Police bullets killed hostages in Luneta Grandstand

I have been a little busy with work and was shocked this afternoon to learn that there are questions about whose bullets killed the hostage victims. At first I was a little doubtful about this but after I saw several footage of the shoot out, I am now very much afraid that we are actually paying these people to carry guns!

I would like to express my deepest condolences to all the family members of the hostage victims who died that day. I am not an expert in hostage victim negotiations but it should always be a rule to never put the lives of the hostages at risk by provoking the hostage taker.

Another thing that should have happened is that the police men around the victims should have never fired back if there were still civilians near the hostage taker. I think that this is a clear indication that the PNP needs to clear their ranks of these undeserving people who wear the uniform.

When will President Noynoy do something about this? An apology is very much welcome but clearing the ranks of policement and SWAT would be better. I just hope that this never happens again to anyone.

Ramadan in Dubai

Ramadan has started today, 10 August 2010, since 4am. Muslims are observing Ramadan by day fasting.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. And it begins based on observing the first crescent of the new moon.

Not only here in Dubai is Ramadan observed, but all over the world. Muslims spend 30 days observing fast bettering themselves in the principles of their faith and performing charitable acts.

Children below twelve years and those who travel for long distances are exempt from fasting.

Many Muslims use Ramadan to make resolutions, similar to New Year's resolutions for Christians.

Muslims don’t just abstain themselves from food, they also strive to cut out bad habits like anger, envy, greed, malice, gossip, lust and the likes.

Followers try to read the entire Qu’ran during this holy month.

Delicious and nutritious Ramadan dishes include: fig and lemon chicken, lentil soup, Moroccan soup, beef meatballs, fresh fig cake and rich semolina cookies.

Ramadan is followed by Eid Al Fitr, a time of enjoyment with gifts for the kids and wishing all near and dear ones Eid Mubarak!

Death toll in Pakistan floods exceeds 1,400

The recent flood in Pakistan reminded me of Ondoy.

Sadly, some of my friends lost some family members because of the floods. A friends uncle recently retired from Dubai and went back to Pakistan. He's already 65 years old and can no longer work here in Dubai because of his age. Sadly, he was one of the thousands who perished in the recent calamity. Let us help Pakistan.



TorontoSun.com - The worst floods in memory in Pakistan have affected more than 3 million people so far and the death toll has climbed over 1,400, a spokesman for the U.N. Children's Fund said on Tuesday.

Read the full story at TorontoSun.com

Pakistan Flood - July 31, 2010

The Express Tribune - Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Friday that the death toll from the flooding in the province has passed 400.

Iftikhar said boats have also been arranged for and sent to the affected areas to assist and evacuate the people. He said the current calamity is a natural disaster and advised his party-members not to politicise the issue.

Punjab’s land route to Khyber Pukhtunkhwa through GT Road and Motorway has been disconnected, while areas from Mullah Mansoor to Attock have been submerged.
Large numbers of livestock have been swept away and crops soaked in the floods. Routes from Charsadda and Attock to Peshawar are closed and heavy traffic jam can be seen on many parts of the GT Road.

Due to heavy rains and floods, communication and road infrastructure have also been completely suspended in the areas. Shahra-e-Karakuram has been closed for traffic while Shangla has lost its ground contact with Kohistan Alai and Batgram. Peshawar Motorway and GT road Nowshera are also closed for all kinds of traffic.

The Met Office has predicted scattered thunderstorms and rains with isolated heavy falls over the province during the next 24 hours.

DI Khan is also among the worst hit districts where –according to reports pouring in – five tehsils have been submerged completely. Army troops dispatched to the affected areas started rescue and relief efforts eary this morning.

Read more at http://tribune.com.pk/story/32755/floods-wreak-havoc-across-pakistan/

UAE to ban BlackBerry services

Blackberry web services will be banned in UAE starting October and KSA will also do the same. Internet access through Blackberry is deemed as a threat to national security by UAE Sheikdom. For more details visit news.yahoo.com

Image credits: www.corbisimages.com