The UnHoly Quran

Downer 'stupid' on Hicks
2:35pm Minister's assessment of Hicks' mental state based on US report of five-minute Guantanamo encounter. more
Hicks like 'a monkey in a cage' Law Council slams 'unfair system'
OTHER TOP STORIES
- Police hunt Open child sex attacker

- Clinton rejects Bush's war plan- Terror suspect married days before London bomb attempt
NATIONAL
Columnists Letters Features
Sheikh sparks outrage
Australian-born Muslim leader accused of promoting hatred and terrorism to children may be charged under anti-terror laws. more

US sets terror trial rules
6:32am David Hicks could be convicted on hearsay evidence or coerced testimony under new US rules for military trials. more
OTHER TOP STORIES
- Sheikh sparks outrage

Clinton rejects Bush's war plan
New York Senator Hillary Clinton offers her harshest assessment to date of US President George Bush's Iraq strategy. more
- US reversal on surveillance- Terror suspect married days before London bomb attempt

Outrage at sheikh's pig jibe
3:12pm Preachings by radical Australian sheikh labelled "offensive, unacceptable and outrageous". more
OTHER TOP STORIES
- Police hunt Christmas flasher- 'Cracked' jet set for take-off
WORLD
Special reports
Bid to deport conman Foster
11:44am Conman set to avoid charges in Fiji after Vanuatu authorities agree to deport him to Australia. more
- Israeli PM faces bank sale probe- Bombers slaughter 70 at Baghdad university
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Israeli PM faces bank sale probe
Ehud Olmert suffers twin blows with the news that he is to be investigated for corruption and the resignation of his military chief. more
- Bombers slaughter 70 at Baghdad university- Flour meant for bomb, not bread, London court told

More bodies in India's 'house of horrors'
12:34pm Indian detectives discover plastic bags packed with human remains in a serial murder case. more
- Bombers slaughter Baghdad students- Bush: Iraqis 'fumbled' Saddam execution

Iranian leader faces rebellion
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on shaky ground over economy, sanctions. more
- Six in court over failed London bomb plot- Anger over decapitation of Saddam's brother

Saddam's half-brother dies on the gallows
Saddam Hussein's half-brother and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court are hanged before dawn. more

- Sheik Hilali 'like Hitler'
Amnesty offer over East Timor
A joint Indonesian and East Timorese commission will recommend amnesty for people responsible for atrocities in East Timor in 1999. more

Bush warns of more troop deaths
Defying public opinion, congressional opposition and the unease of some of his commanders, George Bush will send more troops to Iraq. more
- 'Surge' expected to intensify fighting- Troop plan threatens US security: Democrats

Bush gambles on troop surge
2:08pm President escalates troop numbers to Iraq in bid to sweep away insurgents and salvage his legacy. more
Aussie soldier hurt in Iraq
OTHER TOP STORIES
- Hicks' lawyer hits back at prosecutor

Killer blasts rock ASEAN preparations
8:04am Bombs have exploded in three southern Philippine cities, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, just days before a summit of leaders from 16 Asian countries. more
- CIA poised to take on Hezbollah- Russia may shift oil routes in energy row
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Rocket attack allegedly planned on 'nuclear place'
A terror suspect who allegedly bought five stolen army rocket launchers said he would have used them to blow up the "nuclear place" and Parliament House. more

Critics take aim at Bush troop plan
Democrats are working on legislation to reject George Bush's plan to send at least 20,000 extra troops to Iraq as the US President prepares to publicly sell the plan. more
- When warriors use words as weapons- CIA poised to take on Hezbollah

The case against David Hicks
The US chief military prosecutor reveals why David Hicks remains their prisoner. more
A picture of support for abandoned son's plight

Bush, PM in war council
12:12pm US President calls John Howard to outline his latest plan for Iraq, but doesn't ask for more Australian troops. more
- Feeling devalued? You've been plutoed- Venezuela to nationalise key industries

- Muslim call for help on extremism

US pursues al-Qaeda with Somali air strike
US warplanes strike at a suspected al-Qaeda training camp in Somalia. more
- Feeling devalued? You've been plutoed- Venezuela to nationalise key industries
NATIONAL
Columnists Letters Features
Muslim call for help on extremism
Mainstream Muslims need more help to counter the threat from such groups as the ultra-radical Hizb ut-Tahrir. more
- Saudi ire over Downer's mosque fund comments- Drink and a fishtailing ute: mix that left two sisters dead
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- Nuclear sub collides with tanker
- Hicks 'faces two more years in jail'
Moroccan jailed over 9/11 attacks
6:19am Mounir el Motassadeq, a Moroccan convicted as an accomplice in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a German court today. more
- Brown to break with Blair on terror- Princes plea for speedy conclusion to inquest on Diana

- Bid to beat Bali death penalty- Labor angers union with 'anti-teacher' claim

Bush set to reveal Iraq troop 'surge'
George Bush is expected to announce this week the deployment of at least 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. more
- Civilians 'were shot at close range by marines'- Global evidence hunt uncovers horrific images

Bush set to reveal Iraq troop 'surge'
George Bush is expected to announce this week the deployment of at least 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. more
- Civilians 'were shot at close range by marines'- Global evidence hunt uncovers horrific images

Coup leader sworn in as Fiji PM
11:59am Military chief sworn in as island nation's interim prime minister a month after staging armed coup. more
- School shooting student silent on motive- Palestinians appeal for calm in Gaza

Stolen rocket launchers 'sold to terror suspect'
4:24pm Counter terrorism police charge gun dealer over theft of seven rocket launchers from military. more

Saddam 'got justice' says US
10:34am White House bluntly dismisses international outcry over the way Saddam Hussein was executed. more
- Austrian kidnap teen battles to reclaim life- Katrina cops 'promised immunity'

- UN to investigate child sex abuse claim

Saddam guard arrested in filming probe
1:32am Iraqi authorities arrest one of the guards at Saddam Hussein's execution as part of a probe into how a film of his hanging was released on the internet. more
- Britain joins chorus against Saddam killing- Saddam co-defendants 'set for execution'
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Saddam's race to gallows angers US officials

Covert US group plots to isolate 'rising' Iran
A select group of US officials has been quietly co-ordinating actions for nearly a year to counter the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. more
- Suspected killer in court- Strife-torn Iraq ends the year on a bloodied note

Every day, our editors scour the web for news items of interest in the areas of world events, religion, and technology. Here are some choice news that we found this past week:
•France 'no longer a Catholic country'
•Man Fights to Take Wife's Name in Marriage
•Ellison: Quran influenced America's founding fathers
•Ontario says child can have 2 moms
•Muslim congressman avoids loyalty questions
•First Muslim congressman in U.S. history to take oath with a QuranThe following are some other popular breaking news of this past week:
•Vatican comes out of the closet and embraces Oscar
•Archdiocese Uses the Christian Fish Symbol for Homosexual Solidarity
•Mohler's health sustains "a setback"
•Carter, Clinton announce Baptist meeting
•Church probes reports that archbishop collaborated with secret police
•Paisley accuses Blair of 'untrue' claims in N. Irish peace process
•Christian group in legal fight over politically correct campus ban
•Scholars in 'Gospel of Judas' flap
•China: Police Raid Bible Study
•4 Out of 10 Pastors Lack Strong Interest in Expanding Outreachmore interesting news...

Past Week Breaking NewsEvery day, our editors scour the web for news items of interest in the areas of world events, religion, and technology. Here are some choice news that we found this past week:
•First Muslim congressman in U.S. history to take oath with a Quran
•Catholics top faith in new U.S. Congress
•Scholastic joins education industry's campaign for Islam
•Mass. Lawmakers Propel Gay Marriage Ban
•250 Million Christians Will Be Persecuted in 2007
•Northern Ireland divided over new rights for gays
•Report: Dr. D. James Kennedy Gravely Ill, Update
•Albert Mohler recovering from abdominal surgery
•Saddam Hussein executed in IraqThe following are some other popular breaking news of this past week:
•Songwriter's Death Leads to Suits Against Woman Preacher
•Prayers pour in for Dr. Kennedy
•'Homophobia' spies in the classroom
•Shadow falls over Haggard writings
•Women defend right to share a husband
•Pastor stirs Baptist debate on tongues
•Justices: Jurors erred in using Bible
•Pope: Homosexuals destroy themselves
•British stewardess challenges airline's Bible ban
•UK Foreign Office supports Saudi Bible banmore interesting news...
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Of droughts, then flooding rains ... Heavy rain over the Central Desert has brought the Todd River in Alice Springs back to life, with kids rushing to have a splash in the river. Picture: Renee Nowytarger Desal go ahead Water revolt Rains a 'godsend' More
Howard tape sparks religious row
JOHN Howard has been caught in a religious storm after recording a "values" message for an Australia Day rally to be held by a fundamentalist Christian group accused of inciting anti-Islamic hatred.

Skyscraper fire traps builders
FOUR workers have died and 57 have been injured in scenes reminiscent of September 11 after a fire broke out in a tower block under construction in Dubai.
Europe: At least 12 killed, dozens injured in storms
Iraq: Bombers kill 19 as PM calls for more weapons

Use children as troops, says cleric
DVDS being sold by children in mosque carparks show the head of the Global Islamic Youth Centre in western Sydney calling Jews pigs and urging his followers to teach children to love martyrdom.

World closer to Armageddon
THE world is inching towards nuclear Armageddon, say top scientists, who have moved the symbolic Doomsday Clock closer to midnight to reflect their concerns.
France: Prisoner sentenced after killing, eating cellmate
Jakarta: Bali Nine ringleaders launch appeal to escape death

University bombings kill 70
A CAR bomb followed by a suicide blast has killed 70 people, mainly female students waiting to go home, at a Baghdad university in the deadliest attack this year.

'Failed bombers plotted carnage'
FOUR men who attempted to bomb London's transport system two weeks after attacks that killed 52 people planned for months in advance, a court is told.
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'New US troops will die'
IRAQI insurgents have threatened to send US reinforcements to Iraq back home in body bags as more details emerge of George W. Bush's "surge" strategy.
Dili: East Timor's police chief, deputies quit
Mogadishu: Somalia's warlords agree to disarm

Terror suspect: Guilty plea could get Hicks home

No more: Doctors want Catholic beliefs out of state hospitals

Stricken ship threatens gas rig
CREWMEN have been evacuated from a North Sea gas rig in the path of a stricken 3000-tonne cargo ship, as authorities fear a collision within a few hours.
Paris: Bush strategy for Iraq fails to sway world doubters
Vanuatu: Flighty Aussie conman Foster on the run ... again

Hicks 'was al-Qaeda operative'
US prosecutors have said David Hicks was a fully-fledged member of al-Qaeda, as Labor calls for his return to Australia if he is placed on a strict control order.
New York: New boss clears out the UN's top ranks

More deaths in US terror strikes
THE US has launched fresh air strikes on suspected al-Qaeda targets in Somalia, amid criticism that it risks further destabilising the lawless nation.
Kuala Lumpur: Aussie tourists safe after capsized ferry drama
Riyadh: Downer shocks Saudis with extremist-mosque link

Seven in hospital after gas smell
A STRONG smell of natural gas wafted over much of Manhattan and parts of New Jersey, forcing building evacuations and the suspension of train services.
Dubai: Seven children dead in execution re-enactments
Fiji: Deopsed PM set to be named head of finance