Sunday, February 23, 2014
Fireworks Farewell: Sochi Closing Ceremony Ends in Spectacular Show
Desmond Tutu Condemns Uganda's Proposed New Anti-gay Law
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| In condemning Uganda's proposed new law, Desmond Tutu again equated discrimination against gay people with the horrors of Nazi Germany and apartheid-era South Africa. |
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has condemned Uganda's proposed law against homosexuality, saying there is no scientific or moral basis ever for prejudice and discrimination – and accusing the Ugandan president of breaking a promise not to enact the law. The new law would extend the prohibitions and penalties in a country where homosexuality is already a crime, to include acts such as "suggestive touching" in public.
President Yoweri Museveni had first said that he would not sign the legislation, then that he would do so after seeking scientific advice, and at the weekend that he would delay it pending more advice.
The proposed law has drawn harsh criticism from US president Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton. The US warned that such a move could "complicate" approximately £240m in annual aid to Uganda. In a statement Tutu said: "When President Museveni and I spoke last month, he gave his word that he would not let the anti-homosexuality bill become law in Uganda. I was therefore very disheartened to hear last week that President Museveni was reconsidering his position."
Tutu equated discrimination against gay people with the horrors of Nazi Germany and apartheid-era South Africa. » | Maev Kennedy | Sunday, February 23, 2014
Moi, Ibrahim O., globe-trotter du djihad
"Donnez-moi dix ans, je les prendrai avec un grand sourire. La prison, c'est les vacances pour moi." Derrière la vitre blindée du box du tribunal où il est jugé pour "association de malfaiteurs en vue de la préparation d'actes de terrorisme", Ibrahim O. affiche une parfaite sérénité. Une insolente décontraction. "Je ne suis venu que pour faire plaisir à mon avocat", s'amuse le jeune Franco-Malien de 26 ans au faux air de Sammy Davis Jr, fine moustache et regard malicieux.
En ce début février, pendant les dix jours de son procès, Ibrahim O., sourire aux lèvres, avoue tout. Et plus, s'il le pouvait. Oui, il suit "les lois d'Allah, pas celles de la République". Oui, il est bien ce "globe-trotter du djihad" décrit dans le dossier d'instruction, toujours prêt à partir en terre d'islam et, s'il le faut, à combattre la France, "cette terre de mécréance". Oui, il a longtemps tenté de recruter d'autres "frères" pour combattre les infidèles. » | Par Le Nouvel Observateur | dimanche 23 février 2014
Scientology Couple Who Won Supreme Court Challenge Get Married in London
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| Louisa Hodkin and Alessandro Calcioli got married at the Scientology chapel in London |
Louisa Hodkin started the legal action after officials refused to register the Church of Scientology chapel as a place for marriage for her and fiance Alessandro Calcioli.
In December, five Supreme Court judges ruled the church was a "place of meeting for religious worship".
After the wedding, Mr Calcioli said he was "ecstatic" about the occasion.
He added he was "a little bit speechless but just so, so happy that this day has finally come". » | Sunday, February 23, 2014
Hague: "There Are Still Many Dangers" Facing Ukraine
Speaking on the programme, Mr Hague said it was urgent that the Ukrainian government agree a constitution and improve their economic situation.
The foreign secretary said he was in constant discussion with Russia and warned Russia not to do "anything to undermine" the Ukrainian economic programme. » | Sunday, February 23, 2014
Pope Francis Urges New Cardinals to Avoid Vatican Intrigue and Gossip
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| Pope Francis holds the book of the gospels aloft. |
Pope Francis has instructed his new "princes of the church" - among them Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster - to avoid "intrigue, gossip, cliques, favouritism and partiality" as they don the Roman Catholic church's prized red biretta.
Speaking in St Peter's basilica a day after he created 19 new cardinals, the Argentinean pontiff strictly exhorted the men to reject the habits of a royal court that have in recent years come to be associated with parts of the Roman curia, or Vatican bureaucracy.
Looking up from his notes to address the massed ranks of cardinals, he told them: "A cardinal – I say this especially to you – enters the church of Rome, my brothers, not a [royal] court. May all of us avoid, and help others to avoid, habits and ways of acting typical of a court: intrigue, gossip, cliques, favouritism and partiality." » | Lizzy Davies in Rome | Sunday, February 23, 2014
Daily Mail Hateful Article Angers UK Muslims
“We write to express our condemnation of a recent article published by Richard Littlejohn in your newspaper. Entitled “Jolly Jihadi’s Outing to Legoland”, Mr Littlejohn deploys the most hateful stereotypes of Muslims to attack an individual,” the letter, signed by some 25 Islamic and interfaith organizations and published by Muslim Council of Britain website, reads.
“Our condemnation is not about the attacks on Mr Haitham al-Haddad: he is perfectly capable of responding to the accusations put to him if minded to do so.
“Many of us may well disagree with the views attributed to him. Rather, we are speaking out at the insidious and hateful tropes Mr Littlejohn uses for his argument,” it added.
Muslims’ anger followed the publication of an article by columnist Richard Littlejohn.
The column, headlined Jolly jihadi boys' outing to Legoland, "deployed hateful Muslim stereotypes" and "used slurs commonly found in racist and far-right websites."
Entitled “Jolly Jihadi’s Outing to Legoland”, the article satirizes a community event that is to be held at the theme park, organized through a private group booking. » | OnIslam Staff | Sunday, February 23, 2014
ON ISLAM: Far-Rightists Threaten UK Muslims Fun Day » | OnIslam & Newspapers | Sunday, February 16, 2014
Electric Chair Haunts US Former Executions Chief
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| Dr. Allen Ault tells HARDtalk why he is still haunted by the executions |
His account of supervising executions in the US state of Georgia was one of the most painful, searingly honest and courageous testimonies I have ever heard.
Dr Ault is a soft-spoken Midwesterner with steel-grey hair and a steady gaze.
As he spoke about his years as corrections commissioner for the US state of Georgia, he appeared to forget the artifice of the TV studio and relive his experiences in the execution chamber.
"I still have nightmares," he told me.
"It's the most premeditated form of murder you can possibly imagine and it stays in your psyche for ever." » | Stephen Sackur | HARDtalk | Sunday, February 23, 2014
Homophobie in Afrika
Doctor Dilemma: Physicians Switching to Higher-paying Jobs
Women of Iran Defy Mullahs by Embracing Western Fashions
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| Women who flaunt fashion run the risk of being publicly reprimanded by the so-called "morality police." |
It’s a vibrant and growing fashion scene, one that enables Iranians to defy the strict religious leaders who have ruled the nation with an iron fist since the 1979 revolution.
Many young Iranians have become emboldened in how they walk the streets, showing an affinity for Western clothing, jewelry, makeup and hairstyles. But it is more than just a fashion statement, say Iranians. It's a political statement.
“Violating the dress code is another way young Iranians can express political dissent,” said journalist and political activist Mansoureh Nasserchian.
Since the 2009 uprisings, when Iranians flooded the streets of Iran protesting the corruption of their government in the aftermath of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s contested re-election, the world was introduced to a new brand of Iranians influenced by social media and Western styles and ideologies, according to Nasserchian, who fled the country for Canada shortly after the uprisings.
“When the young people filled the streets, not caring how they dressed or if they had hair covering, things really changed in Iran,” Nasserchian said. “Social media gave the courage to the new generation to break taboos and be open about political and social issues.” » | Lisa Daftari | Fox News contributor specializing in Middle Eastern affairs | Sunday, February 23, 2014
HSBC to Announce Bonuses Totalling £2.4 Billion
Europe's biggest bank is expected on Monday to announce the size of its bonus pool, a sensitive issue as many Britons still blame banks for the 2008 financial crisis after which the state was forced to bail out RBS and Lloyds.
Earlier this month Barclays prompted an angry reaction from politicians and labour unions after it increased its bonuses by 13 per cent to £2.4 billion even as it announced plans to axe 12,000 jobs. » | Agency | Saturday, February 22, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Umfrage: Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland?
Sensation! Pope Tawadros and Saudi Ambassador Agree to Open Saudi Arabia’s First Church
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| Pope Tawadros II |
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