Britain: Dramatic increase in the number of Muslim youth drinking alcohol

There has also been a huge rise in the number of young girls and Muslims drinking alcohol, the borough-by-borough study of alcohol abuse in the London found. James Cleverly, chairman of the London Assembly health and public services committee, which published the report, said: "The rise in young girls and Muslims drinking are the most concerning aspects of the report. "The investigation also revealed that the percentage of young drinkers of Bangladeshi origin has increased five-fold in four years, and those of Pakistani origin has more than doubled, while the number of white British drinkers has dropped. The figures show 10 per cent of youngsters of Pakistani origin and 12 per cent of Bangladeshi origin admit to drinking compared with four per cent and two per cent four years ago. But the percentage of white British 11 to 21-year-olds who admitted having drunk in the last year dropped from 80 per cent to 64 per cent. Mr Cleverly said: "The increase among these ethnic groups is alarming." He said the number of young Muslims who drink could be higher but they are scared of admitting it. The report raised concerns around how Muslim families will cope if a child develops an alcohol problem.

Will BRIC challenge western dominance?

This week the inaugural summit of the BRICs-Brazil, Russia, India, China-took place in Yekaterinburg. Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, called it "the epicentre of world politics". These four countries represent almost half of the world's population and about 20% of the global economy. The really striking thing about the gathering is that leaders of these countries discussed topics such as reforming the IMF; their demand for more say in global policy-making; and, in the case of China, Brazil and Russia, a plan to switch some of their foreign-currency reserves out of dollars and into IMF bonds. All this reflects growing self-confidence. The largest emerging markets are recovering fast and starting to think the recession may mark another milestone in a worldwide shift of economic power away from the West. However, it remains to be seen whether BRIC translate its relative economic advantage into political muscle. Until then it is unlikely that BRIC will be able to counter western dominance.

US Meddling in Iran all over again

This week US President Barack Obama said that he will not "meddle" in Iran, as thousands took to the streets of the capital Tehran after protests over the country's general election. But despite Osama's reassurances, America cannot be trusted. In 1953 the CIA orchestrated the removal of Mosaddeq's regime through mass demonstrations. Today, the blatant denouncing of the Iranian elections by the American media and US support of pro-opposition leaders bears close resemblance to 1953. The only missing ingredient is the active involvement of CIA. But that may soon change. According to Seymour Hersh in The New Yorker of July 8 last year: "Late last year 2007, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to $400m, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilise the country's religious leadership." What should be clear to all is that America and the West will never allow Muslims to decide their own political destiny. Muslims can only decide their political future through the re-establishment of the Caliphate. Unlike the political medium in Iran, the caliphate will be independent from western interference and intrigue.

Zardari receives EU money to fight Islam

The European Union (EU) will give $100m to Pakistan in new humanitarian aid to help efforts to tackle "the economic crisis and terrorism", EU officials say. The so called aid was announced at the start of summit talks between President Asif Ali Zardari and EU leaders in Brussels. However, it soon became clear that the money was not intended to help the 3million refugees but to bolster Zardari's efforts to fight Islam. "I welcome President Zardari's commitment to reinforce the democratic institutions, reform the economy and defeat extremism and terrorism, which pose a threat not just to his country, but to its neighbours and to the rest of the world," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "In exchange, we want Pakistan to take the fight against terrorism very seriously and that they do a lot on their home front," said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Allah says: "O ye who believe! Take not My enemies and yours as friends (or protectors)- offering them (your) love, even though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on the contrary) driven out the Messenger and yourselves (from your homes), (simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord! If ye have come out to strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure (take them not as friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them: for I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path."