Great and the Good of World Politics Set to Attend Margaret Thatcher's Funeral
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Many of the political titans who have dominated British politics for more than 40 years are set to be present in St Paul’s Cathedral next week to pay their final respects to Baroness Thatcher.

All surviving members of Lady Thatcher’s Cabinets - including Lord Heseltine and Lord Howe – have been invited to attend the funeral on Wednesday, which will see more than 2,000 people mourn the loss of the former prime minister.

Foreign politicians including former South Africa leader FW de Klerk and former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have also been invited.

From the world of arts, singer Dame Shirley Bassey and composer Lord Lloyd-Webber will be attending the service. Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear presenter, will also be at the funeral.

Number 10 said the guest list had been drawn up by Lady Thatcher's family and representatives with the assistance of the Government and the Conservative Party.

More than 2,000 invitations are expected to be printed today and sent out tomorrow. » | Peter Dominiczak, Political Correspondent | Thursday, April 11, 2013

THE GUARDIAN: The Margaret Thatcher I knew: 20 personal insights – What was the former prime minister really like to work with and against, to live with and to help dress? Those who knew her best remember » | Monday, April 08, 2013

Frank Gardner's Return to Saudi Arabia
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner returns to Saudi Arabia, where he was shot by Al Qaeda in 2004, exploring how it has so far avoided an Arab Spring revolution.
Watch BBC documentary here

This Lady’s Not for Jumping. Lady Thatcher Refuses Interview Request

Pope Emeritus Benedict's Health 'Has Deteriorated'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Vatican has admitted that the health of Pope Emeritus Benedict has deteriorated, after an experienced Holy See watcher claimed that "we won't have him with us for very much longer".


Benedict, 85, who made history by becoming the first Pope since the Middle Ages to voluntarily step down, has looked increasingly frail in his few public appearances since his resignation on Feb 28.

He appeared particularly unsteady when he was visited by his successor, Pope Francis, at Castel Gandolfo, the summer papal residence outside Rome where Benedict has been staying since his departure from the Vatican.

Paloma Gomez Borerro, a veteran Vatican correspondent from Spain, claimed that "Benedict is in a very bad way. In the last 15 days he has undergone a tremendous physical deterioration."

Benedict is due to move to a former convent within the walls of the Vatican within the next month, but Ms Gomez Borrero said she thought it unlikely he would spend much time there in light of his declining health. "We won't have him with us for very much longer," she said. » | Nick Squires, Rome | Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Lord Tebbit Says He Regrets Leaving Margaret Thatcher 'At the Mercy of Her Friends'
The former Conservative minister and close ally of Margaret Thatcher, tells the House of Lords that she was "brought down in the end not by the electorate, but by her colleagues."

On GBTV Geert Wilders Sits Down with Glenn Beck and Talks Europe, Islam, Terrorism, & America (May 2012)

Jeremiah Wright on Obama - GBTV
His former pastor spills the beans on Barack Obama.

Syria Crisis: Al-Nusra Pledges Allegiance to Al-Qaeda
BBC: The leader of the al-Nusra Front, a jihadist group fighting in Syria, has pledged allegiance to the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani said the group's behaviour in Syria would not change as a result.

Al-Nusra claims to have carried out many suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks against state targets.

On Tuesday, al-Qaeda in Iraq announced a merger with al-Nusra, but Mr Jawlani said he had not been consulted on this.

Al-Nusra has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the US.

Debates among Western leaders over whether to arm Syria's rebels have often raised the concern of weapons ending up in the hands of groups such as al-Nusra.

"The sons of al-Nusra Front pledge allegiance to Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri," Mr Jawlani said in a recording released on Wednesday. » | Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WIKI: Al-Nusra Front »

Margaret Thatcher Was 'Not a Woman On My Terms', Claims Labour MP Glenda Jackson in Bitter Attack on Former Premier's Memory
MAIL ONLINE: Oscar-winning actress launches astonishing assault on Lady Thatcher / Accuses her of 'wreaking heinous social and economic damage' / Good-natured debate started by Cameron and Miliband blown apart / Left-wing MPs use recall of Parliament to condemn Thatcher's Britain

Labour MP Glenda Jackson tonight launched an extraordinary attack on Baroness Thatcher, barely 48 hours after former Prime Minister’s death.

Ms Jackson, an Oscar-winning actress turned politician, suggested Lady Thatcher was ‘a woman but not on my terms’.

And she accused the former Tory Premier of ‘wreaking the most heinous social and economic damage on this country’.

The bitter outburst from the left-winger came during a Commons debate to pay tribute to Baroness Thatcher, who died on Monday aged 97.

It sparked furious complaints from Tory MPs, accusing Ms Jackson of using the recall of Parliament to attack the memory of the person who has been deceased'.

Labour leader Ed Miliband and predecessor Tony Blair had urged the party's MPs to show respect to Baroness Thatcher when discussing her legacy.

But the unprecedented occasion of a seven-hour debate to pay cross-party tribute was marred when Ms Jackson launched into a devastating attack on the three-times election winner.

To cries of 'shame!' form Tory benches, Ms Jackson finished her speech remarking how women who helped run the country during the war would not have recognised the idea of 'womanliness' embodied in Baroness Thatcher.

She added: 'The first prime minister of female gender, ok. But a woman? Not on my terms.'

With the Labour benches almost deserted behind her, she told MPs: 'When I made my maiden speech in this chamber a little over two decades ago, Margaret Thatcher had been elevated to the [House of Lords].

'But Thatcherism was still wreaking - as it had wreaked for the whole decade - the most heinous social and economic damage on this country, on my constituency and my constituents.' Read on and comment » | Matt Chorley, MailOnline Political Editor | Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Legacy of the 'Iron Lady'
Did Margaret Thatcher turn Britain into a heartless country or did she save it from an almost certain meltdown?

World Reacts to Death of Margaret Thatcher
Foreign leaders react to passing of ex-UK premier credited with restoring Britain's reputation on the world stage.

Bangladesh Protesters Demand Blasphemy Law
Hundreds of thousands of marchers call for law that would include death penalty for bloggers who insult Islam.

Malawi’s Radio Islam Punished for Demeaning Jesus Christ
NYASA TIMES: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has slapped Radio Islam with a $625 (about K260, 000) fine for denigrating the Christian religion, mostly stating that Jesus Christ is not the son of God.

Macra has imposed the fine on Radio Islam for breaching Clause 2(a) of the Third Schedule to the Communications Act and Clause 10.1.3 of its Licences by denigrating other religion beliefs.

“In January, 2013 Radio Islam aired a programme where they denigrated the Christian religion by among other things stating that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God and all people who follow him shall perish in hell.

“Upon hearing representations from Radio Islam, they admitted to have aired the program in breach of both the Communications Act and the Licence terms and conditions. » | Yankho Msukwa, Nyasa Times | Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Australia: First Muslim Woman to Enter Parliament

SBS.COM.AU: The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.

The first Muslim woman to be appointed to any parliament in Australia says her religion won’t be a major influence on her politics.

Mehreen Faruqi will take over from Greens MP Cate Faehrmann in the New South Wales upper house later this year.

The environmental engineer and university lecturer told SBS religion should play “no part” in politics, and rejected earlier claims from an Islamic Friendship Association spokesman that she could have difficulties reconciling issues such as gay marriage with Islamic teachings.

“We live in a democracy and [have] a secular system of government. I see no role that religion plays in government, and nor should it,” she said. » | Source: Rhiannon Elston, SBS | Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Thatchers Beerdigung: Zum Abschied kommt die Queen
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Ein Staatsbegräbnis gibt es nicht, doch die frühere britische Premierministerin Margaret Thatcher wird mit allem militärischen Pomp beerdigt. Sogar die Queen kommt. Das Unterhaus unterbricht die Osterpause, um die Staatsfrau zu würdigen.

Es ist die Paradestrecke der königlichen Kutschen - vom Parlamentsgebäude über den Trafalgar Square bis zur St. Paul's Cathedral. Am 17. April wird hier der Sarg mit dem Leichnam vonMargaret Thatcher entlangfahren. Auf beiden Seiten werden Soldaten aller Truppenteile Spalier stehen und Bürger ihre Fähnchen schwenken.

Zum Trauergottesdienst werden zahlreiche Staatsgäste aus dem Ausland erwartet. Auch Queen Elizabeth II. wird Thatcher die letzte Ehre erweisen - eine Würdigung, die zuletzt Winston Churchill1965 zuteil wurde.

Mit großem Pomp nehmen die Briten Abschied von ihrer früheren Premierministerin. Die 87-Jährige war am Montagmorgen im Londoner Hotel Ritz gestorben, wo sie sich in den vergangenen Monaten von einer Operation erholt hatte. Beim Lesen im Bett hatte sie einen Schlaganfall erlitten. » | Von Carsten Volkery, London | Dienstag, 09. April 2013

Queen to Attend Margaret Thatcher's Funeral
Baroness Thatcher's ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral will be attended by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Margaret Thatcher: Prime Minister
In this special programme to mark her passing, family, friends and former colleagues recall Margaret Thatcher's life, her extraordinary personality and her years in power.
Watch BBC programme here

North Korea: Foreigners Should Evacuate South Korea

BBC: North Korea has warned foreigners in South Korea to take evacuation measures in case of war.

This comes amid growing concern that the North may be about to launch a missile test.

Pyongyang has been making bellicose threats against South Korea, Japan and US bases in the region.

Japan has deployed defensive anti-missile batteries at three locations in Tokyo, to protect the capital's 30 million residents.

US-made Patriot anti-missile systems have been deployed at the defence ministry and at two other military bases.

"The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people's lives and ensure their safety," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

"As North Korea keeps making provocative comments, Japan, co-operating with relevant countries, will do what we have to do," he added. » | Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Margaret Thatcher Funeral Set for Next Week

Read the article here | Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Margaret Thatcher: 'Austere Childhood' Helped Shape Public Life, Says Daughter
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Margaret Thatcher’s success as British Prime Minister was down to her tough upbringing as a child, according to the Baroness’s daughter Carol.

Carol Thatcher, 59, paid tribute to her mother for developing skills gleaned from her “austere childhood” and a lack of "luxuries", which helped shape her glittering career in public life.

Lady Thatcher’s daughter said skills such as discipline, motivation and “tunnel vision” were instrumental in her political career, which ended in her becoming the country’s first and only female occupant of Downing Street.

Miss Thatcher said that her mother’s tough upbringing helped her become a “very motivated” person.

The pre-recorded comments were made in a BBC documentary last night, which was presented by Andrew Marr, one of the corporation's leading political journalists.

She told the former BBC Political Editor: “My mother certainly had an austere childhood. Material luxuries were in short supply.

“I think everything she put into use in her career in later life, was gleaned from her childhood – the discipline, the motivation and the tunnel vision.

“She was a very motivated child, a very motivated teenager and we all know what a motivated adult she became.” » | Andrew Hough | Tuesday, April 09, 2013