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Northern England Anti-Terror Raids

Ten men arrested in terror raids

Ten men have been arrested as part of a counter-terrorism operation across the north west of England.

The BBC has learned addresses are being raided by officers in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester.

Counter-terrorism officers also targeted a building at Liverpool John Moores University and a guest house in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Officers from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit carried out the raids with support from other forces.

BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft said a Greater Manchester Police spokesman would not comment when asked whether the police action was in response to a suspected terrorist operation in the UK or overseas.

If you think things are bad for Muslims in the UK...

Muslims to apologise for prayers held in front of Milan cathedral

Leaders of Milan's Muslims are to meet the city's Roman Catholic archbishop to apologise for an impromptu prayer service they held in front of the cathedral, a statement from the archbishopric said.

Images of hundreds of Muslims bowing to Mecca in front of one of the pre-eminent symbols of Christianity in Italy prompted outrage among some, particularly rightwing, Italians. Defence minister Ignazio La Russa proposed that prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition should "reply" with a mass on Sunday on the same spot.

Islam and biological evolution

A while ago I started up a topic on Islam and evolution asking whether the two were compatible. I can't find that thread now so am starting a new one.

This debate between Inayat Bunglawala and Harun Yahya on the validity of the theory of evolution shows that there is a place for evolution within Islamic discourse.

Inayat Bunglawala's argument is that taking the theory of evolution seriously is not incompatible with belief in Islam. It also shows that we should be careful not to take our intellectual cues from Christian fundamentalists in the US.

This is Inayat's opening statement:

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated: Pakistan into the abyss?

Quote:
Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack, a spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) says.

Other reports said Ms Bhutto had only been injured and taken to hospital.

Ms Bhutto had just addressed a rally of PPP supporters in the town of Rawalpindi when the rally was hit by a blast.

At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack.

Ms Bhutto has twice been the country's prime minister and was campaigning ahead of elections due in January.

Evidence of extremism in mosques 'fabricated'

[b]Evidence of extremism in mosques 'fabricated'[/b]

A rightwing thinktank which claimed to have uncovered extremist literature on sale at dozens of British mosques was last night accused of basing a report on fabricated evidence.

The[URL= report by Policy Exchange[/URL] alleged that books condoning violent jihad and encouraging hatred of Christians, Jews and gays were being sold in a quarter of the 100 mosques visited.

Allah Made Me Funny Tour 2007

[b]ALLAH MADE ME FUNNY TOUR 2007[/b]

Dates: Sunday 11th November - Tuesday 27th November 2007
Venues: [b]Reading, London, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leicester,
Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh[/b]

A mainstream, cross-cultural comedy tour from an Islamic perspective,
featuring Azhar Usman, Preacher Moss and Mo Amir. Hilarious stand-up
comedy from three American Muslims - extraordinarily positive ground
breaking stereotype-challeng ing stuff for Muslims and non-Muslims
alike. Clean, entertaining and very, very funny.

"Lyrical Terrorist" Jailed

[b]Woman guilty of terror offences[/b]

A woman who called herself the "Lyrical Terrorist" has been found guilty of keeping terrorist manuals.

Samina Malik, 23, from Southall, west London, is the first woman in the UK to be convicted under the Terrorism Act.

The student was convicted at the Old Bailey of having articles "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

Malik was working at WH Smith at Heathrow Airport when she was arrested last October. She denied the charges.

Malik burst into tears in the dock when the verdict was read out.

She was convicted of two offences under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act relating to documents found on her home computer.

Ethnic minorities 'more stressed' about exams

[b]Ethnic minorities 'more stressed' about exams[/b]

Poorer pupils and those from black or Asian backgrounds are more likely to suffer exam-related stress than their classmates, claims new research.

The study, published in the latest edition of the British Journal of Educational Psychology, looked at what factors affect so-called "test anxiety".

The world's strangest laws

25. It is illegal for a cab in the City of London to carry rabid dogs or corpses.

24. It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament.

23. It is an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the British monarch upside down.

22. In France, it is forbidden to call a pig Napoleon.

21. Under the UK’s Tax Avoidance Schemes Regulations 2006, it is illegal not to tell the taxman anything you don’t want him to know, though you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t mind him knowing.

20. In Alabama, it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle.

19.

The Top 20 Reasons Not to Move to Dubai

The Top 20 Reasons Not to Move to Dubai (in no particular order!)
By Tia O’Neill

Living in Dubai is not wonderful and glamorous, as many would have you believe. Forget about what you’ve read, seen, and heard; those shiny buildings and manmade islands are all just smoke and mirrors. There are so many things wrong with this place that I have decided to compile a list, a must read if you are considering a potential move to Dubai.

1. There is no standard address system making mail-to-the door delivery impossible. In fact, it makes anything nearly impossible.

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