Fatwas have a poor reputation in the West: "Kill Salman Rushdie"; "Pokémon is based on a Jewish-Darwinist theory (aka evolution) that conflicts with Islamist principles"; "Who Wants to be a Millionaire is un-Islamic so don't watch it!" But if you think fatwas can't swim with the progressive tide, try this on for size: A Muslim man may not forbid his adult daughter to marry." So says the mufti of Saudi Arabia, the country's supreme religious authority. Reasons for keeping female relatives single apparently include withholding their wages or maintaining them as household help. But God will punish a father who selfishly rejects every suitor for the hand of his daughter, the mufti decreed. Emily Pankhurst would be proud.

An unfairly fired cashier has become a symbol for workers' rights in Germany. Emmely, a supermarket cashier, was fired in 2008 for stealing two coupons worth ?1.30. Despite an otherwise unblemished 31-year employment record, the Kaiser's supermarket chain said its trust had been "irreparably destroyed." Emmely claimed she was singled out due to her union activities. After a number of appeals, Germany's highest labor court said the decision was unfair because the amount was so low that a written warning would have sufficed. Emmely is now back at her old job in a Berlin store.

Theft of an even less substantial kind occurred in Finland where police arrested five men on suspicion of stealing ?4,000 worth of virtual furniture. Detectives said the items included beds, tables, chairs and "several flat-screen televisions". They were purchased by Internet gamers who had checked into an online hotel. "This furniture may not technically exist but people still paid for it so it was legally their property," a police spokesman said.

Someone at the other end of the pay scale who may have trouble holding on to his job is BP boss Tony Hayward. Two days after being relieved of day-to-day control of the Gulf of Mexico spill, the beleaguered CEO was photographed having a relaxing day out on board his luxury yacht. Americans affected by the millions of gallons of oil leaking into US waters were outraged by his lack of sensitivity. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel put it this way: "I think we can all conclude that Tony Hayward is not going to have a second career in public relations consulting."

Hamas are officially considered terrorists in many countries. The Islamic group, however, identifies itself as a charitable organization. It recently sought to underline that status by offering financial support to a certain Muntazer al-Zaidi - better known as the Iraqi shoe thrower. At a press conference in Baghdad in 2008, the journalist chucked his footwear at then US president George W. Bush with the greeting: "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog!" On his release from a nine-month spell in an Iraqi jail, al-Zaidi received numerous promises of gifts and "virgin brides" from the Muslim world. Alas, none materialized. Now, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has offered to find him a wife from the Gaza Strip and pay for the wedding.

- KJL