Monday, December 29, 2008

US visa delays ruining education of many


19 months ago: A U.S. visa applicant is fingerprinted by a visa clerk at the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico Monday, March 12, 2007. Nine years after the U.S. government issued the first of its 9 million "laser visas" to Mexican citizens, border inspectors rarely scan the cards to verify fingerprints and photograph stored on their magnetic stripes. Government officials say that checking more people would create too big a backup at the border, where hours-long traffic jams are already common.

Ibtisam Sheqdar
Arab News
MAKKAH: A group of Saudi students in the US has launched a campaign to monitor problems faced by them when they return to the Kingdom on short breaks. These students are forced to reapply for visas at the US Embassy in Riyadh, a process that often takes several months if successful.
Organizers of the campaign, entitled “My Visa Threatens My Future,” say they wish to also create awareness about the problems faced by Saudi students in the US who, fearing the lengthy visa process in Saudi Arabia, remain in the US continuously for years to complete their education.
“The campaign does not intend to challenge the standards according to which visas are issued,” said Basil Al-Sadhan, one of the organizers.
“Acquiring visas is a nightmare for many students. The campaign intends to raise awareness about the difficulties faced by students and the negative effect that these difficulties have on their studies,” he said....


Saudi journalists want their body to be proactive (click here)

Laura Bashraheel

Arab News
JEDDAH: Journalists in the Kingdom have called on the Saudi Journalist Association (SJA), which held board elections in Riyadh last week, to be proactive, help women journalists and protect the rights of journalists in general. Sawsan Al-Homidan, director of Asharq Al-Awsat’s women’s office in Riyadh, called on the new board, which includes seven editors-in-chief, to implement all decisions and do more than just express words.
“The association has a huge responsibility. We’re hoping the new board members will provide all services ... I hope it won’t be just names on paper, payment of fees and then nothing,” she told Arab News. Al-Homidan said the SJA should provide journalists, especially women journalists, with training and legal help.
The SJA was established in 2004. Although four years have passed, the organization has made little contribution other than charging journalists membership fees, many people say.
Ebtihaj Menyawi, former editorial director of Okaz newspaper’s women’s division, described the SJA performance during its first four years as “useless.” “We have seen nothing since its establishment. The SJA is in a deep slumber and has no clue about the problems journalists face,” she said....

Haj



Pilgrims leaving Madinah in droves (click title to entry - thank you)
Yousuf Muhammad
Arab News
MADINAH: The Haj Committee has announced that a total of 564,242 pilgrims arrived in Madinah by yesterday and 344,044 of them have left. A statistical report released by the committee’s secretariat-general said this is an increase of 30 percent over the same period last year.
Essam bin Abdul Aziz Dimyati, chairman of the Guides Establishment at Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah, said departures have increased in the last few days with an average of 45 international daily flights taking between 10,000 to 12,000 pilgrims to international destinations, which include India, Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco and South Africa.
A total of 45,656 pilgrims left Madinah by air by Saturday. The figures show a 7 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The report added that on average 590 buses carrying more than 25,000 pilgrims were leaving the city each day. It said 89 percent of hotels and 59 percent of furnished apartments were occupied.
More than 220,000 pilgrims are still in Madinah, which is a drop of 20 percent over the same period last year.
Giving a breakdown of the number of pilgrims according to their nationality, the report said Indonesians topped the list with 56,781 pilgrims, followed by Pakistanis with 32,441 pilgrims and then Iranians with 23,570 pilgrims.
Meanwhile, 9,510 pilgrims received medical treatment in Madinah with Saudi Red Crescent Society ambulances transporting 137 pilgrims to hospitals.
Under the guidance and orders of Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, all government and private institutions have been mobilized to provide the best services to the guests of God during the pilgrimage season.


Sunday December 28, 2008
Haj plane is first international flight into KT (click here)
KUALA TERENGGANU: Some 355 haj pilgrims became the first group of passengers to fly in on an international flight at the Sultan Mahmud Aiport yesterday.
MAS flight MH 8237 from Jeddah landed in the early morning.
The Sultan Mahmud Aiport was recently upgraded with facilities to handle international flights.
Chief financial officer and executive director Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin said in a statement yesterday that the historic occasion demonstrated the ability of the airport to operate international departures and arrivals.


Haj pilgrims must possess international passport : MPHC (click here)
Published: December 28,2008
Bhopal , Dec 28
The Madhya Pradesh Haj Committee (MPHC) today asked the Muslim in the state who are keen to take Haj pilgrimage next year to ensure that they possess the international passport."The desirous Haj pilgrims are advised to complete the formalities of getting international passport before applying for Haj pilgrimage," MPHC Chief Executive Officer A W Qureshi said in a press statement.
The
MPHC had been asked by the Central Haj Committee of India, Mumbai that as per instructions of Royal Embassy Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, pilgrims must possess international passport, Qureshi added. PTI LAL RRN

According to the UN's Briefing today there was a minimum of 62 women and children dead.

That doesn't include any men that were victims as opposed to combatants. At least some of the victims are reaching hospitals that can actually treat them. Israel, while hoping to be compassionate in allowing UN supplies to reach the people of Palestine, is faced with security issues for their soldiers, any aid workers as well as the people of Israel.

I can't help believe that an emergency evacuation would prevent more victims and rescue that many more, rather than allowing them to confuse aggression by Hamas with a real defense of their homeland. If the United Nations could find a way to convince people to leave the region where Israel is concentrating their efforts it could provide a better strategy.


Wounded Palestinians being treated in the Gaza Strip

"...Pat Quinn hopes Rod Blegojevich is out of office by the bicentennial of Lincoln's Birthday.

Well, even more ? good ? government from the faux priorities of Illinois officials.

These guys really have no respect for the fact this Governor was elected by the people to serve and it is 'the political culture' that allows Quinn to attempt to force an elected Governor from office for his own 'personal gratification.'

I am sure "Six Flags Over Lincoln" will be grateful. Honestly. When does the political/media/professional harassment of this Governor end?


Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn with the “Youth Who Excels” awardee harleen Kaur Saini and her family at the 25th. Asian American Coalition of Chicago Lunar New Year Celebration on January 26, 2008, at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.Illinois.

The Impeachment Committee has to assemble their own information and then decide if they have grounds for any Illinois Constititution Process. Currently, they have little reason for impeachment and simply 'believing' there is a conviction on the horizon is not grounds.

22 Days until Inauguration - Tax Cuts? For the Middle Class? Not Halliburton? Nice. Very nice.


Obama Tax Cuts Likely Soon (click title to entry)
Senior Adviser Says Middle Class Needs 'Some Relief Now'

By Philip RuckerWashington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 29, 2008; Page A04
HONOLULU, Dec. 28 -- President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan will include an immediate tax cut for middle-class families, and the incoming administration hopes to enact permanent tax cuts soon thereafter, a senior adviser to Obama said Sunday.
David Axelrod said the stimulus package will be implemented soon, given the worsening economy, and could cost $675 billion to $775 billion. The massive recovery plan will seek to create or save 3 million jobs, he said in appearances Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS's "Face the Nation."...