Just when you thought terror and extremism in the name of religion in Britain had finally died down, it reared its ugly head in Woolwich, which shocked and disgusted the nation. Two crackpots committing a horrific murder happened to be Muslims and apparently did this barbaric act in the name of Islam.
I'm not sure if many other people picked up on this, but there was a point when there was almost a massive crackdown on alcohol in the UK.
It wasnt in 1909. It was in 2013.
If it was successful alcohol would have been treater closer to how cigarettes are treated (so not really a ban and the Britain wouldn't have gone teetotal, but its a good title).
It was back in around March of this year when the there was a call for all advertising of alcohol to be banned, and the products have a mimimum price to push up prices.
Two important polls going on today:
1. Greece.
The people are voting again after the last elections 6 weeks ago proved inconclusive.
The results could decide whether greece stays in the Euro, the EU both, either or none.
Very important european election where there are no guarantees and this could be the first nation to leave the eurozone and that is an unknown as the euro was not built for anyone to leave it ever. Questions exist if it could survive a state leaving and also how bad or good this would be for Greece.
2. Egypt.
It's the run off presidential elections the week after the old remnants have been making themselves felt.
The supreme court has called last years parliamentary elections unconstitutional and has also ruled thata former Prime Minister under Mubarak who was legally barred from being president could take part in the upcoming run off presidential elections that will take place this weekend.
This may hand all power (all instead of the 99% that it holds now) back to the military and once again lead the country to a place it is lead by people it doesnt want to be lead by.
Something to keep an eye on.
Yup, he's done it again. George Galloway is back, having won a by-election in Bradford of all places.
The usual people are all frothing at the mouth, calling him an opportunist and worse.
He also beat a Muslim candidate who should have comfortably won as he was for the party who had comfortably held the seat until George Galloway announced that he will stand.
But all this is still good news.
Not only is George Galloway a man of conviction, the other parties have failed us.
“People who have no hold over their process of thinking are likely to be ruined by liberty of thought. If thought is immature, liberty of thought becomes a method of converting men into animals.” Muhammad Iqbal
The winds of change appear to be blowing through Pakistan and Imran Khan is the force behind them. He has a vision - a vision that seeks to bring about stability, a cleaner political landscape and much-needed social reforms. But he has not yet been in power and so has no record to defend. All he can do at this stage is outline his vision and ask the country to trust him. But judging from criticisms of Khan, he is incapable of doing anything right because he is undemocratic, pro-Taliban, and leads only a cult of personality.
Its election season in the arab world, and we are currently on the third election - Egypt.
In the first elections in Tunisia, the Islamic minded party, Al Nahda (arabic for "The Awakening" or "The Renaissance" or dare I say it, "The Revival") was the leading party.
It should get a big say in the interim government which decides the future of the country (however it is possible that all the other parties could unite to keep it out of power).
The second elections were in Morocco last week, where once again, the largest part was the Islamic minded Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the most seats and with the changes in the country's constitution earlier this year, it means that they will form the govenrment and provide the prime minister in this kingdom democracy.
Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, King Abdullah has announced.
He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council.
The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law.
The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said.
King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed.
Despite standing on her feet for half a day, Catherine Heseltine’s mission in talking to every single Muslim about the importance of getting active in politics and media did not diminish.
And nor did her trademark smile.
