Scrolling around...July 28th, 2012

Egypt: Coptic pope’s voters have been chosen
The procedure for the election of the 118th Coptic pope to succeed Shenouda III who died on 17 March this year, was kick started in Egypt with the publication of the list of 2.594 voters in Coptic newspaper al Watan. The Coptic assembly of voters is always a big mix: other than metropolitans, bishops and monks, it includes representatives of lay associations, Coptic State officials, notables and journalists. The real news is that this time, the Coptic diaspora will also play an important role in choosing their pope: approximately a fifth of electors will be members of communities based outside Egypt...

Tony Blair: West is asleep on Islamic extremism
...Radical Muslims seek “supremacy not coexistence’’, Mr Blair said, and he fears that “The West is asleep on this issue’’, even though it is the biggest challenge...

'Bona fide rock star': Archbishop of York's controversial evangelical preacher brother
"Pastor Robert is preaching today," said a woman at the entrance to the 10,500-seat auditorium, where his flock must pass through airport-style security, complete with metal detectors and armed police.
The buzz is for Robert Kayanja, the younger brother of the second most senior figure in the Anglican Church, John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York.
Back in his native Uganda, Mr Kayanja has become one of the richest and most famous evangelical preachers...

Opening Ceremony London 2012: Did director take shot at US on health care?
Of all the things to laud in Britain's long history, the director of the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics chose for his second act ... universal health care...

Swedish high school student fails bio class for saying homosexuality ‘abnormal’
...When the student questioned the grade, the teacher reportedly replied that it was because of the student’s opinions. The goal of the school’s curriculum, the teacher said, was that students show respect for different sexual orientations, and the student’s views did not correspond with that goal....

Court victory against Obama contraceptive mandate
A federal court in Denver has blocked the Health and Human Services mandate for insurance exchanges under Obamacare to provide free sterilization, contraception and morning after pill coverage...