Doctored photo of Barack Obama and Hosni Mubarak

I know this came out last Friday, but given I have been working at the Liberal Democrats conference in Liverpool I am only writing about this now.

Once again thanks to a blogger, Wael Khalil, the truth came out and fraud exposed.

Recently Egyptian President was on a visit to the USA, a picture was taken at the White House.

However, the Egyptian State newspaper Al-Ahram doctored the photo to show the Egyptian President leading the delegation of Barack Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas walking down the red carpet.

Whereas it was Barack Obama leading the group.

I think it looks really obvious but that didn't stop Al-Ahram doing it.

The fact that the elections are looming shows the low level the state run newspaper is prepared to stoop to to hood wink the Egyptian readers.

Hopefully this appalling story will shift a few more towards the independent newspapers in Egypt.

Original photo



Doctored photo

Barack Obama snubs David Cameron

Well done to the Mirror for this gem.  Billy no mates, aka David Cameron wanted desperately to meet Barack Obama before polling day, expected on May 6th to get a photo of the handshake in the Oval Office.

The Conservative leader thought a photo of him and Barack may help his poll rating which recently is on a slump, it's because people don't trust you David, not that they don't have a photo of you and Obama in their kitchens.

However, Barack Obama's White House team weren't playing ball or hadn't been sent the right script:

A Washington source said: “The President is too busy to meet foreign leaders. He is focused on domestic ­policy and world issues like Afghanistan. The leader of the UK ­Conservative Party is not on his radar.”

It seems that not everyone wants to meet David Cameron.

The Conservatives were hoping the meeting could have happened last week when Cameron was expected to be addressing a technology conference in California, however, this visit was ditched and Cameron did the speech by video link once the Conservatives realised a meeting between Obama and Cameron wasn't happening.

The Conservative leader was offered an alternative meeting though:

In a knock-back for the Tory leader, US officials said Mr Cameron could speak instead to Mr Obama’s National Security Adviser General Jim Jones.

 Oh dear, it appears David Cameron is not as popular as he and his team thought.

Should the Scottish Parliament be recalled?

Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has been released as I have previously blogged and now the presiding officer, Alex Fergusson at the Scottish Parliament feels it is acceptable to recall Parliament.

Tavish Scott MSP was calling for the Parliament to be recalled last week to discuss the upcoming decision. No, his request was turned down, but not now the release has taken place we read on the BBC News website - "Holyrood presiding officer Alex Fergusson announced the move to bring back MSPs from their summer break, days after turning down an earlier request from the Liberal Democrats."

Now I do not see the point, it's a bit like shutting the door, long after the horse bolted.

But what is there to actually debate? Apparently there will be a statement from Kenny MacAskill followed by questions from MSPs, what an absolute wate of time. I wonder what the cost is to recall Parliament for one day, just a week before the Parliament was due to reconvene following the summer recess anyway?

Kenny MacAskill, surely one of the most hated men in politics today is facing criticism from Barack Obama downwards for his decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, dying from cancer, faced a sentence "imposed by a higher power". I'm not a religious type so find this slightly over the top. Don't get me wrong, cancer is a very nasty disease but it's nothing to do with a higher power.