Riot police blocked anti-government protests

Protesters are continuing to push for change across the Middle East and North Africa, while Egypt and Tunisia remain in turmoil as they head towards elections.

An Egyptian girl waves a flag in Tahrir Square

Egypt:
Travel bans have been issued for ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his family.

Adel el Saeed, a spokesman for the public prosecutor, said that the Mubarak family's financial assets had also been frozen while unspecified "complaints" were investigated.

Egypt's interim military rulers have been under pressure to distance themselves from the Mubarak regime, which was forced from power on February 11 after more than two weeks of protests.

On Sunday, at least 500 people gathered in Tahrir Square to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who was appointed by Mr Mubarak as he attempted to cling on to power.

Former interior minister Habib al Adly, who was in charge of Egypt's much-criticised police force until last month, will go on trial next Saturday, reports said.

Meanwhile, Arab League chief Amr Moussa has announced that he plans to run for the presidency in elections promised for later this year.

Moussa, a former foreign minister who enjoys wide popularity in Egypt, declared his candidacy after a constitutional reform panel recommended the relaxation of eligibility rules governing who can run for president.

Oman:
Protests have reportedly blocked access to the country's second biggest port, preventing any movement of shipping, after at least one person was killed in clashes with security forces.

It had been reported that up to six people had died as hundreds of demonstrators demanding more jobs fought police in the port city of Sohar, but Oman's health minister denied those claims.

At least one person was killed in protests in Oman

Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saidi also said police used rubber bullets, not live ammunition as some witnesses have claimed, against the crowds.

On Monday, security forces sealed off the main roads to Sohar, about 120 miles northwest of the capital of Muscat, in an attempt to isolate the protesters and keep crowds from swelling.

But several hundred people - mostly young men - were gathered at the town's main roundabout, demanding higher salaries, jobs for the unemployed youth and changes of some government ministers.

A supermarket was set on fire by the protesters, witnesses said.

Oman's ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said has moved to quell the protests, ordering 50,000 new state positions and a monthly stipend of $390 for job seekers. A day earlier, he replaced six cabinet members.

Yemen:
Opposition to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule is spreading across the country with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in the northern cities of Ibb and Hudeida and Taiz, 125 miles south of the capital Sanaa.

The mass protests came as Yemen's opposition parties said they would not join a coalition government with Mr Saleh.

In capital Sanaa, witnesses said around 5,000 protesters, who have camped out in the streets, shouted: "We have one demand: the fall of the oppressor."

The Sanaa protests were swelled by members of several tribes, which are at the heart of Yemen's social system. Islamist groups also joined the sit-in.

Mr Saleh met armed forces commanders at the weekend, and told them they were responsible for maintaining security and stability in the face of a plot against Yemeni unity, reports said.

Bahrain:
Anti-government activists have blocked access to parliament, forcing the cancellation of a meeting of the 40-member upper chamber, which is directly appointed by the country's ruler.

Demonstrator stopped legislators reaching Bahrain's parliament

The demonstration appears part of a strategy to increase pressure on the Sunni Muslim elite by holding rallies at sensitive locations in capital Manama.

The monarchy has appealed for talks with the predominantly Shia Muslim protesters, who complain of being politically marginalised.

The US, a key ally of Bahrain, has backed the call for "national dialogue" and welcomed a cabinet reshuffle by King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, which it said restated his "commitment to reform".

Algeria:
A man has died after setting himself on fire outside a government office over the weekend in a protest over problems with his identity card, the El Watan newspaper reported.

The death in Bordj Bou Arredidj was the fifth by self-immolation in Algeria since mid-January, soon after days of rioting across much of the country to protest soaring food prices. About a dozen people have carried out similar protests since then.

Riot police blocked anti-government protests on Saturday

The self-immolation of a young Tunisian in December unleashed weeks of protests that toppled president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power.

Algeria has seen unprecedented protests against the rule of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the wake of the Tunisian protests.

On Saturday, several hundred riot police blocked a new opposition attempt to stage an anti-government march in the centre of the Algerian capital Algiers.

Iran:
Iran has reportedly arrested opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, who had been under virtual house arrest for calling on supporters to protest against the government.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the two leaders had been moved secretly to jail from their homes.

Mr Mousavi's daughters said on his Kaleme website that they had been prevented from approaching the house since February 14.

Poll: Half Could Vote For A Far-Right Party

Almost half of voters could back a far-right political party that did not promote violence and nearly two-thirds of white Britons say immigration was bad for the UK, a survey has found.

A significant minority want immigration to the UK halted until the economy recovers

Anti-racism campaigners the Searchlight Education Trust, which commissioned the research by pollsters Populus, described the results as "disturbing".

According to the poll, 63% of white Britons, 43% of British Asians and 17% of black Britons believe immigration has been a bad thing for Britain.

But it is British Asians who are most likely to say it should be halted - at least until the economy is back on track.

This view was supported by 38% of the British Asians polled, 34% of white Britons and 21% of black Britons.

The political class has been warned.

Labour MP Jon Cruddas

Overall, just over half (52%) agreed with the statement "Muslims create problems in the UK" and just under half (48%) would consider supporting a far-right party if it did not promote "facist imagery" or violence.

The Searchlight Educational Trust said the report "paints a disturbing picture of our attitudes towards each other and the unknown".

It "throws down a challenge" to mainstream political parties to better understand what is happening in the body politic, the Trust said, warning "dangers" lie ahead if these issues are not addressed.

While director Nick Lowles said there were positive findings - for example young people are more open to living in an ethnically diverse society - anti-extremism campaigners have "nowhere to hide".

Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas says a new language of identity needed

"The harsh truth is we are in danger of losing touch with the public on race, immigration and multiculturalism," he added.

Jon Cruddas, the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham who has campaigned against the British National Party, wrote the forward to the report, entitled Fear And Hope - The New Politics Of Identity.

"Put simply, unless political parties step up and provide a new language of material well-being, of identity and belonging, then these political forces might refract into more malign forms," he wrote.

"As such, the political class has been warned."

Prime Minister David Cameron recently gave a speech criticising "state multiculturalism" and calling for the UK to have a stronger national identity and take a tougher stance against Islamic extremism.

High-Speed Rail Consultation Period Begins

The Government has begun one of its largest public consultations ever on the proposed high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told business leaders the £32bn link will bring prosperity and employment by cutting journey times between the capital, the Midlands and on to the North of England and Scotland.

"The time for high-speed rail in Britain has come," he said.

"We must invest in Britain's future. We cannot afford to be left behind - investing in high-speed rail now is vital to the prosperity of future generations."

But a small number of protesters outside the ICC in Birmingham used a white elephant to illustrate their concerns that the new route will be an expensive failure.

Protester Gerry Marshall told Sky News: "It's ludicrous because there's a much better alternative.

"(There's) something called 'rail package two', which provides all the capacity needs we have - 135% increase in capacity for a cost of £2bn with relatively little disruption.

"It would be better to improve rail travel for the many, rather than just improve one line for the rich."

The consultation hopes to stimulate debate in the rest of the country to get a more balanced view.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond

Objections from those living along the proposed route have already seen at least half of it being altered.

Mr Hammond told Sky News: "We have to try and wake up public opinion in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Scotland to the huge opportunities and economic benefits that this project will bring.

"So far it's the people living on the line of the route... (who) are obviously the ones most aware of this project.

"The consultation hopes to stimulate debate in the rest of the country to get a more balanced view."

Initially the high-speed route will link London and Birmingham, with plans to then extend the line to create a Y-shaped network to Manchester and Leeds.

The Government estimates the link will generate £44bn in economic benefits over 60 years.

The consultation process will last until the end of July, with events taking place in towns and cities along the 140 mile route.

A small group of protesters against the proposed rail link in Birmingham

If the consultation goes well the Government is keen to bring a bill before Parliament in 2015, just prior to a general election.

That may well cause problems for the 16 Conservative MPs whose constituencies would be crossed by the high-speed line.

Cross-party support can also no longer taken for be taken for granted.

The Labour Party, which originally championed HS2 while in government, has now said it cannot make a "cast iron" commitment to the scheme.

The Government insists high-speed rail is essential if Britain wants to compete with other European countries.

It says the route will add much needed extra capacity to the busy West Coast main line, with 14 trains an hour, each with more than 1,000 seats.

Once completed the route will cut journey times between many cities to a level which it is hoped will dissuade people from taking domestic flights.

Last week 70 of Britain's most high-profile bosses gave their backing to the project.

However, the Government knows there is a well-organised network of opposition groups along virtually the entire route, meaning the project is unlikely to be given an easy passage prior to its construction beginning.

Couple 'doomed' to be turned down as foster carers, court told

A Christian couple opposed to homosexuality have lost a court battle over their right to become foster carers.

Eunice and Owen Johns, 62 and 65, of Derby, said the city council did not want them to look after children because of their traditional views.

They claim they were "doomed not to be approved" due to their opinions.

The High Court ruled that laws protecting people from sexual discrimination should take precedence.

“Start Quote"

All we were not willing to do was to tell a small child that the practice of homosexuality was a good thing”

End Quote Eunice Johns

The Pentecostal Christian couple had applied to Derby City Council to be respite carers.

They withdrew their application after a social worker expressed concerns when they said they could not tell a child a homosexual lifestyle was acceptable.

At the High Court, they asked judges to rule that their faith should not be a bar to them becoming carers, and the law should protect their Christian values.

Moral opinions

But Lord Justice Munby and Mr Justice Beatson ruled that laws protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation "should take precedence" over the right not to be discriminated against on religious grounds.

They said that if children were placed with carers who objected to homosexuality and same-sex relationships, "there may well be a conflict with the local authority's duty to 'safeguard and promote the welfare' of looked-after children".

Analysis

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The case is likely to be seen as a landmark decision, as senior judges ruled so decisively against any idea that attitudes might be justified purely because they were Christian in origin.

The court discriminated between kinds of Christianity, saying that Christians in general might well make good foster parents, while people with traditionalist Christian views like Mr and Mrs Johns might well not.

Such views, said the judges, might conflict with the welfare of children.

Significantly, the court said that while there was a right not to face discrimination on the basis on either religion or sexual orientation, equality of sexual orientation took precedence.

This was the most decisive ruling against the idea of Christian values underpinning English law since judges ruled last year that to protect views simply because they were religious would be irrational, divisive and arbitrary.

Today the message was that courts would interpret the law in cases like the Johns' according to secular and not religious values.

They rejected suggestions that the case involved "a threat to religious liberty", adding: "No one is asserting that Christians - or, for that matter, Jews or Muslims - are not fit and proper persons to foster or adopt. No-one is contending for a blanket ban."

Speaking outside the court in London, Mrs Johns said: "All we wanted was to offer a loving home to a child in need. We have a good track record as foster parents.

"We have been excluded because we have moral opinions based on our faith and we feel sidelined because we are Christians with normal, mainstream, Christian views on sexual ethics.

"We are prepared to love and accept any child. All we were not willing to do was to tell a small child that the practice of homosexuality was a good thing."

The couple, who cared for about 15 children in the 1990s, have called for a public inquiry into the matter.

Derby City Council has welcomed the court's ruling.

A spokesman said the authority "valued diversity and promoted equality" and "encouraged and supported children in a non judgmental way, regardless of their sexual orientation or preference".

He added: "The court confirmed that the local authority is properly entitled to consider a prospective foster carer's views on sexuality when considering their application to become a foster parent and in fact, failure to do so would potentially leave it in breach of its own guidance as well as the National Minimum Standards."

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, said: "Thankfully, Mr and Mrs Johns' out-dated views aren't just out of step with the majority of people in modern Britain, but those of many Christians too.

"If you wish to be involved in the delivery of a public service, you should be prepared to provide it fairly to anyone."

But the Christian Legal Centre reacted to the ruling with dismay and warned that "fostering by Christians is now in doubt".

The organisation said the judgment "sends out the clear message that orthodox Christian ethical beliefs are potentially harmful to children and that Christian parents with mainstream Christian views are not suitable to be considered as potential foster parents".

Hello, Hello Wot Do We Have Hear A Troy Councillor Giving Insults

A councillor branded people protesting against cuts at a Hull City Council meeting "retards" in a rant on Twitter.

Conservative group leader John Fareham made the comment after Friday's meeting, which saw the council approve a controversial £65m savings plan.

It read: "15 hours in council today very hard hitting day and the usual collection of retards in the public gallery spoiling it for real people."

Mr Fareham, who has since apologised, has been criticised by Mencap.

Unison has demanded action is taken over his "disgraceful behaviour".

'Abused for hours'

Plans approved at the meeting, which was delayed due to hecklers, included the axing of 1,400 jobs and cuts to day care centres, leisure centres and highway budgets.

The Bricknell councillor said the comment was "misguided", and added in a further Twitter post that it came after he was "abused for hours, returned home to excrement in house and saw intimidation".

“Start Quote

I apologise unreservedly. I got it wrong and I'm sorry”

End Quote Councillor John Fareham

He added: "I apologise unreservedly for the adjective (sic) in my earlier tweet about the intimidation by some people. I got it wrong and I'm sorry."

Unison regional organiser Steve Torrance said several people with physical and learning disabilities were in the public gallery at the time.

He added: "Not only are Councillor Fareham's remarks offensive and unwelcome generally, they are of particular concern given that members of the public with disabilities were present in the gallery throughout the council debate as well as the people who care for them.

'Offensive language'

"Unison will be petitioning the next council meeting calling for the council leader to defend the rights of disabled people not to be abused in this way and for action to be taken over Councillor Fareham's disgraceful behaviour towards members of the public and trade union members."

Mr Fareham was reprimanded by the Lib Dem-run council's standards committee last year for making derogatory remarks about other staff.

He was ordered to write a letter of apology and attend a training course.

A Mencap spokesman said: "Councillor Fareham has now apologised for using that language, both on Twitter and to Mencap.

"We campaign about the use of language offensive to people with a learning disability because we believe that it contributes to a culture where harassment and bullying of people with a learning disability is all too common."