I. UPI - Texas school board takes on Islam
A resolution before the Texas State Board of Education says some world history textbooks push a pro-Muslim, anti-Christian view. The board plans to vote on the issue next week, The Dallas Morning News reported. Texas recently went through a bruising debate about the teaching of U.S. history. While social conservatives on the board won most of what they wanted, two of them lost in the Republican primary and will be off the board next year, the newspaper said. "Diverse reviewers have repeatedly documented gross pro-Islamic, anti-Christian distortions in social studies texts," the draft resolution says. The resolution also charges some texts present "sanitized definitions of 'jihad' that exclude religious intolerance or military aggression." It says textbooks devote more space to Islam and emphasize Christian violence against Muslims during the Crusades while downplaying or omitting similar actions by Muslims, the newspaper said. Some board members charge that "Middle Easterners" are investing in U.S. textbook companies to push their views.
Al-Qaida's second-in-command released an audio recording on Wednesday blaming the United States for what he claimed was a poor aid response to the recent floods in Pakistan. Ayman al-Zawahri also said the Pakistani government, which he alleged was loyal to Washington, was to blame for the ongoing devastation and deaths caused by massive floods which have uprooted millions. "The primary concern of the ruling class in the government and army of Pakistan is filling their domestic and foreign bank accounts with dollars, and as far as they are concerned, Pakistan and its people can go to hell," the voice in the recording said. Washington, he said, was preventing al-Qaida and its allies from getting aid to those in need, and warned Pakistanis to be careful about receiving assistance from NATO soldiers helping in the country. The al-Qaida leader then said soldiers from the Western military alliance had disgraced the Koran and insulted the Islamic prophet Mohammed, in places like Guantanamo Bay. He also mocked his own country's upcoming parliamentary election, saying Egypt's vote was a "game." He called for a jihad, or holy war, against the governments of Pakistan and Egypt in specific. He also urged Muslims, in general, to overthrow their secular governments. Al-Zawahri, born in Cairo, is wanted by the U.S. government for his involvement in global terrorism, including the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington.
III. CBSNEWS - Poll: Tea Party Supported by One in Five
Despite the movement's rallies and some victories in primary races this year, many Americans remain unfamiliar with the Tea Party, a new CBS News/ New York Times poll shows. As many as 47 percent of registered voters nationwide say they are undecided or haven't heard enough about the Tea Party movement to have an opinion about it, according to the poll, conducted Sept. 10-14. Late last month, Tea Party supporters pulled off a surprising upset in Alaska, where their preferred candidate, Joe Miller, defeated Incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Republican primary. Even more surprising, however, were the Tea Party's victories in yesterday's primaries. Tea Party-backed Christine O'Donnell bested Rep. Mike Castle for the Republican Senate nomination in Delaware, Carl Paladino won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in New York, and an upstart conservative in New Hampshire is running neck-and-neck with the establishment candidate for the state's GOP Senate nomination. Nationally, however, the CBS/ New York Times poll shows that among those with an opinion, more view the Tea Party unfavorably (29 percent) than favorably (23 percent). Just 19 percent of Americans in this poll say they support the Tea Party movement, while 63 percent say they do not. However, this small group of supporters is politically active. As many as 84 percent of them say they are registered to vote, and 88 percent say they will definitely vote this November. Most (73 percent) are conservative. Fifty-four percent of Tea Party supporters identify themselves as Republicans, and 38 percent say they are independents. Less than one in 10 says they are Democrats.
IV. PRNEWSWIRE - "Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations" to Open at Smithsonian, September 19, 2010 - May 1, 2011
Cyprus, the eastern-most island in the Mediterranean Sea, situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, has been a meeting point for many of the world's great civilizations. From its 11,000-year history, Cyprus has woven its own distinctive history and culture."Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations" will be on view at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History from Sept. 29 through May 1, 2011. The exhibition is presented on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus. The exhibition will feature more than 200 artifacts—covering nearly 11,000 years of history—which range from items from the earliest villages to masterpieces of medieval religious art, and give an overview of the island's unique culture. Among the objects on display will be for the first time in this country: A pygmy hippopotamus skull (10,000 to 8,500 B.C.). Gold jewelry and sphinx sculptures from the Cypro-Archaic period (750 to 480 B.C.). Vases, bowls and sculptures, including an Aphrodite marble, from the Hellenistic (325 to 50 B.C.). and Roman (50 B.C. to A.D. 330) periods Bronze and copper items, including lamps and jugs, from the Byzantine period (330 to 1191). Religious icons, paintings and vases from the medieval period (13th to 16th century). The exhibition also will feature nearly 100 coins from different eras in Cypriot history, starting from the Hellenistic period through the Venetian period. "Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations" was made possible by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus, the Byzantine Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, the Holy Bishopric of Morfou, the Pierides Marfin Bank Museum, the Thalassa Museum of the Municipality of Agia Napa and the National Museum of Natural History. To read more about the Smithsonian National Museum, click here and to read more about Cyprus, please click here.
V. ANA - Greek foreign policy
The key-points of the Greek foreign policy were outlined on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, who also announced that a committee will undertake to process a new political doctrine for Greece's foreign policy in response to whatever changes on the international scene. Speaking in a press conference in the presence of Alternate Foreign Minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, and Deputy Foreign Ministers Spyros Kouvelis and Dimitris Dollis, Droutsas clarified that the committee will be comprised of foreign ministry officials and academics, while a special role will be played by the National Council on Foreign Policy (ESEP). In beginning with regional issues, Droutsas referred to the "Agenda 2014" initiative concerning the European prospects of the Balkan countries and his recent visits to Belgrade and Pristina, while in regards to the fYRoM "name issue", he underlined that Greece has proved that it has the necessary political will to find a solution. As regards the all-important field of Greek-Turkish relations, the FM reiterated that Athens seeks close cooperation with Turkey under the precondition that International Law, Greece's territorial integrity and sovereign rights are fully observed. "Within this framework, we are ready, we support Turkey's European prospect and its goal for EU accession," he stressed, pointing out that the promotion of a different EU-Turkey "relationship" is not in Greece's interests. He added that the outcome of a recent referendum in Turkey allows Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to proceed with more decisive reforms in the area of human rights, International Law and the rules of good-neighbourly relations as well as in a solution of the long-standing Cyprus problem. He also clarified that no EU partner has supported Turkey's "unconditional accession" into the EU, adding that certain partners maintained that "Turkey should not be cut off from Europe" and that "somehow Turkey should be integrated into the EU policies." Droutsas underlined that the only way for Turkey is to "fully meet its obligations for EU accession."
VI. RIANOVOSTI - NATO should invite Russia into European missile defense project
The leaders of 28 NATO countries should invite Russia to take part in a project to create a missile defense system in Europe, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday. Rasmussen told journalists in Brussels that the invitation should be made at November's NATO summit in Lisbon. The secretary general also said he hopes next week's meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in New York will give new impetus to practical cooperation on Afghanistan, including the fight against drug trafficking, piracy, terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. He said work on a joint analysis of threats to Russia and NATO in the 21st century would be completed by the end of the year.
VII. VOICEOFRUSSIA - Saint Spyridon's relics arrive in Moscow
The relics of Saint Spyridon are to be delivered to the Cathedral of Christ the Savor in Moscow from the Greek island of Corfu today. Spyridon was born in Cyprus in 270 and was known for his great piety. He eventually became Bishop of Tremithous and went down in history after he proved the essence of the Trinity at the First Ecumenical Council. He was honored for the rare gift of clairvoyance and for the rare ability to cure the sick by prayer, exorcize demons and resurrect the dead. In Russia Saint Spyridon is worshipped for his assistance in softening the heart, settling conflicts and acquiring Christian love. The relics will stay in Moscow till October 6th. They will then be transferred to St.Petersburg. To read more about St. Spyridon, please click here.