text:
“PTI received prohibited funds,” rules ECP in unanimous decision
Announcing the long-awaited verdict in the prohibited funding case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday ruled that PTI did indeed receive prohibited funding and kept 13 bank accounts hidden.
The decision was reserved on June 20 after the Election Commission heard the arguments of the parties. Today, a three-member bench consisting of Nisar Ahmed and Shah Muhammad Jatoi, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, pronounced the decision.
Key points from PTI’s foreign funding case hearing:
- ECP finds PTI received funding from prohibited sources
- ECP rules party got funds from Arif Naqvi and 34 foreign nationals
- PTI had taken ownership of eight accounts and kept 13 accounts hidden
- Show-cause notice issued to PTI to explain why funds shouldn’t be seized
- Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I
In the unanimous decision of the three-member bench, the Chief Election Commissioner said that it was proved that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received prohibited funding.
In the decision, it was said that funds from USA, Canada and Wootton Cricket to PTI were prohibited.
The verdict said that PTI received funds from 34 foreigners including Arif Naqvi, funding was also taken from Abraaj Group, IPI and USI.
Unknown accounts have also come to light, said the commission in its verdict, adding that hiding accounts is a “violation” of Article 17 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the ECP found that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I and that the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was false.
The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received.
“I don’t understand why PDM have declared overseas Pakistanis as enemy,” says Fawad Chaudhry
Speaking to the media after the ECP’s verdict, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that most of the money was from overseas Pakistanis.
“I don’t understand why PML-N, JUI and PPP have declared overseas Pakistanis as the enemy. We consider overseas Pakistanis to be the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and we will continue to rely on them for our funding,” he said.
“CEC Sikander Sultan failed to differentiate between affidavit and certificate, tweets Fawad
In a tweet later, PTI senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry said that since the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and ECP members have “weak” legal backgrounds, they failed to “differentiate between an affidavit and certificate”.
Akbar S Babar demands resignation from PTI Chief Imran Khan
Founding member of PTI, Akbar S Babar, who filed a petition in Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regrading probe in PTI’s foreign funding, demanded Imran Khan’s resignation from party’s Chairmanship.
“ECP verdict charge sheets Imran for violating Constitution,” says PM Shehbaz
In a tweet following the ECP verdict, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the Election commission’s verdict on PTI’s prohibited funding case “charge sheets Imran for violating the Constitution”.
“ECP verdict on PTI foreign funding case charge sheets Imran Niazi for violating the Constitution, submitting false affidavits & accepting foreign money. Proven yet again that he is a certified liar. Nation should ponder over the implications of his politics funded by foreigners,” Premier said.
“Liar, corrupt, money launderer,” Maryam Nawaz chides Imran Khan
In a tweet following the ECP verdict, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz chided PTI Chairman Imran Khan for being a “liar, corrupt and money launderer”.
“Fitna Khan is the only politician of Pakistan who has been proven, in a single judgment with irrefutable evidence, to be a liar, corrupt, a money launderer, and acting on the influence of external forces,” she said.
Imran Khan announces countrywide protests outside ECP offices on Thursday against CEC
PTI has announced a protest outside the Election Commission office in Islamabad on August 4 to demand resignation after passing resolutions against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from 2 provincial assemblies.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan announced on Monday that the party will stage protest demonstrations outside the offices of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) across the country on August 4 against the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
Background of PTI Foreign Funding case
The verdict comes at a time when the campaign against the Chief Election Commissioner intensified after the Election Commission reserved its verdict on June 20 and an investigative report was recently published in the Financial Times that how $2 million collected through a charity cricket match in UK came to the accounts of PTI and what was the role of business tycoon Arif Naqvi in this process.
The case, filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar, has been pending since 14 November 2014. Akbar S. Babar had alleged serious financial irregularities in the party’s funding from Pakistan and abroad. Khan and party leaders have denied any wrongdoing in this regard, maintaining that the said funding did not come from prohibited sources.
The Election Commission’s Scrutiny Committee, set up in March 2018 to look into PTI’s foreign funding within a month, finally submitted its report on January 4 after 4 years, during which around 95 hearings were held.
The report, based on eight volumes of records sought by the State Bank of Pakistan, confirmed that the PTI leadership had received millions of dollars from Indian nationals and foreign companies, including other foreign companies, without providing details of sources of income, they had committed serious violations of ‘funding laws’ by collecting billions of rupees.
The report confirmed that PTI received funding from foreign nationals and companies and concealed the actual volume of funds and dozens of bank accounts.
The report also cited the party’s refusal to disclose details of major transactions and the panel’s failure to obtain details of PTI’s foreign accounts and funds deposited abroad.
The report also questions the certificate signed by Chairman PTI Imran Khan which was submitted along with the details of PTI’s audited accounts.
According to the report, PTI understated the actual amount of funds raised by Rs312 crore in the 4-year period between 2009-10 and 2012-13. The annual details show that in FY 2012-13 alone, more than Rs14.5 crore was not disclosed.
The report also referred to the controversy over four PTI employees being allowed to receive donations in personal accounts, but also clarified that it was beyond the committee’s purview to investigate their accounts.
However, the PTI has been insisting on bringing together the foreign funding cases against all the parties and deciding them together, while the ruling alliance led by Muslim League (N) had been demanding the early announcement of the decision for several days.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Election Commission’s verdict in the PTI prohibited funding case, the security of the red zone has been put on high alert, where it has been decided to deploy 1,000 police personnel, the anti-rights force will also remain in the red zone, while unrelated persons will not be able to enter the red zone.


ACC has three teams in Top 5: Polls
Both the AP and coaches’ polls agree this week on the top five teams in the land. Gonzaga (27-2) is in the top spot, replacing Duke (24-3), which lost on Wednesday to North Carolina (22-5).
The Tar Heels moved up to the fifth spot in both polls on the strength of that win and a win on Saturday over Florida State, which had been on an eight-game winning streak heading into the weekend.
UVA, Duke and UNC are all tied atop the ACC standings with identical 12-2 records, with four games left in the regular season.
FSU (21-6) held at #17 in the coaches poll, but dropped two spots in the AP poll, with the loss at Carolina.
Virginia Tech (21-6), which hosts Duke Tuesday night, dropped a spot, to #19, in the coaches poll, but held at #20 in the AP poll.
Louisville (18-10) is the sixth ACC team in the polls this week. Despite losing both of its games last week (at Syracuse, at home to UVA) by double-digits, the Cardinals dropped just two spots in the coaches poll, to #24, though they did fall completely out of the AP poll.
Story by Chris Graham


text:
Fairy lights hung over your table or across walkways will allow your guests to safely navigate your garden whilst also providing your setting with a magical glow - we recommend you turn them off when the fireworks begin
Lynchburg Virginia Magical Woodland Wedding as seen on Hill CIty Bride.I love this flower pallet wall, which was a collaboration between The Arrangement Company and Adam Mullins photographed by Adam Barnes Photography. It's lovely and unique as a wedding
5 Essential Elements to Bring Your Guests Together fun wedding entertaining activites for intimate and small weddings
25 Wedding Decorations & Decor Ideas
Best 25 Wedding Decorations & Decor Ideas https://fashiotopia.com/2017/08/08/25-wedding-decorations-decor-ideas/ In regards to weddings everything must be ideal. Whenever you're arranging a wedding, decorations are the most significant factor involved. Organizing a wedding is quite an enormous responsibility.
20 Must-See Non-Traditional Wedding Guest Book Alternatives
thumb print tree wedding guest book ideas
35 Eco-chic Ways To Use Rustic Wood Pallets In Your Wedding

domain: artistic


text:
Are you looking for a spot to watch Les MisÃ©rables movie on-line without having flash or download on your iPad or iPhone? You have come to to the appropriate place. Les MisÃ©rables a strong and really unforgettable film. The film is lengthy but it's stunning, heartbreaking and effective. The story and cast are great. Les Miserables is the new adaptation of the classic novel written by Victor Hugo. The movie is as entertaining as the book. It shows Happiness and Sadness, you will laugh and cry. I recommend this film to everybody, simply breathtaking from start to finish.
How to watch Les MisÃ©rables (2012) Movie On the internet on your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch? Touch the play icon in the middle of the black screen then wait 10-15 min for stream to load. If you'd like to watch Les MisÃ©rables 2012 Film on iPad in complete screen mode, please press the modest arrow icon in the bottom right hand corner of the player.
This stream is compatible with the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Stream operating or not? Please let us know by means of comments and be certain to contain the device and browser you employed. Your comments are genuinely appreciated.

domain: entertainment


US engineering firm Sherpa 6 and JMA Wireless have partnered to demonstrate a private 5G mobile network for US Army tactical applications at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The activity focused on testing military applications and software with JMA’s 5G network to showcase the increase in operational efficiency for frontline troops.
During the event, JMA’s 5G standalone wireless capability was linked to the army’s MRZR vehicle-mounted Integrated Tactical Network (ITN). The connection reportedly resulted in reduced latency and increased bandwidth.
“Sherpa 6 is proud to support the critical DoD 5G Wireless cross-cutting mission set for networking and lethality,” Sherpa 6 CEO Joe Dames said.
“Based on our past success in facilitating the Army’s pivot to the ITN, we continue to bring industry-leading mission expertise and innovation to DoD 5G wireless initiatives to meet immediate and future warfighter needs.”
Connecting Soldiers Through 5G
The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command led the event with the support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD).
Other capabilities showcased in the demonstration were machine learning algorithms, sensor-to-shooter applications, real-time tracking, and the Watchtower mobile device management solution.
“This program is funded to show edge computing capability for Joint All Domain C2/ITN Intelligent Nodes at the tactical edge… to perform manned-unmanned teaming and sensor-to-shooter operations,” OUSD 5G Tactical Applications Director Dilip Guha explained.
“Sherpa 6 knows what it means to serve and understands what soldiers need,” JMA Wireless General Manager Rishi Bhaskar added.
“Together, our 100 percent US-based team is making private 5G possible for those on the frontlines – connecting soldiers in ways and places that weren’t possible before.”


If you’ve never come across the term ‘passive income’ while scrolling through your preferred social media platform, first of all, well done—I’m not sure how you’ve been able to dodge it for so long. If you have, you might want to stick around regardless because, as this article’s headline suggests, you’ve probably been fed a pack of lies.
Passive income is money that you earn either automatically or without putting in much effort. It can come in various different forms, such as renting out a flat to someone (as long as the property owner isn’t a real estate professional), receiving royalties from a book, song or film, and investing in dividend stocks. So far so good, right? After all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to supplement your income, especially not when faced with soaring inflation and a slowing economy.
The real issue here isn’t passive income itself, it’s the fact that it’s being promoted by countless individuals online as an easy way to make thousands each month. Their selling point? It’s supposedly easier than a traditional 9-to-5 job.
The reality is, if you’re looking to ‘make money in your sleep’, you’ll need to work at it just like you would a full-time job. And that’s me going for the best-case scenario here. From courses, e-books and other various products online to vending machines in high-traffic areas, you name it, and there’s someone on YouTube, TikTok and even Reddit claiming that they make insane amounts of money from it for close to no work.
Just set it all up and you’re ready to go, is what passive income-obsessed netizens tell those who, understandably, wouldn’t mind making money effortlessly. While many people claim to be making passive income, particularly on social media, according to Census Bureau data, only 20 per cent of American households earn such pay. The median amount that those households make from those sources is $4,200 a year.
What people often call ‘passive income’ is income that isn’t dependent on a single paycheck or employer. But in a lot of cases, they’re confusing it with leveraged income—putting in time and effort in advance to earn recurring profits from selling something specific. Even worse, many of us go as far as to mistake a side hustle (aka, more work) for passive income.
Taking renting out a property for example. Although it’s described as a way to create passive income by many sources of authority online, it’s easy for people to underestimate the time and money needed to buy and maintain said property. It doesn’t take much for unexpected repairs and expenses to eat into rental profits, and I’m not even getting into the details of what being a property owner entails.
Speaking to The New York Times about her distaste for the way both terms are seen as interchangeable nowadays, Gina Vanegas, 37, explained that she had initially felt ashamed of that extra money, especially when family and friends would refer to it as “passive income,” implying that she didn’t have to do any work to earn it.
“Thinking specifically as a Latina, it’s ingrained in our stories to really have to work hard to get ahead,” Vanegas told the publication. “Somehow passive income doesn’t count as hard work, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, and most of us ended up with too much free time on our hands, we began to question whether working a traditional job would provide us with enough money. Mindsets changed, leading gen Zers and millennials to think of different ways to earn extra income, save for the long-term future and enjoy the present.
Though I won’t claim that I have the perfect solution to solve all your worries, one thing is for sure, hustle culture is not dead, it’s just rebranded into something even more deceiving. So be wary of what people tell you online—but you can trust me of course.


text:
When a person you love faces problems, a recuperation prayer can be reassuring. These prayers may additionally offer durability and chance.
Medical scientists have actually examined the electrical power of petition for some time. One unique study randomly assigned center clients to be prayed for without the person understanding. The patients that were wished knowledgeable far fewer issues than the control team.
No matter the wellness concern, metaphysical healing prayers could be an effective means to bring tranquility as well as comfort. These prayers are actually planned to link you along with your divine dad and recognize that He is actually self-governed over every facet of your everyday life, featuring your health problem or healing.
On top of that, this type of prayer can assist you to locate clearness and also wisdom in your problem. It may likewise provide convenience to another person that is actually undergoing a challenging opportunity. The Scriptures shows that our beautiful daddy is loving as well as compassionate toward us, so it is important to remember that He is actually with you by means of your problems. create your own path
In the New Proof character of James, the author suggests that those who are sick must summon the elderlies of their parish to pray for all of them and sanctify all of them with oil. This type of request is usually described as a recuperation or even faith-healing prayer and is an essential part of the Christian tradition.
Prayer can be an effective device when it comes to bodily healing. It can assist individuals bounce back from traumas, get over ailment or condition, as well as manage discomfort as well as suffering. It can additionally be actually made use of to soothe and cure the soul worry. Petitions for recuperation are an excellent method to show affection and also help to those that reside in demand.
While medical research on the healing electrical power of request is actually confined, some researches have shown beneficial outcomes. One research found that attendees who hoped experienced lesser fees of clinical depression and also stress and anxiety than those that really did not wish. Other studies have actually found that prayer can easily reduce soul rate and blood pressure, along with improve the lifestyle.
An additional research found that girls who were prayed for experienced a considerably higher pregnancy fee than those that weren’t wished. The scientists propose that this may result from the inactive medicine effect, regression to the way, or nonspecific emotional support.
Considering that it is actually typically private and also administered in different techniques through a wide array of folks, it may be complicated to establish whether petition is helpful. In addition, many people just resort to prayer when one thing negative is happening, that makes it difficult to discover a representative sample for research study. That said, some analysis has actually located favorable effects coming from first-person prayer.
Psychological recuperation is the procedure of recouping from mental injures, reductions, or even injuries. It is actually additionally the procedure of managing negative feelings like fear, stress and anxiety, anger, pity, depression, or sense of guilt. It involves resolving the root causes of these emotional states and also finding out brand-new coping capabilities for self-regulation. It may require time, yet with God’s help, it is possible to experience mental recovery.
When praying for emotional recuperation, it is crucial to be a really good audience as well as allow the individual share their tale. Often, people that have experienced terrible occasions need to be heard and validated. This is a chance to tell all of them of God’s passion and His power in their lives, also during the course of the most difficult opportunities.
One more facet of emotional healing is urging the specific to take management of their feelings as well as not let them be reigned by all of them. This can be a difficult thing to carry out, yet it is crucial for somebody in healing to recognize that their emotions are actually regular. It is actually likewise handy to give them sensible tips for coping with their feelings, such as journaling, obtaining enough sleep, and also exercising.
Petition for healing could be a strong tool in times of suffering, health problem, or ache. It is crucial to bear in mind that recovery looks different for everyone, yet it is constantly achievable with the help of God.
When you are having a hard time economically it can easily feel like there is actually no chance out. Whether it is actually due to the fact that you need a miracle to pay your expenses, avoid financial obligation, or merely to survive. Fortunately, God is a service provider. This web page has been actually compiled with requests for economic true blessings, advancement as well as recovery.
Requests for recovery of enjoyed ones
When an individual you adore is sick or even experiencing it could be hard to understand what to accomplish to aid. Some of the best things you can do is to pray for them. Petition for recuperation may be strong, specifically when you are specific regarding what you need to have.
This will definitely boost your opportunities of success in hoping for healing for your really loved ones. Inevitably you will find the results of your requests.
When it comes to bodily recovery, prayer can easily be a powerful tool. Petitions for recovery are an excellent technique to present affection and assistance to those that are in requirement.
While medical investigation on the recovery power of petition is limited, some researches have actually revealed good end results. Other research studies have actually located that request can easily decrease soul rate and blood pressure, as well as enhance the top quality of lifestyle.
Petition for recovery can easily be powerful, particularly when you are details concerning what you require.

domain: psychology


text:
A Note on Age Structure and COVID-19 Transmission in U.S.
3 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2020
Date Written: March 31, 2020
An important determinant of the transmission and outcomes in patients is the age distribution of the population. Using U.S. county-level daily data on confirmed COVID-19 cases, I find a positive relationship between the growth rate of cases and the fraction of the very young (aged 0 to 17) in the population. My results are consistent with the hypothesis that the very young are asymptomatically transmitting COVID-19 at a higher rate than the average population.
JEL Classification: I1
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

domain: library


text:
-- Orc Lite - Game Edition --
The Orc Lite - Game Edition is a fully rigged ready to export 3d game character for your mmo/rpg needs.
He has high-res textures (diffuse, normal) and he is rigged using character studio biped, which mean you can load up
motion capture data (also found on this site) straight away.
Two versions (colors) of the skin are included.
More variations will be available as add-ons, in order to make the figure more accessible.
-- -- Tech Info:
Texture size: 2048x2048 (.tga)(Diffuse,Normal)
Materials: Default Scanline with DirectX Display
Available in 3dsmax 2009 and fbx format
Check out the images and the cool movies showing of the tight
skinning done on this guy.

domain: game


Are you a quilter looking to elevate your projects?
Whether you’re just getting started with quilting or are an experienced crafter, having the right tools and materials can make all the difference in the outcome of your project.
An ironing board is one essential necessary for successful quilt-making; however, investing in a specialized board designed specifically for quilting can improve accuracy and speed up the process significantly.
In this article, we will go over what features to look for when selecting a good quilting ironing board as well as give tips on how to assemble and use it correctly.
By following these instructions, you'll be on your way to achieving great results in no time!
What to Look for in a Quilting Ironing Board
When selecting a quilting ironing board, there are several features to consider. First, you’ll want an ironing board that is wide enough and long enough to accommodate your largest quilt size.
A good rule of thumb is to select a board that is at least two inches wider than your intended project size and approximately three feet longer.
This will ensure that you’ll have plenty of space to work efficiently without feeling cramped.
Also, look for an ironing board with a thick, padded top. This will provide additional cushioning and heat insulation to make pressing easier on your hands and quilt fabric.
Additionally, the padding can help reduce damage from hot steam irons. Finally, it is important to select a board with height adjustability.
Look for one that can be placed at an angle or adjusted up and down for more comfortable working positions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling Your Quilting Ironing Board
Here are the steps to take when assembling a quilting ironing board:
- Unpack the board and its accompanying parts carefully. Lay out each part so that you have an idea of what needs to be assembled.
- Assemble the frame by fitting the legs together, making sure they are firmly and securely connected with nuts and bolts or screws as needed. If there is a center support bar, attach it now.
- Place the board top on the frame. If there is an adjustable height mechanism, securely attach any necessary screws and levers before proceeding.
- Fill the pockets of the ironing board with sandbags or other weights for stability when in use. This will help keep it from wiggling and shifting when pressing on your quilt fabric.
- Place the board top cover on the frame and secure it with clips or string ties as needed. Make sure to tuck any loose edges into the pockets of the board so there aren’t any wrinkles that can cause bunching when pressing.
- Finally, attach the iron rest to one side of the board and plug in your steam iron, making sure to leave enough room for maneuverability.
Best Tips for Using Quilting Ironing Board Effectively
Here are some tips on how to use your quilting ironing board effectively:
- Before you start pressing your quilt fabric, make sure that the surface of the board is clean and free of any debris or lint. This will help prevent any accidental scorching or burning of the fabric.
- Always press in one direction, following the grain of the quilt top. This will ensure even pressure distribution and avoid any stretching or distortion of the fabric.
- Always use a pressing cloth between the hot iron and your quilt top. This will prevent scorching and transfers of dyes from fabrics to your quilt project.
- Take regular breaks during pressing, especially for bigger projects. This will help reduce fatigue and maintain accuracy while working on the quilt.
- When you’re done pressing, make sure to fold up the board properly and store it in a dry place away from direct sunlight. This will help preserve your ironing board for many years of use.
By investing in the right tools and materials and taking the time to correctly assemble and use your quilting ironing board, you can achieve professional results that will make your quilts shine!
Benefits of having a quilting ironing board
Here are some benefits of having a quilting ironing board:
- The added width and length of a specialized quilting ironing board provide additional space to work comfortably, allowing you to spread out your fabrics more easily.
- With a thicker, padded top, there will be much better insulation from the heat of the iron, resulting in fewer accidental burns.
- The adjustable height feature allows you to customize the board to your preferred working position, which can be especially beneficial for those with back or neck pain.
- The sandbags provide additional stability when pressing large quilts, ensuring that there is no shifting or wobbling of the board during use.
- By reducing fabric distortion and providing consistent heat distribution, a quilting ironing board helps you achieve professional-looking results on your projects.
Having the right tools and materials for quilt-making is essential to achieving great results.
With a quality quilting ironing board, you can take your projects to the next level with improved accuracy and speed!
Tips and tricks to get the most out of your new quilting ironing board.
Here are some useful tips and tricks to make sure you get the most out of your new quilting ironing board:
- Invest in a good quality pressing cloth. This will provide additional insulation from the heat of the iron while also protecting your fabric from accidental burns or scorching.
- Keep a small container of water nearby when pressing. If you encounter a stubborn wrinkle or crease, spritzing the fabric lightly with water can help soften it up for easier pressing.
- Test out different irons and find one that works best for your particular type of project. Some are better suited to heavier fabrics while others may be more effective on lighter materials.
- Before pressing your quilt top, make sure to use a lint roller or brush to remove any excess threads and fibers. This will help prevent unwanted transfers onto the fabric during pressing.
- If you’re using an adjustable height board, try out different angles and heights until you find one that is most comfortable for your particular working style.
- When pressing a large quilt, start from the center and work your way outwards. This will ensure that all areas of the quilt get evenly pressed without any distortion.
These tips and tricks can help you get the most out of your new quilting ironing board and achieve great results on your projects!
Recommended accessories and materials for optimal crafting experience
Here are some recommended accessories and materials to help you get the most out of your quilting experience:
- A good quality iron is essential for achieving professional results. Look for models with adjustable temperature settings and steam functions for more control over pressing.
- Invest in a pressing cloth that is specifically designed for quilt projects. This will provide extra insulation from the heat of the iron and help prevent unwanted transfers or scorching.
- Consider investing in a spray bottle to keep your fabric damp during pressing. This will help make stubborn wrinkles easier to manage and ensure even press distribution on the quilt top.
- A good quality pair of scissors is essential for any quilting project. Look for scissors with sharp blades that will help you make precise cuts without damaging the fabric.
- A hand-sewing needle is also a useful tool to have in your crafting arsenal. This will allow you to make quick repairs or adjustments whenever needed.
These essential materials and accessories can help ensure you get the best results for your quilting projects!
What to look for when choosing a quilting ironing board
When selecting a quilting ironing board, there are several factors to keep in mind:
- The size of the board is important depending on the size and complexity of your projects. If you’re working with larger pieces, then you might need an extra-large board for maximum efficiency.
- Look for a board that is made of sturdy material to ensure stability and even heat distribution when pressing.
- Opt for a board with adjustable height so that you can customize it to your working style and avoid any potential neck or back pain.
- Make sure the top layer of the board is thickly padded for added insulation from the heat of the iron.
- For extra stability, look for a board that comes with sandbags that can be filled and placed on the corners of the board.
By considering these factors when selecting your quilting ironing board, you can ensure that you get the best results possible!
Troubleshooting Common Problems with Quilting Ironing Boards
Here are some common problems you may encounter when using your quilting ironing board and how to fix them:
- If the fabric is bunching up or shifting while pressing, try filling the sandbags with more sand or gently pushing down on the edges of the board. This should provide additional stability and prevent any further movement.
- If the fabric is becoming burned or scorched, check that your iron temperature settings are not too high. Additionally, make sure to use a pressing cloth to provide extra insulation from the heat of the iron.
- If you’re experiencing difficulty in removing stubborn wrinkles and creases, try spritzing the fabric lightly with water before pressing. This should help soften it up and make the process easier.
By following these troubleshooting tips, you can ensure that you get optimal results with your quilting ironing board!
What is the best material for a quilting ironing board?
The best material for a quilting ironing board is one that is made of sturdy material with thick padding.
This ensures stability and even heat distribution when pressing your fabric.
In addition, look for a board with adjustable height to customize it to your working style.
How often should I clean my quilting ironing board?
It is recommended that you clean your quilting ironing board after each use to remove any fibers or debris that might have accumulated during the pressing process.
For best results, use a lint roller or brush to remove any excess fibers and then wipe down the board with a damp cloth.
What is the best way to press fabric on an ironing board?
The best way to press fabric on an ironing board is to start from the center of the fabric and work your way outwards.
This will ensure that all areas of the fabric are evenly pressed without any distortion or bunching up of the material.
It is also important to use a pressing cloth to provide extra insulation from the heat of the iron and prevent unwanted transfers onto the fabric.
What is the best way to store a quilting ironing board?
When storing your quilting ironing board, make sure to place it in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight.
Furthermore, cover the board with a cloth or blanket to keep dust and dirt away. This will help ensure that your board stays in good condition and lasts for many years to come.
Why is it important to use a specialized quilting ironing board?
A specialized quilting board will provide several benefits over an ordinary ironing board.
Its larger size and extra padding are designed for pressing large pieces of fabric such as quilted blocks.
All in all, having a quilting ironing board in your possession is an invaluable asset. Not only does it give you the chance to work more effectively, but it also serves as a welcome addition to your crafting portfolio.
Whether you’re an expert or just starting with quilt making, attention must be paid when looking for the perfect quilting ironing board.
Be sure to consider all of the steps we discussed and follow our tips for assembling, using, and maintaining a board that will make your craft projects even easier.
With the knowledge gained from this blog post and the help of a great quilting ironing board, you're sure to acquire the skills necessary to make beautiful creations with ease!
Now go ahead and give it a try: How to Make a Quilting Ironing Board!


text:
K-POP group TWICE entered the Billboard chart for the first time.
According to Twitter’s Billboard on June 9, TWIEC was spotted on the 200th place on Billboard 200 with their recent album MORE & MORE.
Twitter’s Billboard chart first revealed the names of musicians and albums that were first listed on Billboard 200 prior to this week’s soon-to-be-announced list on its official website. Lady Gaga‘s Chromatica was at the top of the list.
Expectations and favorable reviews for the new album can be seen in the album sales. From May 11 to May 27, the album surpassed 500,000 pre-orders. Based on the Billboard chart, 6,100 copies were sold in the US.
However, the plagiarism controversy over the music video of the title track “MORE & MORE” continues.
Artist Davis McCarthy replied in writing on June 9 to tvN’s questions regarding the music video plagiarizing the sculpture of his.
He wrote, “My legal team and I take this plagiarism very seriously.” He clearly stated that he recognizes the situation as “plagiarism” and that a legal team has been prepared.
“We are in the process of talking with TWICE, JYP, and NAIVE,” he added. NAIVE is the production company that produced the music video.
Davis McCarthy stated, “I want them to do what’s honorable. and I want them to work this out with me.”
— TWICE (@JYPETWICE) June 2, 2020

domain: news


text: "Quality very first, Honesty as base, Sincere assistance and mutual profit" is our idea, in an effort to create consistently and pursue the excellence for Portable Borewell Drilling Machine, Water Well Drill Machine , Small Well Drilling Machine , Deep Well Drilling Machine ,Small Well Drilling Machine . We welcome new and old customers from all walks of life to contact us for future business relationships and mutual success. The product will supply to all over the world, such as Europe, America, Australia,Rome, Lithuania,Bolivia, Durban.Providing Quality Products, Excellent Service, Competitive Prices and Prompt Delivery. Our products are selling well both in domestic and foreign markets. Our company is trying to be one important suppliers in China.

domain: economics


text:
What counts for the shareholders, counts for you. The company’s financial results are at the forefront of your mind. But how do you know if your supply chain is managed with a view to improving financial performance? OMP does all that. It reduces costs, increases margins and improves decision-making.
Supply chain planning is by its nature a difficult exercise, and it becomes even more challenging if you have to take into account profitability. Costs need to be kept down, working capital needs to be optimized, and operational incidents need to be avoided, otherwise your EBITDA will go down fast.
Every supply chain decision inevitably impacts your revenue and margin. Postponing or accelerating a product launch? Shutting down a production line? Opening a new distribution center? Rerouting the production of a high runner? Increasing a plant’s capacity? Lowering product inventory levels? You’ll want to know the immediate financial impact of each of these decisions, as well as the long-term side effects.
That’s where OMP comes in. The solution balances difficult trade-offs by design, allowing all supply chain planners to work in unison for a smoother operation with no unpleasant surprises ruining your financial targets. Inventory levels are managed to reduce working capital without compromising efficiency and service. Utilization of valuable assets is maximized. Bottlenecks and conflicts are taken care of.
Financial reporting is available throughout. OMP also allows you to simulate different scenarios and evaluate the results in financial terms, based on the cost and margin information you provide. This is a great support when it comes to making difficult decisions for both the short and the long term.
And every OMP project comes with a mutually agreed value plan. Financial value targets are tracked and measured over time, giving insight into all the benefits gained. Solid!


text:
Viz Media is publishing the manga in English, and it also published the original one-shot manga in English.
This year’s 39th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine revealed four more cast members on Monday for the theatrical anime based on Tite Kubo’s Burn The Witch one-shot and serialized manga.
The serialized version of the manga will have four total chapters, and debuted on August 24.
The protagonists of the story are witch duo Noel Niihashi and Ninny Spangcole.
→ Full story
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Want to submit Anime content?
Animefice covers the latest Anime news.
Gamefice covers the latest Game news.
Screenfice covers the latest Film & TV news.
The Artifice is a long-form writing platform that covers a wide spectrum of art forms.

domain: hobby


text:
It’s been my long held view that senior administration officials can’t so much as crap without convening a “panel of experts” to produce a detailed report providing their guidance on how best to accomplish that goal. One such turd that has recently floated to the surface is the RAND corporation report entitled, “ The Muslim Brotherhood, It’s Youth, and the Implications for U.S. Engagement” aka “The Deception Handbook for U.S. / Muslim Brotherhood relations in a Post-American World”.
The RAND corporation’s National Defense Research Institute is a federally funded research and analysis center which is overseen by a Department of Defense advisory board in support of official administration policies and goals. Since my hard-earned tax dollars helped to pay for this report I was curious as to what sort of helpful advice RAND had produced as to the best way of dealing with the Muslim Brotherhood’s ongoing threat to American interests. After reading the study, I have got to tell you this is, without any doubt, one of the most psychologically manipulative efforts to alter the perceptions of the American public on a subject that I’ve ever heard of.
Since reading the report is an hour of your life you’ll never get back, I’ll give you a couple highlights from the reports recommendations.
Regularize and routinize engagement, including among members of Congress and FJP parliamentarians, to reduce politicization of engagement efforts. The more regular and normalized that contact becomes, the less engagement is vulnerable to becoming a target of political attacks in the United States and the more it will be viewed as the normal course of diplomacy…But trumpeting the policy is a mistake. Engagement can also be insulated from domestic political attacks by having more members of Congress, rather than just administration officials, directly meet MB members.
To improve and broaden communication and dialogue with such groups, U.S. officials can request and help facilitate American speakers for MB student union events and invite MB youth leaders to speak to American university audiences.
Promoting a strategy of engaging the brotherhood on its terms instead of our own, it melds well with the Obama administration’s policy of leading from behind in dealing with foreign policy issues. The report lives in that special liberal fantasy land where mutual engagement without any preconditions will result in brotherhood members moderating their radical views towards western nations and those of other religious beliefs. Moreover, its focus is on changing how America views the brotherhood instead of how they conduct themselves. The authors only connection with reality is that they recognize this doomed strategy needs to be quietly hidden from the public who would be otherwise outraged.
Finally I must point out that since RAND’s research on strategic marketing for radical islamists is freely available on their website, it is also available to the brotherhood as well as every other group (i.e. Hamas, Hezbollah, ect.) who wish to be seen as legitimate political players on the world stage, all courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer and the Department of Defense.
So my question to you dear reader is this. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Is foreign policy following the findings presented in this report or is the report crafted to support policy already in place? I’d love to hear what you think.
- Muslim Brotherhood leader blasts peace efforts with Israel after Morsi helps broker cease-fire (foxnews.com)
- Muslim Brotherhood now targeting Jordan (wnd.com)
- Egypt protesters torch Muslim Brotherhood offices (zokimag.wordpress.com)
- Is This the Next Mideast Domino to Fall? (lynleahz.com)
- Obama’s Gaza War (frontpagemag.com)
- Dubai’s police chief accuses Muslim Brotherhood of interfering in Persian Gulf countries’ affairs (en.trend.az)
BAMAKO: Hundreds of jihadist fighters poured into Mali over the weekend to support the Islamists who have controlled the north for seven months, ahead of a threatened regional intervention to seize back power.
Residents of the cities of Timbuktu and Gao, Malian security officials and Islamist commanders all confirmed on Sunday that there had been a huge influx of foreign fighters over the past two days.
It comes as the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), a regional bloc of 15 countries including Mali, prepares for military action in the north.
“In the Timbuktu region and around Gao, hundreds of jihadists, mostly Sudanese and Sahrawis, have arrived as reinforcements to face an offensive by Malian forces and their allies,” a Malian security official said on condition of anonymity.
One resident of Timbuktu said “more than 150 Sudanese Islamists arrived in 48 hours”.
“They are armed and explained that they had come to help their Muslim brothers against the infidels,” he said.
A source close to a local aid group also said that many Sudanese had arrived but added there were also fighters from other countries.
Timbuktu is one of the main cities in northern Mali, which Islamist groups have controlled since overpowering a secular Tuareg rebellion that seized the area in March.
The desert city is now under the control of Ansar Dine, a group led by a former Tuareg rebel leader, and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim).
‘They want war, we’ll give them war’
In Gao, further east, a similar influx of foreign fighters was reported by residents.
Since Friday, Islamists have been arriving and reporting to the Islamic police of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), the Aqim offshoot that controls the city, said one resident.
He said he had seen around 10 pick-up trucks packed with armed fighters driving up to Mujao’s main office in Gao.
The Islamist group itself confirmed it was receiving the support of foreigners as Ecowas was finalising its plans for a military intervention.
“They want war, we’ll give them war. This is why our brothers are joining us from all over,” Habib Ould Issouf, one of Mujao’s top leaders in Gao, told AFP.
“They are coming from the camps of Tindouf in Algeria, from Senegal, from Ivory Coast, from everywhere,” he said.
Led by former colonial power France, the international community has urged Mali and its regional allies to speed up preparations for a military offensive.
Ecowas has a 3,000-strong force ready to deploy but its funding and exact make-up remain unclear.
Malian troops could start training immediately for their operation, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told French television on Sunday.
France has offered logistical support but no troops on the ground.
On March 22, army officers toppled the government in protest at what they said was its failure to equip them to counter a burgeoning rebellion by Tuareg separatists and Islamists in the north.
But that only accelerated the uprising. The ensuing power vacuum in the capital Bamako allowed the rebel forces to quickly seize the north, virtually unopposed.
The Islamist forces quickly sidelined their former Tuareg allies and now control a territory in the north which is larger than France. In the south, the officers who led the coup handed over to an interim administration, but retain considerable influence.
Ansar Dine and Mujao have since implemented an extreme form of Islamic law in the north, amputating the hands and feet of thieves, stoning unwed couples and ordering women to wear full veils.
Western powers have expressed fears that al Qaeda and its affiliates could turn northern Mali into the same type of haven that Afghanistan was a decade ago.
Mali’s interim president Dioncounda Traore flew to Qatar on Sunday for a three-day visit. Some Malian media outlets have accused the oil-rich emirate of supporting the Islamists, but Doha has denied the allegations.
- Analysis: Towards intervention in Mali (EndtheLie.com)
(Reuters) – The rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and its ideological affiliates in the Arab Spring uprisings has stoked fears among Gulf Arab governments that the United States may one day abandon its traditional allies as it warms up to Islamists.
While the ruling families in the Gulf are currently vital U.S. allies who buy large amounts of American military hardware and facilitate a significant U.S. military presence, some are apprehensive Washington may apply pressure on them to accommodate Islamists who could end up challenging their exclusive rule.
In a number of colorful online outbursts, Dubai’s outspoken police chief Dhahi Khalfan has warned of an “international plot” to overthrow Gulf systems of government with Western complicity. The Brotherhood, manipulated by the United States, is working to take over the Gulf by 2016, he said.
“Today the Americans are mobilizing the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab nation, for the benefit of America, not the Arabs,” he wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday. “There is an American plan that has been drawn up for the region.”
Though Khalfan insists his tweets are his personal views, analysts and diplomats say they reflect largely unspoken concerns among the United Arab Emirates’ ruling elite about the regional popularity of the Islamists and the possibility that the West will sympathize with them as political underdogs.
They also reflect fears among the region’s Sunni Muslim rulers that, despite being Sunni itself, the Brotherhood is soft on their arch enemy Shi’ite Iran. Egypt’s Islamist President Mohammed Mursi tried to dissipate such fears at a Tehran conference last week by condemning Iran’s ally Syria and urging attendees to back rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
Despite pockets of Western-style liberalism in cities like Dubai, most Gulf ruling elites seek to project an image of Islamic conservatism.
So the threat they see is not religious or social but political: the Brotherhood advocates playing by the rules of parliamentary politics as a path to government, threatening inherited rights to rule and state-backed clerical establishments.
An opposition movement that gains ground in Gulf states could perhaps find the U.S. administration newly disposed to speak out in its favor.
Such an opposition has already emerged in the UAE, where more than 50 Islamists linked to Brotherhood thinking have been arrested since late last year. So far Washington has kept mum.
“While the U.S. security umbrella protects the UAE against threats from Iran, Washington would be much more reluctant to support a widespread crackdown against a local opposition movement,” said analyst Ayham Kamel of the Eurasia Group.
“This is making the political leadership in the UAE much more nervous about domestic threats,” he said.
The Brotherhood also has potential to draw support from Gulf Arabs who may see their countries’ foreign policies as overly pro-Western and are concerned about the social influence of their large Asian and Western expatriate communities.
SEEKING U.S. REASSURANCE
Washington was initially hesitant to openly support the uprisings that toppled Tunisia’s Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, partly because of concerns they could bring Islamists to power.
President Barack Obama’s administration has since overcome its reluctance, and has made extensive efforts to engage Egypt’s Brotherhood over the past year.
Analysts say Washington is simply pursuing realpolitik given the new power centers in the region.
“I don’t think the West is keen on having a bunch of Islamists coming to power in the Gulf anytime soon,” said Michael Stephens, researcher at the Royal United Services Institute based in Doha. “It’s more the case that Washington is working with who they can work with, because Islamists are in power and they have to be dealt with.”
U.S. officials said privately that they addressed the Gulf’s concerns last year after Mubarak fell and that subsequent conversations have not focused on the issue. They declined to go into specifics.
“Gulf governments realize both the United States and Iran will want to have relations with the new regimes,” said Ghanem Nuseibeh, senior analyst with Cornerstone Global. They just needed to be reassured that those regimes’ gain was not their loss, he said.
Diplomats said they were confident that building good ties with the Brotherhood was unlikely to strain the long-term strategic relationship between the U.S. and Gulf states.
“They (the Gulf states) need the Americans to protect them against Iran. Iran is the biggest worry for them in the whole region right now,” one Gulf-based Western diplomat said, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
YES, BUT …
Still, rumblings persist.
Saudi Arabia, which has long seen itself as insulated from political Islam because of its promotion of more conservative Salafi Islam, is feeling less secure these days, said Abdulaziz Alkhamis, a London-based Saudi analyst.
“After the Arab Spring they (the Islamists) are rising again. They start to use Islamist political rhetoric to gain publicity in the Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Prominent clerics such as Awadh al-Garni and Salman al-Odah, viewed as sympathetic to the Brotherhood, have become more outspoken, cheering Islamist gains in social media.
Brotherhood-linked Islamists are well-established in Kuwait, where parliamentary politics is most advanced in the Gulf. And in Bahrain the government has drawn closer to the Minbar party, another group inspired by the Brotherhood, as it shores itself up against a protest movement dominated by Shi’ite Islamists.
The angst over what the United States plans for the region is at its most public and visceral in Bahrain, whose government Obama has urged to enter dialogue with leading Shi’ite opposition group Wefaq, citing the group by name.
Sunni clerics and commentators in official media regularly raise the fear that Washington, currently at odds with Tehran over its nuclear program, is plotting to create a Wefaq-led government in a regional reordering of power that would open a new page of cozy ties with Iran.
TV presenter Sawsan al-Shaer denounced a “Satanic alliance” between Tehran and Washington in an article in the al-Watan daily last month, claiming Wefaq was a “Trojan horse, used by the U.S. administration and Iranian regime to redraw the region.”
The wild card in the region is Qatar. It has actively promoted the Brotherhood and its affiliates, giving them coverage widely seen as positive on its satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera.
At an early stage in the uprisings Doha stuck its neck out much further than other Gulf states in its support for protests in Egypt and Tunisia, and then rebel movements in Libya and Syria, supporting those among them close the Brotherhood.
Earlier this year the Dubai police chief railed against Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi, a popular Brotherhood-linked Egyptian cleric based in Doha who criticized UAE policy towards Islamists on Al Jazeera. Khalfan threatened to arrest the cleric if he ever entered the country.
Alkhamis said opinion in Saudi Arabia was split over whether Qatar’s close links to the Islamists was a smart move to keep a close eye on a rising movement whose historical time has come, or a ruse to sow discord for its neighbor and sometime rival.
“The Qataris say that if we don’t have the Brotherhood (operating) openly then they will go underground and that it’s not against Saudi Arabia, but the Saudis are not happy with this,” Alkhamis said pointing to Qatar-backed Islamist seminars. “Some think the Qataris are not an honest friend, but have an agenda.”
(Additional reporting by Andrew Quinn in Washington and Raissa Kasolowsky in Abu Dhabi; Editing by Sami Aboudi and Sonya Hepinstall)
- Dubai police chief warns of Muslim Brotherhood threat (dailystar.com.lb)
- Egypt’s Outreach to China and Iran Is Troublesome for U.S. Policy Makers (jafrianews.com)
- ‘Brotherhood’ threatens Gulf (arabtimesonline.com)
Why Revolutionary Sunni Islamism is the World’s Greatest Strategic Threat and None of it is Moderate
No, it sure isn’t the age of Aquarius or of Multicultural, Politically Correct love-ins. It’s the age of revolutionary Islamism, especially Sunni Islamism. And you better learn to understand what this is all about real fast.
(Shia Islamism, important mainly because of Iran and especially because of its nuclear ambitions, is number two on the threat list. But that’s not our topic today.)
Focusing on the Sunni revolutionary Islamist tidal wave, the foundation of knowledge is that there are three types and they are all bad, very bad. A lot of people are going to be misinforming you about this and getting others—never themselves, of course—killed.
Sometimes people ask me why I use the phrase “revolutionary” Sunni Islamism. The reason is to remind everyone that this is a revolutionary movement like those of the past that seek to use a variety of strategies and tactics–of which violence might be only one–to seize, hold, and use state power to transform societies.
Some ask why I use the word “Islamism” and the reason is because this is a specific, conscious set of organized political movements. However theology is related to this issue the problem is political, not theological. Anyone who watched over decades as I have how the radicals had to sell the idea that “jihad” today meant picking up guns, cutting off people’s heads, overthrowing governments, and assembling mobs of thousands screaming for death and destruction, would have no illusion that they had an easy time of it.
This didn’t happen because somebody just pointed to some verses in the Koran and everyone said: Oh, now I get it! We must seize control of the world and kill everyone else. They murdered or intimidated into silence Muslims who disagreed with them. Even today hundreds of millions of Muslims oppose revolutionary Islamism. And if you don’t play it smart to have those people as allies–some out of mutually cynical self-interest and some as true brothers who want to live in freedom just like you do–and help them save their lives and countries you will never achieve anything.
To understand al-Qaida, which of course goes under many names and regional local groups, is simple. It has one strategy: kill! Its only tactic is terrorism. It is like those nineteenth-century revolutionary movements that always failed and for which the Marxists had so much contempt.
These small groups were always persuaded that if the workers would only be roused to a general strike or that enough officials would be assassinated the revolution would come like a nuclear explosion. Now, these movements always failed but sometimes they laid the basis for others to succeed. Remember, the People’s Will helped launch the Russian revolutionary movement; an anarchist assassinated an American president; the Serbian state-sponsored terrorist cell set off World War One in 1914, and of course al-Qaida created September 11.
Al-Qaida and its various versions in Morocco, Gaza (the Palestinian Resistance Committees), Iraq, Somalia, Europe, Yemen, and a dozen other places is dangerous because it can stage terrorist attacks. In a place where no government exists—like Somalia—it might conceivably seize power. But al-Qaida is not the great threat of the twenty-first century. It is a problem for counter-terrorism and relatively lightweight counterinsurgency.
They may be the worst guys but they are not the West’s main global strategic problem. Everybody who isn’t basically a supporter of an al-Qaida group hates al-Qaida except for the Taliban which is really sort of a similar version. Why? Simple. Because al-Qaida wants to overthrow every regime (they do play a little footsy with Iran but even that’s limited). Oh, and they also loathe Shia Muslims which makes for even more enemies and fewer potential allies.
It is “stupid” to have no friends because that means everyone has a motive to get you and nobody has a reason to help you or give you safe haven. Doesn’t sound like brilliant strategy, right? But there’s more.
Al-Qaida, although the name means in Arabic “base,” ironically, has no political base. It sets up no real mass organizations; it doesn’t do social welfare work capable of rallying whole countries behind it. There is no way that hundreds of thousands or millions of people will rally to its cause. Imagine someone in 1917 saying in Moscow, “Forget about those moderate Bolsheviks. It’s the anarchists we have to fear.” In other words, they are in a distant third place.
But even al-Qaida can be used by the Brotherhood. Look at what happened: an al-Qaida group stormed into an Egyptian base, killed lots of soldiers, stole a couple of vehicles, and attacked the border with Israel.
True, the Egyptian regime (that is, the Brotherhood) attacked and killed some of the al-Qaida people. After all, these terrorists had murdered Egyptian soldiers. But what did the regime tell its people? That Israel was behind the attack. Israel had murdered Egyptians. And therefore there is more reason than ever to hate and wage war against Israel. This is how Middle Eastern politics works. And that’s one reason why the Brotherhood—as it incites to hatred and violence even as it kills the even more hateful and violent—will never be moderate.
Then there are the Salafists, a word coined only recently in part as a pretense to pretend that the Muslim Brotherhood is moderate. But this also does describe a distinct set of groups, for example the Palestinian groups Jaish al-Islam and Jaish al-Umma. Egypt is the place where the Salafists developed in a most sophisticated fashion. But it’s important to understand why that happened. Indeed, that point is central to comprehending what’s going on now.
In the 1970s, when President Anwar al-Sadat made the mistake of letting the Brotherhood return to public life in practice, he threw fear into them. Advocate violence in Egypt; come out too openly against the regime; even become too successful and back to the concentration camps you go!
So the Brotherhood leadership, elderly and many of whom had been tortured and seen their colleagues hung, played it cool. They had no illusions about underestimating the strength of the regime. Yes, they said, the day of revolution will come but meanwhile we are in a long-term stage of da’wa, organize and educate. Patience is essential. Don’t make the regime too mad. Yes, hooray for killing Israelis and Americans! But at home keep the murders to a few too boldly open secularists.
There were, of course, young men who were too impatient. “Our leaders are cowards. They have betrayed the true word of Islam! Let us organize for a more imminent revolution, maybe even take up arms right now and shoot down the evil regime’s officials.” And they even gunned down Sadat himself. There were many such groups—one, Islamic Jihad, joined up with al-Qaida—but they had different views, mixes of strategies, and leaders. Some were almost sects with charismatic shaykhs.
Now they have blossomed forth, eager for violence and instant revolution. Their al-Nour party—which only represents part of this complex mix of groups that may or may not cooperate—got about 20 percent of the parliamentary vote.
Is the Brotherhood their friend or enemy? Should they raid police stations and blow up pipelines or not? Should they set up morality patrols and beat up young men walking with women and also women who aren’t dressed as the Salafists wish? There are many different views.
Sometimes the Brotherhood uses the Salafists as a convenient excuse. If Islamic Jihad lobs rockets and mortars at Israel, well—wink, wink, nudge, nudge—that isn’t the fault of Hamas is it? At times, the Salafists can furnish the Brotherhood with the needed storm troops though I would not suggest for a moment that the Brotherhood owns the Salafists. They are definitely two different groupings, but their interests can blend and the “radical” Salafists provide the “moderate” Brotherhood with a convenient excuse when one is needed.
One thing is clear though: the Salafists’ goal is the precise, exact same as that of the Brotherhood. The only question is how fast to go, how radical to talk, and how much violence to use.
And another thing is also clear: neither in Egypt, nor in Tunisia, nor in Gaza (where the Brotherhood is called Hamas) will the Salafists overthrow the Brotherhood people. We can be less sure about Syria where the balance of forces is not yet so clear.
Finally, we come to the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is the Communist Party of Islamism. And you don’t have to take it from me; that was an idea expressed by the moderate, anti-Islamist brother of the Brotherhood’s founder.
The Brotherhood wants a Sharia state. It would like a caliphate (run by itself of course). It wants Israel wiped off the map and America kicked out of the Middle East. It wants women put into second-class citizenship and gays put into their graves. It wants Christians subordinated or thrown out. It wants all of these things.
And it will pursue these goals with patience and strategic cleverness. One step forward, one step back; tell the Western reporters and politicians what they want to hear. Pretend to be moderate in English while screaming death curses in Arabic.
These are the people who are coming to power. They hate their Shia counterparts generally and will kill them also at times. They will drag down their countries’ economies. Ironically, they will succeed in making Israel relatively stronger as they beat and burn and tear down; as they set back their countries economic advancement; as they kick half the population (the female) down the stairs.
They will lose. Just as the Communists did; just as the Nazis did; just as the Fascists and Japanese militarists did. But how many decades will it take? How many millions of people dead and injured? How much human potential and natural resources wasted?
And will Western policy make easier the ultimate triumph of moderation, moderation that includes millions of anti-Islamist Muslims and also includes lots of Middle Eastern Berbers, Kurds, Turks, Iranians, Druze, Christians and—yes—Israel. Or will the West make things harder, longer, and worse?
Of victory, I have no doubt. Of Western good sense, all too much uncertainty.
- A Layman’s Guide to Revolutionary Sunni Islamism, the World’s Greatest Threat (jewishpress.com)
- Al-Qaida websites vow ‘destruction’ of SEAL member outed by Fox News (dailykos.com)
- Al-Qaida: We’re returning to old Iraq strongholds (kansascity.com)
- Syria: Al-Qaida’s New Playground (pbs.org)
- Al-Qaida’s surge spells further turmoil for Iraq | Hayder al-Khoei (guardian.co.uk)
- Turkey: Turkish Opposition Says Government Ignoring Presence of al-Qaida (ionglobaltrends.com)
- Al-Qaida claims deadly summer attacks in west Iraq (dailystar.com.lb)
The highest-level meeting between a U.S. diplomat and Muslim Brotherhood officials will take place today in Cairo, Egypt.
U.S. deputy secretary of state, William Burns, will meet officials of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing in the highest-level meeting yet between the two sides. (Chip Somodevilla/AFP/Getty Images)
The U.S. has long shunned Egypt‘s Muslim Brotherhood, accusing it of links to terrorists. Looks like that is about to change.
The State Department‘s number two diplomat, William Burns, will meet with leaders of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which just won roughly 40 percent of the seats in parliament, AFP reports. (Final results of Egypt’s recent legislative elections have not yet been released).
The meeting marks part of a shift towards rapprochment from a decades-old U.S. policy of hostility toward the Brotherhood, who many in the U.S still fear will pose a threat to Israel and boost support for more extreme Islamists.
Still, the rise of Islamists, moderate and extreme, is a new reality in post-Mubarak Egypt. See Middle East highlights in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bills from Jul. 2012, when the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved an amendment to limit the Secretary of State from using funds to support the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Why Is Obama Lying to Cover for the Muslim Brotherhood? (codybateman.org)
- What would an Islamist Egypt mean? (moroccotomorrow.org)
- Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in Peril? (papundits.wordpress.com)
By Andrew Hammond and Tarek Amara
(Reuters) – Islamists are expected to do well in Tunisia‘s first democratic election Sunday, 10 months after the ouster of autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising that set off protest movements around the Arab world.
The Ennahda party will almost certainly win a share of power after the vote, which will set a democratic standard for other Arab countries where uprisings have triggered political change or governments have tried to rush reforms to stave off unrest.
Sunday’s vote is for an assembly which will draft a new constitution to replace the one Ben Ali manipulated to entrench his power. It will also appoint an interim government and set elections for a new president and parliament.
Polls open at 2 a.m. EDT and close at 2 p.m.
The mother of Mohamed Bouazizi, the young man whose self-immolation last December set off the Tunisian revolt, said the elections were a victory for dignity and freedom.
“Now I am happy that my son’s death has given the chance to get beyond fear and injustice,” Manoubia Bouazizi told Reuters. “I’m an optimist, I wish success for my country.”
Ennahda, banned under Ben Ali who is now in exile in Saudi Arabia, is expected to gain the biggest share of votes. But the Islamist party will probably not win enough to give it a majority in the assembly and will seek to lead a coalition.
The North African country’s elite fear the rise of Ennahda puts their secular values under threat. The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) has centered its campaign on stopping the Islamists, vowing to seek alliances to keep it out of power.
Ennahda has been at pains to assuage the concerns of secularists and Western powers, fielding several women candidates including one who does not wear the hijab, or Muslim head scarf, and promising not to undermine women’s freedoms.
Tunisia was a pioneer of secular modernization among Arab and Muslim countries in the post-colonial period, banning polygamy, equalizing inheritance rights, giving women the right to vote and discouraging the veil.
Fundamentalist Islamists known as Salafists have attacked a cinema and a TV station in recent months over artistic material deemed blasphemous. Ennahda says they have nothing to do with them, but liberals do not believe them.
Observers says Ennahda’s intentions are not clear. Its election campaign has scrupulously avoided offering policy details that mark it out as much different from its rivals.
At a final election rally Friday, Suad Abdel-Rahim, the female candidate who does not wear a veil, said Ennahda would protect women’s gains.
But illustrating the party’s contradictions, many of the books on sale on the fringes of the rally were by Salafist writers who believe women should be segregated from men in public and that elections are un-Islamic.
“In the country’s interior, where it’s more conservative, they use different rhetoric,” said commentator Rachid Khechana. “It’s about stopping culture from outside, moral corruption of youth, defending Islam, which they say has Shura (consultation), not democracy.”
“ARAB SPRING” REPERCUSSIONS
An Ennahda victory would be the first such success in the Arab world since Hamas won a 2006 Palestinian vote. Islamists won a 1991 Algerian election the army annulled, provoking years of bloody conflict.
Ennahda’s fortunes could bear on Egyptian elections set for next month in which the Muslim Brotherhood, an ideological ally, also hopes to emerge strongest.
Libya hopes to hold elections next year after a protest movement that transformed into an armed rebellion with NATO backing managed to oust Muammar Gaddafi. Unresolved violent conflict continues in Syria and Yemen, and many other governments have begun reforms to avoid civil unrest.
With so much at stake, there are concerns that even the smallest doubt over the legitimacy of the Tunisian vote could bring supporters of rival parties onto the streets.
Ennahda’s leader, Muslim scholar Rachid Ghannouchi, riled opponents this week when he described the party as Tunisia’s biggest and warned that the Tunisian people would start a new uprising if they suspected any poll rigging.
Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi said in a televised address Thursday that Tunisians should vote without fear of violence or cheating, a feature of Ben Ali’s police state.
“No one can doubt the elections, they will be transparent and clean. Rigging will not be possible. The ballot boxes will be open to everyone,” Sebsi said.
The government says 40,000 police and soldiers are being deployed to prevent any protests escalating into violence. Shopkeepers say people have been stockpiling milk and bottled water in case unrest disrupts supplies.
- Tunisian Islamists to do well in first “Arab Spring” vote – Reuters (news.google.com)
- Tunisian Poll To Provide Bellwether For Arab Spring (npr.org)
- Tunisia to vote in historic poll (bbc.co.uk)
- Campaigning ends for Tunisia’s first free elections (ctv.ca)
- Pride, tears as Tunisians in Canada vote in first ‘real’ election (thestar.com)
- Enthusiasm builds for Tunisia’s 1st free elections (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
By Souhail Karam
CASABLANCA, Morocco | Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:12pm EDT
(Reuters) – Thousands took to the streets of Morocco on Sunday in peaceful demonstrations to demand sweeping reforms and an end to political detention, the third day of mass protests since they began in February.
Desperate to avoid the turmoil that toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, authorities have already announced some changes to placate demands that King Mohammed cede more powers and limit the monarchy’s extensive business influence.
Some 10,000 people joined the protest in Casablanca, the largest city in one of the West’s staunchest Arab allies. Marchers in the capital Rabat also denounced corruption and torture as well as unemployment, very high among youths.
Policing has been low-key for protests by the February 20 Movement, named after the date of its first march, particularly compared to the turmoil elsewhere in North Africa.
“This is more about the young ones than it is about us,” said Redouane Mellouk, who had brought his 8 year-old son Mohamed Amine, carrying a placard demanding “A New Morocco.”
“Our parents could not talk to us about political issues. They were too afraid. This must change,” said Mellouk.
Although levels of popular anger have risen, ratings agencies assess Morocco as the country in the region least likely to become embroiled in the type of unrest that toppled Tunisian and Egyptian regimes and led to the conflict in Libya.
In Rabat, several thousand people marched through poor districts with high levels of unemployment and away from the center, where the previous monthly demonstrations have been held. There was no sign of trouble.
A 74 year-old man in Casablanca who gave his name only as Ahmed said Morocco’s youths were right to protest.
“Look at them. They are educated and like most young educated Moroccans, they are idle,” he said. “Everything in this country is done through privileges. You need an uncle or a relative somewhere to get somewhere.”
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament, but the constitution empowers the king to dissolve the legislature, impose a state of emergency and have a decisive say in government appointments.
King Mohammed last month announced constitutional reforms to give up some of his powers and make the judiciary independent, but protesters want more.
There is also resentment at the royal family’s business interests through its holding company SNI.
One of the banners waved by the Casablanca marchers depicted the King’s holdings as an octopus with tentacles stretching out to subsidiary companies. “Either money or power,” it said.
Islamists also joined in the protests, demanding the release of all political prisoners. Authorities freed 92 political prisoners, most of whom were members of the Islamist Salafist Jihad group, earlier this month.
In Rabat, the wife of Islamist Bouchta Charef, who has said he was tortured in prison while accused of terrorism, called for all Islamists to be freed.
“They have made my children homeless,” Zehour Dabdoubu told Reuters. “Every month I move from one house to another. I’m persecuted because people think I am the wife of a terrorist.”
The banned Islamist opposition group Al Adl Wal Ihsane has maintained a low profile at the February 20 demonstrations, but said it supports them.
“It’s excellent what’s happening in Morocco. It’s a quiet revolution,” Nadia Yassine, daughter of the movement’s founder, told Reuters by telephone. “We’re moving slowly but surely.”
According to the Team B II Report by a who’s-who of top, national security experts at The Center for Security Policy, “most Muslim organizations in America are controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood or a derivative group.” Meanwhile, the Obama Administration engages in “willful blindness-induced failures” to address “as great a threat as any enemy the nation has ever confronted.” The Muslim Brotherhood, also known as the Ikhwan, supports armed struggle against non-Muslims and has itself identified the Islamic Movement in America to be a part of the “grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated….” This “stealth jihad“, referred to as “civilization jihad“, is based in Islamist hatred for Western civilization, hence their unwillingness to conform to American standards of jurisprudence. It is through the “legal, political, military doctrine known within Islam” as Shariah that these organizations are engaging in a non-violent, “for the moment,” campaign to undermine and destroy America.
Here are the five most prominent organizations named specifically by the Muslim Brotherhood as like-minded groups of “friends” in the mission to re-establish a global Islamic caliphate.
#5 — Muslim Students Association
As the Muslim Brothers “settled” in North America, they did so according to their stated bylaws. At the University of Illinois in Urbana, the Ikhwan created its first front organization in North America, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) in 1963. Today, MSA chapters are present on many college campuses across the country, serving as recruiting nodes for the MB and, in some cases for violent jihadist organizations […]
[…] [O]ut of the MSA came nearly every Muslim organization in America today. Initially, as MSA chapters sprang up on American campuses, they presented Islam in public as an acceptable alternative to other religions, never mentioning its revolutionary aspects. In recent years, MSA members have become ever more aggressive in their demands for accommodations and silencing those who oppose them. [Team B II Report]
We have seen the MSA’s Jew-hatred and silencing tactics on full display in their treatment of Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren at UC-Irvine and support for a second Holocaust at UC-San Diego. Abdurrahman Alamoudi who was arrested in 2003 for terrorist fundraising, is a former President of MSA. Alamoudi, a financier of Al Qaeda, is a compatriot of conservative infiltrator Suhail Khan. You may remember Alamoudi also for his role in starting the Roxbury Mosque. Other former members include Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S. government’s most-wanted terrorist; Aafia Siddiqui, arrested for attempting to kill U.S. officers in Afghanistan; Ali Asad Chandia, arrested for conspiring with the Kashmiri terrorist group Lashkar-i-Taiba; and Wa’el Hamza Julaidan, founder of Al Qaeda.
The Muslim Student Association pledge of allegiance, as stated in the video below, is in sync with the credo of the Muslim Brotherhood. The MSA claims 150 groups in 25 cities in America. Despite these horrifying truths, common ground with the Left in an anti-Israel agenda clearly helps to ensure the extremist MSA’s continued status as a “mainstream” organization in America by many universities giving them safe harbor for years.
#4 — Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Born from the ranks of the Muslim Students Association, the Islamic Society of North America [ISNA] is the largest organization of Muslims on the continent and, as such, surely counts as a key partner with the Muslim Brotherhood in engaging in civilization jihad. ISNA has admitted to their ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and also to Hamas which is responsible for terrorist attacks on Israel. It was through ISNA that the Muslim Brotherhood was able to build hundreds of mosques in America with Saudi funding, and it is ISNA which has focused on providing extremist Wahhabi teaching materials to these mosques. Wahhabism, according to former CIA Director James Woolsey, is “the soil in which al Qaeda and its sister terrorist organizations are growing.” Though this is clearly the case, ISNA President Ingrid Mattson characterizes Wahhabism as being “analogous to the European Protestant Reformation” and has made the clearly ludicrous claim that “right-wing Christians are very risky allies for American Jews, because they [the Christians] are really anti-Semitic. They do not like Jews.”
Despite the threat to America’s security that ISNA poses, and despite the fact that the lies of Ingrid Mattson are so easily researched, ISNA and Mattson are considered allies by many in positions of power, including President Barack Obama and some American Catholic bishops. This is how subversion works. The fact that she is female may give some credibility in the eyes of some, but as the Team B Report on the Threat of Shariah explains, Mattson is really no more than a pawn.
Even a cursory examination, however, of the views of the current ISNA president, Ingrid Mattson, and former MSA President Hadia Mubarak reveals their philosophies are right in line with Muslim Brotherhood doctrine. And, in both organizations, the male leadership within the Brotherhood continues to make operational decisions, despite the title conferred upon such women.
Perhaps it’s not so difficult to understand how the president, who was a Muslim in his youth and spent his formative years steeped in Marxism, lends support for radical Islamists like Ingrid Mattson, but one would not expect Catholic bishops to join with her in pulling the wool over the eyes of their flock.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the main Muslim Brotherhood front group for propaganda. CAIR is featured in the Team B II Report as an organization that engages in “dual messaging” in the advancement of “stealth jihad.”
A particularly telling indication of the stealth jihad agenda comes from Omar Ahmad, one of the founders of the Brotherhood’s Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial for funding international terrorism from the United States.
Ahmad made a reference to the MB’s dual-messaging, a form of esoteric communication in which words seem innocuous to the uninitiated, but which have definite meaning to those duly indoctrinated: “I believe that our problem is that we stopped working underground. We will recognize the source of any message which comes out of us. I mean, if a message is publicized, we will know… the media person among us will recognize that you send two messages: one to the Americans and one to the Muslims.”
Note the Muslim Brotherhood operative’s differentiation between “Americans” and “Muslims,” as if presuming that Muslims are not or should not be good Americans. This differentiation is clear in CAIR’s own name. In short, it is the enemy among us, working out in the open but disguised by deceit, that poses the greater long-term threat to our legal system and way of life.
It is permissible for a Muslim to lie, especially to non-Muslims, to safeguard himself personally or to protect Islam.
So it is that CAIR can tell blatant lies, even lies designed to impede protection of Americans from terrorism and remain within the standards of “morality” within Islam. Anyone paying even cursory attention should have no doubts about the ultimate goal of CAIR.
In 1998 Omar Ahmad, CAIR’s co-founder and longtime Board Chairman, said: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”
Imagine what the New York Times would say if the head of the USCCB expressed similar sentiments about the Bible and Catholicism. It should be noted that the mother of American Conservative Union board director Suhail Khan sits on the board of CAIR.
#2 — Fiqh Council of North America
The Fiqh Council of North America [FCNA] is the Muslim Brotherhood’s board of Islamic interpretation for the continent. It might loosely be called the Muslim version of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. An off-shoot of ISNA, its eighteen members interpret the teachings of Islam for Muslims in America and answer questions about Islam for the general community. An example of this is their report that Muslims are forbidden by Islamic law from going through full body scanners at airports. Apparently we have to spare Muslim feelings. The answers provided by FCNA to questions cannot be trusted for accuracy, however. A prime example of this is that the signers of their oft-praised “Fatwa Against Terrorism“ was Fawaz Abu Damra, who once led the mosque attended by the 1993 World Trade Center bombers. An FBI transcript reveals Damra’s true feelings about Jihad and the Jews.
“Donate to the Islamic Jihad! Nidal Zaloum from the Islamic Jihad held a dagger and stabbed four of the Jews in the courtyard of Al-Haram Al-Qudsi … For the Intifadah, for the Islamic Jihad, I say it frankly for the Islamic Jihad. The Jihad is still erupting in Palestine from village to village, I tell you it is not for the organizations with respect to everyone but for the Jihad. The Jihad! One of them would leave his house with a knife to stab the Jews — twelve Jews after the events of the Gulf War. Brothers, the Intifadah calls you. Five hundred dollars! Who would add to five hundred dollars? Who would add to five hundred dollars? If you write a check, write it for the Islamic Committee for Palestine … [Muslims should be] directing all the rifles at the first and last enemy of the Islamic nation and that is the sons of monkeys and pigs, the Jews.” — Fawaz Abu Damra
Shah stated at one Chicago gathering of Muslims, “If we are unable to stop the Jews now, their next stop is Yathrib [the holy city of Medina], where the Jews used to live until their expulsion by Prophet Muhammad. That’s the pinnacle of their motives.”
To be sure, my jaw frequently drops open as I write these details and consider the depth of Islamic extremism and anti-Semitism in America….but alas, the list goes on.
#1 — Islamic Circle of North America
The Islamic Circle of North America [ICNA] which is made up mostly of Pakistani and Indian Muslims, like many other groups named as Muslim Brotherhood front groups, is an off-shoot of the Muslim Students Association. Terrorism expert Yehudit Barsky has identified members of the Pakistani terrorist group Jamaat-e-Islami operating within ICNA. My most recent article here at NRB discussed ICNA’s proposal for a children’s camp in New York in which non-Muslim children will be invited to participate. Like other Muslim Brotherhood front groups, ICNA’s hatred of Jews is manifest.
Terrorism analyst Steven Emerson claims that ICNA has close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, the ideological forebear of all radical Islamic movements — including Hamas and al-Qaeda. Documents show that Hamas officials have participated in previous ICNA events. “The ICNA’s hatred of the Jews is so fierce,” writes Emerson, “that it taunted them with a repetition of what Hitler did to them.” In his bookAmerican Jihad, Emerson expounds: “The ICNA openly supports militant Islamic fundamentalist organizations, praises terror attacks, issues incendiary attacks on western values and policies, and supports the imposition of Sharia [Islamic law].”
The Muslim Brotherhood, which is the fountainhead of political Islam and has spawned 12 terrorist armies including al-Qaeda and Hamas is a political force in Egypt that is also willing to participate in elections and in the civil institutions of society. The Holy Land Foundation, a creation of the Muslim Brotherhood was the largest Islamic charity in America until it was raided by the FBI and put on trial in Texas for funding Hamas. One of the documents seized in a concealed basement at the Foundation headquarters and put into evidence by the FBI was the Muslim Brotherhood’s plan for America. The stated goal of this plan was to “destroy the American civilization.”
The plan called for building a secret leadership in America and for the creation of a series of Brotherhood front groups that would appear to be participants in America’s democracy until the time came when and where force would be necessary to accomplish the Brotherhood’s goals.
Mr. Horowitz explained how this threat even exists within the conservative movement, and that the solution for this problem is education, continued awareness and for everyone, particularly conservatives, “to be vigilant against its spread into the ranks of the conservative movement and the government of the country they love”.
I, for one, am honored to join Mr. Horowitz in this effort.
- Muslim Brotherhood Trying to Police the NYPD (creepingsharia.wordpress.com)
- U.S. Muslim Brotherhood Part Of Still Another “Coalition” (theromangate.wordpress.com)
- The Islamist Plan for Victory: “Gradualism” (wdednh.wordpress.com)
- The Muslim Brotherhood’s “General Strategic Goal” for North America (iamiranaware.wordpress.com)
- Watch SEG Webinars on Muslim Brotherhood – Share and help get the message out! (counterjihadreport.com)

domain: sociology


Russia to help peacemaking in Lebanon
Russia has pledged its support to an international probe into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. President Vladimir Putin has also expressed concern over the political instability in Beirut.The comments came as Mr Putin met Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora at the Kremlin. Russia’s president described the situation in Beirut as “disturbing,” and pledged to continue its support of Lebanon.The Lebanese guest called Russia a “partner and close friend of Lebanon,” and thanked Russia for its ongoing efforts to settle conflicts in the Middle East.Speaking after his meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Siniora thanked the Russian President for his pledge of continued support. “This was a wonderful chance for us to meet personally with President Putin where in a very open and straight manner he spoke about Russia’s support for the official government in Lebanon, Russia’s efforts to bring Lebanon in to contact with the outside world and to recover from the aftermath of events in Lebanon to ensure the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon,” he said. Prime Minister Siniora has also voiced hope that Russia can help repair relations between Lebanon and Syria. In his interview to Russia Today he thanked Russia for its continued assistance to Lebanon.“I would like to thank President Putin for what has been done over the last period, in particular during the war that was raised against Lebanon,” he stated. Mr Siniora said the main issue was maintaining stability in Lebanon. He hopes that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia can exercise certain pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and stop its overflights. “Israel has been occupying certain Lebanese regions since 1965. We intend to discuss how Russia can really help in solving this long-standing dispute over the occupied territories,” he added. “Another issue is the overall situation in Lebanon and particularly the economic situation, which has been deteriorating due to over 30 years of wars and invasions Lebanon has suffered from.” Mr Siniora stressed the importance of Russia’s role at an international conference on Lebanon due to be held in January 2007 in Paris.
You can share this story on social media:


Competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in the context of sustainable development policy
The basic criterion of successful farming under the present conditions is the enterprise com-petitiveness level. At the same time, in view of the global ecological problems it is necessary to se-cure sustainable development of agriculture. The author has identified purposes, objects and criteria of the sustainable development of agriculture and has assessed the nature of interrelations between sustainable development and the competitiveness level of agricultural enterprises. She has also re-vealed sources for the increasing of competitiveness of farm producers taking into a ccount the con-cept of sustainable development.
JEL коды: D92, D99, O13, Q01.
Article in: English
Published on-line: 2011-03-21
Keyword(s): sustainable development, sustainable development of agriculture, competitiveness, competitive advantage.
- There are currently no refbacks.
Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development eISSN 2345-0355
This journal is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License. Responsible editor: Dr Audrius Gargasas.


text:
Being targeted because of your disability is a hate crime. Cheshire Police are encouraging people to come forward and report it.
“It’s recognised nationally that disability hate crime is underreported,”
said Deputy Chief Constable Janette McCormick.
“I urge everyone to take the time to report hate crime, whether you’re the victim, a relative, a friend or a carer, we all play a part in tackling this abhorrent crime.”
Between September 2014 and August 2015, 765 incidents of hate crime were reported to Cheshire Police. 62 of these were disability related, and the police believe that this figure is just the tip of the iceberg.
Deputy Chief Constable McCormick added,
“Nobody should suffer abuse of any kind, and here in Cheshire we take this type of crime very seriously. Come and talk to us about hate crime, we’ll listen and care – either by offering support ourselves or sign posting victims to the right services. We’re here to support victims and our communities and will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”
You can report hate crime to Cheshire Police by dialling 101, or in emergencies 999. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the police, you can report them via community reporting centres, or online.


text:
Multi Color Packaging
HUMAN - Haute [ōt] Food Colors
We partner up with world renowed Pâtissier Ksenia Penkina to create the entire branding for her signature store Haute [ōt] and the entire range of Certified Professional Food Colors featuring a unique full range of both water soluble and oil soluble colors for production, sold worldwide.
For the Water soluble we created a water based texture to enhance the type of product and its use with a white background, for the oil range we used the same formula but with an oil based texture and a black background.
The entire collection of food colors is made up by 34 unique labels.
Design Agency Name: HUMAN
Organisation/Project Type: Agency, Published Commercial Design
Article Title: Multi Color Packaging
Brand / Project Name: Haute [ōt] Food Colors
Project Type: Consumer Brand Creation
Strategic Deliverables: Consumer Brand Strategy, Consumer Tone of Voice, Consumer Product Brand Architecture
Design Deliverables: Consumer Branding, Consumer Brand Creation, Consumer Brand Identity, Consumer Brand Identity System, Consumer Brand Guidelines, Consumer Graphic Packaging Design, Consumer Retail Brand Design
Market Country: Multiple Countries
Market Region: Global
Project Category: Bakery
Consumer Packaging Format: Jar
Consumer Substrate / Material: Glass, Metal


text:
By Lucy Carroll
Thousands of Australians could be putting themselves at risk of serious illness by self-diagnosing food intolerances and allergies with no medical testing, a study shows.
Doctors say people who eliminate wheat and dairy from their diets without medical advice are missing out on key nutrients such as fibre, calcium and folate, and are potentially delaying diagnosis of underlying gastrointestinal disease.
A study of almost 1200 Australians, published in Public Health Nutrition, found that about 10 per cent are wheat ''avoiders'', reporting symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps and heartburn after eating wheat foods such as bread, pasta and cereals.
But of those, only one in 20 had received a formal diagnosis of a wheat allergy or intolerance.
The majority were women who had received information from non-medical sources such as naturopaths, alternative practitioners and the internet. About 52 per cent of wheat "avoiders" also abstained from dairy products.
Although less than 1 per cent of Australians have coeliac disease – an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, which is contained in wheat – it is ''very common for people to start wheat and gluten-free diets off their own bat'', Jason Tye-Din, gastroenterologist and coeliac researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, said.
''Unless prescribed by a dietitian, gluten-free diets can be unhealthy because the products are often processed and high in sugar and fat to make it taste better. In most cases, it isn't the right treatment.''
The popularity of wheat and gluten-free diets has been exacerbated, he said, by the huge ''celebrity push'' and misconception that gluten and wheat are ''toxic''.
"In fact, these dietary fads tend to undermine the importance of the gluten-free diet as a legitimate and important medical treatment for people who suffer coeliac disease.
''I've seen patients that have put themselves on gluten-free regimes but have ended up having ovarian cancer, bowel cancer and inflammatory bowel disease causing their symptoms,'' Dr Tye-Din said.
He said people reporting irritable bowel syndrome symptoms after eating wheat could be reacting to sugar including fructose and lactose.
The findings come as the Australian Food and Grocery Council pushes to have the definition of gluten-free relaxed to try and keep manufacturers in the market.
Lead author and professor of psychology at the University of Adelaide, Philip Mohr, said the findings were a ''major public health concern'' that indicated the "wheat avoidance phenomenon is almost entirely self-diagnosed''.
"Many health practitioners may not know that their patients are missing out on mainstream foods," Professor Mohr said. "With the prominence of gluten-free foods on the shelves people are associating gluten-free with healthiness without fully appreciating it's a last resort for people that seriously need it but not for the rest of the community."

domain: medical