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Direct air route links China's Chengdu, Uzbekistan's Tashkent
China.dot.org
CHENGDU, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight was launched Friday between Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The air route is run by Zhejiang
Roundup: Direct air route links China's Chengdu, Uzbekistan's Tashkent
TASHKENT, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight was launched Friday between Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Tashkent, the capital of...
China.dot.org 2020-01-11
Direct air route to reopen, linking China's Jinan, Tokyo
JINAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route will be reopened after four years' suspension of air service, linking Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province,...
Direct air route links China's Xining, Thailand's Phuket
XINING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight was launched Wednesday between Xining, capital of southwest China's Qinghai Province, and Thailand's largest island Phuket....
1st LD-Writethru: New air route links China's island province, Myanmar
HAIKOU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air route is set to be launched later Tuesday between Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, and Myanmar's Rangoon. The...
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Direct flight links Haikou, Myanmar\'s Rangoon
HAIKOU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air route is set to be launched later Tuesday between Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, and Myanmar's Rangoon. The flight is the second direct route linking Hainan with Myanmar. The air route is operated by China's Jiuyuan...
New air route links China\'s island province, Myanmar
HAIKOU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air route is set to be launched later Tuesday between Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, and Myanmar's Rangoon. The flight is the second direct route linking Hainan with Myanmar. The air route is operated by China's Jiuyuan Airlines, with three round trips scheduled every week. The outbound flight AQ1133 will leave Haikou...
Direct flight links China\'s Yiwu, Russia\'s Vladivostok
HANGZHOU, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A new direct flight has been launched between Yiwu, a major small commodity hub in eastern China, and Vladivostok, a transportation hub in Russia's Far East region. The route was operated by China's 9 Air with three round-trip flights every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. On Monday, the outbound flight departs Yiwu at 10:10 a.m. Beijing time...
China\'s Chengdu sees 4,600 trips by China-Europe freight trains
CHENGDU, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, has seen over 4,600 accumulative trips made by China-Europe freight trains since the Chengdu route was launched in 2013, according to the train operator. The route has served more than 20 billion U.S. dollars of foreign...
China Eastern Airlines launches Xi\'an-Budapest, Chengdu-Budapest direct flights
BUDAPEST, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- China Eastern Airlines announced here at a press conference on Thursday it had opened two new direct flights linking Chinese cities and Hungary's capital city Budapest at the end of last year. The Xi'an-Budapest and the Chengdu-Budapest direct flights began its service on Dec. 30 of 2019, according to Qiu Jie, general manager of Prague and Budapest...
New flight links Fuzhou, Japan
FUZHOU, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A new air route was launched on Tuesday linking Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, and Sapporo in Japan. The air route, operated by XiamenAir, a carrier mainly owned by China Southern Airlines,...
Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin - China (Video Oficial)
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Real Hasta la Muerte presenta a Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin en \"China\". Escucha y descarga: https://anuel.lnk.to/China Produced by: Tainy #RealHastaLaMuerte #AnuelAA #China Redes Sociales https://www.facebook.com/Anuel2bleAofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/anuel_2blea https://www.anuelaa.com Visita Nuestro Portal Web http://LatidoMusic.com...
The deadly coronavirus that took nine victims in China has now been discovered inside the U.S. after a Washington state resident in his 30s recently returned from the epicenter of the outbreak, Wuhan. Carter Evans is in Everett, Washington, where the man is quarantined in a hospital. Watch \"CBS This Morning\" HERE: http://bit.ly/1T88yAR Download the CBS News app on iOS HERE: https://apple.co/1tRNnUy Download the CBS News app on Android HERE: https://bit.ly/1IcphuX Like \"CBS This Morning\" on Facebook HERE: http://on.fb.me/1LhtdvI Follow \"CBS This Morning\" on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Xj5W3p Follow \"CBS This Morning\" on Instagram HERE: http://bit.ly/1Q7NGnY Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B Each weekday morning, \"CBS This Morning\" co-hosts Gayle King, Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil deliver two hours of original reporting, breaking news and top-level newsmaker interviews in an engaging and informative format that challenges the norm in network morning news programs. The broadcast has earned a prestigious Peabody Award, a Polk Award, four News & Documentary Emmys, three Daytime Emmys and the 2017 Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast. The broadcast was also honored with an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award as part of CBS News division-wide coverage of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Check local listings for \"CBS This Morning\" broadcast times....
CNN\'s David Culver reports from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, where the city has set up stricter measures to stop the virus from spreading. #CNN #News...
Chinese authorities have urged people to stop travelling in and out of Wuhan, the city at the centre of a new virus outbreak that has killed nine. Those living in the city of 8.9 million people have also been told to avoid crowds and minimise public gatherings. The new virus has spread from Wuhan to several Chinese provinces, as well as the US, Thailand and South Korea. There are 440 confirmed cases, with the origin a seafood market that \"conducted illegal transactions of wild animals\". \"Basically, do not go to Wuhan. And those in Wuhan please do not leave the city,\" said National Health Commission vice-minister Li Bin in one of the first public briefings since the beginning of the outbreak. Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog...
THE killer coronavirus that\'s sweeping through China is \"as deadly as Spanish flu, which killed 50 million people\", experts today warned. Nine people have died and cases have soared by more than 100 in the last 24 hours, reaching 440, Chinese authorities confirmed. British experts have today warned the true number of cases is more likely to range from 1,000 to 10,000. Professor Neil Ferguson, an expert in mathematical biology at Imperial College London told reporters in London the death rate for the new strain of coronavirus is \"roughly the same as for The Spanish flu epidemic, at around one in 50\". The 1918 outbreak is the most severe pandemic in recent history, wiping out an estimated 50 million people across the world. Prof Ferguson warned of \"more deaths to come\" as fellow experts said the outbreak has reached the threshold for an international public health emergency - ahead of today\'s World Health Organization meeting on the issue. Deputy Director of the National Health Commission Li Bin said that all deaths had been in the Hubei province, home to Wuhan city where the first illnesses from coronavirus were reported in late December. The 440 cases were confirmed as of midnight and have been reported across 13 areas of China. Officials are considering putting Wuhan - a city of 11 million, a larger population than London - on lockdown, with people being told to stop travelling and to avoid crowds. It comes at one of the busiest times of the year in China as people prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year holidays. Read more here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1...
Scientists have identified a new coronavirus, which has infected more than two hundred people since the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China. CNN\'s Kristie Lu Stout reports on the origins of the mysterious SARS-like virus and the scientific race to control it. #CNN #News...
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for free here: https://sc.mp/subscribe-youtube China has confirmed that person-to-person transmission is possible with a newly identified coronavirus emerging from the city of Wuhan in the central province of Hubei. As of January 22, 2020, at least nine deaths were blamed on the virus, and cases were being reported in other parts of Asia and as far away as the US, pushing health authorities in China and around the world to step up their efforts to contain the infection. Full story: https://sc.mp/7e426 Follow us on: Website: https://scmp.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/scmp Twitter: https://twitter.com/scmpnews Instagram: https://instagram.com/scmpnews Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/south-china-morning-post/...
Jan.21 -- China is trying to contain a deadly lung illness that has spread to the U.S. There are now 291 known cases of the respiratory virus. It was first detected in the Wuhan province in December. Six deaths have now been reported, and cases have been found in at least five other countries....
➥ Citeşte articolul integral - https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/virusul-gripal-din-china-a-alarmat-omenirea-oms-vrea-sa-declare-zurgenta-internationala.html Organizația Mondială a Sănătății ia în considerare declararea "urgenței internaționale", după ce autorităţile din China, au anunţat că noul virus gripal descoperit acolo se transmite de la om la om. ➥ Pentru mai multe știri vizitează site-ul Știrile PRO TV - https://stirileprotv.ro/ ➥ Abonează-te la canalul nostru de YouTube - http://bit.ly/StirilePROTVSubscribe ********************************** ➥PRO TV Plus: https://protvplus.ro/ ➥Stirile PRO TV: https://www.stirileprotv.ro/ *********************************** ➥Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StirileProTV/ ➥Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stirileprotvro/?hl=en *********************************** Stirile ProTv reprezinta cel mai urmarit program de stiri din Romania. Pe site-ul oficial, www.stirileprotv.ro, puteti afla tot ce se petrece in Romania, dar si in lume. In fiecare zi, cele mai importante evenimente, transmisiuni LIVE, analize, anchete si reportaje sunt la Stirile ProTV si www.stirileprotv.ro...
The outbreak has spread from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, to cities including Beijing and Shanghai. The virus is said to have originated at a seafood market in Hubei province. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB Sky News videos are now available in Spanish here/Los video de Sky News están disponibles en español aquí https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzG5BnqHO8oNlrPDW9CYJog...
Real Hasta la Muerte presenta a Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna & J Balvin en \"China\". Escucha y descarga: https://anuel.lnk.to/China Produced by: Tainy #RealHastaLaMuerte #AnuelAA #China Redes Sociales https://www.facebook.com/Anuel2bleAofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/
The deadly coronavirus that took nine victims in China has now been discovered inside the U.S. after a Washington state resident in his 30s recently returned from the epicenter of the outbreak, Wuhan. Carter Evans is in Everett, Washington, where the man is quarantined in a hospital. Watch \"CBS Thi
CNN\'s David Culver reports from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak, where the city has set up stricter measures to stop the virus from spreading. #CNN #News
Chinese authorities have urged people to stop travelling in and out of Wuhan, the city at the centre of a new virus outbreak that has killed nine. Those living in the city of 8.9 million people have also been told to avoid crowds and minimise public gatherings. The new virus has spread from Wuhan
THE killer coronavirus that\'s sweeping through China is \"as deadly as Spanish flu, which killed 50 million people\", experts today warned. Nine people have died and cases have soared by more than 100 in the last 24 hours, reaching 440, Chinese authorities confirmed. British experts have today warne
Scientists have identified a new coronavirus, which has infected more than two hundred people since the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China. CNN\'s Kristie Lu Stout reports on the origins of the mysterious SARS-like virus and the scientific race to control it. #CNN #News
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for free here: https://sc.mp/subscribe-youtube China has confirmed that person-to-person transmission is possible with a newly identified coronavirus emerging from the city of Wuhan in the central province of Hubei. As of January 22, 2020, at least nine deaths were
Jan.21 -- China is trying to contain a deadly lung illness that has spread to the U.S. There are now 291 known cases of the respiratory virus. It was first detected in the Wuhan province in December. Six deaths have now been reported, and cases have been found in at least five other countries.
➥ Citeşte articolul integral - https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/virusul-gripal-din-china-a-alarmat-omenirea-oms-vrea-sa-declare-zurgenta-internationala.html Organizația Mondială a Sănătății ia în considerare declararea "urgenței internaționale", după ce autorităţile din China, au anunţat
The outbreak has spread from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, to cities including Beijing and Shanghai. The virus is said to have originated at a seafood market in Hubei province. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews Follow us on Twitter: https://twi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors
By Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
Dijbouti, September 11, 2017
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Service members of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier participate in the ruck march portion of the Joint Warrior Competition, Djibouti, Sep. 9, 2017. The grueling course traversed the camp and a nearby Djiboutian beach, looping down and back to accommodate a 7-km run, 600-meter swim and 7-km ruck march. The event was an opportunity for participants to appreciate the joint military force, showcase teamwork and remember 9/11. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Service members of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier participate in the swim portion of the Joint Warrior Competition, Djibouti, Sep. 9, 2017. The swim occurred after the 7-km ruck march event and was followed by a run, pullups, pushups, squats, sit-ups, ammunition-can carry and high crawl before sprinting to the finish line. The event was an opportunity for participants to appreciate the joint military force, showcase teamwork and remember 9/11. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Service members of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier participate in the run portion of the Joint Warrior Competition Sep. 9, 2017. For this event, the primary sponsoring organization – CJTF-HOA – challenged teams to be composed of varied military branches to express the significance of the joint environment here. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Service members of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier participate in the ammunition-can carry portion of the Joint Warrior Competition, Djibouti, Sep. 9, 2017. Beforehand, competitors endured a 7-km run, 600-meter swim, 7-km ruck march, and pull-ups. The event was an opportunity for participants to appreciate the joint military force, showcase teamwork and remember 9/11. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Service members of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa and Camp Lemonnier participate in the sit-up portion of the Joint Warrior Competition Sep. 9, 2017. Before the sit-ups, competitors endured a 7-km run, 600-meter swim and 7-km ruck march. The event was an opportunity for participants to appreciate the joint military force, showcase teamwork and remember 9/11. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors A service member of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa sprints to the finish of the Joint Warrior Competition, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sep. 9, 2017. Beforehand, competitors endured a 7-km run, 600-meter swim, 7-km ruck march, pull-ups, sit-ups, air squats, hand-release push-ups, and high crawl. The event was an opportunity for participants to appreciate the joint military force, showcase teamwork and remember 9/11. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
CJTF-HOA 9/11 remembrance competition strengthens bodies, bonds of joint-branch warriors Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, members volunteer to weigh ruck sacks of competitors in the Joint Warrior Competition, Djibouti, Sep. 9, 2017. In its third juncture, competitors joined in a grueling collaboration of feats to symbolize the joint military force, showcase teamwork and serve as a 9/11 remembrance. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andria Allmond)
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier and tenant units shed blood, sweat and tears during the Joint Warrior Competition here, Sept. 9.
For the third year in this CJTF-HOA-hosted event, competitors joined in a grueling collaboration of feats to symbolize the joint military force, showcase teamwork and serve as a 9/11 remembrance.
"9/11 is why we're here today; that's where this Camp came from and all the missions that this Camp supports," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Howard Purcell, CJTF-HOA deputy commanding general. "Here we stand, on the shoulders of the heroes of that day, taking the fight directly to the enemy. That fight requires commitment and that commitment is reflected in this competition – a commitment of strength, endurance and mental toughness."
The grueling course traversed the camp and a nearby beach, looping down and back to accommodate a 7-km run, 600-meter swim and 7-km ruck march. Afterward, warriors participated in the following actions of strength and endurance: pullups, pushups, squats, sit-ups, ammunition-can carry and high crawl before sprinting to the finish line.
Although many fitness events take place here, this iteration of the Joint Warrior Competition possessed a modification from previous iterations. This time, CJTF-HOA challenged teams to be composed of varied military branches to express the significance of the joint environment here.
"It's an opportunity to take part in an event that allows you to operate with fellow service members that you might have never have worked with before," said U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Scott Hart, CJTF-HOA Joint Operations Center senior enlisted leader and a primary point of contact for the event. "And in doing this, it improves the joint force in all aspects: work environment, physical conditioning and perception."
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Michael Galley, also a primary point of contact for the Joint Warrior Competition, said a joint team allows the specialties of the members within those service branches to be showcased.
And while some service members competed as individuals, according to Hart and Galley, another important dynamic of this event was teamwork. Teams were configured in either four-person squads or two-person units. The team cohesion provided a dynamic element to the punishing contest.
"We were able to go through this together as a team, motivating each other, keeping each other going and remaining positive even when it was a strain," said competitor of an all-female, joint-branch team U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Crystal Velasquez, CJTF-HOA 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion senior enlisted medical advisor.
The Joint Warrior Competition, formerly held in March, was changed to September this year so the event could serve as a 9/11 observance for CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonnier personnel. Hart echoed Purcell's statement.
"We want to remember Sept. 11, since due to the events of that day, we have CJTF-HOA," said Hart. "Maybe remembering the events of that day will help to inspire our participants when they have to call upon mental toughness to get through."
In the end, the event reinforced the core belief in CJTF-HOA, that joint partnerships and strong relationships are necessary to successfully neutralize violent extremist organizations.
"I hope everyone who participates in this takes from this the idea that everybody here has one goal, as one team, to finish - a mission, a project, a competition," said Galley.
Camp Lemonnier Marines CJTF-HOA Africa Army Horn of Africa Airmen Teamwork Sailors Soldiers Joint Warrior Competition 9/11 Remembrance
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier and tenant units shed blood, sweat and tears during the Joint Warrior Competition here, Sept. 9.
State, Defense department officials focus on East Africa security
U.S. Embassy representatives from eight East African nations joined military leaders from U.S. Africa Command and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier Jan. 24, for the 2017 East Africa Security Synchronization Conference.
Incoming EARF completes validation, demonstrates crisis response capability
Within hours of being notified, CJTF-HOA's East Africa Response Force prepared dozens of Soldiers and tons of supplies for takeoff during an emergency response exercise, validating the EARF's rapid response capabilities.


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UK scientists get their 'rocks off' with new underground observatories
1st August 2019 1st August 2019 Thomas Barrett
Scientists have launched a 'world's first' open data source of underground observatories aimed at putting scientific evidence 'into the heart' of decision making on the natural environment.
The British Geological Survey (BGS), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and researchers from 20 leading earth science institutes have joined forces to provide data, information and knowledge on the rocks beneath our feet.
The data will come from UK Geoenergy Observatories which will be more than 100 boreholes in three different UK locations: Cardiff, Cheshire and Glasgow.
Each observatory is monitoring a unique geological environment affected by a range of past, present and potential industrial activities.
Scientists believe the observatories will set the standard for environmental monitoring and empower society to make evidence-based decisions on the ever-increasing pressures on the underground, whether that's around using rocks to store excess carbon emissions from the atmosphere or using geothermal energy to heat us.
Prof Mike Stephenson, executive chief scientist for decarbonisation at the BGS, said: 'Many of the solutions to decarbonisation, climate change and environmental management lie beneath our feet. We're creating world-class observatories to monitor this environment and we have set out to make as much of the data from them freely and openly accessible to the UK public.
'The UK Geoenergy Observatories have been designed so any scientist or research team working in this area can access the data. We hope this will lead to exciting new international science collaborations and the speeding up of the accumulation of knowledge.'
The observatory in Cardiff is looking at the shallow geothermal environment below the city's famous former docklands. Inherited from the Cardiff Harbour Authority, the BGS has repurposed the boreholes to install some 100 sensors looking at the temperature, biology and chemistry of the groundwater.
Cheshire West and Chester Council recently approved (July 2) the observatory for Cheshire. The seismic and groundwater monitoring network comprises 1800 sensors capable of generating millions of terabytes of data over a 15-year-period.
The network will be so sensitive it will be able to pick up earth movements from the other side of the world.
The observatory in Glasgow is currently being drilled and comprises 12 boreholes across a 4 km² area to characterise the mine workings below Glasgow, which could potentially be a source of sustainable geothermal heat.
UK Geoenergy Observatories data is being made available at www.ukgeos.ac.uk
Photo Credit – UK Geoenergy Observatories
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New Homes in Naples That Are Unique From Other Homes For Sale ? Then you are looking for Marbella Isles, by GL Homes, with a wide selection of new construction homes to select from – beginning at 1,086 sq.ft. to over 4,000 sq.ft. with 3 to 6 bedrooms, 2 to 4 baths, and a 2 or 3 car garage. At Marbella Isles you will have incredible resort-style amenities for the entire family- a clubhouse with fully equipped fitness center, game room, resort style pool, tennis courts, bocce court and more - come and realize your dreams of living in the natural beauty of Naples, Florida.
Marbella Isles Naples Florida is Close to All of Naples Word-Famous Amenities- World-Class Shopping, Gourmet Dining, Casual Dining, Miles & Miles of Lovely White Sand Beaches, Cultural Activities, Fantastic Golf– everything that makes your lifestyle uniquely yours.


Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa is honoured to be the winner of a wide range of awards and recognitions, on both national and international levels. These awards reflect our ongoing efforts and passion for what we do.
We always strive to be the best resort in the Maldives and to provide an unforgettable experience for all our guests at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa.
Hideaway Spa won 2019 Global Luxury Hotel & Spa Awards by LUX Life Magazine as Luxury Beach Resort & Spa of the Year 2019 in the Maldives.
Hideaway Spa won 2019 Luxury Spa Awards for the category Best for Romance, Regional Winner.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa won the Booking.com Guest Review Awards 2018, with a score of 9.2 out of 10.
Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa won the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2018 in the category 'Luxury Island Resort', Regional Winner.
Hideaway won the Luxury Travel Guide (LTG) Awards 2018 as Private Luxury Hotel of the Year in the Maldives.
Samsara Asian Fusion Restaurant won World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2018 for the category 'Asian Fusion' in the Maldives.
Samsara Asian Fusion Restaurant won World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2018 for the category 'Luxury Waterside Restaurant' in the Indian Ocean.
Hideaway won the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards 2018 as Best Island Resort in the Maldives.
Hideaway won the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards 2018 as Best Pool Villa Resort in the Maldives.
Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa won the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017 in the category 'Luxury Villa Resort', Country Winner.
Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa won the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017 in the category 'Luxury Island Resort', Regional Winner.
Hideaway Spa won the World Luxury Spa Awards 2017 in the category 'Luxury Beauty Spa', Country Winner.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa won 2017 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence as Best for Couples.
Samsara Asian Fusion Restaurant won World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2017 for the category 'Asian Cuisine' in the Indian Ocean.
Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa was rewarded by Luxury Travel Guide Asia and Australasia Awards 2017 with the Grand Luxury Resort Award and Editor's Choice, Continental Winner.
Haolvto International rated Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa as 5-star Resort of 2017.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa won the Leisure Travel Guide Awards (LTG) 2017 as Luxury Resort of the Year.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa won the Reader's Travel Award 2017 by VIP International Traveller's Magazine as World's Most Beautiful Resort.
Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa won the Booking.com Guest Review Awards 2017, with a score of 9 out of 10.


There is some science focusing on the positive effects of an alkaline diet when it comes to your bone mineral density and your risk for developing kidney stones.
If you're looking for just the right diet plan for your health, you might consider the alkaline diet. It's based on the theory that some popular foods—including meat, dairy products, eggs, grains, and processed foods—cause your body to produce more acid. The aim of the alkaline diet is to avoid foods that leave an "acidic ash." Conversely, other foods—including fruits, vegetables, and legumes—result in the production of alkaline by-products.
Proponents of an alkaline diet claim that it can optimize your health and help you lose excess weight by reducing your body's production of acid. There actually isn't much clinical proof that the alkaline diet is any better than a range of other diets when it comes to helping you lose weight. However, the diet does emphasize healthy foods that may benefit your bone and kidney health.
Understanding how the alkaline diet works requires an understanding of pH balance. You may remember learning about this while you were at school, but here's a quick reminder for anybody who daydreamed their way through science class. The pH ("power of hydrogen") scale is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of substances that can be dissolved in water. The scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Acid is anything below 7; alkaline is anything above 7.
The body has tightly controlled systems for maintaining a narrow window for pH levels. The kidneys maintain blood pH by absorbing or excreting compounds. Because of this buffering system, the acid load of your diet won't significantly change your blood pH—but even so, over time, a high-acid diet may have health consequences.
Alkaline diet and your bones. Bone density is the amount of bone mineral in your bones. Bone mineral is important because it gives bones their strength. Any reduction in bone mineral (and, thus, bone density) raises your risk for osteoporosis fragile bones that are susceptible to fractures that can be fatal for many older adults. Some research has suggested that high-acid diets cause calcium—a vital mineral component of bones—to leech from bones. In a 2010 study, high-acid-forming diets were found to increase urinary calcium excretion and, in some cases, reduce bone density.
Alkaline diet and your kidneys. Evidence suggests that high-acid diets may contribute to kidney stone formation. They also may be linked to a greater risk for kidney failure. In a 2015 study (Journal of the American Society of Nephrology) involving 1,486 people with chronic kidney disease, those who consumed a high-acid diet were three times more likely to develop kidney failure than those with low-acid diets.
The body's mechanism for maintaining its pH balance is highly regulated, and it also varies. For example, the pH balance of your stomach is influenced by the fact that it contains hydrochloric acid, so its pH level will range from about two to 3.5.
Conversely, your blood is more alkaline, with a pH of about 7.2 to 7.45. Also keep in mind that certain foods will affect pH differently if they're combined with certain other foods, meaning that a food's individual pH scale might not be particularly relevant.
That said, the dietary pattern promoted in the alkaline diet—rich in vegetables, fruits, and legumes, and lower in animal proteins and sodium-laden processed foods—happens to be one most health experts recommend for optimal health, as long as you don't take it too far.
It's not a good idea, for example, to exclude whole food groups from your diet, and the alkaline diet recommendation to avoid grains is not one most dietitians would support unless you're allergic to grains. If you're looking to manage your weight and ensure you get the right balance of nutrients, you'd be better off following the Mediterranean diet, which has strong clinical evidence backing up its health benefits.
bone, bone density, bone mineral density, calcium, chronic kidney disease, dairy, diet, food, food groups, for osteoporosis, health, kidney failure, kidney stones, Lose Weight, mediterranean diet, nutrients, osteoporosis, processed foods, risk for osteoporosis, strength, the mediterranean diet, vegetables, whole food, your bones.
I thought you might be interested in this article on https://universityhealthnews.com: Should You Try the Alkaline Diet?


text:
import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import { Jsonp }      from '@angular/http';

@Injectable()
export class WikipediaService {
  constructor(private jsonp: Jsonp) { }

  // TODO: Add error handling
  search(term: string) {

    let wikiUrl = 'http://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php';

    // #docregion query-string
    let queryString =
      `?search=${term}&action=opensearch&format=json&callback=JSONP_CALLBACK`

    return this.jsonp
               .get(wikiUrl + queryString)
               .map(request => <string[]> request.json()[1]);
    // #enddocregion query-string
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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In Focus: Lacazette can turn Arsenal into title contenders once again
by John McGinley share
As reported by The Telegraph, Arsenal are determined to stay in the hunt for Alexandre Lacazette despite Lyon's high valuation of the striker.
What's the story?
It's no secret that Arsene Wenger is on the hunt for elite players this summer with the significant resources he has available to him. Fans are expecting the best of the best and it seems at the very least that ambition is shared by the Emirates boss.
The Telegraph reckon Arsenal are willing to come close to Lyon's £50m valuation of the red hot forward, despite dropping their interest in him last summer, having a bid of £30m rejected.
However, the Gunners still need to convince the French striker that his future lies in London with Arsenal unable to offer the prestige of UEFA Champions League football next season.
Is he the answer?
The 26-year-old has scored 113 goals in all competitions for Lyon over the course of the past four seasons and he has just enjoyed his best campaign yet, netting an impressive 37 in 45 outings.
The striker has shown that he has the ability and consistency to play at the very highest level, and the quality of his finishing could help to make the Gunners Premier League title contenders next term.
If Arsenal can add Lacazette to their attacking options this summer – as well as keeping Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez – there is no doubt that they could be the force that fans are hoping they can become after the summer.


Shakespeare's Landscapes is a local Husband and Wife Business, based near Chichester, West Sussex. We have been in business since 1995 having gained years of experience in the design and maintenance of all types of gardens for all types of people.
We offer a comprehensive service from preparation, clearance and ground works through to design, development and construction of hard landscaping.
Installation is to the highest standard throughout, as are all of the products we use. We finalise with a carefully selected planting combination of trees, shrubs, perenials, herbaceous borders and bulbs from quality suppliers who themselves uphold high standards.
We offer a bespoke service, we pride ourselves on real customer care from start to finish.
Together we endeavour to create the best garden to meet your requirements and your budget.
See our Services Pages for a complete list of all types of work we undertake.
For more information, please contact us or telephone for a no-obligation chat.


Have you and your BFF honor one of the greatest fictional friendships of all time this Valentine's day by wearing these custom matching BFF tank tops. Proudly show off the Rachel to your Monica as the two of you certainly make a great pair that defines friendship goals.
Custom Text: . | . | . | . | . | . | You're the | M o n i c a | to my | R a c h e l | . | . | . | .


The next reflexolo-chi™ certification course is scheduled to begin in September 2018.
The 250 hour program builds upon the skills learned in the workshop and is intended for students who have completed the Reflexolo-chi™ Workshop and are interested in pursuing reflexology as a career. This holistic approach uses a gentle, relaxing touch to help awaken the body's natural ability to heal and maintain optimal health.
128 classroom hours: Each class typically begins with a lesson on the physiology and pathology of the organ systems. The organs discussed that day will be the focus of the reflexolo-chi™ demonstration afterwards. The remainder of class time will be devoted to practicing the new hand positions and massage techniques with a partner just like in the workshop, and then switching roles so that everyone has a chance to give and receive a treatment.
100 out of class hours : The purpose of these hour long practice sessions is to develop your confidence and competence in working with a wide variety of people and health disorders.
CLASS SIZE: maximum of 6 students.


Eggsquisite Cafe is locally owned and operated. They specialize in breakfast and lunch, and take pride in offering the freshest ingredients and friendliest staff. The caring and committed staff will ensure you have a fantastic experience.


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Trump agrees to leave White House
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (November 26) he will leave the White House if the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.
Iran Press/ America: Speaking to reporters on the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump said it would be hard for him to concede because 'we know there was massive fraud.'
Asked if he would leave the White House if the Electoral College votes for Biden, Trump said: "Certainly I will. Certainly, I will. And you know that." But Trump said it would be hard for him to concede because 'we know there was massive fraud."
"It was a rigged election ... at the highest level," Trump insisted in a sometimes rambling discourse at the White House, while continuing to offer no concrete evidence of widespread voting irregularities.
Earlier, Donald Trump persisted with claims of voter fraud on Saturday 22 November and his allies called for an audit of results from a Michigan county that voted overwhelmingly for Democrat Joe Biden.
According to media reports, Biden has won 306 electoral votes, and Trump has 232 votes as president in the White House.
US President-elect Joe Biden, who is the winner of the recent US election, introduced key cabinet members under his administration on Monday 23 November.
Trump finally agrees to transfer power to Joe Biden
Category: WORLD ISSUES & EVENTSAmericaUSA
Tags: ایران پرسIran PressUS President Donald TrumpJoe Biden President electUS 2020 Presidential ElectionUS news2020 election updatesWhite House


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BCM Resources Corporation Appoints New Director and V.P. of Exploration
October 30, 2015, Vancouver, BC - BCM Resources Corporation (TSX-V: B), the "Company" Is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard R. Redfern, M Sc. to its Board of Directors and as Vice President-Exploration. With over 35 years of field, and upper management, experience, Mr. Redfern has a solid geological background in generating and conducting exploration programs worldwide for copper, gold, molybdenum, and rare metals, resulting in significant discoveries.
Mr. Redfern is an AIPG Certified Professional Geologist and is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He holds a M.S. degree in geology from UCLA. This appointment reflects the strengthening of the BCM Resources team as the company continues to advance the Thompson Knolls, Utah copper-gold-silver prospect and its portfolio of molybdenum and other base/precious metals properties in British Columbia.
Mr. Redfern has a wealth of experience in the field and has had a geological consulting business for over 30 years. He is President of Mexivada Mining Corp., and former Sr. Exploration Geologist with Barrick Gold, looking for acquisitions and for new gold deposits in Mexico. He was VP Exploration for Goldstake Explorations in South Dakota and Australia, and worked for Homestake Mining Company exploring the Black Hills for gold deposits, and for Urangesellschaft exploring for uranium deposits in the western U.S.
He has extensive experience working on gold and porphyry-type prospects in the southwestern U.S., Mexico and in British Columbia. Mr. Redfern discovered the Moly Dome molybdenum porphyry deposit in northern Nevada, worked on porphyry prospects in the large Cananea district of Mexico, and has studied porphyry deposits in the Highland Valley and Endako areas of B.C.
"We are excited to have a geologist with Rick's extensive background and experience on our team. We are confident that Rick will play an integral role in advancing our Company's portfolio of exploration projects to the next stage", states Dale McClanaghan, President of BCM Resources Corp.
The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
About BCM Resources Corporation:
BCM Resources Corporation is a diversified Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying, acquiring, advancing, and joint venturing prospective Copper, Gold, and Molybdenum exploration projects in Utah and British Columbia. BCM Resources is managed by experienced and successful board members and advisors. For further information, including area maps, sections, and photos, please visit our web site at www.bcmresources.com or contact us by e-mail at info@bcmresources.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BCM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dale McClanaghan
1 604 646-0144 ext 223
This news release and related texts and images on BCM Resource Corporation's and Inland Explorations Ltd.'s websites contain certain "forward-looking statements" including, but not limited to, statements relating to interpretation of mineralization potential, drilling and assay results, future exploration work, and the anticipated results of this work. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metals prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical, governmental, social, or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the company's projects; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of sampling and drilling results and other tests; the possibility that required permits and access agreements may not be obtained in a timely manner; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in these work programs.
View previous (Oct 19, 2015)


text:
Falcons season tickets not sold out; sales push planned
By Tim Tucker, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As football season fast approaches, the Falcons still have season tickets available and are planning a new sales campaign to try to move the remaining inventory over the next four to six weeks.
Although personal seat license contracts remain a requirement for all Falcons season tickets, the team has changed its marketing strategy to stress the total price — a combination of the ticket cost and the PSL deposit — rather than calling attention to the controversial PSL prices.
Prices of available season tickets start at $750 for some upper-deck corner seats, including $700 for the tickets ($70 per game) and a $50 installment payment on the required personal seat license. That installment payment represents 10% of the $500 PSL for those seats, with the rest financed into future years.
Other available seat locations include lower-level club seats at the 30-yard line ($5,000 for the season), lower-level corner seats ($1,990 for the season) and middle-bowl end-zone seats ($1,490 for the season), according to an email sent by the Falcons to some fans last week. Those "all-in" prices include both the ticket price and this year's PSL installment payment, the Falcons said.
The Falcons have roughly 1,500 season tickets remaining to sell, according to a team spokeswoman. About 200 of those are priced at $750.
The Falcons have said they won't sell single-game tickets to the general public for the third consecutive year, but as in the past two years they are selling single-game tickets to groups of 10 or more.
Single-game tickets also are available on the secondary market, including at Ticketmaster's NFL Ticket Exchange, the league's official resale marketplace, for all games.
The Falcons didn't sell out of personal seat licenses when Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in 2017. PSL prices ranged from $500 to $45,000, depending on seat location and amenities. PSLs are one-time fees, often financed over multiple years, for the right to buy season tickets.
Since the stadium opened, the Falcons have continued to sell seat licenses, but also have had a significant number of defaults on previous sales.
Also, amid a disappointing season on the field last year, a noticeable number of fans stayed away despite having bought tickets, with the actual attendance more than 11,000 short of the announced attendance (tickets distributed) for three home games.
The Falcons' regular-season home opener is Sept. 15 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles on "Sunday Night Football." The Falcons' exhibition home opener is Aug. 15 vs. the New York Jets.
Tim Tucker
Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.


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AFrican Long-term Inequality Trends (AFLIT)
Image courtesy: Unequal Scenes
African Long-term Inequality Trends, AFLIT, is a research network dedicated to constructing social tables for the advancement in mapping, estimating and analysing historical economic inequality trends in the sub-Sahara African region. Today Africa contains the largest between country variations in income inequality in the world, a spectrum that includes Southern Africa where we find extremely high levels. Currently, however, we lack both the empirical evidence and the theoretical understanding to explain the development and diversity of the different pathways. Researchers in AFLIT are committed to filling this empirical and theoretical gap.
Network Aims
The overall aim of AFLIT is to provide a platform for collaborations between researchers interested in constructing social tables for the study of long-term inequality trends in Africa. More concretely, this entails:
Organize workshops and similar events where researchers can discuss and develop comparable empirical studies of long-term inequality trends.
Attract funding and expand our international networks to encourage the construction of a growing number of inequality studies for African economies, particularly for the colonial era. The case studies will be made publicly available in a database.
Disseminate our research to the academic community and other stakeholders such as policy makers and the public through presentations at conferences and public events, publications of academic and non-academic texts, and social media.
"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics."
Plutarch | Ancient Greek biographer


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Islam as I understand It: The Islamic Religio-social Traditions And Customs
By Saeed Qureshi
Let us first of all admit that Islam is a religion just like Christianity and Judaism; that it is a monotheistic religion like Judaism. That it shares its divine ancestry with Judaism and Christianity, even if the latter two religions don't accept it, because they claim to be the forerunners of Islam. It is in the same way that Judaism doesn't accept Christianity which came much after Judaism.
Let us also acknowledge that Islam has a rich heritage and culture like other faiths. The Islamic religio-social traditions and customs teach how to dress up especially for the women, what to eat (meals from legitimate income and in case of meat the animals to be slaughtered in a religiously defined way). The Islamic ethos also spells out the ways to celebrate the religious days and how to host feasts. It also includes the circumcision and the marriage ceremonies. Islam does not encourage the kind of music and modes of entertainment that arouse sexual, carnal and lecherous sentiments.
Islam like other religions has symbols also. These, inter alia are the mosque, rosary, holy water (Zam Zam), beard, moon, black stone placed in one of the walls of the House of the Lord (Khana Ka'aba), the green color, the curved sword, minarets and turban. Like many other religions the Muslims too have a holy book Qur'an. It is our common knowledge that this religion sprouted in the Arab land whereas the Christianity and the Jewish were born in the North of the Arab peninsula.
Islam has a package of five basic beliefs. These are: belief in one God or Allah, belief in Angels, belief in Holy Scriptures (Torah, and Bible), belief in the apostles or messengers of God, belief in the Judgment Day, belief in God's omniscience, prior knowledge and determination of all things.
Islam has also five pillars of Observance or obligations. These are Shahada (declaration of faith) that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The second is Salat or prayer with face towards Haram Sharif or Khana Ka'aba five times a day. The third is the Zakat or alms which ordains giving a percentage of one's income to the poor and underprivileged. The fourth is Fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The fifth is Hajj or pilgrimage once in life time if possible financially or health wise.
There are two sources of Islamic Sharia or law in Islam. While the Quran is the primary basis for the Sharia, it is in the second source the Sunna or the life of the prophet as recorded in the Hadith that has been a major source of information for the details of the law only hinted or omitted in Koran. The Sunnah or Hadith of Prophet Muhammad comprises his actions, silent approvals, decisions, utterances, sayings and edicts. The decisions and sayings of the four successors of the prophet called caliphs are also used as precedents for making decisions on matters concerning Muslims or non- Muslims.
Sharia covers the entire body of Islamic law as it developed since the time of the prophet (six hundred legal references in Koran and Prophet Muhammad's statements contained in the Hadith). Shariah claries if there is confusion on a certain matter and interprets rules and regulations, decisions and edicts of the prophet and Quran.
The constituents of Islamic Sharia are not confined to Quran and Hadith alone. The other sources are some of the Pagan customs from the Bedouins like Muta and dower and also the traditional commercial/agrarian practices. A select number of Roman and Byzantine laws have also been incorporated in the Islamic Sharia. For instance the plaintiff must produce evidence and witnesses otherwise defendant can swear and clear himself. Jewish, Persian and Greek traditions and laws also form part of Sharia
The Quran narrates parables and stories of the ancient prophets, nations, societies and civilizations and warns as to why they prospered and why some of them received divine wrath and vanished. It gives vivid and detailed information about the life after death, the Day of Judgment and the final destinations of the Heaven and the Hell.
Islam judges or evaluates the temporal and the ecclesiastical matters and the deeds of a faithful through five parameters or commands. These are: absolute duty, (Fard), commendable (Mustajab), permissible (Mubah) reprehensible but without punishment (Makruh) and forbidden (Haram).These five criteria also fall under Sharia. As already explained, the Sharia that governs the conduct of a person or group is derived from the text of Qur'an and also from the practical life of the prophet.
The Islamic state was headed by Prophet Muhammad in the city of Medina in 622 - 632 A D. This was that actual period when the fundamental contours of a Muslim state were laid down. Since prophet (SAW) himself was the ultimate authority on all temporal and divine affairs, his words, decisions and verdicts were unquestionably accepted as the commandments of God conveyed to him through divine revelation (Wahee).
But when the Muslims in subsequent times, through their conquests and preaching missions came into contacts with other civilizations and religions, they faced enormous doctrinal and administrative challenges that had to be resolved rationally if these did not have the precedents within the Quran or the life of the founder of Islam. It is in the wake of such intellectual and doctrinal dilemmas that several schools of jurisprudence for elucidation of Sharia to the outside world and even to the inquisitive Muslim came into being.
The four such orthodox schools of Islamic law that dealt with the application and expansion of Sharia in the subsequent times are:
Abu Hanifa: analogies, parallels or Qiyas gleaned from Quran if there is no order or injunction in Quran or Sunna.
Imam Malik: His collections of laws relied on local traditions of Prophet Muhammad and his companions in order to fit into the customary law.
Al Shafi: Stipulates compromise between tradition and independent thought, restricts use of common sense as done in Imam Abu Hanifa's Qiyas practice. He founded the science of Muslim jurisprudence
Ibn Hanbal: He was ultra conservative. His legal philosophy is called Nass. Nass is the binding ordinance explicit in the Quran and Hadith. It means sanctified opinion derived from only Quran and Hadith and no other source. While he rejected human reasoning adopted by other three Islamic scholars, he preferred even Shaky Hadith to determine a law or decision.
These schools operate within the framework of Ijtehad that means reinterpretation of Sharia or Islamic laws. The decisions arrived at are ordained to be with Ijma or consensus and not to be a single opinion (Raye) of an individual.
Besides these schools, the Muslim thinkers also tried to answer many philosophical contradictions through intellectual scrutiny and rational explanations. Such questions were about the predestination, the free will, mysticism, religious truths and intellectual truths, role of reason in relation to the theological truths and so on.
Apart from these intellectual and religious debates ranging since the passing away of the prophet till now, the simple principle on which the entire Islamic religious philosophy and precepts boil down is that man should live like a servant of God and accept him as the only creator who not only governs the universe and all the existence but also watches the Muslims in the light of their good and bad deeds or intentions.
Based upon the nature of a deed in this world, God, on the judgment day, will give reward and punishment accordingly. The obedience to God has not only to be professed verbally but practically demonstrated through five times daily and one time weekly prayers. A faithful's virtuous life and personal good conduct is also a testimony to his submission to God as his subject.
Thus Islam wants man to be an embodiment of all positive and good virtues such as humility, charity, peace, chastity, kindness, tolerance, love for fellow believers, respect for elders, and women and so on. The crux of all these noble traits is defined in one phrase that, "a good Muslim is that whose tongue and actions are not harmful to others". Islam means submission and Muslim means who practices Islam and is unconditionally obedient to God.
Prophet's Muhammad's period of leadership is deemed by the Muslims as the ideal model both from mundane and spiritual standpoints. To a lesser degree, the caliphs' life of piety, self denial and untainted dispensation of justice is also taken and followed as beacons for Muslims. The Shia sect in Islam believes only in the spiritual leadership of the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali, who was the cousin brother and son in law of the prophet also.
The ideological cleavage between the Shias and the Sunnis is the incurable wound on the body of Islam. Although, they share major common elements of faith, yet the Muslim nation is irredeemably and rather irreconcilably divided into two distinct factions forever. Their mutual antagonism is as deep rooted and chronically as bitter as the religious animosity between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. This festering fissure resulted from the claim of the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali as the rightful successor of the prophet for the caliphate.
As for fundamental beliefs, Islam brooks no compromise, nor tolerance nor any deviation. As for the rituals these are subject to certain conditions that apply keeping in view the physical, social and financial status of a faithful. For instance pilgrimage is essential for those who can afford it monetarily. The religious tax (Zakat) is also contingent upon the economic position of a member of Islamic fraternity. The fasting is also not strictly applicable to those with infirm health, pregnant women or during traveling or for similar reasons.
Islamic culture goads moderation, sanctity, piety and sobriety. It shuns or discourages the indecent extravaganza, the morbid exhibitionism, or lewd show off. For instance Islam allows feasts on weddings and merry making on joyful occasions but exhorts serenity and no lavish spending. In matter of dresses or costumes, it is not necessary to dress up like Arabs by wearing a big long rob but one is ordained to cover the nakedness of certain parts of the body.
The purpose is to maintain sanctity of one's body which is more rigid in case of women for their being an object of amorous eyes from the impious or sexually pervert people. Understandably, such conditions can be met by wearing even western, Chinese or African dresses if these fulfill the basic criterion of covering the body and maintaining modesty.
Mindful that the religious teachings and dogmas would not remain rigid for all times and in different societies, the prophet kept the door for amendments and changes open in Sharia but without deviation from the main corpus of Islamic teachings. This is called Ijtehad (literally means exertion). So all the interpretations or alterations in the Sharia worked out by the succeeding Muslim philosophers and religious scholars were done in the light of that provision.
When we compare the western democracy with the Islamic political system and the choosing of the leaders in the primitive Islamic societies with that of the modern times, we tend to forget that it was only after the Renaissance and Reformation that the Europe started embarking upon the democratic path. Otherwise, the Christendom was afflicted with bloodletting conflicts between old Roman Church and the proponents of reforms throughout the Middle Ages. So to paint only Islam as undemocratic is not a pragmatic or truthful approach to the Islamic system of government.
Democratic system functions in a closely knit world with fast communications as we have in the modern times. Otherwise the Greek democracy that was prevalent even before Christ was confined to the cities. Beyond the city states, it could not be expanded because an integrated system of voting or conducting elections in the length and breadth of the vast empire was not possible. Moreover, those were not the ages of enlightenment and therefore the true democratic culture even if conceived could not be practically followed during the present times.
The Sharia that was prevalent during the time of Prophet Muhammad and four caliphs (632-661) can still be applicable if it is suitably modified to bring it in conformity with the phenomenally different world of today. The consensus can be brought about, if the narrow concepts and beliefs affected by sects and denominations, contrary to the age of prophet, are set aside. Or at best these sects can still function but the main consensus code should remain supreme.
Which means that the symbols are just a window dressing and have no pronounced bearing on the life of a Muslim faithful? The rituals are relative and are strictly obligatory for those who have the capacity to observe them. The beliefs are confined to the individual and are personal. What matters most is the resolution or dealing with the crimes, anti-social practices and destructive actions of the citizens.
Islam presents a general framework for dispensation of justice. The cardinal principle that Islam lays down is the strict fair play, administering absolute justice in complete disregard of someone being poor or rich, influential or obscure, a common man or a man of authority. It should be acknowledged that the modern judicial system fulfills all these conditions if applied by such a government that would respect and sincerely promote law and justice.
It means that the punishment to the convict is imperative but the choice of the punishment and the mode of dispensation can be improved or reformed for such punishments as beheading with a sword. For instance, the theologians and Islamic jurists must acknowledge and therefore incorporate it in a new Islamic code that covering of veil was not possible for women now as was done in tribal or feudal societies in the past and even now.
It is also essential to change through an agreed Ijtehad process that a rape female victim instead of being further victimized and brutalized by the religious laws must be helped against the male rapists. So such unattainable or impracticable conditions as to the production of four witnesses must be discarded because in the present times, the occurrence of rape and the identity of the rapist can be verified by scientific means such as testing of DNA.
The Islamic caveat concerning the interest or mark-up has to be modified because the complexion of the societies and the nature of interest have undergone a radical change. The Arabian society in the 6th or 7th centuries was primarily agrarian. The usury or the interest was charged in advance on cash given to a needful. Now the concept of interest is not like those primitive societies.
The interest bearing economy is now profit making economy because the money remains in circulation. That is how the wealth increases and the economy grows. The old interest concept which now is rather reinvestment for profit has to be modified.
Similarly another issue relating to patrimony or inheritance and alimony (allowance paid by the husband to divorced wife) has to be redefined in the modern societies when the civil laws enshrined in the modern jurisprudence, treat these issues better than the antiquated customs that were derived from the tribal system. If a reinterpretation is not thought about, still the parallel legal or economic system cannot be ignored or ruled out. The world today is interdependent. The Muslims cannot live in isolation.
So it depends upon the governments to apply and enforce laws, otherwise even the best of rules and caveats fail and remain ineffective. The example is the multitudinous Islamic caliphates that used Islam to justify their illegitimate hold on power. They fought each other for power and decimated their rivals to the last man as exemplified by the power struggle between Ummayd and Abbasid and later between other Islamic dynasties.
The religion of Islam is patently secular in nature, not in the religious sense but in terms of its openness, liberalism and accommodation for all opposing creeds and cultures. The incontrovertible shining example of that is the Muslim rule in Spain (756-1492), when the Christians and the Jews lived with the ruling Muslims, enjoying equal rights and in peace and dignity.
In the contemporary times, Malaysia, Indonesia, Tunis, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt and certain Central Asian states offer examples of enlightened, accommodating, progressive Islamic polities where minorities live in peace, harmony and equality along with the Muslim majority. In these countries, the Islamic laws have been enforced in such a way that these not only fulfill the pristine spirit of Islamic Sharia, but also meet the requirements of a modern state.
Although polygamy is practically nonexistent for the majority of the Muslims, yet it is one of the stigmas that Islam suffers from. The polygamy is prevalent mostly in the Arab lands. In other countries it is sparingly practiced in the tribal, feudal and religious classes. But for outsiders this has invariably been used as a slanderous tool against the Muslims to prove that the women folks were sex chattels, were lesser equal and inferior to the males.
That is true to a degree. In order to deal with this contentious issue, it is necessary that the Muslim jurists and theologians should sit together and hammer out a formula that should aim at discouraging the polygamous tendencies and practices in the Muslim societies. Or it can be declared forbidden through Ijtehad.
But I strongly reckon that as the societies tend to be more progressive, the Muslims would themselves abandon the polygamy. As a result, though, the divorce rate would soar among the Muslims as we can see in the western societies where polygamy is lawfully banned. Even now the educated and independent women do not like to marry a person who would be already married. So the modernization of the Islamic conservative societies would neutralize this social slur associated with Islam. The domestic violence should be sternly dealt by the Islamic governments but it would also be hopefully outstripped and fade away with the passage of time.
Modernism, liberalism and secularism is the answer to the backwardness, indolence, underdevelopment and intellectual, economic and social decadence of the Islamic world. The Jews hammered out a historic compromise in 18th century when they imbibed and adopted the western ways of life at the behest of the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Professor Moses exhorted the Jews to abandon their rigid fanaticism and Talmud and conform to western culture.
Through a political movement aided by the capitalist Europe and America the establishment of the state of Israel was made possible in 1948. In the same way, the Islamic religious fervor has got to be rational and aided by the political and reformative spirit if the Islamic countries want to be counted as modern nations in contemporary world.
The first constitution is always vulnerable to further alterations and amendments. Likewise, the original Islamic ideologies and dogmas that became controversial, counterproductive and rather unworkable, should be overhauled while keeping intact their spirit and core philosophy and teachings of Islam.
If Ijtehad started barely 80 years after the demise of the prophet of Islam by the Muslim reformers, theologians, philosophers and scholars, then such an endeavor is indispensable in the modern times when the Islamic teachings are targeted for their irrationality, obscurantism, subjectivity, inconsistencies and for being out of sync with the rapidly advancing imperatives of a highly competitive modern world.
In Christendom, after prolonged controversies, debates and bloodshed, the state finally managed to relieve itself from the influence of papal supremacy or the domination of the church. Every country established its own church or denomination in Europe elsewhere in the world, and of late in the United States. The Church and state were separated for their respective roles. That proved to be a blessing in disguise both for the church and the state. Similarly, in Muslim countries a gigantic effort is needed to harmoniously blend the Islamic beliefs and religious creed with the dynamics and progressive spirit of the modern societies without compromising the essential teachings.
In Islamic states, the state and religion have to function without mutual conflict and contradiction. There should be no place, for fundamentalism, sectarianism, fanaticism, or rigid adherence to a creed, that is outdated and ruinous to the cosmopolitan nature of Islam. An enlightened and updated fundamentalism (the age of prophet) is the need of the hour for Islamic societies to move forward and join the comity of modern states in technological, scientific and in other domains of human and material advancements.
The writer is a senior journalist, editor of Diplomatic Times and a former diplomat. You can read this and other articles by him at his blog www.uprightopinion.com


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'Grey's Anatomy' Tackles Trauma Recovery Through EMDR Therapy
Renee Fabian
This episode contains spoilers for the TV series, "Grey's Anatomy."
An Oct. 24 episode of "Grey's Anatomy" was all about working through childhood trauma, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), a type of therapy that's effective for working through trauma. In a new interview, psychiatrist Jessica A. Gold, M.D., M.S., spoke with "Grey's" writer and producer Elisabeth Finch about how her personal experience with trauma therapy inspired the episode.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
In the fifth episode of the medical drama's 16th season, titled "Breathe Again," the patient of the week is Carly Davis, a therapist who treated Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital's own Dr. Jo Karev (Camilla Luddington) while she faced her trauma at an inpatient treatment center. Viewers learned Jo was the product of rape and grew up in foster care, leaving her with deep abandonment wounds. By working with Carly in treatment, Jo was able to learn how her childhood trauma impacts her current life and begins to deal with her past, in part through EMDR.
Okay but honestly this really did feel great to do…. https://t.co/qkOxWlr3g6
— Camilla Luddington (@camilluddington) October 25, 2019
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of trauma therapy that helps you change the way traumatic memories are stored in your brain. You move your eyes side to side (bilateral stimulation) while focusing on a traumatic memory, either by following your therapist's finger, a light bar or holding pulsing paddles in your hands. For many people, this type of trauma processing helps lessen the impact of difficult memories. Why it works is still a bit of a mystery, but research suggests one theory is EMDR mimics how the brain processes memory during REM sleep.
Finch told Dr. Gold in an interview with Self that Jo's journey through mental health treatment and recovery was in part inspired by personal experience with EMDR after a major trauma.
"I've had personal experience with EMDR, so I was interested in exploring it on the show," Finch said, adding:
I experienced a very specific trauma when I lost a friend in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting last year. I was introduced to EMDR, which I'd never heard of, and I found it really useful. I didn't realize when I was doing EMDR for Pittsburgh that I was doing research for 'Grey's Anatomy.' I was just going through life.
I wrote a thing. It airs tonight. It means a lot to me. @rachelbayjones came to play with us and is extraordinary. And @KristaVernoff is a badass for providing the space to talk about #mentalhealth this way. #GreysAnatomy https://t.co/xktcvQ8jlD
— Elisabeth J. Finch (@erfinchie) October 24, 2019
It was also important to Finch to portray EMDR accurately. To do this, she shared "Grey's Anatomy" has a medical team that consults on the therapies depicted in the show to make them as realistic as possible. This also meant showing viewers that trauma and mental health recovery takes energy and effort and isn't a straight line.
"It was really important to all of us to show that mental health isn't just about finding a quick fix, and then you never have to think about it again," Finch said. "We also want to show that even though treatment can be powerful, useful, necessary, and effective, it's not a perfectly straight line."
Finch also described how this played out in Jo's story. At the end of season 15, as Jo learned about her childhood, Finch and showrunner Krista Vernoff wanted to make sure Jo's story wasn't tied off in a neat little bow in a single episode. After Jo learned about being the product of rape, Finch said, she eventually got to a place where she knew she needed to reach out for help, which ended up being inpatient treatment. In the new season, Jo still has work to do.
"This year Jo came back after doing a lot of hard work while she was at the residential treatment facility," Finch said, continuing:
She is continuing with her meds and her therapy, but she says in the premiere that she knows she could relapse into depression again. It's not like she got a magic fix. I was really interested in watching Jo have a moment where she thinks her recovery from depression and trauma is threatened, where she fears that she's back at square one, and see what she does with that. The reality is that healing from trauma is not a straight line.
Beyond her vulnerability in discussing her own experience with trauma and EMDR, I really love this quote from @erfinchie
Hope you all get to see this!! @shondarhimes @KristaVernoff @msdebbieallen @camilluddington @rachelbayjones #GreysAnatomy16 #GreysAnatomy #Greys pic.twitter.com/TBGaYj6thO
— Jessi Gold (@drjessigold) November 7, 2019
Gold, who was impressed with the show's accurate depiction of EMDR, asked Finch about the response to the episode, particularly since EMDR can seem so weird to people who have never tried it. Finch said they've gotten many positive responses about EMDR specifically, but the larger message of mental health recovery also came across loud and clear.
"We need to work toward erasing this stigma. I'd love for us collectively, as a community, to stop defining strength or weakness by whether or not you are mentally at your best," Finch said, adding:
My hope is that people remain encouraged to ask for help and work on recovery for whatever they're going through. And I'm hoping that people look at mental health as health. There has long been the notion that it's something that can wait. Someone can experience a traumatic event or feel depressed and think, It's not like I have cancer. I don't need to be vigilant about treatment. I should just power through it and put on a smile.
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Header image via "Grey's Anatomy" Facebook page
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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