India and china spar over Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi/Shanghai:  China on Saturday urged India not to aggravate problems on the border shared by the two nations, a day after President Pranab Mukherjee toured Arunachal Pradesh and called it an integral part of the country.

The two countries, which fought a brief border war in 1962, only last month signed a pact to ensure that differences on the border do not spark a confrontation.

But Mr Mukherjee's visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the remote eastern stretch of the Himalayas that China claims as its own provoked a fresh exchange of words.

"We hope that India will proceed along with China, protecting our broad relationship, and will not take any measures that could complicate the problem, and together we can protect peace and security in the border regions," China's official news agency, Xinhua, quoted Qin Gang, a spokesman of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as saying.

"Currently Sino-India relations are developing favourably and both sides are going through special envoy meetings and amicable discussions to resolve the border dispute between our two countries."

Mr Mukherjee was on a routine visit to Arunachal which has been part of the Indian state for decades, and where India has regularly been holding elections. But China has of late grown increasingly assertive and questioned New Delhi's claims over the territory, calling it instead South Tibet.

Mr Mukherjee told members of the state's legislative assembly it was "a core stakeholder in India's Look East foreign policy" that intends to link the country's northeast with South East Asia.

"We seek to make our neighbours partners in our development," Mr Mukherjee said in Itanagar, the state capital. "We believe that India's future and our own best economic interests are served by closer integration with Asia."

China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) disputed by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas, while India says China occupies 38,000 square km of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west.

© Thomson Reuters 2013

If I pray, I will be fired from my job!

Prayer (Salaah) is one of the most important pillars of Islam, second only to the Shahaadah. It is also an individual obligation on each and every one of us. The Ulama say that whoever does not do it because he denies that it is obligatory or he does not do it because he is lazy and heedless, is a kaafir.
Yet, there are innumerable excuses we come up with, to not pray, either on time or not pray at all.
Some of the most common excuses are:

Excuse #1:Allah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem. He will forgive me.

Reply: Yes, surely Allaah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem but, did you forget, O Muslim, that He also said that He is ash-Shadeed ul-Iqaab (severe in punishment).

“And fear Allaah much and know that Allaah is Severe in punishment.” (Surah al-Baqarah:196)

And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“The covenant that stands between us and them (non-Muslims) is prayer; whoever gives up prayer is a kaafir.” (Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, Ibn Maajah–saheeh ).

Excuse #2: I know I have to pray, but I am too tired/lazy.

Reply: Praying Salaat at its proper appointed times is an obligation on every single person. Whoever deliberately misses a prayer exposes himself to the wrath of Allaah, and the wise believer does not do something which he knows could result in punishment.
Just look at what the people of Hell will say when asked:

“What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not among those who prayed (Salaat).” [Surah al-Muddaththir:42-43]

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Between a man and kufr and shirk, there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim)

Ibn Mas’ood said:

“No one keeps away from the prayer except a hypocrite who is known for his hypocrisy.”(Muslim)

Excuse #3: I am SO busy at work, I don’t have time to pray.

Reply: So you mean to tell me that you can’t take out even a few minutes out of the whole 24 hours to worship the very One Who created you in the first place?? You mean you don’t have time to thank the Lord of the worlds for everything He’s given you…..ALL His blessings?? What kind of ungrateful soul are you??!!
And if He wanted to take all these blessings away from you, is there anything, anything you could do?!!

“Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allaah nor from performing As-Salaat nor from giving Zakaat; they fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection).That Allaah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He wills.” [Surah al-Noor:37-38]

Excuse #4: I pray; I just delay it until it is convenient for me or I pray it Qadaa.

Reply: You should understand that delaying prayer beyond the time when it is due is a major sin, because Allaah says:

“Verily, As-Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” [Surah al-Nisa':103]

And Allaah says:

“So woe unto those performers of Salaah (prayers). Those who delay their Salaah (prayer from their stated fixed times).” [Surah al-Maa'oon :4,5]

Excuse #5: I pray the 4 prayers. I only miss Fajr because I have to do Ghusl.

Reply: Allaah has enjoined upon you and me the FIVE prayers, NOT FOUR. How can a Muslim willingly expose himself to the wrath of Allaah and His punishment, just because he finds it difficult to do ghusl? In fact, it is NOT difficult to do ghusl, it is VERY easy, apart from the tricks that the Shaytaan tries to play on people. Allaah is talking to you and me when He says:

“Enter completely in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion).” [Baqarah :208]

“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salaat with all solemnity and full submissiveness…’ [al-Mu'minoon:1-2]

“And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory) Salawaat (at their fixed stated hours).” [al-Mu'minoon 23:9]

Excuse #6: My position/boss/studies/does not allow me.

Reply: Remember that the Prophet (pbuh) mentioned prayer one day and said:

“Whoever observes it regularly, it will be light and a proof and salvation on the Day of Resurrection, and whoever does not observe it regularly, it will not be a light or a proof or salvation for him, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be with Qaroon, Fir’aun, Hamaan and Ubayy ibn Khalaf.” (Ahmad).

Ibn al-Qayyim said: These four people are mentioned because they are the leaders of kufr. This makes an important point about the one who does not observe regular prayer, whether that is because he is distracted by his wealth, his power, his position of leadership or his business. The one who is distracted from it by his wealth will be with Qaroon; the one who is distracted by his power will be with Fir’aun; the one who is distracted by his position of leadership will be with Hamaan and the one who is distracted by his business will be with Ubayy ibn Khalaf.”

Excuse #7: If I pray, I will be fired from my job!

Reply: Remember that it is not your boss, but Allaah that provides RIZQ for you and me. If this job is keeping you away from the most important duty as a Muslim, is this job really worth it? And whoever gives up something for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than that.

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things.” [Talaaq:2-3]

Excuse #8: I want to pray but my children are so young I can’t leave them and pray

Reply:

“O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whosoever does that, then they are the LOSERS.” (Surah al-Munaafiqoon:9)

Excuse #9: I can’t pray at my job/school/public place. I am too embarrassed /they will think I am a TERRORIST!

Reply: How can a Muslim feel embarrassed about proclaiming the truth and worshipping his Lord openly, hastening to fulfill the command of Allaah at the time when Allaah has said it is to be done? Also, if you uphold your duty to pray, Allaah will never let you down. He is the one to protect you and save you from all harm, no matter what anyone tries to plot against you. Remember that the one who is protected by Allaah, NO ONE CAN HARM.

“Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer- verily, to him We will give a good life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.” [Surah al-Nahl:97]

Excuse #10: If I pray, people will think that I show off. So I don’t pray.

Reply: Just as the Shaytaan comes to the Muslim to make him admire his actions and show off to people, sometimes he uses the opposite trick and makes a person think that he is showing off while fulfilling his relogious obligations, so that he will not do it. So just ignore these whisperings from the Shaytaan and don’t let him keep you away from this major Ibadah. DO NOT let him win.
Ibraaheem al-Nakhaa’i said: “If the Shaytaan comes to you when you are praying and says, ‘You are showing off’, then you should make it even longer…”

“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan, then seek refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Surah al-Aa'raaf:200]

Excuse #11: I have made/am making so many mistakes in my life, it is no use for me to pray. Allaah will never forgive me.

Reply: Now, this is another one of the tricks of Shaytaan.He does not want you to do Tawbah, because he knows, if you sincerely repent to Allaah for ALL that you have done, Allaah WILL FORGIVE YOU.
Allaah encourages us to do tauba when He said:

“Say: ‘O My slaves, who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Surah al-Zumar:53]

Subhaan Allaah! How Forgiving is our Rabb and how Merciful!
Isn’t this Ayah enough, even for the worst of sinners among us?
And remember, doing good deeds wipes out sins.

“And perform As-Salaah, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory prayers]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds.” [Surah Hood:114]

Excuse #12: I don’t pray, but I have a good heart.

I am a good person and I never hurt anyone.
Reply: The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.” (Tabarani).

So no matter what good deeds you did in this dunya, if you didn’t pray, nothing will count or even be accepted…..no zakaah, no fasting, no Hajj, no nothing.

“Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.” (Bukhaari).

Excuse #13: But, I pray every Jumuah. Isn’t that enough?

Reply: With regard to the ruling on one who prays Jumu’ah only, some of the scholars are of the view that one who prays Jumu’ah only is a kaafir, because he comes under the same ruling as one who does not pray at all, because he prays only one of the thirty-five prayers required each week, so he is like one who does not pray at all. (Fatawa Shaykh ibn Baaz and Ibn Uthaymeen).
Some scholars said that he is not a kaafir but he is committing a great sin that is worse than riba (usury), adultery, stealing, drinking alcohol etc.

Excuse #14: My spouse/parents don’t pray. Why should I??

Reply: Just because your family does something sinful, does not mean that you do the same. Remember, they will NOT be there to save you when Allaah will ask YOU about YOUR Salaah. In fact, your duty is to call them to Allah by advising them and setting a good example for them to follow.

“And enjoin al-Salaah on your family, and be patient in offering them [the prayers]. We ask not of you a provision; We provide for you. And the good end (Paradise) is for the muttaqoon (pious).” [Ta-Ha:132]

Excuse #15: I will pray when I am older/after Hajj/ Ramadhan.

Reply: Do you want to be from these people that Allaah is talking about??

“Then, there has succeeded them a generation who have given up As-Salaah and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell.” [Maryam:59]

And, how do you know you will live to be older? Or live until Hajj or Ramadhaan??
What if you die tomorrow?? What if it was today???

CONCLUSION:

There can be no excuses as far as Salaah is concerned. We have to pray all the five prayers and all of them on time.

“O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [ al-Tawbah:119]

“Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle Salaat (˜Asr). And stand before Allaah with obedience.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:238]

 http://www.farhathashmi.com/articles-section/worship/so-whats-your-excuse-for-salah/

US Bombers Cross China's Claimed Air Defense Zone

ays after China asserted greater military control over a swath of the East China Sea to bolster claims to a cluster of disputed islands, the U.S. defied the move Tuesday as it flew two B-52 bombers through the area.

The U.S. said what it described as a training mission was not flown to respond to China's latest military maneuver, yet the dramatic flights made clear that the U.S. will not recognize the new territorial claims that Beijing laid out over the weekend.

The two unarmed U.S. B-52 bombers took off from their home base in Guam and flew through China's newly designated air defense zone, then returned to base, U.S. officials said. The bombers were in the zone for less than an hour, thundering across the Pacific skies during midday there, the officials said, adding that the aircraft encountered no problems.

While the U.S. insisted the training mission was long-planned, it came just days after China issued a map and a new set of rules governing the zone, which includes a cluster of islands that are controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing.

U.S. officials would not publicly acknowledge the flights on Tuesday, but State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said China's move appeared to be an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea.

"This will raise regional tensions and increase the risk of miscalculation, confrontation and accidents," she told reporters.

China said Saturday that all aircraft entering the new air defense zone must notify Chinese authorities and are subject to emergency military measures if they do not identify themselves or obey Beijing's orders. U.S. officials, however, said they have received no reaction to the bomber flights from the Chinese.

The bomber mission underscores Washington's immediate rejection of China's new rules. The U.S., which has hundreds of military aircraft based in the region, has said it has zero intention of complying. Japan likewise has called the zone invalid, unenforceable and dangerous, while Taiwan and South Korea, both close to the U.S., also rejected it.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest would not specifically comment Tuesday on the military flights. "It continues to be our view that the policy announced by the Chinese over weekend is unnecessarily inflammatory and has a destabilizing impact on the region," he told reporters traveling with Obama in Los Angeles.

The U.S. mission took place between about midnight Monday and 3 a.m. EST, said the officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak by name about the flights. The flights were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

China's move to further assert its territorial claims over the islands is not expected to immediately spark confrontations with foreign aircraft. Yet it fits a pattern of putting teeth behind China's claims and could potentially lead to dangerous encounters depending on how vigorously China enforces it — and how cautious it is when intercepting aircraft from Japan, the U.S. and other countries.

While enforcement is expected to start slowly, Beijing has a record of playing the long game, and analysts say they anticipate a gradual scaling-up of activity.

The declaration seems to have flopped as a foreign policy gambit. Analysts say Beijing may have miscalculated the forcefulness and speed with which its neighbors rejected its demands.

 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/china-air-defense-zone-points-long-game-21019282

Interfaith Relations

ISNA’s Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances (IOICA), located in Washington, DC, runs its community outreach and interfaith programs, strengthening ties with local grassroots organizations and engaging in joint initiatives with other mainstream religious organizations. These inter-religious projects have helped break down barriers of misunderstanding, form genuine partnerships of faith and ethics, and establish a platform to advocate for social justice issues for the common good.

IOICA also fosters strong relationships with U.S. congressional staff and federal government officials, serving as an outreach resource to the American Muslim community and promoting a positive image of Islam and Muslims to the nation’s political leaders.

http://www.isna.net/interfaith-relations.html

India's love for gold hurts economy

The precious metal is trading at about $1,245 an ounce, down 25% from the beginning of 2013. Gold dipped as low as $1,211 an ounce in June.
Gold has been under pressure since the European Central Bank announced a surprise interest rate cut earlier this month, said Carlos Sanchez, analyst at precious metals firm CPM Group.
That drove up the value of the dollar versus the euro and made dollar-denominated assets, such as gold, less attractive.
The selling accelerated Wednesday after minutes from the latest meeting of the Federal Reserve raised speculation that the central bank could scale back, or taper, its bond-buying program, known as quantitative easing, as soon as December.
But gold prices managed to hold above $1,240 an ounce, which is an important support level for technical traders, said Sanchez.
"I think we're at the lows," he said. "This is a good buying opportunity for mid to long-term investors."


 http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/22/investing/gold-prices/index.html

ANHAD brings out second round of ‘truth’ against Modi

Presided by Shabnam Hashmi and Manan Trivedi, Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) held a press conference to bring out ‘Kaccha Chittha 2’ (exposing truth II) at India Women’s Press Conference office in Windsor Palace.
The press conference was organized to highlight the loopholes in Narendra Modi’s claim of development in Gujarat, the pathetic condition of democracy in the state and lack of governance. The documents released in the press conference primarily dealt with grants of lands to Adani Group of companies by Modi’s government in Gujarat violating SEZ guidelines.


“The guidelines of SEZ were violated as it says that the “land has to be congruous” but the Gujarat government circumvented the rules and sold them as separate lands so that they could avoid its auctioning and taking the cabinet in confidence,” Hashmi said.
“Land upto 5,46,56,819 metre (5465 HECTARE) was sold to Adani through 30 orders from 2005 to 2007 for SEZ,” reads the figure in the document released by ANHAD. Other high points read:
· All rules were bent backwards. Twenty five applications for land were submitted on two consecutive days – 22 & 23 /12/03 and the other five on 23/12/2003, 5/10/2004, 23/06/2006, 3/07/2006 and for the last application date is not available.
· 23 orders for sale of land were released on a single day 15/07/2005
· The price of land charged from Adani was between Rs. 2.5- Rs 25 per sq meter when the market rate was between Rs 1000 to Rs.1,500 a square metre.
· The District Valuation Committee set up by the Gujarat Govt set the price very low so that land could be given at cheap rates. Even then the rates charged in most of the cases are much lower than the rates prescribed by the valuation committee.
“In Gujarat, the stamp duty for land is 8.4% which means if the cost of land is Rs. 100 then the stamp duty on stands as Rs. 8.4 but in the case of Gujarat the norms were inverted. For example, lands were shockingly sold for Rs. 6 whose stamp duties only were Rs. 300-400. That was the ratio. What can be bigger fraud than this?” she asked the media persons.
While throwing on the destruction of the villages brought about by the Modi-Adani nexus she said, “A big chunk of land in Gujarat is used for pastoral farming which the government sold to Adanis as a result of which animal husbandry has suffered fatal blows over there and the community living along the coast lines have lost their livelihood.”
Taking a shot on his victory in Gujarat for the third time despite all the corruption cited by CAG report or through the reports of organization like AHHAD she said that he may win in many ways and although a big size of middle class rallies for him but there are lots of movements going on in the villages of Gujarat and there is widespread anger against him in the rural area which obviously the mainstream media does now air.
“In the 70 villages of tribal belt, where he has promised to raise a bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, have been organizing rallies which are being attended by thousands of villages as there the sword of a direct threat of their forced displacement from the villages, due to the sites being chosen for building Patel’s statue, is dangling upon them,” she said.
The report has been made available on www.anhadin.net, www.secularstore.net, www. pheku.in, for all to read.
Related:
Civil society launches website to bring out ‘misdeeds’ of Modi

http://twocircles.net/2013nov23/anhad_brings_out_second_round_%E2%80%98truth%E2%80%99_against_modi.html

US opposes China's air defense zone over disputed islands

The United States has conveyed strong concerns to China regarding an escalation in regional tensions over territorial claims in the East China Sea, the White House said Saturday.
The White House statement came hours after the Chinese Defense Ministry issued a map of an East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that includes a chain of islands also claimed by Japan. The map’s release also triggered a protest from Tokyo.
Beijing issued a set of rules for the zone, saying all aircraft in the area must notify Chinese authorities and are subject to emergency military measures if they do not identify themselves or obey orders from Beijing. The Chinese government said it would "identify, monitor, control and react" to any air threats or unidentified aircraft approaching from the sea.
The rules went into effect Saturday.
"This unilateral action constitutes an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea. Escalatory action will only increase tensions in the region and create risks of an incident," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a State Department news release emailed to Al Jazeera.
"We don't support efforts by any State to apply its ADIZ procedures to foreign aircraft not intending to enter its national airspace," Kerry said. "We have urged China to exercise caution and restraint, and we are consulting with Japan and other affected parties, throughout the region."
The White House issued a similar statement, saying the U.S. was "concerned" that China’s move would worsen tensions in the region. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the zone will not "change how the United States conducts military operations in the region.”
In Tokyo, Junichi Ihara, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, protested by phone to China's acting ambassador to Japan, Han Zhiqiang, saying the zone is "totally unacceptable," according to a ministry statement.
Ihara also criticized China for "one-sidedly" setting up the zone and escalating bilateral tensions over the islands.
Both Beijing and Tokyo claim the islets, called Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese. Protests erupted throughout China last year to denounce the Japanese government's purchase of the islands from private ownership.
A rising economic and military power, China has become more assertive over its maritime claims. It has been in disputes with several neighboring countries over islands in the East and South China seas.
"By establishing the air defense zone Beijing has ... potentially escalated the danger of accidental collisions between the Chinese military and the U.S. and Japanese counterparts," said Tomohiko Taniguchi, a counselor in the office of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "It poses a serious challenge against freedom of movement in the sky and in the seas."
China said the zone is in line with the practice of other nations that have similar zones to protect their coasts. The new zone overlaps with Japan's existing one, which also includes the disputed islands.
"This is a necessary measure taken by China in exercising its self-defense right," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun was quoted as saying on the ministry's website. "It is not directed against any specific country or target. It does not affect the freedom of over-flight in the related airspace."
Other governments including Taiwan also have territorial claims that overlap with China’s in the region.

 http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/23/us-opposes-chinasairdefensezoneoverdisputedislands.html

JFK Assassination: Dispatches From Dallas on 50th Anniversary

http://abcnews.go.com/US/jfk-assassination-dispatches-dallas-50th-anniversary/story?id=20972276

Singapore has transformed into a major technology hub

SINGAPORE is unique in many ways because it has a population of six million people on an area of 716 sq. kilometers. It cannot really be compared to hundreds of Asian cities because it is an independent, sovereign republic, a member of the United Nations, with protection treaties ensuring its position.
It is a prosperous state with plenty of money and self-made resources that are the envy of its neighbors in the east and west.
When I first landed there, it reminded me of the former British crown colony of Aden in the southernmost tip of Arabia. Aden had also been expected to grow and develop like Singapore during the British Raj.
Aden would possibly have become a really successful country on independence had it not fallen into the clutches of the Soviet Union through its native Yemeni clients in 1967.
Then it became a mere surrogate state espousing extreme Marxism similar to that of North Korea and Albania until it was saved many years later by its merger with Yemen to form the Republic of Yemen, which was far better economically under a free enterprise system.
Like Aden, Singapore was a free port with a vibrant, skilled population made up of Chinese, Malays and Indians.
When independence from Britain came in 1963, it was persuaded to join Malaya to form the state of Malaysia. It was a promising deal combining the vast land, population and resources of Malaya with the skilled and educated Singaporean workforce.
Unfortunately, the union of the two great and promising countries lasted only two years until 1965 because the Chinese community in Singapore and the Malays did not like each other at all.
The Malays decided to break up the union by asking Singapore to quit, I was told during my visits.
The Singaporeans turned the shock into an opportunity of the first order under the leadership of Lee Kwan You, one of the greatest Asian leaders of the twentieth century.
He decided to go it alone to make his tiny country unique and self-reliant with a creative economic system. He turned the country into a stunning technology center and a major tourist attraction.
He developed the little state into one of the best Asian countries luring millions of tourists and permitting cheap labor from other countries at least during the country’s formative years.
He was so busy building the state that it was impossible for me to obtain an interview for this newspaper, so I was content to meet with some wonderful senior aides.
When I decided to visit the state, I wondered what kind of tourism there would be given its size, which had compelled it to import sand and stones to reclaim land, while exporting desalinated water to pay for imports. But I was enamored of the place. It was well built and organized, had all the modern assets and tourist facilities, which were being enhanced all the time.
It had its nightlife and great five star hotels without going overboard. It was more like a small version of Malaysia which I wrote about recently. But Malaysia did not like the Chinese majority in Singapore, so it persuaded its partner in the federation to pull out.
There is plenty to see and enjoy during a weeklong visit and chances to go over to Malaysia and Thailand if you have the tourist visit visas. In fact, I would recommend this because they are so close and are smashing destinations.
On one of my tours, I included these countries, in addition to Taiwan and Hong Kong. These are some of the most attractive places in Asia.
Singapore currently ranks fourth among the world’s leading financial centers while its port is one of the five busiest in the world, just as Aden was the second or third busiest free port during the British period before it was ruined by the Marxists and the closure of the Suez Canal.
The canal was closed following the 1967 war in the Middle East when Israeli troops crossed the Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptians blocked the waterway. It remained closed for nearly 10 years until President Anwar Sadat sought help in reopening it and agreed to permit the Israelis to use it.
The Singapore economy depends on imports and re-exports especially in manufacturing which according to government figures constituted 26 percent of its Gross Domestic Product at one time.
Singapore has the third-highest per capita income in the world, which is just short of a miracle. Its staggering success was a prime motivation for the Malaysian leadership to follow suit at great speed, allowing it to reach its current heights.
It has a Westminster-style parliamentary system but its critics inside and outside the country would like to see more of the British features prevail. Its majority Chinese population has stamped the country with its language and culture.
When many Hong Kong Chinese left their country, Singapore welcomed them with their skills, wealth and education and gave them citizenship. This was extremely wise and farsighted. It allowed the country to progress further. The Malays and Indians — mainly from Tamil Nadu in the south of the subcontinent — are minorities with many carrying Singaporean passports.
Few countries have carried the name and stamp of an individual pioneer as much as Singapore over the past two centuries. This man was Thomas Stamford Raffles who arrived in 1819 and signed an agreement with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor on behalf of the British East India Company, which became the virtual ruler of India and the rest of the subcontinent until 1947.
The company said it would develop the southern part of the island as a trading post.
As usual, the entire island became a British colony until 1963. The only interlude was the World War II when Japan captured it with great ease, at the same time sinking two of Britain’s largest warships. This shocked Britain and signaled the beginning of the end of the British Empire.
Pictures of the British surrender are still used to highlight the ignominy of the capitulation. However, Japan was soon defeated in Asia by the allies, allowing the British to re-enter Singapore and force the Japanese to surrender in a similar demeaning fashion.
Raffles, whose name and reputation are still respected in the country, started building the island and developing it into one of the finest free ports in the world. There were indigenous Malays but the Chinese flocked to it until they became the majority of the population.
At present, the per capita income of this little land hovers around $60,000 and is still rising.

• Farouk Luqman is an eminent journalist based in Jeddah.

 http://www.arabnews.com/news/480966

Eat nuts, live longer

ungry? Grab a handful of nuts. Not only are they packed with protein, but it turns out they may be the food for longevity.

At least, that's the conclusion of the largest study to date looking at the relationship between eating nuts and longer lives. Nuts are high in unsaturated fats, protein and vitamins, as well as antioxidants that are thought to be linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School looked at nut consumption and deaths from all causes among 76,464 women participating in the Nurse's Health Study and 42,498 men involved in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They asked the participants about their nut consumption, including how many almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios or walnuts they typically ate.

Those who reported regularly consuming nuts were less likely to die from a variety of diseases, most significantly cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases.

In nuts we trust?

People who ate nuts seven or more times a week, in fact, enjoyed a 20% lower death rate after four years than individuals who did not eat nuts. Nut eaters also tended to be leaner, more physically active, and non-smokers.

Prior studies found similar connections between nuts and longer life, but the large size of this study gives the association more support.

The study was partially funded by the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization representing nine tree nut industries, but the group played no role in the research or results, said Maureen Ternus, executive director.

How many nuts does it take to extend lifespan? That's not clear, and the scientists say that the findings don't imply any cause and effect relationship between nuts and later death, but the correlation is worth investigating further.

Nuts are part of the balanced diet that public health officials recently outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- the government group advised that adults eat about five to six ounce of protein (which could include nuts) a day.

This story was initially published on TIME.com.

 http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/21/health/nuts-longevity-time/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Zakat is central to Islam’s concept of humanity

http://www.arabnews.com/news/459928

Zakat (alms) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Its importance can be realized from the fact that in 82 verses of the Qur’an, Zakat is associated with prayer (Salah), such as: “Establish regular prayer and give Zakat; and obey Allah and His Messenger.” (Qur’an, 33:33)

If social justice and compassion to fellow humans who are disadvantaged is one of the central themes in the message of Allah to humanity, then it is no wonder that Zakat, like prayer and fasting, was also enjoined upon the people of the past messengers: “And We made them (descendants of Abraham) leaders, guiding by Our command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular Prayers and to practise Zakat; and they constantly served Us.” (Qur’an, 21:73)

The wisdom of giving ZakatIt purifies your wealth as Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: “Take alms from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it and pray for them.” (Qur’an, 9:103)It reminds Muslims of the fact that whatever wealth they may possess is due to the blessings of Allah and as such it is to be spent according to the His commands.Zakat functions as a social security for all. Those who have enough money today pay for what they have. If they need money tomorrow they will get what is necessary to help them live decently. Zakat payer pays his dues to Allah as an act of worship, a token of submission and an acknowledgment of gratitude. The receiver of Zakat receives it as a grant from Allah out of His bounty, a favor for which he is thankful to Allah.Economically, Zakat is the best check against hoarding. Those who do not invest their wealth but prefer to save or hoard it would see their wealth dwindling year after year due to inflation etc. Zakat helps increase production and stimulates supply because it is a redistribution of income that enhances the demand by putting more real purchasing power in the hands of poor.It keeps one away from sin and saves the giver from the moral ill arising from the love and greed of wealth.Through Zakat, the poor are cared for, these include widows, orphans, the disabled, the needy and the destitute.Zakat is the right of the poor. Zakat is not considered a favor that is given to the poor by the rich. It is the right of the poor on the wealth of the rich. Allah says: “(In their) wealth there is a known share for the beggars and the destitute” (Qur’an, 70:24-25)Zakat, therefore, is unlike charity that is given to the needy voluntarily. Withholding Zakat is considered depriving the poor of their due share. Thus one who pays Zakat actually “purifies” his wealth by separating from it the portion that belongs to the poor.

Virtues of ZakatAllah says in the Qur’an: “The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn. It grows seven ears and each ear has hundred grains. Allah increases manifold to whom He pleases.” (Qur’an, 2:261)The beloved Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said about Zakat:• Zakat is a (great and strong) bridge of Islam.• If a man pays the Zakat due on his property, it causes its evil influence to vanish.• Gains the pleasure of Allah.• Increases wealth and protects from losses.• Causes Allah’s forgiveness and blessings.• Protection from the wrath of Allah and from a bad death.• A shelter on the Day of Judgment.• Security from seventy misfortunes.Alqamah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when a group of people visited the Prophet (peace be upon him) he said to them, “Verily you can make your Islam perfect by your payment of the Zakat due on your property.”The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who observes three things will taste the sweetness of Iman (faith): One who worships Allah alone and believes (from his heart) that there is no one to be worshipped but Allah and one who pays the Zakat on his property, willingly, every year. In Zakaton the animals, one should not give an aged animal or one suffering from itch or any other ailment, or an inferior one, but should give animals of average quality. Allah Almighty does not demand from you the best of your animals, nor does He command you to give animals of the worst quality.”

Do I have to give Zakat?Zakat is obligatory on an adult sane Muslim who has wealth that reaches or exceeds a certain level called the nisab for a lunar year. (You may contact your local scholars about the exact amount of nisab in your local currency). Unlike tax, however, Zakat is an act of worship for which one receives reward from Allah Almighty. Ignoring to pay Zakat, on the other hand, is a major sin.How much do I have to give? If you are in possession of money, gold, silver, stock in trade or shares that amount to more than the value of nisab (at current market rates) then you are obliged to pay Zakat. What amounts are owed by you should be deducted from the capital amount before Zakat is calculated. The rate ofZakat is 2.5%.The Prophet (peace be upon him said: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e. he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it).” (Bukhari)

• Courtesy of Jamiat.org.sa

 

  ABULKALAM BIN SHAICK ABDUL KADER

Narendra Modi sued for defamation by former top cop

A retired police officer, RB Sreekumar, has sued the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for defamation.

Here are 10 facts in this story:

1. The former cop has sued Narendra Modi, BJP chief Rajnath Singh, party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi, and eminent scientist Dr S Nambi Narayanan.
2. Mr Sreekumar retired as the top cop in Gujarat in 2007.
3. He was a senior officer in the Intelligence Bureau in Kerala in 1994 when Dr S Nambi Narayanan and another scientist with the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) were arrested on espionage charges.  
4. In 1996, the CBI said they were innocent.
5. The CBI then recommended action against some of the officers who had investigated the case.
6. At a press conference last week, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that Mr Kumar was exonerated because he fabricated evidence to implicate Mr Modi in the communal riots of Gujarat in 2002.
7. At the time, Mr Kumar was the head of the Gujarat police's intelligence wing.
8. In September, Narendra Modi met Dr Nambi Narayanan in Thiruvananthapuram. The scientist has been campaigning for compensation for the nearly two months that he spent in jail, where he says he was allegedly tortured.
9. In his lawsuit, Mr Kumar says the scientist referred to him recently as a CIA agent.
10. Mr Kumar says that the BJP has damaged his reputation "by digging out an old closed case of 1994 related to espionage affecting the national interests of country".
    
     http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/narendra-modi-sued-for-defamation-by-former-top-cop-448227?h_related_also_see

US Congress resolution urges government to continue denying visa to Narendra Modi

Washington:  A bipartisan Congressional resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives calling on the US government to continue the policy of denying a visa to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the grounds of religious freedom violations.

The resolution also called on India to protect the rights and freedoms of religious minorities and asked the US government to include the matter as part of bilateral the Strategic Dialogue.

The resolution introduced by Congressmen Keith Ellison from the Democratic Party and Joe Pitts from the Republican Party and co-sponsored by over a dozen other lawmakers, calls on the State Department to continue the policy of denying Mr Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister, a US visa.

In 2005, Mr Modi was denied a diplomatic visa and his existing tourist and business visa was revoked under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes a foreign government official responsible for severe violations of religious freedom ineligible for a travel document.

"This resolution's strong bipartisan support shows that the rights of religious minorities in India are a priority for the US Congress," said Mr Ellison after introducing the resolution which has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific for necessary action. As per Congressional records, a significant majority of resolution do not go beyond the Congressional committees.

"All Indians should have the right to practice their faith freely, or to change their faith if they so choose.
India is big enough for all its citizens. Its best leaders have worked to promote unity among its diverse populations, not division," Mr Ellison said in a statement.

"The victims of events like the riots in Gujarat demand justice," said Mr Pitts.

The resolution praises India's "rich religious diversity and commitment to tolerance and equality," while raising concerns over the erosion of religious freedom.

The resolution also highlights the alleged role of Mr Modi in the 2002 violence in Gujarat.

The resolution commended the US government for exercising its authority in 2005 under the Inter-22 national Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to deny a US visa to Mr Modi on the grounds of religious freedom violations.

The resolution also commends the role of India's National Human Rights Commission and the Indian Supreme Court, which has led to some convictions in Gujarat riot cases and the arrest of a few high-level leaders in the Gujarati administration.

It urges India to increase training on human rights and religious freedom standards and practices for police and the judiciary, particularly in states with a history or likelihood of communal violence; and calls on Gujarat and other Indian states with anti-conversion laws to repeal such legislation and ensure freedom to practice, propagate, and pro-fess ones' religion as enshrined in the Indian constitution.

Urging the Government of India to empower the National Commission on Minorities with enforcement mechanisms, the resolution urges all political parties and religious organisations to publicly oppose the exploitation of religious differences and denounce harassment and violence against religious minorities, especially in the run-up to India's general elections in 2014.

 http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/us-congress-resolution-urges-government-to-continue-denying-visa-to-narendra-modi-448251?pfrom=home-topstories

Modi: Stumbling on history

By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
It is difficult to anticipate what may cause a politician to stumble. When Narendra Modi was chosen by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its prime ministerial candidate, his only disadvantage was his anti-minority image. It isn't surprising, therefore, that he has been working overtime to refurbish his reputation in this respect - short of wearing a skull cap.
It is not known whether he has succeeded. But, in the meantime, he has been ambushed by a trait which cannot be easily rectified for it is a part of his personality and background. The characteristic is his inattention to historical details.
Whether born of carelessness in the drafting of his speeches, or the outcome of his school record as an "average" student, as one of his teachers in Vadnagar testified, the flaw can divert attention from his message. However impressive his oration may be, even one "slip of the tongue", as an acolyte has explained, can spoil the overall effect.
But the problem for the BJP, as is evident from the eagerness with which his supporters in the media and elsewhere are coming to his defence, is that his mistakes are piling up.
Modi's first blunder was understandable. The erroneous claim that Nehru did not attend Sardar Patel's funeral was palpably motivated by his zeal to paint the first prime minister in darker hues than what history portrays, presumably because, according to Modi, he had usurped the Iron Man's rightful place in that office.
But this was not the only occasion when Modi played fast and loose with history. His mixing up of two towering personalities of ancient India - Chandragupta Maurya and Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty - showed that he was out of his depth where knowledge of the past was concerned.
This deficiency was substantiated by his assertion that Alexander was stopped by the Ganga. Considering that every schoolboy knows that the Macedonian conqueror met his match in Porus in Punjab, which is far away from the Ganga, the faux pas was inexcusable. As was the placing of two centres of learning a thousand miles apart - Taxila in the northwest of the sub-continent and Nalanda in Bihar - in close proximity to one another.
But perhaps Modi's most disturbing howler was telling a public meeting that Shyama Prasad Mukherjee died abroad when he meant Shyamji Krishna Varma, a Gujarati freedom fighter who is not very well known outside the state.
The memory lapse was curious since Modi had gone abroad in 2003 to bring back Varma's ashes and dedicated a memorial to him in 2010. Although he later apologized for his mistake, the mental confusion over the two names is odd since there is nothing common between them except the word "Shyam".
Besides, as the founder of the Jana Sangh (the BJP's predecessor), Mukherjee had a major presence in saffron history and his name cannot easily be substituted with someone else's, especially by a person who began his political life at an early age as a pracharak (preacher) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). As a Congress spokesman pointed out, it is like confusing between Jawaharlal Nehru and Arun Nehru.
That the BJP is worried by these blunders is evident from the decision to deploy what has been described as "in-house historians" to vet the draft of Modi's speech before his next major public engagement in Bengaluru. The party is obviously concerned that having built up Modi as a larger-than-life figure, it doesn't want to expose his feet of clay.
Its worries are probably all the greater because having tried to portray Rahul Gandhi as "Pappu", or an immature youth, mainly through the saffron elements in the cyber world, a smearing of Modi's image because of his inadequate acquaintance with history can be politically damaging since it will undermine the he-man's image among the intelligentsia.
As it is, the Hindutva lobby's version of history is quite different from what is commonly accepted in the academic world - even if the saffronites dismiss it as a secular distortion.
However, an understanding of how the saffron brigade sees the main trends of Indian history can be gauged from the following passage circulating in the Internet. It says: "what a pathetic country we are.. just ready to get screwed first by moghuls.. then brits.. then both.. then now another foreigner who has no interest in the country and then another half foreigner...come on folks...wake up..."
This inanity is not very different from Modi's gaffes or Murli Manohar Joshi's attempt to rewrite history, when he was the human resource development minister, by describing the Indus Valley Civilization (3300 to 1300 B.C.) as Vedic to assert that India is the homeland of Aryans, unlike the claim in the "secular" version that they came from Iran in 1500 B.C.
But there is a slight difference.
The execrable taste displayed by the netizen can be said to have been replicated by Modi when he said - rather tastelessly - that in view of Sonia Gandhi's "illness" (she is reported to have had cancer), she should make way for the shehzada (prince), or Rahul. Not only should Modi take lessons in history but also in good manners.
(Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at amulyaganguli@gmail.com)

 http://twocircles.net/2013nov16/modi_stumbling_history.html

Amnesty International: Qatar failing to enforce its labor laws

Amnesty International, with its new report on labor conditions in Qatar, is not the first group to accuse the emirate of failing to protect workers’ rights. But the report released Sunday offers a more detailed account of conditions that some have called abusive.
Amnesty International said many of the approximately 1.4 million migrant workers helping build infrastructure in Qatar’s booming economy are being denied such basic rights as adequate pay, comfortable sleeping quarters and the ability to change employers or even leave the country. Qatari authorities promised, after allegations over labor conditions were published last month, to assign more inspectors to ensure that international standards are observed. Qatar appointed an international law firm to investigate allegations of forced labor.
But critics say little has changed despite these undertakings.
Labor conditions in Qatar have been in the international spotlight since the country was tapped two years ago to host soccer’s 2022 FIFA World Cup — an endeavor that will require the construction of new stadiums and supporting infrastructure at a cost of approximately $220 billion. Construction projects include everything from a new airport to hotels capable of accommodating some 90,000 tourists expected to visit during the tournament. And that building boom has brought a rapid influx of migrant workers, particularly from South and Southeast Asia. Such migrants make up 94 percent of the country’s workforce, according to Amnesty International.
The influx of migrant workers and concerns raised in media reports have prompted several rights groups and the United Nations to call on Doha to radically change the legal structure under which foreigners in Qatar live. And while Qatar has acknowledged some of the problems and promised to address them, the new Amnesty report suggests little has changed on the ground thus far.
“The government states in meetings with us and publicly that it wants to protect workers, (and) there are some laws in place that should protect workers, but the fact is that those laws are not properly enforced by the government,” said a video statement from James Lynch, a researcher with Amnesty International. “The government can talk about protecting workers, but we need to see action, and that means reform and enforcement of laws.”
Amnesty’s report suggests migrants are made more vulnerable by Qatar’s “kefala” system, which requires that workers be sponsored by their employers in order to stay in the country. It leaves them facing deportation if they leave the employ of their sponsor.
Foreign workers are not allowed to unionize, making it hard for them to protest their employment conditions. The report also argues that the worker protections that exist are routinely flouted by private employers amid lax government enforcement.
In interviews with about 300 workers in Qatar, the human-rights group heard claims that before they arrived in the country, many migrants had been promised higher wages than they were paid once on the job. Migrant laborers in Qatar often make less than $200 a month.
The report also alleged that workers are frequently housed in substandard conditions, with several bunk beds crammed into each room of sprawling worker camps — a practice the Qatari government says is illegal.
International organizations have accused Qatari authorities of downplaying the extent of the problem. After the release of a critical report on labor conditions in the emirate from the Building and Wood Workers International last month, Qatar’s undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor, Hussain al-Mulla, said that “companies are complying with (Qatari labor) law ... (I) cannot say 100 percent, but at least 99 percent of businesses are … Once any complaint is raised by a worker, the laws governing the issue are put to application. The law is fully enforced.”
Pressure over labor conditions in Qatar is directed not only at Doha but also at FIFA, soccer’s global governing body. After a September investigation by The Guardian into the deaths of Nepalese migrants working in the emirate, FIFA — like the Qatari government — promised to investigate, but critics suggest that nothing has been done so far.
“FIFA holds a very important power, and that is to award one of the world’s most significant sporting events,” said Tim Noonan, the director of campaigns for the International Trade Union Confederation. “FIFA has to give a very strong message to Qatar ... Its brand and reputation are at stake.”
Qatar’s labor practices seem less controversial among Qataris. For example, a Qatar University survey cited by the New York Times found that 90 percent of Qatari citizens favored the “kefala” sponsorship system. But with half a million more migrant workers expected to enter the country in the next year, international rights organizations are likely to keep a spotlight on Qatar’s labor conditions.

 http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/11/17/amnesty-internationalqatarfailingtoenforceitsownlawslaborlaws.html