Here is today’s roundup of stories.

Blogs

Economist (Economist) - Montana’s problem with new drivers’ licences
Montana is larger than Germany or Japan—around 150,000 square miles. But the cities are small and scattered widely across the state, and this time of year the roads tend to be icy and treacherous.

Comment

Ali Eteraz (Comment is Free) - The prophet and politics
The Prophet Muhammad was the first person to establish an Islamic state - and he should have been the last

NYT (NYT) - For Obama, a Taste of What a Long Battle Holds
If Mr. Obama becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, he is sure to face an onslaught from Republicans and their allies that will be very different in tone and intensity from what he has faced so far.

Ben Macintyre (Times Online) - The Arts as Religion
Art is our new secular religion. Just look at the motives of the criminal and the benefactor

News

BBC (BBC) - The most spied upon people in Europe
Germany’s highest court has ruled that spying on personal computers violates privacy, but governments across Europe are under pressure to help their security services fight terrorism and organised crime. Here, BBC reporters give a snapshot of the extent of surveillance across Europe.

James Mcintosh (FT) - Hedge Fund Implodes
One of London’s most successful hedge funds imploded Thursday when Peloton Partners put the assets of its $2bn flagship fund up for sale and froze its remaining fund after geared mortgage bets left it unable to meet lenders’ demands.

Guardian (Guardian) - McLaren rally round unsackable Dennis after Italian police raids
McLaren last night dismissed rumours that their chairman Ron Dennis could be fired in the wake of the continuing Italian criminal investigation into the team’s involvement in the acquisition of confidential Ferrari design information.

Richard Tyler (Telegraph)

- Sting in the tail of CGT changes
The Government has decided on the most severe way of introducing its new capital gains tax regime by insisting on a controversial measure that will catch thousands of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs who have already sold businesses.

Scotland

BBC (BBC) - Clegg sets target for Lib Dem MPs
The Liberal Democrat leader is to set his party the task of doubling its tally of Scottish MPs within six years.

BBC (BBC) - Trump disappointed over inquiry
The US tycoon Donald Trump has described as disappointing the decision to hold a public inquiry into his £1bn golf resort application.

Wales

BBC (BBC)

- Best practice of E.coli butcher
A butcher at the centre of an E.coli outbreak had featured in an Welsh Assembly Government publication promoting local businesses.

[tags]daily roundup, the skinny, matt wardman, wardman wire, mattwardman[/tags]