By Day, at Heart of Counter-terror Policing. And by Night, Preacher of Extremism

Abdullah al Andalusi

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Government watchdog, which inspects police forces’ readiness for terrorism, employed preacher of extremism

The Government watchdog which inspects police forces’ readiness for terrorism admitted that it employed one of Britain’s most notorious Islamic extremists.

For almost two years Abdullah al Andalusi, led a double life, the Telegraph can reveal.

By night, he taught that the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) was “no different to Western armies,” said that “kaffirs,” non-Muslims, would be “punished in hell” and claimed that the British government wanted to destroy Islam.

By day, using a different name, he went to work for the same British government at the London offices of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the official regulator of all 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The disclosures will be intensely embarrassing [sic] to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, who has criticised parts of Britain’s Muslim communities for “quietly condoning” Islamist extremism.

HMIC’s staff, who number less than 150, are given privileged access to highly sensitive and classified police and intelligence information to carry out their inspections. » | Andrew Gilligan | Sunday, July 12, 2015

Greece Nears Euro Exit as Bailout Talks Break Up without Agreement

THE GUARDIAN: Last-ditch negotiations to resume on Sunday after eurozone’s fiscal hawks put up fierce resistance to Alexis Tsipras’s rescue plan

Greece’s final attempt to avoid being kicked out of the euro by securing a new three-year bailout worth up to €80bn ran into a wall of resistance from the eurozone’s fiscal hawks on Saturday.

Finland rejected any more funding for the country and Germany called for Greece to be turfed out of the currency bloc for at least five years.

The last-chance talks between the 19 eurozone finance ministers in Brussels ended at midnight, as they struggled to draft a policy paper for national leaders at yet another emergency summit on Sunday that was billed as the decisive meeting.

With Greece on the edge of financial and social implosion, eurozone finance ministers met to decide on the country’s fate and on what to do about its debt crisis, after experts from the troika of creditors said that new fiscal rigour proposals from Athens were good enough to form “the basis for negotiations”.

But the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, dismissed that view, supported by a number of northern and eastern European states. “These proposals cannot build the basis for a completely new, three-year [bailout] programme, as requested by Greece,” said a German finance ministry paper. It called for Greece to be expelled from the eurozone for a minimum of five years and demanded that the Greek government transfer €50bn of state assets to an outside agency for sell-off. » | Ian Traynor in Brussels | Saturday, July 11, 2015

24 Hours to Save the Euro: Germany Prepares for a 'Temporary' Greek Exit as Euro Project on the Brink of Collapse

THE TELEGRAPH: Berlin readies humanitarian aid for Greece proposing a five-year expulsion from the euro, after Athens is accused of destroying the trust of its partners

The German government has begun preparations for Greece to be ejected from the eurozone, as the European Union faces 24 hours to rescue the single currency project from the brink of collapse.

Nine hours of acrimonious talks on Saturday night, saw finance ministers fail break the deadlock with Greece over a new bail-out package, accusing Athens of destroying their trust. It leaves the future of the eurozone in tatters only 15 years after its inception.

In a weekend billed as Europe’s last chance to save the monetary union, ministers will now reconvene on Saturday [?] morning ahead of an EU leaders' summit later in the evening, to thrash out an agreement or decide to eject Greece from the eurozone.

Should no deal be forthcoming, the German government has made preparations to negotiate a temporary five-year euro exit, providing Greece with humanitarian aid while it makes the transition.

An incendiary plan drafted by Berlin's finance ministry, with the backing of Angela Merkel, laid out two stark options for Greece: either the government submits to drastic measures such as placing €50bn of its assets in a trust fund to pay off its debts, and have Brussels take over its public administration, or agree to a "time-out" solution where it would be expelled from the eurozone. » | Mehreen Khan | Saturday, July 11, 2015

Omar Sharif: A Muslim Actor in Hollywood

DAILY MAIL: The lonely Lothario »

Replace Queen with a Socialist, Say Scots

DAILY EXPRESS: MORE than 10,000 people have signed a petition to stop Scotland’s newest hospital being named after the Queen.

The £842million facility, formerly known as the South Glasgow University Hospital, was named after the 89-year-old monarch when she officially opened it with Prince Philip, 94, earlier this month.

Now campaigners are calling for the name to be reversed, claiming calling it the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital was “an affront to democracy”.

Instead, they suggest it could be named after Mary Barbour, a firebrand socialist active in the early 20th century and one of the city’s first woman councillors.

The criticism is in contrast to the cheering flag waving crowds that greeted the Queen and the Duke. About 300 guests also attended the official opening on July 3.

The online petition, launched by Glaswegian John Beattie, says: “We call on the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board to change the name of the new South Glasgow hospital.

“Considering the fundamental principle of monarchy is superiority of the monarch and their family over everyone else in society, we feel the naming of a public building after such a person is unacceptable.”

The petition had last night attracted 10,364 signatures, with some calling for the hospital to be named after Mary Barbour who organised a rent strike in 1915.

Mr Beattie, a bioethics student at the University of West Scotland, said: “We are a modern dynamic city, why should we be naming this public building after monarchy when there are more worthy people? Read on and comment » | Camilla Tominey | Saturday, July 11, 2015

Earth Heading for 'Mini Ice Age' within 15 Years

THE TELEGRAPH: River Thames could freeze over in 2030s when Northern Hemisphere faces bitterly cold winters, scientists say

The earth is 15 years from a "mini ice-age" that will cause bitterly cold winters during which rivers such as the Thames freeze over, scientists have predicted.

Solar researchers at the University of Northumbria have created a new model of the sun's activity which they claim produces "unprecedentedly accurate predictions".

They said fluid movements within the sun, which are thought to create 11-year cycles in the weather, will converge in such a way that temperatures will fall dramatically in the 2030s.

Solar activity will fall by 60 per cent as two waves of fluid "effectively cancel each other out", according to Prof Valentina Zharkova.

In a presentation to the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno, she said the result would be similar to freezing conditions of the late 17th century. Read on and comment » | Dan Hyde | Saturday, July 11, 2015

Islamic State 'Behind Blast' at Italian Consulate in Cairo

The consulate was closed at the time of the attack

BBC AMERICA: Islamic State militants have said they were behind a deadly explosion that severely damaged the Italian consulate in Egypt's capital, Cairo.

At least one person died and several people were injured when a car bomb went off at the building.

A tweet from a Twitter account linked to IS said Muslims should stay away from sites like the consulate, as they are "legitimate targets" for strikes.

Policemen and civilians were among the injured, the health ministry said.

The main entrance of the building was almost totally destroyed, windows were shattered and the building was flooded after water-pipes ruptured.

"Italy will not let itself be intimidated," the country's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni said in a tweet, adding that there had been no Italian casualties.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after the attack and promised the two countries would stand together "in the fight against terrorism and fanaticism". (+ BBC video) » | Saturday, June 11, 2015

Doctor Zhivago: Lara’s Theme

Prince Philip Swears at Photographer: 'Just Take the F------g Picture!'

THE TELEGRAPH: Prince Philip loses his patience with a photographer as he poses with veterans during a Battle of Britain anniversary reception

Prince Philip's outburst came as he was joined by Prince Edward and Prince William at a reception with Battle of Britain veterans on Friday.

Clearly frustrated while waiting for a photograph to be taken, he was caught on camera ordering the photographer to "just take the f-----g picture!"

The reception marked the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain. (+ video) » Telegraph video | Friday, July 10, 2015

Unbridled Capitalism Is the 'Dung of the Devil', Says Pope Francis

Pope Francis makes his speech in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where
he called for the poor to have the "sacred rights" of labor,
lodging and land. 

THE GUARDIAN: The pontiff condemns the impoverishment of developing countries by the world economic order and apologised for the church’s treatment of native Americans

Pope Francis has urged the downtrodden to change the world economic order, denouncing a “new colonialism” by agencies that impose austerity programs and calling for the poor to have the “sacred rights” of labor, lodging and land.

In one of the longest, most passionate and sweeping speeches of his pontificate, the Argentine-born pope used his visit to Bolivia to ask forgiveness for the sins committed by the Roman Catholic church in its treatment of native Americans during what he called the “so-called conquest of America”.

The pontiff also demanded an immediate end to what he called the “genocide” of Christians taking place in the Middle East and beyond, describing it as a third world war. » | Reuters | Thursday, July 9, 2015

Russland und Iran vereinbaren Atom-Kooperation

DIE PRESSE: Putin hofft auf einen baldigen Kompromiss bei den Wiener Atomgesprächen. Russland wird künftig auch militärisch enger mit dem Iran zusammenarbeiten.

Der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin und sein iranischer Amtskollege Hassan Rohani haben eine engere Zusammenarbeit im Militärbereich vereinbart. So sollen Kriegsschiffe öfter Häfen des jeweils anderen Landes anlaufen, sagte Kremlsprecher Dmitri Peskow am Donnerstag in Ufa. » | APA | Donnerstag, 9. Juli 2015

Former Saudi Foreign Minister Dies

Prince Saud al-Faisal

THE TELEGRAPH: Tributes paid to Prince Saud al-Faisal, once the world's longest-serving, foreign minister

Saudi Arabia's Prince Saud al-Faisal, formerly the world's longest-serving foreign minister who oversaw four decades of turbulent diplomacy for the oil-rich kingdom, died on Thursday.

A statement from the Royal Court said Prince Saud, who was born in 1940, died in the United States.

It did not give the cause of death but said funeral prayers would be held on Saturday night in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Prince Saud was one of the highest profile members of the kingdom's ruling elite before stepping down in April for health reasons.

The prince often swapped his traditional Saudi thobe and checkered shemagh headdress for elegant suits when on missions in Western capitals.

He oversaw Saudi Arabia's emergence as a major diplomatic player, facing successive regional crises and maintaining a focus on relations with the West.

"He was a symbol of honesty and hard work," the Royal Court said.

Relatives earlier announced Saud's death on social media. » | AFP | Friday, July 10, 2015

THE GUARDIAN: Former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies: Prince had overseen nation’s emergence as a major diplomatic player, facing successive regional crises and maintaining a focus on relations with the west » | Agence France-Presse in Riyadh | Thursday, July 9, 2015

Le prince saoudien Fayçal est mort »

Le prince saoudien Fayçal est mort

L’EXPRESS: Pendant 40 ans, il a dirigé la diplomatie de l'Arabie Saoudite. Il avait été relevé de ses fonctions en avril.

Le prince Saoud al-Fayçal, qui fut le chef de la diplomatie de l'Arabie saoudite pendant 40 ans avant d'être relevé de ses fonctions en avril, est décédé, ont annoncé jeudi sa famille et une source officielle. Selon des sources saoudiennes concordantes non confirmées dans l'immédiat par les autorités, il est décédé jeudi à l'étranger à la suite d'un malaise cardiaque.

Né en 1940, le prince Fayçal souffrait de divers problèmes de santé. Il éprouvait notamment des difficultés à marcher après avoir subi une opération du dos aux Etats-Unis. "Que Dieu l'accepte au Paradis", a écrit son neveu Saoud Mohammed Al-Abdallah al-Fayçal sur Twitter.

Lorsqu'il a été démis en avril dernier, il était le chef de la diplomatie en poste le plus ancien au monde. Il a occupé cette fonction imminente, homme-clé des relations internationales au Moyen-Orient, sous le règne de quatre rois saoudiens différents. (+ video ) » | Par LEXPRESS.fr avec AFP | jeudi 9 juillet 2015

Britons Told to Leave Tunisia amid Fears of a Fresh Terror Attack

THE TELEGRAPH: Foreign Office has changed its travel advice for Tunisia warning against all but essential travel amid fears gunman Selfeddine Rezgui's cell could be ready to strike again

Britons have been told to leave Tunisia as soon as possible amid fears it is “highly likely” they will be targeted in a fresh terror attack.

The Foreign Office changed its travel advice for the country warning against all but essential travel.

Holiday operators were urgently arranging additional flights to bring Britons currently travelling in the country home, the FCO said.

There are up to 3,000 Britons currently in Tunisia, it is understood, and they have been told to contact their tour operator or airline to plan their return. (+ videos) » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor, video source UK POOL | Thursday, July 9, 2015

Comment Daesh crée son empire mondial

LE POINT: De l'Algérie à l'Indonésie, une vingtaine d'organisations ont fait allégeance au "califat" de l'organisation État islamique.

Un an à peine après la proclamation de son « califat » à cheval sur la Syrie et l’Irak , l’organisation État islamique (EI) multiplie les attaques à l'extérieur de ses « frontières ». Paris, Sousse, Copenhague ou encore Garland (Texas), le groupe djihadiste autoproclamé « État » cible les étrangers « infidèles » en réponse aux bombardements de la coalition internationale contre ses positions depuis septembre 2014. Cette force de frappe djihadiste s'explique tout d'abord par la multitude de « loups solitaires » présents en Occident. Par Skype, ces djihadistes, n'ayant parfois aucun lien avec l'EI ou n'ayant jamais combattu au Moyen-Orient, peuvent faire allégeance à distance avant de commettre leur attaque, revendiquée a posteriori par l'organisation. » | Par Paul Verdeau | lundi 6 juillet 2015

Behind The Scenes Of Syriza's Election Victory

Greece: The End of Austerity - As the Greek crisis threatens to sink the euro, this report looks at the promises that brough Syriza into power.

Greek No Vote: 'The Fightback for a Europe of Dignity Starts Here'

As Syriza supporters flock to Athens' Syntagma square to celebrate, Phoebe Greenwood talks to those who are celebrating a historic referendum outcome. 'They thought they could intimidate us,' one man says. Despite jitters on the financial markets, others happy with the historic oxi (no) vote say they hope it will be the moment that Greeks can come together

Islamic State Jihadists Execute Dozens amid Palmyra Ruins

25 Syrian government soldiers kneel in the ancient amphitheatre
in the city of Palmyra ahead of being executed by children

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A new Isil video shows teenage executioners using the Unesco heritage site as a theatre for death

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) have released a video purportedly showing the execution of dozens of Syrian government soldiers in the ancient ruins of Palmyra.

The footage shows 25 men kneeling on the stage of the site's historic Roman theatre, their hands tied behind their backs.

With ritualistic precision, the same numbers of executioners then step out in unison, each taking up position behind one of the condemned. A large black Isil flag is draped over the columns behind them.

Wearing matching long brown robes and brown bandannas the executioners appear to be boys or young teenagers – few look old enough to grow a beard.

Footage filmed from cameras trained on the soldiers' faces show that the men have been beaten.

Then the child jihadists transform the world-class tourist attraction into a killing ground.

Simultaneously raising their pistols, they spray bullets into the heads and backs of the men, leaving them lifeless and bloody on the ground.

An apparently unhappy crowd of onlookers, mostly dressed in civilian clothes, are gathered on the seats of the stadium watching the grisly show. » | Ruth Sherlock, Beirut | Sunday, July 5, 2015

China's Sexual Revolution - Documentary

Greek Economy Close to Collapse as Food and Medicine Run Short

Supporters of the yes campaign attend a rally in Athens on Friday.

THE GUARDIAN: Alexis Tsipras urges people to vote no in Sunday’s referendum as capital controls bite and vital tourism industry sees tens of thousands cancel holidays in Greece

Greece’s economy is on the brink of collapse after the capital controls imposed ahead of Sunday’s referendum left the country with shortages of food and drugs, the tourist industry facing a wave of cancellations and banks with barely enough money to survive the weekend.

Banks said they had a €1bn cash buffer to see them through the weekend – equal to just €90 (£64) a head for the 11 million-strong population – and would require immediate help from the European Central Bank on Monday whatever the result of the referendum, in which the two sides are running neck and neck.

Alexis Tsipras, Greece’s prime minister, was fighting for his political life on Friday night, using a rally to say that a no vote would enable him to negotiate a reform-for-debt-relief deal with the country’s creditors.

The survival of the Syriza coalition, formed just over five months ago to repudiate five years of austerity programmes, was in doubt as Greece started to suffer shortages of basic provisions, including the sale of vital drugs in pharmacies nationwide.

Food staples, such as sugar and flour, were also fast running out on Friday as consumers started to feel the effect of the restrictions. » | Helena Smith in Athens and Larry Elliott in London | Friday, July 3, 2015