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Many dead in Indonesian quake

published by You on 30 September, 2009 - 17:52

Dozens dead in Indonesian quake

At least 75 people are dead and thousands are trapped under rubble after a strong earthquake shook the island of Sumatra, officials say.

The epicentre of the 7.6-magnitude quake was about 50km (30 miles) off the coast of the Indonesian island, near the city of Padang.

There are reports of widespread destruction to buildings and bridges.

It comes hours after a tsunami triggered by a separate South Pacific quake killed more than 100 people.

A tsunami watch issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in the wake of the Indonesian quake has been lifted.

Read more @ BBC News

UK court denies petition against [Ehud] Barak

published by You on 30 September, 2009 - 14:27

London Justice Daphne Wickham rejects petition to have defense minister arrested for alleged war crimes, says he enjoys diplomatic immunity, cannot be prosecuted. Ruling said to coincide with UK Foreign Ministry recommendation

The London Court on Tuesday rejected a petition filed by a Palestinian attorney against Defense Minister Ehud Barak, demanding he be arrested for war crimes.

A Defense Ministry source said the petition was denied following a recommendation by the British Foreign Office.

Justice Daphne Wickham ruled rejected the claim altogether, saying that while the papers filed with the court seemed "serious," under international law Barak has diplomatic immunity and therefore cannot be prosecuted.

UN scrutinises Gaza 'war crimes'

published by You on 29 September, 2009 - 23:14

The UN's main human rights watchdog has begun a debate on a damning report into Israel's military operation against Gaza eight months ago.

It is seen as a test of US engagement with the Human Rights Council, which was shunned by President George W Bush.

The US, which is Israel's main ally, has criticised elements of the report.

The report, widely lauded by human rights groups, accuses both Israel and its militant Palestinian adversary Hamas of war crimes in the campaign.

Read more @ BBC News

Big Eid

published by Angel on 28 September, 2009 - 11:53

Hey Guys,

I did it as a new topic so people would reply (you better!)

When is big Eid roughly?

I need to book my holidays in advance as availabilty is very low, cheers!

Angel Smile

Britons 'hiring Indian assassins'

published by You on 28 September, 2009 - 02:48

British Asians are hiring contract killers to carry out up to 100 murders in India every year, according to campaigners in rural Punjab state.

BBC Asian Network understands targets such as family or business associates are lured to the sub-continent, where assassins can be hired for just £500.

Punjab Police deny corruption allows the British Asians to evade justice.

Scotland Yard says it is aware of the problem. The Foreign Office says six British nationals are missing in India.

A member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, British-born Jassi Khangura, has investigated the trend which he believes claims the lives of between 50 and 100 overseas Indians every year.

Read more @ BBC News

Contributing in something good without Islamic intention

published by s.b.f on 28 September, 2009 - 00:52

The title probably made no sense.

The idea is to become a facilitator of a Youth Group. What children are taught is to think about the world around them, how to work with people, how to accept people, encourage them to learn...

The ideas are from text from a different religion that isn't Islam.

So will it be wrong to teach children these ideas which are great and humanifying...but where the foundation is from a different religion which isn't Islam?

Hope that made sense.

Segregation - why?

published by s.b.f on 27 September, 2009 - 22:16

On Friday, I was asked, why in Islam for certain events, men and women were segregated.

I've grown up used to the idea that segregation existed in Islamic events. So it's kind of become the norm.

But what's the reason for the segregation? Or is the answer the obvious?

Principles are that we shouldn't look at the other sex in that way. So if segregation didn't exist, surely it would be a test of our faith?

Also, daily life involves mixing. Then for a 2 hour Islamic event, you get segregation? Is it pointless?

Hijacked by climate change?

published by You on 27 September, 2009 - 21:25

As the UN climate summit in Copenhagen approaches, exhortations that "we must get a deal" and warnings that climate change is "the greatest challenge we face as a species" are to be heard in virtually every political forum.

But if you look back to the latest definitive check on the planet's environmental health - the Global Environment Outlook (Geo-4), published by the UN two years ago - what emerges is a picture of decline that goes way, way beyond climate change.

Species are going extinct at perhaps 1,000 times the normal rate, as key habitats such as forests, wetlands and coral reefs are plundered for human infrastructure.

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