The Economist writes about a new study published by Hope Not Hate, an anti-extremism lobby group:

Looking at a series of recent data, it concluded that in many ways sentiment in England was gradually becoming more liberal and tolerant of diversity, but Islam and the reactions it inspired were a clear exception. About half the population apparently thought Islam posed a “threat to Western civilisation” while a quarter regarded it as a “dangerous” religion because of its perceived capacity to incite violence.

Today it became public. As from 15 September, I’m the new the acting head of Noaks Ark Syd, the major HIV organisation in Southern Sweden. I already work for the organisation, but has until now been one of several project managers.

This is just the latest in a long line of absurdities in this referendum campaign, which is not even a referendum but a survey.

Richard Glover, an Australian writer and broadcaster, writes in the Washington Post:

How should a country decide the issue of same-sex marriage? Most hold a referendum (Ireland, for example) or they leave it to a vote of their elected leaders (such as Germany).

In Australia, though, we’ve developed our own peculiar process. We’re going for a nonbinding, non-compulsory postal vote, which—for legal reasons—has to be dressed up as a survey.

The march will not only fall on the same day as the holy Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, a day of atonement observed by fasting and praying, it will also pass close to a Gothenburg synagogue, The Local reports.

I realise that it’s upsetting, but even Nazis have the right to free speech. However, they shouldn’t be allowed to propagate their inhumane ideology unchallenged. And if they break any law, which I’m sure they will, the police must act promptly and stop them. The police must secure the synagogue and the Gothenburg Jewry. Let’s the Nazi fools march with their stupid flags and silly uniforms, but keep them away from those they hate.

Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times wrote a spot-on column about a month ago: “Don’t give in to them. If you can muster it, have a laugh, at their expense, instead.”

“The government of Cyprus has raised more than €4bn since 2013 by providing citizenship to the super rich, granting them the right to live and work throughout Europe in exchange for cash investment,” the Guardian reports. “More than 400 passports are understood to have been issued through this scheme last year alone.”

I’m not surprised.

Scientists have found the first direct evidence of a so-called “hot zone” feeding a supervolcano in southern Italy that experts say is nearing eruption conditions, Phys.org reports.

“According to speculation on Twitter and Tumblr, Pennywise the Dancing Clown—the shape-shifting, child-torturing monster from It—is gay. Not only is he gay, but he is dating the Babadook,” Drew Kiser Pride reports.

“An antibody that attacks 99 per cent of HIV strains has been developed by scientists for the first time,” Tom Embury-Dennis of the Independent reports.

Great news!

Nick Duffy of Pink News writes:

The portrait, by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, was rediscovered hanging in a property in Glasgow, where it had been assumed it was a copy.

However the painting, was verified to be real by antiquities expert Dr Bendor Grosvenor during BBC Four show Britain’s Lost Masterpieces.

The painting shows George Villiers, widely believed to have been one of the male lovers of King James VI [of Scotland] and I [of England], who ruled from 1567 to 1625 and is best known for commissioning the King James Bible.

After winning the affection of the King as a young man, Villiers was handed a rapid succession of honours—becoming a Knight, an Earl, and later Duke of Buckingham.

Though plenty of evidence exists to support a relationship between the King and Villiers, it was long airbrushed from public view.