Iran's Government 'Will Not Last', Says Mehdi Karoubi
BBC: The Iranian government is being kept in power by force and will not last its four-year term, one of the opposition presidential candidates has predicted.

Opposition member Mehdi Karoubi said the government faced pressure from members of parliament, the Iranian public and the rest of the world.

Speaking to the BBC in Tehran, he repeated allegations over the abuse of anti-government protesters in prison.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in disputed elections in June.

"From the first day the election result came out I was convinced that Mr Ahmadinejad would not survive the full four years of his term," Mr Karoubi said.

"Even within the last six months, the government has only been kept in power by force."

Widespread protests erupted in Iran after the election, with hundreds of anti-government demonstrators arrested.

In a rare interview with a foreign broadcaster, Mr Karoubi told the BBC that heavy-handed treatment by the authorities had been counter-productive.

"At the beginning of the movement, it was just a protest against the election, we didn't recognise it as a serious election.

"The government's response, the crackdown, has not calmed things down at all. In fact, it's just made the chanting louder. It's just increased the people's demands."

He stood by his allegations that opposition activists have been raped in detention - a charge vehemently denied by authorities.

He said he was not afraid of being prosecuted over the claims as threatened by several government officials. Read further (with BBC video) >>> | Friday, December 18, 2009

Bob Geldof accuse: "Merkel n'a pas de coeur"
Crédits photo :
LE FIGARO – BLOG: Le chanteur irlandais engagé contre la famine, Bob Geldof, a examiné de très près le budget 2010 adopté, mercredi, par le gouvernement allemand. Et il accuse Angela Merkel d’avoir trahi sa promesse de dépenser davantage pour aider les pays pauvres en 2010. «Avec ce budget, Angela Merkel brise sa promesse aux hommes les plus pauvres du monde », accuse Geldof. >>> Par Patrick Saint-Paul | Vendredi 18 Décembre 2009

Islamic Insurgents Hack into CIA State-of-the-Art Predator Drones
A US air force 'predator'. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Predator drones used by the CIA against Islamic militants have been hacked into by insurgents using nothing more sophisticated than a $25.95 (£16) off-the-shelf software, it was revealed last night.

Although the insurgents were not able to control the $20 million aircraft, typically armed with Hellfire missiles and flown over the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, they could watch live video feeds beamed back to US control stations through their electronic “eyeballs”.

The hackers’ success raises the disturbing possibility of the Predators being taken over and used to attack US or British forces, or perhaps even domestic targets. Although Predator aircraft are usually flown by remote control from thousands of miles away, some are kept for testing at US Airforce bases such as Creech, near Las Vegas.

Speaking off-the-record, senior American defence officials confirmed that the Predators had been compromised and admitted that the video feeds could give insurgents critical information about US targets overseas, including buildings, roads, and other facilities. >>> Chris Ayres | Friday, December 18, 2009

New Dark Age Alert! Muslim Televangelist Takes His Message to Millions
Not your typical preacher: Amr Khaled is trying to modernise the face of Islam. Photograph: BBC
BBC: Amr Khaled's unique brand of Muslim preaching has made him one of the most popular preachers in the world.

Such is his appeal, he was recently named the 13th most influential person in the world by Time Magazine.

In Cairo, his DVDs stand on the top shelves reserved for best sellers in the Virgin record store, next to Bruce Willis and Charlie Chaplin.

His controversial style, comparable to the almost rock star approach of some of America's Christian evangelists, has drawn criticism from the religious establishment and he has moved away from his native Egypt.

Ironically, thanks to the proliferation of satellite channels, he is now able to reach far greater numbers than he could have ever done had his message remained within the confines of a mosque or a lecture hall.

'You're fired'

Now, following on from his hugely successful TV shows - which are watched by millions across the world - Mr Khaled plans to launch his own version of the reality television show The Apprentice.

"The aim of it is not to make money, but to make the youth ready to support the society," he told the BBC. >>> Magdi Abdelhadi, Arab Affairs Analyst, BBC World Service | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Amr Khaled’s English homepage >>>

Listen to Magdi Abdelhadi’s full documentary, Muslim Televangelists >>>

A Drop of Claret Never Hurt My Little Darlings
THE TELEGRAPH: The latest health fatwa is aimed at the wrong target, as usual, says James Delingpole.

Liam Donaldson's strictures are directed at the wrong target. Photograph: The Telegraph
This weekend I shall sit down to Sunday lunch with my children, splash their glasses with a drop of claret, and drink a hearty toast to the departure of the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. My children are nine and 11, so I know Sir Liam would disapprove – indeed, he told us as much in his latest fatwa. "Children under 15 should not drink alcohol at all," declared his new health guidelines on children's drinking. "Those between 15 and 17 should be supervised by their parents if they are drinking and should limit alcohol intake to one day a week."

The cheek of it! Was there ever a hectoring, busybodying government directive better guaranteed to have the opposite effect of the one intended? That was certainly its impact upon me. Normally at Sunday lunch, my children only have half a finger's worth of wine in their glasses – just to give the water a bit of colour, and make them feel grown-up. But after Sir Liam's nannying strictures, I'm tempted to treat the little darlings to a magnum each.

What's even more galling about strictures like this is that they're directed at the wrong target. We all know where Britain's most serious child-drinking problems lie: on sink estates and among broken homes where rudderless urchins are routinely downing alcopops and cans of super-strong lager before they've reached their teens. >>> James Delingpole | Friday, December 18, 2009

Sir Liam Donaldson: Parents 'Fuelling' Binge Drinking


THE TELEGRAPH: Liam Donaldson to retire after dealing with swine flu: Sir Liam Donaldson, the governments chief medical officer, will retire in May next year, it has been announced. >>> Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor | Tuesday, December 15, 2009

THE TELEGRAPH: Why I will let my children drink alcohol: Liam Donaldson's latest recommendations on teenage drinking will work in theory but not in practice, writes Cassandra Jardine. >>> Cassandra Jardine | Thursday, December 17, 2009

More Twaddle from an Effete Government Representative
As far as I am concerned, Liam Donaldson is talking bollocks! The worst thing you can do for a child is forbid something. Forbidden fruits always taste the sweetest; and that's a fact! Further, the only people I know that went off the rails came from homes which banned alcohol completely.

The best way is to allow children of a certain age to have very small amounts of alcohol to feel included in any family gatherings. By not offering them any, the mystery of the demon drink will only grow.

Liam Donaldson's judgment is questionable. This is the man who said he was happy when smoking was banned in pubs, for he said now he can take his children to pubs for Sunday lunch without them having to inhale second-hand smoke. Somebody should have told him that children do not belong in pubs. Indeed, when I was growing up one had to be sixteen even to enter such a public watering hole. Pubs were not conceived for children, but for adults. The proper place to take a child for Sunday lunch if one is not cooking at home is a restaurant. Not a pub!

It seems that he has no better judgment on children drinking a little alcohol.

The true reason for children getting sozzled is that so many of them come from broken homes. Children need stability at home, not prohibitions. –© Mark

New Dark Age Alert! Uganda’s Inhumane Bill
TIMES ONLINE – LEADING ARTICLE: Museveni appeals to anti-gay prejudice to mask growing political repression

To ask the public to voice their views on a question as crudely inflammatory as “Should homosexuals face execution?” is to invite bigotry to put on its boots. The BBC’s facile attempt to stimulate debate on its website has provoked justified outrage that old prejudices should be given a fresh hearing. Yet this same crude question is to be put to the Ugandan Parliament today. And there is a real fear that not only may MPs enthusiastically support the death penalty for active HIV-positive homosexuals; Uganda may soon pass legislation that would legitimise the hounding of gay people throughout Africa.

The proposed legislation is ostensibly meant to curb the spread of Aids, reinforce family values and reflect the widespread disgust many Africans express for what they regard as Western sexual decadence. It proposes a mandatory death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment. And the friends and families of gay Ugandans could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to the authorities. Even landlords could be imprisoned for renting to homosexuals. The Bill is an open invitation to a witch-hunt.

The measure has prompted widespread revulsion in much of the world. Gordon Brown and his Canadian counterpart expressed their concern to President Museveni at the Commonwealth summit conference last month. The United Nations and the World Health Organisation have said that Uganda may lose the chance to host an important permanent Aids research organisation if it passes the Bill. And anti-Aids activists have pointed out that the Bill would have only marginal effect on the fight against the disease, as homosexuals were responsible for less than one per cent of new infections last year. >>> Friday, December 18, 2009

Picture of Slain French Jew Appears in Dating Website Ad
YNET NEWS: French site discovers picture of Ilan Halimi, who was brutally murdered several years ago in France, in advertisement for online Muslim dating service. Company claims picture taken from a user's profile page, issues apology

How did the picture of Ilan Halimi, a young Jewish man who was brutally murdered several years ago in France, appear in an advertisement for an online Muslim Canadian dating service?

A French blogging site reported Wednesday that Halimi's picture was given to a Canadian dating website through Google's advertisement database, Google AdSense.

Halimi was kidnapped and tortured for three weeks before his body was found naked and bound with handcuffs near the train tracks in a suburb of Paris in February 2006.

One of the writers for a French blogging website was shocked when he accidentally came across a picture of the slain French Jew on an advertisement for the dating website Qiran.com, which caters to new Muslim immigrants to Canada. >>> Daniel Edelson | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Pour François Fillon, la burqa n'est pas la bienvenue en France
LE MONDE: Le premier ministre François Fillon a réaffirmé, jeudi 17 décembre, que la burqa n'avait pas sa place en France, tout en disant attendre les conclusions de la commission parlementaire sur le sujet pour prendre une décision.

La commission parlementaire sur le port du voile intégral – niqab ou burqa –, présidée par le communiste André Gérin, doit rendre ses conclusions en janvier sur une possible interdiction qui fait l'objet de prises de position diverses au gouvernement.
"Le président s'est exprimé de façon très claire. Il a dit, et je partage cette opinion, que la burqa n'est pas la bienvenue en France", a déclaré François Fillon en marge de la visite d'un centre de formation de la Défense, à Marseille. >>> LeMonde.fr avec Reuters | Jeudi 17 Décembre 2009

Frankreichs Konservative wollen Ganzkörper-Schleier verbieten
DIE PRESSE: Die Abgeordneten der französischen Regierungspartei wollen das Tragen von Ganzkörper-Schleiern komplett verbieten: "Nicht mit den Werten der Republik vereinbar."

Die Abgeordneten der französische Regierungspartei UMP wollen muslimischen Frauen das Tragen von Ganzkörperschleiern in der Öffentlichkeit komplett verbieten. "Realität ist, dass in Frankreich vernünftigerweise niemand will, dass sich diese Praxis in unserem Land ausbreitet", sagte UMP-Fraktionschef Jean-Francois Cope der Tageszeitung "Le Figaro". 



Die Mehrheit der Franzosen und auch die Vertreter der Muslime im Land seien der Ansicht, dass das Tragen eines Ganzkörperschleiers nicht mit dem Gemeinschaftsleben und den Werten der Republik vereinbar sei. Mögliches Verbot >>> Ag | Mittwoch, 16. Dezember 2009

CNN: Spreading Islam in Britain

L'extrême-droite autrichienne a trouvé son maître
L'ancien rival Heinz-Christian Strache est désormais le nouveau visage d'un FPÖ puissant et réunifié. Crédits photo : L’Express.fr
L’EXPRESS.fr: Les frères ennemis ont liquidé ce mercredi l'héritage Haider. L'ancien rival Heinz-Christian Strache est désormais le nouveau visage d'un FPÖ puissant et réunifié.

Sans leader, pas de parti. Les héritiers de Jörg Haider n'auront pas survécu à la disparition de leur chef. Ils ont rejoint ce mercredi le parti qu'ils avaient quitté avec fracas en 2005, abandonnant toute prétention politique pour survivre. L'éphémère BZÖ (Alliance pour l'Avenir de l'Autriche) disparait alors de la scène politique, malgré la résistance des durs de durs, regroupés autour de la soeur de Haider, élue au parlement, et qui se déclarait hier "humainement déçue". >>> Par Blaise Gauquelin | Jeudi 17 Décembre 2009

The Queen Dropped from Victoria's Legal System
THE TELEGRAPH: The Australian state of Victoria is to dump the Queen from legal proceedings only days before Prince William arrives on a goodwill visit.

Prince William and the Queen. Photo: The Telegraph
From Jan 1, all criminal court cases will be brought in the name of the director of public prosecutions instead of the monarch as traditionally.

Announcing the change, Rob Hulls, the state's attorney-general and acting Labour premier, said: "Having cases presented in the name of the Queen of England is an outdated colonial tradition that has really passed its use-by date.

"Substituting the director of public prosecutions for the Queen or Regina reflects the legal and political independence from the United Kingdom and its monarch that has been achieved by Australia."

He denied the change was a snub to Prince William, who arrives in the state on Jan 21 during a visit that has been described as an opportunity to better acquaint himself with Australia.

Mr Hulls, an avowed republican, said: "This is all about making our laws and legal procedures relevant. It's no more or less than that." >>> Paul Chapman | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Not Before Time! Big Companies May Be Coming to Their Senses!
THE TELEGRAPH: Nike, Adidas and other companies may cut their spending on sports sponsorships after the coverage of Tiger Woods's marital infidelity, it has been claimed.

Tiger Woods was earning about $100 million (£62 million) a year from his sponsors before the scandal. Photo: The Telegraph
In the past week, Accenture ended its endorsement deal with Woods, while Gillette said it would not use Woods in its marketing. Others are reevaluating their deals with the golfer.

Omar Saad, a Credit Suisse analyst, said that Nike and other companies are being forced to rethink the effectiveness of the vast sums of money they spend on individual and team sponsorships. Tiger Woods: sports sponsors may slash spending on big stars >>> | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christians Outraged by Poster Showing Mary and Joseph after Sex
THE TELEGRAPH: A risque church billboard showing the Virgin Mary and Joseph in bed apparently after having disappointing sex has caused outrage among Christians in New Zealand.

The poster sparked a barrage of comments to radio stations and on internet websites. Photo: The Telegraph
The large poster depicts a dejected-looking Joseph lying next to Mary, whose eyes are turned heavenwards, under the words: "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow."

Both figures, painted in classical fresco style, appear to be naked.

Within hours of the billboard being erected outside the Anglican church of St Matthew's in the City, in central Auckland, it had been attacked by a man who clambered on to the roof of his car to smear brown paint over it.

As a result it was almost obliterated and the church, which describes itself as "progressive", is seeking a replacement.

Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story "and that somehow this male God impregnated Mary".

"What we're trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about," he said.

"We actually think God is about the power of love as shown in Jesus, which is something quite different than a literal man up in the sky." >>> Paul Chapman in Wellington | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Mühen der Deutschen mit direkter Demokratie: Nach dem Schweizer Minarettverbot geraten Volksabstimmungen in Verruf
NZZ ONLINE: Dass es die Schweizer gewagt haben, den Bau neuer Minarette zu verbieten, hat in Deutschland die Debatte über die plebiszitäre Demokratie neu entfacht. Die Befürworter repräsentativer Formen sehen sich bestätigt.

Die Schweizer Minarettabstimmung macht den Deutschen zu schaffen. Nicht primär ihres sehr bedauerlichen Ausgangs wegen – in ihrer Verdammung des Resultats waren sich die Kommentatoren der führenden Medien zumindest in den ersten Tagen praktisch einig. Nein, was die Deutschen irritiert, ist die Tatsache, dass es das Volk war, das die Entscheidung traf, und nicht die gewählte Elite. Denn auch hierzulande gilt die Forderung nach mehr Volksentscheiden grundsätzlich als «gut», progressiv und politisch korrekt, und im Volk geniesst sie – man ist zu sagen versucht: natürlich – grosse Unterstützung.

Stolz auf die eigene Tugend

Die herablassende Selbstgerechtigkeit, mit der die schweizerische Entgleisung zunächst gerügt wurde, ebbte in Deutschland schon nach wenigen Tagen merklich ab. Überheblichkeit im Umgang mit der Schweiz ist eher medialer Reflex als nationaler Charakterzug, und so debattierte man schon bald bang die Frage, ob es sich beim Schweizer Nein zu neuen Minaretten tatsächlich nur um eine isolierte, die lichte Welt europäischer Aufgeklärtheit aber nicht weiter tangierende Manifestation eidgenössischer Rückständigkeit handle oder ob hier nicht doch eine Haltung zum Ausdruck kam, die sich auch anderswo, eventuell sogar in Deutschland, finden liesse. Alerte Beobachter wiesen auf Blogs und Webseiten hin, in denen der Schweizer Entscheid mit überwältigendem Mehr begeistert begrüsst wurde. Womit man beim Problem der direkten Demokratie angekommen war. … >>> Ulrich Schmid, Berlin | Donnerstag, 17. Dezember 2009

Germany Donates £50m to Auschwitz
THE TELEGRAPH: Germany has donated more than £50 million to a global fund that aims to preserve the site of the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland.

Auschwitz: Photograph: The Telegraph
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum said that the 60 million euros pledged by the German government represented half the total it needs to ensure the future of the Second World War site as a permanent memorial to the Nazis' victims.

"This is a great day! The plan for the long-term preservation of this memorial is becoming a reality," said Piotr Cywinski, director of the state-run museum and head of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation which was launched earlier this year.

An Auschwitz survivor, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski - a former Polish foreign minister who is considered a moral authority in his country and set up the foundation - hailed Germany's sense of "responsibility with regard to history". >>> | Thursday, December 17, 2009

Swiss Minaret Appeal Goes to European Court
BBC: An appeal against last month's decision by Swiss voters to ban minarets has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The appeal was lodged by Hafid Ouardiri, an Algerian-born Muslim and a former spokesman for the Geneva Mosque.

Mr Ouardiri wants the court to rule that the ban is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Some 57.5% of Swiss voters and 22 out of 26 cantons - or provinces - voted in favour of the ban last month.

The referendum proposal was put forward by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which said minarets were a sign of Islamisation.

Switzerland's federal government had urged Swiss voters to reject it, warning it would contravene religious freedom and human rights and could stoke extremism. >>> | Wednesday, December 16, 2009

BBC News Website Asks Users: 'Should Homosexuals Face Execution?'
This is a clear example of the BBC taking leave of its senses! Shame on the BBC for asking such a ridiculous, cruel question! This subject is not worthy of debate. Period! – © Mark

THE GUARDIAN: Talkboard post seeks readers' views ahead of interactive World Service programme Africa Have Your Say

The BBC's Have Your Say talkboard. Image: The Guardian
The BBC today asked users of its news website "Should homosexuals face execution?" on a talkboard discussion for a World Service programme for African listeners.

Posted on a BBC News premoderated talkboard, the thread was designed to provoke discussion ahead of the latest edition of interactive World Service programme Africa Have Your Say.

"Yes, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question, but this is the reality behind an anti-homosexuality bill being debated on Friday by the Ugandan parliament which would see some homosexual offences punishable by death," the post said.

The talkboard post asked users to send in their views to the programme, which goes out on the World Service and is also available online.

"Has Uganda gone too far? Should there be any level of legislation against homosexuality? Should homosexuals be protected by legislation as they are in South Africa? What would be the consequences of this bill to you? How will homosexual 'offences' be monitored?," the post added.

Premoderated posts included one from Chris, Guildford, posted at 8.59am, which attracted 51 recommendations of support. He wrote: "Totally agree. Ought to be imposed in the UK too, asap. Bring back some respectable family values. Why do we have to suffer 'gay pride' festivals? Would I be allowed to organise a 'straight pride' festival? No, thought as much!! If homosexuality is natural, as we are forced to believe, how can they sustain the species? I suggest all gays are put on a remote island somewhere and left for a generation - after which, theoretically there should be none left!"

Another, from Aaron in Freetown, said: "Bravo to the Ugandans for this wise decision, a bright step in eliminating this menace from your society. We hope other African nations will also follow your bold step." >>> Stephen Brook | Wednesday, December 16, 2009

BBC Defends Debate on Gay Executions in Uganda
PINK NEWS: BBC editors have defended allowing online readers to debate whether gays in Uganda should be executed, saying they accepted it was a "challenging question".

The discussion, on the broadcaster's Have Your Say feature, asked: "Should homosexuals face execution?"

The debate centres on Uganda, where an anti-gay bill is passing through parliament. It would impose execution or life imprisonment on gays, its sponsor David Bahati MP says.

Some commentators on the site, from both the UK and Africa, had agreed with the country's proposed law.

It was closed at around 4pm this afternoon after provoking a storm of anger on Twitter.

A number of readers emailed PinkNews.co.uk to complain that the question was offensive, arguing that readers would not be asked to debate the extermination of Jews in World War II. >>> Staff Writer, Pink News | Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Uganda Antigay Sentiments Hit Close to Home
ADVOCATE.COM: COMMENTARY: Kim Stolz wonders why certain U.S. senators refuse to comment on Uganda's "kill the gays" bill — a bill the White House, international human rights organizations, and even some typically conservative Christian groups have condemned.

Collage: Advocate.com
In his State of the Union Address in January 2003, President George W. Bush gave one of his more eloquent and moving speeches about his upcoming HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention program, and included specific praise for the African country of Uganda in paving the way to lower AIDS population rates on the continent. This fall, the international community, feeling helpless and stunned, watched as severe antigay legislation was introduced in Uganda on Oct. 14, which called for a life imprisonment sentence for homosexual acts and the death sentence for those engaging in homosexual activity repeatedly and for any HIV-positive person doing so. 
 


The current law in Uganda states that anyone who identifies as a homosexual, bisexual, or transgender should be sentenced to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment. While 14 years is the stated term, being convicted as an LGBT person commonly results in a life sentence. While it has never been safe to identifying as a gay person in Uganda, the bill introduced October 14, if passed, would make a nonstraight lifestyle impossible in the African country. The new legislation calls for a life sentence as a minimum punishment for any LGBT person and further states that anyone who fails to report a homosexual to the government within 24 hours will be sentenced to three years in prison. The final part of the bill is perhaps the most shocking, given Uganda’s history of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. It states that death by hanging is the punishment for “aggravated homosexuality,” which is defined as any of the following: a repeat offender of the homosexuality law, having homosexual sex when any intoxicating substance is involved (for instance, if two men meet at a bar, buy each other a drink and then have sex, both of these men would be sentenced to death,) if one engages in homosexual activity as an authority figure, and finally, having sex if you’re HIV-positive. 
 


After hearing about the new “kill the gays” legislation in Uganda, President Obama, international human rights groups (specifically Human Rights Watch), and various public figures around the world made statements against the proposed law. In fact, Christian groups, which have remained divided on issues like civil unions and gay marriage, came together to oppose the flagrant human rights violation. Still, though, among the authority figures who strictly opposed the potential law, there were a few famous and prominent faces in the crowd — familiar faces to the Ugandan government — who connect through a wide “family” network and are now hiding from the accusations that they may actually be connected to this disgusting and murderous legislation. >>> Kim Stolz | Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Just Half of Britons Now Call Themselves Christian after a ‘Sharp Decline’ in Faith over Past 25 Years
THE TELEGRAPH: Only half of Britons now consider themselves Christian after a “sharp decline” in religious belief over the past quarter of a century, according to a new academic study.

Researchers describe a large proportion of the country as the “fuzzy faithful” who have a vague belief in God but do not necessarily belong to a particular denomination or attend services.

However, most people still say religion helps bring happiness and comfort, and regret its declining influence on modern society.

Professor David Voas, who has analysed the latest data, said: “More and more people are ceasing to identify with a religion at all.

“Indeed, the key distinction in Britain now is between religious involvement and indifference. We are thus concerned about differences in religiosity - the degree of religious commitment - at least as much as diversity of religious identity.”

His analysis, to be published in January by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), looks at the results of 4,486 interviews conducted in the respected 2008 British Social Attitudes survey.

It shows that just 50 per cent of respondents now call themselves Christian, down from 66 per cent in 1983. NatCen said it confirmed “the sharp decline in religious faith in Britain.”

At the same time, the proportion of Britons who say they have “no religion” has increased from 31 per cent to 43 per cent. Non-Christians, including Muslims and Jews, now represent 7 per cent of the population, up from 2 per cent, 25 years ago. >>> Martin Beckford | Wednesday, December 16, 2009

George Pitcher: Christianity Dying? Don't Bet Your Church on It
THE TELEGRAPH: I went on Vanessa Feltz’s radio programme this morning – no mean feat, I might say, while buying a train ticket and finding a platform – to talk about this story of the “lost Christians”, with only half of we Britons now considering ourselves Christian.

I’m not as disheartened as Ms Feltz suggested I should be. And I don’t mean in that way that clergymen sometimes sound like the Lib Dem candidate who has just taken a massive hit in a local election: “This is actually an encouraging result for us, with our share of the vote having risen against the Zoroastrians.”

I mean two things. First, since my generation is the first to follow the “Christendom generations”, I’m encouraged that so many are still signing up to the faith. By that, I mean that our parents would answer automatically to form-fillers (or any equivalent to the National Centre for Social Research, whence the latest stats emerge) that they were “Church of England”, without any real sense of conviction. It was just what you were. This applied less to other minority denominations, because the CofE was a default position – the established Church was just part of the background, ambient noise. In contrast, these days people are thinking about what and why they believe. And that must be a good thing. And rather good that half of them, voluntarily and thoughfully [sic], sign up to Christianity. >>> George Picher | Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Die Schweiz nimmt einen Guantánamo-Häftling auf: Entscheidung des Bundesrates aus «humanitären Gründen»
NZZ ONLINE: Die Schweiz nimmt aus humanitären Gründen einen Guantánamo-Häftling auf. Dies hat der Bundesrat am Mittwoch entschieden. Beim ehemaligen Häftling handelt es sich um einen Usbeken, der keine Gefahr für die öffentliche Sicherheit darstellen soll. Er wird im Kanton Genf leben.

Der Bundesrat wolle mit dem Entscheid zur Lösung des Problems beitragen, teilte das Justiz- und Polizeidepartement mit. Der Entscheid zur Aufnahme des Usbeken stütze sich auf intensive Abklärungen, heisst es weiter. Die gegen ihn erhobenen Anschuldigungen der Verbindung zu terroristischen Kreisen hätten sich nicht erhärten lassen. Bereits im Jahr 2005 sei er von den USA «zur Freilassung freigegeben» worden. Bereitschaft zur Integration >>> sda/ap | Mittwoch, 16. Dezember 2009

Gulf Petro-powers to Launch Currency in Latest Threat to Dollar Hegemony
THE TELEGRAPH: The Arab states of the Gulf region have agreed to launch a single currency modelled on the euro, hoping to blaze a trail towards a pan-Arab monetary union swelling to the ancient borders of the Ummayad Caliphate.

“The Gulf monetary union pact has come into effect,” said Kuwait’s finance minister, Mustafa al-Shamali, speaking at a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait.

The move will give the hyper-rich club of oil exporters a petro-currency of their own, greatly increasing their influence in the global exchange and capital markets and potentially displacing the US dollar as the pricing currency for oil contracts. Between them they amount to regional superpower with a GDP of $1.2 trillion (£739bn), some 40pc of the world’s proven oil reserves, and financial clout equal to that of China.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar are to launch the first phase next year, creating a Gulf Monetary Council that will evolve quickly into a full-fledged central bank.

The Emirates are staying out for now – irked that the bank will be located in Riyadh at the insistence of Saudi King Abdullah rather than in Abu Dhabi. They are expected join later, along with Oman.

The Gulf states remain divided over the wisdom of anchoring their economies to the US dollar. The Gulf currency – dubbed “Gulfo” – is likely to track a global exchange basket and may ultimately float as a regional reserve currency in its own right. “The US dollar has failed. We need to delink,” said Nahed Taher, chief executive of Bahrain’s Gulf One Investment Bank.

The project is inspired by Europe’s monetary union, seen as a huge success in the Arab world. But there are concerns that the region is trying to run before it can walk. >>> Ambrose Evans-Pritchard | Tuesday, December 2009