Titles:

• Euro zone under threat from debt crisis, says EU
• UK general: Cannot defeat al-Qaeda
• US Offers To Lift Sanctions, Remove Sudan From Terrorism Blacklist On Condition
• Bibi can take US into war with Iran
• U.S., Uzbekistan agree to cooperate in security sector
• India not to get UNSC seat soon: US

News Details:

Euro zone under threat from debt crisis, says EU
The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has raised the stakes before showdown talks among finance ministers in Brussels overnight, warning the European Union could collapse unless the debt crisis that is gripping the region is resolved. With Ireland and Portugal both on the brink of a bailout, Mr Van Rompuy warned that there is a serious risk of contagion spreading across the entire continent. ''We're in a survival crisis,'' he said in a speech in Brussels. ''We all have to work together in order to survive with the euro zone, because if we don't survive with the euro zone we will not survive with the European Union.'' Advertisement: Story continues below Mr Van Rompuy's speech added to the pressure on the Irish government, which was continuing to resist international pressure to accept a bailout yesterday. Shares fell across Europe as pressure mounted on Ireland to accept an EU or International Monetary Fund bailout to stem contagion to other high-deficit euro zone countries. Portugal, which has seen its borrowing costs rocket along with Ireland's, warned that it too might need a rescue package.

UK general: Cannot defeat al-Qaeda
Britain's most senior officer has been quoted as saying that al-Qaeda can never be completely defeated. David Richards, chief of the defense staff, said on Sunday that outright victory is "unnecessary" as long as governments are able to contain the fighters. "First of all, you have to ask: 'Do we need to defeat it (al-Qaeda) in the sense of a clear cut victory?'" Richards told British newspaper the Sunday Telegraph. "I would argue that it is unnecessary and would never be achieved ... but can we contain it to the point that our lives and our children's lives are led securely? I think we can." His comments are the latest from western military leaders and politicians who have been paving the way for coalition forces to exit Afghanistan over the coming years, even though the Taliban remains a significant threat to security there. Barack Obama, the US president, and David Cameron, the British prime minister, hope to start bringing troops home next year. Richards underlined Britain's aim to end its combat role in Afghanistan by 2014-15 but did not estimate how much longer after that coalition troops would need to support Afghan security forces. Richards, who became head of Britain's armed forces last month, said the region should be stabilized before any withdrawal is completed. "We are equally clear that we have got to support the operation thereafter to make sure that our legacy is an enduring one," he said. British soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 as part of a US-led force.

US Offers To Lift Sanctions, Remove Sudan From Terrorism Blacklist On Condition
The United States has offered a number of incentives to Sudan if the leaders of the African country choose a path of peace and successfully conduct the proposed referendum. Addressing a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that it is ready to withdraw Sudan from the black list of state sponsors of terrorism if the Government fulfills the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), resolves the future of Abyei by holding the referendum, and then recognizes the will of the people in the South.  She also announced that the Obama Administration is prepared to lift U.S. sanctions, work toward international debt relief, increase trade and investment, and forge a mutually beneficial relationship if the Government of Sudan commits to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Darfur and takes other steps toward peace and accountability. The January 9 referendum decides whether the oil-rich southern region of Abyei, where most people are Christian or follow traditional religions, should secede from the Arab-dominated mostly-Muslim north.

Bibi can take US into war with Iran
A former CIA member says the Israeli premier can take US into war with Iran but Washington is not prepared for such a confrontation. US Republicans, riding a wave of economic discontent, took over the House of Representatives in mid-term polls, dealing a heavy blow to President Barack Obama. Analysts say control of the House will now give Republicans enough power to slam the brakes on Obama's agenda. "On Iran, there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans. They're very comfortable with the idea that a foreign leader like [Benjamin] Netanyahu can take 300 million Americans to war whenever he wants," said counterterrorism expert Michael Scheuer, who has worked with the Central Intelligence Agency for more than 20 years. "The election was a disaster in terms of increasing the chances of another war that we don't have the resources to fight, and we won't have the will to win," Newsmax quoted Scheuer as saying. He criticized Obama for "saying the country can handle another 9/11 attack," and added, "It's a foolish comment of a man who is only moderately talented in terms of international affairs." "Given the disastrous state of our economy, I'm not so sure we could handle all the effects of an attack." Scheuer expressed doubt that gaining control of the US House by Republicans would improve anti-terrorism efforts, adding that "I don't think there's any real difference between Obama and his party and the Republicans." "They're still fighting an enemy that doesn't exist, an enemy they believe is attacking us because we have elections..." Scheuer said no problem would be resolved "until they [US officials] understand we're being attacked because of our foreign policy and what we do in the Muslim world, we're never going to understand the motivation and size of the enemy."

U.S., Uzbekistan agree to cooperate in security sector
The U.S. Embassy to Uzbekistan said on Wednesday the U.S. Central Command and Uzbekistan's Defense Ministry had signed a security cooperation program for 2011. "The program outlines a series of mutually agreed-upon engagements and training opportunities for fiscal year 2011," the embassy said. The move comes during a visit of U.S. Central Commander General James Mattis to this central Asian country. During his visit, Mattis and Uzbek Defense Minister Kabul Berdiev also exchanged opinions over regional security issues and Afghanistan issue. The United States used an airbase in Uzbekistan as part of operations in Afghanistan from 2001 until 2005, but now has since relied exclusively on the Manas facility near Bishkek, capital city of Uzbekistan's neighboring Kyrgyzstan.

India not to get UNSC seat soon: US
Robert Blake, US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, told a briefing at Washington's Foreign Press Centre that the expansion of UNSC was, "a very complex process that has to take place - many, many contenders for permanent seat - there is a whole question of veto". The United States, he said, "needs to have a very serious and detailed conversation with all our friends who are competing for these seats". During a visit to India last week, President Barack Obama endorsed India's bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC saying that the world body needed reforms to accommodate the changes that have taken place since the World War Two. "I would caution against expecting any kind of breakthrough anytime soon," Mr. Blake said. "I think the President and others have made it clear that this (reform) is going to be a long and complicated process and those we are committed to a modest expansion both of permanent and non-permanent seats," he said. The official said the only "real change" Mr. Obama announced was US support to India's permanent seat in the 15-membered UNSC, but "we have always been clear that this is going to be a long-term and very complicated process".

    A few days ago the UN warned that food prices could rise by 10% to 20% next year after poor harvests and an expected rundown of global reserves. More than 70 African and Asian countries will be the worst hit, said the Food and Agricultural Organization in its monthly report. In its gloomiest forecast since the 2007/08 food crisis, which saw food riots in more than 25 countries and 100 million extra hungry people, the report's authors urged states to prepare for hardship. "Countries must remain vigilant against supply shocks," the report warned. "Consumers may have little choice but to pay higher prices for their food. The size of next year's harvest becomes increasingly critical. For stocks to be replenished and prices to return to more normal levels, large production expansions are needed in 2011." Furthermore the UN warned that international food import bills could pass the $1 trillion mark, with prices in most commodities up sharply from 2009. Global food reserves, which currently stand at around 74 days, are now expected to decrease significantly in the next few months. "Cereal reserves may drop by around 7%, barley nearly 35%, maize 12% and wheat 10%. Only rice reserves are expected to increase, by 6% next year," said the report. Much now hangs on next year's harvests, it said. "International prices could rise even more if production next year does not increase significantly - especially in maize, soybean and wheat. Even the price of rice, the supply of which is more adequate than other cereals, may be affected if prices of other major food crops continue climbing."

Whilst it is apparent that some of the food price hikes are due to a fall in production-Russia's ban on wheat exports in the aftermath of the fires- the UN has again overlooked the main culprit, food speculation and the declining value of the dollar.  Both are playing havoc with food prices worldwide.  The debasement of the dollar reduces the purchasing power of the currency to buy goods and services. As most of the world's staple foods are traded in dollars, the country purchasing staple foods has to pay more in order to secure the same amount of food supplies to feeds its hungry population. Often poorer countries do not have extra dollars to meet the rise in food prices. Hence some nations are forced to borrow dollars at high interest rates, which in turn makes them further indebted to the donor nations. Other countries are forced to make structural changes to their agricultural policies and grow cash crops instead of staple foods.  Thus poorer countries find themselves engulfed in a vicious cycle i.e. they borrow more to pay off debtor nations and at the same time deprive their people of food. Still there are some poorer countries, which have abundance of staple foods, but are forced to sell their crops to earn foreign exchange to pay off debt owed to first world nations.

What makes the food equation even worse between the ‘haves and the have nots' is rampant speculation by the haves. Speculation usually translates into huge food price spikes, especially when the value of the dollar plunges. This is exactly what happened a few years ago. And now after the recent announcement by the US Federal Reserve to spend an extra $600 billion to stimulate the US economy, speculation on the price of essential food commodities has increased and will continue do so for a considerable time to come. The net effect is that food prices will increase sharply and thereby deprive millions around the world of a basic right.

The Muslim world will be adversely impacted by rising food prices and this will leaves millions of Muslims deprived of food and vulnerable to the harsh economic conditions imposed by the West. The only way for the Muslim ummah to protect her from ever increasing food prices is to work for the re-establishment of the Caliphate. The Caliphate will protect its currency by basing it on the bimetallic standard. Hence food prices will stabilize and will not undergo extreme fluctuations as witnessed today. Moreover, the Caliphate will prohibit food speculation, hoarding and price fixing, thereby ensuring that all citizens of the state are able to afford food. For those unfortunate citizens, who are unable to fend for themselves, the Caliphate will buy foodstuffs from the open market and tend to their needs. The messenger of Allah (SWT) said, "The Son of Adam has no better right than that he would have a house wherein he may live, a piece of clothing whereby he may hide his nakedness and a piece of bread and some water." [Tirmidhi]

Abed Mustafa

   For the last week or so, the case of Christian women is being highlighted in the media and political circles. Asia Bibi, 45 years of age, was sentenced to death by a lower court on charges of making blasphemous comments against the Messenger of Allah (saaw).  An appeal for the restitution of "full freedom" to Asia Bibi was also launched by Pope Benedict XVI, at the end of the general audience. He noted that "the international community is following with great concern the difficult situation of Christians in Pakistan, often victims of violence or discrimination." The Pope expressed his "spiritual closeness" to Asia Bibi and her family and called for the liberation of the woman. Soon after, Punjab's Governor, Salman Taseer, travelled to Shaikhupura to meet the woman in jail and held a press conference there.  He said: "I will soon meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hand him over Bibi's appeal," he said. "I hope that the president will pardon her."

 First of all we would like to ask Mr. Pope where was he when US, UK and the collation forces of the West were killing over a million Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan?  Why were his lips sealed when it came to humiliating torture and imprisonment without charge of hundreds of innocent Muslims in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghaurab prison?  We advise him to first bring his house in order and provide justice to the victims of sodomy and torture by the priests and cardinals of his own church.

As per the rulers and NGOs of Pakistan, this is not the first time when such a cases has been blown out of proportion by them with the help of the media to attack Islam and its laws.  Under Pakistani laws a death sentence by a lower Court cannot be acted upon until the High Court approves of it.  So it was not like Asia Bibi was to be hanged tomorrow that the whole government and media came tumbling down. Hence, the response which came from Pope, the Governor and all the NGOs show that their actual agenda was something else i.e. to attack Islam and its laws.

The NGOs have already demanded the repeal of the "blasphemy law", which punishes anybody who commits blasphemy to death.  Their claim is that since it can be misused therefore it should be repealed immediately.  But there is a difference between the laws related to conviction and laws which define the punishment for a criminal already convicted by the court.  The laws related to conviction in the current judicial system of Pakistan have nothing to do with Islam.  They are the same laws as defined by the British during their colonial days. So if these laws convict an innocent person then what has that got to do with Islam and its punishment system?  If the NGOs and the government are really interested in saving the people from the injustice of the current judicial system then they should better uproot this Kufr judicial system and implement Islamic system in which definite proof (Bayinah) is accepted and nobody can be convicted based on circumstantial evidences.  Just repealing Blasphamy Law and keeping the Kufr judicial system intact will not solve the problem.

 Today West is protecting the blasphemers in their own countries as well as they are encouraging those who dare to commit this sin in the Muslim world.  Today it was reported in the press that Western countries including America has offered asylum for Asia Bibi.  We have already seen similar story in Afghanistan where Sayed Parvez Kambakhsh was pardoned by Hamid Karzai and then given asylum by a western country.  Insulting Islam and sanctities of Islam has become "alottery ticket" to the West. Only through the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" Muslims will be able to protect the sanctities of Islam, and the day is not far anymore.

NB / The Official Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan

   HTI-Press. Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) hosted Eid al-Adha prayers in various cities across Indonesia which coincided with 10 Dzulhijah in accordance with the Islamic Calendar 1431 H Al Mekkah Al Mukkaramah. The Indonesian government set its own 10 Dzulhijah the next day, or Wednesday (17/11).

Nevertheless, since the sun began to rise the Muslims flocked to the location of the prayer. They brought their own prayer mats. Every city decided their own locations of the prayers. Some took place in open fields, in business centers, or in other centers. The event was attended by hundreds to thousands of Muslims.

 In Jakarta, more than 1,000 Muslims packed the courtyard of the Central Office of HTI. While in Bogor, a small city in southern part of Jakarta, more than 3,000 people crowded into a parking lot of a mall. The same events took place in Surabaya, Medan, Solo, Makassar, Bandung and other cities. HTI also held Idul Adha prayers at Merapi evacuation center at the Stadium of Maguwoharjo, Sleman, Yogyakarta.

Takbir, tahlil, tahmid echoed in the courtyard of the HTI Central Office in Crown Palace Soepomo Street South Jakarta. More than a thousand Muslims males and females, old to young, even children came to join al-Iedul Adha prayers 1431 Hijri, on Tuesday (16/11) held by HTI Central Board in Jakarta.

At  around 07.00 PM, the Eid prayer began. Ustadz  Herman Al Baduwi acted as the Imam of the prayer. While Iedul Adha sermon was delivered by Ustadz Ahmad Junaidi At Thayyibi.

In his early sermons, the khatib highlighted the condition of Indonesia which has continuously been hit by the disasters while the rulers seemed indifference to the suffering of the people. When people need helps, the rulers and the people's representatives went abroad on businesses which were not urgent. "How long will this condition continue to happen?' asked the khatib.

Khatib warned the Muslims that Allah SWT and  His Messenger had shown us a complete solution to all these problems. The solution is a total unconditional obedience to Allah SWT and His Messenger.  The total obedience can only be realized perfectly with the application of total Sharia (kaffah) under the shade of the Khilafah "Caliphate".

 "The absence of a caliphate is what makes the Muslims weak and impotent against their enemies. This condition was described exactly by the Prophet PBUH:  like food on a tray surrounded by their enemies. The number is big, but they are like scum that swayed  by the waves, " the khatib said.

Khatib led Muslims to emulate the attitude of the Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. They both have total obedience to God. Love of God placed the highest compared with the love of others.

The fact shows that many Muslims still love others than to love Allah SWT. As a result, they love worldly life more than the After life; to love their family more than to love preaching and fighting for their religion; to love wealth more than to love jihad in His way; to love power more than to fight for the glory of Islam, even to love their enemies of Islam more than to love the Muslims.

 This is the condition that leads the Muslims no longer occupy their position as the best ummah (khairu umma). In contrast, the Muslims actually follow the will of the kafir the occupiers of the muslim lands by running the secular-capitalistic system and by upholding the human rights and pluralism in a democratic frame. "Then we become despicable ummah who are collapsed in disgrace, poverty, and ignorance. Be we are the victims of their greed so as life is not worth anything, "said the khatib while mentioning the suffering of Palestinians, Iraqis, Afghans, Kashmiri, Patani, the Moro and others.

Khatib also highlighted the actions of the Muslim rulers who become the West imitators. On the midst of the hardship of Indonesian, the Indonesian rulers signed a comprehensive partnership with Obama while Allah forbids the Muslims to make the kuffar as friends / partners.

 At the end of  the sermon, the khatib  asked the Muslims to constantly strive to implement the Islamic Syariah by establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate", as a form of sincerity to worship Allah SWT, to bear all risks until we win  upon the will of Allah or we perish because of  that.

"Let us make the hajj and the moment of qurban as an inspiration and a motivation for all of us to always submit to Allah SWT and His Messenger, as well as to always make sacrifices in the struggle to apply a kaffah Islamic Sharia, under the shade of the institution of Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" 'ala Minhaj an-Nubuwwah," said the khatib.

 Before the event started, the committee read a statement about the differences in the determination of Eid al-Adha 1431 H. They explained that difference should not have occurred when the Muslims refer to the pilgrimage as a directive of the event, especially the wukuf in Arafah.

HTI calls on Muslims in Indonesia in particular to draw lessons from this incident, that this is the condition if the ummah is not united. The Ummah will continue being broken into pieces in many ways, including that in the matters of ibadah. Therefore, this division must be stopped. The solution is that the Muslims must take this seriously, do anything with all the resources and efforts of each to fight for re-establishment of the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" as a unifier of the people.

For more photo click HERE