Vandals attack disused Jerusalem mosque

Jerusalem's mayor denounced the attack, which caused no structural damage.The incident is being linked to a wave of attacks by Jewish settlers and right-wing extremists angered by what they see as Israeli government attempts to restrict settlement building.Early on Tuesday, protesters broke into an Israeli army base in the West Bank.They set tyres alight and damaged vehicles inside the Ephraim Brigade's headquarters near Qalqilya, officials said. The brigade's commander was also slightly injured when his vehicle was pelted with stones.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the violence "intolerable" and told security forces to "to act aggressively" against those responsible. UGG Boots Outlet
'Price-tag' attacks
The Nebi Akasha mosque is located in the middle of an ultra-Orthodox part of Jerusalem.Israeli media reports say it has not been used as a place of worship since Israel's war of independence in 1948, though it was recently renovated and turned into a municipal storage facility.Early on Wednesday morning, the Jerusalem Fire and Rescue Services received a call saying there was a fire in the building.When the blaze had been extinguished, firefighters inspected the building and found graffiti defaming Islam and Arabs.The words "price tag" were also sprayed on the walls - a reference to attacks which settlers and extremists say they are carrying out as acts of revenge for any Israeli government attempt to control settlement construction.About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat condemned Wednesday's attack."We must show zero tolerance toward violence in any shape or form and continue to maintain coexistence in the city," he said in a statement.The Israeli police said they had opened an investigation. Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, is also said to be looking at the crime.Other acts of vandalism were reported in two Palestinian towns in the West Bank overnight. The Israeli military said that two Palestinian cars were set on fire, one south of Nablus and the other near Qalqilya. Graffiti was also found.The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says the mosque attack will be a further source of anxiety for the Israeli government, which is concerned by signs of an upsurge in activity among right-wing militants.Opinion in the Arab world will be angered by the desecration of the mosque, but Israelis are more worried by confrontations between supporters of the settlers and the soldiers who are based in the West Bank to protect them, our correspondent adds.After one recent incident, a senior officer said he had never seen such hatred directed at soldiers by Jewish demonstrators, who called his deputy a "Nazi".The Israeli government is said to be considering strengthening anti-terrorism laws in response to the violence.

Union with a fairytale end

Growing up in Melbourne, I remember well the opening of the Hotel Menzies at Rialto, a slightly gloomy but nonetheless impressive five-star at the Docklands end of Collins Street. I always thought it was an uneasy marriage of beautiful Victorian heritage-listed architecture and 1980s glitz.The good news was that the protected Victoriana was the dominant partner in the troubled relationship and even though that meant the space had functionality problems, it also meant it would remain ripe for the right architect and operator to come along and make the marriage of hotel and heritage work. Classic Short Ugg BootsAfter a $60 million makeover taking 18 months, the iconic space late in 2008 became Melbourne's first InterContinental hotel and finally, everything it should be: the trust-classified pair of buildings, the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto.Their ornate facades constitute a well-loved landmark where heritage value remains intact. Featuring stained glass, wrought-iron balustrades, fairytale towers and gargoyles, the Rialto buildings face off across an alley joined by a nine-storey atrium that lets in light and offers views of the Rialto office tower next door. Nothing new there.The differences begin in what interior designer Joseph Pang did with the space in between. Knocking out the solid Flinders Lane entrance and replacing it with a glass wall made a huge improvement to what was a gloomy space running between the two original structures.At the Collins Street front end of the building, admin offices were cleared away and the staircase widened to three times the original, producing an airy expansiveness to the lobby, missing in both the hotel's original incarnation and its pre-InterCon days as a Le Meridien.While remaining true to the heritage-designated burgundy of the 19th-century balustrades and awnings, the designer added pinks, reds, purple, mushroom and brown into a mix of modern concrete, glass and marble. A violet lighting installation down one side of the atrium changes in intensity from day to night. Cheap Ugg Boots A 360,000-tile glass mosaic along one side of the ground floor was quickly sought after for photo shoots.Of the 253 rooms, most face the atrium. They were resealed for sound, which is just as well because the new restaurant and bar areas in the public spaces took no time to became favourites with locals.The entrances to the rooms along the main walkways were kept as Victorian double doors and sash windows, allowing guests to choose to have them open to the central space or closed off with heavy curtaining for privacy.Standard rooms are smartly decorated. The designer chose to keep things bright and up-to-date rather than going with a period look. The choice counteracts the lack of natural light. Fittings, workspaces, bathrooms and conveniences such as irons and coffee-makers are of the expected high standard.The Club InterContinental takes out a gentlemen's club-inspired space at the front of the hotel, with comfy leather, winged armchairs and windows affording views out to Collins Street and on to some of the more elaborate exterior architectural features. There's a small boardroom for meetings.Club InterContinental rooms and suites are spread throughout the hotel rather than kept to designated floors. That's because the heritage-preserved architecture dictated where larger rooms and suites could fall. The individual style of some of these spaces no doubt has regular guests requesting their favourite rooms.For instance, a sixth-floor garret-style space with its own private courtyard and large spa bathroom is pure rock'n'roll.A more feminine and lighter suite in the tower at the front of the building is a picture of pure romance, looking out on to the street and to the decorated exterior.Another bona fide highlight: executive chef Nick Reade's remarkable restaurant, Alluvial, which aims to use as much local produce as possible. Trained by the Roux brothers of Le Gavroche and previously of J.W. Marriott Phuket, the British chef has constructed a menu heavy on Spanish influences. UGG Roxy Tall Boots His wagyu, pork belly and iberico jamon are complemented by a 180-strong wine list, a large selection of which, including many top-end drops, can be had by the glass.The adjoining Rialto Bluestone wine bar is equipped with an Enomatic wine system. Another bar, Market Lane at lobby level, specialises in cocktails.The concierge desk is brilliant. Local knowledge, itineraries and experiences for both business and other travellers are available for the asking.The concierge may even email you before your visit to work up some experiences for you. We had a lengthy discussion about the value of Federation Square. The concierge is a fan. I'm still not sure. Other staff across the board are friendly and attentive which is rare in Australian hospitality. It's a welcome upping of the ante. There's also a great gym and a fabulous indoor pool with a majestic view of the Rialto tower next door.

SF becomes first US city to top $10 minimum wage

SAN FRANCISCO—David Frias works two minimum-wage jobs to squeak by in one of the most expensive cities in America. Come New Year's Day, he'll have a few more coins in his pocket as San Francisco makes history by becoming the first city in the nation to scale a $10 minimum wage. The city's hourly wage for its lowest-paid workers will hit $10.24, more than $2 above the California minimum wage and nearly $3 more than the working wage set by the federal government. It won't put much more in Frias' wallet. But it gives him a sense of moving on up. "It's a psychological boost," said Frias, who is a 34-year-old usher at a movie theater and a security guard for a crowd control firm. UGG Boots Outlet "It means that I'll have more money in my wallet to pay my bills and money to spend in the city to help the economy." San Franciscans passed a proposition in 2003 that requires the city to increase the minimum wage each year, using a formula tied to inflation and the cost of living. It's just another way the progressive people of the City by the Bay have shown their support for the working-class in a locale where labor unions remain strong and housing costs are sky high. Karl Kramer of the San Francisco Living Wage Coalition said a decent wage for a single adult without children in the city would be $15, and that doubles when you have at least one child or more. But like other advocates of better wages, he's still pleased that San Francisco will be the first in the nation to top $10. "It helps workers' morale in a time of economic crisis; they feel that they're able to tread water and get some relief from the recession," said Kramer. While the city is at the forefront of attempting to provide a decent living wage, most employees say it's still not a wage to live on, that the 32-cent hike seems like peanuts. UGG Argyle Knit Boots And some employers say it could lead to layoffs by small businesses already forced to pay federal, state and city payroll taxes as well as a slew of other city-mandated taxes. Daniel Scherotter, chef and owner of Palio D'Asti, an upscale Italian restaurant in the Financial District, said the city's minimum wage hike from $9.92 to $10.24 means that his highest-paid employees -- the waiters who make most of their income from tips -- will see more money in their pockets while his salaried kitchen staff will have to take the hit. If Scherotter raised menu prices to make up the difference, he'd risk going out of business in this economy. What the average San Franciscan may not know, he said, is that business owners also must pay another $1.23 to $1.85 an hour per employee for health-care coverage if they don't offer health insurance. San Francisco is also the only city in the state that charges a payroll tax of 1.5 percent; it also mandates nine paid sick days annually per employee.

Little bush palace

WHAT do you call a duck that wags its "tail" and pants like a canine? The answer, at Le Petit Palais, is Teddy. The pet with a duck-dog identity crisis is a perfect fit for this delightful property, with its eclectic mix of French provincial-meets-Australian scrub, with a side of Eastern European style.Le Petit Palais is set on 4.8 hectares of bushland in the historic village of Thirlmere, about 75 kilometres south-west of central Sydney. Its proximity makes it an ideal spot for a getaway with girlfriends to celebrate my upcoming overseas wedding.We're met with a warm welcome from our hosts, Sue and Kevin Thomas, who have prepared a delicious selection of local cheeses, aperitifs and champagne. I make the mistake of mentioning I once studied French and Sue, an unabashed Francophile, starts to converse with me, only to be met by an embarrassed silence as I realise how little of the language I remember.Le Petit Palais has two guest options; we are staying in Mediterranee, a two-bedroom self-contained villa that sits under a magnificent oak tree about 50 metres from the Thomases' house. UGG Boots Outlet The villa's interiors are painted in bold, warm colours, the walls enhanced with classic prints and pleasant artwork and the lounges with masses of cushions. Polished wooden furniture, a separate dining area and a bright finish to the kitchen and villa fixtures make it a lovely space to settle in.French music plays softly and the fire is already lit as we tuck into beef burgundy pies made in the local bakery, Loop Line Pies.Loop Line is named after the railway line built in 1867, when steam locomotives opened up the region. Today it is used by Thirlmere's Trainworks rail museum, which operates steam trains with vintage railway carriages on Sundays. It's not the only attraction Thirlmere has, though.After we awake to a crisp, sunny morning, Kevin takes us across the road to the start of a walking track around the Thirlmere Lakes National Park. The five interconnected lakes are among the last undisturbed freshwater lagoons in the Sydney region and although it's too cold for swimming, the surrounding eucalypt forests make for pleasant bushwalking. We spot kangaroos, some with joeys. UGG Classic Mini Boots On our return we sample milk, cream and yoghurt from the family-run Country Valley dairy, artisan cheeses from Small Cow Farm, ripe, fresh fruit from Mowbray Park Produce, bread from the Common Ground Bakery and eggs from the Thomases' chook pen. With the exception of the muesli, which comes from Byron Bay, the rest of our breakfast is sourced from within seven kilometres of Le Petit Palais. Sue is a passionate advocate of organic produce. But she's not finished with us yet – she's also a trained massage therapist. We each enjoy a heavenly full-body massage and a dip in the outdoor hydrotherapy spa.Then comes the piece de resistance – an Estonian-style wood-burning sauna. The Estonian community, which began migrating to Australia in 1853, settled in Thirlmere, building poultry farms and businesses. The Thomases have faithfully restored the sauna built and used by the community; guests are invited to detox in its 60-degree heat.That night, Sue puts on her chef's hat and prepares a three-course dinner, with the ingredients again sourced from local farms.Thoroughly relaxed, we almost float to bed, only to be disturbed by a huge huntsman spider.

Groovy pad for the old gang

WE USED to be as thick as thieves, embarking on camping adventures or heading off to films with the nonchalance of single gals who have loads of free time and the luxury of spontaneity.Now, with six kids between us and "the girls" fleeing Sydney to raise their families in the Blue Mountains and Newcastle, catching up is a once-a-year event.It requires meticulous planning and logistics - and a funky Sydney hotel as our base camp for the night, where we can chew over our lives and hear the city roaring outside. Countless emails, three date changes and a few babysitting favours later and we're sitting in the bar of the new Mercure Potts Point ordering three glasses of brut.Mission accomplished. UGG Boots Outlet The Mercure chain might not feature on many dream honeymoon destination lists but it ticks all the boxes for us.It's clean, smart, functional, reasonably priced and has enough dash to avoid being dull.The Mercure Potts Point, formerly the Crest, has just been refitted and relaunched to the tune of $30 million. And don't be fooled by the location name. This hotel is smack in the heart of Kings Cross.The Coke sign is blinking at us, Porky's and the El Alamein Fountain are down the road and Saturday night traffic is choking William Street outside the hotel's windows.We are loving the city buzz, though we're all sleep-deprived women, too, so we're concerned the street buzz is going to impinge on our precious shut-eye. Happily, our rooms are on the 12th floor and the traffic is a muted current of sound far beneath, with the occasional piercing siren.The fresh-air freaks are delighted to find small windows that push open. And did I mention the views? They stretch from St Mary's Cathedral to the Opera House. The room is smartly furnished, referencing the neo-baroque trend with brocade cushions and a decorative triptych panel behind the bed. The black and brown colour scheme is a bit dark for my taste but the effect is stylish and it won't offend anyone's sensibilities. UGG Argyle Knit Boots The linen is quality and the mattress comfortable. The pillows are too high and bouncy but that's a constant hotel gripe for me and I'll admit I'm addicted to my feather-down pillow at home. I've got a spa bath in my room, which I don't use, but the shower looking out to views of the city is a very rare treat indeed.Down at the hotel's bar, we clink our glasses and start the massive task of catching up on a year's worth of living. On the agenda: work, men, children, gossip, clothes and other important sundry items. The bar is in a cosy nook, softly lit and staffed by a friendly Scandinavian.Champagne downed, we move on to the restaurant to try the hotel's "wine flight" tasting plate, matched with NSW wines. All blond wood and mirrors and with a big plasma television, the restaurant has a cafeteria-like cold efficiency. It doesn't help the ambience that we're the only customers, though in this case we are so absorbed in conversation it doesn't matter. The canape plate, while a bit slow coming, is delicious and we gobble it up.But I can't help thinking that any hotel trying to provide a restaurant and bar in these parts is brave, like a lone juggler trying to compete with a three-ring circus. UGG Classic Short Inevitably, we farewell the lovely and attentive staff and step outside to see that circus for ourselves. Kings Cross on Saturday night never disappoints and we are content to stroll around the Cross, Darlinghurst and Potts Point, checking out the new bars and the street life. Girls hobble on platform stilettos wearing tight and tiny dresses.There's a queue outside the Soho Bar. A couple argue outside a club - "I didn't do it, I swear," she pleads. Cops patrol the streets. And we enjoy the whole merry bazaar, chomping on slices of pepperoni pizza while standing on a street corner. The next morning, we are conversationally sated and our breakfast talk is more a series of relaxed riffs on life as we tuck into eggs Benedict at a nearby cafe. Same time next year, girls?