Model of Moroccan Origin Hopes to Become First Muslim Miss Italy

Miss El Brinis is an admirer of Sofia Loren
and said she loved cooking Italian food

THE TELEGRAPH: Ahlam El Brinis, 20, defies critics who say she is insulting Islam by taking part in the pageant

A model of Moroccan origin who hopes to become the first Muslim Miss Italy has vowed to defy critics who accuse her of insulting Islam by taking part in the beauty pageant.

Ahlam El Brinis, 20, who was born in the northern Veneto region to Moroccan parents, has received threats and insults on social media for her decision to participate in the contest next month.

She has been criticised for posing in bikinis, lacy underwear and revealing clothes, with some Muslims accusing her of bringing Islam into disrepute.

But she has labelled her critics “ridiculous people with too much time on their hands” and said she has drawn strength from the support of her grandmother back in Morocco, who told her “religion is in the heart, not in the choice of clothes you wear”.

“There have been insults but there have been far more messages of encouragement, both from friends and people I have never met,” the model told La Repubblica newspaper. “Religion should have nothing to do with a beauty contest.” » | Nick Squires, Rome | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Isis in Palmyra: Militants Release First Images Showing Destruction of Baalshamin Temple

THE INDEPENDENT: Unseco has described the attack on Syria's cultural history, reported by activists on Sunday, as a 'war crime', while the British Museum is 'deeply distressed'

The Isis militant group has released a series of images purporting to show the destruction of the ancient Baalshamin Temple in Palmyra.

Images posted online and shared by Isis-affiliated social media accounts showed fighters, whose faces were cropped out of the photographs, lining the 2,000-year-old monument with explosives.

Explosives can be seen wired together both inside and outside the structure of the building, which experts said was one of the best-preserved and most completely intact examples of Greco-Roman architecture at the ancient site. » | Adam Withnall | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Die Öl-Party ist vorbei

TAGES ANZEIGER: Wie die Börse kennt auch der Ölpreis derzeit nur eine Richtung – abwärts. Das hat gravierende Folgen für die grossen Förderländer. Die interaktive Übersicht.

Die psychologisch wichtige Marke ist geknackt. Weniger als 40 Dollar kostete am Montagmorgen ein Fass der US-Sorte West Texas Intermediate. Die Nordsee-Sorte Brent lag deutlich unter 45 Dollar. Was im letzten Sommer seinen Anfang nahm – als der Ölpreis noch bei deutlich über 100 Dollar lag – , hat sich inzwischen zu einem Preissturz historischen Ausmasses entwickelt. Und die Analysten rechnen nicht mit einer schnellen Erholung. Im Gegenteil: Auch Preise um 30 Dollar pro Fass werden als realistisch angesehen.

Fareed Zakaria, Kommentator für Aussenpolitik der «Washington Post», vergleicht die aktuelle Situation mit den 80er-Jahren. Als der Ölpreis letztmals in einem vergleichbaren Ausmass fiel, sei die Sowjetunion kollabiert. » | Von Luca De Carli, Redaktor, Ausland | Von Marc Fehr, Multimedia Storyteller | Dienstag, 25. August 2015

North Wales Fire Service Employee Quits amid Investigation into Alleged Posts on Far-right Website

DAILY POST: The clerical worker was being probed over allegations they uploaded material onto a Norway-based site

A North Wales fire service employee has quit amid an investigation into alleged anti-Islamic posts made on a far-right website during work time.

The clerical worker, who was based in Colwyn Bay, was being probed over allegations they uploaded material onto a Norway-based website which is described by its critics as “one of the main forums for Islamaphobic debate”.

Articles understood to have been written by the fire service worker included one which suggested that “jihadists” were being recruited by councils in Northern Europe, and the website was allegedly used by them to publicise demonstrations by the far-right English Defence League (EDL).

A raft of other articles apparently written by the worker highlight mainstream UK media stories about offences committed by Muslims.

Other articles focused on crimes committed by immigrants. » | Jez Hemming | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Saudi Arabia Executes 175 People in A YEAR - So Why Does Britain Still Call Them an ALLY?

Prince Charles greets King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud

EXPRESS: SAUDI ARABIA executes one person every TWO DAYS, according to a shocking new report - which casts new scrutiny on Britain's close ties to the Middle East kingdom.

In the last 12 months 175 people were beheaded or shot for crimes including drugs confessions claimed to have been extracted through torture, said the report released by human rights charity Amnesty International.

The 43-page report titled "Killing In the Name of Justice: The Death Penalty in Saudi Arabia" revealed that between January 1985 and June 2015, at least 2,208 people were executed in the oil-rich kingdom.

The oppressive state have killed 109 people since January, compared to 83 in all of 2014.

The Saudi kingdom follows an ultra-strict interpretation of Sharia law and applies the death penalty to a number of crimes including murder, rape and drug smuggling.

Although not as common, Saudi courts also allow for people to be executed for adultery, apostasy and witchcraft.

People can also be executed for crimes committed when they were below 18 years of age. » | Rebecca Perring | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Boko Haram Sends Terrorists to Help ISIS Take Libya as Map Shows Horrifying Plan for World

One ISIS supporter posted this map on Twitter, boasting the
group will conquer Rome

EXPRESS: TERRORIST group Boko Haram has sent hundreds of fighters to Libya to help Islamic State (ISIS) conquer the wartorn country…and their next stop could be EUROPE.

The Nigerian-based fanatics have dispatched up to 200 heavily armed troops to bolster ISIS forces in north Africa in a terrifying sign of the growing alliance between the two feared groups.

ISIS is fighting to take control of Libya - which has been engulfed by a chaotic civil war since the fall of Colonel Gadaffi - because it believes that it is a launchpad to Europe.

Boosted by the deployment, gleeful ISIS fighters boasted online of how they will use their stronghold in the north African nation to invade Italy and other parts of southern Europe.

The terrorists have described Libya as the "gateway to Rome" and it is thought they are planning to stow away fighters on smugglers' boats full of migrants destined for Italy.

ISIS supporters posted a series of mocked up messages online showing the eternal city in flames and the black flag of their hate group flying above the Vatican.

One even posted a map showing the area the terror group was targeting, writing in French that its fighters will conquer Iran, Burma, Rome and even America. » | Nick Gutteridge | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Islamic State Has Killed At Least 30 People for Sodomy, UN Told

THE GUARDIAN: US ambassador tells security council meeting it is ‘about time’ the issue of violence and discrimination towards LGBT people is highlighted

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing at least 30 people for sodomy, the head of an international gay rights organisation has told the first UN security council meeting in New York to focus on violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“It’s about time, 70 years after the creation of the UN, that the fate of LGBT persons who fear for their lives around the world is taking centre stage,” said the US ambassador, Samantha Power, who organised the meeting with Chile’s UN envoy. “This represents a small but historic step.”

Diplomats said two of the 15 council members, Chad and Angola, had not attended the informal closed meeting. » | Associated Press in New York | Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Irshad Manji Head to Head with Mehdi Hassan

Trash Crisis in Beirut, Clashes with Police, Calls for Government to Go

Another day of violent street clashes in Lebanon has gripped the capital, amid the ongoing waste collection crisis. Thousands poured into the streets of Beirut, rallying against government corruption. Police again battled masked youths, who set tires ablaze, as the night descended into chaos.

Opinion: America And Europe Desperately Need History Lesson On Radical Islam

THE DAILY CALLER: Hundreds of potential victims owe their lives to three Americans and a fellow British passenger who risked theirs to save them on an Amsterdam to Paris train last week.

The heroes, including two U.S. servicemen on leave, contrast sharply with the unarmed crew who barricaded themselves inside locked cabins. And even more so with politically correct leaders on both sides of the Atlantic who continually fail to show leadership in confronting radical Islam.

Even though the gunman, Moroccan 25-year old Ayoub el-Khazzani, was known to Spanish, German and French authorities for ties to “radical Islamist movements” and was armed with an AK-47, 300 rounds of ammo, a pistol and box cutter, the French government’s reaction was typical: “It is too early to speak of a terrorist link.”

Really?

America and Europe desperately need a history lesson about radical Islam. And our leaders must be held accountable if they will not face the facts.

President Obama claims that jihadists like the self-labeled “Islamic State” are not really Islamic. If so, why are Guantanamo detainees served 4 halal meals a day, issued Korans and prayer rugs, and have arrows pointing to Mecca painted throughout the camps? Either somebody is lying or the Gitmo guards have a truly bizarre sense of humor. » | J. D. Gordon | Executive Director. Protect America Today | Monday, August 24, 2015

Les 4 «héros du Thalys» ont été décorés de la Légion d'honneur

Trois Américains et un Britannique ont été décorés de la plus prestigieuse distinction française pour avoir fait preuve de courage dans le Thalys Amsterdam-Paris et évité ce qui aurait pu devenir un drame.

Lass mich dich küssen, Held!

TAGES ANZEIGER: Frankreichs Präsident François Hollande hat drei US-Bürger und einen Briten für ihr Eingreifen bei der Thalys-Attacke zu Rittern der französischen Ehrenlegion ernannt.

Mit ihrem Mut hätten die drei US-Amerikaner und der Brite es ermöglicht, Leben zu retten, sagte Frankreichs Präsident François Hollande heute Morgen zu den «Thalys-Helden». Den höchsten französischen Orden überreichte er den US-Soldaten Alek Skarlatos und Spencer Stone, dem amerikanischen Studenten Anthony Sadler sowie dem Briten Chris Norman im Elysée-Palast in Paris. Die Männer hatten am Freitagabend einen schwer bewaffneten Marokkaner in dem Hochgeschwindigkeitszug Amsterdam–Paris niedergerungen. Stone und ein Passagier wurden schwer verletzt.

Der verletzte Passagier soll zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt in die französische Ehrenlegion aufgenommen werden, ebenso wie ein 28-jähriger Franzose, der sich als Erster dem Angreifer entgegenstellte und der anonym bleiben will.

«Die Franzosen bewundern Ihren Mut, die Kaltblütigkeit, die Sie unter Beweis gestellt haben, die Solidarität, die Ihnen erlaubt hat, mit blossen Händen – ich betone: mit blossen Händen – einen Schwerbewaffneten zu überwältigen, der zu allem bereit war», sagte Hollande. «Ihr Heldenmut sollte ein Vorbild für viele sein.» » | Montag, 24. August 2015

Carly Fiorina Talks Terrorism, Hillary and Creating Jobs

Aug. 24, 2015 - 4:24 - Republican presidential candidate on 'Fox & Friends'

(Keine) Reaktionen auf rechte Gewalt: Frau Merkel, was sagen Sie zu Heidenau? - "..."

STERN: Die Krawalle im sächsischen Heidenau schockieren ganz Deutschland - und immer mehr Menschen wundern sich, warum die Bundesregierung keine klare Stellung bezieht. Im Netz regt sich Protest gegen diese Haltung.

Die gewalttätigen Ausschreitungen in der Nähe einer Asylunterkunft im sächsischen Heidenau sorgen für jede Menge Aufregung. Zwar blieb es rund um Heidenau in der vergangenen Nacht ruhig - doch, und das ist das Aufregerthema, so ruhig wie zur Stunde in Heidenau bleibt es auch rund um Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel: Von ihr gibt es kein Statement zu den Vorkommnissen, sie zeigt keine klare Kante gegen rechte Randalierer.

Stattdessen reagieren von Berlin bis Heidenau hohle Phrasen mit peinlicher politischer Korrektheit - ob von sich windenden Provinzpolitikern oder vom Regierungssprecher: Die halbherzige Haltung sorgt zunehmend für Unmut in den Medien. Hier eine Auswahl an Reaktionen und Kommentaren in den Sozialen Netzwerken. » | Tim Sohr | Montag, 24. August 2015

Fremdenhass in Heidenau: Polizei errichtet Sicherheitszone um Asylunterkunft

Nach den Krawallen im sächsischen Heidenau hat die Polizei eine Sicherheitszone vor der Flüchtlingsunterkunft errichtet. Zwei Nächte in Folge war es dort zu ausländerfeindlichen Protesten gekommen. Rechte Demonstranten warfen Bierflaschen und Böller auf Polizisten. Seit Freitag wurden über 30 Polizisten verletzt, davon einer schwer. Ziel der Ausschreitungen ist es, die Ankunft von Flüchtlingen in einem Notquartier zu verhindern.

Krawallnächte in Heidenau

Rund um eine neue Asylunterkunft in Heidenau kam es an zwei Tagen hintereinander zu nächtlichen Krawallen Rechtsradikaler und zu Attacken auf Polizisten. Auch ein Zusammenstoß Linker und Rechter sorgte für Unruhen. Ein klares Konzept, wie das Gewaltproblem zu lösen ist, gibt es offenbar nicht.

Libanon, Beirut: Demonstration wegen Abfallbergen

Isis 'Blows Up Temple Dating Back to 17AD' in Syrian City of Palmyra

Temple of Baal Shamin, which has been apparently
blown up by Isis.

THE GUARDIAN: Official says group destroyed Baal Shamin in city described as being of outstanding universal value and first appearing in 19th century BC

Islamic State blew up the ancient temple of Baal Shamin in the Unesco-listed Syrian city of Palmyra, the country’s antiquities chief has said.

“Daesh placed a large quantity of explosives in the temple of Baal Shamin ... and then blew it up causing much damage to the temple,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, using another name for Isis.

Isis, which controls swaths of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, captured Palmyra on 21 May, sparking international concern about the fate of the heritage site described by Unesco as of outstanding universal value. “The [inner area of the temple] was destroyed and the columns around collapsed,” said Abdulkarim.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors the country’s civil war, confirmed the destruction of the temple. » | Agence France Presse in Damascus | Sunday, August 23, 2015

'EU Should Settle Refugees in Countries Like Germany and Britain'

Macedonian police have used tear gas and stun grenades against large crowds of migrants trying to enter the country from Greece. Refugees were injured in clashes, including children. Political analyst Chris Bambery believes the richest states of Europe should support the migrants.

‘Foreigners Out!’ Anti-refugee Protest Turns Violent in Heidanau, Germany

Around 600 far-right demonstrators and police clashed at an opening of a new refugee center in eastern Germany, with over 30 officers being treated for injuries afterwards. Asylum applications in the country have quadrupled in the space of a year.