What Makes an Image Memorable?
Next time you go on vacation, you may want to think twice before shooting hundreds of photos of that scenic mountain or lake. A new study from MIT neuroscientists shows […]
Carstens Says Mexico GDP Growth May Reach 4%-5% Forecast for This Year
Mexico’s central bank Governor Agustin Carstens said that the country’s economy can still expand as much as 5 percent this year even after the first quarter’s slower-than-expected growth. The combination of a stronger U.S. economy, the recovery of domestic consumption and private investment “may help us reach the central bank forecast,” […]
Mubarak to be charged for corruption, protester deaths
(CNN) — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons will face trial before a criminal court for the killings of protesters and the waste of public money, the Egyptian general prosecutor’s office announced Tuesday. Mubarak, who was forced from office in February, is being charged with consenting to a plan to […]
Divorce referendum: Victory for ‘no’ camp would be success of ‘spiritual terrorism’
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando (MP) said today that rejection of divorce at the referendum on Saturday would mean that ‘spiritual terrorism’ and ‘brainwashing’ would have prevailed. Speaking at a rowdy discussion on divorce organised by MaltaToday, Dr Pullicino Orlando said the Church and the ‘no’ movement were persisting in scaremongering. Rejection […]
Volcanic ash heads for Heathrow, threatening to snarl travel
London (CNN) — A cloud of ash from Iceland’s Grimsvotn volcano spread toward central Europe on Tuesday, forcing airlines in Britain to cancel hundreds of flights for the second time in little more than a year. The ash cloud began to reach London’s Heathrow airport — the world’s busiest international air […]
Iraqi Government on part-crackdown of Private Security Firms
The Iraqi Government has given Foreign Private Security Company in the so-called ‘Green Zone’ (or ‘International Zone’, also called ‘Black Zone’ by some Iraqis) ten days to vacate Government land leased to them. Several foreign Private Security companies have large compounds where they not only have their Iraqi Headquarter but […]
Swiss might not back European as IMF head
The Swiss representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said a European may not be the best person for the vacant managing director’s position. René Weber is one of 24 IMF executive directors who will cast votes to decide the eventual replacement for former French managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, […]
Earning the Nobel Prize for Peace
Americans today still live in fear. The collapse of the Soviet bloc and the end of the nuclear arms race made the US believe its absolute military dominion guaranteed its national security. The Clinton Administration confidently shelved Reagan’s Star Wars programme (the Strategic Defence Initiative). The Russian Bear was dead. […]
Where life is extraordinarily good
Oren David was appointed non-resident Israeli Ambassador to Malta in February. He tells Kurt Sansone relations between the two countries have never been so good. “Western democracies should have affinity and show solidarity with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East,” he says. It is a frustration that is […]
Death is a Powerful Motivation
“Every soul shall taste of death. And you shall be paid in full your rewards only on the Day of Resurrection. So whosoever is removed away from the Fire and is made to enter Heaven has indeed attained his goal. And the life of this world is nothing but an […]
New study sheds light on ‘dark side of happiness’
(The Boston Globe)The “pursuit of happiness’’ has been something Americans have valued ever since the Founding Fathers inserted it into the Declaration of Independence. Yet some psychologists now question whether happiness is, indeed, a worthwhile goal, since new findings suggest the pursuit could actually make us more unhappy. Read:
New home sales at 4-month high, supply drops
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New single-family home sales rose unexpectedly in April to notch their second straight month of gains and prices increased, offering some hope for the stagnant housing market. The Commerce Department said sales increased 7.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted 323,000 unit annual rate, the highest level since […]
2011 set to be deadliest tornado year
(CNN) — The devastating tornado that killed more than 100 people in Missouri this week puts the United States on track for a record-breaking year — despite improved forecasting, warning systems and public awareness, weather experts say. By 8 a.m. Tuesday, the death toll in Joplin had reached 117, making […]
The US and the European Union call to do more for minorities
Following a number of religion-inspired violent incidents in the country — the most tragic of which was the incident in Cikeusik, West Java, which left three followers of the Ahmadiyah sect dead — the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights sent a letter to the Indonesian government to express […]
Israel ranked 117th out of 139 nations in market domination
Israel ranked 117th out of 139 nations in market domination, according to the Global Competitiveness Report for 2010-2011. Its grade is sandwiched between Mauritius and Burkina Faso. Israel does much better in other aspects of the competitiveness report, which is compiled by the World Economic Forum. In the overall General […]
No even-handedness toward Israel and Palestinians
Day after U.S. president clarifies vision of Palestinian state within 1967 borders, director of pro-Israel lobby urges Jerusalem and Washington to avoid any public display of diplomatic crisis, as it would likely be exploited by Israel’s enemies. AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr said Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama should […]
Spirit of Rachel Corrie Aid Ship Forced To Dock at El Arish, Steering Broken
A week after the Spirit of Rachel Corrie, a vessel carrying aid to the Gaza strip was fired upon by the Israeli Navy, the Perdana Global Peace Organization, sponsoring the humanitarian initiative, posted a press release today saying that it was unable to get out of the Egyptian waters after […]
On his birthday occasion President Jammeh presents special gift to Gambian women
As a special present on the occasion of his 46th Birthday, the president of the Republic (of Gambia), His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has directed that the tractors recently presented to the governors for use in their various regions be handed over to the women groups in […]
Islamic fashion
The regular misconception is that Islamic clothes for women are based on ‘old-fashioned’ principles. The truth is that Islamic outfits, whilst being necessarily ‘modest, ‘ does not need to sacrifice elegance, dignity and trend. While common approaches to such clothing may have actually added to this perception, there are a […]
Rightwing plans new anti-immigration campaign
The rightwing Swiss People’s Party says it will launch an anti-immigration campaign this election year. Party leaders on Monday said they wanted to re-introduce a quota system even though it would go against the Swiss-European Union free movement of people agreement. According to the proposal, it will be up to […]