Inside Story: Shake-up in North Korea?

We examine the reasons for the reported dismissal of Kim Jong-un's influential uncle, and its impact on the region.

The Question Is Not Who Is Taking Drugs, But Who Isn’t

MAIL ON SUNDAY: It must be 35 years since I flung an old friend out of my tiny North London flat for bringing cannabis into my home. I was still pretty modishly Left-wing about most things in those days. But I felt (as I feel now) a special disgust against drugs.

How could it not be wrong to deliberately dim and dull your senses? If you don’t like the world as it is, then change it. Don’t numb yourself into apathy.

I have to say that when I told him to get out, I thought I was expressing a pretty conventional opinion. It only dawned on me later just how out of tune I was with the times.

Not that it’s a bad thing to be unfashionable. In fact it’s more or less a duty, if your mind is alive.

People have told me since – and they were only half-joking – that Harriet Harman and I were probably the only two people at the University of York in the early 1970s who didn’t smoke dope.

I know directly of several outwardly respectable figures who take drugs and let their children do the same. » | Peter Hitchens | Sunday, December 01, 2013

Anjem Choudary: Muslim Vigilantes Who Terrorised Non-believers ‘Deserve Pat on Back’

Anjem Choudary

LONDON EVENING STANDARD: Hardline Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary today said two followers jailed for attacking non-Muslims “deserve a pat on the back”.

Convert Jordan Horner, 19, and Ricardo MacFarlane, 26, admitted being part of a “Muslim Patrol”, a group of vigilantes opposing Western culture on the streets of the East End.

They told one couple they could not hold hands because it was “a Muslim area” and said a young woman would face “hellfire” because of the way she dressed. Mr Choudary said the men regularly attended his lectures, adding: “Essentially, they didn’t do anything wrong. They didn’t harm anyone. What they did in essence, it’s commendable. They are trying to address issues like drug abuse and prostitution.” » | David Churchill | Monday, December 09, 2013

Lee Rigby Murder Trial: Accused 'Hopes to Be Accepted into Paradise as Martyr'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Michael Adebolajo tells the Old Bailey he "loves" al Qaeda and considers the terrorist group as "brothers"

The Islamist fanatic accused of murdering soldier Lee Rigby told a court he “loves” al Qaeda and considers the terror group "his brothers in Islam”.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, also told the Old Bailey jury that he was a “soldier of Allah” and that he had no regrets over the killing because he was obeying his god.

He said after the case he should be either “ransomed” back to his Mujahideen brothers, freed or killed.

At the start of his defence in chief, Adebolajo sat in the witness box of Court number 2, surrounded by five security guards and just feet from Fusilier Rigby’s family. » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Monday, December 09, 2013

'Schizophrenic' US Foreign Policy Pushing Arab States Toward Russia, Bahrain Warns

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Obama administration's stance on Iran and Syria could see US lose influence in the Middle East, Bahrain's rulers warn

America’s “schizophrenic” approach to the Middle East could result in many key Arab states deciding to align themselves more closely with Russia, the rulers of Bahrain warned on Sunday.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, warned that Barack Obama's administration would lose influence in the region if it persisted with what [is] a “transient and reactive” foreign policy.

There has been a sharp rise in tensions between Washington and several major Arab states in the wake of last month’s controversial interim agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme.

Citing President Obama’s handling of the recent crisis over Syria’s chemical weapons, which allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to seize the initiative, Sheikh Salman said some states were now seriously reviewing their relations with the US.

“The Russians have proved they are reliable friends,” said Sheikh Salman, referring to Mr Putin’s diplomatic intervention to prevent Western military action against Bashar al-Assad.

“As a result some states in the region have already started to look at developing more multilateral relations rather than just relying on Washington. America seems to suffer from schizophrenia when it deals with the Arab world.” » | Con Coughlin, Defence Editor, Bahrain | Sunday, December 08, 2013

Economist Williams: Obama Incompetent, 'Beyond Learning'

NEWSMAX: President Barack Obama will never able to learn from the late Nelson Mandela about how to properly govern a nation, says Walter E. Williams, a syndicated columnist and economist at George Mason University.

"He's beyond learning. He has another agenda and, firstly, I don't think Obama is his own man," Williams told "The Steve Malzberg Show" at Newsmax TV.


"He is a puppet of George Soros," he added, referring to the liberal billionaire businessman and philanthropist.

Williams believes Obama's presidency ultimately will be regarded along the lines of Jimmy Carter's "somewhat failed" administration.

He said it is unfortunate that America's first black president is "incompetent." » | Friday, December 06, 2013

Jail Extremism: Islamist Gangs Radicalize Inmates in UK Prisons

The UK government has announced new measures to crackdown on Islamist extremism, drawn up following the brutal murder of a British soldier by two Muslim converts in May. Part of the plan is to block extremist material on the web and ban those encouraging extremism from visiting mosques. However, as RT's Laura Smith reports, it's the jails where converts are becoming increasingly radicalized.

Muslim Vigilantes Jailed for 'Sharia Law' Attacks in London

Ricardo McFarlane

THE GUARDIAN: Three members of 'Muslim Patrol' terrorised couple for holding hands, abused woman over her clothing and attacked drinkers

Three members of a self-styled ”Muslim Patrol" vigilante group have been jailed for harassing, intimidating and assaulting people on the streets of east London while claiming they were enforcing sharia law.

A judge at the Old Bailey had heard that Jordan Horner, 19, Ricardo MacFarlane, 26, and a 23-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons, had terrorised a couple for walking through Bethnal Green holding hands, told a woman in Stepney that she would be punished in "hellfire" because of the way she was dressed, and attacked a group of men who were drinking in Shoreditch.

Horner – who has previously said he wants to bring sharia law to Britain – was jailed for a total of 17 months after pleading guilty to two charges of assault and two charges of using threatening words and behaviour.

MacFarlane was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to affray, while the 23-year-old received a six-month sentence after pleading guilty to affray.

Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Rebecca Poulet QC told them that while Islam was a peaceful religion, their conduct was "unfortunately anything but". » | Sam Jones and agency | Friday, December 06, 2013

Islamist Rebels Hold Nuns Hostage in Syria

Islamist fighters in Syria are believed to be holding a group of nuns hostage. Abducted from an Orthodox Monastery near Damascus they have reportedly been moved to the rebel-controlled town of Yabroud. The Pope has called for prayers for the kidnapped women, amid demands from clerics and religious organizations to release them. RT's Middle East correspondent Paula Slier is following the story.

Pinch of Poverty: Millions in EU Forced to Live Close to Breadline

Over 20 per cent of Europe's population is at risk of poverty. Bulgaria is one of the EU's most impoverished countries, with nearly half its population living close to the bread line. Romania is not far behind, where four out of ten find it hard to make ends meet. In bailed-out Greece, slightly over 30 per cent of the population struggle to meet financial demands. And, about the same percentage of people in Spain and Italy are under pressure from harsh austerity measures. RT's Egor Piskunov went to a food bank in Rome where essential provisions are handed out to the city's poorest.

President Barack Obama Defends US Deal with Iran to Israelis

Obama hosts a 'Hanukkah' reception in the White House

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Speaking to an audience of Israeli diplomats and senior members of the US Jewish community at a Hanukkah celebration, President Barack Obama pledges to keep working to deny Tehran of a nuclear weapons programme

President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his nuclear diplomacy with Iran before an audience of Israeli diplomats and senior members of the US Jewish community and officials.

At a White House Hanukkah reception, Obama said that it was important for the United States to test Iran's intentions, and pledged to keep working for a comprehensive deal to deprive Tehran of a nuclear weapon.

"For the first time in a decade we have halted progress of Iran's nuclear program," Obama said. » | AFP | Friday, December 06, 2013

Family Jihad: Father Takes Five Sons to Join Syrian Rebels

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A Moroccan father has taken all five of his children — the youngest of them aged 13 — to fight for an Islamist faction in Syria, according to reports.

Ahmed al-Sha’ara took his sons across Europe and through Turkey before joining up with forces challenging President Bashar al-Assad, the Egyptian al-Aram website has reported.

Among them was Osama, 13, who had earlier accompanied his father on demonstrations in Tangiers, northern Morocco, against the jailing of Salafists — radical Sunni Muslims.

If confirmed, the family’s journey would support claims that large family groups from across the Muslim world are travelling to Syria in greater numbers. » | Damien McElroy and Ruth Sherlock | Friday, December 06, 2013

Fighting the War on Christmas

Sarah Palin on defending Christmas in America in her new book

Kim Jong-un 'Preparing to Purge Aunt'

Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-il's younger sister

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Reports in South Korea suggest that Kim Kyong-hui could be the next victim of the North Korean leader's purge of the old guard

The ailing aunt of Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, may be the next senior member of the regime to fall victim to the blood letting that is gripping Pyongyang's "old guard".

Reports in South Korea suggest that Kim is lining up his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong to step into the supporting role that is presently played by Kim Kyong-hui, who is rumoured to be battling cancer, alcoholism and depression linked to the suicide of her daughter in Europe in 2006.

Kim Kyong-hui, 65, is the estranged wife of Jang Song-thaek, who was ousted from his post as the vice chairman of the powerful National Defence Commission earlier this month and has not been seen since.

Two colleagues who were reportedly found guilty of corruption and activities that ran counter to the policies of the Workers' Party of Korea were executed in public. » | Julian Ryall, Tokyo | Friday, December 06, 2013

Nelson Mandela Obituary Part One: One of the Most Inspiring Figures of the 20th Century

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Former President of South Africa, who guided the country from apartheid to democracy during a life filled with hardship and struggle


Nelson Mandela, who has died aged 95, was the architect of South Africa’s transformation from racial despotism to liberal democracy, saving his country from civil war and becoming its first black president.

This singular triumph crowned a tempestuous life, filled with hardship and struggle. Mandela spent 27 years behind bars, and more than a decade before that as a hardened enemy of the white supremacist regime, serving variously as street activist, guerrilla leader and township lawyer.

As such, he was the one man with the credibility to secure the political settlement that toppled apartheid and allowed the birth of a democratic South Africa in 1994. Not even the fiercest black radical could question Mandela’s devotion to the struggle and, by the same token, no white South African could doubt the sincerity of his remarkable gestures of reconciliation. » | Thursday, December 05, 2013

NELSON MANDELA OBITUARY PART 2: Stirring up trouble » | Thursday, December 05, 2013

White House Admits Barack Obama Met Uncle Living Illegally In US

Onyango "Omar" Obama, President Obama's Kenyan uncle

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Future president stayed with Onyango "Omar" Obama in Boston before starting at Harvard Law School

President Barack Obama briefly stayed with a Kenyan uncle living in the US illegally, the White House said today, contradicting previous claims the two men had never met.

A White House spokesman confirmed testimony given by Onyango "Omar" Obama, Mr Obama's uncle, during a deportation hearing in Boston this week, where he was given permission to stay in the US.

The older Mr Obama, 69, said that his nephew had lived with him briefly in the 1980s when the future president was about to enter Harvard Law School.

His testimony contradicted a White House statement given to the Boston Globe in 2011, when the President's aides said the pair had never met. » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | | Thursday, December 05, 2013

My comment:

There's a lot about this president which we do not yet know about. Obama is "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma..." – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

Lee Rigby Case: Muslim Fanatic Said He Killed Soldier In 'Most Humane Way He Could'

Drummer Lee Rigby

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Michael Adebolajo tells the court Mr Rigby died because he was simply the first soldier they spotted and it was as if “Allah had chosen him”

An Islamist fanatic admitted trying to decapitate Drummer Lee Rigby because “the most humane way to kill any creature is to cut the jugular”, a jury has heard.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, told police he was not sure “how I struck the first blow” but added “I struck at the neck and attempted to remove the head”.

He also revealed 25-year-old Mr Rigby died because he was simply the first soldier they spotted and it was as if “Allah had chosen him”.

The admissions came during a fourth interview with police ten days after Fusilier Rigby was allegedly run over with a car and then hacked to death close to his Woolwich barracks in south east London. » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Thursday, December 05, 2013

Lee Rigby Murder Suspect Michael Adebolajo Told Police, 'Tony Blair Wicked and Corrupt', Court Hears

Michael Adebolajo

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Old Bailey jury hears police interviews in which accused delivered political sermon and said it brought him “little joy to approach anybody and slay them"

The Islamist accused of hacking Lee Rigby to death told police it brought him “little joy to approach anybody and slay them”, a court heard on Wednesday.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, told officers that 25-year-old Fusilier Rigby was killed after being “struck in the neck” and “sawed” until his head “almost detached”.

In one police interview, he delivered a near-40-minute uninterrupted sermon and wore a blue blanket over his head throughout.

He said he was “ashamed to be British” and attacked senior politicians including David Cameron and Tony Blair as “wicked”. Three interviews, conducted 10 days after Fusilier Rigby’s death, were shown to the Old Bailey jury on the fourth day of the murder trial.

At times, Adebolajo clashed with officers trying to ask him questions, saying they could not interrupt him. » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Journalist Martin Bashir Resigns from MSNBC

Journalist Martin Bashir resigns from MSNBC after he made controversial remarks about politician Sarah Palin.

Red-herring 'Inquisition': Guardian Editor Defends Snowden Leaks to MPs

Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger strongly defended his newspaper's publication of the Snowden leaks in response to a hostile grilling by a UK parliamentary committee Tuesday, as MPs attempted to show that national security was breached.