The World Blog by humble servant.

ABRAHAM: THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM Abraham was the first recipient of the concept of ISLAM, and the first user of the word "MUSLIM" (see 2:131). "You shall strive in the cause of God as you should. He has blessed you, and imposed no hardship in your religion; the RELIGION OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM. Abraham is the one who named you 'Muslims' in the beginning. Thus, the messenger serves as witness among you, just as you serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Salat prayers, give the Zakat charity, and hold fast to God; He is your Lord; the best Lord, and the best supporter." (22:78)

Nov. 13, 2018 ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has made his strongest personal challenge yet to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia over the killing of the dissident Jamal Khashoggi, saying he was still waiting for answers and expressing frustration with the Saudi response in comments published on Tuesday in pro-government newspapers. Speaking to Turkish reporters while traveling back from Paris, where he met with leaders from France, Germany and the United States, Mr. Erdogan said the crown price was failing to follow through on his promise to expose the truth about the disappearance and death of Mr. Khashoggi. “The crown prince says, ‘I am going to clarify the incident and do what is necessary,’” Mr. Erdogan said in the published remarks. “The crown prince tells this to my special representatives, and we are waiting patiently.” Mr. Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2; Turkish officials have sa...

A commemoration for the journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Sunday in Istanbul.CreditCreditOzan Kose/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt and David D. Kirkpatrick Nov. 12, 2018 462 WASHINGTON — Shortly after the journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated last month, a member of the kill team instructed a superior over the phone to “tell your boss,” believed to be Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, that the operatives had carried out their mission, according to three people familiar with a recording of Mr. Khashoggi’s killing collected by Turkish intelligence. The recording, shared last month with the C.I.A. director, Gina Haspel, is seen by intelligence officials as some of the strongest evidence linking Prince Mohammed to the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and Washington Post columnist whose death prompted an international outcry. While the prince was not mentioned by name, American intelligence officials believe “your...

[12:101] "My Lord, You have given me kingship and taught me the interpretation of dreams. Initiator of the heavens and the earth; You are my Lord and Master in this life and in the Hereafter. Let me die as a submitter, and count me with the righteous." [12:102] This is news from the past that we reveal to you. You were not present when they made their unanimous decision (to throw Joseph in the well), as they conspired together.

In Egypt [12:99] When they entered Joseph's quarters, he embraced his parents, saying, "Welcome to Egypt. GOD willing, you will be safe here.

[12:97] They said, "Our father, pray for our forgiveness; we were wrong indeed."

Israel Goes to Egypt [12:88] When they entered (Joseph's) quarters, they said, "O you noble one, we have suffered a lot of hardship, along with our family, and we have brought inferior goods. But we hope that you will give us full measure and be charitable to us. GOD rewards the charitable." [12:89] He said, "Do you recall what you did to Joseph and his brother when you were ignorant?" [12:90] They said, "You must be Joseph." He said, "I am Joseph, and here is my brother. GOD has blessed us. That is because if one leads a righteous life, and steadfastly perseveres, GOD never fails to reward the righteous." [12:91] They said, "By GOD, GOD has truly preferred you over us. We were definitely wrong." [12:92] He said, "There is no blame upon you today. May GOD forgive you. Of all the merciful ones, He is the Most Merciful. [12:93] "Take this shirt of mine; when you throw it on my father's face, his vision will b...

[12:58] Joseph's brothers came; when they entered, he recognized them, while they did not recognize him.

Believers are Blessed with God's Assurances [12:15] When they went away with him, and unanimously decided to throw him into the abyss of the well, we inspired him: "Some day, you will tell them about all this, while they have no idea."

[12:3] We narrate to you the most accurate history through the revelation of this Quran. Before this, you were totally unaware. [12:4] Recall that Joseph said to his father, "O my father, I saw eleven planets, and the sun, and the moon; I saw them prostrating before me." [12:5] He said, "My son, do not tell your brothers about your dream, lest they plot and scheme against you. Surely, the devil is man's worst enemy. [12:6] "Your Lord has thus blessed you, and has given you good news through your dream. He has perfected His blessings upon you and upon the family of Jacob, as He did for your ancestors Abraham and Isaac before that. Your Lord is Omniscient, Most Wise." [12:7] In Joseph and his brothers there are lessons for the seekers. [12:8] They said, "Joseph and his brother are favored by our father, and we are in the majority. Indeed, our father is far astray.

Joseph's Fate Already Decided by God* [12:9] "Let us kill Joseph, or banish him, that you may get some attention from your father. Afterwards, you can be righteous people."*

How Can Donald Trump Declare Bankruptcy Four Times… and Still Be a Billionaire?

US National Security Advisor John Bolton has threatened to “squeeze” Iran’s economy “until the pips squeak,” just one week after Washington imposed a new round of crippling sanctions billed as the “toughest ever.” Speaking ahead of the ASEAN-US summit in Singapore, Bolton said that the Iranian government is already under “real pressure” and that the US would “significantly increase” the enforcement of sanctions. It is our intention to squeeze them very hard. As the British say: ‘Squeeze them until the pips squeak’. Bolton said there was “no doubt” that Iran has already begun looking for ways to evade sanctions, which hit the country’s oil, financial, shipping, nuclear and aviation industries. He added that Tehran would be looking for ways around sanctions on the oil and financial markets in particular, noting that the US’s objective has been to “get oil exports from Iran down to zero.” READ MORE: Iran leaders will have to fall in line if 'they want their people to eat,' ...

US sanctions are driving up the cost of cancer treatment in Iran, patients and doctors say – as restrictions reimposed on Tehran by Washington make it harder to buy life-saving medication and equipment. Ali Shokri, a Tehran resident battling cancer, had his second round of chemotherapy after the US sanctions kicked in. The cost of each session jumped from 10 million Rial ($240) to 20 million ($475), Ali told Ruptly video agency on Monday, adding that the price hike isn’t the only problem cancer patients now face. Read more © (L) AFP / Mandel NGAN;  (C) Global Look Press / Ahmad Halabisaz; (R) Global Look Press / Ahmad HalabisazTrump to reinstate all US sanctions on Iran, targeting over 700 entities & individuals “The drugs can’t be found easily like before, and we have to look for them several times in different pharmacies.” Marjan Shirazi, whose husband suffers from cancer, said that the drugs that used to be available before sanctions have now become “more expensive an...

World 

Nos. 44 and 45. By SHAWN LANGLOIS SOCIAL-MEDIA EDITOR Donald Trump has long pointed to the bull market as a clear validation of his Make America Great Again policies. He celebrates passing Dow milestones with tweets of self-appreciation like this one from earlier this year: Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump  Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. Six trillion dollars in value created! 47.7K people are talking about this He’s not the only one in the White House making the connection. Bill McBride of the popular Calculated Risk blog, pointed out other prominent members of Team Trump making similar declarations. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, for instance, answered a question last year about whether the strong rally was a vote of confidence in the new administra...

Meteorologist explains why Trump’s tweet on the California wildfires was horribly misinformed http://flip.it/2qvoq6

The White House probably won’t be tweeting this Trump-vs.-Obama chart http://flip.it/Rbyw8X