In connection with the Tel Aviv International Dance Festival 2009,
following events have been announced:
Ohad Naharin, the internationally-acclaimed Artistic Director of the Tel-Aviv based Batsheva Dance Company, will stage his production: Mamootot, one of Batsheva's most unique and ground-breaking pieces on 31 Oct. and 1-4 Nov. Following the success of his premier Monger at last year’s Tel Aviv Dance, choreographer Barak Marshall will premier his dance-theater piece for 12 dancers entitled Rooster at the Suzanne Dellal Center on 12-13 November.
The Ballet Nacional de Espana will perform La Leyanda/Aires de Villa Y Corte – a homage to Spain’s rich dance and musical heritage – on 3-7 November. Japan, Israel and Spain come together on stage in a joint production on 7 November premiere.
The Tel Aviv International Dance Festival showcases both Israeli and international talent in Tel Aviv. Dance professionals present their work among their international peers at the Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance, Tel Aviv.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
USAID in Burkina Faso Supporting Girls' Education Program
Since late 2005, USAID has been responsible for a MCC-financed girls’ education program, that has focused on building 132 girl-friendly school complexes in rural communities located in 10 provinces of Burkina Faso (West Africa). This includes a $12.9 million first phase that ended in late 2008, and a three-year $28.9 million second phase that begins in 2009.
Since 2004, USAID Burkina Faso has supported a number of PL 480 non-emergency assistance programs that focus on agricultural productivity and maternal and child health. The program currently has an annual budget of $15 million, and a new five-year phase is scheduled to begin in 2010.
Burkina Faso regularly receives assistance from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). In 2009, OFDA approved four grants to various organizations working in Burkina Faso worth a total of about $8.9 million, as part of its response to the impact of the global high food price crisis. In addition, OFDA recently provided $250,000 in emergency funding for the purchase of vaccines in response to an unusual outbreak of measles in Burkina Faso.
Since 2004, USAID Burkina Faso has supported a number of PL 480 non-emergency assistance programs that focus on agricultural productivity and maternal and child health. The program currently has an annual budget of $15 million, and a new five-year phase is scheduled to begin in 2010.
Burkina Faso regularly receives assistance from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). In 2009, OFDA approved four grants to various organizations working in Burkina Faso worth a total of about $8.9 million, as part of its response to the impact of the global high food price crisis. In addition, OFDA recently provided $250,000 in emergency funding for the purchase of vaccines in response to an unusual outbreak of measles in Burkina Faso.
Deadly explosion kills 105 in Pakistan
A devastating car bomb exploded in a market in the northwest city of Peshawar, an attack aimed at civilians and marking a clear escalation in the Taliban campaign to undermine the government. The bomb tore through a congested area of narrow alleys and crowded stalls in Peshawar’s old city, killing as many as 105 people, most of them women, and wounding about 200. A Pakistani official, who did not want to be identified, described it as the most serious in the history of a city that has become a frontline of Taliban terrorist attacks in recent weeks. This was the most deadly by far.
The explosion came about three hours after Mrs. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, a two-hour drive away from the place of explosion.
The blast hit a crowded market called Meena Bazar selling bangles, dresses and toys in an old part of town crisscrossed with narrow alleys. It set scores of shops on fire, collapsed buildings, including a mosque, and sent a cloud of gray smoke over the city. This was the deadliest in a surge of attacks which started in the first week of this month.
The explosion came about three hours after Mrs. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, a two-hour drive away from the place of explosion.
The blast hit a crowded market called Meena Bazar selling bangles, dresses and toys in an old part of town crisscrossed with narrow alleys. It set scores of shops on fire, collapsed buildings, including a mosque, and sent a cloud of gray smoke over the city. This was the deadliest in a surge of attacks which started in the first week of this month.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
World's costliest Indian carpet sold in Qatar
World's costliest carpet was sold in Qatar in March this year for almost 5.5 million US Dollars.
The carpet was created in Baroda (India) more than 100 years ago. The buyer was one of the three bidders who wishes to remain anonymous, disclosed the Sotheby’s Auction House.
Sotheby's Auction House handled the spectacular sale of the rug in Doha, Qatar.
The Pearl Carpet of Baroda was created using an estimated two million natural seed pearls farmed from the Arabian Gulf. Commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda named Sayaji Rao Gaekwad, in India in the 18th century, the Pearl Carpet is also embossed with gold set diamonds, rubies and emeralds in their hundreds, the centre piece of the exquisite rug are three large round rosettes put together using table cut diamonds set in silvered gold.
Baroda, a part of present-day Gujrat (India), was ruled for a long time by the Sultans of Delhi, until they were easily overthrown by the Mughal emperors. Mughal rule came to an end in 1732 when Pilaji Rao Gaekwad captured Baroda. Sayaji Rao Gaekwad became the Maharaja of the princely state of Baroda in 1875, he ruled the state till 1939. With India's independence in 1947, the last ruling Maharaja of Baroda State acceded to India.
"Women Mean Business" conference in December
The Women Mean Business conference will take place in Mumbai on the 11th of December, 2009. The aim is to bring together highly successful professionals from across India to share their knowledge and experience across a diverse range of sectors and create a lasting network of contacts. The one-day conference will consist of keynote speeches, discussion panels and smaller workshops, and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women will use the ideas generated in the conference to develop concrete projects in partnership with local organisations, incorporating the newly formed network of contacts. For more information, please visit www.cbfwconference.org.
The central aim of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is to highlight how women all around the world can work together to improve their lives.
The central aim of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is to highlight how women all around the world can work together to improve their lives.
Grand Mufti of Egypt says: Women can wear trousers but stretch pants are unacceptable
Egypt's top Islamic authority defended women's rights to wear trousers in public following a high profile court case in neighboring country Sudan where women were flogged for dressing in pants, the local press reported Wednesday. Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in response to a question during a public lecture that trousers covering women's bodies are permitted, though they should be loose and not see through. He specified that "stretch" pants were in particular unacceptable. He is the top religious authority of Egypt and appointed by the government. Sudan caused a stir when it flogged women for wearing trousers. One woman, Lubna Hussein contested penalty and was let off with a fine for public indecency in a trial that garnered international attention.
Yemen: 12 years old girl dies while giving birth
A 12-years-old Yemeni child-bride died after struggling for three days in labor to give birth, a local human rights organization said Saturday. Fawziya Abdullah Youssef died of severe bleeding on Friday while giving birth to a stillborn in the al-Zahra district hospital of Hodeida province, 140 miles (223 kilometers) west of the capital San'a. Child marriages are widespread in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, where tribal customs dominate society. More than a quarter of the country's females marry before the age of 15, according to a recent report by the Social Affairs Ministry. Fawziya Abdullah Youssef was only 11 when her father married her to a 24-years-old man who works as a farmer in Saudi Arabia.
This is one of many cases that exist in Yemen. The reason behind it is the lack of education and awareness, forcing many girls into marriage in very early age. Impoverished parents in Yemen sometimes give away their young daughters in return for hefty dowries. There is also a long-standing tribal custom in which infant daughters and sons are promised to cousins in hopes it will protect them from illicit relationships.
This is one of many cases that exist in Yemen. The reason behind it is the lack of education and awareness, forcing many girls into marriage in very early age. Impoverished parents in Yemen sometimes give away their young daughters in return for hefty dowries. There is also a long-standing tribal custom in which infant daughters and sons are promised to cousins in hopes it will protect them from illicit relationships.
Moscow named costliest city for business travellers, Abu Dhabi is the second
Moscow has again been named as the world's most expensive city for business travellers, according to the latest research. The Russian capital topped the list despite a 14 per cent drop in room rates between January and June this year, compared to the same period in 2008. The average room rate fell from £312.92 in 2008 to £268.11 in 2009, according to the bi-annual hotel survey by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), an international business travel company. It blamed the drop in Moscow's average room rates on a fall in demand from within the banking and finance sectors due to a spate of new hotel openings in recent years. However, Moscow may soon lose its title to Abu Dhabi, which stands at number two in the list. The capital city of the UAE has climbed the list, thanks to a 38 per cent increase in the city's average room rate, compared to the same period in 2008. The survey found that demand for hotel rooms continues to outstrip supply in a number of Middle Eastern countries, with the exception of Dubai which has continued to suffer a fall in demand from the banking and finance sector, coupled with an exodus of expatriate and migrant workers due to the economic slowdown. As a result, hotel rates have fallen by 24 per cent over the period. London saw a relatively small fall in the average room rates (from £160.76 to £155.49) - down four per cent on the same period last year, while Mumbai, whose average room rates fell by 16 per cent to £169.19, dropped from tenth to sixteenth on the list.
Monday, October 26, 2009
BancTec Signs Agreement With Emitac of Dubai
BancTec, Inc., a global provider of advanced, high-volume, document and payment processing solutions and services, has signed a distribution agreement with Dubai-based Emitac Enterprise Solutions to sell BancTec solutions in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The agreement covers distribution of BancTec's highly acclaimed IntelliScan® and E-Series high-speed document scanning and sorting transports.
"Emitac is a highly respected IT leader with a strong presence in these markets. Their ability to design, build, and deliver IT infrastructure services solutions, as well as their extensive relationships with a broad set of customers, provide an ideal way for BancTec to establish a presence in the region," said Darren Riley, sales manager, EMEA Emerging Markets, BancTec. "Emitac's depth of experience providing document management and scanning solutions, and our enterprise-scale hardware, will fill a need for many large organizations. We look forward to working with Emitac to create synergy between our solutions and expanding business opportunities for both our companies."
"Emitac is a highly respected IT leader with a strong presence in these markets. Their ability to design, build, and deliver IT infrastructure services solutions, as well as their extensive relationships with a broad set of customers, provide an ideal way for BancTec to establish a presence in the region," said Darren Riley, sales manager, EMEA Emerging Markets, BancTec. "Emitac's depth of experience providing document management and scanning solutions, and our enterprise-scale hardware, will fill a need for many large organizations. We look forward to working with Emitac to create synergy between our solutions and expanding business opportunities for both our companies."
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Scholarships available for UK: British Council Malaysia helps students
British Council Malaysia helps students find scholarships for higher education in UK. Following scholarships are available in the field of Engineering at the University of Plymouth:
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Scholarship
Charles Babbage Scholarship (Postgraduate)
Thomas Fowler Scholarship
Following scholarships are available in the fields of Business, Management and Marketing at the Norwich Business School (University of East Anglia) :
Partial Fee Awards (Undergraduate)
Graduate Students' Association Conference Fund
International Fee Scholarships
The British Council Malaysia offers a wide variety of part-time and full-time English courses in Kuala Lumpur or Penang which are specially designed to help adults or children of all ages and ability levels to learn or improve their English. Registration for next courses will start in December and courses will start in January 2010.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Scholarship
Charles Babbage Scholarship (Postgraduate)
Thomas Fowler Scholarship
Following scholarships are available in the fields of Business, Management and Marketing at the Norwich Business School (University of East Anglia) :
Partial Fee Awards (Undergraduate)
Graduate Students' Association Conference Fund
International Fee Scholarships
The British Council Malaysia offers a wide variety of part-time and full-time English courses in Kuala Lumpur or Penang which are specially designed to help adults or children of all ages and ability levels to learn or improve their English. Registration for next courses will start in December and courses will start in January 2010.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Learn German language in Sri Lanka for free education in Germany
Goethe-Institut Colombo (German Cultural Center) announces the commencement of fresh German language courses. Fresh course will start in January and will continue till April. Duration of the course will be fourteen weeks. Venue of the course will be 39, Gregory's Road, Colombo-7 (Phone: 2694562). Learning German opens doors to live, work and study in Germany. Education in German colleges, technical high schools (Fachhochschule) and universities is free for both locals and foreigners. Knowledge of German increases the job opportunities with German and foreign companies in one's own country and abroad. Tourists from German-speaking countries travel wide and far, and are the world’s biggest spenders when on holiday. They appreciate to be looked after by German-speaking staff and tour guides.
The Maya-Indian Calendar; End of the world in 2012 ?
Apolinario Chile Pixtun is tired of being bombarded with frantic questions about the Mayan calendar supposedly "running out" on Dec. 21, 2012. After all, it's not the end of the world. Or is it? Definitely not, the Mayan Indian elder insists. "I came back from England last year and, man, they had me fed up with this stuff." It can only get worse for him. Next month Hollywood's "2012" opens in cinemas, featuring earthquakes, meteor showers and a tsunami dumping an aircraft carrier on the White House. At Cornell University, Ann Martin, who runs the "Curious? Ask an Astronomer" Web site, says people are scared. "It's too bad that we're getting e-mails from fourth-graders who are saying that they're too young to die," Martin said. "We had a mother of two young children who was afraid she wouldn't live to see them grow up." Chile Pixtun, a Guatemalan, says the doomsday theories spring from Western, not Mayan ideas. A significant time period for the Mayas does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25,800 years. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its art, architecture and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Preclassic period (c. 2000 BC to 250 AD), many Maya cities reached their highest state development during the Classic period (c. 250 AD to 900 AD), and continued throughout the Postclassic period until the arrival of the Spanish. At its peak, it was one of the most densely populated and culturally dynamic societies in the world. Ethnic Maya of southern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and western Honduras have managed to maintain substantial remnants of their ancient cultural heritage.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Mexico shuts down inefficient electricity company
Mexico's federal police on Sunday took over the offices of Mexico’s second-largest electricity company after the government passed a decree late Saturday ordering it to close on the grounds of gross inefficiency.
Officers dressed in riot gear occupied dozens of offices and distribution centres of Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC), a decentralised public-sector company that supplies electricity to residents in Mexico City and surrounding states. Federal police have the obligation to protect and defend state-owned property deemed to have strategic national importance. The government said it would guarantee service to the company’s customers, as well as the pension obligations of LyFC’s 44,000 workers.
Officers dressed in riot gear occupied dozens of offices and distribution centres of Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC), a decentralised public-sector company that supplies electricity to residents in Mexico City and surrounding states. Federal police have the obligation to protect and defend state-owned property deemed to have strategic national importance. The government said it would guarantee service to the company’s customers, as well as the pension obligations of LyFC’s 44,000 workers.
French President's son bows to public pressure
Jean Sarkozy, the 23-year-old son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, bowed to intense public pressure by giving up his ambition to run the French government's Epad-agency that oversees France’s biggest business district, La Défense - popularly known as the business-district of Paris.
Elected barely two years ago, Jean Sarkozy is repeating the second year of his undergraduate law studies, and is widely regarded as being too inexperienced to become Chairman of the Epad agency. In an interview on national television on Thursday night, the young local councillor, elected in the department that was the launchpad for his own father’s bid for the presidency, said he was not prepared to accept a “victory tainted by the suspicion of favoritism”.
The move is a severe blow to President Sarkozy who has several times in recent weeks defied public opinion to defend his son’s bid to run an agency overseeing a district generating 10 per cent of French gross domestic product.
Jean Sarkozy’s bid to run the business quarter to the west of Paris has come under fierce criticism, not just from the opposition but from the core of the ruling UMP party, amid allegations of nepotism.
Elected barely two years ago, Jean Sarkozy is repeating the second year of his undergraduate law studies, and is widely regarded as being too inexperienced to become Chairman of the Epad agency. In an interview on national television on Thursday night, the young local councillor, elected in the department that was the launchpad for his own father’s bid for the presidency, said he was not prepared to accept a “victory tainted by the suspicion of favoritism”.
The move is a severe blow to President Sarkozy who has several times in recent weeks defied public opinion to defend his son’s bid to run an agency overseeing a district generating 10 per cent of French gross domestic product.
Jean Sarkozy’s bid to run the business quarter to the west of Paris has come under fierce criticism, not just from the opposition but from the core of the ruling UMP party, amid allegations of nepotism.
Sri Lankan Airlines increasing flights for Bahrain, Qatar, Saudia Arabia and Italy
SriLankan Airlines will increase flights this winter season to a dozen cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Subcontinent, and Far East, based on its projection that passenger-numbers will definitely increase following the Dawn of Peace in Sri Lanka.Mohamed Fazeel, Head of Worldwide Sales at SriLankan, said: “Forward booking for winter season is very encouraging and we are providing more flights to destinations where we experience high market growth. These increase in flights will be effective from 25th October, and our new Milan service will be launched on 16th December.”
The country’s tourism industry has witnessed steady growth since its 30-year old war ended in May, with tourists flocking to the island in large numbers. Statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority show that tourism from all countries grew by 34% in August 2009 in comparison to the same month in the previous year, and 28% in July. In Europe, Sri Lanka’s national carrier is launching a new twice-weekly service to Milan in northern Italy. In the Far East, SriLankan will add no less than three additional flights to both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. One additional flight will commence for Hong Kong, which will then have 4 weekly flights. The airline is also increasing one flight each to Bangalore and Karachi, which will then have 5 and 3 flights respectively. The airline will increase one flight per week to Bahrain, Doha and Dammam, which will thus be served by 3, 5 and 4 weekly flights respectively.
Sri Lankan Airlines' packages heavily marketed in China
SriLankan Airlines is carrying out a series of promotional activities to increase the number of Chinese tourist arrivals into the Indian Ocean island, and promote close ties between the two countries.The national carrier of Sri Lanka has in recent months launched several tour packages tailor-made for the Chinese market. The airline’s ‘Ayubowan Sri Lanka’ and ‘Treasures of Sri Lanka’ packages were heavily marketed in China this year, with a number of key incentives being provided to the Chinese travel trade to promote them.
Head of Worldwide Sales at SriLankan, Mohamed Fazeel said, “The centuries-old relationship between Sri Lanka and China has never been stronger than it is today, and SriLankan Airlines is strongly promoting the visits of Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka and is working closely with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Russian schoolgirl wins Look of the Year 2009
Russian Yulia Karetnikova, winner of the Look of the Year 2009 international model search held in Sicily last week, has returned to her home city of Kaliningrad. The 17-year-old winner signed a contract with the Beatrice International Models Agency, based in Milan. "They are waiting for me, there is a lot of work," said Yulia. "As soon as I get my school diploma, I will go to Italy." The Kaliningrad-schoolgirl is expected to receive her diploma in a year. She is studying in the 11th grade.
Swine flu in Denmark
The Danish Board of Health has confirmed that a Danish woman has contracted Influenza A or swine flu. The Board Director Jesper Fisker says that the patient is a woman from the capital island of Zealand, who contracted the disease during a visit to New York. Fisker said the woman was on a direct Continental Airways flight from New York to Copenhagen, which landed at Copenhagen Airport at 07.35 on Wednesday of this week. The Board will be contacting all others on the flight in question.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Russian President Medvedev arrives in Serbia
Russia will not sign a deal on providing a 1.5 bln dollar loan to Serbia during President Dmitry Medvedev's current visit to Belgrade, a source in the Russian delegation said.The loan would be used by Serbia cover its budget deficit.
Medvedev arrived in Belgrade earlier in the day to discuss energy cooperation including the South Stream gas pipeline with his Serbian counterpart, Boris Tadic.
He will also hold a meeting with representatives of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Medvedev's trip to Serbia coincides with celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from Nazi forces, and is the first visit to the country by a Russian head of state since Vladimir Putin's trip in 2001.
Regarding the issue of Kosovo's independence, the Russian President said: "No one is entitled to settle the issue of Kosovo's independence without Serbia having its say".
Germany's Volkswagen in Russia
Volkswagen is celebrating the completion of its first full-fledged assembly plant in Kaluga, around 200 kilometers from Moscow. The company is courting Russian consumers as well as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who joined the festivities. The company is hoping to gain ground on other foreign competitors within the promising Russian market and rapidly increase sales.
Vladimir Putin flew by helicopter 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Moscow to the city of Kaluga to pay his respects to Germany's Volkswagen and its newly expanded operation in the country. The carmaker, already No. 1 in Europe and No. 3 globally, is celebrating the start of its "full production" in Russia. The plant was opened in 2007. Uptil now Volkswagen was only partially assembling components imported from abroad. But now the factory is running the entire manufacturing chain.
Vladimir Putin flew by helicopter 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Moscow to the city of Kaluga to pay his respects to Germany's Volkswagen and its newly expanded operation in the country. The carmaker, already No. 1 in Europe and No. 3 globally, is celebrating the start of its "full production" in Russia. The plant was opened in 2007. Uptil now Volkswagen was only partially assembling components imported from abroad. But now the factory is running the entire manufacturing chain.
All educational institutions closed in Pakistan
All educational institutions throughout Pakistan have been closed immediately for security reasons. Educational institutions will remain closed till Oct. 25. This was announced by the government following today's suicide attack on International Islamic University situated in the federal capital Islamabad. Today's incident is the continuation of a fresh wave of bloody suicide attacks which started on October 5. Earlier today the Sindh provincial government had announced the closure of educational institutions in the province of Sindh only. But now the closure throughout Pakistan is confirmed.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Kandyan dance performed in Sri Lanka
Kandyan dancers of Visha School of Dance, Dehiwela presented their maiden public performance on Sunday, 18th October at the BMICH. Chief guest was the Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama at this special occasion.
According to the legend, the origins of the Kandyan dance of Sri Lanka lie in an exorcism ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which was originally performed by Indian shamans who came to the island. According to the legend, the Indian shamans came to the island upon the request of a king who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from recurring dream in which a leopard directed its longue towards the king. This was believed as black magic of "Kuweni" the first wife of the king "Vijaya". After the performance of the Kohomba Kankariya the illness vanished, and many natives adopted the dance. It was originally performed by dancers who were identified as a separate caste under the Kandyan Feudal system. They were aligned to the Temple of the Tooth and had a significant role to play in the Dalada Perahera (procession) held each year by the temple. The dance waned in popularity as the support for the dancers from the Kandyan kings ended during the British period. It has now been revived and adapted for the stage, and is Sri Lanka's primary cultural export.
According to the legend, the origins of the Kandyan dance of Sri Lanka lie in an exorcism ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which was originally performed by Indian shamans who came to the island. According to the legend, the Indian shamans came to the island upon the request of a king who was suffering from a mysterious illness. The king was said to be suffering from recurring dream in which a leopard directed its longue towards the king. This was believed as black magic of "Kuweni" the first wife of the king "Vijaya". After the performance of the Kohomba Kankariya the illness vanished, and many natives adopted the dance. It was originally performed by dancers who were identified as a separate caste under the Kandyan Feudal system. They were aligned to the Temple of the Tooth and had a significant role to play in the Dalada Perahera (procession) held each year by the temple. The dance waned in popularity as the support for the dancers from the Kandyan kings ended during the British period. It has now been revived and adapted for the stage, and is Sri Lanka's primary cultural export.
Afghans stopped from leading the prayers in Pakistani mosques
Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, has asked all the Afghan Imams to stop leading the prayers in Pakistani mosques with immediate effect. Imam is the one who leads the prayer. Muslims offer prayer five times daily. One grand prayer is held every Friday. The Imam delivers a speech before the Friday's grand prayer which leaves a strong effect on the minds of the attendants because of its religious status. Majority of Pakistanis is illiterate and they give much importance to the speeches and statements of the Imam. Many Afghans are performing duties as Imam in a large number of mosques in Pakistan. A fresh wave of terror which started on 5th October has hit Pakistan hard and Pakistani government is doing its best to fight terrorism and extremism with the help of its western allies.
Suicide bombers attacked Islamic University in Islamabad
Four persons were killed and 40 injurred in suicide-attack in Islamabad.Two suicide bombers attacked this afternoon the International Islamic University's cafe teria and Sharia block in the capital city of Pakistan. More than 12,000 students are studying at this university; almost half of them are female. Hundreds of foreigners are also attending the university. The foundation of the International Islamic University was laid on November 11, 1980. Present Chancellor of the university is the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari.
Chronic shortage of drinking water in Nepal
Fetching drinking water is a daily ordeal for schoolgirl Sumitra Maharjan, who queues from dawn for hours to access a local public tap. "I often miss school, and this is badly affecting my studies," said the frustrated 15-year-old, holding a blue water bucket and standing behind 100 other people. However, Maharjan is luckier than some - she manages to get water at least once a day. A large number of residents in Kathmandu have not seen a drop of water from their taps for months. "My tap has been dry for the last six months. You can imagine the crisis we are facing, " said a local resident, Ramesh Gurung. Most of Kathmandu's drinking water comes from the Bagmati river system, which has seven streams in Kathmandu valley. However, the supply is insufficient for the city, which has a chronic water shortage.
German Chancellor reopens Berlin's Neues Museum
For seven decades Berlin's Neues Museum was a derelict, but finally it is back. German Chancellor Angela Merkel officially opens the restored museum on Friday. It's a day that took decades to arrive. One of the jewels of Berlin's Museum Island complex will reopen its doors. The Neues Museum reopens on Friday, meaning that the entire ensemble of Berlin's neoclassical galleries will be open for the first time since World War II. "It is a special day ... 70 years after it was closed, this building can be handed over to the public again," Hermann Parzinger, the head of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees Berlin's museums, told journalists ahead of the opening of the galleries, which will hold the city's Egyptian Museum and the Museum of Pre- and Early History. "It is, in a way, the end of the postwar era for the Museum Island."
Turkey moves further from Israel
Turkey has recently sought to secure a new role as Middle East mediator. But fallout from postponed military exercises has seen it move further from Israel and closer to Syria. Israelis are concerned, Syrians are celebrating and the Turks are guardedly diplomatic.
It was a good week for Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem. Last Tuesday, he was part of a group of Syrian and Turkish politicians that met at Oncupinar, a border crossing between Syria and Turkey, to mark the removal of entry visa requirements between the two countries.
Parts of the Turkish-Syrian border are still mined. Times, though, have changed: These days, the two countries cooperate on joint military maneuvers and have created a High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
It was a good week for Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem. Last Tuesday, he was part of a group of Syrian and Turkish politicians that met at Oncupinar, a border crossing between Syria and Turkey, to mark the removal of entry visa requirements between the two countries.
Parts of the Turkish-Syrian border are still mined. Times, though, have changed: These days, the two countries cooperate on joint military maneuvers and have created a High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Kansilay festival starts in November in Philippines
Kansilay festival will be started on 5th November in Philippines. This festival is named after a tree with purple pink flower. The festival focuses on Kansilay street dance.
Kansilay Festival is Silay City's festival about a folktale showing the bravery of beautiful Princess Kansilay who offered her life for justice and freedom. The dance-drama is the highlight of the week-long city fiesta that ends on November 13.
Kansilay Festival is Silay City's festival about a folktale showing the bravery of beautiful Princess Kansilay who offered her life for justice and freedom. The dance-drama is the highlight of the week-long city fiesta that ends on November 13.
1st of November is celebrated as a nationwide holiday in Philippines to honor the dead. This day is celebrated as All Saints Day. The celebration is held with gatherings, parties and a whole day feasting in the cemetery.
Philippines: Pregnant woman waded through flood waters
Nine months pregnant with her first child, Chona de la Cruz, 30, waded through murky flood waters amid heavy rain to reach a government hospital in Manila's suburban Cainta district. But the hospital, which was partly submerged by floods brought by tropical storm Ketsana on 26 September, was overwhelmed and almost turned her away.
"I don't want to deliver my baby in an evacuation camp," De la Cruz sobbed, as more than 500 other pregnant women crowded the Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital seeking medical and hygiene kits. "This is my first time to be a mother and I don't know what to do."
De la Cruz and her husband, a construction worker, had been crammed into an evacuation camp with more than 800 people in a covered basketball court at Lakas-Tao, a Cainta slum. Some areas were still submerged in sludgy water more than two weeks after Ketsana hit.
"I don't want to deliver my baby in an evacuation camp," De la Cruz sobbed, as more than 500 other pregnant women crowded the Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital seeking medical and hygiene kits. "This is my first time to be a mother and I don't know what to do."
De la Cruz and her husband, a construction worker, had been crammed into an evacuation camp with more than 800 people in a covered basketball court at Lakas-Tao, a Cainta slum. Some areas were still submerged in sludgy water more than two weeks after Ketsana hit.
Foreign workers in Bahrain to pass compulsory medical tests
Foreign workers will not be granted entry into Bahrain unless they pass medical tests by accredited medical clinics at their hometowns. Sources from the Ministry of Health confirmed the authority’s plan to accredit high profiled clinics at various cities to conduct medical tests for those seeking employment in Bahrain. The sources said without medical reports stating the workers are fit to work and free from contagious diseases, employees would not be allowed entry into the country. The move is a bid to save employers financial and administrative hardships. Many foreigners bring with them medical reports from clinics back home that fail to meet the required standards.
Smoking in Denmark continues
Danish anti-smoking legislation introduced in 2007 has not caused a lot fewer to smoke, nor has it resulted in lower tobacco sales, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Statistics show that the number of smokers has dropped from 30 percent to 23 percent, but at the same time there is a caveat – the number of smokers had already begun to fall before the law came into effect. The National Institute for Public Health at the University of Southern Denmark says that the legislation was not designed to stop people smoking, but rather to reduce the number of people affected by passive smoking. “The law hasn’t gone wrong, despite the fact that cigarette sales are constant. The aim of the law was not to bring about a drop in cigarette sales,” says Senior Researcher Knud Juel. He adds that if Danes are to be forced to stop smoking, tobacco prices must be increased and the legal age for purchasing tobacco must be raised.
Egypt faces threat of rising sea level
Egypt’s Delta region faces a natural disaster of massive proportions by 2020 unless urgent action is taken to better manage scarce fresh water resources and come up with solutions to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels, according to government officials. The country is facing the dual threat of water needs surpassing resources by 2017, and rising sea levels in the decades ahead inundating much of the fertile Delta region, home to 60 percent of Egypt’s 78 million people, it added. “Many of the towns and urban areas in the north of the Delta will suffer from the rise in the level of the Mediterranean with effect from 2020, and about 15 percent of Delta land is currently under threat from the rising sea level and the seepage of salt water into ground water,” Environment Minister George Maged told a parliamentary committee earlier this year.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Garbage collectors strike in Denmark
The garbage collectors of HCS Company decided Monday morning to continue their strike despite a Labour Tribunal ruling, preventing garbage collection in the Copenhagen suburbs of Gladsaxe, Glostrup, Hvidovre and Ballerup in Denmark. Garbage collectors have presented a plan to their employers on how to end the strike. ”We have given them a proposal telling them how this can be made to work. But it all looks a bit questionable as there hasn’t been much communication since last week,” says Chief Shop Steward Ronni Larsen.
“We will be holding a meeting again tomorrow morning,” Larsen says. The strike which involves, among other things, demands on working conditions, began on October 2 and also included the suburb of Herlev. The Labour Tribunal has ruled that the strike contravenes collective agreements and is thus a breach of the contract.
Copenhagen, the premier capital of Northern Europe and the capital city of Denmark, is Scandinavia's most fantastic city and the centre of the most dynamic region in Europe. The city is one of Europe's oldest capitals with a royal touch - the monarchy in Denmark is the oldest in the world.
Doping activities of former cycling champion: Champion denied allegations
German police have uncovered the full extent of the Jan Ullrich's doping activities. The former professional racer, who won the Tour de France
in 1997, made 24 trips to Madrid to use the services of the doping doctor
Eufemiano Fuentes.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has found out that former cycling champion Jan Ullrich made 24 trips to Madrid to use the doping services of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has found out that former cycling champion Jan Ullrich made 24 trips to Madrid to use the doping services of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
The prosecutor's files state: "In conclusion it can be stated that the accused, Ullrich, used the doping system of the Spanish doctor Fuentes to prepare himself for his competitions with performance-enhancing substances and methods in breach of contract."
Whenever Ullrich made public statements about the doping allegations he portrayed himself as the victim of a conspiracy. When he announced his retirement from professional cycling in February 2007 in Hamburg's Intercontinental Hotel, he accused police and journalists of being sloppy in their investigations against him.
Herta Müller wins the nobel prize in Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2009 is awarded to the German author Herta Müller.
Herta Müller was born on August 17, 1953 in the German-speaking town of Nitzkydorf in Banat, Romania. Her parents were members of the German-speaking minority in Romania. Her father had served in the Waffen SS during World War II. Many German Romanians were deported to the Soviet Union in 1945, including Müller's mother who spent five years in a work camp in present-day Ukraine.
The novels Der Fuchs war damals schon der Jäger (1992), Herztier (1994), The Land of Green Plums (1996), Heute wär ich mir lieber nicht begegnet (1997) and The Appointment (2001) give, with chiselled details, a portrait of daily life in a stagnated dictatorship. Herta Müller has given guest lectures at universities, colleges and other venues in Paderborn, Warwick, Hamburg, Swansea, Gainsville (Florida), Kassel, Göttingen, Tübingen and Zürich (Switzerland). She lives in Berlin (Germany). Since 1995 she is a member of Deutsche für Sprache und Dichtung, in Darmstadt.
Herta Müller was born on August 17, 1953 in the German-speaking town of Nitzkydorf in Banat, Romania. Her parents were members of the German-speaking minority in Romania. Her father had served in the Waffen SS during World War II. Many German Romanians were deported to the Soviet Union in 1945, including Müller's mother who spent five years in a work camp in present-day Ukraine.
The novels Der Fuchs war damals schon der Jäger (1992), Herztier (1994), The Land of Green Plums (1996), Heute wär ich mir lieber nicht begegnet (1997) and The Appointment (2001) give, with chiselled details, a portrait of daily life in a stagnated dictatorship. Herta Müller has given guest lectures at universities, colleges and other venues in Paderborn, Warwick, Hamburg, Swansea, Gainsville (Florida), Kassel, Göttingen, Tübingen and Zürich (Switzerland). She lives in Berlin (Germany). Since 1995 she is a member of Deutsche für Sprache und Dichtung, in Darmstadt.
Tel Aviv Dance Festival
As part of Tel Aviv Dance Festival Yoshua Cienfuegos's "Cisnes Negros" will be performed at the Suzanne Dellal Center on Tuesday, 20th October and the Beijing Modern Dance Company will present Gao Yanjinzi's "Oath" and Hu Lei's "Unfettered Journey" (at the Suzanne Dellal Center) on Thursday, 22nd October.
The city of Tel Aviv (Israel) hosts a lineup of annual events, related to art and also books. There are book fairs, food, film and cultural festivals in the city. The Tel Aviv International Dance Festival showcases both Israeli and international talent in Tel Aviv. The dance professionals present their work among international peers at the Suzanne Dellal Center for dance. This amazing festival is held from October to November. The Dance festival attracts various dance lovers from around the world, who get to participate and show their dancing talent too. The festival offers residents and tourists to know the dances of other countries.
The city of Tel Aviv (Israel) hosts a lineup of annual events, related to art and also books. There are book fairs, food, film and cultural festivals in the city. The Tel Aviv International Dance Festival showcases both Israeli and international talent in Tel Aviv. The dance professionals present their work among international peers at the Suzanne Dellal Center for dance. This amazing festival is held from October to November. The Dance festival attracts various dance lovers from around the world, who get to participate and show their dancing talent too. The festival offers residents and tourists to know the dances of other countries.
Large fishing trawlers making problems for Sri Lankan fishermen
The seas off Batticaloa in the country's former war-torn east are home to one of the most fertile spawning grounds off Sri Lanka, and fishermen rarely had to travel far for a good catch. But of late, traditional fishermen who use boats powered by outboard motors or canoes to fish have complained of meagre harvests. Locals blame a recent influx of large fishing trawlers into their waters for their dwindling catches. Before the encroachment, a good catch would earn fishermen up to US$174, and a normal catch, about $85. But now, after paying helpers and offsetting other expenses, including fuel, the small catches do not leave them with much.
The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge to the Indian mainland, known as Rama's Bridge, was constructed during the time of Rama by the vanara architect Nala. Often referred to as Adam's Bridge, it now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. According to colonial British reports, this is a natural causeway which was formerly complete, but was breached by a violent storm in 1480. Paleolithic human settlements have been discovered at excavations in several cave sites in the Western Plains region and the South-western face of the Central Hills region of the island. Anthropologists believe that some discovered burial rites and certain decorative artifacts exhibit similarities between the first inhabitants of the island and the early inhabitants of Southern India.
Lebanon: Human trafficking
Abbey was a nurse at a French hospital in Madagascar when a recruitment agency suggested to her boss that she travel to Lebanon for three years to work and learn Arabic so she could better care for the Arab sailors whose ships docked at the Indian Ocean island. Abbey, not her real name, was presented by the recruitment agent with a three-year contract, which included transport to the Lebanese hospital, and a salary of US$1,000 per month. On arrival there, however, she was put in a house with another Madagascan domestic worker where she was forced to cook, clean and care for three children and a newborn. They didn’t sleep day or night; they had to be up whenever the baby cried. They didn’t even have time to shower or eat during the day because they were always rocking him so he didn’t cry. It was like that for two and a half years.
Politicians are also involved in this issue and it goes underground, which is why it’s difficult to get laws to protect these women. From her salary of just $150 a month, Abbey said she had to give her Lebanese employer money to buy food for her: “So basically, we were working for free.” Cases like Abbey’s are not uncommon in Lebanon, which is a country of destination for women trafficked from Africa, Sri Lanka and the Philippines for the purpose of domestic labour. In June, Lebanon was added to the US State Department’s human trafficking tier 2 watch list for its failure to protect victims of trafficking or to prosecute those responsible.
Politicians are also involved in this issue and it goes underground, which is why it’s difficult to get laws to protect these women. From her salary of just $150 a month, Abbey said she had to give her Lebanese employer money to buy food for her: “So basically, we were working for free.” Cases like Abbey’s are not uncommon in Lebanon, which is a country of destination for women trafficked from Africa, Sri Lanka and the Philippines for the purpose of domestic labour. In June, Lebanon was added to the US State Department’s human trafficking tier 2 watch list for its failure to protect victims of trafficking or to prosecute those responsible.
Etihad Airways of UAE resumes flights to Sri Lanka
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is to resume flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka, starting in January 2010. The airline will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft.
The Sri Lankan government is now targeting 2.5 million visitors a year by 2016 and has witnessed a 30 per cent increase in visitors to the island in July and August 2009 compared to the same period last year.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Sri Lanka is an established market with a strong local traffic base. We expect the resumption of Etihad flights to be welcomed by the considerable Sri Lankan expatriate community living in the UAE and those living across the Middle East region who will be able to connect quickly and easily back home via Abu Dhabi.
“Colombo will be our first new route launch of 2010, and bring to 58 the number of destinations available across our expanding gobal network.”
The Sri Lankan government is now targeting 2.5 million visitors a year by 2016 and has witnessed a 30 per cent increase in visitors to the island in July and August 2009 compared to the same period last year.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Sri Lanka is an established market with a strong local traffic base. We expect the resumption of Etihad flights to be welcomed by the considerable Sri Lankan expatriate community living in the UAE and those living across the Middle East region who will be able to connect quickly and easily back home via Abu Dhabi.
“Colombo will be our first new route launch of 2010, and bring to 58 the number of destinations available across our expanding gobal network.”
Preview of Windows 7 at IT-exhibition in Dubai
Gitex 2009, the biggest annual industry exhibition for the Middle East’s $39 billion information and communication technology market, opened on Sunday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the five-day event for products and services of more than 3,000 companies from across the world.
This year, the main highlight of Gitex — which has a 19-year track record as a signpost to emerging IT technology trends — is the balleyhooed global preview of Windows 7.
This year, the main highlight of Gitex — which has a 19-year track record as a signpost to emerging IT technology trends — is the balleyhooed global preview of Windows 7.
Attack on revolutionary guards: Iran accuses Pakistan
Iran summoned Islamabad’s envoy to Tehran over Sunday’s deadly bombing against the nation’s Revolutionary Guards, claiming those behind the attack had used Pakistani soil as a springboard.
Iranian foreign ministry called Pakistan’s charge d’affairs and “expressed Tehran’s regret to Pakistan’s envoy that members of the terrorist group involved in the incident entered Iran through Pakistan.”
Iranian foreign ministry called Pakistan’s charge d’affairs and “expressed Tehran’s regret to Pakistan’s envoy that members of the terrorist group involved in the incident entered Iran through Pakistan.”
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Newspaper editor arrested in Sri Lanka
A Sri Lankan editor was arrested for reporting on an alleged rift between a senior military commander and the government after the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels, police and his newspaper said Sunday.
Chandana Sirimalwatte was held for questioning after police raided the offices of his “Lanka” newspaper, a spokesman for the paper said.
Police spokesman Nimal Mediwaka confirmed that the editor was arrested on Saturday, but declined to say why he was taken in.
Chandana Sirimalwatte was held for questioning after police raided the offices of his “Lanka” newspaper, a spokesman for the paper said.
Police spokesman Nimal Mediwaka confirmed that the editor was arrested on Saturday, but declined to say why he was taken in.
Tennis: Davydenko wins Shanghai Masters
Nikolay Davydenko delivered a blow to the injury comeback hopes of top seed Rafael Nadal with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory Sunday in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
Davydenko added Nadal to a Shanghai victim’s list which included second seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
The Russian, chasing one of three spots in next month’s ATP season wrap-up event in London, won his fourth title of the season, all coming since July. ‘He played better than me today,’ said Nadal. ‘But that’s tennis. I will certainly be back next year to try and win here.’
The Spaniard was playing only his second event since returning after a month away with an abdominal strain.
Davydenko added Nadal to a Shanghai victim’s list which included second seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
The Russian, chasing one of three spots in next month’s ATP season wrap-up event in London, won his fourth title of the season, all coming since July. ‘He played better than me today,’ said Nadal. ‘But that’s tennis. I will certainly be back next year to try and win here.’
The Spaniard was playing only his second event since returning after a month away with an abdominal strain.
Kidnapped aid workers freed in Sudan
Two members of Irish aid agency GOAL kidnapped in Sudan’s conflict stricken Darfur region in July were freed early Sunday after more than 100 days in captivity.
“They are free, they are in good health,” said state humanitarian affairs minister Abdel Baqi Gilani. Irish national Sharon Commins and Ugandan Hilda Kawuki were kidnapped in the North Darfur town of Kutum on July 3. They were taken by a gang of armed men from a compound run by GOAL.
“No ransom was paid,” Gilani stressed, adding that local tribal chiefs had pressured the kidnappers to free their hostages. The two aid workers’ ordeal is the longest endured by foreign aid staff in Darfur since the conflict erupted in the western region in early 2003.
“They are free, they are in good health,” said state humanitarian affairs minister Abdel Baqi Gilani. Irish national Sharon Commins and Ugandan Hilda Kawuki were kidnapped in the North Darfur town of Kutum on July 3. They were taken by a gang of armed men from a compound run by GOAL.
“No ransom was paid,” Gilani stressed, adding that local tribal chiefs had pressured the kidnappers to free their hostages. The two aid workers’ ordeal is the longest endured by foreign aid staff in Darfur since the conflict erupted in the western region in early 2003.
US military plane forced to land at Mumbai airport
Indian military officials ordered a United States airplane carrying 205 Marines to land at Mumbai airport on Sunday over an airspace clearance dispute.
“The Indian Air Force had to instruct the US plane to land as it did not have the mandatory clearance required to fly in Indian airspace,” said the Indian Air Force spokesman T.K. Singha.
The chartered plan was on its way from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Bangkok when it was forced to land.
All passengers remained on board as US authorities applied for the missing paperwork, Singha said.
“The Indian Air Force had to instruct the US plane to land as it did not have the mandatory clearance required to fly in Indian airspace,” said the Indian Air Force spokesman T.K. Singha.
The chartered plan was on its way from Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates to Bangkok when it was forced to land.
All passengers remained on board as US authorities applied for the missing paperwork, Singha said.
Military operation started in South Waziristan
Pakistan's army claimed Sunday to have killed 60 militants on the first day of an operation against an al-Qaida and Taliban sanctuary close to the Afghan border that residents said was meeting stiff resistance from insurgents. It is the beginning of military operation in South Waziristan area. The army said six soldiers had also been killed.
It was not possible to independently verify those figures because reporters have been stopped from getting close to the battlefield.
The operation in South Waziristan follows repeated requests from the U.S. to take on the jihadists behind soaring terrorist attacks in the nuclear-armed nation, as well as al-Qaida and other extremists believed to be plotting strikes in the West.
It was not possible to independently verify those figures because reporters have been stopped from getting close to the battlefield.
The operation in South Waziristan follows repeated requests from the U.S. to take on the jihadists behind soaring terrorist attacks in the nuclear-armed nation, as well as al-Qaida and other extremists believed to be plotting strikes in the West.
Senior commanders killed in suicide attack in Iran
At least five senior commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guards were assassinated in volatile southeastern Iran on Sunday, in a suicide attack in which 60 people were killed or wounded, Iranian media reported. The dead included the deputy head of the Guards’ ground forces, General Nourali Shoushtari, and the Guards’ commander in Sistan-Baluchestan province, General Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, news agencies reported.
“Several Iranian military officers killed in terrorist attack,” state Press TV said in a breaking news headline.
The official IRNA news agency, citing an unconfirmed report, said the Guards officials were on their way to a meeting of tribal leaders when they were attacked.
Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is the frequent scene of clashes between security forces, Sunni rebels and drug traffickers.
“Several Iranian military officers killed in terrorist attack,” state Press TV said in a breaking news headline.
The official IRNA news agency, citing an unconfirmed report, said the Guards officials were on their way to a meeting of tribal leaders when they were attacked.
Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, is the frequent scene of clashes between security forces, Sunni rebels and drug traffickers.
Remittances from Saudi Arabia soaring
Remittances from Saudi Arabia’s estimated nine million mostly Asian foreign workers are soaring as the kingdom recruits more of them for its massive development plan, an economist said Saturday. At 18.4 billion dollars last year and 15.0 billion in the first eight months of 2009, earnings sent abroad now equalled four percent of Saudi gross domestic product, John Sfakianakis of Banque Saudi Fransi said, citing government data. Remittances in the January-August 2009 period jumped 12 percent compared with 2008, according to central bank statistics.
Technical training for Omani youngsters
More than 1,400 Omani youngsters will receive training in various trades under agreements signed here by the government with local institutes. They will be trained for administrative and technical jobs and as equipment operators, typists, printers, hairdressers and beauticians.
The RO 3.6 million deals were inked on behalf of the government by Manpower Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Nassir Al Bakri.
A total of 1,496 people have been chosen for the training, Hamad bin Khamis Al Amri, Under-secretary for Technical Education and Vocational Training at the ministry, told reporters. The professions had been selected on the basis of market requirements, he added.
The RO 3.6 million deals were inked on behalf of the government by Manpower Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Nassir Al Bakri.
A total of 1,496 people have been chosen for the training, Hamad bin Khamis Al Amri, Under-secretary for Technical Education and Vocational Training at the ministry, told reporters. The professions had been selected on the basis of market requirements, he added.
Single currency in 4 Arabian gulf states
Gulf finance ministers and central bank governors on Saturday reiterated their commitment to a monetary union and a single currency which four states plan to launch next year.
The top officials from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia meeting in Muscat called on the United Arab Emirates and Oman, which have previously withdrawn from the plan, to rejoin.
They also discussed pending issues related to the finalisation of a trade union and the joint railway project that is due to link the six Arab countries of the Gulf.
‘Once the countries that are members agree, we will work on setting up the Gulf central bank and launch the project of the common currency,’ the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said after the meeting.
The top officials from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia meeting in Muscat called on the United Arab Emirates and Oman, which have previously withdrawn from the plan, to rejoin.
They also discussed pending issues related to the finalisation of a trade union and the joint railway project that is due to link the six Arab countries of the Gulf.
‘Once the countries that are members agree, we will work on setting up the Gulf central bank and launch the project of the common currency,’ the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said after the meeting.
Diseases strike quake survivors in Indonesia
Survivors of a severe earthquake that struck Indonesia's West Sumatra province have developed illnesses caused by poor living conditions, say medical workers, while shelter and food remain key concerns almost two weeks after the disaster. In Padang Pariaman district, one of the areas hardest hit by the 30 September earthquake, survivors have contracted respiratory infections, and suffered diarrhoea and skin problems, said Werrizal Amsir, medical coordinator for the local Ibu Foundation aid group. And in the Kotobaru village of the Padang Sagoe subdistrict, many residents were infected with conjunctivitis (or pink eye), said Amsir.
Women in Somalia take hard jobs
Khadijo Mahamud, a mother of five, goes to Bakara market every day to look for work, despite the constant shelling. Her youngest child is 10 months old but Khadijo knows she has no choice but to leave him with her 10-year-old and venture out to find food for the family. On a good day, she makes 50,000 Somali shillings (US$ 1.50). Like Khadijo Mahamud, a growing number of women in Mogadishu has been pushed into tasks that were traditionally considered men's work, such as serving as porters and pushing handcarts in the market.
Films on internal displacement
IRIN Films is pleased to announce the launch of two short films as part of ongoing series about internal displacement. Millions of people around the world have been forced to leave their homes. Some have been driven out by conflict, some by natural disasters. Some have been displaced in the name of development, others by climate change.
IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks) is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and acts as a news agency focusing on humanitarian stories in regions that are often forgotten, under-reported, misunderstood or ignored. The main purpose of this project is to create greater awareness and understanding of regional issues and events, and to contribute to better-informed and more effective humanitarian action, media coverage and advocacy.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Swine flu in USA
Swine flu is causing unprecedented illness for so early in the fall — including a worrisome count of child deaths — and the government warned Friday that vaccine supplies will be even more scarce than expected through this month.
11 more children have died in the past week because of the virus in USA.
11 more children have died in the past week because of the virus in USA.
Diwali celebrations
Hindus are celebrating the festival of Diwali on Saturday, 17th October.
Diwali is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Hindus. It is celebrated on the darkest night of the year, which usually falls sometime between the middle of October and the beginning of November. Diwali, though, is the festival of lights.
When Diwali comes, homes are decorated with lights and earthenware lamps filled with oil. These lamps are called diyas. The name 'Diwali' is from the Sanskrit 'dipavali', which means 'row of lamps'. Diyas are lit in every house to banish the dark and welcome in good luck and good fortune. People wear new clothes, meet their friends and relatives, eat good food, give each other sweets and gifts, decorate their houses with flowers and lights and Rangoli patterns, and set off fireworks. Diwali is also the start of the New Year. Diwali is a festival of joy, prosperity and good luck, and a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
When Diwali comes, homes are decorated with lights and earthenware lamps filled with oil. These lamps are called diyas. The name 'Diwali' is from the Sanskrit 'dipavali', which means 'row of lamps'. Diyas are lit in every house to banish the dark and welcome in good luck and good fortune. People wear new clothes, meet their friends and relatives, eat good food, give each other sweets and gifts, decorate their houses with flowers and lights and Rangoli patterns, and set off fireworks. Diwali is also the start of the New Year. Diwali is a festival of joy, prosperity and good luck, and a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
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Bicycle parking slots in Dubai
Approximately 2,000 parking slots for bicycles have been constructed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and another 4,000 are in progress across Dubai. They have been constructed to encourage road users to also use bikes as part of a daily routine.
Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of RTA Rail Agency, said: “RTA has completed construction of 2,000 parking slots for bicycles, 200 of which have been opened with the launch of Dubai Metro at Mall of the Emirates station, Rashidiya station, Financial Center station, Khalid bin Al Waleed station, and Al Ittihad station. The step is part of a comprehensive plan to prepare parking slots for thousands of bikes in all parts of the emirate, particularly in the vicinity of commercial centers.
Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of RTA Rail Agency, said: “RTA has completed construction of 2,000 parking slots for bicycles, 200 of which have been opened with the launch of Dubai Metro at Mall of the Emirates station, Rashidiya station, Financial Center station, Khalid bin Al Waleed station, and Al Ittihad station. The step is part of a comprehensive plan to prepare parking slots for thousands of bikes in all parts of the emirate, particularly in the vicinity of commercial centers.
Driverless train service started in Dubai
On 9 September 2009, Dubai inaugurated its metro network, becoming the first urban metro network in the Gulf's Arab states. It is hoped that the system will ease the daily commute for thousands of the emirate's workers. With an economy increasingly based upon financial services, air transport, property development and tourism, Dubai has a rapidly growing population and severe traffic congestion problems. Dubai metro is one of the most advanced urban rail systems in the world and will be a catalyst for tourism, financial and economic growth.
The metro network comprises 4 lines. The Red Line is 45 km long and stretches from Rashidiya to the Jebel Ali border. The Green Line is 22.5 km long and extends from Dubai Airport Free Zone to Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The Purple Line is 49 km long and links Dubai International Airport with Jebel Ali Airport. The Blue Line is 50 km long and stretches from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport passing through Emirates Road. RTA plans to extend the Red and Green lines.
Llewelyn Davies of US is the lead architect for the Red and the Green lines and
Parsons Brinckerhoff is the project consultant for the Purple Line.
The 52.1km (32.5-mile) Red Line has 29 stations, four of which will be underground, although only ten were ready for the September opening date. It runs from Rashidiva to Jebel Ali passing the American University of Dubai. The whole 52.1km is expected to take an hour to travel, with an estimated 32,000 passengers an hour.
The 22.5km (14-mile) Green Line will have 18 stations from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya bus station through Deira City Centre and Dubai Airport Terminals 1 and 3.
The 22.5km (14-mile) Green Line will have 18 stations from Al Ittihad Square to Rashidiya bus station through Deira City Centre and Dubai Airport Terminals 1 and 3.
The automatic train control system will allow headways of between 90 seconds and two minutes. In 2005 MHI contracted Alcatel (now Alcatel-Lucent) to supply the driverless train control system and a communications system for on-train video surveillance, passenger information, public address and the integrated control centre. Trains will be Wi-Fi enabled.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wave of terror hits Pakistan
Islamist militants launched coordinated assaults on three police compounds in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, on Thursday, the latest in a wave of attacks by insurgents bringing the war to the country's heartland ahead of an expected offensive against their Afghan border sanctuary.
The dramatic escalation in violence appears to be an attempt by the Taliban- and al-Qaida-led insurgency to seize the initiative from the army and deliver a warning to the U.S.-backed civilian government. Thursday's assaults in Lahore added to a sense of crisis in this nuclear-armed country, now shaken by five major attacks by the Islamic extremists in the last 10 days that have killed more than 150 people — including a 22-hour siege of army headquarters over the weekend. The assaults began about 9 a.m. when a gunman wearing civilian clothes and a suicide vest burst into the offices of the Federal Investigation Agency, the national law enforcement body, and began shooting. The attacker killed two men and four civilians, but was slain by guards before he could detonate his explosives.
Soon after, four gunmen raided a police training school on the outskirts of the city, killing 11 officers and recruits before police killed all the attackers.
A third team then scaled the back wall of a police commando training center near the airport. The attackers stood on the roof of a house, shooting at security forces and throwing grenades, said Lt. Gen. Shafqat Ahmad, the top military officer in Lahore.
The four assailants were killed, along with a police officer and a civilian.
The dramatic escalation in violence appears to be an attempt by the Taliban- and al-Qaida-led insurgency to seize the initiative from the army and deliver a warning to the U.S.-backed civilian government. Thursday's assaults in Lahore added to a sense of crisis in this nuclear-armed country, now shaken by five major attacks by the Islamic extremists in the last 10 days that have killed more than 150 people — including a 22-hour siege of army headquarters over the weekend. The assaults began about 9 a.m. when a gunman wearing civilian clothes and a suicide vest burst into the offices of the Federal Investigation Agency, the national law enforcement body, and began shooting. The attacker killed two men and four civilians, but was slain by guards before he could detonate his explosives.
Soon after, four gunmen raided a police training school on the outskirts of the city, killing 11 officers and recruits before police killed all the attackers.
A third team then scaled the back wall of a police commando training center near the airport. The attackers stood on the roof of a house, shooting at security forces and throwing grenades, said Lt. Gen. Shafqat Ahmad, the top military officer in Lahore.
The four assailants were killed, along with a police officer and a civilian.
Meeting the needs of IDPs in Pakistan
Saudi Arabia’s US$100 million pledge to the UN for the specific purpose of meeting the needs of some 2.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Pakistan is the largest single contribution to date for that cause. The Pakistani government launched a military offensive against militants in the Swat, Buner and Dir districts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on 3 May 2009, forcing more than 2 million people to flee their homes. Before that, intermittent conflict in northern Pakistan had driven some 555,000 people from their homes.
Before the Saudi donation, some $411 million, almost 55 percent, of the $680 million revised requirements for the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan had been funded. With Saudi Arabia’s contribution, 75 percent of the appeal will be met.
Before the Saudi donation, some $411 million, almost 55 percent, of the $680 million revised requirements for the Pakistan Humanitarian Response Plan had been funded. With Saudi Arabia’s contribution, 75 percent of the appeal will be met.
Myanmar migrants reaching Malaysia
In the tourist city of Penang in northern Malaysia, the Buddhist temple has become the locus of social and economic support for migrants from Myanmar. Penang is one of Malaysia's main economic and industrial centres, and the Burmese Buddhist temple provides social and religious support for the Burmese community.
Myanmar is one of the most impoverished countries in the region, and ranks 138 out of 182 countries surveyed in the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) 2009 Human Development Report. Limited employment prospects encourage many to look for opportunities in neighbouring countries. Thailand is the main destination for Burmese workers, but Malaysia is also favoured, along with Bangladesh and India, according to a 2008 UN report on migration in East and Southeast Asia.
Myanmar is one of the most impoverished countries in the region, and ranks 138 out of 182 countries surveyed in the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) 2009 Human Development Report. Limited employment prospects encourage many to look for opportunities in neighbouring countries. Thailand is the main destination for Burmese workers, but Malaysia is also favoured, along with Bangladesh and India, according to a 2008 UN report on migration in East and Southeast Asia.
Bird flu detected in Afghanistan
The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected in a fourth province of Afghanistan amid fears of further possible outbreaks of the virus among the country’s destitute communities, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)confirmed on Monday. “According to the test results, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been detected in the eastern Kapisa province,” Assadullah Azhari, FAO’s public information officer, said in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, was first confirmed in March from six samples of birds in the capital and the eastern province of Nangarhar. The virus was also detected in central Logar province on 13 April. No human cases have been reported in the impoverished Central Asian state thus far.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dowry in Bangladesh
When parents in Bangladesh fail to come up with a promised dowry for their newly married daughters things can get nasty. “He started beating me,” 22-year-old Shopna Rani said of her new husband, just hours before dying of her injuries at a Dhaka hospital: Her parents had reneged on a promise to pay the dowry. According to the Hong Kong-based Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), such cases in Bangladesh are nothing new.
Cash vouchers distributed in Kabul
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed cash vouchers to 10,000 vulnerable households in Kabul. Between September 2009 and February 2010, each selected family will receive a cash voucher of US$30 a month to buy food or other items of their choice from 20 identified retailers. The retailers can cash the vouchers at local banks. Most of the families are either headed by widows or people with physical disabilities.
Diarrhoea reported in Ethiopia
The movement of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to and from holy sites as well as migrant labourers to private farms is contributing to the spread of acute watery diarrhoea in Ethiopia, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns. From 21-27 September, the Ethiopian health ministry reported 634 new cases and one death in Afar, Amhara, Somali, Oromiya, Southern regions and in the capital, Addis Ababa. Generally, however, reported cases have declined across the country.
Polio cases reported in Pakistan
Health officials say 13 cases of polio have been confirmed in Pakistan's volatile Swat District over the past four months, mainly because vaccinators have been unable to access children there for over a year. Fierce fighting between government troops and Taliban militants, which began in May, has displaced hundreds of thousands of people from Swat. Before the army campaign in the area which ended in July, militants had prevented access for anti-polio teams.
Earthquake victims re-housed in Pakistan
Four years after the devastating earthquake of 8 October 2005 in northern Pakistan, almost all the 3.5 million people made homeless have been re-housed, officials say.
About 600,000 houses (90 percent of them in rural areas) were destroyed or badly damaged. Almost all have been repaired except for a few where there are disputes over ownership. In urban areas 90 percent of houses have been repaired, Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan of the government's National Disaster Management Authority revealed.
Many new houses were put up by the government's Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). However, some construction work in badly affected cities such as Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, continues.
The quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, killed more than 75,000 people.
About 600,000 houses (90 percent of them in rural areas) were destroyed or badly damaged. Almost all have been repaired except for a few where there are disputes over ownership. In urban areas 90 percent of houses have been repaired, Gen. Farooq Ahmed Khan of the government's National Disaster Management Authority revealed.
Many new houses were put up by the government's Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA). However, some construction work in badly affected cities such as Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, continues.
The quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, killed more than 75,000 people.
The LOC of Dubai 2009 visits the Home of FIFA
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has said he will make every effort to attend the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai next month and said that he believes it will be a phenomenal tournament.
Senior officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Tournament Director, Salah Tahlak, Deputy Tournament Director, Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Zahed and Director of Communications, Ammar Al Yasin recently travelled to FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland for high level talks on the tournament.
Welcoming the LOC delegation, the FIFA President said that he was confident that Dubai was an unequivocal location for the Beach Soccer World Cup. "I have great expectations for the tournament. Dubai has a good track record for hosting major international events and the LOC team is doing an excellent job to ensure it is a great success," added the President Joseph S. Blatter.
Senior officials of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Tournament Director, Salah Tahlak, Deputy Tournament Director, Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Zahed and Director of Communications, Ammar Al Yasin recently travelled to FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland for high level talks on the tournament.
Welcoming the LOC delegation, the FIFA President said that he was confident that Dubai was an unequivocal location for the Beach Soccer World Cup. "I have great expectations for the tournament. Dubai has a good track record for hosting major international events and the LOC team is doing an excellent job to ensure it is a great success," added the President Joseph S. Blatter.
Pakistan cricket team captain resigned
Pakistan cricket team captain Younis Khan resigned at the meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committee for sports here today. He tendered his resignation amid heated discussion at the meeting after chairman standing committee Jamshed Dasti alleged the national team for match fixing. However, chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt, who was also present at the meeting returned the resignation to Younis but the captain submitted it again to him after coming out of the Parliament House. Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt, captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam appeared at the meeting on invitation from Jamshed Dasti for probing into Pakistan team’s defeat in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy held recently in South Africa.
85,000 Iraqis killed
Iraq's government said at least 85,000 people were killed from 2004 to 2008, officially answering one of the biggest questions of the conflict — how many perished in the sectarian violence that nearly led to a civil war.
What remains unanswered is how many died in the 2003 U.S. invasion and in the months of chaos that followed it.
A report by the Human Rights Ministry said 85,694 people were killed from the beginning of 2004 to Oct. 31, 2008 and 147,195 were wounded. The figures included Iraqi civilians, military and police but did not cover U.S. military deaths, insurgents, or foreigners, including contractors. And it did not include the first months of the war after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
What remains unanswered is how many died in the 2003 U.S. invasion and in the months of chaos that followed it.
A report by the Human Rights Ministry said 85,694 people were killed from the beginning of 2004 to Oct. 31, 2008 and 147,195 were wounded. The figures included Iraqi civilians, military and police but did not cover U.S. military deaths, insurgents, or foreigners, including contractors. And it did not include the first months of the war after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Man sleeps through house fire in Pittsburgh, survives
A suburban Pittsburgh man slept soundly as his home caught on fire and partially collapsed. It wasn't until firefighters did a walk-through of the home more than two hours later that he woke up. Ross Township Fire Marshal John Reubi said he was "flabbergasted" that anyone survived the blaze. It broke out around 2:40 a.m. Sunday and was reported by a passer-by.
Sickest swine flu cases in Canada and Mexico
Rapidly worsening breathing problems in the sickest swine flu patients in Mexico and Canada present a scary worst-case scenario and could foreshadow what U.S. doctors face as winter flu season sets in, new reports suggest.
In the global outbreak's first wave, many critically ill patients in both countries were obese, although their death rates weren't higher than others. Many in both countries also were younger than those typically hard hit by seasonal flu, as has been found in the United States.
Patients studied worsened quickly after being admitted to hospitals. Most survived after intensive, lengthy treatment, although the death rate in Mexican patients studied — 41 percent — was much higher.
The reports were published online Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
They aren't a true snapshot on prevalence. But a JAMA editorial says they provide clues on what hospitals elsewhere may see in coming months.
A report on U.S. cases published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine provided similar guidance. It found that one-quarter of Americans sick enough to be hospitalized with swine flu last spring needed intensive care and 7 percent died.
In the Mexican report on six hospitals between March and June, critical illness developed quickly in 58 of almost 900 patients with confirmed or suspected swine flu patients — a rate of just under 7 percent. But 24 of these sickest patients died within two months, said the study led by Dr. Guillermo Dominguez-Cherit of the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran in Mexico City.
In the global outbreak's first wave, many critically ill patients in both countries were obese, although their death rates weren't higher than others. Many in both countries also were younger than those typically hard hit by seasonal flu, as has been found in the United States.
Patients studied worsened quickly after being admitted to hospitals. Most survived after intensive, lengthy treatment, although the death rate in Mexican patients studied — 41 percent — was much higher.
The reports were published online Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
They aren't a true snapshot on prevalence. But a JAMA editorial says they provide clues on what hospitals elsewhere may see in coming months.
A report on U.S. cases published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine provided similar guidance. It found that one-quarter of Americans sick enough to be hospitalized with swine flu last spring needed intensive care and 7 percent died.
In the Mexican report on six hospitals between March and June, critical illness developed quickly in 58 of almost 900 patients with confirmed or suspected swine flu patients — a rate of just under 7 percent. But 24 of these sickest patients died within two months, said the study led by Dr. Guillermo Dominguez-Cherit of the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran in Mexico City.
Childhood cancer survivors less likely to marry
The scars of childhood cancer may go beyond the physical: Adults who survived cancer as children may have lower-than-average likelihood of getting married, a new study suggests.
Childhood cancer survivors are known to be at risk of long-term health effects from their cancer treatment -- including hormone deficiencies, learning impairments and elevated risks of a second cancer or heart disease in adulthood.
The new findings suggest that some of these effects may also influence survivors' odds of getting married, researchers report in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Using data from a U.S. study of nearly 9,000 childhood cancer survivors, the investigators found that these adults were about one-quarter more likely than either the general population or their own siblings to have never been married.
Childhood cancer survivors are known to be at risk of long-term health effects from their cancer treatment -- including hormone deficiencies, learning impairments and elevated risks of a second cancer or heart disease in adulthood.
The new findings suggest that some of these effects may also influence survivors' odds of getting married, researchers report in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Using data from a U.S. study of nearly 9,000 childhood cancer survivors, the investigators found that these adults were about one-quarter more likely than either the general population or their own siblings to have never been married.
Healthy neighborhoods cut diabetes risk
People who live in neighborhoods with safe sidewalks, ample parks, good public transportation and ready access to fresh fruits and vegetables are 38 percent less likely to develop diabetes than others, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
They said unlike a lot of other factors that influence diabetes, creating a healthy neighborhood is one thing policymakers can do to address the epidemic of diabetes, which costs the United States more than $116 billion in medical expenses each year.
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States and 246 million people globally have diabetes. Most have type 2, the kind linked with a poor diet and lack of exercise.
"Altering our environments so that healthier behaviors and lifestyles can be easily chosen may be one of the key steps in arresting and reversing these epidemics," Amy Auchincloss of Drexel University in Philadelphia, whose study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, said in a statement.
Auchincloss studied 2,285 adults age 45 to 84 from three different communities: Baltimore, Maryland; the Bronx neighborhood of New York and Forsyth County, North Carolina, who were initially examined between 2000 and 2002. They took blood sugar levels before the study and at three follow-up exams, and gathered information on physical activity, weight and diet.
They also measured neighborhood resources through a community survey that asked about whether it was easy to get healthy foods, or if it was pleasant or easy to walk in their neighborhood.
They defined neighborhoods as the area within a 20-minute walk or a mile from their homes.
They said unlike a lot of other factors that influence diabetes, creating a healthy neighborhood is one thing policymakers can do to address the epidemic of diabetes, which costs the United States more than $116 billion in medical expenses each year.
An estimated 23.6 million people in the United States and 246 million people globally have diabetes. Most have type 2, the kind linked with a poor diet and lack of exercise.
"Altering our environments so that healthier behaviors and lifestyles can be easily chosen may be one of the key steps in arresting and reversing these epidemics," Amy Auchincloss of Drexel University in Philadelphia, whose study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine, said in a statement.
Auchincloss studied 2,285 adults age 45 to 84 from three different communities: Baltimore, Maryland; the Bronx neighborhood of New York and Forsyth County, North Carolina, who were initially examined between 2000 and 2002. They took blood sugar levels before the study and at three follow-up exams, and gathered information on physical activity, weight and diet.
They also measured neighborhood resources through a community survey that asked about whether it was easy to get healthy foods, or if it was pleasant or easy to walk in their neighborhood.
They defined neighborhoods as the area within a 20-minute walk or a mile from their homes.
Missile tests by North Korea
North Korea test-fired short-range missiles on Monday, South Korean media reported, sparking consternation just as the reclusive state had been signaling to the outside world it might return to nuclear talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reacting to the reported launches, said Washington would continue to work toward a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, while a Russian official expressed bewilderment.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reacting to the reported launches, said Washington would continue to work toward a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, while a Russian official expressed bewilderment.
Djokovic, Kuznetsova win China Open Tennis
Novak Djokovic captured his third ATP title of the year at the China Open on Sunday, outlasting giant killer Marin Cilic of Croatia, while Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova breezed to the women's title.The Serbian second seed capitalised on a 90-minute rain delay at 2-2 in the first set, returning to centre court at the Beijing Olympic tennis venue with renewed focus to win the blistering baseline battle with Cilic, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).
The big-hitting Cilic -- who beat fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko and top seed Rafael Nadal en route to the final -- pummeled Djokovic with a barrage of huge backcourt shots but the Serb successfully mixed up the pace to throw him off.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Forex Rates
US Dollar TT 82.95 83.6
US Dollar DD 82.95 83.6
Australian Dollar 74.2 75.2
Bahraini Dinar 217.8 220.0
Canadian Dollar 79.0 80.0
Euro 121.50 122.50
Indian Rupee 1.70 1.80
Japanese Yen 0.912 0.922
Saudi Riyal 22.03 22.23
Thai Bhat 2.40 2.60
UAE Dirham 22.53 22.73
UK Pound Sterling 131.50 133.50
US Dollar 83.05 83.40
US Dollar DD 82.95 83.6
Australian Dollar 74.2 75.2
Bahraini Dinar 217.8 220.0
Canadian Dollar 79.0 80.0
Euro 121.50 122.50
Indian Rupee 1.70 1.80
Japanese Yen 0.912 0.922
Saudi Riyal 22.03 22.23
Thai Bhat 2.40 2.60
UAE Dirham 22.53 22.73
UK Pound Sterling 131.50 133.50
US Dollar 83.05 83.40
Gay-rights rally near the White House
Rainbow flags fluttered above the crowds near the White House as tens of thousands of gay rights supporters rallied to demand that President Barack Obama keep his promises to end discrimination against gays and also let them serve openly in the military.
Some taking part in the National Equality March woke up energized by Obama's promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. He made that pledge in a speech Saturday night to the Human Rights Campaign, nation's largest gay rights group.
Some taking part in the National Equality March woke up energized by Obama's promise to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. He made that pledge in a speech Saturday night to the Human Rights Campaign, nation's largest gay rights group.
Another suicide-attack in Pakistan; 41 killed
A suicide car bombing targeting Pakistani troops killed 41 people Monday, the fourth grisly militant attack in just over a week, as the Taliban pledged to mobilize fighters across the country for more strikes.
The Taliban also claimed responsibility for the 22-hour weekend attack on the nation's heavily fortified army headquarters, saying a cell from Pakistan's most populous province carried out the raid.
The Taliban also claimed responsibility for the 22-hour weekend attack on the nation's heavily fortified army headquarters, saying a cell from Pakistan's most populous province carried out the raid.
Swine flu; more deaths confirmed
Louisiana's death toll from swine flu has risen to 20, as health care providers this week started doling out the first round of vaccines for the virus.
The Department of Health and Hospitals says that six more deaths were confirmed Friday: three women from the Baton Rouge area, a man from the Shreveport area and children from the Monroe and St. Tammany Parish regions. DHH estimates more than 97,000 people in the state have already had the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.
Pediatricians this week began administering the first 26,000 doses of a nasal spray vaccine for the virus, to healthy children ages 2 to 5. More vaccine is expected to arrive in the coming weeks and will be administered first to at-risk populations.
The Department of Health and Hospitals says that six more deaths were confirmed Friday: three women from the Baton Rouge area, a man from the Shreveport area and children from the Monroe and St. Tammany Parish regions. DHH estimates more than 97,000 people in the state have already had the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.
Pediatricians this week began administering the first 26,000 doses of a nasal spray vaccine for the virus, to healthy children ages 2 to 5. More vaccine is expected to arrive in the coming weeks and will be administered first to at-risk populations.
Ferry sinks in Cambodia
Police say at least 10 passengers have died after an overloaded river ferry capsized in a tributary of the Mekong River. Police Maj. Leng Sarum said the ferry, with 30 passengers onboard, sank Saturday night in the northeastern province of Kratie. He said 13 were rescued and a search was continuing for seven missing people.
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