September 17, 2009 “Information Clearing House” – — On the day Prime Minister Gordon Brown made his “major policy speech” on Afghanistan, repeating his surreal claim that if the British army did not fight Pashtun tribesmen over there, they would be over here, the stench of burnt flesh hung over the banks of the Kunduz River. Nato fighter planes had …

Beata Paxford is a lawyer and Ph.d. candidate in Banking Law.  Beata is currently writing her dissertation on Islamic Banking at Warsaw University in Poland. She is an Islamic Banking advocate in Poland and hopes to popularise Islamic banking in the CEE countries. © Islamic Finance Today Recent developments In the light of the recent bankruptcies of some leading banks, …

As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion. Eid is a time to celebrate the completion of 30 days and nights of devotion. But even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those …

How Hezbollah Wins by Losing Summary — Hezbollah may have lost Lebanon’s election, but it remains the country’s dominant political force. MOHAMAD BAZZI is an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a journalism professor at New York University. On July 14, a mysterious explosion rocked the southern Lebanese town of Khirbet Silim, …

No human on earth can draw a straight line on the surface of the earth between two far cities except with the aid of detailed maps, made possible today due to airplanes, satellites, and knowledge of latitude, longitude, and land height. However, there was a person who had done this 1400 years ago. This person is the prophet Muhammad (peace …

Yet another 9/11 anniversary — and its consequent war of attrition continues as the people of Afghanistan and Iraq suffer. It is doubtful whether they will have a taste of peace before the next 9/11 anniversary. The war, now dubbed Obama’s war, shows no early end with each side vowing to teach the other a lesson. In a message to …