Australiens Asylpolitik: Gillard verärgert die Nachbarn
FRANFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Nach nur zwei Wochen im Amt hat es die neue Premierministerin Gillard schon mit mehreren Unannehmlichkeiten zu tun. Vor allem ihre Initiative für ein „regionales Auffanglager“ für Flüchtlinge in Osttimor wird kritisiert.

An der Asylpolitik hat sich schon manche Regierung Australiens die Finger verbrannt. Die nächste könnte die der neuen Premierministerin Julia Gillard werden, deren Plan für ein „Regionales Abwicklungs-zentrum“ für Flüchtlinge diplomatisch ins Stocken und innenpolitisch in die Kritik geraten ist. >>> Von Jochen Buchsteiner, Jakarta | Samstag, 10. Juli 2010

Barack Obama: A Socialist in Disguise?

Pastor Manning: 'Obama's Pure, Unadulterated Evil'

Obama’s Brother Lives in a Kenyan Shack
RUSSIA TODAY: U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama’s lost brother has been tracked down in Kenya. George Hussein Onyango Obama, aged 26, was found by journalists from the Italian edition of Vanity Fair. He reportedly lives in pov[erty.]

He has the same father as the U.S. senator, Barack Hussein Obama, but a different mother. Her name has been given as Jael.
The youngest of Obama’s half-brothers says he lives on less than a dollar per month in a 2m x 3m shack. Its walls are decorated with posters of famous footballers and a calendar featuring exotic beaches. The magazine also noted George has a newspaper picture of his brother.

He has only met his famous brother twice. Once when he was five and then in 2006 when Senator Obama visited Nairobi. George admits their meeting was very brief and cool. [Source: RT] | Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2008; Edited: Monday, April 05, 2010

Poster Displaying Nazi Swastika in Warsaw Deemed Legal
BALTIMORENEWS.NET: In Warsaw, the capital of Poland, a large billboard featuring a naked model clad only in a Mickey Mouse mask with a Nazi swastika behind her, has roused the anger of members of the public.

An Italian artist, Max Papeschi, created the piece which is called “NaziSexyMouse” and adorns the side of an entire building in order to advertise a newly opened art gallery.

A city councilor, Norbert Napieraj, is attempting to take legal action against the poster, referring to Poland’s laws banning the display of the swastika; the 2-storey high picture has also been torn by vandals, but was recently replaced. >>> Baltimore News.Net | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Coalitions Are Here to Stay, Says Nick Clegg
THE GUARDIAN: Deputy PM claims Lib-Con government marks end of tribal politics and shift to more complex relationships between parties

Nick Clegg: 'What we are entering into is a permanent move to greater pluralism, diversity and fluidity in politics.' Photograph: The Guardian
The Liberal-Conservative coalition government is not a one-off but marks "a permanent move that breaks the duopoly of the old parties for good", Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, says in a Guardian interview today that marks his first two extraordinary months in office alongside David Cameron.

The coalition, he says, "is not an aberration, but a natural consequence of what has been happening for years, which is a loosening of the old tribal ties between the old parties and their supporters. Something very, very big is happening in politics."

Clegg, who leads the coalition's plans for electoral reform – a crucial part of the deal that brought the Tories and Lib Dems together – predicted more coalitions in the future, claiming that the "more complex set of relationships between political parties in the future reflects a more complex society in which people do not vote in the old blocs.

"I think what we are entering into is a permanent move to greater pluralism, diversity, and fluidity in politics that does not settle down to one associated pattern between parties," said Clegg.

The Lib Dem leader, who says of himself "I am a revolutionary but I am also a pragmatist", added: "There is a Labour assumption that this coalition is an unnatural act, and all we have to do is put it back in a box, and carry on as before. I really think they are missing something much more profound. That is why people out there, as opposed to the Westminster village, are warming as much as they are to the coalition. That is a deep change in the way people regard politics psychologically."

His remarks suggest he could yet envisage different-shaped coalitions in the future. At the same time he says he has found very quickly an ideological overlap with Cameron on decentralisation, public service reform and civil liberties. "What we have learned about each other most of all is that if you are in a coalition you have just got to be constantly open, pragmatic and level-headed about how you make progress together."

By contrast, he says Labour leadership candidates have rushed to the comfort zone of collective bile and vitriol. >>> Patrick Wintour and Nicholas Watt | Friday, July 09, 2010

Europeans Back Burka Ban, Americans Oppose Outlawing Muslim Veil
THE TELEGRAPH: While most Americans oppose banning face-covering Islamic veils, most western Europeans are in favour of outlawing the burka, a new survey has found.

Several European countries have been considering bans on such veils.

France, home to western Europe's largest Muslim community, is expected to see its lower house approve a divisive bill on Tuesday that would make it illegal to wear full-face veils in public.

The government says such veils oppress women.

Only a very small minority of French Muslim women wear veils such as the niqab or burka, and many French Muslims fear a ban would stigmatise the whole Islamic community.

A survey by the Pew Global Attitudes Project found that an overwhelming 82 per cent of French respondents supported a ban. The poll found 71 per cent support in Germany, 62 per cent in Britain and 59 per cent in Spain.

In the United States, just 28 per cent of those questioned said they would approve a ban. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010

Obama's Muslim Call to Prayer


Obama Recites The Islamic Call To Prayer In Perfect Arabic: The Adhan (أَذَان)

The Obama Picture They Don't Want You to See!

Fury as UK Envoy Hails Terror Chief: Hague Faces Calls to Sack Our Woman in Beiruit
Controversy: British Ambassador to Lebanon Frances Guy, pictured with Ayatollah Fadlallah, has sparked anger after praising the Hezbollah cleric in her blog. Photograph: Mail Online
MAIL ONLINE: William Hague was under pressure to sack Britain's ambassador to the Lebanon last night after she heaped praise on the spiritual leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah.

In an extraordinary 'personal statement' on the Foreign Office website, Frances Guy paid tribute to Sheikh Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, who inspired a string of terrorist attacks against Israel and the West.

Fadlullah, who died last weekend at the age of 74, became infamous in 1983 amid claims he had personally authorised the truck bombing of two barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French paratroopers.

He was also behind the kidnapping of dozens of hostages, including Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan. He recently issued a fatwa legitimising suicide bombing.

But writing on the Foreign Office website this week Miss Guy, Britain's ambassador to the Lebanon since 2006, hailed Fadlallah as a 'true man of religion' and said he was the man she admired the most.

Under the headline 'The passing of a decent man', she wrote: 'If I was sad to hear the news (of his death), I know other people's lives will be truly blighted.

'The world needs more men like him, willing to reach out across faiths, acknowledging the reality of the modern world and daring to confront old constraints. May he rest in peace.' >>> Jason Groves and Matthew Kalman | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Related:

THE TELEGRAPH: Britain's Lebanese Ambassador Praises Hizbollah Founder >>> Damien McElroy and Adrian Bloomfield in Jerusalem | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Krauthammer Bashes Obama's Infantile NASA Muslim Outreach Program


NASA Chief Revealed Muslim Outreach Plan to Al Jazeera Before Congress
FOX NEWS: NASA Administrator Charles Bolden revealed his plans to improve relations between America's space exploration agency and the Muslim world to Al Jazeera before Congress, the Washington Examiner reported.

Bolden called a couple of lawmakers with the news on June 28, after his interview with the Middle East news organization but before it aired, the newspaper reported.

"He ran down some of the things from the president's new space policy, and mentioned outreach to Muslims," Rep. Pete Olson, the top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics recalled to the newspaper. "That stunned me. I didn't believe it."

Bolden's interview with Al Jazeera ignited a firestorm of controversy that has gone largely unreported by major news outlets. Michael Griffin, the NASA administrator during the latter half of the Bush administration told FoxNews.com that he believes the Muslim outreach plan is "deeply flawed."

"NASA ... represents the best of America. Its purpose is not to inspire Muslims or any other cultural entity," he said.

Bolden sat down with Al Jazeera's Imran Garda on June 17 during a Middle East trip to mark the one-year anniversary since Obama delivered an address to Muslim nations in Cairo, a NASA spokesman told the newspaper.

The interview aired June 30 after the Obama space plan was unveiled and members of Congress were briefed. >>> FoxNews.com | Friday, July 09, 2010

Gingrich: 'The Obama Administration Doesn't Understand America'

Muslim Charged with Plotting Genocide of Canadian Jews
THE TELEGRAPH: A Muslim immigrant who called for "the slaughter of Jews" in online postings has become the first person to be charged with promoting genocide in Canada, police said on Friday.

Salman Hossain, a 25-year-old from Bangladesh who apparently left Canada in May, was charged with five counts of promoting hatred and advocating or promoting genocide over postings on his website and blog, as well as on a third-party website, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.

He "wilfully promoted hatred and advocated genocide of the Jewish community," said a statement.

Until now, Canada has only prosecuted suspects accused of mass atrocities abroad, in countries such as Rwanda. The Canadian government has also deported war crimes suspects to be tried in foreign courts.

Mr Hossain, who immigrated to Canada as a child, openly called for "violent regime change in Western nations in order to remove the presence of Jews" and "the slaughter of Jews," according to reports.

He also advocated terrorist attacks in Canada, cheered the killing of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, and urged fellow Muslims to overthrow the "Jewish-run Canadian government". >>> | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Rauchverbot: Feuer, bitte!
ZEIT ONLINE: Zur Psychologie der Anti-Raucher-Lobby

Ein überzeugter Raucher protestiert gegen Rauchverbote. Bild: Zeit Online
Um gleich ein Missverständnis beiseitezuräumen. Es ging bei der Abstimmung über ein totales Rauchverbot in Bayern ganz offenkundig nicht darum, eine Belästigung, die durch Raucher und ihr Laster verursacht wird, zu beseitigen. Vom Rauchen wird kaum mehr jemand belästigt. Man muss schon die finstersten Kneipen aufsuchen, räudig in Rotlichtmilieus sich herumtreiben oder in Berlin wohnen, um noch auf einen Raucher in geschlossenen, öffentlichen Räumen zu stoßen. Es muss aber selbst in dieser verkommensten, wunderbarsten aller deutschen Städte jemand schon arg viel Fleiß an den Tag legen, um etwa noch ein Restaurant in Neukölln oder im Wedding zu finden, in dem geraucht wird. In den Zügen wird seit Jahren nicht geraucht, in den Büros nicht, zu Hause nur noch auf dem Balkon. Wer heute Rauch abkriegt, muss mit allergrößter Entschlossenheit die Belästigung gesucht haben, die er dann bebend beklagt. Verräterischerweise ging es bei der Abstimmung um das Rauchverbot in Bayern ja auch gerade darum, die letzten kleinen, zumeist eh unsichtbaren Ausnahmen, die man für das Laster notgedrungen erfand, auszumerzen. Kleine Nebenräume in Gaststätten etwa, die ein Nichtraucher mit guten Gründen zu betreten vermeidet. Weiter lesen und einen Kommentar schreiben >>> Von Adam Soboczynski | Mittwoch, 07. Juli 2010

Spendenskandal in Frankreich: Durchsuchung bei Sarkozys mutmaßlicher Geldgeberin
ZEIT ONLINE: Die reichste Frau Frankreichs soll dem heutigen Präsidenten illegal gespendet haben. Nun wurde ihr Haus durchsucht. Die Ansehen des Präsidenten sinkt indessen rapide.

Fahnder der Finanzpolizei durchsuchten das Haus des Vermögensverwalters von L'Oréal-Milliardärin Liliane Bettencourt, die als Schlüsselfigur der französischen Spendenaffäre Affäre [sic] gilt. Sie bestritt bei einer Vernehmung in Paris die Vorwürfe, 150.000 Euro für Sarkozys Wahlkampf übergeben zu haben.

Bettencourts Vermögensverwalter Patrice de Maistre war am Donnerstag bei einer Gegenüberstellung mit der früheren Buchhalterin der reichsten Frau Frankreichs konfrontiert worden, Claire Thibout, die den Vorwurf der illegalen Wahlkampf- und Parteispenden erhoben hatte. Thibout gibt an, sie habe 50.000 Euro abheben müssen. De Maistre habe weitere 100.000 Euro besorgt, die dem Schatzmeister der regierenden UMP, Eric Woerth, für den Präsidentschaftswahlkampf von Sarkozy 2007 übergeben werden sollten. Laut einem Bericht der Onlineausgabe der Zeitung Le Monde wies de Maistre dies zurück und sagte: "Ich habe kein Geld an Herrn Woerth übergeben und hatte nie die Absicht." >>> AFP | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Office of financial advisor to L'Oreal heiress raided in Sarkozy funding investigation: Police raided the offices of the financial advisor to France's richest woman on Friday amid allegations that she made £400,000 in illegal cash payments to Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 presidential campaign. >>> Peter Allen in Paris | Saturday, July 10, 2010

Russland und USA tauschten Agenten am Flughafen Wien
Video von Krone.at hier abspielen.
KRONE.at: "Agententanz" auf dem Flughafen Wien: Nur etwas mehr als eine Stunde hat der Agententausch zwischen den USA und Russland auf dem Flughafen Wien-Schwechat gedauert. Das amerikanische Flugzeug mit den zehn enttarnten russischen Spionen, das in der Nacht auf Freitag in New York abgeflogen war, landete am späten Vormittag in Wien. Wenige Meter daneben parkte sich kurz darauf der russische Jet ein, in dem sich drei CIA-Doppelagenten befanden. Russland bestätigte am Nachmittag den "Erhalt" seiner zehn Staatsbürger und damit den Austausch. Von den österreichischen Behörden heißt es statt "Wir wissen nichts" nun "Kein Kommentar". >>> | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

Fatwa Decrees Vuvuzela Haram Above 100 Decibels
A fan sounds the vuvuzela in Kimberley, South Africa. In the UAE, the instruments have sold steadily since the tournament began. Photograph: The National
THE NATIONAL: It’s a bit of a blow. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments’ fatwa number 11625 has decreed that, above 100 decibel levels, the vuvuzela, clarion call of the World Cup, is haram. Will this spell the end for the loved – and loathed – trumpet?

ABU DHABI // Three weeks ago, most people had never heard of the vuvuzela. Now, many wish they never had.



For players and fans alike, the plastic trumpet, whose drone has been likened to a swarm of bees, has become the unmistakable background sound to South Africa’s World Cup.

Some – including no less a figure than Archbishop Desmond Tutu – have defended the instrument, but many have grumbled that its blare drowns out the crowd’s terrace chants, robbing matches of atmosphere. Players, meanwhile, say they cannot hear each other on the field. >>> Eugene Harnan | Friday, July 09, 2010

«L’ère Sarkozy, c’est l’ère de l’indécence»
LE TEMPS: En pleine affaire Woerth-Bettencourt, alors que 64% des Français jugent les dirigeants politiques plutôt corrompus, des Annéciens et des Annéciennes disent leur ras-le-bol des mœurs politiques. Indignation, écœurement, exaspération

Le contraste est saisissant. Sur le présentoir à journaux de ce petit tabac de la vieille ville d’Annecy, sous les arcades fraîches et ombragées, l’affaire Woerth-Bettencourt occupe la une de tous les grands quotidiens nationaux du mercredi 7 juillet. Juste à côté, au sommet d’une pile de journaux, François et Edouard, deux frères qui ont fréquenté le Lycée Saint-Michel d’Annecy, affichent leur fierté, tout sourire. Ils ont été reçus au bac avec une note supérieure à 20. Cela leur vaut la première page du Dauphiné Libéré, le quotidien régional.

545 kilomètres séparent Paris d’Annecy. Dans les troquets de la Venise des Alpes, écrasée de soleil, les vacances d’été ont commencé. Les touristes affluent pour visiter cette ville de carte postale. Les commerçants, les restaurateurs, les employés des compagnies de navigation ou les loueurs de pédalos des bords du lac déploient des trésors d’énergie pour attirer les clients. Les affaires dans lesquelles le ministre du Travail, Eric Woerth, la milliardaire Liliane Bettencourt, les secrétaires d’Etat démissionnaires, Alain Joyandet et Christian Blanc, sont empêtrés, semblent bien loin. >>> Catherine Dubouloz | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

Mißbrauchsskandal: Vatikan erlaubt Ettaler Abt Rückkehr ins Amt
WELT ONLINE: Abt Barnabas Bögle und Prior Maurus Kraß sollen bei der Aufklärung von Missbrauch in dem bayerischen Kloster richtig gehandelt haben.

Barnabas Bögle dürfte bald in sein Amt als Abt des Klosters Ettal zurückkehren. Foto: Welt Online
Die wegen des Missbrauchsskandals im Benediktinerkloster Ettal (Oberbayern) zum Rücktritt gedrängten Ordensoberen könnten bald in ihre Ämter zurückkehren. Laut dem Vatikan haben Abt Barnabas Bögle und Prior Maurus Kraß keine Fehler bei der Aufklärung der Fälle von sexuellem Missbrauch und gewalttätigen Misshandlungen begangen.

Das geht aus einem Brief von Kardinal Franc Rodé hervor, der im Vatikan für die Orden zuständig ist. Einer Neuwahl beider Patres an die Spitze der oberbayerischen Benediktinerabtei stehe „nichts entgegen“, heißt es in dem am Freitag vom Kloster veröffentlichten Schreiben.

Mehr noch: Die von Papst Benedikt XVI. angeordnete Untersuchung kommt zu dem Schluss, dass keiner der beiden Ordensoberen die Meldepflicht verletzte, die die Leitlinien der Bistümer bei Verdacht auf sexuellen Missbrauch vorschreiben. Man sei "vielmehr der Ansicht, dass Abt Barnabas alles getan hat, was von der Sache her geboten war“, so Rodé in seinem Brief. >>> dpa/jw | Freitag, 09. Juli 2010

L’Iran ne lapidera pas Sakineh l’adultère
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Sakineh, l'Iranienne condamnée à la lapidation pour adultère, dont le cas avait suscité un tollé international, ne sera finalement pas exécutée.

«Selon les informations transmises par les autorités judiciaires compétentes en Iran, (Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani) ne sera pas lapidée», a annoncé l'ambassade d'Iran à Londres dans un communiqué cité par le Times.

Le communiqué ne précise toutefois pas si la condamnée, âgée de 43 ans, sera épargnée ou finalement exécutée par pendaison, souligne le quotidien.

Selon l'association de défense des droits de l'Homme Amnesty International, elle avait été condamnée en 2006 ou 2007 et a déjà reçu 99 coups de fouet.

La lapidation prévue vendredi avait suscité de nombreuses condamnations de par le monde, Washington et Londres en tête. >>> afp | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

La lapidation pour adultère choque les USA
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Les Etats-Unis ont condamné jeudi la sentence de lapidation de Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, une Iranienne condamnée à mort dans son pays pour adultère.

Les Etats-Unis ont appelé jeudi l'Iran à ne pas mettre à exécution la condamnation à mort par lapidation d'une Iranienne pour adultère, qualifiant cette sentence de «barbare». «La lapidation comme moyen de mise à mort s'apparente à de la torture. C'est un acte barbare et odieux», a déclaré un porte-parole du département d'Etat, Mark Toner.

«Nous condamnons avec la plus grande fermeté l'utilisation de la pratique de la lapidation, où qu'elle se pratique, comme forme légale de condamnation à mort», a-t-il ajouté. >>> afp | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Iran cancels plan to stone woman to death for adultery: Iran has announced that a woman will not be stoned to death after being convicted of adultery following an international outcry. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010

Un Américain détenu en Corée du Nord tente de se suicider
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: DÉTRESSE | Un ressortissant américain détenu en Corée du Nord pour entrée illégale sur le territoire, a tenté de mettre fin à ses jours. Il avait été arrêté en janvier et condamné à une peine de huit ans de travaux forcés.

Aijalon Gomes a été admis dans un établissement hospitalier à la suite de sa tentative, a indiqué l'agence KCNA sans fournir de précision sur son état. KCNA, porte-voix de la propagande du régime, a attribué son geste présumé à un "fort sentiment de culpabilité" et à la "déception et au désespoir nourris à l'égard du gouvernement américain qui n'a pris aucune mesure pour sa libération".

L'ambassade de Suède, qui représente les intérêts américains en Corée du Nord, "s'est renseignée sur l'état de santé du patient à l'hôpital", selon KCNA. >>> ATS | Vendredi 09 Juillet 2010

Obama Delivers Calming Message to Israel
YNET NEWS: US president tells Channel 2 Israel currently receives more aid than during any previous term, adds he is reaching out to Muslims to 'reduce antagonism' towards state. 'My middle name is Hussein, which creates suspicion,' he says

Netanyahu, Obama in Washington. Photo: Ynet News
US President Barack Obama gave an interview to Channel 2 Wednesday night in which he said his administration had provided Israel with more aid than any other before it.

The president also told news anchor Yonit Levy that Iran and its nuclear program have been the US's first priority for the past 18 months. "I have said consistently that it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, (and) that we are going to do everything we can to prevent it from happening," Obama said.

In an interview aimed at assuring Israelis of the US's support, Obama ventured a guess as to why they were mistrustful of him. "Some of it may just be the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and that creates suspicion," he said.

"Ironically, I've got a Chief of Staff named Rahm Israel Emmanuel. My top political advisor is somebody who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors. My closeness to the Jewish American community was probably what propelled me to the US Senate."

Obama added that his direct appeals to the Muslim world may have also fostered some misgivings among the Israeli people. >>> Ynet | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Britain's Lebanese Ambassador Praises Hizbollah Founder
THE TELEGRAPH: Britain's ambassador to Lebanon has been condemned by victims of Middle East terror groups for writing an appreciation of the spiritual leader of Hizbollah who masterminded the 1980s Lebanese hostage crisis.

1985: Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, centre, surrounded by his bodyguards walks to a mosque in Beirut's southern suburbs for the funeral ceremony of the victims of a car bomb explosion from which he escaped unharmed, which took place only a few yards away from his home in the Ghobeiri suburb of Beirut. Photo: The Telegraph
Frances Guy, who has been ambassador since 2008, wrote a blog marking the death of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah who died last week. She described the ayatollah as a "decent" man who ranked as the person she most admired out of all those she had encountered.

Hizbollah has been proscribed by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2008.

Ayatollah Fadlallah was a hugely divisive figure in the Middle East. He help found the Hizbollah movement that fought the American intervention in Lebanon and then went on to take dozens of foreigners as hostages, including Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan.

Fatwas or religious instructions issued by Fadlallah authorised suicide bombers who attacked American troops or Israel. Hizbollah carried out the 1983 suicide bomb attacks that killed more 300 people at the US Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983.

"If I was sad to hear the news I know other peoples' lives will be truly blighted," she wrote. "The world needs more men like him willing to reach out across faiths, acknowledging the reality of the modern world and daring to confront old constraints. May he rest in peace."

The Israeli government said it was astounded that an official representative of the British government had not remembered the devastation caused by fighters loyal to Fadlallah. >>> Damien McElroy and Adrian Bloomfield in Jerusalem | Thursday, July 08, 2010

UK Envoy's Praise for Lebanon Cleric Draws Israel Anger
BBC: Israel has criticised Britain's ambassador to Lebanon for eulogising a recently deceased Lebanese cleric said to have inspired Hezbollah.

Frances Guy wrote on her personal blog that Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was a "decent man" who rated among the people she most admired.

An Israeli spokesman said Ayatollah Fadlallah was "unworthy of praise".

The UK foreign office says it has taken down the blog after "mature consideration".

It said the comments reflected Ms Guy's personal opinion, not official UK policy.

Ayatollah Fadlallah, Lebanon's top Shia Muslim cleric, died on Sunday at the age of 74. Thousands of people attended his funeral in Beirut and tributes poured in from all over the Arab and Islamic worlds.

Two days ago, CNN sacked a veteran Middle East editor who wrote on Twitter that she "respected" the late cleric, saying that her credibility had been compromised. >>> | Friday, July 09, 2010

British Diplomat Eulogizes Fadlallah
YNET NEWS: In personal blog, Britain's ambassador to Lebanon calls Hezbollah spiritual leader 'decent man'

Britain's ambassador to Lebanon surprised many people in London and Beirut Thursday by venerating Hezbollah's recently deceased spiritual leader.

In her personal blog, Frances Guy wrote that Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah was "a decent man". Israel's Foreign Ministry said in response later that Fadlallah is "unworthy of praise". >>> Roee Nahmias | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Frances Guy should be given her marching orders forthwith, as was Octavia Nasr by CNN for coming out with a similar stupid statement. Frances Guy should not be allowed to represent Her Majesty’s government. – © Mark

Mel Gibson Investigated in Domestic Violence Incident
THE TELEGRAPH: Mel Gibson is being investigated in a possible domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva earlier this year.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department listed the actor as a potential suspect in the alleged attack on Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva at an undisclosed location in Malibu.

The two have been involved in a heated custody dispute over their infant daughter – the subject of a confidential court case. >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Archbishop of Canterbury Accused of Second 'Betrayal' of Gay Cleric
THE TELEGRAPH: The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of “betraying” an openly homosexual cleric for the second time over his bid to become a bishop.

Dr Rowan Williams was said by some in the Anglican Communion of abandoning his former liberal credentials by failing to vote for Dr Jeffrey John as the next Bishop of Southwark.

It comes exactly seven years after the Archbishop forced Dr John, an old friend of his, to refuse his appointment as Bishop of Reading following an outcry from conservatives.

Liberals said that by not supporting the current Dean of St Albans at a secret meeting this week, Dr Williams has missed an importance chance to make the Church of England more progressive as well as humiliating his friend again. >>> Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | Friday, July 09, 2010

Biggest Revolution in the NHS for 60 Years
THE TELEGRAPH: Doctors are to be given sole responsibility for overseeing front-line care to patients under Coalition plans described as the biggest revolution in the NHS since its foundation 60 years ago.

About £80billion will be distributed to family GPs in a move that will see strategic health authorities and primary care trusts scrapped.

The plan, contained in a white paper to be published next week, is designed to place key decisions about how patients are cared for in the hands of doctors who know them. Tens of thousands of administrative jobs in the health service will be lost as a result.

At present, funds are given by the Government to primary care trusts, which pay for patients from their area to be treated in hospital.

Under these plans, GPs — who are currently not responsible for paying for hospital referrals — would receive the money instead and pay the hospitals directly.

The change will be compulsory.

The Coalition hopes the new system will be less bureaucratic and give doctors and patients more control over treatment. GPs will also have to organise out-of-hours services, which may see family doctors offering 24-hour care once again. >>> Andrew Porter, Political Editor | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Céline Dion: The Prayer (Duet with Josh Groban)


GALA.fr : Deux nouveau petits gars pour René et sa chanteuse >>> J.-F.T. | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

Céline Dion
Watch and listen: All By Myself >>>

Céline Dion: Think Twice


Céline Dion: Official Website >>>

Relatives Charged in India ‘Honor Killing’

The Stoning of Soraya M.


The Stoning of Soraya M. : Official Trailer

Britain: Ruling for Gay Asylum Seekers
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the right of gay asylum seekers not to be deported if they could show that they faced persecution in their home countries. The court ruled unanimously in favor of two men — a Cameroonian who fled his country after being attacked by an angry mob, and an Iranian who was attacked and expelled from school when his sexuality was discovered — who had lost appeals against deportation in a lower court. The lower court judges had ruled that the men could live “reasonably tolerable” lives in their home countries if they concealed their sexuality. The Supreme Court said that “to compel a homosexual person to pretend” that his sexuality does not exist amounted to denying “his fundamental right to be who he is.” The coalition Conservative-Liberal Democrat government embraced the ruling, which reversed the policy of the former Labour government. [Source: The New York Times] John F. Burns | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: UK: Decision on Gay Asylum Seekers is to be applauded and is long overdue >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Russischer "Tausch-Spion" ist angeblich bereits in Wien
Foto: Krone.at
KRONE.at: Die Gerüchte über einen amerikanisch-russischen Agententausch in Wien scheinen sich zu bestätigen: Der wegen Hochverrats verurteilte Moskauer Nuklearexperte Igor Sutjagin soll bereits in Wien eingetroffen sein, sagte der russische Menschenrechtler Ernst Tschorny am Donnerstagnachmittag der Nachrichtenagentur Interfax. Eine offizielle Bestätigung dafür gab es zunächst aber nicht.

Tschorny sagte, man habe Sutjagins Vater per Telefon mitgeteilt, sein Sohn sei bei der Ankunft am Wiener Flughafen gesehen worden. Er sei von einem britischen Offizier empfangen worden, der ihn nach London weiterbringen soll. Laut "Krone"-Informationen wurde der Transport mit einem Privatjet mit unauffälliger Firmenaufschrift unternommen. Die Landung erfolgte am späteren Nachmittag. >>> | Donnerstag, 08. Juli 2010

La vie traquée du caricaturiste de Mahomet
Kurt Westergaard. Photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Depuis 2005, le dessinateur danois Kurt Westergaard est sous la menace d'une fatwa. Après avoir échappé à trois attentats, il change souvent de ville et de pays, ne sort jamais sans escorte armée et a transformé sa maison en forteresse. Rencontre avec un homme de 75 ans qui vit au jour le jour.

Ce ne sont que quelques traits à l'encre de Chine, mais ils ont déclenché une crise internationale et bouleversé à tout jamais la vie de leur auteur. Traqué, changeant souvent d'adresse après avoir échappé à trois attentats, le caricaturiste danois... [Source: Le Figaro] Par Stéphane Kovacs | Mercredi 07 Juillet 2010

Cet article est réservé aux membres Mon Figaro Select. >>>

Spendenskandal: Buchhalterin entlastet Nicolas Sarkozy
WELT ONLINE: Überraschende Wende: Die Frau, die Frankreichs Präsidenten beschuldigt hatte, zieht ihre Aussage teilweise wieder zurück.

Der Stern von Frankreichs Staatspräsident Nicolas Sarkozy ist im Sinkflug. Eine Spendenaffäre um seine Präsidentschaftskampagne vor drei Jahren hat seinem Image Schaden zugefügt, auch wenn er inzwischen entlastet wurde. WELT ONLINE stellt Sarkozy vor. Bild: Welt Online
Die Bettencourt-Affäre um illegale Parteispenden, die Frankreich seit drei Wochen in Atem hält, hat eine neuerliche, überraschende Wendung erfahren: Claire Thibout, die ehemalige Buchhalterin der L’Oréal-Erbin Liliane Bettencourt, die am Montag Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy und Arbeitsminister Eric Woerth schwer belastet hatte, zog Teile ihrer Aussage wieder zurück. >>> von Sascha Lehnartz | Donnerstag, 08. Juli 2010

LE FIGARO: Bettencourt : l'ex-comptable se rétracte partiellement – Entendue de nouveau dans la nuit par la police, Claire Thibout dément formellement avoir dit que Nicolas Sarkozy a bénéficié des largesses de Liliane Bettencourt et affirmé qu'une partie de ses propos a été «romancée» par le site Mediapart.>>> Par Bastien Hugues, Cyrille Louis | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

Claire Thibout : " Il y a eu beaucoup de personnes politiques qui ont reçu de l'argent… "
Liliane Bettencourt. Photo : Le Monde
LE MONDE: Claire Thibout aime bien que les choses soient précises. Dans son audition, mercredi 7 juillet, réalisée dans le Gard, par les enquêteurs de la brigade financière, elle tient à remettre les choses en place et revient, partiellement, sur ses déclarations au site Mediapart.

D'abord, elle conteste la façon dont le site Mediapart a relaté les propos qu'elle lui a tenus. "L'article de Mediapart me fait dire que j'aurais déclaré quelque chose concernant la campagne électorale de M. Balladur. C'est totalement faux. C'est de la romance de Mediapart, assure-t-elle. De même que je n'ai jamais dit que des enveloppes étaient remises régulièrement à M. Sarkozy".

Mais si elle se rétracte pour partie, elle demeure très accusatrice. Ainsi, elle confirme que l'hôtel particulier de Neuilly-sur-Seine était un lieu prisé par les hommes politiques. Elle précise même que "ces messieurs venaient pour avoir de l'argent" mais indique n'avoir jamais assisté à la moindre remise d'enveloppes. "Il y avait des enveloppes d'espèces qui étaient remises par M. Bettencourt ou de temps en temps par Mme Bettencourt à des politiques", relate-t-elle.

M. Sarkozy était-il concerné ? C'est "possible", avance-t-elle, sans qu'elle puisse prouver quoi que ce soit. Elle raconte les invitations à l'hôtel particulier de Neuilly-sur-Seine. On y croisait, si l'on en croit Claire Thibout, Pierre Messmer, Mme Pompidou, François Léotard, Gérard Longuet, le couple Chirac, Edouard Balladur, Bernard Kouchner, Danielle Mitterrand ou encore Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Nicolas Sarkozy et plus récemment Éric Woerth. >>> Le Monde pour Le Monde.fr | Jeudi 08 Juillet 2010

BBC: L'Oréal, the minister and the 'envelopes of cash': It started out as a dispute between the heiress to a cosmetics fortune and her family. But the row over Liliane Bettencourt's finances has now reached out to touch the president of France himself. It has become a tangled saga of names, connections, claims and rebuttals. The BBC News website profiles key players in the political drama gripping the French public. >>> | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Österreich buhlt um Bayerns Raucher
WELT ONLINE: Die Wirte im Grenzgebiet freuen sich schon über neue Kunden. Aber die Kämpfer gegen Qualm rüsten sich auch dort

Wien - Erst die Touristen, dann die Studenten, nun die Raucher - in Österreich sorgt eine neue deutsche Welle für Schlagzeilen. "Bayern stürmen grenznahe Lokale", titelte die "Kronen-Zeitung" nach dem generellen Rauchverbot im Freistaat. Das "Aus für Glimmstängel im Weißwurst-Nachbarland" sorge für "lachende Gesichter bei heimischen Wirten". Schon 2008 seien die Umsätze in grenznahen Regionen um 25 Prozent "und mehr" gestiegen, nun würden die Wirte hoffen, dass ihnen das neue Gesetz noch mehr Asyl suchende Raucher aus Bayern zutreibt.

Bei den Vertretern der Wirte in den Wirtschaftskammern der an Deutschland grenzenden Bundesländer ist man nicht ganz so optimistisch. "Es ist ähnlich wie mit dem Tanktourismus", sagt Peter Frömml von der Wirtschaftskammer Oberösterreich: Wenn das nächste Gasthaus, wo man rauchen darf, nur ein paar Kilometer weiter weg sei als das gewohnte, würden sicher viele Bayern künftig jenseits der Grenze Fußball schauen oder ihren Stammtisch abhalten. Denkbar sei auch ein Zustrom an Ausflüglern und Bustouristen. "Das bayerische Rauchverbot wird die Gastronomie in Grenzbezirken sicher beleben", sagt Frömml, beziffern lasse sich das jedoch noch nicht. Der Oberösterreicher rechnet nicht damit, dass seine Heimat in näherer Zukunft von nikotinsüchtigen Bajuwaren überrannt wird, seine Kollegen in Tirol sehen das ähnlich.

Eins steht aber bereits fest: Das Votum der Bayern hat die Diskussion um das Rauchen auch in Österreich wieder angefacht und jenen Rückenwind verschafft, die das Volk mitentscheiden lassen wollen. Die Oppositionsparteien fordern in seltener Einigkeit eine Volksbefragung zum geltenden Gesetz. >>> von Elisalex Henckel | Donnerstag, 08. Juli 2010

KRONE.at: Innviertler Wirte erwarten bayrische Raucher-Touristen: Das in Bayern nach einem Volksentscheid beschlossene totale Rauchverbot in Gaststätten und Festzelten treibt nun Lokal-Gäste über die Grenze. "Wir erwarten uns jetzt natürlich schon weitere Umsatzsteigerungen", kalkulieren Wirte im Innviertel. Die ersten Raucher-Touristen hatten ja schon 2008 für Umsatzzuwächse gesorgt. >>> Kronen Zeitung | Mittwoch, 07. Juli 2010

Malaysian Islamic Courts Appoint First Women Judges
THE TIMES OF INDIA: KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of the first two women judges to Malaysia's Islamic courts was hailed Thursday as a move to address the gender imbalance in the country's religious judiciary.

Premier Najib Razak announced the appointments, made by the king in May, as an example of the government's commitment to transforming the Sharia judiciary.

"The appointments were made to enhance justice in cases involving families and women's rights and to meet current needs," Najib was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama last week.

Islamic courts run in parallel with civil courts in this Malay Muslim-majority country but women say they face much discrimination in Islamic divorce proceedings, inheritance and child custody cases. Continue reading and comment >>> AFP | Thursday, July 08, 2010

CNN Middle East Editor Leaves After 'Tweet' Praising Shiite Cleric Fadlallah
THE TIMES OF INDIA: WASHINGTON: Octavia Nasr, senior editor of Middle East affairs at CNN, is leaving the US television news network after sending a message on Twitter praising the late Shiite cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah.

Nasr, who joined CNN in 1990, said in a "tweet" over the weekend that she was "Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah... One of Hezbollah's giants I respect a lot."

She followed that up with a blog post on CNN.com expressing "deep regret" for her "tweet" about the man considered the spiritual guide of Hezbollah and who figured on a US "terrorist" list. >>> AFP | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Octavia Nasr has her regrets.

HT: Always On Watch

Anti-terror Stop and Search Powers to Be Scrapped
THE GUARDIAN: Police forced to abandon power to stop and search the public without reasonable suspicion after European court rules it illegal

Under new guidelines police will no longer be allowed to stop and search individuals without having to show reasonable suspicion of terrorist activity. Photograph: The Guardian
The police's use of controversial counterterrorism stop and search powers against individuals is to be scrapped immediately, the home secretary announced today.

Under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers can stop and search anyone in a designated area without having to show reasonable suspicion. Interim operational guidelines to be issued to the police say that in future section 44 powers will be used only to search vehicles, and officers will have to have grounds for suspecting they are being used in connection with terrorism.

Section 44 stop and search powers were used on more than 148,798 occasions last year and have been a key element in the campaign against terrorism.

The home secretary's decision to scrap their use against individuals follows a ruling by the European court of human rights in January that the powers were unlawful because they were too broadly drawn and lacked sufficient safeguards to protect civil liberties.

The Strasbourg case was brought by peace protester Kevin Gillan and a journalist, Pennie Quinton, who were unlawfully abused when police stopped and searched them on their way to a demonstration outside the annual Excel centre arms fair in east London in 2003.

In an unexpected statement to the Commons today, May said she had taken urgent legal advice and consulted the police since the Strasbourg ruling was confirmed as final last Wednesday. "In order to comply with the judgment, but avoid pre-empting the review of counter-terrorism legislation, I have decided to introduce interim guidelines for the police," the home secretary told the Commons.

"I am therefore changing the test for authorisation for the use of section 44 powers from requiring a search to be 'expedient' for the prevention of terrorism, to the stricter test of it being 'necessary' for that purpose. And, most importantly, I am introducing a new suspicion threshold." >>> Alan Travis, home affairs editor | Thursday, July 08, 2010

What Isn't Wrong With Sharia Law?
THE GUARDIAN: To safeguard our rights there must be one law for all and no religious courts

Gita Sahgal says there is active support for sharia laws because it is limited to denying women rights in the family. Photograph: The Guardian
The recent global day against the imminent stoning of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiani in Iran for adultery is an example of the outrage sparked by the brutality associated with sharia law's penal code.

What of its civil code though – which the Muslim Council of Britain's Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra describes as "small aspects" that concern "marriage, divorce, inheritance, custody of children"? According to human rights campaigner Gita Sahgal, "there is active support for sharia laws precisely because it is limited to denying women rights in the family. No hands are being cut off, so there can't be a problem …"

Now a report, Sharia Law in Britain: A Threat to One Law for All and Equal Rights, reveals the adverse effect of sharia courts on family law. Under sharia's civil code, a woman's testimony is worth half of a man's. A man can divorce his wife by repudiation, whereas a woman must give justifications, some of which are difficult to prove. Child custody reverts to the father at a preset age; women who remarry lose custody of their children even before then; and sons inherit twice the share of daughters.

There has been much controversy about Muslim arbitration tribunals, which have attracted attention because they operate as tribunals under the Arbitration Act, making their rulings binding in UK law.

But sharia councils, which are charities, are equally harmful since their mediation differs little from arbitration. Sharia councils will frequently ask people to sign an agreement to abide by their decisions. Councils call themselves courts and the presiding imams are judges. There is neither control over the appointment of these judges nor an independent monitoring mechanism. People often do not have access to legal advice and representation. Proceedings are not recorded, nor are there any searchable legal judgements. Nor is there any real right to appeal.

There is also danger to those at risk of domestic violence. In one study, four out of 10 women attending sharia courts were party to civil injunctions against their husbands. Continue reading and comment >>> Maryam Namazie* | Monday, July 05, 2010

*Maryam Namazie is a rights activist, commentator and broadcaster and spokesperson of Iran Solidarity and One Law for All

Abu Hamza Extradition Halted by EU Judges
THE TELEGRAPH: Human rights judges have ordered a halt to the extraditions of Babar Ahmad and radical preacher Abu Hamza, both wanted in the US on terror charges.

The Strasbourg court said it wanted more time to examine possible human rights breaches if the men face trial on charges which could mean life sentences without parole.

Ahmad, a 36-year old computer expert, has been in a UK prison without trial for nearly six years, refused bail since his arrest in August 2004 on a US extradition warrant.

Radical preacher Hamza is also wanted on terror charges in the US.

Both appealed separately to the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that their treatment and potential punishment could violate Human Rights Convention provisions on the ''prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment''.

The appeal prompted a stay of extradition proceedings pending today's verdict, which further postponed a final decision.

The ruling gives the UK Government until September 2 to submit observations and declares: ''The (Human Rights) Court decided to prolong, until further notice, the interim measures it had adopted indicating to the UK Government that it was in the interests of the proper conduct of the proceedings that the applicants should not be extradited while the cases were being examined by the court''. >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Russian 'Spies' Formally Charged Amid Swap Claims
THE TELEGRAPH: The 11 people accused of spying for Russia have been formally charged, amid claims the US and Russia are planning to carry out a Cold War-style 'spy swap'.

Alleged Rusian spies Richard and Cynthia Murphy. Photo: The Telegraph
US Justices ordered two suspects detained in Boston and three in the Washington area to be transferred to New York, where they will join five already there at the next court hearing at the end of the month.

They are all accused of “conspiring to act as secret agents in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation and nine of these individuals with conspiracy to commit money laundering,” the formal indictment said.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years for money laundering and five for the conspiracy allegations.

It comes amid reports the Kremlin is planning to hand over Igor Sutyagin, a Russian academic jailed for spying for the CIA in 2004, as well as Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russian military intelligence jailed for spying for Britain in 2006, in return for the release of the alleged Russian spies. The names of the other "exchangees" were not disclosed. >>> Andrew Osborn in Moscow | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Turkey Says Joining EU Is Still Top Priority
THE TELEGRAPH: Turkey has moved to calm fears that it is drifting away from the West, asserting that joining the European Union is still its "first and most strategic objective".

Ahmet Davutoglu, the foreign minister, said in London on Thursday prior to a meeting with William Hague, his UK counterpart, that Turkey was continuing to work very hard on its integration into Europe. He acknowledged that Turkey's accession to the EU had been made harder by opposition from Germany and from France in particular, and by problems over the future of Cyprus, where the dispute with Greece is still very much alive in spite of optimism of a resolution in recent years.

Mr Davutoglu was critical of Western fears that Turkey was turning further to the East, partly as a result of being rebuffed by France and Germany.

The question "Are we losing Turkey?" he said, was an "insulting question". He said Turkey was seeking to bring Western "soft" powers of peace, mediation and multilateralism to its multiple talks with countries in its region. >>> Adrian Michaels in London | Thursday, July 08, 2010

British Conservatives Assail Hague Over Turkey’s EU Membership Remarks
TODAY’S ZAMAN: British Conservative Party members have stridently displayed their objections to Foreign Secretary William Hague’s remarks on Thursday that envisaged “the value of [the] future membership” of “Europe’s biggest emerging economy” -- Turkey.

Roger Helmer, member of European Parliament from the British Conservative Party, deplored Hague’s statement, saying, “British voters will not stand for Turkish membership -- nor will other EU states,” the UK’s Mirror daily reported on Sunday.

“We should also see the value of Turkey’s future membership in the EU in this light. Turkey is Europe’s biggest emerging economy and a good example of a country developing a new role and new links for itself, partly on top of and partly outside of existing structures and alliances, and is highly active in the Western Balkans, the wider Middle East and Central Asia,” Hague said while speaking at London’s Foreign Office on Thursday, which drew the ire of many Euro-skeptic Tories.

Hague said Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will visit Britain next week as London seeks to improve its ties with Ankara. >>> Today’s Zaman, Istanbul | Monday, July 05, 2010

William Hague is clearly a naïve fool, and quite obviously he has a death wish for the West by wanting to Islamize Europe. Go ruin someone else’s civilisation, Mr Hague. The French and Germans have it right: There should be no place for Turkey in the EU.

It’s funny how the British are determined not to take their full part in the European Union, yet when it comes to screwing it up, they're in the first row. How reprehensible that propensity is! – © Mark

Three al-Qaeda Suspects Arrested in Norway Over Bomb Plot
THE TELEGRAPH: Three suspected al-Qaeda members believed to be linked to attacks in Britain and the US have been arrested in Norway.

Officials believe they were planning attacks with portable but powerful bombs like the ones at the heart of last year's thwarted suicide attack in the New York City subway. The three men had been under surveillance for a year.

Officials said the group had been attempting to make peroxide bombs, but that it was not clear whether the men had selected a target.

The Norway plot was allegedly organised by Salah al-Somali, al-Qaeda's former chief of external operations, the man in charge of plotting attacks worldwide. He was killed by a CIA drone last year. >>> | Thursday, July 08, 2010

Al Qaeda Terror Cell Busted in Norway

Belgian Undertakers Plan to Dissolve Dead and Flush Them Into Sewage System
THE TELEGRAPH: Belgian undertakers have drawn up plans to dissolve the corpses of the dead in caustic solutions and flush them into the sewage system.

The controversial new method is said to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than running highly polluting crematoria or using up valuable land for graves.

The departed would go into the sewage systems of towns and cities and then be recycled in water processing plants.

The proposals are being studied by the EU and if approved, it would mean the procedure could be used across Europe.

However, opponents of the plans say it smacks of a Frankenstein callousness towards the dead and one survey in Belgium found many people found the idea "disturbing." >>> Allan Hall, in Berlin | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Gay Cleric Blocked from Becoming Church of England Bishop
THE TELEGRAPH: An openly homosexual cleric has been blocked from becoming a Church of England bishop, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.

Members of the Crown Nominations Commission, which includes Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, rejected calls for Dr Jeffrey John to be made the next Bishop of Southwark.

The Dean of St Albans, who is in a civil partnership with another priest, was on the shortlist for the post and was considered to be a front-runner for the job.

David Cameron had been made aware of his nomination and is believed to have been supportive of promoting the homosexual cleric.

However, a secret meeting of senior Church figures has decided to overlook Dr John amid fears that his consecration would have provoked a split in the Church.

Conservative Anglican leaders had warned that evangelical parishes would not recognise him as a bishop and instead would seek “alternative episcopal oversight”.

But the snub will infuriate liberal clergy who believed he was the outstanding candidate and that his appointment would signal a move towards greater inclusion for homosexuals in the Church. >>> Jonathan Wynne-Jones and Martin Beckford | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Related article here

Turkish Key Constitutional Reforms Annulled by Court
BBC: Turkey's Constitutional Court has annulled key parts of a package of government-backed constitutional reforms, reports say.

The court rejected an opposition appeal to scrap all of the measures, and said the remaining elements would be put to a referendum as planned.

The court annulled changes which would curb the power of the judiciary and the army, AFP news agency said.

The ruling AKP says the reforms are necessary if Turkey is to join the EU.

But the nationalist opposition and senior judges are against measures they say would threaten the independence of the courts.

There is a gulf of mistrust between the AKP and the two secular opposition parties, the CHP and MHP, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul.

The CHP believes the AKP has a hidden agenda to weaken the secular system and promote Islamic values. >>> | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

I find the BBC's way of writing offensive and lacking in erudition. Whoever writes for the BBC writes for people who are incapable of reading proper paragraphs, incapable of understanding normal English. The BBC's style of English could be renamed 'English for Dummies'! – © Mark