Jordan says ties improving with Assad, border re-opening on cards

[SAT]

These are a sample of the influential messages being sent out in this important time to Islam.

Jordan has said its relations with the Syrian regime are heading in the right direction and looked forward to a reopening of the border crossings with its war-torn neighbour.

Momani highlighted the stability of the situation in southern Syria, across the border from Jordan.

http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/intern...ening-on-cards


Haj message is to show unity: Haramain imams

THE essential message of the Haj pilgrimage is to show the unity of the Muslim Ummah and to shun all dissensions, khateeb and imam of the Grand Mosque said in Makkah.

Consensus and moderation are the hallmarks of a Islamic society, he said calling on the Muslims to narrow the gaps among them and strive to unitedly face the challenges before the Ummah.

The imam stressed on the values of love, equality, brotherhood, tolerance and justice and said all Muslims should overcome their differences by applying the principles of forgiveness.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/5...UDI-ARABIA/Haj

The right approach to negating Islamophobia

Diehard Islamophobic groups or individuals are perhaps unaware of and ignorant about what these pilgrims go through. These Muslims have not gathered in Makkah to declare war on anyone. They have not come with the aim of recruiting forces to spread terrorism. There are no sermons exhorting people to resort to violence and mayhem against the rest of mankind. Instead, it is a peaceful, personal journey for one and all, a journey whose foundation is built on harmony and acceptance of all of God s creations.

http://gulfnews.com/opinion/thinkers...obia-1.2080358


UAE diplomats praise devotion of Shaikha Fatima

In messages of tribute to the Mother of the Nation, on the occasion of the third Emirati Women s Day on August 28, the female ambassadors affirmed that Shaikha Fatima plays a pivotal role in the nation s efforts to support and empower Emirati women.

They added that Shaikha Fatima, inspired by the founding father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has been working, since the establishment of the General Women s Union, to empower Emirati women, to assume a constructive and active role in the local community.

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/governm...tima-1.2080318

Syrian army establishes full control over new strategic positions in Homs

http://en.mehrnews.com/news/127272/S...egic-positions

UN Secretary General Starts Mid East Tour

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is embarking Saturday on his Middle East tour, starting in Kuwait and then moving on with visits to Israel and Palestine.

As UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated in advance, Guterres will discuss in Kuwait about the regional situation, marked by many conflicts and diplomatic crisis between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the latters allies.

Guterres will also meet Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during his Mid East tour.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o...-mid-east-tour

[SAT]

Lebanon to secure eastern border soon President

Lebanon is on the cusp of celebrating the liberation of it s eastern border with Syria and the restoration of security in the area, said it s President Michel Aoun on Saturday.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetail...57&language=en


France Pledges Support to Stabilize Post-Islamic State Iraq
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/ar...ive-in-baghdad

Shaikh Mohammed praises UAEs readiness for change

Sheikh Mohammed said on his Instagram account: A new report puts UAE in the third position globally in its ability to keep up with economic and technical changes and its readiness for various events. The private sector in the UAE is the first in the world in terms of readiness to change and keep updated on events around it

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/business...ess-for-change

Iranians up in arms as Apple removes top apps

American computer giant says applications taken down from store due to US sanctions

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian...oves-top-apps/

Islamic State stronghold Tal Afar about to fall, says Iraqi military

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-m...-idUSKCN1B608R


Iraq recaptures Tal Afar centre, citadel from Islamic State group

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsCont...from-Isla.aspx

[SAT]

Saudi Arabia emphasizes serving Qatari pilgrims in Arafat and Mina

Secretary General Abdullah bin Mudlaj al-Mudlaj paid a visit to the pilgrim camps and stressed to them the keenness of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to provide all services and facilitate a spiritual atmosphere for them to perform their rituals and worships easily and smoothly.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News...-and-Mina.html

Iran-Saudi Arabia rift narrows amid shifting alliances in region

The first indication that Riyadh and Tehran might ease tensions came on August 1st, when their foreign ministers shook hands at an Organisation of Islamic Co-operation gathering in Istanbul. Subsequently, Saudi crown prince Mohamed bin Salman called on Iran ally, the Shia fundamentalist government in Baghdad, to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh, hosted Iraqi dissident Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Saudi Arabia, and pledged to fund Iraq post-war reconstruction. Riyadh is eager to court Baghdad with the aim of weakening Iranian influence in Iraq.

These initiatives on the bilateral level, initiated by bin Salman, have been accompanied by other shifts in Saudi policy. On Syria, the Riyadh-based Syrian opposition coalition has been told to negotiate with Damascus on the basis that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad will stay in office. Since the coalition failed to capitulate last week during a meeting with two other opposition groups, the Saudis have vowed to remove hard-line coalition members answerable to Qatar.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/worl...gion-1.3198640

[SAT]

a side note of what the Russian media are saying???

The civil war in Syria is de-facto over. This is what Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart at the ongoing ARMY-2017 forum in Kubinka on Wednesday. Israel Shamir, a Russian-Israeli journalist and Middle East expert however told Sputnik Radio that some powers might not agree with this statement.

The implementation of de-escalation zones in Syria and the separation of terrorists from the opposition have allowed the fight against terrorism to intensify, effectively ending the civil war in the country, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said during the meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Yaacoub Sarraf.
The Russian Defense Minister, however, stressed that the movement of terrorists from one country to another cannot continue indefinitely.
I would like our Western partners finally to separate the moderate opposition from terrorists and stop rendering assistance across the board, Shoigu said.

There is a danger that some external forces would not agree with the settlement of the Syrian war. Those forces are Saudi Arabia and Israel, Shamir told Sputnik.

That is why there is a possibility that the war, which until now was viewed as a war between proxies would be replaced by direct intervention of Israel and Saudi Arabia, he finally stated.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2...arabia-israel/

[SAT]

This is dated Aug 18 so the news is old but...

[SAT]

A reminder from the other day???
Netanyahu to Putin: Israel may act to curb Iran s clout in Syria

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mi...KCN1B30JS?il=0

[SAT]

Islamic Sudan

Sudanese minister praises Israel s morals, says normalization would be no big deal

A Sudanese minister said any possible normalization of ties between Sudan and Israel would be no big deal and that Palestinians bear a large responsibility of the blame in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I think that people are more invested in this than reality warrants, he said in reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

The entire issue is very complex. It s not black and white. The Palestinians themselves meet with the Israelis. They coexist with the Israelis, earn their living there, and get their electricity from them. These people live together, he added.

Al-Mahdi said the Palestinians bear much of the responsibility for their loss of lands and displacement.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/sudanes...e-no-big-deal/

[Guest]

Makes sense to me...

[SAT]

Side note

big sigh

(In Christian) South Sudan
Say a prayer for these people

Child marriage increasing in civil war-torn South Sudan

If I d have refused, my father and brothers would have killed me, Eliza says. Shifting uncomfortably in her plastic chair, the 17-year-old recoils when remembering her wedding day. In 2012, at the age of 13, Eliza was forced by her father to marry a 35-year-old man from their village in the South Sudan town of Rumbek. She was traded for 50 cattle.
As her family slaughtered a cow in celebration and sent her away, the girl was unhappy. I just cried, Eliza said. The Associated Press is using only her first name to protect her identity.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/08...test+-+Text%29


Cultural and religious beliefs



The Dinkas' pastoral lifestyle is also reflected in their religious beliefs and practices. Since the arrival of Abrahamic religions most revere one God, Nhialic, who speaks through spirits that take temporary possession of individuals in order to speak through them. The sacrificing of oxen by the "masters of the fishing spear" is a central component of Dinka religious practice. Age is an important factor in Dinka culture, with young men being inducted into adulthood through an initiation ordeal which includes marking the forehead with a sharp object. Also during this ceremony they acquire a second cow-colour name. The Dinka believe they derive religious power from nature and the world around them, rather than from a religious tome.^[15]