The Virtue Police

Certain officers of the Virtue Police in Saudi Arabia have been arrested because of the death of a suspect. The duties of the Virtue Police include the protection of the flock to stray. In other words they are responsible for the religious well being of the people. If someone is at 'risk' of straying this police is responsible that a) he/she does not do so and b) that he/she does not affect others with their wayward thinking. The wayward thinking is identified by the way one cloths if it is in the manner the suspect talks or any other 'give-aways' or hints.
The most interesting thing is that the US has always been standing close and very protective over its harmless and defenseless ally Saudi Arabia which would never dare to touch an innocent man on the basis of an unprovable suspicion. Which is based on an even less provable idea.
No neither the US nor Saudi Arabian Governments would ever do such things but there are those other very dangerous countries that have neither money nor weapons those have to be kept under control so that they can never threaten the defenseless that own the most sophisticated weapons.

Related articles
Saudi 'virtue police' trial delay (BBC)

Russia and Austria

A Russian space agency official has been arrested in Austria because he is being suspected of espionage. Russia has expressed how strongly they feel regarding the arrest and insist that the official be released since they claim that he was under the protection of diplomatic immunity. Since he was attending a UN meeting and stated that because of that the official is to be released. The Russian official was arrested together with an Austrian Military officer who is suspected of having handed on the information to the Russian official.
This is one more event creating even more tension between Europe and Russia.

Free 'spy', Russia tells Austria (BBC)

Sony VS. The Church of England

The Church of England is considering legal actions against the game publishing arm of Sony. Why? Well it is not because the games which Sony is publishing are 'wasting' today's youth. Its isn't necessarily because of the amount of violence or because of some indiscretion against Christ or God him/itself. The reason for the consideration of these legal actions is simply from this world and driven by the concept of ownership.
Now what has Sony done that the Church of England suddenly wants to sue? Its simple really apparently they used a certain Cathedral in a game with out requesting permission for doing so from the Church. Sony reacted by stating that the game does not reflect in reality and this is believable considering that the game is based in a post-apocalyptic world. The Manchester Cathedral apparently is well represented in the game, but the Church seems to wish to either be payed or to see the Cathedral disappear from the game. Admitting all previous stunts and attempts to get money from others this is a very new and different approach for the Church until now forgiveness was enough but now lawsuits? Well it is well known that those can bring in a nice chunk of money at once and no-one ever doubted the churches ability to produce zealots. Sometimes it is interesting how a Religious institution sometimes appears so much less 'other worldly'. Suddenly they are not above pettiness or money.

Related sites:
Cathedral row over computer game (BBC) (Error in BBC headline there it is a PS3 Game)
Resistance Fall of Man Website