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VOLUME # 7, ISSUE # 19, DHAKA, MAY 16, 2012 |
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Controversies of Nobel Prize, Sandwiches and Wine in Bangladesh
Francis Arif • May 14, 2012
Nobel Peace Prize and International Recognitions of Bangladeshis have been brought into controversy again by none other, but the two powerful Ministers and political stalwarts of the Awami League Alliance Government. Syed Ashraf, who is the Local Government and Rural Development Minister and Bangladesh Awami League General Secretary was blatantly ridiculing in his assertions that "Nobel Prize and International Respect" are very much in consonance with drinking white wine and having sandwiches in foreign capitals. What an enlightening discovery, it is hoped he did not discover it while under trance of red wine or red thinking process or her Excellency's directions.
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Bangladeshi state trading company in wrong trap
News Desk • May 11, 2012
At this time, when Bangladeshi government is struggling in controlling the exorbitant rise in the prices of essentials, including edible oil, state owned – Trading Corporation of Bangladesh [TCB] has visibly stepped into wrong trap set by unscrupulous business syndicate, which recently made announcements of importing five thousand tons of Crude Degummed Soya Bean Oil instead of refined soya bean oil. It may be mentioned here that, Crude Degummed Soya Bean Oil is only imported by refineries around the around at a very large volume, which is later refined and sold in the market or exported to clients. But, the decision of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh of importing Crude Degummed Soya Bean oil is not only ridiculous, but this clearly exhibits the serious lack of business knowledge within the top policymakers of this state-owned enterprise. In a tender floated recently, TCB made the announcement of buying 5,000 tons of Crude Degummed Soya Bean oil from international exporters. It is not clear as to why TCB took such stupid decision, when it does not own any refinery. At the same time, decision of importing 5,000 tons of Crude Degummed Soya Bean oil will not give any price benefit to the Bangladesh state trading company, as in case of getting this item at a very special price, the buyer has to place orders for at least one vessel load and in such case, annual contracts should only be concluded with the bona fide producers of the Crude Degummed Soya Bean Oil. It may also be mentioned here that, Crude Degummed Soya Bean oil has to be refined before consumption. Before refining, this item is considered to be hazardous to human health. It is not clear, if TCB has decided to sell unrefined Crude Degummed Soya Bean oil to the customers.
Syed Riyadh Hossain • May 10, 2012
In all of the above examples, every feat of construction was attempted only after it was deemed feasible. Since there wasn't a World Bank or similar donors available, most project financing came from the ruler's coffers and with solid reasoning. The financing ensured the lure and promise of more wealth from tax collections and improving the lives of their subjects. Simply, it was good business and ensured the rulers could then afford whimsical luxuries and showcase their success through massive opulent palaces or monuments.
Israeli stunning scientific innovation cures diabetic
News Desk • May 3, 2012
Two large Israeli drug makers have so far invested more than US$ 50 million in inventing a medicine which is a radically improved weapon against Type 1 diabetes, stopping it at its source. Israeli medicine company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries owns the license and worldwide market rights to DiaPep2777, a trademarked peptide first synthesized in 1994 by Professor Irun Cohen at Israel's Weizmann Institute. This synthetic peptide - a chemical link extracted from a long protein chain - seems to halt the progression of this form of the disease, which used to be called "juvenile" diabetes. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes result from problems with insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy for all the body's functions. Type 1, accounting for about five percent of the estimated 220 million worldwide cases of diabetes, is caused by an abnormal immune response that kills the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Until now, nobody has found a way to address the root cause of this serious immune system foul-up, so patients must take daily injections of insulin.
Low graded palm oil sold as soya bean oil in Bangladesh
News Desk • May 11, 2012
When Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute [BSTI] was asked as to how the sellers and bottlers of edible oil in Bangladesh are allowed to sell palm oil in the name of refined soya bean oil, it declined to make any comments. It is learnt from numerous sources that a racket of unscrupulous traders manager the officials and experts of BSTI through heavy bribes, thus ensuring the uninterrupted selling of falsely declared edible oil in the local market. It is also learnt that, Bangladesh Edible Oil Limited, an enterprise of Malaysian Palm Oil Council sells few brands of "soya bean" oil in Bangladesh, such as Rupchanda, Meizan etc, which are in fact used cooking oil or palm oil in most cases. It may be mentioned here that, Malaysia mainly exports Palm Oil to the world market, while Bangladesh Edible Oil Limited has also been importing the same product for years. It is interesting to note that while the company is importing palm oil, how it is being able selling "refined soya bean oil" to Bangladeshi consumers.
Paul Kokosi • May 9, 2012
Those who justify this reversal consider the change instead an authentic organic development of church teaching. Fr. Regis Scanlon, O.F.M. Cap. ( Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Jan, 2011) for example, argues, with reference to Dei Verbum (12) and Lumen Gentium (25), that official church teaching depends upon what the church intended by the teaching at the time of the teaching. He further points to the fact that Dignitatis Humanae is not a "doctrinal" document but rather a "pastoral" document capable of evolving depending upon the historical situation. The suggestion here is that the Church intended - or made allowances for - Pius IX's teaching to change depending on whether or not the Church was in a high enough position to exert her power and influence over both the state and the faithful. Thus, when the church is on top and holds all the cards - as was (in Father Scanlon's view) the case in many places in 1864 - religious freedom is banned. When She is on the bottom - as She is today in many places - then religious freedom is permitted and dialogue and ecumenism becomes the name of the game.
Pushing Grameen and Noble Prize into Controversy
Rafiqul Islam • May 12, 2012
With a view to boosting US-Bangladesh relations, the US Secretary of State signed a joint declaration with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue for deepening bilateral ties in addressing bilateral, regional and global issues to the mutual benefits of both the countries.
American brewery releases beer in the name of Hindu goddess
News Desk • May 12, 2012
Burnside Brewing will be releasing a very limited number of 1 litre swing-top bottles of their Kali-Ma Imperial Wheat Ale (8.6% ABV, 13.2 IBUs) next Tuesday at the brewery. The bottles are US$25 each and limited to 150 at the brewpub only. Silky wheat, fresh fruit, peppers, and spices all on Belgian yeast could make for a tremendous beer. Burnside Brewing has a great record of hitting the mark with their experimental beers, but if you're timid about shelling out for a 1 litre purchase, stop by and try it on draft purchase for a preview of what's in the bottle. The official press release says, "Burnside Brewing is excited to finally release the highly anticipated beer 'Kali-Ma' in 150 very limited 1ltr Magnum sized swing top bottles and on draft on Tuesday May 15th at their pub.
Szandor Blestman • May 2, 2012
Of course, when you talk about something like darkness, often the words can take on more than one meaning. Darkness usually means the absence of light, which is a different measure than weight. Light is measured in lumens and is relevant to the human eye, which is the instrument used to detect the light. Darkness would then be the absence of lumens relevant to the human eye's ability to detect light. So the unit used to detect the darkness comes into play in such a discussion. When figuring the weight of darkness, much of the above involves using the brain as an instrument for determination of the variables involved. What happens if instead of using the brain, we use the heart?
No progress in Saudi diplomat murder mystery
News Desk • May 8, 2012
Though more than 60 days have already crossed since the tragic murder of Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali [45], the diplomat with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh, investigators have failed in tracing the culprits behind this murder. Bangladesh authorities have repeatedly pledged to the Saudi government of "proper investigation" into this issue, while the home minister and the investigating agencies had made claims of "significant progress" in unearthing the mystery behind this murder of a diplomat, which is the first-ever case of such notoriety in the history of Bangladesh. Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali [45], the diplomat with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was gunned down by unidentified miscreants during late hours of March 5, 2012 in the capital city of Bangladesh. This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh that a diplomat has been murdered in the capital city. Following this tragic murder, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested higher protection for its staff in Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that last year, the US government accused Iranian agents of being part of a foiled plot to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, and Israel has accused Iran of attacks or attempted attacks on its diplomats in India, Thailand and Georgia this year. Iran has denied all of the accusations. In May 2011, gunmen in Karachi, Pakistan, killed a Saudi diplomat. Iranian embassy in Dhaka is also suspected for the murder of Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali, as it had already been accused a number of times for killing Saudi diplomats as well as attacking diplomats from Israel, Saudi Arabia and other nations.
The Price for Ignoring Ron Paul
Szandor Blestman • May 4, 2012
It's interesting to wonder what would happen if Ron Paul ran third party. The Republicans would claim he "took" votes away from Romney and helped Obama win the election. But then, he's just as likely to take votes away from the Obama crowd, after all, he is the only true peace candidate out there. Besides, Democrats aren't stupid. They know when they're being played. I bet Ron Paul could win running as an independent, if the vote was counted honestly. Oh, there's that election fraud thing again. Just another little story the establishment media decides to ignore. I guess that's another reason I have to do the job they're supposed to be doing. Maybe if these over paid pundits would actually do some digging and some real thinking and stop chirping the song those at the top tell them to sing, the general public would actually get some decent information. But, they'd probably get fired for that so they sit in their gilded cages chirping away.
Saudi Arabia initiates US$ 109 Billion Solar Power
News Desk • May 11, 2012
For the solar panel manufacturers such as First Solar Inc (FSLR) and SunPower Corp, the Saudi Arabian market would open a huge new market as European countries reduce subsidies to keep a lid on installations. Panel sales may dip this year for the first time in more than a decade from 27,700 megawatts installed last year, according to a survey of analysts by Bloomberg on March 9.
A Critique of Eric Chaney's Paper: "Democratic Change in the Arab World, Past and Present"
Dr. Elie Elhadj • April 20, 2012
Although the influence of verse 4:59 on the majority of the masses is strong, injustice, poverty, and corruption cannot be tolerated forever. There comes a breaking point that makes calls for rebellion against tyranny and the promise of justice and prosperity alluring. This breaking point was reached on December 17, 2010 when a 26-year-old vegetable street vendor, Muhammad Bouazizi, ignited the Tunisian uprising that removed the Tunisian president from power and inspired similar uprisings that have removed from office the rulers of Egypt and Libya and Yemen and engulfed the despot of Syria in a bloody confrontation with his people for the past 13 months.
Nepal Demands Leadership of King Gyanendra to end the Crisis
Dirgha Raj Prasai • April 25, 2012
Since 2006, Nepal is suffering from the traitors' regime. The sovereignty of Nepal is in danger. The country's independent and future cannot be secured either by republic or the People's Republic. King's Leadership will be the solution of Nepalese crisis. Why would there be a need for a King if Nepal can survive without him? Nepal should not be compared to other nations. Monarchy is Nepal's alternate power. Nepal does not demand an autocratic royal institution but a pro-people institution. The institution of monarchy is such a force that fights off imperialist force to create a greater Nepal. The King of Nepal never sold the nation, pleaded before foreigners nor killed the people and will never do so. I wouldn't have said so if I was a citizen of Japan or any other nation, I would have said that the nation will survive without the monarchy, but I am in Nepal. The geographical and class reality of Nepal is such, that the absence of monarchy would mean there will be no Nepal. This nation was created with joint efforts between the people and the King.
Ron Paul Proves Election Myths False
Szandor Blestman • April 18, 2012
The final election myth I will talk about here is that the best man for the job gets it. Some people seem to think that simply because someone was elected into office they must be the best man for that office. They seem to think that somehow only the most honest and trustworthy human beings ever get elected into positions of power. There is no candidate more principled and honest than Ron Paul. There is no candidate who throughout the years has shown his mettle as much as Ron Paul has. He's stuck to his guns and earned his reputation of being Dr. "No" for his lone stances against bad legislation. He's earned his title of champion of the Constitution for consistently voting against unconstitutional legislation. If you've ever said to yourself that you couldn't be a successful politician because you're too honest, Ron Paul is the exception to that rule. He is the best man for the job of president of the United States, honest, genuine, principled, trustworthy, a true citizen statesman. It is for that reason the establishment fights against him.
Talking Politics to Worshippers of the State
Szandor Blestman • April 18, 2012
So, with this in mind, that you are trying to convince someone of the validity of your point of view, there are a few rules I think everyone should follow. First and foremost, be respectful! Remember that it's not mere politics your talking about, it's someone's deep belief, it's as strong as a religion and when you point out flaws in the system it seems to people with these deeply held beliefs that you are attacking their very essence. Since they were young they've been taught in government schools that they should look to government for the answers to society's woes. To say otherwise to them is blasphemy. It's sacrilege. The way to open the door to their mind is to be respectful of their beliefs. If you in any way, shape or form express disrespect for that point of view, they will slam the door shut and enter defensive mode.
Israeli vaccine preventing cancer
News Desk • May 4, 2012
Vaxil's lead product, ImMucin, activates the immune system by "training" T-cells - the immune cells that protect the body by searching out and destroying cells that display a specific molecule (or marker) called MUC1. MUC1 is typically found only on cancer cells and not on healthy cells. The T-cells don't attack any cells without MUC1, meaning there are no side effects unlike traditional cancer treatments. More than 90% of different cancers have MUC1 on their cells, which indicates the potential for this vaccine.
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