Thirty Muslim MPs, including six Cabinet ministers of Kenya have promised to work as a team in Parliament irrespective of their political affiliations. The MPs felt that their presence in the Tenth Parliament was more important than political parties. Six Muslims have full Cabinet positions in the Coalition Government. The Muslims made the pledge to unite during a dinner at the Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi. Livestock Development Minister, Dr Mohamed Kuti, Development of Northern Kenya and A...

The Israeli government has rejected a Hamas offer for a six-month truce in the Gaza Strip. Israeli spokesman David Baker called the proposed truce “a ruse” to give it time to “re-arm and re-group”. Former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar said it would stop firing rockets into Israeli settlements if Israel lifts its blockade of the Gaza Strip. The proposal comes after Hamas talks with Egypt. The offer of a ceasefire came as Hamas was preparing massive protest...

The High Court in London ruled that orders imposed under UN laws to freeze terror suspects’ assets are not lawful because they “bypassed” parliament. The imposed orders are “frankly, another example of an immediate reaction without it being thought through properly – which is rather the pattern with the anti-terrorism measures,” the judge, Mr Justice Collins said. The ruling, which comes after a series of successful legal challenges to emergency legislation...

Mahdi Akef, chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) of Egypt rejected Gamal Mubarak, the son of the current Egyptian President, as a possible presidential candidate. Akef clarified, in a statement, that the Muslim Brotherhood had once agreed that Gamal Mubarak could be a presidential candidate treated as any other Egyptian citizen. However, after 2005 constitutional amendments declared by the Egyptian President, the Muslim Brotherhood refused Gamal Mubarak as a nominee for presidency. Akef be...

Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) will start negotiations with Iran on establishment of a trade common market. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman are members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. Secretary General of PGCC Abdul Rahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah expressed hope that talks with the European Union on the subject would conclude this year. Al-Attiyah noted that the council will also start talks with countries like Japan, China, Turkey, Austra...

A thirty-five strong delegation of British Muslims are attending World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Summit in Kuwait. The summit from April 29 to May 1 is the fourth to be held to promote partnership between Muslim and non-Muslim businessmen by forging cooperation across borders among entrepreneurs in Muslim majority countries and those in other countries. Sir Iqbal Sacranie, former secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) leading the UK delegation, said the forum will serve ...

The Middle Eastern tourism market is growing in such importance that Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism is going to announce the appointment of a local tourism promotion marketing company. Speaking in the run up to the Arabian Travel Market, Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Jero Wacik said that he had a message of great opportunities for all outbound travel agents and their clients: “Indonesia has it all. It is truly the destination that is the Ultima...