The new Australian Government of Kevin Rudd has listened to the people of Australia and scrapped plans to introduce an Australian ID Card.   more »

As 2008 approaches, I have looked back at the 780 articles that I have written over the past year. It has given mixed feelings to read my own work, with the inevitable thoughts of 'wow, did I write that', but in re-reading some of the content a new fear grows for the direction that the UK, Europe and the rest of world is heading. The rise of Authoritarianism, the divisive use of Diversity and Multi Culturism, the banning of virtually anything that allows us to be individuals, and the writing of laws that make little or no moral sense. Laws which make law abiding people criminals for the most trivial things.   more »

Prof Richard West, the Government's leading smoking adviser, has called for a complete ban on smoking at the wheel. He said: "It may seem draconian but the Government should legislate." Well yes it is draconian, if a chap is in his own car - in effect his or her own property then they should damn well be able to smoke should they chose to do so.   more »

French smokers are holding their breath with fear that cafe culture - one of their country's cultural gifts to the world - will be extinguished when a ban on lighting up in public places comes into effect. We will all have that sense of deja vous, as we watch carefully to see how the French react to the EU imposed ban, to see whether they mildly accept it in the same way the British have watched their own pub culture being ripped apart.   more »

More than 90 percent of voters in the Swiss Canton of Obwalden have voted for a flat tax of just 1.8 percent. This is positive news for tax competition within Switzerland, and it doubtlessly will put even more pressure on Europe’s welfare states to reform oppressive tax regimes.   more »

Following the signing of the Lisbon Treaty another European member state has begun to close embassy facilities in overseas locations. The Philippine government expressed concern over the closure of Sweden's embassy in Manila at a time when bilateral relations are flourishing, an official said Friday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed regret over Sweden's decision to shut down its embassy next year because of 'budgetary constraints'.   more »