Titles: 

• Increase in non-Muslims opting for Sharia courts in Britain
• Europe considers European Monetary Fund
• American Jews energised by tougher White House rhetoric
• Petraeus : Iran Unlikely to Develop a Nuclear Weapon This Year
•  US General paints bleak picture for Afghanistan in 2010
• US, Pakistan set to hold first strategic (slave) dialogue
• Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West's intelligence secrets

 News Detailes:

  Increase in non-Muslims opting for Sharia courts in Britain
A tiny but increasing number of non-Muslims are turning to Sharia courts to resolve civil disputes. The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) is reporting a 15% increase in the number of non-Muslims resorting to Islamic courts to settle commercial disputes this year. Last year, over 20 non-Muslims opted to have their cases heard in a Sharia court. A spokesman for the MAT said: "We are increasingly dealing with reconciliation and mediation in marriage". Under the Arbitration Act 1996, Sharia courts can have their rulings upheld by civil courts in England and Wales. Decisions from the Islamic courts, which often deal with family and financial disputes, can be presented to a family court judge on a two page form for approval. Last week a Scottish law firm became the first in the country to offer clients advice on Sharia law alongside its conventional legal services. The controversial service, offered by Glasgow based Hamilton Burns solicitors, allows clients to receive guidance from both a Muslim lawyer fully trained in Scottish law and a Sharia scholar.Last July it was reported that non-Muslims are increasingly turning to Sharia courts because they find the process "less cumbersome".

Europe considers European Monetary Fund
European governments are contemplating a European Monetary Fund, mirroring the International Monetary Fund, to reduce economic instability in the eurozone.  Wolfgang Schäuble, the German Finance Minister, said that details of the new EMF would be revealed "soon" and that it would have powers comparable to that of the IMF.  The move follows the economic turmoil in Greece. Although the creation of the EMF could not be used to deal with the Greek debt crisis, it would create a mechanism for monitoring and preventing a similar situation arising in the eurozone in the future, by bailing out indebted countries. Mr Schäuble said that eurozone countries needed to learn the lessons of the Greek crisis, which has exposed the need for a mechanism for dealing with eurozone members in danger of defaulting on their debts. Mr Schäuble said: "Accepting financial aid through the International Monetary Fund would, in my opinion, be a n admission that the euro countries can't solve their problems through their own efforts."

American Jews energised by tougher White House rhetoric
The Obama administration's harsh criticism of Israel has energised the emerging moderate Israel lobby, which supports a tough-love approach to US-Israel diplomacy and seeks to counter the powerful, hawkish groups that have long dominated the discourse here. Left-leaning groups have sprung into action in recent days, writing letters and petitions and urging their members to show support for the sharp White House rebuke of Israel's decision to build 1,600 new housing units in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem. For them, the Obama administration's strong words are a welcome change in tone, and the recent diplomatic flap, described by some analysts as the worst in decades, could be a defining moment for the movement as it seeks to gain legitimacy.  Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for J Street, the leading moderate lobbying group, said: "I think the movement has really stepped up." J Street delivered a petition of support with 18,000 signatures to the White House on Monday, and on Tuesday it sent out an e-mail encouraging members to write their legislators expressing their belief that the administration's reaction has been "understandable and appropriate". The main goal of such moderate groups is to establish themselves as a counterbalance to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), the powerful lobbying group known for its unwavering support and aversion to any criticism of Israel. In a statement on Sunday, Aipac called the administration's rhetoric "a matter of serious concern" and a "distraction", urging the White House to "to move away from public demands and unilateral deadlines directed at Israel".

Petraeus : Iran Unlikely to Develop a Nuclear Weapon This Year
Gen. David H. Petraeus said Tuesday that Iran would not develop a nuclear weapon this year, but that the country still remained the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East and Central Asia.  Asked by Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, how much time was available before Iran was able to build a nuclear weapon, General Petraeus replied, "It has, thankfully, slid to the right a bit, and it is not this calendar year, I don't think." General Petraeus made his comments before the Senate Armed Services Committee. General Petraeus, who as the head of United States Central Command oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, declined to discuss what he called "contingency plans" against Iran for what western nations believe is a covert nuclear arms program. Iran insists that its nuclear program is intended for civilian use.

US General paints bleak picture for Afghanistan in 2010
The commander of US forces in the Middle East and Central Asia says 2010 will be a difficult year for US-led forces in Afghanistan. General David Petraeus told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that international forces will be involved in intense fighting with the Taliban and will face setbacks this year. He added that the US troop surge in Afghanistan is unlikely to reduce violence in the Central Asian nation. US troops comprise about two-thirds of the entire foreign military contingent deployed in Afghanistan. US President Barack Obama has ordered the deployment of 30,000 more soldiers to the country despite the recent rise in casualties.

US, Pakistan set to hold first strategic (slave) dialogue
The United States and Pakistan will hold their first Strategic Dialogue here next week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi co-chairing the talks. Topics for discussion March 24 will include economic development, water and energy, education, communications and public diplomacy, agriculture, and security, the State Department announced Wednesday. President Barack Obama and Clinton have repeatedly stressed the breadth and depth of the US-Pakistan relationship, a partnership that goes far beyond security, the official announcement said.

Cyberwar declared as China hunts for the West's intelligence secrets
Urgent warnings have been circulated throughout Nato and the European Union for secret intelligence material to be protected from a recent surge in cyberwar attacks originating in China. The attacks have also hit government and military institutions in the United States, where analysts said that the West had no effective response and that EU systems were especially vulnerable because most cyber security efforts were left to member states. Nato diplomatic sources told The Times: "Everyone has been made aware that the Chinese have become very active with cyber-attacks and we're now getting regular warnings from the office for internal security." The sources said that the number of attacks had increased significantly over the past 12 months, with China among the most active players.