Rebel Without A Cause

Greece yesterday joined the calls for calm around the world after violent demonstrations by Muslim protesters over the publication in (some) Western newspapers of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. “Greece is in favor of and believes in dialogue between civilizations,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos. “We are against the clash of civilizations. We hope that dialogue and reason will reign so that the violent protests of the last few days can stop.” Sounds good to me.

Prompted by the dwindling number of pupils, the Inner Cabinet yesterday approved plans to scrap technical high schools.

Seizures of pirate compact discs dropped last year, police said yesterday, but this is partly due to a growing trend in music being downloaded from the Internet, according to industry experts. Hm, sure I read recently that, in effect, less than 30% of Greece is connected to the 'net.

Spanish energy companies have set their sights on Greece, with plans to build windfarms. Platies on Kefalonia might be a good place… just hope the ‘windmills’ are stronger than the pylons…

More than 300 villages around Greece were isolated due to heavy snowfall yesterday as the temperature dropped to a record low.

Turkish newspapers fear the murder of an Italian priest on Sunday may have damaged Turkey's standing in the eyes of the world and the trial of five Turkish journalists charged with insulting the country's courts began yesterday with the judge ordering two lawyers to be removed after a fight broke out in the courtroom.

FIFA held up its own “Welcome to Hell” placards to Turkish football last night when it ordered the national team to play their entire European Championship qualifying campaign abroad as punishment for the ugly scenes in Istanbul that marred their World Cup exit in November.

In the UK, Muslim leaders have welcomed the conviction of controversial cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri for inciting murder and stirring up racial hatred. Prominent British Muslim Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui described Abu Hamza as "an embarrassment to the Muslim community" and an "arrogant, illiterate person, with no knowledge of Islam.” Imam Sajid said, "He has nothing to do with the majority of British Muslims who are not only law abiding but also peaceful-loving Muslims."

And James Dean would have been 75 today.

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