04 « November « 2009 « Royalty in the News

Sheikh Khalifa Re-Elected as UAE President

On Tuesday, the Supreme Federal Council of the United Arab Emirates re-elected Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan as President. The 61 year-old Sheikh is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi. He will serve another five year presidential term.

AFP/WAM/FILE

Sheikh Khalifa’s heir, Crown Prince Mohammed of Abu Dhabi, lauded the results. “The UAE is making rapid, staggering and tangible progress under the stewardship of Sheikh Khalifa,” he said.

“The holistic development going on in all emirates simultaneously underlines Sheikh Khalifa’s sincere determination to secure a decent life to both UAE people and expatriate residents.”

The Sheikh has been involved in the UAE’s politics since his father, Sheikh Zayed, founded the oil-rich country in 1971. During his time as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, he served as its prime minister, as well as defense and finance minister of the emirate. He became ruler when his father died in 2004.

One of Sheikh Khalifa’s most noted actions as President was allowing the UAE’s first elections in 2006. However, only half of the Federal National Council were selected by UAE citizens.

Saudi King Blasted by Al-Qaeda Over Co-ed University

A member of Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch released an audio message online, in which he blasts the King of Saudi Arabia for creating a university for both men and women will attend.

REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri

Ibrahim al-Rubaish, a former Guatanamo prisoner, said King Abdullah is moving the ultra-conservative Kingdom closer to secularism.

“If he is not able to distinguish between good and evil and what is good and harmful, then how can he be put as the ruler over millions of people?” the recording goes.

“I call upon every Muslim to (distance themselves) from this agent apostate government, that has clearly demonstrated that it prefers infidelity to faith, and that all it wants from Islam is the the parts that do not affect its secularist method,” Rubaish said.

The 17-minute recording was posted on several jihadist websites starting November 1st.

The university – the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology – is meant for post-graduate students and researchers to work together. It is the first public university where men and women, unrelated to each other, will attend on Saudi soil.

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and it follows the Wahhabism, the strictest form of the religion. The mixing of the sexes goes against Sharia law.

“What (does one think) of a woman who studies with a Christian or a Jew, whose study is being supervised by an atheist or a pagan?” Rubaish complained.

“The father of the daughter or the brother of the sister or the husband of the wife, how can they accept that these (women enroll) in this university, this university that violated Sharia, violating even the system that this government claims to apply?”

The 7 billion-dollar school is intended to be an international institute. It is located just north of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

Charles & Camilla’s Memorable Events in Newfoundland

Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, wrapped their trip to Canada’s eastern province of Newfoundland, and arrived in Toronto Wednesday afternoon. They will be in the city for three days as part of their twelve day official visit to Canada.

REUTERS/Greg Locke

This visit was probably meant to boost the profile of the Prince of Wales and his wife, but it may not be going well. Media reports point out the low turnouts to see the royal couple. Even worse, the CBC is airing a documentary tonight which questions the future of the British monarchy once Queen Elizabeth II dies.

But that all seemed far from the minds of Charles and Camilla. As they spent Tuesday and early Wednesday touring Newfoundland, the two appeared to be enjoying their stay. The Prince had a good laugh yesterday when he unveiled a plaque at the Stella Burry Community Services Center. When he removed the sheet, a parking meter was also revealed. That made it look like Prince Charles had inaugurated a parking meter!

The couple met many locals in Newfoundland, but there was one that stood out the most. After laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in St. John’s, the Prince and the Duchess talked to a crowd that had gathered. According to Toronto’s CP24, a seven year-old boy approached Camilla, threw his arms around her and gave her a kiss. The boy, named Matthew Lucas, then gave Charles a pin, but would not give him a gold pin that was pinned to his coat. It turned out the pin belonged to the boy’s father. He was serving in Afghanistan

REUTERS/ Mike Cassese

in 2007, but was killed in a roadside bomb attack. Perhaps seeing the Prince of Wales remembering his father meant a lot to Matthew.

Afterward, Charles and Camilla hopped on a plane to Toronto. As mentioned, they will be there for three days. They were greeted by Lt.-Gov. David Onley and Premier Dalton McGuinty, with whom the couple privately met with for a half hour.

Once arriving in downtown Toronto, Prince Charles went to the Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, while the Duchess of Cornwall was at the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music. They will be at a reception later in the evening.

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