Tel Aviv Unveils First Memorial to Gay Holocaust Victims

People lay flowers in memory of gays killed by Nazis in WWII

BBC: Tel Aviv has become the first Israeli city to unveil a memorial in honour of gay and lesbian victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

The monument in the centre of the city is designed around a pink triangle - the symbol gay prisoners were forced to wear in the concentration camps.

As many as 15,000 homosexuals were killed in the Nazi camps.

Similar monuments in their memory have been erected in Amsterdam, Berlin, San Francisco and Sydney. » | Friday, January 10, 2014

French President Hollande Attacks Reports of Affair

Julie Gayet (left) and François Hollande

BBC: French President Francois Hollande is considering legal action against a magazine that has claimed he is having an affair with an actress.

The latest edition of the weekly tabloid Closer features revelations concerning his alleged relationship with Julie Gayet, 41, an established television and cinema actress.

Mr Hollande says his privacy had been breached.

Hugh Schofield reports from Paris. Wayche BBC video » | Friday, January 10, 2014

Almost a Tenth of Babies and Toddlers in England and Wales Are Muslim, Census Figures Show

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The percentage of Muslims among the under-fives is almost twice as high as in the general population, according to a breakdown of census figures

Census figures reveal a ‘startling’ shift in Britain’s demographic trend with almost a tenth of babies and toddlers born in England and Wales being Muslim.

The percentage of Muslims among the under-fives is almost twice as high as in the general population. Less than one in 200 over 85s are Muslims – an indication of the extent to which birth rate is changing the UK’s religious demographic.

The Office for National Statistics produced the breakdown of Britain’s religions and age groups. The figures, according to the [sic] Times, were extracted from data collected in the 2011 census.

One expert said it was possible that Muslims who worshipped would outnumber practising Christians. “It’s not inconceivable,” said David Voas, Professor of Population Studies at the University of Essex. » | Keith Perry | Friday, January 10, 2014

Freezing Weather Spreads into Eastern US

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Forecasters said some 187 million people in all could feel the effects of the 'polar vortex' by the time it spread across the country


The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades gripped the US Midwest and pushed toward the East and South and eastern Canada, closing schools and day care centres, grounding flights and forcing people to pull their hoods and scarves tight to protect exposed skin from nearly instant frostbite.

Many across the nation's midsection went into virtual hibernation, while others dared to venture out in temperatures that plunged well below zero Fahrenheit (minus 18 Celsius). » | AP | Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Saudi Man Sentenced to 80 Lashes for Accusing Kuwaiti Pop Singer of Adultery on Twitter

Kuwaiti singer, Shams

THE INDEPENDENT: The unidentified Saudi national allegedly accused pop singer Shams of adultery 'without providing proof' of her affair

A Saudi man has been sentenced to 80 lashes and three months in jail, after being convicted of defaming a Kuwaiti singer by accusing her of adultery on Twitter.

The unidentified Saudi national allegedly accused pop singer Shams of adultery "without providing proof" of her affair, according to the Saudi Sabq news agency. The news agency said he also posted fabricated photos showing Shams in "obscene" positions.

Shams subsequently filed a legal suit against the man. The Sabq said the verdict was based on sharia law, which states those who accuse others of adultery must be flogged.

The man, believed to have been a fan of a rival singer, was also fined 10,000 riyals (£1,600), AFP has reported. » | Heather Saul | Friday, January 03, 2014

Toto: Africa

Happy New Year! Bonne année ! Gutes Neues Jahr! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Felice Anno Nuovo! Felix sit annus novus! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! ! سنة سعيدة

Wishing all my visitors, followers, and Twitter followers a wonderful, healthy, happy, and prosperous 2014. Thanking you all for your continued support

Saudi Prince Facing Execution for Murder after Senior Royalty Insisted 'There Is No Difference between Rich and Poor'

Crown Prince Salman: no-one is immune from sharia law

MAIL ONLINE: So far, the identity of the prince and his victim has not been made public / Crown Prince Salman said Islamic law shall be applied 'without exception'

A Saudi prince who murdered a fellow Saudi may be executed, a newspaper reported on Sunday, in a rare example of a member of the kingdom's ruling family facing the death penalty.

The English-language Arab News did not name the prince or his victim, but said a senior member of the family and government, Crown Prince Salman, had ‘cleared the way for the possible execution of a prince convicted of murdering a Saudi citizen’.

In a message about the case to Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Prince Salman said: ‘Sharia (Islamic law) shall be applied to all without exception’, the daily reported.

Prince Salman's message followed a statement from the victim's father that he was not ready to pardon the killer and he was not happy with the amount offered as blood money.

The families of murder victims are encouraged by authorities to accept blood money instead of insisting on execution.

The paper quoted Crown Prince Salman's message as saying: ‘There is no difference between big and small, rich and poor ... Nobody is allowed to interfere with the judiciary's decision. This is the tradition of this state. We are committed to following the sharia.’ » | Ted Thornhill | Monday, December 30, 2013

Turkey First of Fed Taper Victims as Political Crisis Scares Investors

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Lira tumbles as Turkey goes from star performer to 'sick man' of the emerging market block

The Turkish lira has tumbled to a record low amid a deepening political crisis in Ankara, the first emerging market domino to wobble as the US Federal Reserve starts to wind down global dollar stimulus.

The currency has weakened by 6pc against the euro over the last two days, culminating a 25pc fall this year. Foreign funds have cut holdings of Turkish debt by a quarter since the May.

Turkey has gone from star performer to 'sick man' of the emerging market block as the Fed begins to taper bond purchases, a move that threatens to set off a further rotation of funds back into US dollar assets. » | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | Friday, December 27, 2013

'Orwell's 1984 a Fairytale Compared to Reality': Snowden Delivers Christmas Message

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has delivered his 'Alternative Christmas Message' via a British TV channel. The whistleblower called for an end to mass spying by governments, stating that a child born today will have "no conception of privacy."

Related »

Islamophobia: Surge Revealed in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes

THE INDEPENDENT: Many forces reported a particular rise in anti-Islam hate crimes following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby

Islamophobic hate crimes across Britain have risen dramatically this year, new figures have revealed.

Hundreds of offences were perpetrated against the country's Muslim population in 2013, with the Metropolitan police alone - Britain's largest force - recording 500 Islamophobic crimes, compared with 336 incidents in 2012 and 318 in 2011.

A large number of forces across the country reported a particular surge in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes following the murder of soldier Lee Rigby by two Islamic extremists in Woolwich, south-east London.

In May, the month in which Fusilier Rigby was killed, Scotland Yard recorded 104 anti-Muslim hate crimes, followed by a further 108 in June.

The figures were obtained by the Press Association which sent Freedom of Information requests to every police force in England and Wales. » | Tomas Jivanda | Friday, December 27, 2013

Putin's Nightmare: 'Emir of the Caucasus' Vows to Stop Sochi Winter Olympics

THE INDEPENDENT: In truth, this guerrilla war is just the latest stage in a cycle of oppression and resistance lasting centuries as Islamist leader and self-styled Emir of the Caucasus promises to use 'maximum force' to stop these Games

Any day soon, a bomb may go off in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. And if it does, it will be the nightmare that Vladimir Putin has been spending billions of roubles trying to prevent. The Winter Games, which start in February, have long been his pet project, designed to show the world how complete is his control over the territories of which he is president. The sudden rush of amnesties is just his latest ploy to sanitise the image of the Games.

With its sub-tropical climate, palm-fringed beaches, and sulphur springs, Sochi has been Russia’s most sybaritic winter holiday spot since the days of the tsars: it’s the Riviera of the Caucasus whose high mountains stretch eastwards, with embattled Chechnya just two hundred miles away. As a narrow ribbon of land where sea and snow-capped peaks are in close proximity, it was the obvious venue for the winter Olympics, and it has now been transformed by Putin’s hi-tech new infrastructure.

But Doku Umarov, the Chechen Islamist leader and self-styled Emir of the Caucasus, has promised to use “maximum force” to stop these Games. In a video message released in July, he declared: “They plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many Muslims buried on our land by the Black Sea. As mujahideen we are required not to permit that, using any methods that Allah allows us.” » | Michael Church | Thursday, December 26, 2013

Edward Snowden's Alternative Christmas Message

Watch Edward Snowden’s message here
CHANNEL 4: Read the article here

The Queen's Christmas Day Message 2013 in Full

The Queen reflected on prominent events from the past year during her Christmas broadcast - from the service that marked the 60th anniversary of her coronation to the birth of Prince George

Read the Telegraph article here | Agency | Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël ! Fröhliche Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Felix Nativitas! Nadolig Llawen!

'We Three Kings', an original by James C. Christensen. Image courtesy of Google Images

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. – The Gospel According to John, 1, 14

Et la Parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous, pleine de grâce et de verité; et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, une gloire du Fils unique venu du Père. – Evangile selon Jean, 1, 14

Und das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnte unter uns, und wir schauten seine Herrlichkeit, eine Herrlichkeit, wie sie der eingige [Sohn] von seinem Vater hat, voll Gnade und Wahrheit. – Das Evangelium nach Johannes, 1, 14

E la Parola è stata fatta carne ed ha abitato per un tempo fra noi, plena di grazia e di verità; e noi abbiam contemplata la sua gloria, gloria come quella dell’Unigenito venuto da presso al Padre. – Evangelo secondo Giovanni, 1, 14

Et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobus, et vidimus gloriam eius, gloriam quasi Unigeniti a Padre, plenum gratiae et veritatis. – Evangelium secundum Ioannem, 1, 14


Louis-Claude d'Aquin: Noël X

Pope Francis Makes Visit to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for Christmas

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope Francis visits his predecessor, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, to exchange Christmas greetings at his Vatican home


Pope Francis wished his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI a 'Merry Christmas' this week in a rare social visit to his home on Vatican grounds.

The Vatican released television footage of the exchange of Christmas greetings between the two popes late Monday -- marking just the fourth time Benedict has been filmed since resigning in February, becoming the first pope in 600 years to do so.

“It is a pleasure to see you looking so well,” Pope Francis told his 86-year-old predecessor, who met him at the door of the ex-convent where he has been living in isolation.

Pope Francis was accompanied by his person[al] secretaries and also greeted members of Pope Benedict’s “pontifical family,” which include Archbishop George Gaenswein, prefect of the Pontifical Household and Benedict's personal secretary, as well as the “Memores Domini,” a small group of consecrated women who help him.

The two walked to a nearby chapel to pray, Pope Benedict with the aid of an ivory-handled wooden cane. » | Andrea Vogt, Rome | December 24, 2013

Castro Calls on US to Establish Civilized Relations

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Weeks after shaking hands with Barack Obama at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, the Cuban president says he is ready to talk, but will not give up on socialist ideals

Cuba is ready for a warming of ties with the United States, but will never give in to demands to change Cuba’s socialist government and economy, President Raul Castro has said.

Speaking weeks after exchanging an impromptu handshake with US President Barack Obama at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, Mr Castro again signaled that he was ready to talk, but would not capitulate to America.

“If we really want to move our bilateral relations forward, we’ll have to learn to respect differences,” he said in the speech to Cuba’s parliament over the weekend. “If not, we’re ready to take another 55 years in the same situation.”

However he added that Cuba would not ever become like the US, saying “we don’t demand that the US change its political or social system and we don’t accept negotiations over ours.” » | Peter Foster, Washington | Sunday, December 22, 2013

Vince Cable Compares David Cameron to Enoch Powell

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: No 10 hits back after minister accuses Tories of racist panic on immigration

David Cameron’s rhetoric on immigration was compared to Enoch Powell’s “rivers of blood” speech by one of his own Cabinet ministers on Sunday.

Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said the Prime Minister had made British voters “schizophrenic” about the issue.

Mr Cable accused Mr Cameron and members of the Conservative Party of “doing harm” with their “populist” immigration policies.

The Liberal Democrat Cabinet minister suggested that Conservative rhetoric over immigration was similar to anti-Semitic “panics over Jewish immigrants” in the early 20th century.

His comments, just over a week before Britain opens its borders to migrants from Romania and Bulgaria, will inflame tensions in the Coalition.

Conservative MPs on Sunday night described Mr Cable’s comments as “unacceptable” and “offensive”.

Government sources also questioned how a senior minister can remain a member of the Cabinet when he “compares people in it to Enoch Powell”. » | Peter Dominiczak, Assistant Political Editor | Sunday, Decemebr 22, 2013

Barack Obama Takes to Sunny Hawaii as Rest of America Struggles through Ice and Floods

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The decision to make an early break for his holidays looks to have paid dividends for Barack Obama as the US kicks of its holiday season with a host of weather woes

Barack Obama’s decision to waste no time in racing off for his annual Christmas getaway in Hawaii last week looked to be a prescient move yesterday as the rest of America struggled to their holiday destinations through a mixture of floods, tornadoes and ice-storms.

While Mr Obama clocked up the 150th round of golf of his presidency on the first day of his Hawaiian holiday, the US was battered by a strange mixture of storms that left people freezing in the north, basking in Spring-like temperatures in the east and mopping up floods down south.

Mr Obama avoided all the inconvenience, however, boarding Air Force One immediately after giving his final press conference of the year on Friday afternoon at which he confessed that he needed “a couple days of sleep and sun” to recharge after a year that was widely dubbed his "annus horribilis".

For the fifth year running, the president, accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha, is staying at a luxury rental property in the Kailua, a tranquil residential area on the windward coast of Oahu, the third largest of the Hawaiian islands. » | Peter Foster, Washington | Sunday, December 22, 2013

M&S Faces Furious Backlash from Customers over Muslim Policy

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Marks & Spencer's official Facebook page is deluged with messages from customers furious at bosses' decision to let Muslim staff refuse to serve pork and alcohol to customers, as campaign is launched to boycott store

Marks & Spencer was today facing a boycott from hundreds of customers furious at the store’s decision to allow Muslim staff to refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork products.

The policy was revealed after customers trying to buy goods pork or alcohol from a Muslim shop assistant in central London were told they’d have to use another till because of her religion.

The official M&S Facebook page was today deluged with vitriolic messages from previously loyal customers.

Meanwhile a Facebook campaign group calling on people to boycott the store attracted hundreds of ‘likes’ within just a couple of hours of being set up this afternoon.

Writing on the group's Facebook page, called Boycott Marks and Spencer, customer Matt Syson accused M&S of creating “division and hatred within our communities”.

He wrote: “M&S if you read this you have gone over the top. “If you have Christian workers who wish to refuse the sale of ladies garments to male homosexuals or men's trousers to lesbians, I do hope you will equally stand by those workers’ religious or personal beliefs…

“Or perhaps if an atheist worker notices a customer purchasing hot cross buns during Easter and wishes to refuse sale to that particular customer based on beliefs that conflict with their own, I do hope you will not punish such workers for their actions surrounding refusal of sale…

“If not then I would like you to know that my family and I shall no longer purchase any goods from your company due to the implementation of this 'one rule system' that creates further division and hatred within our communities.

“It's the customers who pay your wage and profits, it's the customers who wield the power and dictate success or failure within a company. Something you will soon realise when word spreads.” » | Nicola Fifield | Sunday, December 22, 2013