Chelsea's unbeaten run comes to an abrupt end

Manchester City ended Chelsea's unbeaten start to the Premier League season as Carlos Tevez netted the solitary strike in a 1-0 win at the City of Manchester Stadium.  The first half was notable only for a Branislav Ivanovic header which struck the crossbar, but a piece of magic from the City captain lit up the second. The Argentine hurtled through the Chelsea half on the hour mark before applying a clinical finish to beat Petr Cech, and Carlo Ancelotti's side could not muster a response.

Roberto Mancini had surprisingly reported prior to the game that the title was Chelsea's, but the Italian was left to enjoy the bottle of red he promised his counterpart if the hosts won as his side inflicted the champions' first defeat of the season.

City made just one change from the team which beat Wigan as Dedryck Boyata came in for the injured Micah Richards, while Chelsea skipper John Terry returned as Paulo Ferreira missed out and Nicolas Anelka replaced Salomon Kalou.

It was a cagey yet frenetic opening as the two richest clubs in the league hustled and harried in a heavily congested midfield with neither side afforded the luxury of being able to enjoy a period of sustained possession.

There were no clear-cut openings mustered, before Ivanovic struck the crossbar with a looping header on the half hour as a relieved Joe Hart watched on helplessly as the hosts were eventually able to alleviate the danger.

Four minutes later, Pablo Zabaleta hauled down the marauding Ivanovic on the edge of the City box, but Didier Drogba lashed the resulting free-kick over the bar as Hart looked on disdainfully.

The last time Chelsea went in at the break with the game goalless was on Boxing Day against Birmingham, but for both sides a circumspect approach was paramount.

Neither manager deemed it necessary to make any changes at the break and, within seconds of the restart, Anelka fired a rasping effort towards the far post which Hart did well to tip away for a corner.

The game was crying out for a moment of decisive brilliance, and it was Tevez who provided it on the hour mark.

The Argentine had scored five goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Chelsea, and he was on target against the champions yet again after he used Silva as a decoy runner before driving a low shot through Cole's legs and beyond Cech into the far corner of the net.

Ancelotti reacted swiftly to his side conceding only their second goal of the league campaign, and surprisingly a frustrated Drogba was one of two changes to immediately follow the goal.

The 19-year-old Boyata was a powerful defensive presence for City all afternoon, but he almost cost his side after he hauled down substitute Yuri Zhirkov with a rash challenge on the edge of his box.

Florent Malouda whipped over a devilish delivery from the resulting set piece, and Alex rose imperiously before heading wide as a glorious opportunity to equalise was squandered 10 minutes from time. It was a frustrated Chelsea side which ended the match, and City preserved their slender lead with a stout defensive display late on.

As a result of the win, City move to within four points of Chelsea, who remain top despite suffering their first defeat of the season. Arsenal and Manchester United can subsequently move to within a point of the champions with victories this weekend.


Source; http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25092010/58/premier-league-manchester-city-stun-chelsea.html

Geo-engineering to reduce GW?

Reflecting sunlight from the Earth by geoengineering would undoubtedly cool the climate, but would different countries agree on how much to reflect? Research by climate scientists at the University of Bristol shows that the impact of geoengineering would be felt in very different ways across the world.

Previous studies of geoengineering approaches, aimed at averting dangerous climate change, have shown that although the average global temperature could be restored to 'normal' levels, some regions would remain too warm, whereas others would 'overshoot' and cool to much. In addition, average rainfall would be reduced.

This new study looked at the impacts of different strengths of geoengineering, from full strength (sufficient to return global average temperatures back to normal), through to no geoengineering.

Reporting in Geophysical Research Letters, the researchers looked at how the impacts caused by these different strengths of geoengineering differed from region to region, using a comprehensive climate model developed by the UK Met Office, which replicates all the important aspects of the climate system, including the atmospheric, ocean and land processes, and their interactions.

Their analysis revealed that with increasing geoengineering strength, most regions become drier while others buck the trend and become increasingly wet. For example, the USA became drier with increasing geoengineering, and returned to normal conditions under half-strength geoengineering, whereas Australia became wetter, returning to normal conditions only for full strength geoengineering.

Pete Irvine, lead author on the paper, points out there are likely to be disagreements over any future geoengineering schemes: "If there is a large amount of global warming in the future there would be no strength of geoengineering that would be best for everyone: some may be better off without any geoengineering while others may do better with a large amount." The team suggest that global average figures are too simple a measure to assess the impacts of geoengineering, and that decision makers of the future need to consider a variety of impacts, such as on regional precipitation, sea-level response, global crop yield before deciding whether embarking on geoengineering would be the right choice.

However, the work does offer some way forward. Co-author Dan Lunt added: "Our simulations indicate that it might be possible to identify a strength of geoengineering capable of meeting multiple targets, such as maintaining a stable mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet and cooling global climate, but without reducing global precipitation below normal amounts or exposing significant fractions of the Earth to unusual climate conditions."

Source; http://noliesradio.org/archives/15053

The 'World Muslim Congress' making

The World Muslim Congress (Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami) was founded in an assemblage of eminent leaders from the World of Islam held in Makkah in 1926. King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia played host to the Congress. The Congress resolved that a permanent international Islamic organization be set up to promote solidarity and cooperation among the global Islamic community (Ummah).

It assumed organizational shape in the second International Islamic Conference held in Baitul Maqdas (Jerusalem) in 1931.The constitution and rules and regulations of the Motamar Al-Islam Al-Islami) were framed and approved in this conference.

After the birth of the Muslim-majority State of Pakistan on August 14, 1947, eminent Signatories of the World of Islam began working for the revival of the Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islam. Its revival was achieved in a World Muslim Conference held in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan at that time in February 1949.
 
In 1950, the Motamar submitted a scroll bearing a million signatures supporting the Kashmiris' right of self-determination and a UN-supervised plebiscite to the first secretary-general of the United Nations, Mr. Trygve Lie in New York.
 
This was followed by a bigger conference of the Motamar held in Karachi in February 1951. This Conference gave a new form and shape to the Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami, making Karachi the headquarters of the Motamar, with Alhaj Aminul Hussaini, the Grand Mufti of Palestine, as its President and Dr. Insamullah Khan as its secretary-general.The Motamar's 1951 Conference held in Karachi saw the seeding of many ideas of cooperation amongthe Muslim countries and people, which in the years that followed became realities.


Source; http://www.motamaralalamalislami.org/

The international "Burn a Qur'an day" event cancelled permanently

At the Pentagon, President Barack Obama said the US was not at war with Islam.

Earlier, the pastor behind the threat to burn Korans in Florida said the event has been cancelled permanently.

"We will definitely not burn the Koran, no," the Reverend Terry Jones told NBC's Today show.  "Not today, not ever," he said when pressed about whether his planned demonstration might happen at a later date.

Speaking at a memorial event at the Pentagon - which was also hit by an airliner on 11 September 2001 - President Obama paid tribute to those who died in the attacks, saying America's greatest weapon was to stay true to itself.

"It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was Al-Qaeda," he said. "We will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust," he said.

Saturday saw new protests in mainly Muslim countries over the Koran-burning proposal, with rallies reported in Somalia and Afghanistan. Pastor Terry Jones had said he hoped to meet a leading imam to discuss the proposal for the Islamic centre, to be located a short distance from Ground Zero, the WTC site.
He said he had suspended the book-burning only because he had received a guarantee, from an imam in Florida, that the centre would be moved. But the planners of the Islamic centre have said they did not speak to the Florida imam, and would not be moving their project.

Mr Abdul Rauf said on Friday that he was "prepared to consider meeting with anyone who is seriously committed to pursuing peace" but added that he had no current plans to meet Mr Jones. Mr Jones is the pastor of the tiny and previously little-known Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, and author of a book entitled Islam is of the Devil. He had planned to stage an International Burn a Koran Day on Saturday, saying the book was "evil". But pressure was put on the pastor to cancel the burning. The FBI visited Mr Jones to urge him to reconsider his plans and he was telephoned by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

In his remarks on Friday, Mr Obama denied that his administration's intervention in the affair had elevated it to greater prominence. He appealed to Americans to respect the "inalienable" right of religious freedom and said he hoped the preacher would abandon his plan to burn the Koran, as it could add to the dangers facing US soldiers serving abroad. "This is a way of endangering our troops, our sons and daughters... you don't play games with that," he told reporters.


Source; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11269681

The merits and etiquette of the last ten days of Ramadan

By Shaykh Ali Al Timimi

(May Allah SWT have mercy on Him and ease His suffering, Ameen)

My dear brothers and sisters! It is reported in as-Sahihayn that ‘A’isha – may Allah be pleased with her – informs that when the last ten nights began Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would ‘tighten his izar’, keep awake during the night, and awaken his family. In Muslim’s report she said that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would exert himself during the last nights to a greater extent than at any other time.

The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would emphasize the last ten nights of Ramadan what he would not emphasize at any other time during the month by performing specific acts that he would not perform at any other time during the month. The scholars who have studied the Prophet’s Sunnah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) have identified six specific acts that he would do unlike the other nights of Ramadan:

He would keep awake during the night

This could imply that he would keep awake throughout the whole night. For it is reported in al-Musnad upon ‘A’isha that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would combine the [first] twenty nights [of Ramadan] with prayer and sleep, but if the [final] ten nights began he would ‘pull up and tighten his izar. Or this could imply that he would keep awake most of the night. Some of the earliest scholars have stated whoever keeps awake half the night, has kept awake all the night.

He would awaken his family for prayer

Abu Dharr – may Allah be pleased with her – that Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) led them in [night] prayer during the night of the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, and the twenty-seventh. It is mentioned that he called his family and his women [to pray] during the night of the twenty-seventh in particular. This shows that it is stressed to awaken them during the more emphasized odd nights which laylatul-qadr is sought. Sufyan ath-Thawri would say, “It is so beloved to me if the last ten nights begin for someone to pray tahajjud and exert oneself and awaken one’s wife and children to pray if they can endure that.”

He would tighten his izar

This Arabic expression means he would stay away from his wives. It is reported that he would not return to his bed until Ramadan ended. Anas reports he would roll up his bed and stay away from his wives. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would perform ‘itikaf during the last ten nights. It is forbidden for the one performing ‘itikaf to have sexual relations. The wisdom behind this is that while Allah permitted during the month of Ramadan sexual relations during the night, it was legislated that during the last ten nights for those seeking layatul-qadr to avoid sexual relations so that they might not miss it. For this reason those engaged in ‘itikaf are prohibited from sexual relations.

He would delay his breaking of his fast until his predawn meal

It is reported upon ‘A’isha and Anas that he the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would delay his dinner until sahur. This is because dhikr for those who know Allah suffices them from food and drink.

He would wash himself between maghrib and ‘isha

Ibn Abi ‘Asim reports that ‘A’isha has reported this. Ibn Jarir says the earliest Muslims used to like to wash every night of the last ten. Some of them would wash and perfume themselves. Hammad ibn Salama said that Thabit and Humaid would wear their best clothes and perfume themselves and perfume the mosque during those nights which one would expect laylatul-qadr. So it is preferable during these last ten nights, and especially those which one expects laylatul-qadr, to beautify oneself by cleaning oneself, wearing perfume and one’s best clothes. One does not truly beautify oneself outwardly unless one beautifies oneself inwardly by repentance and remorse. For outer beauty with inner ugliness is worthless.

He would perform ‘itikaf

‘A’isha said that the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to engage in ‘itikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan till Allah took him, and then his wives followed this practice after his death. This reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Seclusion for worship is legislated in the masajid so that neither the congregational nor the jumu’a prayers are missed. To seek seclusion elsewhere is a reprehensible innovation. My brothers and sisters! We have been commanded to seek to perform as many good deeds, be they obligatory or just praiseworthy. At the same time, we are ordered to avoid as many evil or reprehensible deeds. Those whom Allah has decreed eternal happiness in the Hereafter will find performance of good deeds and avoidance of evil deeds easy for them, while those whom Allah has decreed eternal sorrow in the Hereafter will find themselves unable to accomplish any good deeds nor avoid any evil deeds. With that we should always remember that what we ultimately seek is that our deeds are accepted, not just mere physical exertion of our bodies. For as the earliest Muslims would say, “How many of those who are awake in prayer are denied Allah’s mercy (mahrum), while those who are asleep are shown it (marhum)?”

Source; http://soul-scripture.blogspot.com/2006/10/ramadhan-1427-merits-and-etiquette-of.html

A tangible outcome from Middle Eastern 'peace' talks?

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held their first direct negotiations in nearly two years, in Washington.

The US Middle East envoy said the talks, between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas had been "constructive".

Both sides have agreed to meet again in the Middle East in two weeks. As the talks opened, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu they had the "opportunity to end this conflict."

Mr Netanyahu said painful concessions from both sides would be needed. Mr Abbas called on Israel to end all settlement construction and lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The talks at the US state department, the first such negotiations in 20 months, began with a pledge of "full and active support" from the US.

They had been initiated by US President Barack Obama, who gave them a one-year deadline. He has said the goal is a permanent settlement that ends the Israeli occupation of territory captured in 1967, and an independent, democratic Palestinian state existing peacefully beside Israel.

'Hurdles'

Opening the negotiations, Mrs Clinton said the US had "pledged its full support to these talks and we will be an active and sustained partner", but said Washington would not impose a solution.

"Mr Prime Minister, Mr President, you have the opportunity to end this conflict and the decades of enmity between your peoples once and for all," she said.

"The core issues at the centre of these negotiations - territory, security, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and others - will get no easier if we wait, nor will they resolve themselves."

Speaking after Mrs Clinton, both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead."This will not be easy," Mr Netanyahu said. "True peace, a lasting peace, will be achieved only with mutual and painful concessions from both sides."

Mr Abbas said: "We do know how hard are the hurdles and obstacles we face during these negotiations - negotiations that within a year should result in an agreement that will bring peace." The leaders also raised two of the issues that are central to the talks: security for the Israelis, and Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian territories.

"We call on the Israeli government to move forward with its commitment to end all settlement activities and completely lift the embargo over the Gaza Strip," Mr Abbas said.

Mr Netanyahu said "a genuine peace must take into account the security needs of Israel". He also repeated the demand that the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state. After their statements, Mrs Clinton, Mr Abbas, Mr Netanyahu and the US envoy to the Middle East talks, George Mitchell, broke off for talks away from the media.

Mr Mitchell emerged to say that Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu were talking alone. He said relations between the two men were "cordial" and there was a "constructive and positive mood". He said the two leaders had agreed to hold further talks in the Middle East on 14-15 September, then about every two weeks after that.

It had already been agreed, Mr Mitchell said, that the two sides would work to reach a framework agreement on all the issues dividing them that would pave the way for a comprehensive treaty.

Source; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11162585