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Gaza ceasefire in jeopardy as six Palestinians are shot

published by You on 27 December, 2009 - 20:09

Eruption of violence comes as Israelis who opposed the war a year ago say they are being silenced and vilified

sraeli troops yesterday shot dead six Palestinians in two separate incidents, as evidence emerged that an increasingly fragile ceasefire between armed groups loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement and Israel appeared to be in danger of breaking down.

The shootings, the most serious violence in months, came a day before today's first anniversary of the outbreak of Israel's war against Gaza in which almost 1,400 Palestinians died – and as allegations have emerged from Israeli human rights campaigners who opposed the war that they are facing concerted attempts to silence them.

Heavy snow is predicted for Wales

published by You on 27 December, 2009 - 19:59

A warning has been issued that heavy snow is heading for much of Wales as soon as Tuesday.

Forecasters predict that up to 30cm, or a foot, of snow could fall by lunchtime on that day across higher ground in mid and south Wales.

There are also warnings that strong winds could cause it to drift.

Paul Knightley, of MeteoGroup, the Press Association's weather arm, said it was "probably the biggest fall of this cold spell, in Wales".

He said a system moving in from the Atlantic on Monday evening would meet colder air, forming snow.

"Across higher ground in central and south Wales, we can expect to see heavy snow - 20cm to 30cm, or up to a foot, by Tuesday lunchtime, with strong winds pushing it higher in drifts," said Mr Knightley.

Turkish soldiers held in 'deputy PM assassination plot'

published by You on 27 December, 2009 - 18:59

Eight Turkish soldiers have been detained over an alleged plot to assassinate Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, the army has said.

It said the soldiers were taken to the army headquarters in Ankara after being interrogated by a prosecutor on Friday.

...

The detentions come amid renewed speculation that there is mounting tension between the governing AK Party, which has its roots in political Islam, and the powerful armed forces.

The Turkish army sees itself as the guardian of the country's secularism.

Read more @ BBC News

Prophet Muhammad (saw)'s Letter to the Monks of St. Catherine Monastery

published by You on 26 December, 2009 - 05:42

The Letter Reads:

This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them.

Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.

The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).

Pakistan court orders ears and noses to be cut off

published by You on 22 December, 2009 - 15:52

A Pakistani court has ordered that two men have their ears and noses cut off, as punishment for doing the same to a woman who refused to marry one of them.

The two brothers were found guilty of kidnapping 20-year-old Fazeelat Bibi, one of their cousins, in September.

The judge in Lahore also sentenced them to life in prison.

Sentence was passed on Monday under a rarely invoked Islamic law dating from the 1980s. In the past similar sentences have been revoked on appeal.

'Eye for an eye'

Government prosecutor Ehtisham Qadir said the punishment had been awarded in accordance with the Islamic principle of "an eye for an eye".

'Thou shalt shoplift' says priest

published by You on 21 December, 2009 - 22:57

A priest from North Yorkshire has advised his congregation to shoplift if they find themselves in hard times.

Father Tim Jones, the parish priest of St Lawrence and St Hilda in York, said people should steal from big chains rather than small businesses.

He said society's attitude to those in need "leaves some people little option but crime".

However the Archdeacon of York said: "The Church of England does not advise anyone to shoplift".

North Yorkshire Police described the sermon as "highly irresponsible".

Read more @ BBC News

Teacher suspended in prayer row

published by You on 20 December, 2009 - 17:05

A Christian supply teacher has been suspended from her job teaching ill children at home after offering to pray for a sick pupil.

Olive Jones, 54, from Weston-super-Mare, said the girl had been too poorly for a lesson. The teacher then decided to speak about her belief in miracles.

But the girl's mother said they were not believers and made a complaint.

Mrs Jones, who did not have a formal contract, was told by Oak Hill Short Stay School she would be suspended.

Mrs Jones, who is originally from Llanteg in Pembrokeshire, visited the child at her home on 25 November and said she was told of the decision just hours after the incident.

Read more @ BBC News

Holy Jumping Cows, Batman!

published by You on 19 December, 2009 - 17:41


[size=10]A cow standing on the roof of a house in Blagdon, Somerset Photo: ARCHANT[/size]

Neighbour William de Cothi, 17, photographed the animal after he spotted it on the roof about six feet off the ground.

The Sixth Form student said: "I was looking out of my window when I saw the cow.

"At first I thought that it was an illusion and that it was in the background and not really on the roof.

"But after a closer look I could see it was actually on the roof."

The teenager added: "I have heard cows can jump quite high, so I think that is how it got up there.

Iran's government 'will not last', says Mehdi Karoubi

published by You on 18 December, 2009 - 19:07

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.

Read more @ BBC News

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