show that it’s not as dual as we think. It’s not Islam versus the West, Islam versus science. The misperception is that the two are at odds with each other.”

The festivities began Monday night with a talk entitled “What Muhammad Stood for,” presented by Lesley Hazleton, author of The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad and veteran TED speaker. Hazleton spoke about Muhammad’s radical advocacy of social justice and the factors that led to Muhammad’s role as a prophet. » | Bharath Venkatesh, Contributing Writer | Friday, April 05, 2013

Syria Says Jordan 'Playing with Fire' over Assistance to Rebels
THE GUARDIAN: Jordan tightens security along Syrian border as tensions soar amid reports of arms shipments to anti-Assad forces

Jordan is facing mounting tension with neighbouring Syria amid signs that it has moved to a more active role in support of the rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The border between the countries was reinforced on the Jordanian side on Thursday after Syrian state media warned the western-backed kingdom it was "playing with fire" and poised "on the edge of a volcano" by backing the opposition.

Recent weeks have seen a spate of reports about arms shipments from Jordan to anti-Assad rebels who have been making gains around Deraa, the Syrian city closest to the border. Opposition sources say the military situation reflects enhanced supplies and training.

Barack Obama discussed the crisis with King Abdullah II in Amman on his Middle East tour last month. Jordan was the only Arab state the US president visited – an indication of the pressure the king is under to be more supportive of the Gulf-driven effort to drive Assad from power. » | Ian Black, Middle East editor | Friday, April 05, 2013

Middle East Will Be Unstable for Decades If Rebels Win in Syria, Says Assad
THE GUARDIAN: Syrian leader warns of domino effect and accuses Arab neighbours of sheltering rebels who seek to overthrow him


The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, has warned that the Middle East faces being destabilised for decades if rebel forces battling to overthrow him succeed.

Assad, locked in a two-year conflict he says has been fuelled by his regional enemies, also criticised Turkey's "foolish and immature" leaders and accused Arab neighbours of arming and sheltering rebel fighters.

"If the unrest in Syria leads to the partitioning of the country, or if the terrorist forces take control … the situation will inevitably spill over into neighbouring countries and create a domino effect throughout the Middle East and beyond," he said in an interview with Turkish television.

Turmoil would spread "east, west, north and south. This will lead to a state of instability for years and maybe decades to come," Assad said in the interview, posted by the Syrian presidency on the internet. » | Staff and agencies | Saturday, April 06, 2013

Muslim Converts to Christianity and Exposes the Evils of the Cult of Islam