Current Affairs

 

Hysteria over Jeremy Corbyn

The Telegraph's attempted smear of Jeremy Corbyn

It has now been a few weeks since Jeremy Corbyn has been elected as the leader if the Labour Party.

I thought he was a decent person and after initially being underwhelmed by the candidates in the leadership election, I eventually got behind him and even paid to vote. (I am still debating whether to join the Labour Party though, asany of his parliamentary colleagues are off putting.)

As a non establishment figure, he has been faced with hostility from the governing party, his own party and the press.

Russia joins the Assault on ISIS.

Syrian Flag

Russia has loudly entered the Syrian conflict, declaring its war on ISIS.

ISIS, the same bogeyman the western governments want us to be terrified of while ignore the butchery committed by Bashar al Assad.

This intervention has arrived at an opportune moment with the West wavering on who and where they want to fight and Turkey being in a state of flux due to inconclusive elections in June that have left the country in a situation where we are still waiting to see who holds the balance of power.

The Russian intervention could be a game changer, or it could simply only slow the collapse of teh Assad Regime.

The one thing the Russian intervention "against ISIS" has not done, is to actually attack ISIS.

Cruel Britannia

Two Child Syrian Refugees

Anyone watching the news will have heard that there is a refugee crisis going on.

The coverage of the refugees has certainly softened over time, from describing them as vermin to swarms, to now describing them as migrants.

While this is still not accurate, it be better than the earlier coverage.

News has mostly turned to the stance taken in relation to refugees by Germany and Hungary.

Eastern European Hostility

The Hungarian Prime Minister has declared himself as the protector of Europe from the scurge of Islam (conveniently forgetting where some refugees from Hungary went during the time of the Ottoman Empire). He does not want any refugees in his country and considers the refugees as a German problem.

A solution for the refugees?

Naguib Sawiris

An Egyptian Telecoms billionaire has proposed buying a Mediterranean island to shelter refugees fleeing from Syria and other countries. 

Naguib Sawiris, who is believed to be worth $2.9billion, announced his idea on Twitter this week. 

He tweeted: “Greece or Italy sell me an island, I’ll call its independence and host the migrants and provide jobs for them building their new country.”

He added: “Crazy idea… Maybe but at least temporary until they can return to their countries??!!” 

Speaking to AFP later, he said: “Of course it’s feasible. You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees.” 

Re Issue of an article by The Slogg [ref Saudi-Yemen]

  Link to full article

Since last Wednesday, crude oil prices have been rising until the global median reached $45.Tanks need oil, and now that the Saudis have invaded North Yemen – seizing control of two areas in the Saada province – demand may go up. Really? Enough to evoke a 5-bucks rise? The rationale for the invasion is the Saudi need to counter growing retaliatory attacks by Yemeni forces on Saudi soil. Um, just run that past me again: ‘to counter growing retaliatory attacks’? Always get your retaliation in first, that’s what I say.

Fate of the Rohingya at sea

Rohingya on a Boat

Similar to the EU washing its hands off the refugees trying to cross from Libya into the relative safety of Europe. a similar but worse fate is facing the Rohingya.

It has now been a few years since the oppression of the Rohingya has come to the fore - from around the time the brutal military regime controling Myanmar "democratised", The Rohingya are the current bogeymen of Myanmar.

They have been persecuted, robbed of their rights and are not considered citizens of the country despite their presence being traced back to these locations for atleast a thousand years.

Our responsibility to Libya

Map showing Libya

Today another tragedy is in the news - - estimated at upto 700 - have drowned to death when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean sea.

These people were escaping the chaos of Libya trying to get to the stability of Europe. This is not the first such incident, but many Libyans have made the calculation tha the situation in Libya is so dangerous, these risks are worth taking.

The news reports will treat this latest even as a tragedy, but those who read about it won't get a sense of what is happening or our responsibility.

The war in Yemen

Yemen

Yemen
Yemen
Author: 
Helen Lackner

International media talk constantly of Huthi forces, but in reality the main military force in Yemen is now that of ex-president Saleh who, wherever he is, is doing what he promised: destroying as much as he possibly can.

The war which has now started is what many of us feared for so long and hoped, against all rational thinking, would be avoided. And this time, let us not fool ourselves with misguided optimism, this will be long and as awful as any war can be. While political and even military internal struggles are hardly a novelty in Yemen, the new element is that the conflict has now added a major layer of international ‘proxy’ features which will only worsen the situation, making it reminiscent of the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s-80s. 

The legacy of a good Muslim

Deah, Yusur and Razan - three young Muslims killed in America

Last Ramadan was the first time I understood the beauty of being a good Muslim and its affects after death. There are people who work to leave a legacy but I think being a good Muslim alone can create that legacy.

A good Muslim will always continue to be remembered and will inspire others with their good character; by their loved ones but even possibly complete strangers. I’ve learnt enough about my grandparents and other deceased members of my family to know the former is true. The latter is what I learnt last Ramadan.

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