Muslim Brotherhood and former Mubarak ally in Egypt run-off
Muslim Brotherhood and former Mubarak ally in Egypt run-off
Egyptian voters were faced with a choice between a Muslim Brotherhood candidate and a former ally of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, after the first round of historic elections.
The choice between Mohammed Mursi and
Ahmed Shafiq, representing forces that have competed for the past six
decades, has dismayed many Egyptians who voted for candidates offering a
middle ground Photo: Getty Images
Both candidates claimed to be the champion
of last year's revolution which toppled the former president and
enabled a truly free vote to be held for the first time in Egypt's long
history.
State television said the
Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi led this week's vote with 26.4 percent,
against 23 percent for ex-air force chief Ahmed Shafiq, according to
preliminary results.
Hamdeen Sabahy, a
secular leftist, came a close third with 21.5 percent, followed by
independent Islamist Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh.
Only the top two go to the deciding vote on June 16 and 17. Official first-round results are expected on Tuesday.
But
Mr Sabahy's lawyer said he would demand that the electoral committee
halt the election until alleged voting irregularities had been
investigated and until the constitutional court rules on whether Mr
Shafiq was legally eligible to stand.
US cuts multi-billion dollar training programme for Iraq police
US cuts multi-billion dollar training programme for Iraq police
The US is believed to be drastically cutting back a multi-billion dollar training programme for Iraqi police that was supposed to be central to its post-war civilian legacy in the country.
Students from the Iraqi Federal Police perform a demonstration drill during their graduation ceremony in Baghdad Photo: AFP/GETTY
10:30PM BST 13 May 2012
Original plans for 350 American law enforcement officers to carry out the
scheme, which were promptly scaled back, have now been cut again to just 50
officers, according to The
New York Times.
In a statement, the State Department did not dispute the figures but denied a
claim that officials were considering scrapping the programme altogether by
the end of the year.
"The US Embassy in Baghdad and the Department of State have no plans to
shut down the Police Development Program in Iraq that began in October 2011,"
it said.
The Iraqi interior ministry said at the end of last year that the necessity of
the programme – the most expensive run by the 12,000-strong American embassy
– would be reviewed at the end of 2012.
The newspaper also reported that US officials had spent more than $100 million
(£62 million) on upgrading Baghdad's police academy, before abandoning the
project unfinished.
Draw Mohammad Day, A Reply
Jesus Christ: The Beloved Prophet of Muslims & Christians
Drawings By : Jean Keaton.
Drawings By : Jean Keaton.
Jean Says:
"My most recent interest in drawing children with Jesus
Christ evolved from an experience when I felt tremendous
grief after hearing of the violent and senseless death of a
young boy.
I found solace and peace as my thoughts turned to
drawing that child with his Savior. And now, five years
later, the "As I Have
Loved You" art print series is the result. Each print in
the series is meant to convey a specific characteristic of
the Savior, from a warm and tender nurturer snuggling a new
born baby, to the fun and playful friend of a couple of
rambunctious boys.
Surely when Jesus came to dwell on earth,
he enjoyed these types of interactions with people of all
ages. I believe Jesus would have no objections to providing
people of our day with images that help us relate, connect,
and want to be with him. These religious drawings
provide a way for you and your family to enjoy beautiful,
thought provoking, Christian art in your home.
We hope that
you, like many others, will find spiritual comfort, hope, and
joy in this spiritual art."
Weblink
Weblink
Barack Obama personally oversees al-Qaeda 'kill list'
Barack Obama personally oversees al-Qaeda 'kill list'
Barack Obama personally oversees a top secret process drawing up a "kill list" of terrorists and al Qaeda suspects who should be targeted for drone missile strikes, officials have disclosed.
President Barack Obama Photo: AP
3:44PM BST 29 May 2012
The US
president has placed himself directly at the helm of his country's
controversial secret war and insists on giving the final go ahead for the
most contentious strikes.
He joins his advisers as they pore over the biographies and profiles of
potential targets to decide who is a sufficient threat to the United States
to be killed.
"He is determined that he will make these decisions about how far and
wide these operations will go," Thomas Donilon, his national security
adviser, told the New York Times.
"His view is that he's responsible for the position of the United States
in the world." "He's determined to keep the tether pretty short."
Dozens of advisers who spoke to the newspaper said the process began with
around 100 counter-terrorism officials sifting biographies and "nominating"
suspects in Yemen and Somalia during a secure video conference run by the
Pentagon.
The CIA carries out a separate process for suspects in Pakistan, it said.
The nominations then go to Mr Obama, who signs off on every strike in Yemen
and Somalia and also on the most risky strikes in Pakistan.
The details of the targeting process were disclosed as American forces in Afghanistan said they had killed al Qaeda's second most senior figure in the country.
Sakhr al-Taifi, a Saudi national also known as Musthaq and Nasim, was killed by a "precision air strike" in the Watahpur district of Kunar.
A statement said he was "responsible for commanding foreign insurgents, in addition to directing attacks against coalition and Afghan forces."
"He frequently travelled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al Qaeda leadership.
"He also supplied weapons and equipment to eastern insurgents and managed the illegal transport of insurgent fighters into Afghanistan." Another al Qaeda member had also died in the strike, but no civilians were hurt, the statement added.
The details of the targeting process were disclosed as American forces in Afghanistan said they had killed al Qaeda's second most senior figure in the country.
Sakhr al-Taifi, a Saudi national also known as Musthaq and Nasim, was killed by a "precision air strike" in the Watahpur district of Kunar.
A statement said he was "responsible for commanding foreign insurgents, in addition to directing attacks against coalition and Afghan forces."
"He frequently travelled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al Qaeda leadership.
"He also supplied weapons and equipment to eastern insurgents and managed the illegal transport of insurgent fighters into Afghanistan." Another al Qaeda member had also died in the strike, but no civilians were hurt, the statement added.
Osama bin Laden doctor jailed for 'militant links'
Osama bin Laden doctor jailed for 'militant links'
The Pakistani court that convicted a doctor who helped find Osama bin Laden jailed him for alleged ties to a warlord and not working for the CIA.
In January, Defense Secretary Leon
Panetta confirmed that Shakeel Afridi had worked for US intelligence by
collecting DNA to verify Osama bin Laden's presence in the town of
Abbottabad Photo: Getty/AP
Shakeel Afridi was last week sentenced to 33 years in prison and found guilty
of treason under Pakistan's archaic system of tribal justice.
A copy of the May 24 verdict said evidence that the accused acted "with
other foreign intelligence agencies" could not be taken into account "for
the lack of jurisdiction" in the tribal belt.
Instead, it recommended the evidence "be produced before the relevant
concerned court for further proceedings under the law," raising the
prospect that Afridi could yet face another trial for treason.
Afridi's sentencing was met by anger in the United States where the Senate
Appropriations Committee voted to cut aid to Pakistan by a symbolic $33
million.
In January, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirmed that Afridi had worked
for US intelligence by collecting DNA to verify bin Laden's presence in the
town of Abbottabad where Navy SEALs killed the al-Qaeda leader in May 2011.
US election: Rick Santorum advert compares Barack Obama with Iranian President
US election: Rick Santorum advert compares Barack Obama with Iranian President
In a new campaign advert released by Republican candidate Rick Santorum, Barack Obama is compared to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and bleak consequences are depicted for a future with Mr Obama as a re-elected President.
As Rick Santorum said that Mitt Romney's reputation as an unprincipled "flip-flopper" made even Mr Obama a more preferable option for the White House, his campaign released an advert which juxtaposes Mr Obama with the Iranian President.
The 60-second video warns of dire consequences for a "small American town" called "Obamaville" if Mr Obama is re-elected to the White House.
“Imagine a small American town two years from now, if Obama is reelected. Small business are struggling and families are worried about their jobs and their future," the advert begins.
During part of the video, Iran and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are referenced as having become nuclear threats to America.
"And every day, the residents of this town must come to grips with reality that a rogue nation and sworn American enemy has become a nuclear threat."
Virus threat from Middle East
UN Agency Plans Major Warning on Flame Virus Risk
Published:
Wednesday, 30 May 2012 | 6:43 AM ET
By: Reuters
A
United Nations agency charged with helping member nations secure their
national infrastructures plans to issue a sharp warning about the risk
of the Flame computer virus that was recently discovered in Iran and
other parts of the Middle East.
 |
The
confidential warning will tell member nations that the Flame virus is a
dangerous espionage tool that could potentially be used to attack
critical infrastructure, he told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.
"They should be on alert," he said, adding that he believed Flame was likely built on behalf of a nation state.
The
warning is the latest signal that a new era of cyber warfare has begun
following the 2010 Stuxnet virus attack that targeted Iran's nuclear
program.
The United States explicitly stated for the first time last year that it reserved the right to retaliate with force against a cyber attack.
Evidence
suggests that the Flame virus may have been built on behalf of the same
nation or nations that commissioned the Stuxnet worm that attacked
Iran's nuclear program in 2010, according to Kaspersky Lab, the Russian cyber security software maker that took credit for discovering the infections.
He
said the ITU would set up a program to collect data, including virus
samples, to track Flame's spread around the globe and observe any
changes in its composition.
Kaspersky
Lab said it found the Flame infection after the ITU asked the Russian
company to investigate recent reports from Tehran that a mysterious
virus was responsible for massive data losses on some Iranian computer
systems.
So far,
the Kaspersky team has not turned up the original data-wiping virus that
they were seeking and the Iranian government has not provided Kaspersky
a sample of that software, Obiso said.
Greeks' Income to Fall
Greeks' Income to Fall 55% if They Leave Euro: Bank
Published:
Wednesday, 30 May 2012 | 8:43 AM ET
By: Reuters
If
Greece left the euro, living standards would plummet, incomes would be
slashed by more than half, and inflation and unemployment would
skyrocket, the National Bank of Greece warned on Tuesday.
 |
Image Source | Getty Images
|
"An
exit from the euro would lead to a significant decline in the living
standards of Greek citizens," the NBG wrote ahead of a vote which
parties opposed to austerity measures that have kept Greece in the euro
so far have a chance of winning.
The
bank said per capita income would collapse by at least 55 percent, the
new national currency would depreciate by 65 percent against the euro
and a recession, now in its fifth year, would deepen by 22 percent.
Painting a dire picture of post-euro Greece,
it added that unemployment would jump to 34 percent of the work force
from around 22 percent now and that inflation would rise to 30 percent
from its current level of 2 percent.
The NBG is due to report its first quarter earnings on Wednesday and is expected to announce a loss. Greek banks,
including NBG, have hemorrhaged deposits since the crisis began and are
perceived to be in favour of retaining the euro because the alternative
might trigger a run on their reserves.
The NBG said it wanted to contribute to dialogue about Greece's future with respect to the euro.
Greece
had to call a repeat election for June 17 after an inconclusive vote on
May 6 left the parliament divided between parties that support and
oppose the austerity steps that were a precondition of a second
130-billion-euro bailout agreed with the European Union and
International Monetary Fund in March.
Tax rises and spending cuts insisted upon by the EU and IMF
in order to save the country from default have caused a wave of
corporate closures and bankruptcies, sparking angry protests that have
often turned violent. More than half of Greeks aged 15-24 are
unemployed, according to the latest figures.
Greece's
conservatives have regained a tentative opinion poll lead that suggests
they may be able to form a pro-bailout government committed to keeping
the country in the euro. But the vote is still deemed too close to call.
EU
leaders have warned Greece of the consequences of renouncing the
bailout, saying they will pull the plug on funding, leading to rapid
bankruptcy and an ignominious exit from the single currency.
Iran Looks to Sidestep Strait of Hormuz
Iran Looks to Sidestep Strait of Hormuz
Iran
has been feeling increased pressure from US and EU sanctions against
its oil industry, and as a result has on more than one occasion
threatened to blockade the Straits of Hormuz, the busiest oil shipping
channel in the world; a move that could severely disrupt global oil
supplies and affect oil prices.
 |
Source: Google Maps
|
Is it a
good sign that Iran has threatened to disrupt global oil supplies by
blockading the straits, and is now finding ways to reduce their own use
of the straits, so that any incident there wouldn’t affect their own
exports?
No
specific details have been provided about the dates of completion, the
cost of development, or the expected capacity of the new terminal.
Rostam
Qasemi, Iran`s Minister of Petroleum, said that despite the reduced
demand for Iranian oil around the world, which has caused them to put a
lot of their production into storage, the Iranians are seeking to
increase its oil production and exports up to 1.5 million bpd by 2016.
Read Online Mafati-ul-Jina'n or Free Download
(1) Quraani Aayat:Translation of selected Qurani versus, and their explanation is given in this chapter. The importance of aayat and their specifications are presented in an easy way. Which is understandble for everyone who is a non-Arabic or even non-Muslim. Ayaat containing the myth of Qur'an are collected in this book.
(2) Duayein:In this chapter different prayers are attached, which were given by Prophet Mohammad to his family and companions on different occasions.
(3) Taqeebat-e-Namaz:This chapters contains the teachings of Prophet about prayer(Namaz). The method of prayer, its contents and importance(Fazeelat).
(4) Sayings and Life of Ayimma:History about ayima(Family of prophet Mohammad) and their sayings are compiled in this content.
(5) Ziyaraat:Last chapter consists of ziyarat( A concept of special prayer to pay tribute to prophet Mohammad his family and companions).
Click Here for Urdu
Read Online The Karbala or Free Download
Click Here for English
Click Here for Urdu
Read Online Al-Kaafi or Free Download
(1) The Book Of intelligence and ignorance
(2) The Book On virtue Of knowlege
(3) The Book On ONENESS Of God
(4) The Book about people with Divine Authority
Click Here for English
Click here for Urdu Part-1
Click Here for Urdu Part-2
Read Online Faroo-e-Kaafi or Free Download
The book also explains the procedure of prayers being offered their. It contains a historical prospective of life of Ayimma( Family of Prophet Mohammad) and their way to visit these Holy places.
Click Here for Urdu
Click Here for Urdu
Read Online Tohfa-tul-Awam or Free Download
Tohfa-tul-awam is the book of aamal(Prayers). It also contain the brief discription of Haram(Restricted) and Halal(Allowed) according to quran and teachings of Prophet Mohammad.
The book also contains Ahkam(procedures), dua and ziaraat.
Basically the description of Aamal in quran is compiled in this book.
Click Here for Urdu
Read Online Saheefa-e-Kamila or Free Download
Sahifa-e-Kamila/Sajjadia is the book that contains prayers(duayein) Of Imam Zain-ul-Aabideen named Sajjad, who was the son of Imam Hussain Ibn-e-Ali, Ibn-e-Abi Talib.
The grand son of a great Philosopher Hazrat Imam Ali, the paternal brother and son in law of Prophet Mohammad.
Imam Sajjad Ibn-e-Hussain was born in 58 Hijri. He survived from the Battle of karbala, and his followers kept a record of his duayein (prayers) in which he praised Allah(God) in the best logical ways, and unlocked many philosophical complexions about the concept of God.
Read Online Nehjul Blagha or Free Download
Nahjul Blagha is basically the 3rd most important literature among Muslims. After quran and sayings of Prophet Mohammad(P.B.U.H), Nahjul blagha is referenced. This book Contains the saying of Hazrat Ali ibn-e-abi Talib, the paternal brother, Son-in-law and the successor of Prophet Mohammad(P.B.U.H).Nahjul Balagha consists of 3 main chapters i-e
(1) Sermons
(2) Letters
(3) Sayings
These
sermons and preaching of Hazrat Ali were so highly valued and
venerated in the Islamic world that within a century of his death they
were taught and read as the last word on the Philosophy of mono-theism, as the best lectures for character building, as exalted sources of inspiration, as very persuasive sermons towards piety, as guiding beacons towards truth and justice, as marvelous eulogies of the Holy prophet and the Holy Quran, as convincing discourses on the spiritual values of Islam, as awe inspiring discussions about the attributes of God. as master-piece of literature, and as models of the art of rhetoric’s.
Allama Ibne-abil-Hadeed, the Mothazati commentator of Nahjul Balagha, says that:
Hazrat
Ali had a personality in which opposite characteristics had so
gathered that it was difficult to believe a human mind could manifest
such a combination.He was the bravest man that history could cite and such brave persons are always hardhearted, cruel, and eager for bloodshed.On the contrary Ali was kind, sympathetic, responsive and warm-hearted person, qualities quite contradictory to the other phase of his character and more suited to pious and God fearing persons.
To Oelsner (the famous French Orientals and author of 'Les Effects de La Religion de Mohammed')
Ali was beau ideal of chivalry; and personification of gallantry, bravery and generosity.
He
says:” Pure, gentle and learned without fear and without reproach, he
set the world the noblest example of chivalrous grandeur of character.
His spirit was a pure reflection of that of Mohammed, it overshadowed
the Islamic world and formed the animating genius of succeeding ages".
Read Online The Holy Quran or Free Download
The Holy Quran reveled on Prophet Mohammad. It actually happened as was written in the previous books of God. The Holy Quran is not only a book of religion instead it is full of knowledge. Holy Quran doesn't impose anything yet the verses convince oneself according to his own thinking and mentality. We can say that if some one is reading the Holy Quran in its own language then their is no need to hire a teacher or priest.
As the great philosopher Ali Ibn-e-Abi Talib said " When I need to talk to God, I say prayers, and when I need him to talk to me....I read the Holy Quran"
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