Somalis living in northern Kenya have accused the government in Nairobi of secretly recruiting and training youth from the region as soldiers to go to fight for the transitional Somali government against al- Shabaab fighters. Local leaders have said that in the last three weeks alone, at least 200 Kenyans of Somali origin have been recruited in the town of Garissa. The recuitment drive has also been accused of operating in other towns and the refugee camps in Dabaab. Habiba Kosar, one of numerous parents in northeastern Kenya raising the alarm, said her 18-year-old son, Mohammed, was recruited and is being trained as a soldier at a Kenyan government security facility. "My son was picked in the middle of the night. He is being trained fo... more

The Somali people are once again learning the crucial lessons of nationhood the hardest way. One such cardinal lesson is never to leave matters of your society to others alone or lightly but to engage. The only way people can protect what belongs to them, enhance collective wellbeing and further their common interests is to engage in the affairs of their nation. It was our promise to support the Transitional Government when it is doing something right and speak up when it is doing wrong. Because of its bumbling we visit again the issue of the transfer of swathes of Somalia's sea shelf to our neighbour. It was the disgust felt by the Somali people which made the Transitional Parliament to act and put a stop to the transfer of our sea she... more

Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and author of the book "The End of Poverty," made a recent visit to Japan and discussed the issue of world poverty with prominent Japanese economic analyst Kazuyo Katsuma. Sachs, a co-founder of the group Millennium Promise, whose vision is to end extreme poverty worldwide by 2025, has made various suggestions relating to the growth of developing nations and on related support issues, and Katsuma has a strong interest in poverty countermeasures. The following is Part 1 of their discussion. Kazuyo Katsuma: First of all, this is a very naive and generic question: Why do we need to end poverty? Jeffrey D. Sachs: Poverty means suffering. And everybody wants to end suffering... more

Starvation looms with supply line "effectively broken." U.S. fears that its shipments may be diverted to terrorists. U.N. officials said Friday that the supply of critical food aid to Somalia had been interrupted and that rations to starving people needed to be cut, partly because the U.S. government has delayed food contributions out of fears they would be diverted to terrorists. Last month, U.S. officials said they had suspended millions of dollars of food aid because of concerns that Somali contractors working for the United Nations were funneling food and money to the Shabab, an Islamist insurgent group with growing ties to Al-Qaida. U.S. officials played down the effect of the delays and said the food shipments would resume soon, onc... more

Sociologist Peter Berger has instructed that "The first wisdom of Sociology is that things are not what they seem." So it is with the Western media rendition of their piracy stories from Somalia. An article in the London-based Independent newspaper has confirmed the suspicions of many that behind the Western media hysteria over on Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean and Western governments' war on "modern day piracy" lurks a sinister plot: the theft of the war-torn country's sea food and the dumping of nuclear waste in its seas by some European countries. No, this is not one of the legions of conspiracy theories concocted on a daily basis around the globe. According to the Independent's, article Western governments are cynically exploiting... more

The Nato revelations come amid growing concern for the plight of Paul and Rachel Chandler, the middle-aged British couple held by bandits after being captured on their boat 15 days ago. Reports this week claimed that they had been moved inland and were being fought over by armed rival gangs. The need for better surveillance of pirates comes as the number of attacks on ships increases and the number of hostages taken multiplies. There was a lull in hijackings during this season's monsoon, but pirates have stepped up attacks in the past few weeks and are now holding some 10 vessels and at least 187 hostages. The draft report, written by Lord Jopling, a Nato adviser, says the US Navy is flying unmanned aircraft from the Seychelles, 1,000 mil... more

Mainstream UK media are reporting that Somali pirates are stepping up their pressure by threatening to torture Paul and Rachel Chandler, who were kidnapped from their yacht Lynn Rival on October 23 when they disregarded advice by Seychelles authorities and fellow cruisers not to travel from Seychelles towards Africa. If true (and many reports have later proved false) this is a new development in the world of Somali pirates, who have generally treated their captives well. The pirates, who want the return of seven fellow pirates who were captured by a German warship when they attacked French fishing vessel Cape Saint Vincent, were reported as saying that the Chandlers 'would be punished' unless their comrades were freed. The couple are bin... more

Somali pirates are holding three sailors from a Spanish fishing vessel on shore, a gang member said on Sunday, rejecting Madrid's assertion that they had been reunited with the remaining crew aboard their ship. A pirate who identified himself only as Mohamed said the return of the three to their vessel, the Alakrana, depended on the release of two pirates being held in Spain. Madrid should negotiate directly with the pirates, rather than trying to deal with the Somali government, he told Reuters by phone from the Alakrana which remains under pirate control. "No one has been returned to the ship. The reason they were originally taken to the shore was to separate them from the rest of the crew and their return aboard depends on the release... more

Somalia's main Sufi movement, Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa, decided to declare war on Al Qaeda-inspired Al-Shabab militant group which is fighting the UN-supported interim government and African peacekeepers. "The Shabab are misguided people who have misunderstood the true values of Islam," Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Muhieddin, the overall chairman of Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa group, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "Now the Shebab are killing Somalis because they are not with them." Dozens of the usually quiet religious movement's leaders have in recent days converged on Nairobi from Somalia and from Western exile for a "war council" to close ranks against what they see as an existential threat. Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa is a national Sufi movement which had ... more

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Eight years after the September 11th attacks, the House of Representatives today approved the "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009" (H.R. 2868). This is the first time either house of Congress has approved permanent and comprehensive chemical security legislation. "Although it's a compromise, this bill represents a historic first step toward protecting the 100 million Americans living in the shadow of high-risk chemical plants," said Rick Hind, legislative director of Greenpeace. "It's now time for the Senate to recognize the urgency of this issue and embrace common sense solutions that eliminate these risks once and for all," said Hind. Earlier this week, Clorox announced plans to convert all of their U.... more

NEW YORK, NY -- CENTRIC took viewers on a stirring ride aboard the "Soul Train" at the taping of the network's first special, CENTRIC PRESENTS: 2009 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS hosted by Academy Award-nominated actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. The night opened with a memorable performance by Toni Braxton featuring Trey Songz singing "Yesterday" that was sealed with a kiss. Co-hosts Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson welcomed the audience with a colorful rendition of Peaches and Herb's "Reunited." With performances from Keri Hilson, Robin Thicke, Ryan Leslie, Raheem DeVaughn featuring Ludacris Chrisette Michele, Mario featuring Sean Garrett, and many more, the evening was filled with non-stop, soulful entertainment. Viewers can tune-in f... more

In one of the worst seasons yet, Mahat Hassan carries one of his weak calves on a donkey cart to a watering point at a remote hamlet in Kenya's Northeastern Province. The sweltering heat here is testimony to the biting season that has ravaged most of the Muslim dominated region. Painful History "We are now at the peak of another drought," said Hassan to IslamOnline.net (IOL). "The animals are dying once again. This time water is our biggest worry because most of the wells in the village have completely dried up and the remaining ones are on the verge of doing so." The other drought Hassan is referring to took place back in 2006; it killed 80% of his cattle and left him with only 50 cows for this season. About 15 years ago, Hassan was a... more

Environmental Justice Foundation report says 10% of the global population is at risk of forced displacement due to climate change. In 2008 alone, more than 20 million people were displaced by climate-related natural disasters, including 800,000 people by cyclone Nargis in Asia, and almost 80,000 by heavy floods and rains in Brazil, the NGO said. President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, who presented testimony to the EJF, said people in his country did not want to "trade a paradise for a climate refugee camp". He warned rich countries taking part in UN climate talks this week in Barcelona "not to be stupid" in negotiating a climate treaty in Copenhagen this December. Nasheed urged governments to find ways to keep temperature rises cau... more

GUANGZHOU, China - The 2010 Asia Para Games, gzapg2010.cn/en, part of the worldwide Paralympic Movement and governed by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC), is pleased to announce emblem, mascot and slogan for the Games that will be held December 12 - 19, 2010, here in the Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. Official Emblem The official emblem of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games is inspired by the Xiguan Flower Window, a design element that can be found in traditional houses in Guangzhou. The Xiguan Flower Window, which originated in northeastern China, was introduced to the city during the 17th Century, when window paper was replaced with the painted glass used in the West, to better deal with the challenging Lingnan climate. ... more

MINNEAPOLIS, MN --- The following is a statement issued by the Congress of World Hmong People condemning ethnic cleansing and racial genocides, and a request for the Office of United Nation High Commissioner, CERD, CRC, the United States State Department, the European Parliaments, and The Office of Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon to intervene and investigate ongoing issues: The LAO PDR Government continues to use chemical warfare, poisoning the HMONG CHAOFA indigenous families and children in the Xaysombun Special Zone, Phou Bia Mountain, North-Central Laos areas. For over 30 years, the Lao Government denied the use of chemical warfare against the Hmong people in the Xaysombun Special Zone, Phou Bia areas. On the CERD (66th sessions... more

ARMENIAN STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE REPORT The Armenians in The Republic of Armenia and the Armenians of Diaspora are in turmoil on the question as to accept or to reject the so called "Swiss Road-map, Protocols" advocated by the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. Some valid proposals have been suggested by both the opposition and the advocates of the Protocols. But, for the first time it is hereby revealed the danger of physical extermination of the Armenians in Armenia if the border between Armenia-Turkey and Armenia-Azerbaijan is opened. Attached is a map published in 2006, by Communicable Diseases World Health Organization. Before discussing the map in detail and why opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is a ... more

Financial hardship after graduation: SafeStart covers borrowers with deferred monthly loan payments ARLINGTON, Va./ BridgeSpan Financial LLC today announced that it will now offer its SafeStart program to lenders that originate private student loans. The new product will allow lenders offering private loans to provide a comprehensive student loan management program that helps prevent borrower delinquency. The SafeStart program allows borrowers the ability to defer their monthly loan payments by up to three years if they graduate and find themselves in financial hardship. College graduates with SafeStart-protected private student loans receive access to a no-interest line of credit that they can use to make up to 36 months of loan pay... more

HERNDON, Va./ Invengo Technology Corporation adds to its reader product range with the release of the UHF Gen 2 860E. A high performance RFID reader with unprecedented mobile data capability, the 860E reader delivers all the functionality that is expected from a top range reader with the addition of Wi-Fi, GPRS, and Bluetooth. The 860E mobile data function allows the reader to communicate by connecting to a local area network or cellular link, producing two key benefits: Big savings on installation cost. The Invengo 860E does not require the automatic use of an Ethernet data cable thereby generating huge potential savings in material and labor during installation. Mobility. Connect the reader to a power supply, plug in the ... more

Joint Statement on the Release of Martenus Bere ... Indicted for Crimes Against Humanity in Timor-Leste For the past ten years the disinterest of the international community and active efforts by Indonesia have blocked efforts to end impunity for serious crimes committed during the Indonesian occupation of Timor-Leste. Ignoring the pleas of the East Timorese people, the Timor-Leste leadership continues to dismiss their calls for justice and an end to impunity. We were deeply distressed by the 30 August speech of Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta and the actions of the governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste which led to the release of indicted militia leader Martenus Bere. His extra-judicial release violated international law ... more

SAN DIEGO/ According to a report commissioned by the Fraud Discovery Institute Inc. (FDI), the repeated claims of InterOil Corporation (NYSE:IOC) that it has discovered "sufficient gas reserves to underpin its proposed liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea" are far from accurate. Extensive expert analysis of results of the testing at InterOil's Antelope 1 well, publicly obtainable geological data from Papua New Guinea, and reports found on InterOil's Web site and in SEC filings were made by a team of researchers led by Renato Bertani, Ph.D. The 63-page report is available in its entirety at InterNoOil.com/IOCAugust13.pdf. The report reveals that InterOil has made premature claims about the sustainability and viability of the ... more

Washington ... As the U.S. led war in Afghanistan begins its ninth year this week, 82 were arrested bringing a strong message to the White House that war, torture and drone bombing are outrageous, unacceptable and must end immediately. National anti-war groups and people from around the country joined together to say "No to War in Afghanistan. No to Torture and Vengeance." The day opened with a "Guantanamo prisoner" presence at the U.S. Supreme Court as Justice Sonia Sotomayor begins her tenure on the country's highest court. The group distributed the Center for Constitutional Rights' "Torture Team" baseball cards and had four large puppet heads of George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice.all dressed in prison strip... more

Washington ... As the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan begins its ninth year, national anti-war groups join together for a day of nonviolent direct action on Monday, October 5 at the White House. Alarmed by the recent troop build-up and the prospect of an even greater military escalation there, the War Resisters League—the oldest secular pacifist organization in the United States—joins the coalition planning this day of action to express disappointment with President Barack Obama's unwillingness to significantly change course from the Bush administration in Afghanistan. When Monday, October 5, 2009 What * Rally at McPherson Square * March to White House for Protest, Presidential Letter Delivery and Nonviolent Direct A... more

LOS ANGELES --- Like many of his NFL and NBA brethren, for the last few years Saint-Michaels has found himself entrenched in a grueling conflict about as far from the U.S. Gridiron as one can imagine - but with absolutely no regrets for his service. Since his return, he's come back leaner, faster, stronger, and according to his athletic trainer, Ross Taylor, "He's much more intense. He's the 'penultimate receiver-halfjack,' and those words don't come easily for me." The football landscape has undoubtedly changed in his absence. The NFL Arena League franchises in Indiana and Carolina have folded, and the 2010 season for the remainder of the extremely popular Arena League is still an uncertainty. Talk... more

San Francisco, CA ... A legal settlement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will protect religious freedom of expression by amending the government's uniform and grooming policies. The government has agreed to pay Raghbir Singh, an observant Sikh who wears a beard and dastaar (turban) in accordance with his religious beliefs, monetary damages for his wrongful termination. Keker & Van Nest associates Khari Tillery and Rose Darling represented Singh pro bono along with the Sikh Coalition and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights. "Holding the federal government accountable for discriminating against Sikhs sends a strong message to private employers. If the government includes Sikh Americans in its workforce, it should encou... more

DALLAS, TX - Every hour 93 students drop out of Texas schools. According to the East Texas Review. Close to one-third of all high schoolers in Texas will fail to graduate. When asked the reason for their decision to drop out, many students cite "disinterest in classes". Dallas Cowboy Star Jason Witten is one of the top tight ends in the NFL and is putting up numbers that will be worthy of entrance into Canton, OH. As a five time pro-bowler, Witten has drawn up a game plan to confront this enormous educational problem. First, reach students before they step on a high school campus. Second, help students become passionate about their future. First play - Locate a program designed to help students discover their purpose. Former Dal... more

WASHINGTON, D.C. ... Peace Corps recruited 15,386 applicants in fiscal year 2009. This represents the largest amount of applications since the agency began electronically recording applications in 1998 and is an 18 percent increase from fiscal year 2008.* "Our record application numbers are another indicator of the strong interest in public service," said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. "From recent college graduates to our mid-career or retired applicants, Americans are inspired to serve both their country and the world as a Peace Corps volunteer. Peace Corps is a tremendous leadership opportunity for individuals prepared to live and work for two years in a community abroad." As of September 30, 2009, 7,671 Peace Corps... more

ST. LOUIS - Anna Zatonskih dispatched one of her two closest rivals in round six of the U.S. Women's Chess Championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. In the longest match of the day, Zatonskih, of Long Island, N.Y., used an impending pawn storm and slowly overwhelmed Melekhina's defenses. Melekhina, of Philadelphia, Pa., was tied for second with Camilla Baginskaite going into the round, but she is still overperforming for someone of her rating. She was ranked ninth going into the tournament and at 18 is the youngest player. "Even in a very bad position, (Melekhina) came up with some very interesting ideas," Zatonskih said. The entire field of 10 women all came perilously close to overstepping the time li... more

FEMA Continues to Encourage Concerned Individuals to Support Voluntary Organizations. PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners continue to support American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono, Delegate Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, and local leadership as the cleanup and recovery efforts in the territory continue. On Thursday, the Disaster Recovery Center opened its doors in American Samoa, serving 130 families in its first afternoon. "As relief supplies and equipment continue to arrive, I want to commend the efforts of FEMA under the leadership of Federal Coordinating Officer Ken Tingman in working together with local officials to ensure the recovery p... more

THE news agencies reported that the state Minister, Sheikh Yusuf, was kidnapped, beaten up and later hospitalized at a Ugandan hospital where he is recuperating from injuries he sustained during his ordeal. However, the chairman of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament,Information, Culture , Public Awareness and Heritage,told Al-Jazeera's English channel that the minister was detained by Ugandan authorities,and this was confirmed by Somali.s Ambassador to Uganda whom the chairman contacted by telephone. The State minister was admitted to hospital after the Ugandan Security forces pounced on him then assaulted him thereafter,the chairman charged. The Ugandan security services claimed that the State minister had not notified... more

Golden Globe nominated Cameron Diaz (There's Something About Mary), 37, wants to see universal symbol of love Taj Mahal and palaces of Jaipur in India, according to reports. She reportedly loves the dances depicted in Bollywood movies and has expressed desire to learn Bollywood dance. She would also like to plan a visit of India. Welcoming Diaz's interest in India and things Indian, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has urged her to explore the rich philosophical thought which Hinduism offers. Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, says that if Diaz needed any help in her Hinduism study, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly provide if asked. Globally admired masterpiece mausoleum of white marble, Taj ... more

Working Waterfronts Act of 2009 Needs Co-Sponsors. ALEXANDRIA, Va. ... Working waterfronts are a dying breed. With developer.s eyes on waterfront parcels, water-dependent businesses like marinas, boat yards, commercial fishing operations, boat builders, and charter boat fleets are getting pushed out from the only place they can do business. A bill now in Congress would provide federal funding to coastal and Great Lakes states to help preserve and protect working waterfronts. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges boaters and anglers to contact their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support H.R. 2548, the "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2009." Introduced in May by Rep. Chellie Pingree, (D-ME) ... more

LOS ANGELES, CA - Entertainer, author and pop-culture expert Charles Phoenix will pay tribute to Bob Baker and host the legendary puppeteer's currently running Halloween show as part of "Charles Phoenix Presents... Halloween at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater!" Two performances take place at 8:30 pm on October 29 and 30, 2009 at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. Phoenix will use film clips to share the story of Bob's colorful life with the audience prior to a performance of of Bob Baker's Halloween Spooktacular!, starring dozens of vintage marionettes including the Purple People Eater, Invisible Man and Dancing Black Light Skeletons. The evening will wind up with an appearance by the puppet master himself, foll... more

A report launched by human rights group Survival International shows that tribal peoples across the world are at greatest risk from swine flu, as many have poor immunity and suffer chronic underlying illnesses. The report, Swine flu and tribal peoples, shows that indigenous peoples in Australia and Canada have been hard hit by the swine flu pandemic, as the majority live in poverty, suffering overcrowding and poor sanitation, and have high rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and alcoholism. The report comes just days after supplies of body bags were delivered to First Nations communities in Manitoba, Canada, along with hand sanitizers and face masks. First Nations communities in the province have s... more

Bangkok, Thailand ... With only two months to go before a new climate deal is negotiated in Copenhagen, The Forests Dialogue calls on industrialized nations to ensure robust financial commitments for conservation and sustainable management of forests and on tropical countries to ensure that these new financial streams are fairly shared with forest dependant communities. This is one of the main recommendations published by The Forests Dialogue (TFD) in "Investing in REDD-plus" which is launched today and which reflects unique consensus amongst forest stakeholders across business, environmental and scientific sectors and from indigenous peoples and forest-based communities, who met in a stream of intensive dialogues this year. ... more

State College, Pa. - AccuWeather.com reports a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS), in an exclusive interview with AccuWeather.com, said more could have been done to warn people of the approaching tsunami that killed at least 150 people in the South Pacific. Rescue and recovery efforts are under way in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga following the tsunami caused by an 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit about 7:48 a.m. local time. "We do need a siren. If we had a siren, we probably would have saved most of the people who had died because of the tsunami," he said to AccuWeather.com's Raychel Harvey-Jones. Akapo said the American Samoa has a volcanic and mountainous landscape, which enables people to climb to h... more

DURING the UN General Assembly meeting of September 2009, His Excellency Muamar Gaddafi, current chairman of the AU and leader of the great Jamahiriya of Libya, delivered a 90-minute speech in which he addressed the injustices and slavery activities perpetrated by the colonialists against Africans. In his no-nonsense speech, the Libyan strongman described the accused Somalia pirates as heroes protecting their marine resources, and who were rightfully confronting foreigners engaged in the obnoxious exercise of dumping toxic waste in Somalia. The Somali Government failed to put across the claim of requesting compensation for the looting of their marine resources, and the unfathomable damage the toxic waste was causing on the marine e... more

THE Tailors and Textiles Workers Union (TTWU), yesterday expressed displeasure over the government.s failure to address the plight of workers in Kenya, and charged that they were wallowing in great misery despite previous pledges by leaders to have their situation improved. Addressing the press, the union.s Secretary General William Muga Aketch, and the organizing secretary Francis Muthuri, lamented that the Coalition government had failed Kenyan.s for regarding workers apathetically. They regretted that in their manifestoes, the leaders had promised workers a better deal particularly during the electioneering period, but this was not the case since not a single motion had been raised in Parliament to have the situation of workers upd... more

The United Nations welcomed the return of Belgium's refugee resettlement programme marked by the transfer of some 36 Iraqis who were previously sheltered in Syria and Jordan. This first group of Iraqi refugees to settle in Belgium included some single mothers and their children, UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told reporters in Geneva. Mr. Mahecic noted that later this month some 11 Palestinian refugees from the no-man's land refugee camp located on the border between Syria and Iraq are also slated to be housed in Belgium. European Union encouragement last November of its Member States to accommodate around 10,000 Iraqis forced to leave their homeland led to Belgium's decision to restart its r... more

DAVAO CITY - The key to attracting more investors in Mindanao particularly in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is to bring out success stories in parts of the region where BPO has flourished and other areas that have great potential, industry experts say. "It's about getting the message out. These (BPO) players are already here and they can help bring out that message," said Sec. Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, Chairman of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) who spoke during the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summit 2009 held here recently. Roxas-Chua said that Davao and other parts in Mindanao which show great potential as BPO locations should intensify information drive sayi... more

BROOKLYN, NY - The importance of ensuring the Caribbean community counts in the next Census was on Monday reiterated by CaribID founder and CaribWorldNews publisher, Felicia Persaud, at the annual West Indian American Carnival kick-off breakfast. Before a roomful of dignitaries, including former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Persaud reminded the audience that while Labor Day or Caribbean Carnival Day in Brooklyn is always a day when the community is celebrated, the bloc will go back to be dismissed and ignored as unimportant for the rest of the year again, if they fail to ensure an accurate count in 2010. The CaribID head insisted that an accurate count is important for the community to not only secure the necessary social an... more

Kite flying activities go well beyond the physical phenomenon of wind blown materials flying tethered to their earth bound launchers. It is an activity including local knowledge of winds and landscapes, knowledge of how to physically shape the kite in order to have it fly. It is an activity that challenges the artistic creativity of the kite maker, a challenge to make the kite not only fly-worthy, but also decorative, and through that decoration, to make a statement from and about the flyer and kite maker. The statements can be several at a time, from simply being "I am the best kite maker and designer" through the many nuances of challenging others to fly higher, or as in several Middle East regions, to challenge others in manipulating the... more

Adam Gonn/The Media Line Is swine flu behind the recent increase in private jet rentals in the gulf region? One of the world's leading private jet operators, International Air Charter, based in the United Arab Emirates, is reporting a 50% increase in demand over Ramadan for flights in Saudi Arabia. The King Abdul Aziz International Airport which is the main airport in Saudi Arabia's financial hub Jeddah and the main gate for pilgrims arriving to perform the Umrah, has been packed over the last three days according to local newspapers. A statement from International Air Charter explained the surge in demand was due to "clients recogniz[ing] the strategic benefits of charter jet services, particularly in term... more

Adam Gonn / The Media Line Dow Jones Indexes is set to launch four new indexes for the Middle East and North Africa region, giving investors access to both conventional and Shari'a compliant indexes. Dow Jones Indexes, best known for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, is launching the Dow Jones GCC Index, covering the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The company is also launching a Dow Jones GCC Islamic Market Index. "Dow Jones Indexes is expecting to see great interest in these new indexes," Andrea Weidemann, a spokesperson for... more

Naked yoga is reportedly the new trend among Hollywood and other celebrities. Unconfirmed reports link Oscar winners Nicolas Cage (Adaptation), Halle Berry (Monster's Ball), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love); Oscar nominated Naomi Watts (21 Grams); Golden Globe nominated Jennifer Lopez (Selena); Rita Wilson (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), etc., with naked yoga. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, criticizing Hollywoodization of yoga, has urged celebrities and others to take yoga seriously as, being one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy, it is highly revered in Hinduism. It is actually a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) unites with universal-soul (parmatman). Th... more

Hindus have strongly criticized attempts to regulate yoga by various states in USA. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that yoga was one of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy whose traces went back to around 2000 BCE. Yoga never had any formal organization and yoga practice had been handed down from one guru to the next. Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that yoga, referred as "a living fossil", was mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita. The Bhagavad-Gita, one of the most popular Hindu scripture, was considered a comprehensive yoga-sastra (treatise on yoga). Mahabharata, also an ancient Hindu scripture, said... more

Jews and Hindus have urged the Texas State Board of Education to treat all the major religions and denominations evenly in its Social Studies curriculum, which is currently under revision. Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California; and Rajan Zed, well known Hindu statesman; in a statement in Nevada today, said that opening-up the Texas schoolchildren to major world religions, Native American spirituality, and non-believers' viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. Freirich and Zed (who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism) argued that Texas was a very diverse society and it also made a good business sense to know th e beliefs of "others... more

The US has decided to be 'flexible' regarding its once touted call for a total Israeli freeze on the expansion of its occupied territories' settlements, all illegal under international law. A senior official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity on August 27. "It was more important that the scope of a settlement freeze was acceptable to the Israelis and the Palestinians than to the United States," Reuters reported, citing the senior official. This means that peace negotiations can resume while Israeli bulldozers are carving up Palestinian land, demolishing homes and cutting down trees. It also means that the Israeli rejection of the only US demand, which has thus far defined President Barack Obama's relations to the ... more

Gaza's troubles have somehow been relegated, if not completely dropped from the mainstream media's radar, and subsequently the world's conscience and consciousness. Weaning the public from the sadness there conveys the false impression that things are improving and that people are starting to move on and rebuild their lives. But nothing could be further from the truth. Since the conclusion of Israel's war last year, the Palestinian Ministry of Health declared that 344 Gaza patients have reportedly been added to the swelling number of casualties. Khaled Abed Rabbu, once a young father of four is a precise living example, such an eloquent paradigm of what no human being ought to endure in this world laden with international h... more

Brooklyn, New York: St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Jamaica outplayed their competitors in the semi finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup New York on Sunday and advanced to next Sunday's finals, which take place at the Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, New York. Digicel was on hand at the match on Sunday with some exciting competitions and giveaways. Two lucky football fans - Jamaican-born college student, Chris McLeod and Natalie Baptiste from St. Lucia- took part in the Digicel Kick for Cards competition and walked away with Digicel calling cards to call their friends and family at home in Jamaica and St. Lucia. City Tech university student, McLeod, was smiling from ear to ear after being presented with Digicel calling cards foll... more

MONTREAL - Global Warming has been mentioned in 414 articles and has appeared on 15 covers of Time Magazine. Bjorn Lomborg wrote in the Montreal Gazette (18 August) "Our carbon fixation will cost us". Everyday you hear about it: global warming, the many threats to the environment, carbon emissions trading, feeding the poor, crops for food or fuel, dwindling energy reserves, alternative energy sources, waste management, sustainability, and more. What are the solutions to Global Warming and these other challenges? Chemical Engineers see these challenges in our changing world at the top of their list of priorities as they seek to innovate, and develop new products and processes that are green. "Challenges for a Changing Worl... more