The Gulf state of Qatar is preparing to welcome the Hollywood glitterati onto its shores, for the country's inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival.
The festival is just one of a host of projects in the country that are aimed at giving a boost to the arts.
But neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates are also working to increase their cultural capital by investing large amounts of money to bring famous names to their region.
Joanna Blundell reports on a rivalry that could transform the Gulf.The Gulf state of Qatar is preparing to welcome the Hollywood glitterati onto its... more
"This structure will reportedly "be solar-powered with minimal waste due to water recycling."
Granted, the resemblance to Spaceship Earth might be unavoidable when the Technosphere is meant to represent the state of Earth's ecosystem, now and in the future."
Steven Wiltshire (born in 1974) is an accomplished architectural artist who has been diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder. Wiltshire’s work has been the subject of many television documentaries; neurologist Oliver Sacks praised his artistic work in the chapter “Prodigies” in his book “An Anthropologist on Mars.” Stephen Wiltshire’s many published art books include “Cities” (1989), “Floating Cities” (1991) and “Stephen Wiltshire’s American Dream” (1993).
Wiltshire is presently working to complete his last drawing in a series of city panoramas, this time of his spiritual home, New York City. Wiltshire’s collection of already completed works depicting some of the world’s most iconic cities already includes London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Rome, Madrid, Frankfurt, Dubai and Jerusalem. A 20-minute fly-over Manhattan this past weekend provided the memory for a 20-foot panorama of the city that he’s drawing throughout this week at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. Viewers can watch his progress on a live web cam or by visiting the Institute while he works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, Oct. 26 to Friday, Oct. 30, 2009.
This piece includes a number photographs, a slide show of Stephen Wiltshire's work, a video of Wiltshire's current work drawing the panorama of New York City and a live web cam of him at work on the panorama.Steven Wiltshire (born in 1974) is an accomplished architectural artist who has been... more
I am grateful to Mr. Don Harkins the editor of THE IDAHO OBSERVER, (USA) and her associates Ms. Anne Wilder Chamberlain to help me prepare my story.
The following short note comes from them:-
KHALID
When we first began corresponding with Khalid Awan in 2007, we had no idea why he was serving time in U.S federal prison.We soon discovered Awan was one of the first of thousands of Muslims taken prisoner in the post-9/11 U.S "terror War". As the story began unfolding in our letters, we began to realize that this honest, humble and sincere man was not only innocent, but the ongoing injustice being done to him provides critical insight into the mindless, mean-spirited, bureaucratic-yes-men idiocy fueling the illegal U.S. "War on Terror" (and just about everything else that is going wrong in this country). At our insistence, Awan wrote his story and supplied us with whatever documents we requested. And now, after three months of cooperative efforts, the story of Khalid Awan can be told. We have come to know Awan as a peaceful man engaged in peaceful work, who has been wrongfully accused, detained and repeatedly convicted of crimes he did not commit because he was a Muslim with international connections and an office in New York on 9/11. Anyone who might of the Muslim belief, especially a person raised overseas who has difficulty understanding our language and our corrupt judicial system, can be arrested and detained indefinitely in this country, certainly without a trial before a jury of his peers. Khalid is one of these Muslims.
We present this to you in faith that you will realize a deeper understanding of the levels of complicity necessary for the "land of free" to tolerate the phony war on terror year after year and in hope that Awan --- and all the other million or more political prisoners being held by this country---will one day be reunited with their families.
(Thanks from the bottom of my heart to you, Mr. Don Harkin and Ms. Anne W. Chaimberlain for your devoted, caring attention in helping me expose my plight and injustices being suffered by myself and others. Your humanitarian devotion, on-going help and attitude truly an inspiration to me in my life!)
Khalid Qayyum Awan (From USA Federal Prison)
CONTACT OR MAILING ADDRESS IS GIVEN BELOW
Khalid Awan # 50959-054
USP Marion
P.O.BOX : 1000
Marion, IL 62959
USAI am grateful to Mr. Don Harkins the editor of THE IDAHO OBSERVER, (USA) and her... more
The U.S. terror war as seen through the eyes of a prisoner
When we first began corresponding with Khalid Awan in 2007, we had no idea why he was serving time in U.S. federal prison. We soon discovered Awan was one of the first of thousands of Muslims taken prisoner in the post-9/11 U.S. “terror war.” As the story began unfolding in our letters, we began to realize that this honest, humble and sincere man was not only innocent, but the ongoing injustice being done to him provides critical insight into the mindless, meanspirited, bureaucratic-yes-men idiocy fueling the illegal U.S. “war on terror” (and just about everything else that is going wrong in this country). At our insistence, Awan wrote his story and supplied us with whatever documents we requested. And now, after three months of cooperative efforts, the story of Khalid Awan can be told. We have come to know Awan as a peaceful man engaged in peaceful work who has been wrongfully accused, detained and repeatedly convicted of crimes he did not commit because he was a Muslim with international connections and an office in New York on 9/11. We present this to you in faith that you will realize a deeper understanding of the levels of complicity necessary for the “land of the free” to tolerate the phony war on terror year after year and in hope that Awan—and all the other million or more political prisoners being held by this country—will one day be reunited with their families.
Khalid Awan # 50959-054
USP Marion
P.O.BOX : 1000
Marion, IL 62959
USA http://www.freekhalidawan.com/, http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=3759, http://awankhalid.com/, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60600467317The U.S. terror war as seen through the eyes of a prisoner
When we first began... more
Dubai has been the innovator of some amazing architecture over the recent years, and this complex is likely to keep them ahead of the rest.
The Vertical Village is the latest solar-power building designed by architects at Graft Lab. It utilises the maximum exsposure to sunlight, by using mutiple solar panels located at the base of the building. These panels trace the sun's movement, thus maintaining the collection of energy.
The elaborate structure of the Vertical Village has a purpose. Its buildings, each seperate from one another, are self-shading on the northern side and between the east and west regions -- this minimises long-angle sun penetration. The roof of each building is designed to seperate the solar field into more manageable sections.
Once the design becomes the real thing, developers hope to introduce hotels, cinemas, restaurants, shops and a theater, as the main indoor attractions of the Vertical Village.
**More pictures at the linkDubai has been the innovator of some amazing architecture over the recent years, and... more
DUBAI -- Arab officials in the Persian Gulf strongly denied Tuesday a report that they're in secret talks to replace the U.S. dollar with a basket of currencies to price oil.
"We have never heard of this or discussed this, not even secretly," Qatar's oil minister Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah told Zawya Dow Jones by telephone.
Arab states in the Gulf account for about half the crude pumped by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC.
British newspaper The Independent reported earlier that Gulf oil producers, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, are negotiating with Russia, China, Japan and France to replace the dollar with a basket of currencies to trade crude.
The basket would include the Japanese yen, Chinese yuan, euro, gold and a new currency planned by Gulf Cooperation Council members, the report said.
"We're not aware of any discussions on this matter," Kuwait's Finance Minister Mustafa Al Shamali said by phone. His comments were echoed by another senior Gulf oil official who said no discussions were underway to ditch the dollar as a benchmark for oil.DUBAI -- Arab officials in the Persian Gulf strongly denied Tuesday a report that... more
THE Galwayman who bought Ireland is dead, England is deserted, while Australia and New Zealand have merged.
They were designed to make Dubai the envy of the world: a series of paradise islands inhabited by celebrities and the super-rich reclaimed from the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf and shaped like a map of the Earth. It was called The World.
As millions of tonnes of rock were dumped into the sea for the foundations, timely leaks suggested that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were to buy Ethiopia, Richard Branson was tipped to occupy England, while Rod Stewart would border him in Scotland.
Hazard
Instead it has become the world's most expensive shipping hazard, guarded by private security in fast boats and ringed by warning buoys to keep the curious away.
A development that was meant to send Dubai's star into the firmament of First World cities has been left to the mercy of the waves and the baking winds.
Mile after mile of breakwater built from boulders brought hundreds of miles by ship has been laid, but inside its man-made lagoon, work has completely stopped.
The expected map of the world of 300 islands is instead a disjointed and desolate collection of sandy blots -- a monumental folly just out of sight of Dubai's shore.
*******
More at link.
Rising seas due to climate change would have drowned these islands anyway.THE Galwayman who bought Ireland is dead, England is deserted, while Australia and New... more
"DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — When the heiress Paris Hilton traveled here in June and July to audition female friends for her show “My New BFF,” her producers had access to state-of-the-art studios and a government eager to import a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Middle East.
But to adhere to the region’s Islamic norms, many of the ingredients in reality TV were taboo: there would be no drinking, no cursing, no dramatic displays of affection. The producers thought about filming a scene at a water park, but passed on the option of dressing the contestants in religiously appropriate swimwear.
Dubai, its rival Abu Dhabi and other Persian Gulf cities face enormous hurdles as they try to diversify their economies by fostering creativity and becoming entertainment capitals. Chief among those hurdles: they operate under Islamic law. Hollywood does not. So far, the oil-rich countries have proved more able to pay for fancy media productions and to build expensive film facilities than to actually lure production to the Middle East, as economic efforts run up against their traditional values and censorship.
This month Dubai rejected the producers of the “Sex and the City” sequel, who wanted to set part of the film there. The government cited moral reasons for the decision. “Body of Lies,” a thriller about fighting terrorists, was turned down in 2007. For now, some of the region’s specially constructed studio lots lie mostly vacant, visitors say.
Michael Hirschorn, an executive producer of the Hilton series, left Dubai impressed by what he called a “media community truly eager to embrace the international marketplace.” But that community, he said, has been hampered “by cultural norms and standards that make a lot of international production difficult to impossible to pull off.” ... (more at link)"DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — When the heiress Paris Hilton traveled here in June... more
In an annual survey by Financial News' sister publication Wealth Bulletin, the Royal Penthouse Suite at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, tops the list as the most expensive hotel room in 2009, commanding $65,000 for its four-bedroom penthouse -- twice as much as patrons paid a year ago for its luxurious setting and views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.
(Wilkinson, T.L., 2009, August 26, par.2)
2. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons Hotel, New York – $35,000 per night
3. The Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala di Volpe, Costa Smeralda, Sardinia – $34,000 per night
4. Villa La Cupola Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome – $31,000 per night
5. The Presidential Suite, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo –$25,000 per night
(Wilkinson, T.L., 2009, August 26)
[check the link for 6-10, and the details all units]In an annual survey by Financial News' sister publication Wealth Bulletin, the Royal... more
Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
Wrong position.
"The Elves Of Iceland" Part 1.
A pair of tatty old trainers.
James Dean tries to get me to lie to you.
An advantage to just listening ?
Careful when charging your mobile phone.
Stuck in Dubai.
Who would you like murdered here on the show ?
Beautiful arrangement of expensive flowers.
How does a transformer work ?
He didn't like the lamp.
Instant messenger things stop you from doing things.
Original Mona Lisa.
I've been accused of being in peoples pockets.
Which side are you on ? Peter Andre or Jordon ?
It might be useful one day.
Can she sing ?
Ronny is in Sri Lanka.
Coils.
Service fom John Lewis.
Payment ?
How many Gas bottles ?
An eye operation.
Who do you trust on the television ?
Eaten from the head down.
Nothing wrong with a supermarket carrier.
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UKThursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT... more
Nemmeno una settimana fa la Corte Suprema dello Stato di New York aveva dato l’ok definitivo all’utilizzazione dei motori sulle barche a vela durante la prossima America’s Cup. Notizia che aveva provocato molti malumori anche nella barca sfidante, lo scafo Bmw-Oracle. Oggi la Società Nautica di Ginevra, club nautico di Alinghi, ha annunciato data e luogo della prossima sfida.Nemmeno una settimana fa la Corte Suprema dello Stato di New York aveva dato l’ok... more
The QE2 will berthed in the Forth, off South Queensferry on the 7th October, 2008 as she made her final farewell before setting off to her new home in Dubai as a floating hotel. Here is a news report made by students from Jewel and Esk College.The QE2 will berthed in the Forth, off South Queensferry on the 7th October, 2008 as... more
Be prepared to be amazed by this wonderful building in Dubai. Blue Crystal, designed by Frank and Sven Sauer, is a 6 floor building that looks like an iceberg floating in the sea. And this building is really floating like a cruise ship so it doesn’t have any foundation just like other building. Moreover Blue Crystal is made from real crystal. In the future, in Blue Crystal there will be lounge and restaurant located underwater and the rest will be used as hall or ballroom. This Blue Crystal use solar energy through solar panels in parts of its building. Last but not least at night Blue Crystal will emit wonderful light. Hmm Dubai surely offer many wonderful things to see.Be prepared to be amazed by this wonderful building in Dubai. Blue Crystal, designed... more
Each of the floors of the Dynamic Tower rotates independently, giving the building different shapes throughout the day. (Dynamic Architecture/ David Fisher)
Would you like to see a building twisting itself into different shapes night and day on the New York skyline? Would you like to live in an apartment with a view that rotates 360 degrees? It may be a little hard at the moment to arrange financing for such tower — or any other new skyscraper in Manhattan — but the architect David Fisher is looking for a place to build it here someday.
He’s already designed such an edifice in Dubai called the Dynamic Tower, billed as the “world’s first building in motion.” Dr. Fisher, an architect based in Florence, he told me that he hopes groundbreaking for the Dubai tower will occur “within a matter of weeks,” and said that the problems in the credit market haven’t affected the project.
The tower is supposed to generate enough electricity to supply the power needs for itself as well as buildings nearby. The electricity will come from horizontal wind turbines tucked away between each of its 80 floors, and from solar photovoltaic cells on the roof each story. As the individual floors move, about 20 percent of each roof is expected to be exposed to the sun at any time of the day.
Dr. Fisher, who’s working on another of these towers for Moscow, was in town this week to discuss plans for New York. Where might it go? “We are currently looking at a few sites,” he told me. “It should be a place from where the view is attractive and also where people can stand and watch the building changing its shape.”
Any suggestions for him? Any predictions on how well those turbines and photovoltaic cells will work? And would you pay a premium to live in a room with a moving view?
This is a clip from an Israeli paper....they lie and lie and lie some more.
Israel rejected as "scandalous" a highly critical report released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday marking six months since Operation Cast Lead, saying it was inconceivable that the document would chastise Israel for the situation in Gaza while ignoring the continued detention of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit or the "intransigent belligerence" of Hamas.
According to the report, residents of the Strip are "living in desperation" due to their "daily struggle for existence."
"Gazans still cannot rebuild their lives," the report reads. "Most people struggle to make ends meet. Seriously ill patients face great difficulty obtaining the treatment they need. Many children suffer from deep psychological problems. Civilians whose homes and belongings were destroyed during the conflict are unable to recover," the ICRC maintained.
"During the 22 days of the Israeli military operation, nowhere in Gaza was safe for civilians. Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties, including small children, women and elderly people. Medical personnel showed incredible courage and determination, working around the clock to save lives in extremely difficult circumstancesJerusalem blasts Red Cross for report
This is a clip from an Israeli... more
Israeli Occupation Forces have kidnapped 21 Human Rights workers aboard the Free Gaza boat, Spirit of Humanity, including Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire & former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.
ISRAEL ATTACKS JUSTICE BOAT; KIDNAPS HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS; CONFISCATES MEDICINE, TOYS AND OLIVE TREES
“Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release.”Israeli Occupation Forces have kidnapped 21 Human Rights workers aboard the Free Gaza... more
Displaced
Sri Lankan Civilians Denied Their Freedom
Throughout the gruesome finale of the civil war, the government of Sri Lanka claimed to be engaged in the largest hostage rescue mission ever, to release civilians in the Vanni who were being held against their will by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Yet the vast majority of these civilians are still not free. So what exactly has been happening?
Sri Lankan Tamil Detainees Give
Eye-Witness Accounts
By WSWS Correspondents
It is now more than one month since the Sri Lankan military detained the final batch of Tamil refugees fleeing the northern war zone on May 19. They joined more than a quarter of a million civilians already incarcerated in camps set up near Vavuniya and on the Jaffna Peninsula during the last phase of the war. About 160,000 people are interned in four units in the biggest camp, known as Manik Farm
The U.S. Federal Budget Pipeline:Displaced
Sri Lankan Civilians Denied Their Freedom
Throughout the... more
Jun 24, 2009 22:46
UN's Gaza war crimes probe to screen hearings live
The United Nations team which is investigating alleged war crimes committed during Operation Cast Lead, last January, announced on Wednesday that it would broadcast the hearings it plans to hold with Palestinian and Israeli victims live.
The team, led by veteran war crimes investigator Richard Goldstone, will hold the hearings in Gaza City on Sunday and Monday, UN officials said.
Spokeswoman Doune Porter said that the hearings would be broadcast and the media would be allowed to view them from a separate room.
She said Wednesday that the team also would hold hearings in Geneva on July 6-7 under the same conditions.Jun 24, 2009 22:46
UN's Gaza war crimes probe to screen hearings live
The... more
Exclusive footage from the recent US airstrikes in Afghanistan provides a sobering look at the dire situation on the ground.
One Minute Video
Exclusive footage from the recent US airstrikes in Afghanistan provides a sobering look at the dire situation on the ground. http://rethinkafghanistan.com/cc2.php
Posted June 12, 2009Does This Look Like Victory?
Starving Afghan Family Displaced by US Airstrike... more
