Dozens of Israeli Rabbis Back Call to Forbid Sale of Property to Arabs
THE GUARDIAN: Publicly funded municipal chiefs accused of racial incitement after signing letter in support of ultra-orthodox Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu

Safed, northern Israel, where Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu ordered his followers not to offer accommodation to Arabs. Photograph: The Guardian
Dozens of Israeli rabbis today backed a call to forbid Jews to rent or sell property to Arabs in a move likely to further stoke tensions in some cities.

More than 40 municipal chief rabbis, whose salaries are paid from public funds, signed a letter in support of a ruling by Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu of Safed in Upper Gallilee instructing his followers not to offer accommodation to non-Jews.

Anyone doing so, the letter said, "causes his neighbour a great loss, and his iniquity is greater than can be borne". It went on: "It is incumbent upon the seller's neighbours and acquaintances to warn and caution, first in private and then they are entitled to publish him in public, to distance themselves from him, to prevent trade from being done with him, not to have him read from the Torah and so forth until he reverses his decision that causes harm to so many people."

Following Eliyahu's earlier ruling, an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor who rents out rooms to three Arab students in Safed was threatened with having his house burned down and was denounced as a traitor to Judaism. >>> Harriet Sherwood | Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Barack Obama Gives Way to Republicans Over Bush Tax Cuts
THE GUARDIAN: Allies say president 'blackmailed' into extending tax cut for wealthier Americans which may cost $4tn in lost revenue

Barack Obama talks with the Republican whip Eric Cantor after a meeting with bipartisan congressional leadership. Photograph: The Guardian
Barack Obama is bowing to Republican demands to extend a deep tax cut for wealthier Americans, to the fury of some of the president's allies who say he has succumbed to "blackmail".

In a bruising political battle that appears to set the tone for Obama's dealings with the Republicans in Congress following their victories in last month's midterm elections, the president had sought to extend a tax cut for middle-class Americans introduced by the Bush administration seven years ago which expires at the end of this month. But he wanted to see a return to pre-cut rates for households with an income above $250,000 a year, on the grounds that wealthier Americans could afford to pay more. The move would generate trillions of dollars for the financially-strapped treasury over the next decade.

The Democratic leadership believed that provided the middle class was looked after, the Republicans would find it difficult to justify tax cuts for the wealthy. The House of Representatives, still controlled by Democrats until the new Congress is sworn in next month, passed Obama's plan by a clear majority last week. But Republicans blocked the legislation in the Senate at the weekend and said they would rather see everyone's taxes rise than agree to scrapping the cuts for the wealthy.

Some Democrats called on Obama to stand firm and let the Republicans carry the blame for the inevitable middle-class backlash. But leading Democrats say the president is backing down and has agreed to extend tax cuts for everyone. In return, the White House appears to have extracted an agreement to extend benefits for the long-term unemployed. >>> Chris McGreal in Washington | Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Senator Lieberman on Julian Assange

Superstar Muslim Preacher Amr Khaled Battles Al-Qaeda
BBC: President Ali Abdullah Saleh does not give many interviews at the moment. The man who has governed Yemen for 32 years is fed up with the press characterising the country as a "cradle of terrorism".

But for Amr Khaled he was willing to make an exception. The Egyptian Muslim televangelist is, in the words of the president a "good guy", but there is of course more to it than that - in the Middle East Amr Khaled is like a rock star.

Dubbed "The Billy Graham of Islam" by Time Magazine, his television shows get more viewers than Oprah Winfrey, his videos have racked up 26m hits on YouTube, and he boasts two million friends on Facebook.

He is a sharp-suited, smooth-talking whirlwind of progressive Islam, preaching co-existence with the West while telling Muslims how to mix their faith with the modern world.

He is not even an imam, but a former accountant for multinational auditors KPMG. (+ videos) >>> | Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Saudi Royal Succession: Professor Detained Over Article
BBC: A Saudi law professor who wrote about a possible power struggle over the royal succession is being held without charge, a human rights group says.

Mohammad al-Abdulkareem, 40, was detained at his home in Riyadh on Sunday by four men who had no court warrant, the group said.

Mr Abdulkareem's article appeared shortly after King Abdullah, 86, went to America for surgery on his spine.

The royal succession is a highly sensitive subject in Saudi Arabia.

There has been no official confirmation of the arrest by the Saudi authorities. >>> Sebastian Usher. BBC News, London | Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Is Refused Bail
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, was refused bail as he appeared in court to face extradition charges for the first time.


The 39-year-old Australian is wanted in Sweden over allegations of rape and sexual assault upon two women.

He appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court to fight the extradition process.

Mr Assange, who denies the claims, was refused bail by District Judge Howard Riddle on the grounds that he would fail to surrender if released.

Jemima Khan, film director Ken Loach and investigative journalist John Pilger had all offered £20,000 each as surety for his bail.

However, he was remanded in custody and will appear again at the same court on December 14. >>> Caroline Gammell and Richard Edwards | Tuesday, December 07, 2010


NZZ ONLINE: Assange beendet das Katz-und-Maus-Spiel: Verhafteter Wikileaks-Gründer wehrt sich gegen Auslieferung an Schweden >>> Nils Anner, Cambridge | Dienstag, 07. Dezember 2010

LE FIGARO: WikiLeaks : Assange reste en prison jusqu'à mi-décembre – La demande de libération sous caution du fondateur de WikiLeaks, qui s'est rendu mardi à la police britannique, a été rejetée. Recherché pour des faits de viol et d'agression sexuelle, l'Australien est maintenu en détention jusqu'au 14 décembre. >>> Par Thomas Vampouille, Constance Jamet | Mardi 07 Décembre 2010

Britain Arrests WikiLeaks Founder in Sex Inquiry
THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON — Police in Britain arrested Julian Assange on Tuesday on a warrant issued in Sweden in connection with alleged sex offenses, British police officials said, the latest twist in the drama swirling around the anti-secrecy group and its beleaguered founder.

Mr. Assange, a 39-year-old Australian, was arrested by officers from Scotland Yard’s extradition unit when he went to a central London police station by prior agreement with the authorities, the police said. A court hearing was expected later in the day.

In a statement, the police said: “Officers from the Metropolitan Police extradition unit have this morning arrested Julian Assange on behalf of the Swedish authorities on suspicion of rape.”

Mr. Assange denies the charges of sexual misconduct said to have been committed while he was in Sweden in August. It was not immediately clear if Mr. Assange would resist extradition to Sweden for questioning by prosecutors there. >>> Alan Cowell and John F. Burns | Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Gesichter des Islam – Männer und Frauen
SCHWEIZER FERNSEHEN: Wie entwickeln sich die Rollen von Männern und Frauen und die Bedeutung der Familie in muslimischen Gesellschaften? Welches ist das Selbstverständnis der Geschlechter in Marokko, Deutschland und Saudi-Arabien? In der Königsstadt Fés erleben wir eine traditionelle Hochzeit und die Ehe als verpflichtende islamische Lebensform.

Familienstreit von L'Oréal-Erben beendet
Überraschende Einigung erzielt – Verfahren werden zurückgezogen
NZZ ONLINE: Nach ihrem jahrelangen, erbitterten Familienstreit haben sich die französische L'Oréal-Milliardärin Liliane Bettencourt und ihre Tochter überraschend ausgesöhnt.

Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers werde alle von ihr angestrengten gerichtlichen Verfahren zurückziehen, sagte der Anwalt der Tochter, Olivier Metzner, am Montag der Nachrichtenagentur AFP. Dies beziehe sich insbesondere auf die Anzeigen gegen den Künstler François-Marie Banier.

Ihm hatte die Tochter vorgeworfen, ihre 88-jährige Mutter ausgenutzt und um fast eine Milliarde Euro in Form von Gemälden, Immobilien, Lebensversicherungen und Schecks erleichtert zu haben. >>> sda/afp | Montag, 06. Dezember 2010

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Affaire Bettencourt: le photographe Banier va conserver 300 millions d'euros: ACCORD | Le photographe François-Marie Banier, au coeur du conflit entre l’héritière de l’Oréal et sa fille, conservera l’équivalent de 300 millions d’euros (391 millions de francs) de dons de Liliane Bettencourt, ont indiqué leurs avocats. >>> AFP | Mardi 07 Décembre 2010

WikiLeaks Cables Claim al-Jazeera Changed Coverage to Suit Qatari Foreign Policy
THE GUARDIAN: US embassy memos contradict Arabic satellite channel's insistence that it is editorially independent despite being heavily subsidised by Gulf state

Qatar is using the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera as a bargaining chip in foreign policy negotiations by adapting its coverage to suit other foreign leaders and offering to cease critical transmissions in exchange for major concessions, US embassy cables released by WikiLeaks claim.

The memos flatly contradict al-Jazeera's insistence that it is editorially independent despite being heavily subsidised by the Gulf state.

They will also be intensely embarrassing to Qatar, which last week controversially won the right to host the 2022 World Cup after presenting itself as the most open and modern Middle Eastern state.

In the past, the emir of Qatar has publicly refused US requests to use his influence to temper al-Jazeera's reporting. >>> Robert Booth | Monday, December 06, 2010

Wikileaks: US Identifies Key Sites Around World For Security
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The United States has identified hundreds of sites around the world that it fears could be targeted in terrorist attacks.

The list, released by WikiLeaks, includes a dozen sites in Britain, including two telecommunications centres, several undersea communications cables, a military manufacturing plant and a vaccine production centre.

A February 2009 State Department cable asked embassies around the world to update a 2008 list of vital interests. Unlike most of the documents made available by WikiLeaks so far, it was marked “secret”.

The Government immediately condemned the latest release.

A Downing Street spokesman said this morning: "We unequivocally condemn the unauthorised release of classified information.

"The leaks and their publication are damaging to national security in the United States, Britain and elsewhere.

Though most of the information was in the public domain, its release is likely to lead to accusations that WikiLeaks did not care if it aided terrorists. >>> Alex Spillius, Washington | Monday, December 06, 2010

Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal on WikiLeaks: 'People Will No Longer Speak to American Diplomats Frankly'
Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal on WikiLeaks diplomatic cables: "a hodgepodge of selectivity, inaccuracy, agenda pursuit, and downright disinformatio. Photograph: Spiegel Online International
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: In an interview with SPIEGEL to be published on Monday, Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal warns that the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables have caused serious damage. "America's credibility and honesty are the victim of these leaks," he says.

The United States has suffered serious political damage as a result of the WikiLeaks publication of secret documents, says Prince Turki bin Faisal, 65, the former intelligence chief and ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington. "America's credibility and honesty are the victim of these leaks," Turki said in an interview with the news magazine DER SPIEGEL. "People, including officials, will no longer speak to American diplomats frankly." >>> | Sunday, December 05, 2010

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: 'America's Credibility Is the Victim of These Leaks': Former Saudi Arabian intelligence head Prince Turki bin Faisal worries that the US diplomatic dispatches released by WikiLeaks could harm US credibility. He spoke with SPIEGEL about the diplomatic fallout, his country's relations with Iran and Israel, and the historical burden his country bears for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. >>> | Monday, December 06, 2010

WikiLeaks Cables Portray Saudi Arabia as a Cashpoint for Terrorists
THE GUARDIAN: Hillary Clinton memo highlights Gulf states' failure to block funding for groups like al-Qaida, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba

The terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab walks through the Chatrapathi Sivaji train station in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks. Lashkar-e-Taiba, which carried out the atrocity, is one of several groups that have raised funds via Saudi Arabia. Photograph: The Guardian
Saudi Arabia is the world's largest source of funds for Islamist militant groups such as the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba – but the Saudi government is reluctant to stem the flow of money, according to Hillary Clinton.

"More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups," says a secret December 2009 paper signed by the US secretary of state. Her memo urged US diplomats to redouble their efforts to stop Gulf money reaching extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide," she said.

Three other Arab countries are listed as sources of militant money: Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. >>> Declan Walsh in Islamabad | Sunday, December 05, 2010

JAN. 9, 2006 | OUTSIDE MECCA, Saudi Arabia | Pilgrims at Mount Arafat. American officials say fund-raisers for extremist groups descend on people taking part in the annual pilgrimage to seek money for their causes, according to leaked cables. Photograph: The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cash Flow to Terrorists Evades U.S. Efforts: WASHINGTON — Nine years after the United States vowed to shut down the money pipeline that finances terrorism, senior Obama administration officials say they believe that many millions of dollars are flowing largely unimpeded to extremist groups worldwide, and they have grown frustrated by frequent resistance from allies in the Middle East, according to secret diplomatic dispatches. >>> Eric Lichtblau and Eric Schmitt | Sunday, December 05, 2010

Blogroll & List of Newspapers & Journals: A Message to My Visitors
Recently, because of a malfunction in the old Blogger template – my sidebar wouldn’t load correctly – I was forced to change over to the new Blogger template. I had been reluctant to change over before because I knew it would be time-intensive, and time is what we are all short of these days.

Anyway, change is what I had to embrace. In actual fact, I am very pleased with the new look of the website. I hope that you are too. However, the changeover has meant that very many links have dropped off. Many of these links will be to loyal websites which have linked back to this one for a long time. Naturally, I regretted this. But I fully intended to rectify the matter in due course. (For ‘in due course’ read ‘when I could figure out how’!)

Using the new template has been a somewhat steep learning curve for me. In these matters, I have been self-taught from the start.

I am pleased to report that I have got to grips with the new template now. So it’s only a question of time to place all the links back up on the sidebar. Unfortunately, there appears to be no way of doing this quickly. Each link has to be placed up there one-by-one.

With Christmas approaching, my time is going to be even tighter than it normally is; however, I shall endeavour to correct this matter as soon as possible. Please bear with me. This new website truly is a work in progress! It is at times like this that I wish I had five pairs of hands! Regards to all. Mark

Benedikt XVI. Ganz privat – Autor stellt Papstbuch „Das Licht der Welt" vor
Jetzt liegt es in den Geschäften: Das Buch über Benedikt XVI.. In „Das Licht der Welt" bringt der Autor Peter Seewald den Lesern nahe, wie der Papst wirklich denkt und fühlt. Das Buch wurde im Vatikan vorgestellt.

BILD.de: HEILIGER VATER IN ROM: Benedikt XVI. – der mächtigste Papst aller Zeiten – Papst Benedikt XVI. (83) – seit fünf Jahren ist der deutsche Kardinal Joseph Ratzinger das Oberhaupt der katholischen Kirche. >>> | Dienstag, 23. November 2010

The Party of the Rich, by the Rich, for the Rich
THE GUARDIAN: Never have Republican values been so brazenly apparent than in holding the unemployed to ransom for the Bush tax cuts

Rarely has the true face of the modern Republican party in America been exposed so obviously.

Just a day after President Barack Obama met with Republican leaders and came out talking of a new era of co-operation, Republican senators united around Mitch McConnell to sign a letter declaring they would pass no legislation without movement on extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

That legislation they are willing to scupper includes extending unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans, still suffering the terrible hangover of the Great Recession. The tax cuts the Republicans are really fired up over will benefit only the top 2% of Americans. >>> Paul Harris | Thursday, December 02, 2010

Nick Clegg's Unexpectedly Swift Journey from Idol to Hate Figure
THE OBSERVER: The Lib Dem leader will survive a backbench rebellion over tuition fees but his reputation is irreversibly changed

Once upon a time, long, long ago – well, six months ago – Nick Clegg gave a pre-election interview to the Observer in which he forecast "Greek-style" unrest on the streets of Britain if the next government tried to drive through policies for which it did not have a proper mandate. I thought at the time that this was over-the-top attention-seeking by a Lib Dem leader who was then struggling to make an impression on the consciousness of the nation. For this was before the leaders' TV debate which briefly transformed him into the messiah of a new politics.

I am now happy to admit that I was wrong and he was right. The government is facing street demonstrations with a Greek streak during which the protesters roar that they have been betrayed. What Nick Clegg didn't anticipate – where his crystal ball let him down – was that he would be the focus of the fury.

The student marches against the hike in tuition fees have seen violence done to a variety of targets: a police van trashed and windows smashed at Tory Towers. But it is about the Lib Dem leader that the protesters, the peaceful majority and the anarchic minority alike, are most venomous. The police have advised him to stop cycling for fear of his personal safety; excrement has been pushed through his letter box. The National Union of Students is hoping to mobilise its members in their greatest numbers to coincide with the Commons vote on the legislation this Thursday. The walls of Westminster will again reverberate to their chants, the least rude of which is: "Nick Clegg! Dick Head!" >>> Andrew Rawnsley | Sunday, December 05, 2010

Ex-marine Predicts Win in 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Fight
THE OBSERVER: The first soldier to be discharged under rules against gay servicemen believes a repeal is imminent

Justin Elzie was discharged after coming out on television. Photograph: The Observer
As the row over America's ban on gay people serving openly in the military reached a fever pitch last week, Justin Elzie felt he had finally neared the end of a 17-year journey.

Elzie, a former marine, was the first person to be discharged under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) law, soon after it was brought in by President Bill Clinton in 1993. He has become an important figure in the struggle against the controversial policy, which could now soon be repealed.

"I know it is going to happen now. It is going to be repealed. It is just a matter of when," said Elzie, who recently chained himself to the White House fence in protest at the policy's continued existence. He has also just published a book about his life and last week lobbied politicians in Washington as the Senate conducted hearings on repeal of the law. >>> Paul Harris | Sunday, December 05, 2010

WikiLeaks Site's Swiss Host Dismisses Pressure to Take It Offline
THE GUARDIAN: Swiss host Switch says there is 'no reason' why WikiLeaks should be forced off internet, despite French and US demands

WikiLeaks received a boost tonight when Switzerland rejected growing international calls to force the site off the internet.

The whistleblowers site, which has been publishing leaked US embassy cables, was forced to switch domain names to WikiLeaks.ch yesterday after the US host of its main website, WikiLeaks.org, pulled the plug following mounting political pressure.

The site's new Swiss host, Switch, today said there was "no reason" why it should be forced offline, despite demands from France and the US. Switch is a non-profit registrar set up by the Swiss government for all 1.5 million Swiss .ch domain names. >>> Josh Halliday | Saturdaay, December 04, 2010

PayPal No Pal to WikiLeaks!
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The online payment service PayPal suspended the account used by WikiLeaks to collect donations.

The decision follows the publication by WikiLeaks of thousands of leaked US embassy cables.

WikiLeaks accused PayPal, which is based in America, of bowing to US Government demands to withdraw its service. PayPal is one of several methods that enables WikiLeaks to receive donations and finance its operations.

On Wednesday, Amazon ended an agreement to host WikiLeaks, forcing the website to switch to a Swiss internet address on Friday. It had also been dropped by another US internet service provider.

In a posting on WikiLeaks’ Twitter page, the website announced: “PayPal bans WikiLeaks after US government pressure.”

A statement on the PayPal site said: “PayPal has permanently restricted the account used by WikiLeaks due to a violation of the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy, which states that our payment service cannot be used for any activities that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity. We’ve notified the account holder of this action.” Paypal cuts off donations to WikiLeaks >>> Robert Mendick Chief reporter | Saturday, December 04, 2010

"Der Islam ist eine deutsche Religion"
ZEIT ONLINE: Tariq Ramadan über die Kunst, zugleich Muslim und Europäer zu sein

Muslimischer Intellektueller: Tariq Ramadan in Oxford. Foto: Zeit Online
DIE ZEIT: Professor Ramadan, in Europa macht sich eine Stimmung gegen den Islam breit. Minarette, Burkas und Kopftücher werden verboten. Deutschland debattiert über integrationsunwillige Muslime. Warum diese Zuspitzung?

Tariq Ramadan: Unsere westlichen Gesellschaften sind verunsichert durch die Globalisierung. Auch die Einwanderungsströme gehören dazu. Aber entscheidend ist das Sichtbarwerden des Fremden. Darum erregen sich die Leute über Moscheebauten, Minarette, Kopftücher, andere Hautfarben, Sprachen und Gerüche in ihren Vierteln. Wenn gegen die angebliche Islamisierung der Städte protestiert wird, geht es um die Sichtbarkeit einer fremden Religion, die dazugehören will. Das ist neu. Solange das Fremde nicht dazugehört, kann man leichter damit leben.

ZEIT: Seit Jahren leben wir mit der Terrordrohung im Namen des Islams.

Ramadan: Gewalt im Namen der Religion vergiftet die Debatte. Wir Muslime können die Augen nicht davor verschließen, dass dies die Wahrnehmung des Islams beeinflusst. Doch handelt die Islam-Debatte von unserer europäischen Identität. Sie ist hochpolitisch: Auf dem ganzen Kontinent bilden sich Parteien, deren Wahlerfolg davon abhängt, Misstrauen zu schüren. Sie füttern das Gefühl der Verunsicherung, man könne nicht mehr Deutscher oder Niederländer sein wegen dieser Einwanderer.

ZEIT: Der deutsche Präsident hat gesagt, der Islam gehöre zu Deutschland. Er wurde angegriffen, auch aus dem eigenen Lager.

Ramadan: Diese Identitätsfragen übersteigen die Bindungskraft der politischen Lager. Sie können heute Menschen auf der Linken finden, die sehr scharf gegen den Multikulturalismus polemisieren, und auf der Rechten gibt es welche, die einer pluralistischen Gesellschaft offen gegenüberstehen. Ihr Präsident hat etwas Offensichtliches festgestellt: Wenn es Millionen von Muslimen in Deutschland gibt, ist der Islam natürlich auch eine deutsche Religion. Der Islam ist eine europäische Religion, er ist ein Teil von Europas Geschichte und Gegenwart. Er ist nicht das ganz andere, er ist für Europa nichts Äußerliches mehr, bei sieben Millionen Muslimen in Frankreich, drei Millionen in England, vier in Deutschland. >>> Von Jörg Lau | Freitag, 03. Dezember 2010

WikiLeaks : le mandat de M. Sarkozy débute par un "affront" au roi du Maroc
En juillet 2007, Abdelaziz Bouteflika recevait Nicolas Sarkozy à Alger. Photo : Le Monde
LE MONDE: Nicolas Sarkozy tout juste élu président de la République, il réserve au Maghreb son premier déplacement hors d'Europe, comme avant lui Jacques Chirac. Mais l'ordre de visite est inversé. Cette fois, le premier pays visité ne sera pas le Maroc. L'Algérie passera avant le royaume chérifien.

Pourquoi ce changement ? Paris a beau expliquer à ses interlocuteurs marocains que le roi Mohammed VI a tout à gagner à ce que la visite se termine à Rabat, et qu'ainsi il aura "le dernier mot". Rien n'y fait. Les Marocains s'estiment trahis et annulent la visite à Rabat du président français en avançant des "considérations d'agenda, un prétexte vide à la mesure de l'affront subi", peut-on lire dans un télégramme du département d'Etat américain obtenu par WikiLeaks et révélé par Le Monde. >>> Jean-Pierre Tuquoi | Samedi 04 Décembre 2010

Smokers Should Not Be Forced Out of Hospitals
THE GUARDIAN: There should be more controlled smoking zones, argues Richard White

Smoking shelters have been reintroduced in some Bournemouth hospitals. Photograph: The Guardian
The government is proposing its next phase of tobacco control: plain packaging for cigarette packets. It is a controversial move, not least as it will be easier for criminal gangs to replicate packets to look authentic, prompting fears that illicit cigarette distribution levels may increase. Some campaigners would also like to see smoking outside pubs, restaurants and other public places banned.

This would be a step too far for tobacco control. Instead, there should be more controlled smoking zones. In September, the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals NHS foundation trust reintroduced smoking shelters for staff, patients and visitors, following a five-year ban. Staff and patients had been found smoking on the premises, including in the toilets, the oxygen store and even under the bedclothes.

Like other hospitals that have reversed blanket bans, the decision to permit designated smoking areas was not to encourage or promote smoking but to minimise the risk of illicit smoking on the premises. >>> Richard White | Tuesday, November 30, 2010

wikileaks.ch
SCHWEIZER FERNSEHEN: Wikileaks hat offenbar vorausgeahnt, dass ihre Internet-Adresse «wikileaks.org» früher oder später gesperrt werden könnte. Denn die jetzt bekanntgegebene «Schweizer» Ausweichadresse «wikileaks.ch» wurde bereits vor 6 Monaten registriert. Mittlerweile war jedoch auch sie zumindest zeitweise nicht erreichbar.



Zum Teil in Schwyzertüütsch (Schweizerdeutsch) übertragen.

WikiLeaks >>>

Pakistani Cleric Puts Bounty on Christian Woman's Head
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A hardline, pro-Taliban Pakistani Muslim cleric on Friday offered a reward for anyone who kills a Christian woman sentenced to death by a court on charges of insulting Islam.

The sentence against Asia Bibi has renewed debate about Pakistan's blasphemy law which critics say is used to persecute religious minorities, fan religious extremism and settle personal scores. Non-Muslim minorities account for roughly 4 per cent of Pakistan's 170 million population.

Maulana Yousef Qureshi, the imam of a major mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar, offered a £3,700 reward and warned the government against any move to abolish or change the blasphemy law.

"We will strongly resist any attempt to repeal laws which provide protection to the sanctity of Holy Prophet Mohammad," Qureshi told a rally of hardline Islamists."Any one who kills Asia will be given 500,000 rupees in reward from Masjid Mohabat Khan," he said referring to his mosque. >>> | Friday, December 03, 2010

HT: Vlad Tepes >>>

Lawyer: Wikileaks Is Under Attack
SKY NEWS: Mark Stephens, lawyer for the Wikileaks founder Juilan Assange, says the site in under concerted attack.

Liam Neeson Angers Narnia Fans by Suggesting Aslan Is Mohammed
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Liam Neeson has caused controversy by suggesting that Aslan, the Christlike character in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books, could represent the prophet Mohammed or Buddha.

The actor who voices the lion in the film adaptations of the books has angered some fans of the stories, who claim he is distorting Lewis’s intentions to be “politically correct”.

Aslan the lion features in all seven Narnia books, guiding children away from evil and harm and encouraging them to do good.

Lewis was clear that the Aslan was based on Christ, and once wrote of the character: “He is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question: “What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia?”.” [sic] >>> Roya Nikkhah | Saturday, December 04, 2010

WikiLeaks: Britain Mocked by US over 'Special Relationship'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US officials privately mocked Britain’s 'paranoia' over maintaining the 'special relationship', cables released by WikiLeaks suggest.

Richard LeBaron, the US deputy chief of mission, said the obsession with the alliance would “be humorous, if it were not so corrosive”.

He also reported to Washington that it would be “tempting” to take advantage of Britain’s attitude.

The documents show that senior Conservative policians met with members of President Barack Obama's administration before the election to promise a "much more pro-American" regime.

The Tories, including some who are now members of the Cabinet, promised to buy more US weapons and to "fight together" more closely in future.

The documents suggest a faint ridiculing of Britain's attitude to the US, with politicians described as "paranoid" about maintaining the "special relationship" with the US. >>> Andy Bloxham | Saturday, December 04, 2010


SKY NEWS: US Mocked UK Over 'Special Relationship': US officials mocked senior members of then opposition leader David Cameron's party who vowed to run a pro-US regime if they won this year's election, new leaked diplomatic cables have revealed. >>> Pete Norman, Sky News Online | Saturday, December 04, 2010

Svjatoslav Richter: Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor – Movement I: Moderato
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester c-moll op.18: 1. Satz: Moderato


Movement II: Adagio sostenuto / 2. Satz: Adagio sostenuto

Turkey Is Like Iran
YNET NEWS: Op-ed: Erdogan threatens regional stability with his thuggish, megalomaniac behavior

The WikiLeaks documents confirmed the great American and European anxiety over the dangerous regime in power in Turkey. At this time, there are two Middle Eastern entities already controlled by Muslim Brotherhood parties: Hamas in Gaza and Erdogan in Ankara. One should not be surprised to see the friendly ties between the Turkish regime and Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah: We are dealing with political Islam movements that use any means possible in order to take power and threaten others.

In the past, Turkey served as an important pro-Western anchor in the Middle East and played a stabilizing, responsible and constructive role. Today, it constitutes a threat and jeopardizes most Arab regimes, and also Israel, being a focal point of shocks and tensions. Erdogan is threatening regional stability with his thuggish, megalomaniac behavior and with his support for axis of evil elements.

The regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority and many others are greatly disturbed by the new, aggressive player that suddenly emerged against them. While everyone knows that Iran is an enemy, the current regime in Turkey still hides behind the glory of previous Turkish regimes which were friends of the West.

We better understand that we are dealing with a hostile regime that has no intention of giving up power in Turkey.

And now came Erdogan’s latest statement in Beirut, whereby “Turkey won’t remain silent” in case of a new war between Israel and Hamas or Hezbollah and made the threat substantive. From now own, according to its own declaration, Turkey is a potential military foe of Israel and may embark on war against us. >>> Guy Bechor | Thursday, December 02, 2010

YNET NEWS: Erdogan calls WikiLeaks docs 'gossip': Turkish prime minister visibly upset by leaked cables which claim he has eight Swiss bank accounts with private funds and surrounds himself with fawning advisors; says US must 'hold cable writers accountable for slander' >>> AFP | Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Eric Cantona: “Kill the (Criminal) Banks”

ARAB NEWS: Editorial: Wrong medicine – Cantona may be a brilliant footballer but he knows little about banks >>> | Friday, December 03, 2010

Obama's Surprise Trip to Afghanistan
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: President Barack Obama praised American troops for "important progress" against the Taliban, during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan. Video courtesy of Reuters


Notice Obama refers to the "holiday season". He can't seem to bring himself to refer to the Christmas season. Funny that!

Pentagon Backs Gay Ban Repeal
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Defense Secretary Robert Gates urges Senators to repeal a 17-year-old policy which allows gays to serve in the armed forces as long as they keep their sexual orientation private. Video courtesy of Reuters and photo courtesy of Associated Press.

Incredible! An Ad from a Less Enlightened Age!

Lockerbie Bomber’s Family ‘To Sue Over Prison Ordeal’
DAILY EXPRESS: THE family of the Lockerbie bomber is preparing a compensation claim against Britain for false imprisonment, Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi revealed last night.

He said the case against 58-year-old former secret serviceman Abdulbaset Ali Al-Megrahi had been fabricated by former Prime Minister Lady Thatcher and ex-US President Ronald Reagan.

Gaddafi even suggested that CIA agents were behind the atrocity – a theory already advanced in a controversial film and a number of books.

“These are the people who created this conspiracy,” he said. “The charges directed towards Libya were based on unfounded evidence in an attempt to weaken the Libyan Revolution and limit its resources and abilities.” >>> John Chapman

Headwinds Hamper Job Recovery
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Faced with higher payroll taxes and healthcare costs, employers are waiting to see a stronger economic recovery before adding new workers, according to Tig Gilliam, CEO of Adecco Group North America. He talks with Kelsey Hubbard about the health of the labor market and where we'll add jobs in 2011.

Cutting Off Jobless Benefits for Millions
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Congressional conservatives have cut off extended jobless benefits unless Bush-era tax cuts remain in place for people earning more than $200,000 a year. Video courtesy of Fox News.

Britain's Deep Freeze Continues
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: The United Kingdom was brought to its knees as heavy snow continued to fall across the nation. Train services, airports and rail links were disrupted, with no end in sight for frustrated commuters. Video courtesy of Sky News.

Deadly Fire Sweeps Through Israel
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: The worst brush fire in Israel's history has burned thousands of acres of land, forced villages to evacuate and killed dozens of people. Video courtesy of Reuters.

How Israel Screens for Terrorists
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: According to Israelis, the secret to their successful airport security is not labor-intensive checkpoints, but a screening system that is frowned upon in many other countries: ethnic profiling. WSJ's Martin Himel reports.


HT: Christine @ iBloga >>>

Bush Security Adviser: Wikileaks Will Damage U.S.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: In an interview with Jerry Seib, former U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley lashed out at Wikileaks for damaging U.S. diplomacy with its recent document dump. He also praised the Obama administration's handling of Iran and North Korea.

WikiLeaks Cables Claim First Scalp As German Minister's Aide Is Sacked
THE GUARDIAN: Helmut Metzner admitted acting as a mole for the US embassy during negotiations to form a government

WikiLeaks cables contained unflattering descriptions of the German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, and Angela Merkel. Photograph:
The WikiLeaks revelations have claimed their first political scalp in Europe with the sacking of the German foreign minister's chief of staff, who acted as a mole for the Americans, keeping the US embassy in Berlin posted last year on the confidential negotiations to form Angela Merkel's new government.

Amid a mood of increasing anger in the German political class at the disparaging observations on the chancellor's cabinet from US officials, a liberal MP today demanded the withdrawal of the American ambassador in Berlin, Philip Murphy. >>> Ian Traynor, Europe editor | Friday, December 03, 2010

Eric Besson demande que le site WikiLeaks ne soit plus hébergé en France
Le ministre de l'industrie, de l'énergie et de l'économie numérique, Eric Besson. Photo : LeMonde.fr
LE MONDE: Faire interdire la présence de WikiLeaks sur les serveurs français : tel est le souhait du ministre de l'industrie, de l'énergie et de l'économie numérique, Eric Besson, qui a demandé, vendredi 3 décembre, aux autorités compétentes "quelles actions peuvent être entreprises afin que ce site Internet ne soit plus hébergé en France". Eric Besson justifie cette décision en indiquant que le site a "violé" le secret diplomatique en publiant, depuis le 28 novembre, des centaines de documents confidentiels américains en collaboration avec Le Monde et d'autres grands titres de la presse mondiale. >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | Vendredi 03 Décembre 2010

Inside Wikileaks - UK
Watch Journeyman Pictures video here

'Very Difficult' to Prosecute WikiLeaks Chief
NATIONAL POST: U.S. authorities could face insurmountable legal hurdles if they try to bring criminal charges against Julian Assange, the elusive WikiLeaks chief, even if he sets foot on U.S. soil.

The Justice Department is investigating leaks of hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents provided by the whistleblower website to news media and made public on its website.

But three specialists in espionage law said prosecuting someone like Mr. Assange on those charges would require evidence he was not only in contact with representatives of a foreign power but also intended to provide them with secrets.

No such evidence has surfaced, or has even been alleged, in the case of WikiLeaks or Mr. Assange, an Australianborn [sic] former computer hacker who has become an international celebrity.

Mr. Assange, who leads a nomadic existence and cultivates an aura of mystery, left Sweden last month after authorities there said they wanted to interrogate him about allegations of sexual misconduct made by two female acquaintances.

The U.K. newspaper The Independent said on Thursday that British police know his whereabouts but have refrained so far from acting on his arrest warrant. >>> Reuters | Thursday, December 02, 2010

WikiLeaks Goes Off-line After 'Multiple' Attacks
MSNBC: U.S. firm says denial of service attacks on site threatened its nearly 500,000 other clients

WikiLeaks went off-line late Thursday after a U.S. firm providing its domain name system said the controversial website had come under mass denial-of-service attacks.

EveryDNS.net said it had "terminated" its services to WikiLeaks as the attacks and ones expected in the future would "threaten the stability" of the company's services to nearly 500,000 other websites.

WikiLeaks has been continuing to release classified cables sent by U.S. officials, causing huge embarrassment to diplomats and world leaders amid growing outrage and calls for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be prosecuted under the U.S. Espionage Act.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued in Sweden in connection with alleged sexual offenses, which he denies. His lawyers have refuted reports he is hiding from the law at an unknown location in the U.K., saying he is lying low because of threats made against him.

The EveryDNS.net statement came as Amazon.com said such denial of service attacks or political pressure from U.S. officials had not led it to stop hosting WikiLeaks.

Amazon said WikiLeaks had violated its terms of service by publishing the leaked documents as it did not "own or otherwise control all the rights to this classified content."

In response to the website going off-line, WikiLeaks sent out a message on social media site Twitter appealing for financial support. >>> msnbc.com staff and news service reports | Friday, December 03, 2010

THE GUARDIAN: WikiLeaks fights to stay online after US company withdraws domain name: Everydns.net says attack against leaks site endangered other customers' service – effectively pushing site off the web >>> Charles Arthur and Josh Halliday | Friday, December 03, 2010

WikiLeaks is back online from Switzerland >>>

Révélations de WikiLeaks: «Les actes d'Assange relèvent de l’espionnage»
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: WASHINGTON | Des sénateurs américains républicains et indépendants ont déposé une proposition de loi pour faciliter les recours juridiques. Ils veulent «rendre illégale la publication des noms d’informateurs des services de renseignement américains».

Dans un communiqué publié jeudi, les auteurs de cette proposition, les républicains John Ensign et Scott Brown et l’indépendant Joe Liebermann, n’ont pas précisé si la nouvelle règle s’appliquerait également aux médias américains traditionnels qui relaient les révélations faites par le site WikiLeaks.

«Julian Assange et ses complices créent pour nos ennemis une liste de coups à porter», a estimé M. Ensign. «WikiLeaks n’est pas un site d’information et Assange n’est pas un journaliste», a-t-il ajouté.

«Nos alliés et sources de renseignement doivent savoir que leurs vies ne seront pas mises en danger par leurs opposants, notre administration doit très clairement dire que révéler leurs identités ne sera pas toléré», a renchéri M. Liebermann, ancien élu démocrate.

Intitulée «bouclier», la nouvelle loi doit ajouter un paragraphe sur la protection de l’identité des informateurs à la loi punissant l’espionnage. >>> AFP | Vendredi 03 Décembre 2010