Forum Topics

Primary tabs

India in new anti-Maoist strategy

published by You on 9 October, 2009 - 14:33

he Indian government has agreed on a new tactic to fight Maoists who are operating in several states.

Officials say state police are to take the lead in co-ordinating operations against the Maoists, while central forces are only to lend assistance.

The decision came hours after at least 17 policemen were killed in a battle with Maoist insurgents in the western state of Maharashtra.

India says that Maoist insurgents pose its biggest security threat.

They operate in many states and say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless.

Remanded

Maoists have a presence in over 223 of India's 600-odd districts across 20 states, according to the government.

One in four people is Muslim, says study

published by You on 8 October, 2009 - 21:24

World Muslim population estimated to be 1.57 billion

Islam may be most closely associated with the Middle East, where it emerged in Arabia in the seventh century, but today the region is home to only one in five of the world's Muslims, according to a study of the religion's global distribution.

The world's Muslim population stands at 1.57 billion, meaning that nearly one in four people practise Islam, according to the US Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which published the survey. This compares to 2.25 billion Christians.

Rape: Polanski and the burqa

published by You on 7 October, 2009 - 21:39

The French decades-long hospitality to confessed child rapist Roman Polanski, especially when held up next to Sarkozy’s nasal exegesis of the burqa, drips with pretense and hypocrisy. Likewise for the Hollywood elite who have come out in support of him.

By Ibrahim Abusharif, October 7, 2009

No escape

Dollar falls on oil plan report

published by You on 7 October, 2009 - 02:11

he dollar has fallen following a report that Gulf states are in secret talks to replace the greenback as the main currency for the trading of oil.

Nations including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were speaking to Russia, China, Japan and France, said the UK's Independent newspaper.

However, Saudi Arabia subsequently said the report was "absolutely inaccurate".

It caused the euro to rise 0.4% against the dollar to $1.47040. The pound also rose, by 0.4%, before falling back.

The pound reached $1.5991 before dropping back to $1.58920.

Read more @ BBC News

Why are black people turning to Islam?

published by You on 7 October, 2009 - 00:24

Black conversion or "reversion" to Islam is not new; it has been taking place in the African diaspora since time immemorial. However, I looked deeper into the phenomenon to find out why a growing number of Black Britons, especially younger ones, are embracing Islam. Although I am not a Muslim, I have always been interested in Islam – three of my all-time heroes, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X and Jamaican singer Prince Buster were Muslim converts, and I was intrigued by the way Islam inspired all three to transcend their respective vocations to become icons.

Yoplait Yop yogurt drink - HARAAAAAMMMM!!!!!!?

published by You on 6 October, 2009 - 17:14

From You to Yop:

Hi there,

I was wondering about the ingredients of the Yop yogurt drinks, specifically the strawberry flavour.

I have seen it listed online as "suitable for vegetarians" but on the bottle it says that it contains cochineal.

I am a muslim and am wondering if this is suitable for consumtion under islamic dietary laws, so as much information as possible would be much appreciated.

Thanks

and from Yop to You:

Dear You

Thank you for contacting Yoplait.

In September, the recipe and packaging of Yop was changed - the artificial colour additives (E122, E124, E151) were removed and replaced with natural colours. This change unfortunately means the product is no longer suitable for vegetarians.

Race to help India flood stranded

published by You on 5 October, 2009 - 20:53

A massive rescue and relief operation is under way in southern India after severe flooding left about 250 people dead and millions without homes.

More than 350 villages are still marooned after five days of heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states.

Rainfall has eased in the worst affected state of Karnataka but many farms have been destroyed.

The rains have come late. Only last week the government said India had been hit by the worst drought in 40 years.

Indian air force aircraft are being used to drop relief materials to the hundreds of thousands of villagers stranded by rising flood waters.

Soldiers have been trying to reach those affected in boats.

'No shelter'

Israel minister feared UK arrest

published by You on 5 October, 2009 - 15:21

Israeli minister and former military chief Moshe Yaalon cancelled a UK visit because of fears of arrest for alleged war crimes, his office says.

Pro-Palestinian groups in Britain want him to face trial over the 2002 killing of a Gaza militant, in which 14 others died, at least eight of them children.

Mr Yaalon took legal advice and wanted "to avoid playing into the hands of anti-Israel propaganda", an aide said.

A similar attempt last week failed to get Israel's defence minister arrested.

Mr Yaalon, who is vice prime minister and strategic affairs minister, had been invited to attend a charity dinner held by the Jewish National Fund's UK branch.

But his spokesman, Alon Ofek-Arnon, confirmed that the foreign ministry's legal team had advised against it.

Egypt cleric 'to ban full veils'

published by You on 5 October, 2009 - 15:15

Egypt's highest Muslim authority has said he will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women's veils, known as the niqab.

Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi, dean of al-Azhar university, called full-face veiling a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith.

Although most Muslim women in Egypt wear the Islamic headscarf, increasing numbers are adopting the niqab as well.

Th

e practice is widely associated with more radical trends of Islam.

The niqab question reportedly arose when Sheikh Tantawi was visiting a girls' school in Cairo at the weekend and asked one of the students to remove her niqab.

The burqa boxers are coming

published by You on 5 October, 2009 - 00:03

Muslim women boxers to wear hijab at 2012 Olympics

THE burqa boxers are coming. Young women are training in Afghanistan to fight in Islamic dress at the 2012 London Olympics.

Wearing hijabs beneath their headguards and clothes that cover their bodies, 25 female pugilists are preparing for their bouts in gruelling training sessions at Kabul’s Olympic stadium, once the scene of public executions by the Taliban.

The team, whose ages range from 14-25, were recruited by their coach, Fadir Sharify, a former professional boxer. He persuaded the girls’ families that it would not be inappropriate for them to take to the ring.

The 2012 summer Games will be the first time women have been allowed to box under the Olympic banner.

Pages