المشاركات

عرض المشاركات من أبريل, ٢٠١١

Real v Barca: teams of the century

"I've got an idea," I said to my colleague the morning after Barcelona's 5-1 thumping of Shakhtar Donestk in the Champions League semi-final first leg. "When Barca and Real Madrid reach the semis, let's do a Greatest XIs blog. That'll get the punters talking." We came up with only two problems: firstly, that it might look a bit silly to include players from the days of yore like Alfredo di Stefano and Ladislao Kubala alongside a picture (top right) of the blogger looking about 14-years-old; and secondly, have you seen how many world-class players have represented these teams down the years? In the end, it was quite simple. We decided to take the entire last millennium out of the equation and pretend the world began in 2000. At least, I consoled myself while I crossed out the names of Diego Maradona and Michael Laudrup, 99% of you taking part in this debate will have seen the contenders in action. So, what better way to celebrate four Clasic...

Man Utd held to draw by Newcastle

An off-colour Manchester United missed the chance to open up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a draw by Newcastle. The visitors were guilty of poor passing throughout, though Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs missed good chances. And striker Javier Hernandez felt he was fouled in the box by Danny Simpson late on, only to be booked for a dive. Newcastle deserved a point, though, and might have had a penalty of their own when Anderson felled Peter Lovenkrands. Both decisions could have gone either way, with contact made on each occasion, but referee Lee Probert waved the appeals away to ensure an absorbing clash ended goalless at St James' Park. It is a result which could prove valuable for Newcastle, taking them as it does to the 40-point mark teams often cite as necessary to guarantee safety from relegation. But for Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson and his men it will be considered a case of two points dropped and means second-place A...

Special from Yemen: Female demonstrators lash out at defamation campaign

Sanaa -- Yemeni women activists are responding combatively to the media war waged by state outlets this week aimed at denouncing female participation in protests sweeping the nation. Sparking the row, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday criticized gender intermingling during the demonstrations in a televised speech delivered to thousands of pro-regime supporters. “I call on them [the joint meeting parties] to reject the mixing of sexes as it’s forbidden by Islam,” Saleh urged in Sanaa. State-run television channels in subsequent days hosted several men who allegedly defected from demonstrations in Tagheer (Change) Square, the epicenter of Yemen’s unrest, because of female behavior there. “I used to see men getting inside their tents, sharing poems or whatever. That bothered me a lot, as it’s a big shame,” a self-proclaimed member of one women protection committee said on the show, which was later posted on YouTube and publicized on social media sites. “Once I s...

Syrian activists begin sit-in for Assad ouster

Beirut -- More than 5000 anti-government protesters in Syria took over the main square of the country's third-largest city Monday, vowing to occupy the site until President Bashar Assad is ousted and defying authorities who warn they will not be forced into reforms. The Egypt-style standoff in the central city of Homs followed funeral processions by more than 10,000 mourners for some of those killed in clashes Sunday that a rights group said left at least 12 people dead. It also brought a high-stakes challenge to security forces over whether to risk more bloodshed -- and international backlash -- by trying to clear the square.   In the past month, Syrian security forces in uniforms and plainclothes have launched a deadly crackdown on demonstrations, killing at least 200 people, according to human rights groups. Many Syrians also say pro-government thugs -- known as Shabiha -- have terrorized neighborhoods with tactics such as opening fire into the air...

Libya rebels raise concern about Islamic extremism

Ajdabiyah -- Abdel-Moneim Mokhtar was ambushed and killed by Muammar Qadhafi's troops last week on a dusty road in eastern Libya -- the end of a journey that saw him fight as a jihadi in Afghanistan and then return home where he died alongside NATO-backed rebels trying to oust the longtime authoritarian leader. In describing Mokhtar's death on Friday, Qadhafi's government said he was a member of Al-Qaeda -- part of an ongoing attempt to link the rebels to Osama bin Laden's group. Four years ago, Al-Qaeda said it had allied itself with the Libyan Islamic Fighters Group -- of which Mokhtar was a top military commander. Two days before he was killed, Mokhtar denied any connection between his group and Al-Qaeda, telling The Associated Press in an interview: "We only fought to free Libya." "We realized that Qadhafi is a killer and imprisoned people, so we had to fight him," said Mokhtar, one of a handful of rebel battalion commanders who le...

Syrian forces fire at protesters, unrest intensifies

Amman -- Syrian forces fired shots at hundreds of protesters who had gathered overnight in Homs city in defiance of warning by the authorities to halt what they called an insurrection, a rights campaigner said on Tuesday. A member of the security police addressed the protesters at Clock Square through a loud speaker asking them to leave, and then the forces opened fire, said the human rights campaigner, who is in contact with protesters in the square. Tear gas was also used. At least one protester was injured, the activist added. Two residents of Homs also said they heard the sound of gunfire coming from around the square. Several hours earlier, Syrian state television broadcast an interior ministry statement that described the wave of unrest in Syria as an insurrection, pointing specifically to Homs as one of two cities where "armed groups belonging to Salafist organizations" were trying to terrorize the population. Salafism is a strict form ...

Ivory Coast: Calls for reconciliation, vengeance

Abidjan -- With tears welling in her eyes, the 16-year-old recounted how both her brothers were killed by troops fighting for strongman Laurent Gbagbo. Then rage contorted her face as she ranted against the arrested former president: "They must kill him. He's a savage." Gbagbo was finally arrested and forced from power on 11 April, more than four months after he lost elections. Calls for reconciliation and healing have come from all sides since then.   "We beg forgiveness for the bad things that have happened. But nothing can be gained by seeking vengeance," said warlord Ibrahim "IB" Coulibaly, who had thrown his forces against Gbagbo. "Hatred and vengeance are our weaknesses."   President Alassane Ouattara himself has called for reconciliation, but says there also must be justice. He wants Gbagbo tried by national and international courts.   Justice Minister Jeannot Ahoussou said he is drawing up a list of ministers, generals and...

Christian persecution continues: life for the copts in egypt after Mubarak

صورة
Christian persecution continues: life for the copts in egypt after Mubarak This persecuted christian community is a reminder to pray for our brethren in the Middle East Life has not been easy for the copts of egypt since mubarak was forced out of office on February 11, 2011. Their life has resembled a roller coaster ride. Some of the twists and turns Coptic life has taken since that fateful day are recounted below. KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - life has not been easy for the copts of egypt since mubarak was forced out of office on February 11, 2011. Their life has resembled a roller coaster ride. Some of the twists and turns Coptic life has taken since that fateful day are recounted below. Due to a lack of police protection during all of the commotion surrounding the demonstrations in January and February, some Coptic monasteries were forced to protect themselves from gangs and thieves. They...

rebels resort to guerrilla tactics in western libya

صورة
rebels resort to guerrilla tactics in western libya Photographed by Reuters Tripoli -- Overwhelmed by the superior firepower of Muammar Qadhafi's troops, opposition fighters in western libya are resorting increasingly to guerrilla tactics in their campaign to topple the veteran leader. Unlike eastern Libya, where rebels hold many coastal cities, the west of the country remains firmly under Qadhafi's control. The proximity to the nerve center of Qadhafi's powerful military apparatus in the capital Tripoli makes it hard for fragmented dissenters to organize their actions into a movement. But that may now be changing. Tripoli residents said there have been several attacks on army checkpoints and a police station in the past week, and gunfights can be heard at night. In one attack a week ago, opposition supporters stormed a checkpoint in eastern Tripoli and seized arms, residents said. "There have been attacks by Trip...

Egypt nominates NDP figure for Arab League secretary general

صورة
Egypt nominates NDP figure for Arab League secretary general egypt nominates NDP figure for arab league secretary general egypt made an official declaration on Monday nominating Mostafa al-Fiqqi, a former diplomat known for writings on arab nationalism, as arab league secretary general. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil al-Arabi voiced confidence in al-Fiqqi's ability to fill the post because of his previous experiences as assistant foreign minister for arab affairs, arab league delegate, and deputy chairman of the arab Parliament. Current secretary general Amr Moussa's term ends on 15 May. Observers believe egypt hopes its nominee will succeed because of his relationships with arab officials and his former position at the arab Parliament. However, others consider al-Fiqqi to be an incarnation of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party. The 66-year-old ...

Egypt's coptic christians want a voice

صورة
Egypt's coptic christians want a voice From PRI's The World After the protests in Tahrir Square, egypt's coptic christians want a more equal voice in the new Egyptian government, too. This story was originally covered by PRI's The World. For more, listen to the audio above. By Ben Gilbert Copts make up about 10 percent of egypt's population of 80 million. And they say they're treated unfairly for decades by the majority Muslim population. Now they're demanding equal treatment in any new Egyptian government. When the coptic Christian Shahedin Church in Helwan province south of Cairo was burned down last month during a feud between christians and Muslims, it set off a firestorm in egypt's coptic community. Egyptian newspaper publisher Youssef Sidhoum, a coptic Christian, said the act was unprecedented. "We have a long bitter history of attacking churches over last three deca...

Suleiman: Mubarak did not order killing of protesters

The public prosecutor heared statements on Monday evening from Egypt's former head of intelligence, Omar Suleiman, regarding the information collected by the General Intelligence Service on the events of the 25 January revolution, the killing of protesters and the wealth of the Mubarak family. According to judicial sources, Suleiman was summoned by the prosecution after ousted President Hosni Mubarak told investigators that he received information from the head of intelligence that saboteurs and Muslim Brotherhood members were preparing to join the protesters in order to create a state of lawlessness. During the five-hour-long questioning, Suleiman said the General Intelligence Service had received information that the protests were being led by Brotherhood members. Suleiman said the information was sent to the president in confidential reports. Suleiman went on to say that the State Security apparatus had the same information. When asked by the prosecution where he ...

Attorney general to reopen Ayman Nour's vote rigging case

Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud on Tuesday approved a request submitted to him by Ayman Nour, founder of the Ghad Party, to reopen investigations in the case that convicted the latter of rigging the party’s elections. The conviction resulted in a five-year prison sentence, of which he served three before being released for health reasons. Party Vice President Abdel Rehim Amr said Nour submitted evidence showing that three witnesses in the case admitted they were pressured by State Security Bureau officers to give false testimonies. “I can run in the next presidential elections if I’m vindicated,” said Nour, adding that he was framed because he ran against deposed President Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 elections. Translated from the Arabic Edition

Salafis protest for release of alleged convert to Islam

Thousands of Salafis held a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Defense headquarters on Tuesday, calling for Egypt’s military rulers to release a priest's wife who they say converted to Islam and is now being held by the Coptic Church. Tuesday’s demonstration is described as one of the largest that Salafis have organized in recent years. Kamilia Shehata was born in 1985 and is a school teacher who is married to a Coptic priest. Her family said that she was kidnapped by Muslims, an announcement that sparked a series of Coptic protests across Egypt, accusing Muslims of kidnapping her and forcing her to convert to Islam. Meanwhile, Shehata was found later at a friend's house. It was revealed that she left home willingly after a conflict with her husband. The Coptic Church denied that Shehata converted to Islam. However, the church’s announcement failed to end protests staged at a number of mosques, which called for Shehata's release and cla...

Heirs of NDP stalwart blocked from accessing family fortune

An Egyptian judicial authority on Tuesday issued an order preventing the heirs of the late National Democratic Party MP Kamal al-Shazly from accessing their money and real estate as investigations continue into allegations of corruption against al-Shazly. According to a statement issued by the Deputy Minister of Justice for the Illicit Gains Authority, Assem al-Gohary, the decision involved al-Shazliy’s wife, two sons and daughter. The statement noted that the Administrative Control Authority’s investigations confirmed that al-Shazly accumulated his fortune by illegal means through the abuse of his authority. Al-Shazly died in November at the age of 74. He served as minister for parliamentary affairs from 1993 to 2004, after which he was responsible for overseeing the Specialized National Councils, a body composed of committees that study and research socio-economic problems. During the initial investigations, al-Shazly’s wife and offspring said that prior to his death ...

Free English Lawyers 2011

صورة
Free English Lawyers 2011 05:05 م Admin Clients like you turn to lawyers when truly professional assistance is needed with issues that really matter; both commercial and personal. So it is especially important that you choose the right law firm. A firm that empathises with you and gets results. In short, a law firm that understands your needs – that speaks your language. Since 1983 De Cotta McKenna & Santafé has combined a strong legal track record in Andalucia, together with genuine national and international expertise. Our integrated team of Spanish qualified Abogados and English qualified Solicitors and Barristers makes us amongst the most versatile and experienced law firms on the southern Spanish coast and the Canary Islands. Private clients look to us when they need to help buy or sell a home or timeshare ; or deal with the complexities of a personal injury claim ; or sensitive matters such as divorce and child abduction . It is our combination of gen...